3 Unexpected Reasons Designer Handbags and Shoes Are Getting so Expensive so Quickly
by Nikki Ogunnaike
Ever wonder why designer items, which can often cost as much as (if not more than) one month's rent are only getting more and more expensive? Yeah, me too. Thankfully, Lauren Sherman, reporter at The Business of Fashion, investigated the issue at hand, finding more than five different explanations. Here are three that I found particularly interesting.
See more:10 Hot Date-Night Outfits (According to Guys)
Expensive = exclusive (and to some that's a good thing): Sherman writes, "Perception and desirability play a huge role in the pricing game." When a brand raises its prices, it attracts a fresh, wealthier customer base that's willing to (and actually can) drop the big bucks for the newest pieces on the market. And what brand wouldn't love that?
Raw materials are more expensive: "Cattle prices (which are relevant to leather goods) will rise in the U.S. by 7.3 percent in 2013, according to market research firm Allendale," writes Sherman. But it doesn't stop there. Cotton prices are also higher than ever before, up 13 percent from last year. Additionally, brands are also choosing to invest money in crocodile farms to harvest materials for the shoes and bags, which in turn influences just how much your item costs.
See more:25 Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Want Bangs
It's going to get marked down anyway: Looks like the "70-percent-off sale season" could be coming back to bite you in the butt. Matthew Walker, Creatures of the Wind chief executive, who served as president of The Row from 2008 to 2011, tells Sherman, "designer brands repeatedly going on sale may eventually be forced to artificially inflate prices to counter the margin pressure."
Crazy, huh? If you're interested in the other reasons for the rising prices of designer goods, be sure to check out Sherman's article. Then tell us--what designer items are you willing to splurge on? If money were no object, what would you buy?
More from Glamour:
10 Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Should Own
15 Hair-Color Makeover Ideas to Try in 2013
10 Beauty Tricks That Make Guys Melt
14 Seriously Cute Hairstyles for Curly Hair
