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Enduring brands that have withstood fleeting trends and loved from era to era don't come without their price tag, but is this why they are so expensive?

Ph. Melanie Pongratz (Unsplash)

We explore five of the most famous luxurious brands out there and how well they measure up on style, cost and quality over time. Curious? We cover Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, Burberry and Rolex.

Designer brands are costly, but are any of them really worth the hefty price tag? In some cases, we think that they are.

 
Designer items are an extra reach, a piece of the dream and if we’re honest, we’ve all paged through a glossy magazine and coveted the latest Jeffery Campbell boots; they’re gorgeous. The Chanel Milk Carton bag was calling your name or you found yourself staring at the iconic silk scarf worn by a supermodel on a Gucci campaign and wanted a piece of the silk pie.

Some luxury brands offer a casual class like women’s Timberland boots compared to the iconic fancy of a Cartier bracelet. Either way at some point in our lives we’ve deliberated over a designer piece.

Can a case be made for these items actually being worth the hefty price tag? In some instances, we think that it can. Let’s take a look at five designer brands worth the money and the item we think will give you the most value for money.

Image by Mike Cabugao via Pexels

Gucci

Ph. James Ree (Unsplash)

The House of Gucci was infamous long before the movie starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver came out. Every designer in the world knows the story of Patrizia Reggiani and Mauricio Gucci; the whirlwind romance, the souring of the relationship, the eventual murder for hire. Despite this drama, Gucci has been one of the foremost luxury brands in the world almost since it was founded in 1921. Before all the drama that occurred in the film and after it, quality was and will always be Gucci’s primary concern. There is no doubt that their garments, especially the leather wares, are made to stand the test of time. Our particular favourite is the classic black and gold Gucci emblem belt. The simplicity of this item is one of the reasons it's worth the price tag; it's incredibly versatile and will go with most things in your wardrobe. The quality is the second reason; this belt will be an heirloom piece if you look after the leather.

Hermes

Ph. Tamara Bellis (Unsplash)

Hermes is most well known and loved for its leatherware and iconic scarves. The company began in 1837 as a harness and bridle workshop for horses of rich and fabulous Parisian, and Hermes would go on to make saddles and even catered to the Tsar of Russia for a time. In 1918, when they produced their first leather golfing jacket, their journey into fashion began. Hermes only adorned the bodies of the most fashionable people in Paris until 1924, when they first established a presence outside of France. The label is most famous for its exquisite silk scarves and leatherwork, particularly the Birkin Bag. The Birkin came to be in quite an unusual fashion; on a flight from Paris to London, Jane Birkin was seated next to the executive chairman of Hermes, Jean-Louis Duman. She bemoaned the lack of bags well suited to young mothers, and Dumas sketched the Birkin up on the spot. The quality of the stitching and materials means that this bag is definitely worth the price tag.

Chanel

Ph. Laura Chouette (unsplash)

Coco Chanel is undoubtedly one of the best-known women in fashion. It is her most iconic garment that we say is the one most worth its price tag; the Chanel Tweed Jacket. There have been more productions and iterations of this jacked than almost any in the world of designer brands. Some are cut to work as a suit and some are cut more along the lines of a modern, boxy blazer. Though there are a lot of color options, our personal favourite is the black tweed, as it is the most wearable. This jacket has been with us since the end of the Second World War; Chanel came up with it as a response to the return of corsetry. The shape was inspired by the jackets that Chanel would borrow from her aristocratic boyfriend.

Image by Jean Pierre via Pexels

Burberry

Ph. Pete Pedroza (Unsplash)

The epitome of smart, practical, and chic design lies in the Burberry trench. The style has been imitated year after year but never truly duplicated. The crux of the coat’s worth lies in the lightweight gabardine fabric, which Burberry founder Thomas Burberry invented in 1879. This trench has an illustrious history. It was worn by officers in the First World War when the epaulets were used to display rank, and the D rings held equipment. Aspects of this functionality are still reflected in the Heritage Trench. Burberry offers reproofing and repair services, which make their trench a very sustainable choice.

Image by Antony Trivet via Pexels

Rolex

Ph. Antony Trivet (Unsplash)

The longevity of a Rolex timepiece is what makes it worth your while, no doubt about it. A watch from Rolex isn't just a beautiful accessory but can actually be an investment if you look after it well and have it serviced when necessary. Because a lot of the brand’s appeal lies in its exclusivity, watch costs continue to rise. When you consider how many generations can own and wear one Rolex, the cost per wear goes down radically, and the price tag suddenly starts to make a lot more sense. The use of incredibly durable materials such as crystal and Oyster steel means that you have to to seriously mistreat a Rolex for it to become unusable. Since all Rolex timepieces are made with the same philosophy in mind and using the highest quality materials, any of them would be a good choice.

Final Word

If you select a piece from any of these five brands and you look after it well, you’ll have chosen a product that can last your lifetime and the lifetimes of your children and grandchildren. Doesn’t that sound like value for money?