The International Herald Tribune has a sunglasses story today, and it calls them “the last affordable luxury.”
Of course, they’re also the most fragile of the status accessories:
It’s really hard to leave your YSL ruffle bag in the dressing room at Brown’s, but that’s exactly what I did with my vintage Calvin Klein shades last year in London, and I’ve never seen them again!
There’s always the argument that if you pay more, you’ll take better care of them, but I’ve never found that to be true (see the completely wrecked pair of Prada velvet wedges in my closet). Also, a pair of designer sunglasses retail for $200 – $300, which is roughly the same price as a Miu Miu bag on Bluefly.
Still, the article points out that “sunglasses are the last bastion of hope for those who want to bask in the luxury-label sunshine but can’t afford to keep up with the skyrocketing prices for designer handbags and clothing,” in part because they place designer logos so close to the face (if you’re into that sort of thing).
But just as handbags have gone from $500 to $1000 in recent years, the article describes new premium glasses from Louis Vuitton and other brands, that will sell for double – or even triple – the average price of a designer pair.
Can you still afford your sunglasses, or are you like me – buying twelve pairs at once at Forever 21, then burning through them until they’re all gone?