Sometimes when I go to the mall, I get an inexplicable urge to walk into the ridiculously expensive clothing stores, knowing full well that I will only end up walking out empty handed while sneering at the teenagers who, for some reason seem to think that $30 for one T-shirt is reasonable. Whenever that happens I walk my $30 into Wal-Mart to cheer myself up, and end up walking out with five or six T-shirts, and sometimes a handbag or some shoes.
Hollister, one of the most popular clothing stores, starts their T-shirts at $16.50, which isn't exactly ridiculous, but they can go as high as $34.50--for one tee. As long as I'm dropping names, here's another big one: Abercrombie & Fitch. Their tees start at $30 and can go as high as $44--again, for one tee. I walk into these stores in a semi-naive manner, and feel like a hopeless pauper because I can't buy one T-shirt without feeling like I've somehow been owned. However, when I walk into Wal-Mart I see tees starting at $5--and that's before clearances, when they have any-- and flip flops (personally my favorite kind of shoes because they're so comfy) as low as $2. Flip flops at A & F would be $20 to $58, and $16 to $39.50 at Hollister.
If you wanna take about a minute to process the incredibly high numbers I've been throwing at you, feel free, or you could use that minute for resuscitation.
Why someone would pay $58 for mere straps to cover their feet is beyond me. I guess the truth is that because of a certain name on a tag, a certain piece of apparel can cost nearly ten times more than another piece with similar style and design, yet with a lesser known name on the tag.
That's the sad truth of society. If you wanted to here the happy truth, then you probably should've went to a blog with a different title.
I have to mention that the prices I gave for all items mentioned are for women's apparel, so prices are likely to differ for men's. Also, some item prices are from the company's website, and the in-store prices may differ or particular stores may not offer those items.
daytondailyviews
13 years ago
Those cloths are status markers for those fashion elite to show their place in our culture and society. I think some of those people that are able to purchase those cloths are very well off and need it to make their life more exciting. While people without the money already live exciting/stressful lives and don't need these cloths to keep their minds occupied.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I enjoy seeing that journalism does not take summer breaks.
What I find funny is that these ridiculous prices are not just found at high-end preppy stores. Walk into Hot Topic or Torrid (same company, really) and see how much Tripp pants cost. Yet who wares these $40-50 pants? Poor rocker kids! They may have only one pair of pants, but they'll walk naked before they go without Tripp pants. I think Sam had it right: it's a status marker, even if that status says "I'm too poor (or picky) to have more than one pair of pants."
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