Aspinal of London
LAST DATES FOR SHIPPING:

Personalized Gifts: December 18th (this Friday!)
Non Personalized Gifts: December 21st (Monday!)

A recent working paper, “Rethinking Brand Contamination,” by MIT business professor Renee Richardson Gosline observes the consumption of counterfeit vs. luxury goods and sheds new light on consumer motives.  Her discoveries are intriguing. 

First, Gosline notes that consumers are much more confident in their ability to judge real from counterfeit if they see the item in context, e.g., if they see a handbag being carried by a woman vs. seeing it on the shelf.  Now, she doesn’t imply that consumers are truly any better at judging the difference, just that consumers will look at the “whole package” and pass judgment on whether a person looks like they would be carrying real or faux luxury.  I suppose this is good news for people like me, because I can infer that my beloved Balenciaga is safe from thieving hands when I pair it with my Birkenstocks.  (I’m thinking of marketing my look; I call it “frumpy fab.”)

What is most interesting, however, are Gosline’s conclusions about purchase motives.  In another working paper, “The Real Value of Fakes,” Gosline used interviews from hundreds of consumers who had knowingly purchased counterfeit goods (at purse parties, etc).  Within two years, a full 46 percent of those consumers had purchased the authentic version of the same product, even if they couldn’t tell the difference. 

Why is this so significant?  First, it explains why design houses seem to be looking the other way when it comes to counterfeit goods selling all over the internet and in your neighborhood malls.  There is clearly a benefit to the label if a shopper will spend as much as 10 times the fake price to purchase the exact same bag again.  46 percent is one heck of a conversion rate.  And why do we do it if we can’t tell the difference?  It’s the snob factor.  It’s evidently not enough to look the part, we don’t feel the power or status of luxury goods unless we actually spend the money.  We don’t get the high unless it’s the real thing.  I guess our conscience knows we’re only faking ourselves out with counterfeits. 

And I’ve been there.  Before I knew how counterfeits were made, and what counterfeits funded, I didn’t see the harm in owning them.  I quickly learned that the cost to society is too great to ever again purchase a fake.  Unfortunately, salespeople hardly ever give me a second glance when I walk into the boutique.  It’s a shame, because I only ever buy the real thing–and only from attentive, polite salespeople.  Because of the way I dress, I’ve learned to stop making snap judgments about whether or not a woman is carrying a real or fake bag.  I’ve seen some very well turned-out ladies carrying very poorly made counterfeits.  I’m not sure who they thought they were fooling.  One fake ruins a whole outfit.

Me?  I’m sticking with “frumpy fab.”

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to fondle any Aspinal in London, but, fortunately, they offer their yummy goodies to the US via their website.  Aspinal quality is amazing; their leather is superb, sumptuous, sublime–very typically “English” and unmistakeably elegant.  It’s rare to find anything of equal craftsmanship here in the US. Below are some excellent coupons to kick your holiday shopping into gear!

Get 10% Off your Entire order on 11.27.09 ONLY with code BLACKFRI

Get 20% Off your Entire order on 11.30.09 ONLY with code CYBERDAY

And look at the adorable keychain/purse charms I’ve found; Monkeys and Piggies and Skulls, oh my!

On the heels of the gorgeous Florentine Vacchetta comes the new Tartan line from Dooney & Bourke.  This is the first fabric-based line I have liked from D&B in a looooong time.  The Tartan is classy (dare I say, “preppy,”) but not overdone, it’s available in three colors, and the selection of silhouettes is ample.  The logo hardware is understated yet undeniably Dooney.

My favorite right now is the Victoria, very reasonably priced at $135.  It measures 14.5″ L x 12″ H x 6.5″ W with loads of pockets inside and clean lines outside.  It’s an excellent every-day size in a durable every-day fabric but the conservative Tartan really dresses it up. 

My prediction: more ladies are going to find their way back to Dooney & Bourke if they keep this up.  Bravo!

I don’t like to spend a lot of money on trendy bags that may or may not have staying power.  Big Buddha offers a selection of fashion-forward bags at reasonable prices, though they aren’t leather, but if you’re not going to carry it forever, who cares?

Right now Baghaus is having a huge sitewide sale, with free shipping AND a free bag hook for purchases over $50.

Check out this Big Buddha Taylor Bag – a gorgeous color with right-now woven look:

Big Buddha Taylor Bag – $ 73.10
Retail Price: 86.00
You Save: $12.90