Designer Label No-No’s

When my father-in-law took delivery of his first brand-new car in the 1960’s, he and the car salesman got into a fight. It seems the dealer had affixed the metal dealership logo to the trunk (Jones Chevrolet, Knoxville – or whatever), and Weldon wanted it gone.

“But we always put our logo on all the cars we sell,” the dealer insisted. “So everyone will know where they can get a car like yours.”

Weldon thought about it for a moment and said, “I’ll give you two choices: you can either pay me $50 a month to lease that ad space on my trunk, or you can remove that logo from my car right now.”

The dealer removed the logo.

That story popped into my head recently as I watched a twenty-something strut through the mall in head-to-toe designer logos, acting like she was heaven’s gift to retail. In reality, she is – as are the millions of others who walk around with brand names and logos proudly emblazoned on their shirts, pants, bags, and sunglasses. After all, if design houses actually had to PAY for all that advertising – instead of the customers paying THEM — they’d probably go broke.

All in all, it’s a brilliant marketing ploy: establish yourself as a luxury brand, create a recognizable logo, and then slap it all over inexpensive stuff that the “average” person can afford. It got Pierre Cardin throw out of the Chambre Syndicale when he first did it back in 1959, but hey, being a pioneer has its challenges. As his peers soon realized, going downscale on basic items does wonders for the cash flow as the masses trip all over themselves to prove that for $39.95, they, too, can afford to “dress designer.”

Now yes, I’m being cynical. But having class and style isn’t about owning designer labels. It’s about knowing your body type and your clothing personality, understanding what’s appropriate for your lifestyle, and finding apparel and accessories that work with all of the above. I’ve seen women stop traffic in $40 worth of clothes from Wal-Mart while others disappear like wallflowers in thousands’ worth of designer apparel. It’s HOW you wear your clothes that makes the difference, not who made them or how much they cost. After all, you’re supposed to wear your clothes, not let them wear you.

With that in mind, here are some definite “No-no’s” when it comes to designer labels:

1. Don’t Wear the Name on the Outside

2. Don’t Buy It Just for the Label

Never buy something just because of the name on the tag. If you wouldn’t buy it if it DIDN’T have a designer label, don’t buy it just because it does. Be more discerning.

3. Don’t Dress Head-to-Toe in One Name

A Burberry scarf, coat, and bag. Chanel jewelry, dress, and shoes. You may love every piece, but don’t go overboard with the labels. It makes you look unschooled. Save your money and increase your style quotient by buying one item and making it the focal point of your ensemble.

4. Don’t Fall for the “Designer du Jour”

Every so often a talented new designer will emerge and “anyone who’s anyone” becomes an instant devotee. Whether the clothes suit them or not, many women flock to this new camp so they can follow the “in” designer. Don’t do that. Flip through fashion magazines and peruse style sites to determine which designers cater to YOUR philosophy, not the other way around. You can’t be a fashion leader if all you do is follow the crowd.

5. NEVER Buy Fakes

Wearing luxury brands has long been a privilege of the rich and famous. But with all the choices available to you today, you don’t have to have a lot of money to dress well or even to wear designer labels. You just need to know what looks good on you and what’s appropriate for your lifestyle. If you can resist the urge to become a billboard for your favorite brands and simply adhere to the basic tenets of dressing well, you can look rich and elegant regardless of your budget. Try it yourself and see.

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