Inspired by the Easter Thread--Material World-When did it all begin?

[hentob]

When did it all start? The whole "I need a Coach Bag, or I HAVE to wear Hollister or Abercrombie. Ewww...look at that girl. I saw that shirt at Target". Etc.


I remember in the mid 1980's needing certain name brand clothes to fit in. But, as a child, I would have never needed a certain name brand sneaker or clothes. It was in about 7th grade that I started realizing labels.

Now, we have children in 5th grade (sometime younger ) carrying designer bags and wearing designer clothing.

Is it the parents that were kids in the 80's/90's projecting this onto the kids of today? Is the reality shows like My Super Sweet Sixteen and the like doing this? Is the stupid girls like Paris and Lindsay who basically tell the world you are nothing if your sunglasses aren't $1000+ ?

Trying to pinpoint it here. People of the 1960's and 1970's (or older)--Were there name brands and labels that you just HAD to have "back in the day"?

Fluff, but I was just wonderin'............

 

[Fitswimmer]

I can remember the designer jean craze in the 70's-"The Jordache Look" was the big thing at that time. The tighter the better, I can remember laying down on the bed to zip them up!! Then there was the "Prep" look with Izod shirts, Fair Isle sweaters and khaki's, that was really popular too. The labels were pretty important then, the loafers had to be Bass, the deck shoes had to be Top Siders and the sneakers had to be Tretorns. (boy, am I OLD)

Like today's stuff, most of it came from TV shows. People wanted to dress like Charlie's Angels or the guys on Miami Vice. The Member's Only jacket thing came right off Miami Vice and the designer jeans were all Charlie's Angels.

 

[hentob]

I can remember the designer jean craze in the 70's-"The Jordache Look" was the big thing at that time. The tighter the better, I can remember laying down on the bed to zip them up!! Then there was the "Prep" look with Izod shirts, Fair Isle sweaters and khaki's, that was really popular too. The labels were pretty important then, the loafers had to be Bass, the deck shoes had to be Top Siders and the sneakers had to be Tretorns. (boy, am I OLD)

Like today's stuff, most of it came from TV shows. People wanted to dress like Charlie's Angels or the guys on Miami Vice. The Member's Only jacket thing came right off Miami Vice and the designer jeans were all Charlie's Angels.

So, most of it started in the late 70's early 80's, no?

Do you think it is getting worse? I do, since now even the people that CAN'T afford to buy it for their children find a way (credit cards).

BTW--I LOVED my Tretorns

 

[annegal]

There is a DISer who has stated that her now college aged DD had a Gold Visa at 10. It supposedly helped her spending habits.

I think many women with daughters are trying to get them to grow up too fast & project their wants onto their DD's

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I can remember the designer jean craze in the 70's-"The Jordache Look" was the big thing at that time. The tighter the better, I can remember laying down on the bed to zip them up!! Then there was the "Prep" look with Izod shirts, Fair Isle sweaters and khaki's, that was really popular too. The labels were pretty important then, the loafers had to be Bass, the deck shoes had to be Top Siders and the sneakers had to be Tretorns. (boy, am I OLD)

Like today's stuff, most of it came from TV shows. People wanted to dress like Charlie's Angels or the guys on Miami Vice. The Member's Only jacket thing came right off Miami Vice and the designer jeans were all Charlie's Angels.

Yep I remember the samething in the 70's. I really think that is when it started to become a need to a label.

And everyone just went along with it.

 

[CEDmom]

In the late 60's my brothers needed Keds high tops or they would have gotten beat up on the playground . Honestly, it's always been people are just indulging more than they used to.

 

[MAKmom]

It is not always the parents projecting this on their child. I could care less about fashion but my 12 is all about Abercrombie. I never heard of it until DD12 told me how "important " this store was.

This goes back for hundreds of years. It was better bolts of fabrics & dress shops. Some care some don't.

As a teen I knew Levis were way better than Tuff Skins from Sears.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Each generation wants to do better for their children than the one before-give them more advantages or whatever.

My great aunts and grandmother thought my parents were really spoiling me when they bought me those Jordache jeans and those Izod shirts. My parents were just like parents today, they wanted me to fit in and not get picked on in school. I do remember Dad looking back fondly on the days of grammar school uniforms and wishing I had gone to Catholic HS!

 

[mickeyfan2]

I remember PF flyer sneakers in the 60s. I know I had some as a young kid. I think materialism has always been in people, but it was only in the last 50 years that economics changed where goods got cheaper and people made more. Now they can feed that materialistic part of their being.

 

[DVCLiz]

No, I don't think it started in the late 70's/early 80's. I think it's always been around. Remember that part of Little House on the Prairie where Nellie Olsen got those fancy calling cards and Laura wanted them so badly? And how she wanted those pretty store bought dresses??

Kids have always identified what's "hot" or "cool" and tried their best to get it. I do think there is more disposable income these days to get kids some of those things. But I also think kids have amazing opportunities to earn some money that they didn't have in the past. When I was a young teen babysitting, it took me weeks, earning 50 cents an hour, to get enough money for a special shirt or pair of shoes that my mom wouldn't buy for me. My DD13 can come home from a Saturday night babysitting job with 40 or 50 dollars in her pocket. So it's not always about parents indulging kids.

There have always been and will always be things that are more special, and kids in each generation will always identify them and beg and plead until they get them!!

 

[hentob]

No, I don't think it started in the late 70's/early 80's. I think it's always been around. Remember that part of Little House on the Prairie where Nellie Olsen got those fancy calling cards and Laura wanted them so badly? And how she wanted those pretty store bought dresses??

I DO remember that now!

 

[hentob]

There have always been and will always be things that are more special, and kids in each generation will always identify them and beg and plead until they get them!!

I think it is just getting a bit frightening for me, as the current generation is basically being raised on credit. Even middle class folks make sure their children "have it all" as far as materialistic items.

I posted on another thread that with each passing day, more and more jobs are being eliminated all together or being outsourced. Jobs that were available even five years ago are now non existent. What happens to today's children when they grow up and still think everything they want is attainable?


I hate to be a "The Sky is Falling" type of alarmist, but the tide is definitely turning in the USA. I don't think many children of today will make it in tomorrow's world. That scares me.

 

[minnieandme]

Each generation wants to do better for their children than the one before-give them more advantages or whatever.

ITA. I think the parents of this generation is doing everything in their power to make sure their kids have more than they did. Each generation gets more than the last one, but I think it's starting to get out of hand. When I was a teenager, if I wanted a something with a brand name, I had to buy it myself. These kids get stuff handed to them without them working for it. Most of these kids are spoiled brats and think they should get whatever they want whenever they want. I'm not saying it's wrong for a parent to want their child to have certain things, but kids should learn the value of it and work for it so that they can appreciate it more. I think the work ethic has been lost.

 

[MAKmom]

I think it is just getting a bit frightening for me, as the current generation is basically being raised on credit. Even middle class folks make sure their children "have it all" as far as materialistic items.

I posted on another thread that with each passing day, more and more jobs are being eliminated all together or being outsourced. Jobs that were available even five years ago are now non existent. What happens to today's children when they grow up and still think everything they want is attainable?


I hate to be a "The Sky is Falling" type of alarmist, but the tide is definitely turning in the USA. I don't think many children of today will make it in tomorrow's world. That scares me.

We are middle class & we do not use credit cards for anything. I have one for a car rental for vacations only.

There are jobs available but most kids today do not want to do them. New jobs are evolving. The Tide is always changing that is progress. Some Children will not make it. Every generation had the guy who lives in his sisters basement. You sound depressed.

 

[Daxx]

When did it all start? The whole "I need a Coach Bag

With the beginning of time. People are just using the word "need" in place of the word "want". Nobody needs a Coach bag or 7forallmankind jeans ... they're not going to die w/o them. You want these things ... you don't need them to survive. You need food, you need water, you need shelter.

With that said, I remember knowing that one brand was better than another. The store brand peanut butter wasn't as good as Jiff. The sneakers from K-mart weren't as good as the Keds. Your Mom didn't buy Wonder bread? That was the ONLY bread to buy!

 

[DVCLiz]

I think it is just getting a bit frightening for me, as the current generation is basically being raised on credit. Even middle class folks make sure their children "have it all" as far as materialistic items.

I posted on another thread that with each passing day, more and more jobs are being eliminated all together or being outsourced. Jobs that were available even five years ago are now non existent. What happens to today's children when they grow up and still think everything they want is attainable?


I hate to be a "The Sky is Falling" type of alarmist, but the tide is definitely turning in the USA. I don't think many children of today will make it in tomorrow's world. That scares me.

Well, I think how people are paying for things is a whole different subject. I'm sure there are some parents charging up a storm, but I don't think you can say that's happening across the board. Plenty of kids are in families who are able to pay for these things easily enough.

 

[hentob]

. You sound depressed.

Oh no. Not at all. Just not naive. The writing is on the wall. You may not use credit cards, but MANY do. MANY.

A crash will be coming. So many people have taken out interest only mortgages. Then they live on credit.

Social Security is going bye-bye soon Not like anyone can live on that.

Just a few examples.

It is depressing, but I am not depressed. Not in the least. I will be fine. Planning for the future is a good thing. But those that don't will be in for a rude awakening soon.

 

[hildasmuriel]

There is something of a small backlash in the UK, with a growing number of people gloating about how CHEAP they got things. I mean people who could afford to buy what they want.
Like "lovely top, where did you get it?"
"Primark - only £3"
"What? Brilliant!" (goes off to buy 3 herself in different colours)

There are still a HUGE number buying by label, of course. You only have to look at auctions on e-bay to see how much more 'label' goods go for.
People putting newborns in designer label sleepsuits - that's what cracks me up.