Faux No

I'll just put it out there now: I hate fake bags.  I loathe fake bags so much that I've even lost friends over the subject.  It's a long story, but let's just say that it happened.  I despise the idea of fake and pretend.  I always stood strong on the fact that there were reasonably priced and good-looking alternatives out there.  I never understood why someone would want to risk looking like a poser when they could find another bag that would work even better for their wardrobe and their wallet.  Why not invest $200-300 on a nice Rebecca Minkoff instead of a fake logo bag that will probably fall apart within a month?  All of this was before I realized the bigger implications of fake bags.

Fake bag pile

Do you know what's happening?

There is more child labor, human trafficking, and terrorism in this world due to knock-offs.  Did you know that 7% of the $600 billion in retail is pirated (Harper's Bazaar)?  That's $42 million!  That's a whole lot of money that can supply funds for guns, drugs, or other illegal products and practices.  I don't know about you, but this really frustrates me.  I don't want to think of a small child working endlessly in poor conditions to satisfy a selfish need for vanity.

Child labor

Do you know what else this means?  There seems to be a giant demand for these items.  These items are then produced overseas.  That means $42 million that could potentially be produced in the United States.  It's estimated that 750,000 jobs are sacrificed because of this practice (Harper's Bazaar).  Based on the current economic state, those are jobs we desperately need.

Although it's an older article, I highly recommend reading The Fight against Fakes.  It's well researched and gives the basic facts. 

What are your thoughts on fakes?

Bloggers & Budgets

I follow a ton of blogs.  I don't know how many exactly, but it's a lot.  I would say 200+ minimum.  I notice trends that go in and out, but one that never seems to go away is designer duds.  Chanel handbags, DVF dresses, Louboutin heels, Birkin bags.  They're everywhere.  I have to ask myself: how do these girls (and guys) afford all of these luxuries?

Chanel Ad featuring Lily Allen

Granted, some bloggers are professional and make a pretty sweet salary.  Some bloggers are blessed with a trust fund or family wealth.  Some are lawyers, doctors, etc. and make good money.  Some just married into money.  So what about the rest of us?

YSL Ad

How can the average blogger afford $350 rings, $800 heels, and $1000+ handbags in excess?  Is it all charged?  It is on loan?  This is a rarely discussed issue that I am very curious about, because I would love to know the secret.  There are a few rare bloggers that have admitted to having credit card debt due to shopping, but most don't mention anything about their spending habits.

Jimmy Choo Ad

Is their lifestyle just a facade?  Is it too taboo or embarrassing to discuss?  I, for one, want to put my spending budget out there.  I get paid bi-weekly.  One paycheck basically goes to bills, groceries, utilities, and rent.  The other paycheck is basically for whatever.  I could spend that entire paycheck on things I would love: Rick Owens leather jacket, Celine mini-luggage, a fur coat.  However, I am saving for a wedding.  I have major student loan debt.  And mostly, I want to save and plan for my future.

Lanvin Ad

At some point, I will be a wife and hopefully a mother.  I want my future kiddies to be taken care of and not have them see their parents stress over money.  Now, I get that this is a lifestyle choice and not everyone will go down this road.  My concern is that there is no safety net for these people spending their entire paychecks.  What if they become hospitalized and get behind on payments?  I'm sad to say, but that YSL artsy ring will not pay your phone bill.

Gucci Ad

I guess my overall concern is that in the blogging world, spending and shopping are considered a norm.  Everyone likes to show "What's New" or "New In" or even their hauls on Youtube.  (Granted I have done this, please note that I rarely buy things full price.  I usually only shop at discount stores.)  There is a very strong "Keeping up with the Jones" vibe within blogging and it's a constant rat race to see who can amass the best stash.  Considering the current economic environment, I just wonder how sustainable the shop shop shop lifestyle really is.  They may be able to pay for the merchandise, but can they afford the lifestyle?

What are your thoughts? I'm sincerely very curious about how people maintain this lifestyle.