Sunday, January 18, 2009

Bourgeois Fantasy

CC once saw this term in a New York Times Magazine article, in reference to the prevalent upwardly mobile middle class desire (nay – need) to have a Starbucks on every corner. Which clothing and accessories accompany this so-called “bourgeois fantasy”? CC apologizes in advance for being a total fashion snob, but these items and brands are so omnipresent and trite that they have nearly lost their allure.

  • Juicy Couture Track Suits - ugh! Is everyone in L.A. still wearing these?
  • Manolo Blahniks (yes, they are fabulous, but with so many unique designers out there like Pierre Hardy and Jean-Michel Cazabat – diversify, already! Who really wants to shop somewhere that’s now a NYC “SATC tour”-bus destination – ick!)
  • J. Crew Collection – Tell me this genre was not invented for precisely the class of people who would rather pay $400 for non-Designer duds than cleverly shop the boutiques?
    Seven Jeans – CC is SO over these already – time to discover some new jeans brands; try Killah, William Rast or Current/Elliott!
  • Coach bags. While there are some cute ones out there, and they are, indeed, very well-constructed leather goods, I now prefer to opt for something a tad less ubiquitous. I value a bag that doesn’t desire to be knocked off . . .
    Tell me how YOU feel, darlings!

Which Designers and trends do you find overrated and/or pedestrian these days?

Photo credit: Trashy Deluxe necklace at supermarkethq.com.

47 comments:

  1. Even when I see beautiful things by Juicy, I pass them up due to the association with the horrible tracksuits.

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  2. I absolutely agree with your items.
    I live in Geneva and I go to a wonderful school which is by miracle ' free ' and kinda ' hippie-spirit '... but sometimes I've classes in antoher place and GOD. Let me kill Abercrombie & Fitch, and Longchamp bags. EVERYONE, everyone, everyone, thinks it's 'the' style. Depressing !
    Louis Vuitton on old women is exactly the same.
    And let me say Roberto Cavalli, cause it's the most disgusting stylist ever.
    Aww, and Karl Lagerfeld btw.

    There are lots more but these are REALLY pissing me off !

    Such an interesting question anyway ! :D

    Hugs !

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  3. oh cc! you are too cuuuuuuuute.

    just a few: ( ;) )
    -big designer sunglasses with OBVIOUS branding on the side
    -agreed. coach bags.
    -feathered headbands (although some girls can totally rock it!)
    -studding over load.
    ... a few more but i should stop :)

    hope you are having a fabulous weekend beauty!

    x

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  4. I agree, CC. Maybe: Abercrombie, but I have beauitful wool cardi. What I don't like that UGG boots... those are comfortable, but doesn't enough feminine.

    I don't agree rossovelvet - Karl Lagerfeld is genius and Longschamp bags is very chic and timeless...

    xoxo and a Have a great Sunday: Janet

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  5. 1.Sperry's
    2.Uggs
    3.Anything with obvious branding across the chest...(Abercrombie, Hollister, Bebe, etc.)
    4.Louis Vuitton imitation bags.
    and i agree, Juicy track suits and most coach bags...ick

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  6. juicy tracksuits are over but i will still buy cute pieces if available. as for brands, i tend to buy what is comfortable as i am a little creature of habit.

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  7. Ohh, I went through a complete and total phase when all I would wear was terrible Juicy tracksuits. Never again.

    I also am not a huge Coach bag fan...though I do like the bags without the big C's plastered all over the sides.

    I am a Seven jeans fan - but I'm not completely committed - I do try other brands :)

    I also HATE Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister with their label ridden clothes. It's just not my style.

    This was a great post!

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  8. No, I agree. I like that you are referencing that article because I thought it was really interesting. I also think that Sex and the City has Americanized brands and made them like a Starbucks. I feel fortunate living in NYC where you can kind of work your way around going to a mall and getting these brands but even in the middle of America there are always thrift stores? And fortunately in 2009 you can shop online for unique clothes.

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  9. Totally agree with you about Manolo Blahnik but don't with rossovelvet about Longchamps and Karl Lagerfeld. We also got overrated brands in France such as Zadig&Voltaire.

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  10. i agree.
    over here in the uk theres a designer called jack wills who basically are identical to juicy couture only a bit more 'upmarket'. SO overrated...
    great post, as always :)
    mxx

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  11. american apparel is quickly adding to that list. cool site/

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  12. Consequence of wars, sanctions, etc., in Serbia, only last years opened boutiques known brands. In Belgrade, there are only D & G, Hugo Boss, Versace, Pinko, Escada... For all other brands, our girls knows thanks to Vogue and Elle. We have only few great brands, and they are Dragana Ognjenovic, Verica Rakocevic, and old store Lukic shoes, who made the most quality (but not so beautiful) shoes. So if some girls are fortunate to travel abroad, our girls then buy known brands, but only what they saw in fashion magazines. I think that France and Italy are magical places for discovery unknown but quality brands.
    I like Diego Dolcini and Claudio Merazzi shoes, Anja Gockel-London, Pepe Jeans, and French brand O. who made unique dresses.
    The point is: it's many, many undiscovered amazing brands...

    Hug for you, CC

    FM

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  13. great post!
    my favourite designer right now is a Portuguese duo: Storytailors, www.storytailors.pt
    have a nice week darling!
    xx

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  14. I completely agree with that you're saying! There's other overrated brands like A&F, Longchamp bags (not the nice ones, lol!), Uggs, Ed Hardy clothes. Goes to show that just because you have money, you don't have taste!

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  15. A spanish brand called Tous...I can't stand it its so overrated...I can't understand why everybody is crazy about them... (their logo its a teddy bear :I )

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  16. Thanks, CC! =]

    I second Juicy sweats, I'm also not big on Ed Hardy, trucker hats, high waist skinny jeans.. triple no!

    xx

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  17. On my Yak List is David Yurman showcases in stores. Lots of money, but not heirloom qualit. Which do you think will be more timeless for the money: David Yurman anything or a Palamo Picasso piece from Tiffany's?

    UGGs is on my Yak list too-!!

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  18. I totally agree with you on all topics, especially the velour track suits that people are still wearing!! It was a fad that started in 2002 and ended the next year! Ugh....I cringe when I see those now...

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  19. OH the Coach bags are just terrible to me. The logo is too heinous for words! I think for overrated/overexposed brands - Skechers -- eeeeek yyiicch.

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  20. oh gawd the juicy sweatsuits

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  21. well said CC! you know maybe its a lack of experimentation.we human beings tend to stick to what we know even when theres way better out there.You are so right about the Manolo thing,i love his designs but I know some who only get them as they were used in SATC. I think with everything, we should always see what else is out there.
    great post.
    muah,
    marian

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  22. OMG I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
    Coach bags are so overrated! Even though they're coming out with nice leather satchels and such, there's still that association with those C patterns!

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  23. funny, i buy sevens because they fit. always. not easy for me! :) but i do love other brands, particularly guido & mary, and the li'l maggie line from lucky brand...

    however, i don't care for TNA, louis v., abercrombie/hollister, GAP, UGG (ugh), burton (snowboard gear is so popular in my neck of the woods), juicy, coach, converse,

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  24. LV fakes seem to be everywhere, hence why I won't invest in a real one to look like all the fashion challenged individuals I see lugging them around with pride. Yuck. xx Ps. I'll also add ed hardy to the list. tacky as hell. great post

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  25. Thought-provoking post, CC! I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I do like Coach for the practicality of their designs and their comparatively reasonable pricing relative to Gucci, Fendi, LV, etc. If I'm going to pay for a logo fabric bag or one made out of coated canvas (which I love in spite of the print because it's low maintenance and good for people who are clumsy with their things), I don't want to splash out an absurdly high amount of money for one.

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  26. well... all the above. plus, slowly but surely those ray-ban sunglasses are becoming annoying. In every colour.

    Is it fair to classify stuff as cliche though? I'm not entirely sure. 'Cause even when they become annoyingly common, there will always be people that look good in them. hm...:S

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  27. *sigh* don't even get me started about the Coach or the Juicy.... but how about UGGs?!

    CC you're definitely one of my inspirations - I've linked you to my blog thanks to your fabulousness.

    All the best,
    Emerald Dandy

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  28. I think I'ma agree to Juicy Couture! But i love Juicy Couture. Hehe. :)

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  29. I would add rainbow LV to the list as well.

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  30. whoa, THANK YOU! lols
    i seriously agree with all of ur hate lists!

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  31. You are so spot on, CC! I can't stand Juicy Couture. Like people have said, Uggs sicken me and (obviously) Crocs! Great post x

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  32. Ah Juicy tracksuits are not avialable in Singapore so we don't see them much. But seriously, LV & coach bags are EVERYWHERE.

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  33. Very interesting. . .any fashion item one would wear simply because "It's In" yet looks horrific ON should be in this category.

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  34. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.
    Cringe at the horrid Coach bags, Juicy Couture ANYTHING, and LV (fake or otherwise) bags that are over-worked here in Australia!

    p.s. Want to exchange links? I realised I hadn't added you yet *gasp!*

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  35. What a brilliant post, CC! This is definitely bourgeois on the east coast of the states: Ugg boots-- ugh. Everywhere. Paired with boot-cut jeans and North Face fleece jackets. I'm not a fan of that look- and I'm proud to be a fashion snob with you!

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  36. Spot on Carrie.. .this needed to be said.. I think one defining their own style is what STYLE is.... I really buy things that I like (well-constructed and somethings that ends up being a brand that is known) but often times. its not either..

    fab post

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  37. I'm starting to get tired of the designer bags with logos everywhere (like Coach and LV)... in fact I'm getting tired of labels. It's so stupid to label yourself...

    Have a nice week CC!

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  38. ugh. Juicy tracksuits are the worst. Even when I see them at the airport I'm still like "wrong wrong wrong." I don't care how comfy you want to be on the plane. Don't you care how you look?

    I don't mind obvious labels as long as I like the design.

    I am so over all kinds of jeans with stuff all over the back pockets like sevens and Rock and Republic. I've got my favorite pair of levi's and Rag and Bone jeans.

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  39. I agree with Juicy Couture being overrated. And Uggs of course, they make me want to hurl. Great observations!!

    peace&love
    nicole.

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  40. your list is dead on. people do still wear juicy tracksuits in LA but not as much...unfortunately, they've been replaced by ed hardy. UGH.

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  41. Designer bags with logos. Done
    I like well-made bags that don't scream at people. But I still like them big like everyone else. ;)

    Uggs can eat it. Hate them. Hate the look.

    I hate tiny jackets - the ones that hit at the ribs - and double that hatred if they are denim.

    I hate belts with metal studs. I wish people would stop selling them since it's obvious we'll never be able to stop people from buying them.

    FUN POST!!!

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  42. people keep saying that Uggs are out of style...every year i hear that (and usually think, "THIS is the YEAR!")--and then i see them everywhere. so, yes..uggs can go (maybe this is the year).

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  43. uggs, juicy and coach (esp the items with the logo plastered all over it....i'm also a bit sick of louis vuitton (so many fakes and so many ppl pressed to have it bc celebs have it)


    Playing House Is the New Blackt

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  44. Haha while I do agree with your picks, I think we all have to be a little fair here... how is calling yourself a fashion snob an acceptable thing? We tsk tsk the bullies at school who make fun of people for what they wear, and then we go and do the same thing? For shame. It's one thing to say you don't like a brand b/c you think it's overdone, but you have to realize that you're just fooling yourself if you think that by going for a lesser known you are being "unique". At one point, the first person to wear a LV speedy was being original too. We should all just wear what we want and stop the hating!

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  45. We're not all wearing those damn tracksuits in LA. I promise.

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