CARLY WHITE

If you have ever followed any celebrity, odds are that you've drooled over at least one of their designer items. While I wish my life were similar to theirs and someone delivered me a new designer item wrapped in perfect wrapping paper, topped with a bow on a weekly basis, sadly that is not the life I live. While I do wish items ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars frequently appeared at my front door, I am also grateful to not be treated as advertising. Whether they like it or not, when a celebrity or influencer has a following, this makes the general public, including myself, absolutely entranced and oh so curious as to what it is that they are wearing. Celebrities and influencers wearing a specific designer item have the ability to make me wonder if I should save all my pennies and order a designer item like they have at some point. 

Dior's Classic "So Real" Sunglasses 

Asking anyone with the means to purchase a designer item for themselves, I believe there is a general consensus about what the most typical item for a first-time designer purchaser would be. No, not a bag, those are too expensive, but…sunglasses. These colourful accessories are everywhere and have become just that, an accessory. No longer are the days that sunglasses are used to protect ones eyes from the sun. As long as they are fun and colourful, everyone wants a pair. 

Hailey Bieber in Saint Laurent's Recognizable "New Wave" Sunglasses

Colourful frames, cat eye frames, entirely clear or minimally tinted lenses, nothing is off limits! The draw of sunglasses as one's first designer item is all-consuming seeing as sunglasses are viewed as one of the "cheapest" designer purchases. Ranging from a couple hundred to several thousand dollars, designer sunglasses are still relatively inexpensive compared to other products that popular designer brands have to offer. Another aspect to the common desire for designer sunglasses is their recognizability. One does not typically spend hundreds of dollars on an item without wanting people to recognize what brand the item originates from. Popular designer brand like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Dior all make recognizable frames that can be spotted at a distance. 

Hailey Bieber in Gucci's "Fluo Narrow Acetate Rectangular" Sunglasses

For many, the logo and the specific look of a designer pair of sunglasses are what draws them to the purchase. For others, they do not care much for the specific brand associated with a pair of sunglasses and would much prefer to save money and purchase a much less expensive pair off of say, Amazon, that embodies a similar style. For me personally, there is just something about the idea of owning an authentic item that is appealing. Call it what you want, even a capitalist pursuit, but being able to own a little piece of a designer's collection. 

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