I’ve had a bit of an up and down week this week but one lovely thing did happen at work the other day completely out of the blue – I received a long service award as I’ve worked with the same company for 10 years.
I was given a lovely framed certificate thanking me for my work, along with a silver engraved keyring, a silver photo holder and a small catalogue of gifts to choose from. The gifts were really impressive (to me anyway) – matching his and hers Armani watches, a Tissot watch, a Radley Cheadle bag and a Links of London Sweetie bracelet among other things.
I decided to go for the Links of London bracelet (below) as it looks really pretty and it’s not something I would usually buy for myself or ask Mr Frugal to buy for me and last night, when Miss Frugal got home from her friends house, I turned the laptop on and proudly showed her the bracelet that’s winging it’s way to me as we speak.
She loved it straight away (what did I expect – it’s pink and shiny) until she saw the price of it, which horrified her. ‘Why would someone pay that much just for a bracelet Mam?’ I was a bit lost for words at this and mumbled something about it being very pretty, to which she replied ‘I have a pretty bracelet just like that Mam and I bet it never cost that much – there’s lots of better things that people can buy with their money’.
What can I say to that? The girl has a point that I can’t really argue with.
Why do we spend so much more on designer labels and brands? Is it because they are genuinely better quality that everyday brands or if we’re honest is it just for the label and the fact people will see that we own a designer brand – like a kind of status symbol.
Whichever way you look at it, £175 is a lot of money to spend on a bracelet that people probably won’t even wear every day and as Miss Frugal says, she does have a very similar bracelet that cost about £3 from Tesco and from a few feet away (which is as close as most people would get to seeing her wrist) you genuinely can’t tell the difference. Obviously close up, the difference in quality is more apparent and I’m sure that my bracelet will last a lot longer than hers but I can see her point.
The same can be said for designer clothes, shoes, make up, handbags and on a larger scale even things like cars. Are we really paying for the brand name or do you think the extra quality is worth paying a premium for?
Another reason I think we buy designer labels is because they are the ‘in’ thing to have. I can personally vouch for this as I went through a Radley phase a while ago (pre-frugal life) and if I’m honest, I think that was more down to the fact that lots of people had one and I wanted one than because I actually like the bags. Now I prefer more individual things and I think Miss Frugal is possibly the only nine year old in her school to have a Radley bag and purse – someone might as well get some use out of them!
What about you? Are you a designer label fan or do you steer clear?
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Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
Wow I do love that bracelet, but £175??? Was it worth it?
Whats the quality really like?
Sarah.x
Hello
Very occasionally I might splash out on something to treasure, I have a Karen Millen Leather jacket that still looks almost new after 6 years almost constant wear and will, I hope, keep on going. I also have a Dorothy Perkins jacket blught circa 1996 for £30 in gift vouchers which I thought expensive then! It is only just starting to fall apart. I prefer to think of each item I buy and will it be used, and can I afford it at all, then decide whether it is worth paying extra for or looking for a cheaper alternative.
I also ruined all my wool jjumpers in a washing machine only to find out after that the wool setting didn't work. I don't think I bought a decent jumper again… long live washable fleece!
I agree with paying a bit more for a quality item that will last longer but some designer stuff is just a rip off though (like the CK jumper I bought that shrunk several sizes after being washed). It's lovely that your company let you choose your gift, hope you enjoy it.
Thanks very much, I usually do things like shrink new jumpers when I wash them – glad it's not just me then x
I do like that bracelet, very much! I however could do so much with £175! It is nice though. I agree that you have to pay a little more to get quality but I don't think I could warrant paying £175 on a bracelet, but being a full-time mum!
I do love it but would have never justified spending the money on it myself. Stay at home mums should get long service awards too 😉
I am with your daughter – the whole designer label thing totally passes me by. I just don't understand it! My mother and sister in law are very into names and have bought me Radley stuff before as present – I know its a bit ungrateful but it frustrates me a bit as I just think they're wasting their money buying me something like that as the name doesn't really mean anything to me. If something is nice, its nice, regardless of name or price. The bracelet is lovely, and how fab to work for a company that make gestures like that! But personally I'd rather have the £175!!!
Give her time, she'll be into designer gear in the next few years I bet.
You're so right, if something is nice, it's nice. End of. Doesn't matter what the make is or how much it costs. x
Like a commentator above I think it depends on the item, I think leather handbags are nicer than pleather for instance so of course am going to have to spend more. I also own a cardigan from Brora (bought in sale but still £££) because I think their cashmere is fantastic quality.
HOWEVER my original engagement ring was my grandmothers and because of it's sentimental value I am scared to wear it therefore I have one from AVON(!) which cost £15 and I promise most people wouldn't know it's cubic zirconia(sp!) and plated as most of us have no training in diamonds.
I LOVE the smell of leather handbags – you cant beat it! That's excellent about your engagement ring, I would never know the difference between real diamonds and cubic zirconias and I guess most other people don't either x
Designer as such does not mean much to me. But sometimes I do find that spending a bit more gives you a better quality. It is then all about judging in which cases things are worth spending a bit more on. And how much more. I can image your 175 bracelet lasting a bit longer then the 3 pound one. But there is also a lot in between the two!
I think that's a great point – you don't have to get the cheapest or the most expensive as there's plenty of good quality middle of the range things out there x
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I don't own a single designer thing, not because I am against them, I just don't look at things I know I will not be able to afford.
However that bracelet is gorgeous!
I know what you mean – why look at something you know is going to cost a fortune!
That is amazing, where can I get more information?
I think it depends what it is. If it's jewellery, handbags, coats and shoes I can tell a massive difference. Most other stuff not so much and anyway I can't get my bum into designer clothes anyway 😉 It's a beautiful bracelet though and well deserved xx
I'd love to fit my bum in a pair of designer jeans 😉
I do like designer labels but think some brands you are paying for the name not the quality. Whilst out shopping in the sales I noticed Superdry were one of the only shops not to have a sale which bugged me tbh.
I normally only pick designer items in sales but do find they last longer than non-designer brands.
Also I love the bracelet 🙂
You do pay for the name more than the quality a lot of the time don't you? Great if you can get things in the sale though x
I'm definitely of the ilk that designer generally isn't worth the price you pay – although that's a lovely bracelet, and if it's a freebie I definitely wouldn't turn down something designer that I like! And if I found a unique designer piece that I LOVED, and had the cash to buy it I probably would. I just think you can get things that are just as nice from the high street and online, and I'd rather spend more on something like a decent haircut, which I wear every day! x
I agree, if I found something I loved that was designer then I'd consider splashing out but would never buy something just because it was designer 😉