STYLE
From Issue #15
Fashion Debate: Brands vs. No Brands
Two opinionated writers give us their points on what to wear
Brand Name Buyer
By Shari Eisen, 18
Tired of being told that brand name clothing just isn’t
worth the price, and that by wearing them you’re being
superficial? Well, buying brand names go beyond what the
critics say.
If I walk into a store and see a plain shirt for $20 and a brand
name one for $25, I’m far more likely to buy the brand name
shirt because I know that I’m buying a good quality product
from a reliable company, after all, high-end companies will
ensure superior quality in order to uphold their reputations.
And if I get great shirts from a particular brand name, I also
expect other products by the same brand to be well made.
However, I’m not sure what I’m getting with no-name labels.
Generally, the very first impression that someone has of you
is focused on the image that you project. For instance,
if you don’t take care of your appearance, others may think
that you’re disorganized. Brand name clothing gives a
positive impression to everyone around you.
If you see someone else sporting your favourite brand, it’s
easy to spark a conversation. Even if you’re shy, you will be
much more self-assured because you know that you’ve got
something in common with the other person. Self-esteem is a
huge part of being a teenager, so a small boost in confidence
could have a tremendous effect. Confidence allows us to try
new things without the fear of rejection or failure. So, why
shouldn’t we have something that gives us a sense of security?
I’ll admit that part of the appeal of brand names may be how
something looks, but I can’t help it if I love the look of that
Roxy swimsuit or those LuLuLemon tank tops! “I like being the
centre of attention sometimes,” a friend tells me.
She loves it when people ask where
they can buy a Louis Vuitton purse like
hers. Brand name clothing and
accessories are designed to appeal to
consumers, and they do so very well.
There’s no point in buying something
that you don’t like, so if you like the
brand name item, go for it!
Brand name products bring us good
quality merchandise, confidence in
ourselves, and great looking items.
That certainly sounds worth it to me.
No Name Necessary
By Arfeen Malick, 17
Billabong, Roxy, Juicy,
Paul Frank, LaCoste: brand names swirl
around in your head. The big names
come with even bigger price tags.
You pause for a millisecond and think,
“Why am I wearing someone’s logo and
advertising for them?” The thought
quickly disintegrates as another trendy
label catches your eye. You’ve already
picked out the perfect skirt to
complete the outfit.
Perhaps in all
this confusion you ignore the price
or maybe you’re sucked into this
brand name world
without knowing it. Whatever the
reason, you walk up to the $40 Roxy
t-shirt, pull it off the rack and head
towards the dressing room. The almost
identical (but lacking the right label)
$15 t-shirt from the previous store
is forgotten along with your budget
for today.
So why do some teens put in the
extra cash for the logo while others
couldn’t care less? Jackie Burkhart
(played by Mila Kunis), the fashion-conscious
member of the gang on That 70’s Show, feels more secure in her brand name
clothes. On the show, in response to accusations of
her being insecure she screams, “I am not insecure!
This is a designer sweater, this is designer eye
shadow, and those are designer shoes and they make
me feel INCREDIBLY secure!” Is she right? Perhaps
those teens buying strictly brand names are looking
to their clothes for self-confidence. By wearing the
hottest t-shirt they try to avoid the awkwardness of
fitting in, thinking that their clothes will provide
comfort, much like a security blanket. They believe
wearing brand names will automatically put them
into a category labeled “cool & trendy”. To some,
fitting in right away based on appearance is more
appealing than making friends based on personality.
Of course, our clothes should somewhat represent
our personalities but they shouldn’t replace them.
Brand names have become a method to display
status. Label kings and queens say they buy clothes
and accessories because they represent who they
are, but really, how can a t-shirt that is owned by
nearly half the population represent an individual?
Also bizarre, is the fact that some teens will buy a
plain 100% cotton white tank top from Parasuco for
way too much money, while a similar top can
be found elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. Some
suggest that the higher
the price the better the
quality, but isn’t
100% cotton just
100% cotton?
Some also argue that brand
names spark conversation.
Someone across the room might approach
you wondering where you bought that new
Guess bag! While this might be true, do
you really want to talk to
someone who only approached you
because of something you are wearing?
Although brand names are morepensive, perhaps the appeal is that you aren’t
only paying for the logo but also for your status,
your confidence, and for your ability to fit in.
