Jeans are jeans. This holds true whether they are sold in some pretentious specialty shop within the confines of some elaborate shopping mall or found on the shelves at Wal-Mart. With minor exceptions, they all look more or less the same. They are typically blue and made of denim. Regardless of whose name is stamped on the tag, they will eventually wear out in about the same amount of time.
So why would someone pay $40-60 for a pair of designer jeans when they could buy four or five pairs for the same price at Wal-Mart? The younger crowd may argue that such jeans are just not cool. Well, neither is spending more money than you need to; especially in this economy!
But I’ll look like a geek!
How so? Can anyone honestly tell what brand of jeans someone is wearing at a distance of ten feet? And even in close proximity, who but the most superficial is going to read the tag, anyway? Some people purposely buy pre-faded examples or ones already with holes to achieve that retro 1970s look.
The difference is that back then, we waited until they wore out naturally. In the meantime, we got some mileage out of them before they were shot. Today, people that buy jeans in this pre-worn condition will also pay more for the privilege of replacing them more often. Does this make sense? Why not buy a less expensive brand, run them through the washer with a touch of bleach, and rip a couple of holes in the knees; if this is your idea of cool? At least you’ll be saving money.
Designer jeans fall into the same category as any other item or piece of clothing that has some pompous person’s name on them. They are overpriced and hence a waste of hard-earned money. Most of us will acquire this wisdom as we get older. Things like keeping a roof over our heads, feeding our families, and paying our bills in a timely manner take precedence over being cool for the sake of being cool. Once we reach a certain age, we’re not going to be cool, anyway; no matter how hard we try. Case in point: You don’t see Baby Boomers shopping at Old Navy or The Gap, do you?
Even for those who are conscientious about keeping up with the latest trends, one can do so at a greatly reduced price. Like jewelry made from cubic zirconia, there is a vast assortment of items that are far less expensive that will pass for the real thing to the layperson. For that matter, who cares if it isn’t the real deal as long as it looks good, anyway?
An $8 pair of Rustlers or some $58 pair of Calvin Klein’s? For all intents and purposes, they are identical.
But if you insist on buying designer jeans, did you know you can buy designer jeans on credit?
