I probably don't know good fabric and I am okay with that! Just like I recognize a wine from a winery in the Hill Country is better than a box wine but probably couldn't tell why a $300 wine is $300. And I am happy like that.![]()
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Not necessarily - remember Nike's factories? It may be the case that it's all markup for the company with no extra $$ for the workers.
There's a price threshold below which you don't get good fabric - but that threshold is way less than $280 from what I've seen (and yes, I've seen what I consider good jeans in the $15 range).
CA
Most days in life don't stand out, But life's about those days that will...
I probably don't know good fabric and I am okay with that! Just like I recognize a wine from a winery in the Hill Country is better than a box wine but probably couldn't tell why a $300 wine is $300. And I am happy like that.![]()
Amanda
2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"
You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan
No offense taken. Now that I think about it I do notice that too. Old Navy used to use super thin and light fabric. I am more laughing that I am happy in my un-fashionista world. I hope I never emerge from my bubble of being happy with my $15 Academy/Kohls bargain jeans and my clearance bike shorts (I found Exte Ondo bibs for $50 so I guess I am high rolling some days).
Amanda
2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"
You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan
"Luxury" jeans are hand dyed and distressed (for different washes and styles) instead of being done by machine, among other things. Should they be $300? No. There are plenty of high end jeans brands that are at least as nice and cheaper, though a few years ago when the concept was newer (at least for jeans-only brands, not high end designers who also made jeans), they were all under $150, because $100 jeans were twice as expensive as what you could get at the GAP. Now the prices are all extra inflated. I don't want Rock Racing to go under, but it would be nice to see companies like Rock & Republic readjusting their prices, even if that means some layoffs.
What? Miss Sixty is Italian and according to my very Italian boss there are cities in Italy where you can't tell the prostitutes from the casually dressed women and I should be thankful they cover my butt.
I feel like there are a lot of people who don't like Rock because of the sponsor and because they're friggin flamboyant but here's the deal. Lance is the one who turned bike racing into NASCAR.
Rock Racing is all sorts of entertaining. I LOVE that last year at InterBike they ended up across from like, World Bicycle Relief or something like that. It makes me chuckle. Perhaps I'm a gadfly but I love going against the grain and if they wanna roll in sweet Caddy's then so be it. I just think it's so easy for everyone in the bike world to stand back and hate on Michael Ball because he woke up one morning and thought, "Hey, why don't I sponsor one blinged out bad boy bike team?" Perhaps if I had the money I would have rebelled bigger than showing my arab with a nice rounded frame in western pleasure instead of the popular peanut roll.
As far as the clothing goes. Yeah, it's pretty absurd to me. I have a few jeans from Miss Sixty, Seven for all Mankind, Joe's, etc. It started with the Miss Sixty's when I was shopping for a cocktail dress at Hot Box Betty. They were on sale, and they made my rear end look ridiculously good and I had to have them. They come out when my friends insist on going to Centro and other occasions but most days it's Cruel Girl boot cut for me.
Here's what I've learned though. To each his own. Spending a ton of money on clothing for me really isn't my thing. If I had it in excess I might dabble into the frilly clothing department but most days I don't. I have a few friends though that do. Clothing is their "thing" like bikes are to us. And at first it might be easy to call them shallow, or vain, but they're not. My brother's ex who until recently was my hairstylist is a total clothes horse. She's an amazing girl. She looks like she should be a totally stuck up, conceited beyotch but she's not. She spends the bulk of discretionary income on high fashion clothing. Every time I see her what she has put on is a masterpiece. It makes her happy in the same way pink cable housing for Candy does for me.
So is $300 too much to spend on jeans? I don't know because I've come close at $200. It was a treat and the fabrics, style, and cut are brilliant. There's a reason when the designer denim trend launched that everyone else was trying to lay their pockets lower but not achieving what designer denim did.
As a seamstress I've bought Italian silk dupioni for $18 a yard wholesale and double scalloped, embroidered matte satin for $75 a yard. The good stuff isn't cheap. I say if it brings you joy, makes you happy, makes you feel good about yourself, then it's worth what it's worth to you.
Last edited by smurfalicious; 12-17-2008 at 07:43 PM.
"True, but if you throw your panties into the middle of the peloton, someone's likely to get hurt."
I agree with smurf, an item is worth what everyone is willing to pay...i liked the fact that R&R racing was so in your face type of thing. So different from the other teams, yes flamboyant and extrodinair, but that's what made them so...unique. To the point, where I was more interested in their them than other teams, and wasn't that their point? I do think the economy stinks and will get stinkier...cuts are being made everywhere.
Actually, my "eeuw" wasn't about the type of jeans you buy. I'll admit I don't understand spending that sort of money for denim clothing, but I'm sure there are things I spend $$ on that other folks would shake their heads at. It's was the way you expressed yourself that made me go. I'm sure you're a delightful person, but how many of us really want to know what sort of sassiness you're getting into with your butt crack?
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"How about if we all just try to follow these very simple rules of the road? Drive like the person ahead on the bike is your son/daughter. Ride like the cars are ambulances carrying your loved ones to the emergency room. This should cover everything, unless you are a complete sociopath."
David Desautels, in a letter to velonews.com
Random babblings and some stuff to look at.