other critics

Cathy Horyn Loves Her $16 White Jeans From Wal-Mart

The cost of producing luxury goods doesn’t come close to the retail price. But ultimately, that’s not what consumers have been paying for. They pay for the name, the logo, the ability to send the message to everyone around them that yes, they are rich enough to purchase that crocodile Birkin bag and those Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse leggings and that $1,400 burlap Miu Miu dress (God, we hope our imaginary person doesn’t exist, for the sanctity of matching). But with the luxury market not poised for a full recovery until the year 2012, that thinking may be changing. Allow Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn to pontificate:

Cathy is blazing that trail. She continues:

The other day I picked up a $16 pair of classic white jeans at Wal-mart. Love them. They will be part of my summer wardrobe.


We’re all for an end to buying things just because they’re expensive, which should allow for an influx of more affordable clothes on the market, but white jeans from Wal-Mart? Can anyone else vouch for these? We wear $30 jeans from Uniqlo, but of Cathy’s purchase, we’re highly skeptical.

Big Pic: Further Thoughts [On the Runway/NYT]

Cathy Horyn Loves Her $16 White Jeans From Wal-Mart