The Rising Cost Of Designer Clothing ~ Top Designers

The rising cost of designer clothing is increasing the gulf between the rich, the middle class and the poor. After all, how many people can pay $30,000 for a YSL dress or coat?

If you browse the online stores of just a few of the mid to high end luxury brands, you might be amazed at the rising costs. Chloe shoes are now around $2500 a pair.

Byblos is showing very structured blazers with even larger shoulder pads than we saw in the 1980’s. The newer lines have square, almost theatrical designs. If you buy a new Byblos blazer, it will cost $1400 and upwards. Sweaters are $800 and upwards. A ruffled polyester skirt is $1000.

Dolce & Gabbana is higher ticket than Byblos, and a little more subdued. Skirts are listed starting at over $2000. A silk skirt is listed for $3895. A cotton embroidered shirt is a whopping $23,500. You most certainly don’t want to spill coffee on a shirt like that.

Another well known line of designer clothing is US based St. John, known for high quality knits, blazers, suits, and evening wear. A St. John knit jacket now costs $2900, and tweed is $3250. A very simple basic skirt starts at $1550.

The Escada brand is no longer predominantly made in Germany. The higher end items are made in Italy, and Escada Sport is made in Romania. There is just one blazer on their website that is embellished with embroidery, sequins, and bugle beads. It is listed for $4550. It does not give the fabric composition, or where it was made. 

Escada pencil skirts range from $1400-$2000. An Escada Sport cotton pencil skirt made in Romania is listed for $880. Their website has two maxi dresses for sale. One for $7,900 and the other is $4,400. I did not see the fabric composition or country where they were made on those dresses. It seems to me Escada had a much broader range of clothing when they were making them in Germany. 

Moving on to an even higher end brand Yves Saint Laurent clothing starts at about $5000, and goes up from there. They sell some very elaborate gowns for over $20,000.

Some people do not like the concept of buying vintage or second hand clothing. However, there are some brands, and fabrics that are now obsolete, so if you want a certain brand that is no longer available new, you can search the second hand markets.

The other thing to note is that as resources become more scarce, and labour costs increase, especially for clothing created in Europe, you will find more polyester even in the luxury brands, with less wool, silk, and high quality cottons.

Even cashmere is not all created equal. Most of the finest cashmere comes from Scotland, with Ballantyne and Barrie topping the list. Hand intarsia cashmere is the most expensive. It involves creating designs by hand using separate yarn for eack colour block, without carrying the yarn floats across the back of the fabric. This creates a flat, clean, almost picture-like pattern in the cashmere.

Ballantyne cashmere starts around $500 and upwards while Barrie cashmere will cost you starting at over $1200 for a short sleeve pullover.

There is a quite a difference between high quality and low quality cashmere. The lower quality is thinner, and prone to pilling.

Whether you are a fashionista looking for high end designer clothing, or have a keen eye for quality and what suits you, regardless of the latest trends, natural fibres are superior (in my opinion).

Some synthetics look great, but when compared to natural fibres they don’t carry the timeless classic, or the comfort of the natural fibres. The main advantage is that you can hand wash a nice blouse made of polyamide fabrics.

I do believe that for skirts wool, cotton, and silk create the best drape. Often a mix of silk and flax, or wool and viscose work well in providing the structure for fitted skirts, and the flow in the flared skirts.

One of the most confusing brands is Versace. They have made some beautiful, stylish and high quality clothing. However, it is difficult to sort out the numerous lines, and diffusion lines they have created over the years. There is Versus Versace, Versace Jeans, Versace Jeans Couture, Istante Versace, Gianni Versace, Versatile Versace, Versace Classic and Gianni Versace Couture. That is a hard act to follow.

The Versace website lists skirts for around $2000. A silk chiffon pencil skirt is $7375. A jersey tank top is $2225. A denim jacket is $2700.

Whether you are dressing for work, or for black tie fund raisers, clearly clothing is an investment. Many items of clothing are timeless. In many cases no one would know if you were wearing a vintage skirt or a new designer skirt.

One of the reasons I appreciate vintage, is because you get to see the designs, fabric composition, and workmanship from multiple eras, and multiple designers. You see what is sublime, what is exceptionally well made, and in some cases, what is rather flimsy for all the hype.

I don’t think a high percentage of women are spending $3000 for a skirt. The top tier designers are catering to an elite market. However, there are many women who have a keen eye for both quality and design, and they will often be able to spot a deal.

Some of the nicest things are to be found in the second hand market. Many of those items are well cared for, and in great condition. Style is your own unique creative expression. The high end brands give us an idea of what is out there now, and what is trending.

The vintage market shows the entire range of what each brand has come up with over the years. Many of those items are so labour intensive, they will never be made again.

Either way, women will never stop shopping.