Community Chat

[Noel7]

SF and San Jose are both flooded with techies, most are in their 20s and 30s.

They will pay millions for a house, a lot of money for a good car and top dollar for food and restaurants. 

Clothes are not a priority, including for work.  Jeans and a tee shirt is the basic look, as seen with Steve Jobs and now Mark Zuckerberg.

[nun ya]

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@Iluvhandbags wrote:

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@ECBG wrote:

I can't believe a really good major designer is closing doors.  

That tier of shoppers have quite a large shopping budget.

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Depends.....if it's the outlets, then no, that tier of shoppers don't have a large shopping budget. Hence, his problem; can't be exclusive/high end and still be freely available to the masses. Once a designer chooses to do so: first, they lose the money-is-no-object shopper. But they still maintain the mid-level, have-a-little-extra-cash-but-spend-it-judicially shopper. Once they reach the every-young-teeny-bopper and the don't-have-any-extra-cash-so-I'll-buy-the-knock-off crowd, they lose the mid-level purchaser and the cool/hip factor. This is what then happens.

It's risky business practices. Let's see how if pans out for Kate Spade and Tory Burch...so far, they seem to have been able to maintain at that mid-level market.

ETA: Kate Spade and Tory Burch were not really in the uber high end market to begin with so that may be what helps them maintain their status quo. I do love Tory Burch! My current favorite.....

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I was surprised to hear Coach is buying Kate Spade

[Cumbercookie13]

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@Noel7 wrote:

SF and San Jose are both flooded with techies, most are in their 20s and 30s.

They will pay millions for a house, a lot of money for a good car and top dollar for food and restaurants. 

Clothes are not a priority, including for work.  Jeans and a tee shirt is the basic look, as seen with Steve Jobs and now Mark Zuckerberg.

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I agree. They'll spend more money at a trendy bar or restaurant or their homes than clothes. You see it all the time on the DIY channels. A twenty-something couple, buying a very expensive property with his and her "caves", and they wear clothes from Target or Goodwill. Nothing wrong with that at all since a home is a better investment money wise instead of a designer handbag. 

Even some celebrities, who can afford Kors, Coach, etc. have no qualms buying at Target or some of the "lower-end" B&M stores, and don't care where their stuff comes from. Well, except maybe shoes. I've seen some of the "it girls" of the moment wear a $25 dress from Gap paired with $4000 Jimmy Choos. 

[sunshine45]

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@Iluvhandbags wrote:

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@ECBG wrote:

I can't believe a really good major designer is closing doors.  

That tier of shoppers have quite a large shopping budget.

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Depends.....if it's the outlets, then no, that tier of shoppers don't have a large shopping budget. Hence, his problem; can't be exclusive/high end and still be freely available to the masses. Once a designer chooses to do so: first, they lose the money-is-no-object shopper. But they still maintain the mid-level, have-a-little-extra-cash-but-spend-it-judicially shopper. Once they reach the every-young-teeny-bopper and the don't-have-any-extra-cash-so-I'll-buy-the-knock-off crowd, they lose the mid-level purchaser and the cool/hip factor. This is what then happens.

It's risky business practices. Let's see how if pans out for Kate Spade and Tory Burch...so far, they seem to have been able to maintain at that mid-level market.

ETA: Kate Spade and Tory Burch were not really in the uber high end market to begin with so that may be what helps them maintain their status quo. I do love Tory Burch! My current favorite.....

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we have a kate spade and tory burch outlet not too far away. we go several times a year. my 24 year old LOVES their handbags and accessories, the classic styles and the "fun" styles. we can often get them for great prices.

[Noel7]

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@Cumbercookie13 wrote:

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@Noel7 wrote:

SF and San Jose are both flooded with techies, most are in their 20s and 30s.

They will pay millions for a house, a lot of money for a good car and top dollar for food and restaurants. 

Clothes are not a priority, including for work.  Jeans and a tee shirt is the basic look, as seen with Steve Jobs and now Mark Zuckerberg.

---

I agree. They'll spend more money at a trendy bar or restaurant or their homes than clothes. You see it all the time on the DIY channels. A twenty-something couple, buying a very expensive property with his and her "caves", and they wear clothes from Target or Goodwill. Nothing wrong with that at all since a home is a better investment money wise instead of a designer handbag. 

Even some celebrities, who can afford Kors, Coach, etc. have no qualms buying at Target or some of the "lower-end" B&M stores, and don't care where their stuff comes from. Well, except maybe shoes. I've seen some of the "it girls" of the moment wear a $25 dress from Gap paired with $4000 Jimmy Choos. 

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Good point @Cumbercookie13  I think shoes are a priority for men, too.  Athletic shoes mostly that I've seen.

I get it, big money for clothes for the average young person seems a waste unless it's a special occasion.

Oh, and we shouldn't leave out buying the latest in electronics.  I have no problem with any of that, it's their money and they are paid well.  Many invested in the company they work for and have seen huge dividends.

[Irshgrl31201]

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@DiAnne wrote:

Michael Kors higher end bags were beautiful.   They sold in the thousand dollar + range.  

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I agree. I wasn't really familiar with a lot in his brand but the stuff I have seen from the high end line  compared to the reg dept store and TJ Maxx stuff was really beautiful and very nice looking. 

To say he has oversaturated the market is an understatement. 

[Q4u]

It's really unfortunate what these Designers/Companies have done to their brand.  Because MK has saturated the market (as well as Coach)... MK's $1k bags are no longer desired because, well.... everyone is carry an MK or Coach bag.  Since you can get "the look" of a 1k bag for $179 at Dillards, who's going to shell out a thousand or more for the upper end pieces?  Coach is finding that out right now with their attempt at $700 - $800 bags.....  they might be gorgeous and well made, but everyone has a couple of Coach's and because of this, they've lost their exclusivity.

BTW, I also love Kate Spade and own a gorgeous one made of goat leather.  I've been seeing Kate Spade all over TJMaxx here, and we don't usually get the better handbags.  Which tells me that they are being distributed to "the end of the road stores" like crazy..... even to a little town like mine..... Sad.

[MacDUFF]

Granted, I've only seen a few of his higher end bags, but I am not impressed with anything MK, including his clothes.  

[Q4u]

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@Nancy Drew wrote:

Off topic I know but I am amazed at what people will pay for beat up Chanel items on Ebay

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You are right!  Chanel items are expensive, and are still considered well worth even half the price on eBay if the customer can get it.  Chanel has never compromised on their brand.... ever.  And that's why it's still at the top and why ladies still fawn over them.  It's amazing but it's the recipe for lasting success IMHO.  

[faeriemoon]

I have never desired a Michael Kors bag (from either tier.)