Saint Laurent Paris - Official Thread. - Page 3

+1. I'd say it's a number of complex factors... changing demographics (including emerging markets with little fashion historical memory, a lot of cash, and a desire for brand names), increased exposure and spending on huge boutiques and adverts, greater expansion/distribution of aftermarket and sales areas (which means they can mark things down multiple times without hurting their bottom line), increased influence of "private equity" firms or non-fashion related conglomerates owning the brands, etc.

I'd say inflation has little or nothing to do with it; many of these items are nearly twice now what they were a few years ago (check out some of the watch threads in MC and how prices have gone up.) Likewise if you happen to find an LV, Chanel, or Hermes catalogue or pricelist from previous seasons.

Overall, it's pretty fascinating and I wonder if any actual studies or investigations have been done into it, beyond just "OMG things are so expensive!"

wow, some of the $12k RTW dresses are already sold out. This looks very plain to me. Is it because it's Hedi's first collection? I think if he turns YSL flavor similar to what he did with Dior men, it will not be good. I don't see YSL customers in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s would want to look like rockstars.

Maybe it's just but I wonder sometimes if they don't mark some things "sold out" on purpose to give the appearance of hype/demand. Obviously, I have no idea, but I can't really see how, where, or why people buy $12k items online. Folks in the market for that go to the boutiques, where they have established relationships with the sales associates. Kids with $$$ in the rural provinces who want "ZOMG YSL" buy logo-besmirched tshirts online... but not couture or $12k items.

p.s. love the Thiebaud!

p.p.s. as for "ysl customers in the 40's-90's", honestly I don't think there are any. Those who were have long since moved on, or gone to bespoke. Since YSl himself shut down the couture line, and Gucci Group bought the brand, the old guard customers stopped paying attention. TF introduced YSl to an entirely new audience, cultivated further by Pilati. Hedi's job is to keep them interested before their short attention spans move on to whatever else there is out there (and there's a LOT out there); hype and provenance will get you one, maybe two seasons... but beyond that, he'll have to do something else or people aren't going to hang around.

it's saying sold out at first but it really means not yet available. they're slowly posting stuff. i think some of it really did sell out though.  they're trying to manufacture hype i think.

I was perusing the site and I really like some of the denim, especially the black jeans...think they're raw, MIJ. The price isn't bad like $400 something.

The only problem is I wonder about the sizing. I wear 28 in Dior raw denim, 17.5cm cut. The SLPs are 16cm...I haven't worn something which such a small leg opening. Do others have experience with such a cut? I'm thinking as a runner I might not be able to pull them off.

Lol they're 16cm? Yikes.  I would guess true to size since YSL has some pretty solid production facilities but there's no way to know for sure.

My APC Petit Standards have a 16cm leg opening. They're a size 25 and fit similarly to DH 17.5cm in 27. I don't find the leg opening to be too small but I have tiny calves though so take that with a grain of salt.

That's pretty amazing that you wear size 25 PS. Karl Lagerfeld would be jealous (as am I).

I don't get how these relate. "True to size" is a design decision, not a manufacturing variance.

 

Well, you're half right.  It can be either.

Does anyone know if that belt/chain thing in the Skinny lookbook posted upthread is an actual item that's going to be in production?
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Funny you mention that -- I was also wondering. Like it a lot for some reason.

Photos of the campaign here: http://thefashionisto.com/mode/slim-is-in-for-hedi-slimanes-saint-laurent-springsummer-2013-collection/

I went to the YSL store near me yesterday, but couldn't see anything. They said the stuff won't be in the Japanese stores for several months.

edit; one note of interest for me will be if the prices stay the same. On the Online store, it looks like they've simply translated prices directly from the current exchange out of Euros... so the $5200 jacket is 498,000 yen. Generally, there is a heavy markup with designer goods in Japan, so I'll be curious if this price stays the same in the Japanese boutiques.