Showing posts tagged cheap trick
Can you believe this ensemble is actually by Proenza Schouler?  It pains me to put them on this site, but this is atrocious.  Baja hoodies are worn by every stoner at every liberal art college across the country and are usually purchased for $19.99 at the same stores they buy their bongs.  So why in the world did the Proenza Schouler boys do a literal interpretation and put a $1,500.00  price tag on it? Proenza Schouler Baja hoodie, $1,500.00 at Kirna Zabete

Can you believe this ensemble is actually by Proenza Schouler? 

It pains me to put them on this site, but this is atrocious.  Baja hoodies are worn by every stoner at every liberal art college across the country and are usually purchased for $19.99 at the same stores they buy their bongs.  So why in the world did the Proenza Schouler boys do a literal interpretation and put a $1,500.00  price tag on it?

Proenza Schouler Baja hoodie, $1,500.00 at Kirna Zabete

Fabric tie-dye sandals, $250.00 at Mulberry. Submitted by m.latourelle.  250 bucks for a flip flop sole with some tie-dyed fabric.  What a bargain.  Don’t let this pass you up ladies.

Fabric tie-dye sandals, $250.00 at Mulberry.

Submitted by m.latourelle.  250 bucks for a flip flop sole with some tie-dyed fabric.  What a bargain.  Don’t let this pass you up ladies.

Interchangeable Lego ring by D&R + M&M, $200.00 at Barneys Now, I am not sure who D&R + M&M are.  Googling only brought me to this page (as well as to M&Ms.  My guess is that they are probably some highly conceptual European design firms, but it doesn’t really matter.  This is a lego ring for TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.  Simply typing “Lego ring” into Google shopping yields 524 results with even the priciest being less than this ring and most costing less than 10 dollars.  Are they customizable like these?  Yes, because Legos ARE BUILT THAT WAY.  Who is going to buy this anyway?  Barney’s is the edgiest of the high end department store chains, but this is about as edgy as a 13 year old in Hot Topic.  Can designers stop insulting us with this tripe?

Interchangeable Lego ring by D&R + M&M, $200.00 at Barneys

Now, I am not sure who D&R + M&M are.  Googling only brought me to this page (as well as to M&Ms.  My guess is that they are probably some highly conceptual European design firms, but it doesn’t really matter.  This is a lego ring for TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.  Simply typing “Lego ring” into Google shopping yields 524 results with even the priciest being less than this ring and most costing less than 10 dollars.  Are they customizable like these?  Yes, because Legos ARE BUILT THAT WAY. 

Who is going to buy this anyway?  Barney’s is the edgiest of the high end department store chains, but this is about as edgy as a 13 year old in Hot Topic.  Can designers stop insulting us with this tripe?

Studded canvas tote by Opening Ceremony for Alexander Wang, $125.00 at Opening Ceremony. Another one of what I not-so-affectionately call a cheap trick.  Opening Ceremony and Alexander Wang are pandering to those who cannot afford the trendy Rocco bag but still want to feel included in their exclusive world.  Is it entirely their fault for selling these insulting canvas totes for $125 bucks, when someone could find a real leather no-name bag for cheaper?  As long as there is a market, crap like this will keep popping up.

Studded canvas tote by Opening Ceremony for Alexander Wang, $125.00 at Opening Ceremony.

Another one of what I not-so-affectionately call a cheap trick.  Opening Ceremony and Alexander Wang are pandering to those who cannot afford the trendy Rocco bag but still want to feel included in their exclusive world.  Is it entirely their fault for selling these insulting canvas totes for $125 bucks, when someone could find a real leather no-name bag for cheaper?  As long as there is a market, crap like this will keep popping up.

Flip flops by YSL, $202.50 at My Theresa. Here is another example of the summer fashion failure epidemic.  Rubber flip flops costing over 200 bucks.  The shoes use the same motif as YSL’s relief bags. I am not a huge fan of these bags (Natalia Brilli does it better in my opinion) but there is something interesting and skilled about the leather work done to create the relief.  The rubber just needs someone to make a mold.  Where is the design in that?

Flip flops by YSL, $202.50 at My Theresa.

Here is another example of the summer fashion failure epidemic.  Rubber flip flops costing over 200 bucks.  The shoes use the same motif as YSL’s relief bags. I am not a huge fan of these bags (Natalia Brilli does it better in my opinion) but there is something interesting and skilled about the leather work done to create the relief.  The rubber just needs someone to make a mold.  Where is the design in that?

Skull sandal by Guiseppe Zanotti, $450.00 at Madison LA. Here is another example of the summer sandal failures being rolled out.  With 10% sales tax, these shoes will hit $500 bucks.  Five hundred bucks for 4 strips of fabric and 2 charms.  On the bright side, you will have the most badass, rock on roll big toes on the block.

Skull sandal by Guiseppe Zanotti, $450.00 at Madison LA.

Here is another example of the summer sandal failures being rolled out.  With 10% sales tax, these shoes will hit $500 bucks.  Five hundred bucks for 4 strips of fabric and 2 charms.  On the bright side, you will have the most badass, rock on roll big toes on the block.

Cork wedges by Prada, $390.00 at Neiman Marcus. Spring/Summer collections are in the stores and you know what that means?  Yep, designers busting out their own versions of flip flops, spa shoes, and espadrilles.  The cork wedge manages to make an appearance season after season and I just don’t get it.  Perhaps they serve the wearer well as a mobile bulletin board, if you want to remember something, just tack on a note.

Cork wedges by Prada, $390.00 at Neiman Marcus.

Spring/Summer collections are in the stores and you know what that means?  Yep, designers busting out their own versions of flip flops, spa shoes, and espadrilles.  The cork wedge manages to make an appearance season after season and I just don’t get it.  Perhaps they serve the wearer well as a mobile bulletin board, if you want to remember something, just tack on a note.

Cotton Pom Pom keyring by Lanvin, $235.00 at Net-a-Porter. If you thought that last post was a poor attempt to use up all the scraps from other designs, then you are in for a treat.  This pom pom key chain takes shreds of fabric, presumably from actual designs, ties them in a ball, and sticks them on a metal keyring.  Viola, three hundred bucks of fashion.

Cotton Pom Pom keyring by Lanvin, $235.00 at Net-a-Porter.

If you thought that last post was a poor attempt to use up all the scraps from other designs, then you are in for a treat.  This pom pom key chain takes shreds of fabric, presumably from actual designs, ties them in a ball, and sticks them on a metal keyring.  Viola, three hundred bucks of fashion.

Jersey t-shirt by Viktor & Rolf, $248.00 at Luisaviaroma We’ve seen this before.  Can’t afford V&R’s stunning cut-out gown? Buy yourself a t-shirt with the picture of the dress on it for 250 bucks. Next best thing, right?

Jersey t-shirt by Viktor & Rolf, $248.00 at Luisaviaroma

We’ve seen this before.  Can’t afford V&R’s stunning cut-out gown? Buy yourself a t-shirt with the picture of the dress on it for 250 bucks. Next best thing, right?

Brooch by Balenciaga, $155.00 at Yoox This is slightly different from the other entries on this blog because it isn’t intrinsically ugly.  It is a safety pin.  It is a helpful, utilitarian tool.  There is no aesthetics to consider when looking at a safety pin, and that is why it is here.  I am not claiming that it is impossible to take a utilitarian tool and turn it into something creative and beautiful, but that thought and creativity is missing here.  It is literally a gold colored pin with some leather sewn on it and given a high price tag because it’s designer. Sadly, there is likely a client for this piece.  People who cannot afford Balenciaga RTW who wants something “Balenciaga” for cheap may eat this up.  I hope not, though.

Brooch by Balenciaga, $155.00 at Yoox

This is slightly different from the other entries on this blog because it isn’t intrinsically ugly.  It is a safety pin.  It is a helpful, utilitarian tool.  There is no aesthetics to consider when looking at a safety pin, and that is why it is here.  I am not claiming that it is impossible to take a utilitarian tool and turn it into something creative and beautiful, but that thought and creativity is missing here.  It is literally a gold colored pin with some leather sewn on it and given a high price tag because it’s designer. Sadly, there is likely a client for this piece.  People who cannot afford Balenciaga RTW who wants something “Balenciaga” for cheap may eat this up.  I hope not, though.