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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Seoulio
Joined: 02 Jan 2010
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 Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
I don't go around getting the latest bag. I like quality leather goods. I also like smaller companies. Often, they have to charge more, as they can't afford to advertise like the big names. I had some sandals made 10 years ago. The woman molded my feet, and I got to choose the color leather, as well as the type of sole (I chose one with a good tread). They ran $250, but I've had them for a decade and they're still in fantastic condition. I wear $70 Birkenstocks most of the time now, though, because I prefer slip ons in Korea.
As for my shades: they're rimless titanium with polarized lenses. They have no logos on them, but are of the highest quality. I like to protect my eyes. I've got junky ones for camping and mud festivals, but I like to wear the ones that were custom fit.
Women use their bags every day. If I get a nice bag, it pays for itself after a year. I don't run out for what the hags in Sex and the City wear. I buy quality items that are timeless, that will last for years. |
Ok Then sorry for my ignorance, I guess I still feel the same way, but for some items I guess I can up the cost to a higher price.
I totally understand the SUnglasses one, but the bag, is still to high for me. Ive had a 30-40 dollar shoulder bag I was given in 1997 on one of my father's business trips. it is JUST NOW starting to rip to the point where the carrying strap is going to break.
And I used that bag an average of 200 days a year carrying LOTS of heavy stuff, hell it was my school bag for 5 years of university, 6 of teaching, and been my carry on for every flight since then ( about 30 different flights)
Thats 13 years on a 40 dollar bag with LOTS of miles on it 
As for your sandals, I can accept that as well.
My judgment comes down to others who spend excessive amounst on multiple things they already own. I can sort of see your point on ONE 300 dollar bag, but many women are not happy with just 1 and have like 3 or 4 |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:43 am Post subject: |
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I have 7, but I don't pay for them. I got many of them when I worked in magazines, got one as a thank you for editing a novel, and my beau got me a couple, but this was over many years. I usually use one bag nearly every day for a year or more, until I get the next one. I don't throw the old ones away. They're still good bags, and sometimes I feel like changing it up.
Shoes have to be comfortable and durable. I don't wear silly high heels. They may look sexy, but they destroy the feet. I, for one, think that pretty feet are much sexier than pretty shoes.
Anyway, this isn't a "my stuff is more expensive than your stuff" vs "your stuff is wasteful" fight. I was just saying that it's a reasonable amount. We didn't even get into make up (which I hardly wear, but when I do, isn't cheap, because it is mostly organic and hypo-allergenic)!
There are days when I wear underground subway mall clothes for 50 bucks or less, but they certainly aren't as comfortable as the custom-tailored-better-material stuff that I have. |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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sandals: free when I worked for the company
Khaki pants: $5.00 at thrift shop
T-shirt: gift when a friend was thrifting and thought of me
Bra and panties: $10.00 from the dreaded Wal-mart.
Handbag: $120.00 (purchased a year ago and the only bag I own)
Eyeglasses: $100.00
Total: $142.00 (including 2 extra days worth of undies)
I do have more expensive days
same bag: $120.00
some eyeglasses $100.00
better sandals from DSW $50.00
dress on sale at Eddie Bauer's warehouse store: $50.00
bra and panties $10.00
total: $330.00
It's hard to think of spending $1400.00 on a single outfit, but if you added my ipod touch and a nice phone, I could make it halfway there. However, My sister sells mortgages and shops Ann Taylor and Banana Republic, so she probably blows the curve from the other direction, making a $1400.00 average seem less insane. |
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Koveras
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Guesstimating...
shirt 60 (bespoke, classic blue/white pinstripe)
sweater-vest 30 (uniqlo, navy)
slacks 50 (pale grey prince of wales check)
underwear 15
shoes 175 (brown suede chukkas)
pipe 35 (antique meerschaum)
no jewelry
no watch
no cell
no electronics
total 360
The shoes are sixteen months old, have walked 2,000+ miles.
I'm a man. Just thought I'd add that. |
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Kaypea
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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I'm soooo cheap.
Blouse: 300 bhat
Skirt: 30,000 won
tights: 1,000 won
School slippers: 12,000 won
Underoos: 180 bhat
Bra: oh dear god, I think it was from Value Village  $5.00?
Bag: 400 bhat
Cell phone: free on the condition I give it back before I leave Korea forever
Hey guys, my love don't cost a thing...
Actually, I think my cosmetics may cost more:
Sunscreen: 8,000 won
Eyecream: 22,000 won
Lip gloss: got it for free...
Eyeshadow: Estee Lauder, but it was a gift... |
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Captain Von Sillypants
Joined: 17 May 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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It may seem like a lot, but if a girl buys a bag and wears it to death, like the French do, it does pay for itself.
I went through a bunch of messenger bags until I got a black leather Prada one. I've had the thing for 5 years now, and it's still going strong. And no. It doesn't have a logo anywhere on it (except inside) because I've got class. I just like well made stuff. And I'm a guy! |
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Capo
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Korean public school teachers can top that figure easily, especially during winter time |
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DM24
Joined: 06 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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if i'm lounging around my place i'd say:
slippers (free from a friend)
basketball shorts ~$20
t shirt ~ $5
under 30 if i'm not going to work  |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
I don't go around getting the latest bag. I like quality leather goods. I also like smaller companies. Often, they have to charge more, as they can't afford to advertise like the big names. I had some sandals made 10 years ago. The woman molded my feet, and I got to choose the color leather, as well as the type of sole (I chose one with a good tread). They ran $250, but I've had them for a decade and they're still in fantastic condition. I wear $70 Birkenstocks most of the time now, though, because I prefer slip ons in Korea.
As for my shades: they're rimless titanium with polarized lenses. They have no logos on them, but are of the highest quality. I like to protect my eyes. I've got junky ones for camping and mud festivals, but I like to wear the ones that were custom fit.
Women use their bags every day. If I get a nice bag, it pays for itself after a year. I don't run out for what the hags in Sex and the City wear. I buy quality items that are timeless, that will last for years. |
No doubt, once upon a time, our items purchased and specified to our needs were both excellent quality, very capable, and quite durable.
Once upon a time our items were also much more expensive when considering the portion of our percentage they cost.
But this was understandable. After all, how expensive should a belt be if it gives sterling service for a decade? Perhaps ten cheaply made, inexpensive belts?
A person can hardly be faulted for purchasing quality goods. We should be mindful that we not only use our money wisely but also our natural resources -- 20 pairs of disposable sandals versus one well made pair is a considerably significant decision when the results are extrapolated 100 million fold. Those resources could be better spent elsewhere.
In the end the cost of your wardrobe is rather irrelevant; ultimately it may not tell you who or what a person is in any useful way.
After all, if we construe a person's purchasing habits to reflect their morals and ethics, then we would be forced to consider nearly the entirety of the Western world, who have whored their own progeny to the developing world for the illusion of wealth, is terminally overcome with greed and selfishness. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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Some food for thought: I read a book last winter here:
http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-How-Luxury-Lost-Luster/dp/B001QXC4P4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
It dissects the luxury goods market for what it is: no longer luxury. The book documents how luxury goods producers now choose to outsource the production of bags and things to Asia, sometimes making $600 bags on a line next to a $10 bag line.
These producers have reinvented 'luxury' goods to appeal to the middle-income market, hence, why you can find a $600 bag or $100 perfume, etc. in a store that used to sell $5000+ bags.
I can't bring myself to buy an expensive bag, and the fact is, if there are now possible millions of people carrying that same $600 bag, and quality has declined as a result of outsourcing and mass-production, does that bag really make you special? |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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If it weren't for my shoes I'd be wearing less than $50 worth of clothing. And I'm still looking good.
Having size fifteen feet limits your shoe choices. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Jane wrote: |
Some food for thought: I read a book last winter here:
http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-How-Luxury-Lost-Luster/dp/B001QXC4P4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
It dissects the luxury goods market for what it is: no longer luxury. The book documents how luxury goods producers now choose to outsource the production of bags and things to Asia, sometimes making $600 bags on a line next to a $10 bag line.
These producers have reinvented 'luxury' goods to appeal to the middle-income market, hence, why you can find a $600 bag or $100 perfume, etc. in a store that used to sell $5000+ bags.
I can't bring myself to buy an expensive bag, and the fact is, if there are now possible millions of people carrying that same $600 bag, and quality has declined as a result of outsourcing and mass-production, does that bag really make you special? |
Not all expensive items come from well-known brand names. Some are from small shops where the products are often one-of-a-kind and custom made. I had my sandals made by Barbara Shaum, in the east village. She does all of the shoes for Eileen Fisher's catalogues, and each pair is custom fit. I learned about her from a friend who's been wearing her shoes for decades.
Not all expensive bags are brand names either. One can get quality if they shop around. Hand stitching is far more valuable than some magazine ad's supposed prestige factor. |
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Ralphie
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Location: Beijing, PRC
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 2:24 am Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| Not all expensive bags are brand names either. One can get quality if they shop around. Hand stitching is far more valuable than some magazine ad's supposed prestige factor. |
Definitely agree with you! I bought a pair of handmade shoes from a small shop situated just below my apt. in Korea. I've walked in them and went clubbing in them. The treads have barely been worn down. The shoes look as brand new as the day I went to pick them up at the shop - and that was three years ago. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:29 am Post subject: |
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Shirt: 10k won
Pants: 9900won
Fit flops: $45 USD (this is starting my 3rd summer in them)
Bag: $10 USD
Underwears: $53 USD
Engagement and wedding ring: $2,500 USD
I am cheap cheap cheap!
I recently went shopping at New Core. Entire shops are discounted 70% or 80% on alternating days. It's insane and wonderful. I don't know why, but where I won't spend $40 on a top full price, it suddenly seems very lush and a bargain if marked down from $110 or something. I know, it makes no sense. I have similar views on shipping (I'd rather spend $25 on something with FREE shipping than $20 and pay $5 shipping even though it's EXACTLY the same).
Slightly OT, if anyone spots an imitation MCM bag, let me know. There's a size and style I see many women with and I like the simplicity and the coloring. Also it's not all oversized or a bitty clutch. It's just right. |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| Seoulio wrote: |
Although Sunglasses are a bit of a different case basically u can get the 10 dollar cheap ones that have no quality protection of any kind, or you can spend around a hundred and get the proven coatings etc and the polarised lenses that offer ACTUAL protection. |
Actually, this isn't true at all. There was some show on BBC Knowledge a few months ago where they bought a ton of sunglasses, from the cheapest they could find to most expensive kind out there. Basically, if they had a little sticker saying they were UV protected then it didn't matter the price, they were all the same.
On topic...
Shoes-190k
shirt-90K
undershirt-12K
trousers- 90k
socks-1k
sunglasses-1k
belt-30k
pants-15k
bag-110k
everything in the bag-2200k |
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