A Keen Eye for Quality

"Rather than rely on obvious logos, expensive products use more discreet markers, such as distinctive design or detailing. High-end consumers prefer markers of status that are not decipherable by the mainstream." - Teddy Wayne, The New York Times

Apparently for those who can distinguish the work of a well-known designer, apparel bearing the logo of that designer is not necessary in order for them to purchase it. On the contrary, those who have a trained eye for spotting designer wear tend to be more interested in the goods that have the details and sophistication of the designer without the logo that makes it apparent to others, according to an article I read on NYTimes online.

I can kind of relate to this information. For example, when I was fifteen and bought my first Coach purse (which was like a whole paycheck's worth after a month of lifeguarding ha) I made sure it was littered with the Coach "C's" so that all my friends would know I was rocking a designer purse. Now, after having developed a more sophisticated taste and being able to afford a little better than Coach, I have found that I look more for the design and material used rather than how conspicuous the brand logo is.

While this Coach purse above is cute, it's very mainstream. Sometimes being too identifiable and too easily attainable takes away from prestige of the product.

I think it's nice when people can appreciate something nice based on little details that usually go unnoticed by the general public. If you're buying something designer, you're going to pay a pretty penny for it no matter if it boldly displays the logo or not, so I agree that I'd rather base my purchase on the uniqueness of the product rather than trying to show off the fact that it's designer and that I have the money to afford it. It becomes another way of differentiating between those who know something about style and someone who simply has the money to afford it.

Logos aren't something that someone who knows anything about fashion needs to show off. Just take Ed Hardy for example. Hardy clothes are not cheap but, in my opinion, they are tacky as hell. Money can't buy someone style (unless they pay for a stylist). Wearing a designer logo doesn't make one stylish.

I absolutely love this Coach purse on the right. I think the color would be great for the Fall. I also like the fact that I haven't seen a hundred people on the street with it.

Coach Purse Design Competition

As a customer of Coach Leatherware for several years, I regularly receive email updates about their latest designs. I usually try to immediately delete the weekly email blasts because the colorful pages full of cute new purses and accessories make it difficult for me to just browse without yearning for everything I see. One recent email I received though titled, "Online only, blogger-designed bags" especially caught my attention, so I had no choice but to satisfy my curiosity. After all, I myself am a blogger, so I was naturally a bit intrigued, and secondly, any description containing the words "online-only" or "limited edition" make me giddy with delight like I've just exclusively been told a secret.

After going to Coach's webpage I gathered that Coach held a competition in which independent designers could submit design ideas. The winning bags are showcased and available to purchase online only. There are four designs for sale: Krystal's Fringe Shoulder Bag, Emily's Satchel, Karla's Clutch, and Kelly's Drawstring Pouch. I'm not going to lie, I'd be real happy to own any of them. They are each hip, unique, and represent a style of their own. I wasn't able to copy any pictures of the bags into my blog post, so I encourage everyone to check them out by clicking the link above. After all, they'll only be available for a limited time, and it already looks like Kelly's putty colored Drawstring Pouch (that has a design resembling a grenade) is already sold out.

My personal favorite is Emily's Satchel. The description alone is tantalizing:

"Equal parts food, fashion and fun, Cupcakes and Cashmere delights women around the world with daily doses of style. Emily Schuman, the girl behind the beauty, defines "sweet" with this delicious blog. Her Doctor-bag inspired satchel is as pretty and luxurious as both, well, cupcake and cashmere."

If I had $500 to spare, which is what the light pink satchel is going for, then I would absolutely add it to my collection, but until then I'll just have to admire it on the Coach website.