Brands with no benefits - YouLookFab Forum

Hi! I'm new here, but I love it already! English is not my first language, so please, bare with me.
I've got a fashion dilemma! I'm 30 years, I work temp, I have studied some academia. I don't have much money, but all things fashion is my guilty pleasure!
I was looking for a totebag, mostly for work. I can't afford anything expensive and I thought all of the cheaper ones looked either boring or garish. And then I found them. Patent Tote Bags from Armani Jeans, one in taupe and one in black. I thought they looked sleek and sophisticated. I could imagine myself wearing the black one with pointy toed flats, black palazzo pants, black turtleneck, bare face, red lips (Mac Mangrove), big hoop earrings and Quay Australia sunglasses in Stop&Stare Gold/Brown.
And the taupe bag with heeled sock boots and Whistles ribknit dress in Multi Stripe, same glasses and earrings, and Mac Creme In Your Coffee lips.
But everyone seems to hate Armani, especially Armani Jeans. I know the fashion police won't hall me away (or will they Iris Apfel?), but I don't want to buy anything I will regret when I walk out the door. Should I buy the
bags?

9 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Katarina...not sure why or who these people are who hate Armani, but if you like the bag, can see it working for you, and it works for your budget, then i'd say get it....but if this brand offends you or has values or corporate policies that don't fit with your beliefs, than you need to balance your fashion and your conscience.

cindysmith

I think Armani gets a bit of hate because they've become so well known, and they have almost as many 'lines' or 'brands' as Ralph Lauren. If you like the bag, and Giorgio Armani's politics don't offend you, then buy the bag.

I only avoid buying brands I otherwise like when their corporate policies do not align with my personal (sociopolitical) beliefs. I don't let other people's perceptions of a brand influence my buying decisions.

Good luck with your search for a new bag!

Katarina

Member

Hi! Thank you both for your support and swift reply! Just curious, I might live under a rock (I'm not from the U.S.) but what is it with "Giorgio Armani's politics"? Is there something I've missed? I know there is an Armani everything, hotels, perfume, etc. He's a selfmade businessman, dropout and billionare that cares about Italian fashion. I can't see much difference compared to other corporations? Is he involved in drugmoney and cartels? Mining in nondemocratic countries (like most who make any kind of cellphones)? Is there a difference compared to Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs? I'm just curious.

minimalist

If you're in a creative setting, carrying certain brands can mark you as, shall we say, uninspired.

Have you checked resale sites such as ebay, poshmark, tradesy, etc? Or consignment stores? Sometimes handbag lovers re-sell still-good bags at much lower prices than retail, and there's a range of styles and materials available.

Hi! Ok, I might not be the most creative person. Thank you for your advise, but Poshmark only sells to mainland US, and I guess Tradesy would be expensive with the shipment, taxes and customs. Consignment stores doesn't usually ship to my country and we barely have any here, if any. The only Armani stores (no hotels, or cafes, pubs, clubs or anything) we have in the whole country is two in the capital (Collezioni and Men) and one in the countries third largest city (Armani Jeans). Never been there, guess they're as big as a shoebox. But I'll see what I can do, fashion is a very small business here, there isn't much of a trusty second hand market either.

CocoLion

(website)

Cynthiawalkersmith -- what are Armani's politics? I'm not seeing very much when I search "Giorgio Armani politics". Or maybe he had his internet record cleaned? All I could find was that he stopped making things using real fur. And that his company is a "political" place to work.

Katarina, I love the way you are describing your outfits, they sound fantastic. I feel rather neutral about the Armani label, I'm in the US. I don't see it as a negative but also it's not exactly hot like it was in the 90s. I would go by what is admired in your country.

Barbara Diane

I buy and wear what I like. I'm not so into brands. Sometimes I find out after the fact that something I like is also "in" with a certain group.

Sorry for the US-centric suggestions, Katarina. :-/

Are there any small workshops in your area where small artisans make nice bags?

Armani sounds fine, and those bags sound like they would work really beautifully with your style.

Sal

I would buy at least one, given you have outfits in mind.

I am not a brand person in the most part, and I avoid clothing with obvious branding/labels. I have always quite liked Armani clothes and they sound like lovely bags.

binkle

You said "everyone seems to hate Armani, especially Armani Jeans.". Is this what you have heard or read in your country? I only ask because I don't think that that is the case in the US. Unless I am totally out of it

Mostly, it seems that people, if they don't like "brands," are not liking big logos, or logos all over the item, like Louis Vuiton, or Michael Kors, or Coach (Coach fabric) or Tori Burch. That is, the item is more distinctive for the logo on it than for its design. And some people like the logo-look!

If the bag works for your needs, and YOU like it, go for it!

No worries minimalist. I could look for some artisans, but if they're not amateurs, it's not going to be cheap.

Binkle, I made some googling and asked around. The attitude here is sometimes, that if you really can't afford brands, you're just tacky when wearing one.

But I think I'll go for one of them and just see how it pans out!
Thank you All for kind words and support!

harmonica

Katarina, welcome to the YLF community. Keeping up with fashion and style on a limited budget can also be part of the fun. I.e. mixing second hand, thrift or vintage items with costier ones or Zara or H&M can create a unique style.

kkards said it very well and I like how you've thought through how to wear the bag. Taupe and black are neutrals so you can't go wrong colourwise. Post a pic when you feel ready. I'm curious about your style and look forward to follow your journey.

I just threw that out there because Armani was the brand mentioned. I have never heard anything slimy about Giorgio Armani like we have about the American Apparel and Lululemon guys. I like Armani's stuff and would have no problem buying it (I just have to buy it through yoox or consignment because it is pricey)

Sorry for the delay seeing and responding to this. Our internet has been very intermittent since we got the snow this past weekend. Their equipment room at the tower got flooded and they got it back up finally but it isn't reliable yet.

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