Brand discussion-- Louis Vuitton or Hermes, anyone?

When I was in college, many of my sorority sisters were big into fashion. Coming from a high school graduating class of 58 people, I wasn't really in a position to express myself fashionwise without making a total arse out of myself, so I took notes. I saw what people wore, I learned designer names. I was a diligent student in college-- and most of my studying had nothing to do with core curriculum classes!

So why are some of the biggest brands the biggest? Why are they so cool? Why is everyone dying for that limited edition Louis Vuitton bag or that gorgeous Chanel coat? The answer to that is good marketing.

Everywhere you look, you see logos. Everywhere from New York City to Naples, FL-- Los Angeles, CA to Tokyo. In marketing, I learned that people are exposed to an average of over 1500 advertising messages a day. Of course, you don't absorb all of them, but if you think about it, it makes sense. Every car you see has a logo/brand name. Billboards. Store fronts. Newspapers, magazines, television. There are advertisements everywhere. What separates the big fish from the minnows is who they market to, where, and when.

Louis Vuitton is huge. there's no denying it. You can't walk down a big city street without seeing someone carrying a Louis Vuitton bag. In fact, the brand is so prolific, there are estimates that only 1% of all Louis Vuitton you see is actually REAL. Go look on E-Bay. 99% of those bags are fakes. Sure, they look good, but when you pay for a brand, you're paying for so much more than a logo. You're paying for style, quality and integrity. I should know, because unknowingly, my first Louis Vuitton bag was a fake. It fell apart fast!

Have another look, at Chanel. Chanel is a little more subtle than Vuitton. The back-to-back C's are a fashion icon nonetheless. Many movies you see feature stars wearing Chanel, but unless you're the redneck fashionista or someone else with a good eye, you'd never know!

And you want to talk about an exclusive, low-profile brand? Check out Hermès! One of my labels of choice, you're no one in Hollywood if you don't have an Hermès bag. Be it a Birkin, a Kelly, or even a Victoria, these bags are classic style that has serious staying power. But if you're The Redneck Fashionista, and you live in a pretty small town, nobody even knows what Hermès means-- except some college-educated folks who might refer to him as the Messenger of the Gods in old Roman mythology.

Point is, brands are big, and there is no getting around it. Each brand has its' own limited edition items, its' own signature items, its' own way to make you feel as cool as you want to be. In the following blogs I'll be discussing specific items as well as broader trends and styles; some involving fashion houses, others you can recreate on your own without spending a fortune. Stay tuned.

This has been The Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from a place where Old Navy is Haute Couture.