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?
Tags: Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton
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I never wanted to buy expensive glasses, but last summer I bought a pair of Ray Ban polarized aviators – generic, I know, but I love them to death! – for I think about $250. The quality was so much better than the $20 and $70 ones that I’d never buy cheap ones again. They don’t scratch or break when I drop them, they stand up to everyday wear and tear, and they’re so much better for protecting eyes. The polarizing works great for road and water glare! I found that because they’re higher and I made a bigger investment in them, I’ve made sure to take better care of them than cheap ones. I’m sold on quality sunglasses!
I most definetly agree that designer sunglasses are an absolutely wonderful investment. For me, at least. I am 20 years old… so Im currently dutifully saving for a marc jacobs bag this summer… but i do love my designer sunglasses. and i have never lost a pair. i have a simple versace for 200, the chanel mother of pearl for 300 something, and a marc by marc pair for 95. I have never lost a pair and i don’t think i ever will. however, i don’t take very good care of any of them, all of them are pretty scratched. I love all my sunglasses to death… i also am very scared of crow’s feet. i can’t imagine how anyone could spend that much and leave them somewhere. I think about “cost per wear” if they are $300 but you wear them everyday, then that is much better than all those splurge buys that you never use. I now want a pair of classic wayfarers….
I most definetly agree that designer sunglasses are an absolutely wonderful investment. For me, at least. I am 20 years old… so Im currently dutifully saving for a marc jacobs bag this summer… but i do love my designer sunglasses. and i have never lost a pair. i have a simple versace for 200, the chanel mother of pearl for 300 something, and a marc by marc pair for 95. I have never lost a pair and i don’t think i ever will. however, i don’t take very good care of any of them, all of them are pretty scratched. I love all my sunglasses to death… i also am very scared of crow’s feet. i can’t imagine how anyone could spend that much and leave them somewhere. I think about “cost per wear” if they are $300 but you wear them everyday, then that is much better than all those splurge buys that you never use. I now want a pair of classic wayfarers….
I most definetly agree that designer sunglasses are an absolutely wonderful investment. For me, at least. I am 20 years old… so Im currently dutifully saving for a marc jacobs bag this summer… but i do love my designer sunglasses. and i have never lost a pair. i have a simple versace for 200, the chanel mother of pearl for 300 something, and a marc by marc pair for 95. I have never lost a pair and i don’t think i ever will. however, i don’t take very good care of any of them, all of them are pretty scratched. I love all my sunglasses to death… i also am very scared of crow’s feet. i can’t imagine how anyone could spend that much and leave them somewhere. I think about “cost per wear” if they are $300 but you wear them everyday, then that is much better than all those splurge buys that you never use. I now want a pair of classic wayfarers….
I most definetly agree that designer sunglasses are an absolutely wonderful investment. For me, at least. I am 20 years old… so Im currently dutifully saving for a marc jacobs bag this summer… but i do love my designer sunglasses. and i have never lost a pair. i have a simple versace for 200, the chanel mother of pearl for 300 something, and a marc by marc pair for 95. I have never lost a pair and i don’t think i ever will. however, i don’t take very good care of any of them, all of them are pretty scratched. I love all my sunglasses to death… i also am very scared of crow’s feet. i can’t imagine how anyone could spend that much and leave them somewhere. I think about “cost per wear” if they are $300 but you wear them everyday, then that is much better than all those splurge buys that you never use. I now want a pair of classic wayfarers….
Sunglasses are actually one of the few things I truly splurge on. I got a pair of Dolce and Gabbana’s for a birthday present this year and I LOVE THEM. There’s never any glare that I usually get with my cheapos, and the bigger size gives the added sun protection. (Is it just me, or does anyone else burn the under eye skin like a KFC chicken tender??)
I wear these everyday, too. I’m a lot more willing to spend extra on an item I’ll use frequently than on a ‘special occasion’ item. It’s a quality issue, I guess.
Sunglasses are actually one of the few things I truly splurge on. I got a pair of Dolce and Gabbana’s for a birthday present this year and I LOVE THEM. There’s never any glare that I usually get with my cheapos, and the bigger size gives the added sun protection. (Is it just me, or does anyone else burn the under eye skin like a KFC chicken tender??)
I wear these everyday, too. I’m a lot more willing to spend extra on an item I’ll use frequently than on a ‘special occasion’ item. It’s a quality issue, I guess.
If you want quality & unique pieces…choose the vintage ones..
check this website http://www.labelvintage.com
amazing paires of Shades from the 70s to 90s…a real must have
If you want quality & unique pieces…choose the vintage ones..
check this website http://www.labelvintage.com
amazing paires of Shades from the 70s to 90s…a real must have
If you want quality & unique pieces…choose the vintage ones..
check this website http://www.labelvintage.com
amazing paires of Shades from the 70s to 90s…a real must have
ummm, that article actually didn't say anything about Louis Vuitton….but it did mention Bottega Veneta (a division of the Gucci Group), a company pretty much synonymous with fabulously overpriced accessories, a la the much-copied woven leather handbag…so i pretty much expect that from them…