Are FSUW materialistic?

[BillyB]

I bet she looks very stylish coming out of her 1987 (or is it '85?) Ford Granada (with over 100,000 miles is it?) clutching on the outlet-bought Coach bags, eh Billy?

There are 396,354.2 miles on the 1989 Ford Granada for those who place a premium on accuracy. Google the pics of the car. True American beauty.

[jone]

Slumba,

I have known few women who care about the stitching of a Coach purse.  They want to know that it is an original, not a knock off, but after that, they don't care.

[GQBlues]

I would imagine that the regulations here are similar though one never really knows in the wacky South.  I'm sure that the outlet system makes much its bread and butter through the excessive ignorance of people who make such assumptions as mine.

Funny how tricks of trades makes perfect sense after the (even if self induced) illusion is revealed.

The important thing to remember is, you're neither buying *fake* or Knock-offs* when you shop outlet stores. You're simply consuming the by-products of globalization. Not all cheap labors are created equal just like grades and quality of materials. Designers and manufacturers are simply taking advantage of the market's supply/demand. Why shun and discard lesser grade materials when you can buy the lot in bulkier quantities at discounted prices and send them off to different factories and re-create a whole new 'line of the same name brands'.

What you can get or buy from outlet stores are still a 'good' buy. Just be aware. Like I said, you're still wearing/touting a 'label'.

The 1st Commandment of retail will almost always prevail. We 'get' what we 'pay' for.

[Gator]

What GQ wrote is correct.  The volume of outlet mall shopping has become so big that many clothing companies have created separate lower quality lines just for outlet malls.  My observations mainly via my wife:

1.  Ask yourself, how could there be so much discontinued product from upscale shops to fill the many and huge outlet stores. 

2.  The outlet mall labels will differ slightly from what the upscale stores sell.  A good explanation is found here, mentioning Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, even Hugo Boss!!!!

 http://onemansstyle.wordpress.com/tag/brooks-brothers-346/

3.  There is some truth in advertising so look for the words "clearance," which would signify items that did not sell at upscale stores.

4.  Don't buy at flea markets.  My stepdaughter got an expensive label European handbag for next to nothing as if it were stolen goods.  The bag looked correct, yet after we did some research on the Internet it clearly was a knockoff.   It was worth about what she paid. 

5.  Luxury items should feel right.  My wife and I were walking around New Orleans and entered a store laden with used and new luxury fashions.  She tried on a pair of Prada shoes.  They sure were pretty and her size.  They sure did hurt her feet.  Having modeled high-end lines, she knew.

6.  Beware of street vendors who spread their goods on a large piece of cloth.  If there are ropes at each corner of the cloth, avoid them.  We were in Rome at a Plaza when the police raided some knockoff vendors.  Each vendor jumped to his feet,  pulled onto the ropes which turned the cloth into a haversack, slung it over his shoulder and took off like gazelle.  The overfed policemen chased them in vain. 

7.  Some stores offer high quality items at a discount.  You just need to examine the clothing carefully and know what to look for.  Maybe I am wrong, but when you see Versace or Valentino label, I tend to think them as clearance and not an inferior line.  One problem, a $3,500 Versace dress on clearance is still $700.

[Jumper]

This transcends a lot of markets,
at least with such outlet stores you should know , or at least suspect, the true score.
 Tire manufacturing firms do similar.Many large vehicle manf spec a tire for a given model, or models.After the tire manf makes a run,the large OEM vehicle manf inspects and takes the cream of the crop (generally the top 70% /80% of the run). As the 600 pound gorilla in the room with huge volume and multi year orders , the OEM can do so whether , the entire run meets their spec
(and DOTs spec) etc.
 So what tires do you think you're buying when you purchase from a high end tire retailer, or the local tire discount place?
Additionally a dealership, if not getting it from the originally manf , and sourcing thru a local tire distributor (most do) is getting the same 20%
castaways as well. The practice is fairly common in most every brand.

Similar scenario, not nearly as transparent.

[CDW]

I took a photo of a PRADA handbag from the shop window in Milan on my birthday last August, and the bag costs 21,000 euros !!!!

[SANDRO43]

Don't be surprise to learn these items actually 'retain' value and are customarily sold 'used' for a princely sum. A lot of celebrities get rid of their used handbags this way. There's stores online specifically for used name brand items, Sandro.

I'm not surprised, but a bit nostalgic about the times long past when one could recognise a maker's product from its style, materials, manufacture, etc. Only a discreet label to make sure.

Granted that nowadays most people do not have the time, patience - or taste - to go through all that, and a prominent maker's logo will suffice - the larger, the better - and who cares about the rest - in the case I cited, a bag mostly made of a plastic/plasticised fabric.

One of the first cases I ran across in my youth were these French polo shirts:

I bought one because they were all the rage then (1960s) and "it wouldn't do" not having one . Al least thrice as costly as comparable local items - later I discovered Lacoste had  much of its production farmed out to Italian makers .

The brand mania has taken over, and makers have expanded to to other, totally unrelated areas - the above e.g. to footwear, perfume, leather goods, watches, eyewear  - all prominently displaying their logos as the only justification for the outrageous prices! And made elsewhere again, I doubt Lacoste ever had inhouse the technology for making watches .

But I shouldn't complain - our high-end brands are still going strong - particularly abroad - despite the generally depressed economy .

I took a photo of a PRADA handbag from the shop window in Milan on my birthday last August, and the bag costs 21,000 euros !!!!

At least that looks like crocodile, not plastic .

Also still going strong here - despite frequent police raids and confiscations - are the fakers supplying the gazelle sellers that Gator mentioned .

[Larry1]

One of the first cases I ran across in my youth were these French polo shirts:

Ok, a somewhat on-topic story.  A lovely blond girl walks into an expensive shoe store on Collins Ave in Miami's South Beach.  She sees a beautiful pair of alligator pumps and asks the proprietor how much they cost.  She is stunned when he tells her the price.  She cannot afford to pay that, so she leaves the store.  A few days later the proprietor is driving back from Naples (Florida) to Miami on Alligator Alley.  He notices someone near the side of the highway and slows down.  To his surprise he recognizes the girl who was in his shop asking the price of the alligator pumps.  He pulls over to see what's going on.  He sees the bodies of three alligators on the bank.  He watches as she puts the butt of a rifle against her shoulder, takes aim, and fires.  She then goes over to the large alligator she has just killed and pulls its lifeless body over on the bank and flips it over.  She responds with disgust, "D*mn, this one is barefoot too!"

[chivo]

The age old question as to whether FSU women are more materialistic than Western women? The answer is an emphatic NO.
 
Anyone who says otherwise simply doesn't know what they're talking about, sorry.

[PBRstreetg]

Nyet. I wish that I saw a traditional Russian girl say something else. My experience is limited.

[CDW]

At least that looks like crocodile, not plastic .

Yes this 21,000 euros' Prada handbag has crocodile skin  (Gator's competitive).    SANDRO, since you live in (near) Milan, have you been to indoors where high-brand fashion shops are?

[I/O]

The age old question as to whether FSU women are more materialistic than Western women? The answer is an emphatic NO.
 
Anyone who says otherwise simply doesn't know what they're talking about, sorry.

Disagree - I don't know much other than what I've seen in 10+ years of visiting Russia along with more than half that time married to a RW and having shared 3+ kids together ~groan~. One would be naive to the point of having their head shoved permanently where the sun doesn't shine to seriously deny and absence of materialism in RW.
 
By one definition - preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values - sure, this doesn't exactly describe my wife nor her friends or relatives but I am realistic enough to notice the traits. One denies reality if one chooses to believe a RW only seeks love and life abroad for loves sake.
 
Materialism is not limited to the pursuit of over priced high end merchandise, not by a long chalk - are RW more or less materilaisitc than WW? Sixes and sevens IME.

[PBRstreetg]

thanks for the candid and quick response
to be honest I'm taken aback.

IMLE the aggressive gain time shouldn't rear it's head as fast. Sure we can work 'things' out and I'm prepared to do that with a quickness, although you put the fear in it. I'm in this for everybody's long term happiness of course, I'm concerned mainly that I'm gonna be Jmana.

I have a plan, F retirement, it includes back up money. My question is do you think 2 years is worth it? That's rhetorical of course, and everybody has their own definition.

[Doll]

Sixes and sevens

What does it mean?

[PBRstreetg]

it means multiples of sixes and sevens (times the topic)

I just uploaded an avatar, btw, just so you can see I'm nice.

[TheTraveler]

Disagree - I don't know much other than what I've seen in 10+ years of visiting Russia along with more than half that time married to a RW and having shared 3+ kids together ~groan~. One would be naive to the point of having their head shoved permanently where the sun doesn't shine to seriously deny and absence of materialism in RW.
 
By one definition - preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values - sure, this doesn't exactly describe my wife nor her friends or relatives but I am realistic enough to notice the traits. One denies reality if one chooses to believe a RW only seeks love and life abroad for loves sake.
 
Materialism is not limited to the pursuit of over priced high end merchandise, not by a long chalk - are RW more or less materilaisitc than WW? Sixes and sevens IME.

great stuff, io!  (as usual!)

[Doll]

it means multiples of sixes and sevens (times the topic)

I just uploaded an avatar, btw, just so you can see I'm nice.

What about multiples? Sorry- I didn't gee it.
As for the "materialism" of RW vs AM I think only RW can judge as we know thousands of both.
They both are but in a different way.

[SANDRO43]

SANDRO, since you live in (near) Milan, have you been to indoors where high-brand fashion shops are?

Most are located downtown, particularly in the quadrilatero della Moda (fashion block) centered around Via Montenapoleone.

I avoid them like the plague . I do my shopping at department stores and non-brand shops.

[I/O]

What does it mean?

Not much difference. 
 
Doll, I note your point...

They both are but in a different way

...and, having, I imagine unlike you, dated several of both and been married to one each of both for at least a medium term, I tend to disagree - I haven't noticed much difference in the underlying trait. It may manifest itself slightly differently at times (not often IME) but the fundamentals are the same.
 
For the most part, I actually see the trait as stronger among RW than WW - think of it this way - many Russians want more of what Westerners have but I'm not aware of many Westerners wanting more of what Russians have have...........save a few deluded menfolk, a good collection of which hang around forums such as this. 
 

[Doll]

I\O I want to self correct))))- both are materialistic but they SHOW it in a different way.

[Doll]

   
For the most part, I actually see the trait as stronger among RW than WW - think of it this way - many Russians want more of what Westerners have but I'm not aware of many Westerners wanting more of what Russians have have...........save a few deluded menfolk, a good collection of which hang around forums such as this.

I am not thinking clearly today)))
What do Russians "have have" that Americans don't?
Hope we are talking of Russinas in Russia and Americans in the USA.

[Gator]

I took a photo of a PRADA handbag from the shop window in Milan on my birthday last August, and the bag costs 21,000 euros !!!!

Splendid handbag!

Now for a real example of a RW purchasing alligator bags, perhaps answering the question of materialistic FSUW.

Four others:

1.  Gucci $21,830           

http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/277520EJ50G1000#


2.  Brooks Brothers $5,500
smaller than Gucci bag, but in alligator (deemed better quality than crocodile, of course  ). 

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Alligator-Handbag/297Z,default,pd.html


3.  Maker unknown, alligator, $175 for two bags






I know about these two bags for $175 because my wife and I bought them at auction.  Their design IMO is not as striking as the Gucci, yet still a classic look, and better than the Brooks Bros.   The bags were made in the 1950-60s.  The craftsmanship is superb as shown in the interior photo. Condition is virtually mint except for black bag (gold plated hardware shows wear as does the strap in one small location).   



They needed some cleaning, which my wife did with TLC. 


Who says RW are materialistic?  No  manufacturers label on the bags much less a swanky label,  secondhand,  needing some cleaning, and cheap price.  Know your woman!

[Gator]

For the most part, I actually see the trait as stronger among RW than WW - think of it this way - many Russians want more of what Westerners have but I'm not aware of many Westerners wanting more of what Russians have have...........save a few deluded menfolk, a good collection of which hang around forums such as this.

 

Don't forget the vodka.

[I/O]

I\O I want to self correct

Ah, now I get it - you are not Russian 
 

I am not thinking clearly today))) What do Russians "have have (apologies for the double up - it was late and I was without my glasses)" that Americans don't? Hope we are talking of Russinas in Russia and Americans in the USA.

Nothing that I am aware of save perhaps Gators insight.

Don't forget the vodka.

True that...mothers milk.....

[SANDRO43]

CROCODILE vs. ALLIGATOR vs. CAYMAN SKINS

I was a bit confused about the differences between them, so I turned to an apparently knowledgeable manufacturer's site (http://www.gleni.it/it/coccodrillo-alligatore-caimano.html) for my own enlightenment - and possibly others' as well .

The skins of the 3 reptiles have quite different characteristics, the cayman's considered not worthy of consideration for fashion accessories - it's cheaper but harder to work, with square scales often showing creases:

Man's shoe - Cayman skin

Crocodile and alligator skins - obtained from the belly of the animals - are softer and display scales with rounded borders and irregular squares:

Crocodile skin - Alligator skin

Alligator skins often show their "umbilical star/scar", absent in crocodile skins which instead have scale "pores", that betray where their belly hairs once were before being removed by the tanning process:

Alligator skin with 'scar' - Crocodile skin with 'pores'

A last consideration is that a crocodile skin is generally much more expensive than an alligator's, possibly to Gator's chagrin I imagine who will not be able to sell his own skin dearly .