Fashion Industry discussion, review, analysis, news, and information

The Definition of Luxury

According to the dictionary, luxury is defined as:


Ever since I read the book, Chasing Cool, (read my book review here), my mind has been marinating on this idea of luxury and how each of us has a different perception of what luxury is.  Incidentally, this month over at my other blog, Beauty Is Within, I've been featuring luxury beauty and fashion products.  However, as I write up these posts I wonder just how many of my readers actually think these things are "luxurious".

If we were to follow this dictionary's definition, then luxury is anything that is not essential.  So, would owning ten pairs of jeans be considered inessential?  Would you consider that luxurious?  Those of us who live in jeans day in and day out may not think so.  Also, what one person thinks is expensive another person may think, "Give me one in every color, please!" 

 
Accessibility is a Mindset

Then there's this notion of "accessibility" wherein the fashion industry perhaps plays little mind games with us. The media likes to do this too. They entice us who have a limited budget with a few logo emblazoned products that many of us feel we can afford and those of us who can afford it don't really think of them a luxury anymore. 

Truth is, accessibility is all about your own mindset.  Do you think its accessible?  If so, then it will be.  Designers and fashion houses like for us to think that we can "never" have something - it's only for the "rich and wealthy".  That builds up the idea in our mind that it must be luxurious and unattainable.  But who is to say that you can't have it?  I'm the type of person who believes that anything and everything is accessible (a.ka. "The Law of Attraction").  You just have to align yourself with that same thinking. 

I personally think it is ok to spend $10,000 on a purse if you can afford it - that means you should have a gazillion dollars in the bank and no debt.  In this case it would be affordable luxury, no? 

Read more about the Coutorture Salon on luxury and accessibility

Related Post: No Such Thing As Slow Economy in the Luxury Fashion World