Wanting to wear nice clothes doesn't make you a snob. Judging your friends for liking Target? Well...
Doesn't really seem fair does it? They don't judge you for what you wear. If they like the stuff they find at Target or Wal-Mart or wherever, what does it hurt anyone? Maybe they think they're getting a bargain, or maybe they just like the clothes. Why take that away from them? Nobody is making you shop there. You don't have to like the clothes at, say, Target and can have whatever opinion you want on chain stores. But once you start to think that you're better than them for shopping for designer clothes while they go chain stores (many of which carry designer labels these days, BTW), then you start to get kind of judge-y.
So give them a break. Let them have their Targé finds. Maybe they aren't as savvy as you shopping-wise, but like the convenience that chain stores provide. Or maybe they legit like the clothes. It's better to be complimentary and suggest the good bargains they can also find at the places you shop than to just roll your eyes and act superior. Take them shopping with you and show them the stuff that you like and maybe even--gasp!-- give Targé a try. If it looks good on you, no one really cares where it comes from. No one worth spending any time with anyway.
I guess I mix-and-match higher end with low brow, but how can you hate on Target? Great for basics (camis, socks, tights, etc) and hyper-trendy pieces you'll only wear once.
And who doesn't want to save money? I personally don't like Macy's because I don't like their style or customer service, but I wont judge you for shopping there LOL.
I agree. I think that the smartest, most admirable shoppers know how to cherry-pick. Sure, my handbag might cost $250, but it's an investment piece that I'll carry for years and all seasons. Leggins, however, are not--that's why I buy them for $8 at Target instead of $25 at Nordstroms. It's all about knowing what to spend on and what to save on. Would I buy jeans from Target? Probably not. But I'll buy a trendy scarf that I'm probably only going to wear for one season. I'm not ashamed to tell people that I shop at Target and occasionally even Walmart for clothes (check out Wally World's jewelry sometime--they've got some cute stuff!) I don't think it makes you a snob, but perhaps a little close-minded as far as budgeting is concerned.
I agree--and about the Macy's comment too. Macys doesn't seem to have much in the way of cute clothing or shoes lately. Also am not sure--even for someone who is doing smart shopping--how you could buy things at Neiman for prices comparable to those at Target. So if people can't afford Neiman prices, even after sales, then how can you judge them?
That question "really you'd pay good money for that?" comes off sounding incredibly judgmental and snobbish. If a friend repeatedly asked me that about clothes that I bought I'd quickly relegate them to non-friend status - I don't need someone getting all judgy and condescending over something as trivial and petty as where I purchased my attire,
Nick nailed it; it is not being a snob to wear expensive or designer clothes - or drive expensive or ultra-luxury cars. The snobbery comes if you think you are better than those who don't, or that those who don't are inferior to you.
Ain't a damn thing wrong with enjoying the finer things of life!
The poster said she found Target expensive and thought that she could get classier stuff from higher end stores for the SAME pricing. She is not talking basics and referring to Target's finest fashions that cost more than they should. Does that make her a snob? Yes - about clothes. Is she wrong? No one here says they go to Target for their best clothes so the poster has a point.
To be clear, I say I think "you'd pay good money for that?" I'd never ever say that to a friend. I am also not faulting them on their sense of fashion, what they wear is very attractive. My thought is why pay equal money for unequal quality. The clothes at Target may be designer in some cases, but the Target quality IS lower. Thinner fabrics, weaker seams, itchier/scratchy material ect... I actually went shopping at Target this weekend looking for some cute sweaters/winter wear and was shocked that I was seeing the same prices that I had seen earlier in the major department stores. Nothing at Target was on sale, while everything in the department stores was, and I was running into several cases where cardigans would cost $40 at Target and a thicker, more attractive one might cost $45 at Macy's, and I was picking up Ralph Lauren blouses for $15, while Target was selling similar white blouses for $20. I bought a pencil skirt from Target recently for almost $30 and the first time I washed it (on delicate, hang dry) the seams bunched up all funny and it looked like crap. I bought a similar skirt for less than $10 dollars more from Macy's international concepts line, and I've been wearing it regularly for a year now and it still looks great. I feel like Target doesn't know what it is, it's raised it's prices to match it's fashion while not raising the actual quality of the products. And friends with similar incomes are buying things from Target under the assumption that because they're buying designer from Target they're saving money and it's really not true. Yes I buy stockings (why pay a fortune for them when thy seem to tear just as quickly no matter how nice they are), leggings ect... from anywhere that sells them and I can get them inexpensively. But I feel like a lot of money is being thrown away on cheap fabric and poor workmanship, and somehow Target's getting away with it. And it's because people don't pay attention to what they spend their money on. It takes thirty seconds to look at the seams and see that that sweater's sleeve is going to rip in no time.To me it just makes sense to take advantage of outlet stores, holiday sales and clearance sales and enjoy the feel of soft spun wool or the price of acrylic.
I suppose the better phrasing would not be "you'd pay good money for that? and more along the lines of "you'd pay that much for that when you can get better for the same?"
On a side note, regarding hiptobesquares comment on their style of customer service, personally I love shopping at my local Macy's, I go there first specifically because of the customer service. And while I'm sure service at every location is different, the woman who works in the womens department is friendly, helpful and knows me by name. She knows the kind of items I'm looking for, what I'm willing to spend, and the sort of professional functions they should be appropriate for. And she often gives me her employee discount for no other reason than I always go to her to make my purchases and they work on a quota. I don't get that kind of service at other stores, not even Neiman Marcus. I can understand if another store location is less personal and one might dislike it, OR if you find that level of assistance pushy (I know in other cases I sometimes find overly attentive sales annoying).
I guess I tend to take clothes and shopping seriously, probably too seriously. Especially considering that I only take fashion seriously because it is a necessary component of how I market myself professionally, and am actually not very interested in fashion.
Thanks for explaining your point of view. I don't think it makes you a snob, nor do I think you take your shopping too seriously. Maybe the only thing you spend too much time thinking about is the shopping habits of other people. I understand wondering about it occassionally, but this seems to be excessive. Good for you on your bargain hunting and finding those good deals for better quality items. I should probably pay more attention to that, but I tend to just buy stuff I like regardless of quality. I'd say that you are very lucky on your experience at Macys--I've never had a customer service rep do anything like that for me. If I did, I certainly would continue to patronize the store (well, assuming they kept purchasing things I liked). But as it is, I really haven't been a fan of Macys.
What is this shopping thing?
Kidding...
I spend more money on the things directly touching my body - high thread count sheets, Calvin's for undershirts and underwear. The farther I get from my naughty bits, the less I tend to spend. Socks? Walmart. Shoes? Whatever I can find in the ditch.
To each their own, really.
Macy's and Neiman's are just chains with a different name and different stuff.
I do draw the line at k-mart. Just... no.