posted by Peter

Mar 05, 2009 1:13PM

Even though unemployment is up, most people are still employed and making the same amount they were making before the recession.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 1:25PM

@Peter- that may be true, but it's also true that most people have much smaller investment portfolios and less home equity, increasing the portion of their income they choose to save. It's also true that those with jobs have seen friends and coworkers get laid off, and are building up their savings accounts just in case. I know both are true in my case!

posted by Megs252

Mar 05, 2009 1:29PM

Definitely not me. Any disposable (ha!) income I have has gone straight into my savings account. I learned the hard way that things never happen the way you expect them to and that it's smart to have some sort of safety net wether you think you' need it or not.

More power to those people who can afford this kind of stuff but I couldn't before the economy nose-dived and I definitely can't now. At least I can still drool over them on ShopBop and Net-a-Porter. Le sigh...

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 1:32PM

I cant look at these jeans with out whams 'wake me up before you go go' being played in my head. Did George Michael use to own these jeans is that why they are so expensive?

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 2:00PM

Yes, but Net-a-Porter is having a sale again on early spring items--correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems very early for that, particularly from a site that doesn't like to go on sale.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 2:13PM

the only we are ever going to get out of this recession is if people continue to spend money!

posted by bluealvarez

Mar 05, 2009 4:13PM

I just dropped $124 at Target.com on the McQ stuff and felt like that was a big deal. So, obviously it's not me.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 4:56PM

I am buying hummus, saltines, sour gummy worms, caramel creams, and gum. I am also eating these things that i bought

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 5:48PM

It is very confusing how super-expensive things like the Christopher Kane dresses at Browns and Net-a-Porter, and the Balmain studded skirt and some of the jackets at Luisa via Roma, have sold out so quickly, given how early it is in the season and the dire economic state.

My theory would be that either the super-rich haven't been affected that much by the recession yet and thus keep buying this stuff (Mulberry's sales may be down, but their customers are probably less wealthy and more likely to be treating themselves - remeber, both Hermes and LVMH claim to have had sales growth).

OR more interestingly, maybe the retailers are creating an illusion of super-expensive sell-out pieces just to keep people on their toes, and to protect their exclusivity (e.g. not giving the impression, like the American department stores did, that they're desperate to sell anything, even at 80% off)

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 6:06PM

#10. It could also be that they purchased a limited quantity of the items and they are selling out quickly because they are so few in number. Net-a-porter already has waiting lists for Balmain items that have yet to go up on the website. Balmain is selling like crazy. I wonder how long Decarnin can sustain this Balmain madness.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 6:55PM

10 and 11 are right. They have 1 or 2 of these pieces on order. Sometimes they will just say sold to make it seem like items are selling. That's pretty standard in retail especially in tough times.

posted by Halie

Mar 05, 2009 9:06PM

well, the people that bought these items before the recession are still buying them. the most expensive zip codes in the US haven't seen any change in sales. these superrich people aren't hurting, they know how to protect their money.

and besides, I don't really understand how you guys are always complaining about how you've been a recession. as far as I can tell, you've been working here at fashionista this whole time. unless you've taken a pay cut, or have some debts we don't know about, it really doesn't affect you. prices haven't gone up, they've gone down.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2009 9:45PM

I was wondering this the other day. I will say that since money has been tight I have started investing in "classic" pieces, instead spending tons of money on little things. So I actaully plan on buying a few things soon from the money I used to "throw away".

posted by guest

Mar 06, 2009 10:16AM

#13, I would guess that our fashionista friends are pretty smart and know that the media industry is in serious trouble and a lot of blogs have folded ... and sales are down in fashion. So they are hanging on to their money just in case.

posted by guest

Mar 06, 2009 8:26PM

wake up people-here's how it works. net-a-porter buys 1, maybe 2 pairs of balmain motocross jeans, and voila........sold out!