Don't excite me
@laurensanchez on the fashion topic, don't excite me, I could be an endless chatterbox
It's true, I am not impressed anymore with "luxury brands" for many reasons (the one you mentioned, of course) and because, for most of them, I know the manufacturing process and they are kind of fraudulent (the Made in France is not really Made in France, things like that).
If girls here want to know what an affluent women wear on a day to day basis in Geneva or in the 16e arrondissement of Paris (this is were the haute-bourgeoisie is concentrated ; wealthy people are more in the 8e arrondisement), they will be surprised. It's a mix of supermarket brands like Monoprix/Coop + local stores for linen/cotton/cashemere + timeless models (Hugo Boss + Lacoste) + high value accessories (Hermes and Dior scarfs). Everybody likes Max Mara and Ralph Lauren.
The fortune of a woman is visible only during the big events. There you have the sumptuous creations of X, Y, Z and spectacular jewlery. Jewels are inherited and this is a point where old money people wish to distinguish themselves from nouveaux riches. Inherited = having a pedigree.
When they actually buy jewlery, the good taste in Geneva is to go to Gübelin, not Cartier. In Paris is Chaumet (by the way, when in Paris, go Place Vendôme to vist the museum of tiaras in the private mansion own by Chaumet, it's open for everyone but nobody knows - futur trip for AB, I guess). I am giving tendencies here, there are others, of course. Cartier, in this world, is mostly for watches (I keep my mouth shut about the models).
The bag : Longchamp or Lancel more than Birkin and Kelly. Usually they have at least one Hermes bag but they seem to not care about.
The brands of shoes that litteraly every woman has in thoses places are Geox and Chanel, the classic beige with black end model (a good imitation is made by JONAK for 100 euros). Why this escarpin was made by Chanel and why it's timeless? Because, before Chanel, women who were driving had always the end of the shoe dirty. Coco Chanel, the most practical woman on Earth, has found the solution and put it in black. Beside it goes with all the outfits of a wardrobe. It's the quintessential of the "minimalistic" shoe, the minimalistic credo being "it has to go with at least 3 pieces of my wardrobe".
Scarfs : there is no joke here. Scarfs must be of the highest quality. I advised you to start a collection of cashemere sweaters and I advise you also to go for the scarfs, if you have some money to spend on luxury goods. They can turn a common outfit into a piece of art of elegance. You have to possess two types of scarfs : the silk one (at least 50X50) and the fine cashemere one (at least 90X90). Second-hand boutiques are full of them. Why every refined woman wears a scarf apart for the elegance? Because you must put a scarf between the skin of your neck and the colar of you coat/jacket, in this way you protect the collar of heaving a yellow line unreacoverable by the dry cleaner. Everybody knows what I am saying, this is not a question of cleanliness/not cleanliness, it's the fatal destiny...
Tip from Bastine for the bags.
When in Paris, go in the general leather stores (like the one on the rue de Rivoli, in front of the Louvre) and ask for previous models from Pourchet. This is a 100% made in France and known only by the haute-bourgeoisie. The bags are scattered nowadays between several leather stores in Paris. By previous, I mean from the 2000s or 2010s, for exemple, I am not talking about second hand. This is the secret brand to know, girls, if you want to make impression on a wealthy men. It's no more than 70 euros for previous models. I had the Hilton Connico in black/chocolat, this was a dream of a bag, for travel, work, town, etc. (unfortunately one day my cat took it for his litter), I had also the one with the Madison canevas.
They have a new line, of course, the store is Place de Voges, but I don't find it very good recently.
Here is a link with the page presenting previous designs.
Our Story
www.pourchet.com