Designer Labels

The finest clothing carries no label. My tailor told me so. He left Saville Row to do custom work for the quiet connoisseur.

ames – That isn’t how you compared baking to designer clothing a few posts back.

she means people enjoy baking, people enjoy showing off. What’s the difference?lol

You cant legislate… middos.

Don’t the Seforim Hakedoshim do exactly that?

The labol in the clothing is out of hand in these days consumers shop and buy all types of articles because the names, well if I am the manufacturer I love it. Me as a consumer I love it when I get it on sale. Some people love the fact that they can buy supposedly better items, better quality, sometimes it is better , sometimes it is just a name, sometimes it is a little better butit is not for the price difference.

We have to teach our children in yeshivas and at home the importance of looking clean well iron but not the importance of wearing designer items. I think it is a problem in these days. Even little first graders want a designer knapsacks.

Like I said earlier, it revolves about being tzinut, Ames. Being tziniut not only involves clothing hemlines, sleevelines or neckline, tziniut includes not wearing things that call attention to oneself. Celebrities wear designer labels to call attention to themselves. Actually, the designers send these people their products to wear/use to call attention to themselves. Most people buy designers just for the designers, not quality issues. People that are super rich, use the bags a few times and then give them away. I don’t think they use things for quality issues on products. If wearing garbage became poplar, some people are so fickle, they would wear garbage.

I guess it bothers me that people buy designer labels and are wasting their money, the same way it bothers me that people who can’t afford luxuries and buy things to keep up with the “Cohen’s”. I am sorry but most people copy what the rich do. They are held to a higher standard, then the poor folks.

mazca – what you said is exactly why many great Sages were fearful of the nisyonos of being wealthy. It is not easy to know how Hashem meant for a wealthy person to use his wealth. But this applies not only to those who we think of as wealthy (i.e. those who appear wealthy relative to ourselves) but even to ourselves, as we skrimp and save to “redo the kitchen” or whatever. We have the same opportunity to use the money to feed the hungry, but it’s between us and Hashem only.

The funny thing a wealthy person never sees himself as wealthy because no matter how much he has he always feels a lack. I know people who bought Couch pocketbooks and feel they are cheap because they are not Louis Vitton ones.

Just-a-guy, Paul Frederick.

Cantoresq- thanks. I’ve bought their shirts and ties, but never the suits. They do have good sales.

well anyone who only wears brand names is so ‘COOL’!!!! It’s totally ridiculous how much people would spend on stupidity to look cool! You know, half the brands out there are from people who are anti semites! Tommy Hilfigher for example! why are we running to support em, and then feeling ‘cool’ in addition?

We should start selling a new designer brand – YW! We’ll make clothing that has YW’s all over it and it will become the most popular brand/style out there!

Before the guys pick on the girls, take the Borsalino pin or ribbon off your hats. Why they were able to corner what must be a very small market lies with the consumer. B”H here in EY, one can get an un-Borsalino at lower cost and not too much to complain about quality, along with all flavors of flat felt Hasidic low end stuff. What boggles the American mind is the local minhag to wear a new suit with the sleeve label attached davka.

k so seriously…besides for ames(and random ppl having their own conversations…lol and i remember lisa frank!)you all make no sense. stop looking at other ppl’s things and get on with your life. it is none of your bussiness…ppl dont have to go out of their way to hide their lifestyle from you just because you have the green monster in you! the only reason you’d waste your time discussng an issue that you have no control over is because you probally have issues and need to vent. I can understand your frustrated but serously….ppl have a right to live their life the way they want. It wouldn’t make sense for a wealthy person to have to buy cheaper brands and hide the fact they went on a cruise cuz your going to complain to the whole neighborhood abt it! it is even written that a man of great statues or wealth is supposed to spend more money and look nicer then the average because admit it, he has a higher status in the bussiness/polital/social world then you are! I am NOT saying he is a greater person in the ruchnius/inner etc sense but to the world he represents something and kol hakavod if he chooses to hide it but…Now stop complaing and wasting your time and get on with life! And please dont you all attack me for posting s/t against your veiws….!

I agree with ames and hud that if u can afford it why not? don’t start making a big deal about what others are wearing. but theres one thing that does bother me about labels and thats that why shud ppl b spending so much money on clothes when their fellow jews can’t affgord to put food on their table? no one has to go looking for bargains or dress like a shlump, but if u cud spend 500 on a store in bloomingdales or 200 on almost the same skirt in a jewish store then why not give that 300 to tzedaka and buy the cheaper skirt? if someone can afford to spend money then its their business but i think that this can b stressed to parents and children- learn to just think and prioratize before spending

Okay, my two cents – I am someone who thinks the whole brand-name thing is PATHETIC!!! But, truthfully, it depends why you are wearing/sporting it. If you are wearing it because you got a Ralph Lauren (My friend calls it [the logo] ‘Rachmana Letzlan’]) sweater for $25 in Marshalls, the kol hakavod, wear it all you want. If you’re wearing it for the shtick, then take it off, and stop acting so shtultzy. You don’t have to have the Gucci wristlet for $100.

I personally think the whole thing is very sad, especially because, like Gezuntheit said, a lot of the brand names are from anti-Semites.

I watched my sister go from someone not style/fashion conscious to someone much too conscious for my tastes. And she just doesn’t get it when I say that she doesn’t need the Kipling wristlet, and the Ugg shoes, and the Ralph Lauren shirt….. She’ll just give me excuses for every single one, totally not chapping that what she’s doing is a bad habit that can be come a money-eating hobby.

A note to those who feel they have to wear brand-names, for whatever reason they do – just make sure the logo is not too big that it’s not tznius. Ralph Lauren’s horses tripled in size and clash with the color of the shirt/sweater, but everyone just kept on wearing them. Watch those logos…

Slightly off topic but several years ago I heard about a particular community where people who couldn’t afford to do construction on their house (adding a room, renovating, etc.) would rent a dumpster to put outside so people would think they were doing construction.

It’s amazing what people will do to try to keep up with the neighbors.

I believe the big “purse” theory was created for the “modern” average woman, to make “it’s” surroundings appear smaller by comparison. Clothing sizes have changed (in the recent 50 years) to accommodate this ever “growing” trend, so why not other items such as purses, sunglasses, jewelry…

It’s funny, I read some semi-upscale women’s magazine. One just had a fashion spread called, The $30 Purse. They mix it up, a little. Occasionally you can find Target, Kohl’s, even Payless on those pages.

And BTW, if anyone spots me with a Coach purse I got it at the thrift shop (where I do a good bit of my shopping).

Buying good quality clothing is fine. But what really makes me laugh is when people are obviously wearing fine clothing, but their behavior is rude, curt, animialistic–men and women alike.

What is the point in wearing refined, expensive clothing when your behaviour is anything but refined? It makes you look like a real fool.

Your garments become beautiful only when your behaviour is beautiful and thoughtful toward others–the designer labels have nothing to do with it.

So stop honking your horns, stop running your carriages into other people, stop breaking the law, stop being rude and mean–and start being thoughtful and nice and honest. Then you will really be refined and cool, or whatever you are looking for in your desinger clothing.

pg that is so true

I copied this poem from a basement shop in Boro Park 30 years ago:

Designed . . . for Eternity??

I’ll tell you a story, ‘though ere I begin,

I warn you ’twill tear at your heart from within,

‘Tis the tale of a girl you’d be wont to admire,

With crystal clear purpose to which she’d aspire

She knew that this world of ours under the sun

Is merely a route to the World to Come.

All proceeded so smoothly and well,

Until a force as evil as Hell

Threatened to take her before her time –

To pluck her ere she was ripe on the vine.

Kin’ah, Ta’avah and Kovod, — our sages have taught,

Can take a man and make him to naught,

Can remove man from within this world –

Into an abyss a man can be hurled!

And so goes our tale, so sad to relate,

How the forces of evil sealed her fate,

How the net closed about this poor young lass

Who was ridden with ta’avah to dress with “class,”

Who sought the kovod of her friends’ admiration

(While her neshomo suffered from humiliation,)

Who felt a Kin’ah for people with labels

So sad how this life which could have been so sunny

Was ruined by such sinful wasting of money;

So sad how a girl who was not a bit “prust”

Could be caught in the net of absolute lust,

Caught in a sinister trap of Fashion

And the rest of this tale will turn you just ashen . . .

One bleak night it came to pass

That the Malach Hamoves sighted this lass;

He licked his chops and said “My what a treasure!

I’ll nab her and grab her while I’m at my leisure,

Right now when she’s single, lest there will be

A husband – so shackled in this misery.

There is no doubt that she’d just keep him hopping

With demands for more money so she could go shopping

To Bergdorf’s and Sak’s and Bonwit Teller.

Why – he would be such an unlucky feller!

She’d need a new sheitel each day of the week

For every new style of which fashion does speak.”

So while she was thinking, “Which style is the rage?”

He took her away at a very young age.

But lo and behold – and here is the saddest;

You would never guess it, for this is the maddest!

She refused to pass through the Heavenly Gates

Without proper tachrichim as Fashion dictates!!!

And her poor, sweet neshomo went floating, at best,

In outer space – with nowhere to rest;

That poor sweet neshomo shed many a tear

For what a fashionable tachrich to wear.

Now there was a Malach of heart so stout

Who took it upon him to help her out,

Who was so overcome with compassion

That he set out for earth to the world of fashion!

He canvassed Fifth Avenue, store to store,

Astounding the salesmen on every floor.

And her poor, sweet neshomo was tossing and turning

In outer space – for rest it was yearning!

Who heard of a Malach in Bergdorf’s before??

Or buying tachrichim in a department store?

Why – the whole Fifth Avenue buzzed with the fable

Of the angel who shopped for the designer label.

Not one bit of luck; not in one single store,

So he set out for Paris, to the House of Dior.

And her poor, sweet neshomo was tossing and turning

In outer space – for rest it was yearning!

He approached each designer straight down the line

From Geoffrey Beane to Calvin Klein,

But, shrugging his shoulders, Pierre Cardin

Said, “We only design for the living man,”

And all these exertions caused the Malach to pant –

Flung himself at the door of Yves St. Laurent.

And her poor, sweet neshomo was tossing and turning.

For rest it was yearning; for rest it was burning . . .

And maybe . . . a lesson at last it was learning??

And back down below the Malach was tiring,

Wanting to help – but never admiring.

One last try; one last fling –

“I’ll go to Halson, for he is the king.”

“Please, can you help me,” he tremblingly queried.

“To clothe a young lady who wants to be buried.”

“Out!” said Halson, as he puffed his cigar,

Even I think this is going too far!

And her poor, sweet neshomo was tossing and turning.

For rest it was yearning; for rest it was burning!

Oh surely . . .a lesson it must have been learning!

Below, the Malach was struggling and tiring.

He knew that in moments his time was expiring.

“If she’s not at the Heavenly Court for her trial,

They’ll send her below for many a mile.

If she’s not there to plead her own case

Then surely she’ll be in most awful disgrace.”

So he zoomed straight for heaven-not a moment too soon

Hoping, perhaps, – could he save her from doom??

And that poor, sweet neshomo was shaking and trembling

While inside, the Heavenly Court was assembling,

And one brave angel, heavenward bound,

Was sure, at last, that an answer he’d found,

And as the gates stated to close from within,

He came from behind and pushed her in!

And that poor sweet Neshomo, so weak and unstable.

Cared not any more for a designer label;

It struggled enough, requiring great might,

To shield itself from the heavenly light.

But lo! ‘Twas a battle, though gallantly fought.

For material clothing are counted for nought.

And all that money that was poured down the drain,

At present, caused terrible anguish and pain.

Then a great voice in heaven, all presence did fill

And, other than that, all was perfectly still.

“Who can defend this young lady?” it asked,

And the humble neshomo just stood there aghast.

Helpless and broken, in great trepidation,

Anguished and suffering humiliation,

So overcome with remorse and misgiving,

Wishing – just wishing, that it was still living.

Now, one small voice, all kindness and grace,

Broke the stillness and took its place,

The Malach, adopting a bold new stance,

Cried “Couldn’t she please have another chance?!

If this poor sweet neshomo with life you would bless,

Then surely this time she would know how to dress.”

That poor sweet neshomo just stood there in awe,

Trembling and shaking in fear of The Law;

And right there in heaven, thereby there ensued

An unprecedented, heavenly feud!!

The Malach Hamoves yelled and he shouted,

He puffed and he snorted; he fumed and he pouted.

But the kind little Malach, in voice crystal clear,

Quietly proved that the girl was sincere.

“Silence!” then stillness – all moved not a pace

As a Heavenly Decree decided the case.

And the kind little Malach, neshomo in tow,

Set out once more for the earth down below,

And this my friends is the end of my fable,

It is called “The Legend of the Designer Label.”