I just read on Ajax World Magazine that the Luxury Institute has just announced the top luxury brands in Europe, based on the “2009 Best of the Best European Luxury Brand Status Index.” What I love about their results is that this is not based on what fashion people think, or fashion experts, this is based on the “unbiased ratings of wealthy European consumers.”
Wealth does not necessarily equate taste, as we can see by these results, and I am sure if the Vogue team got their hands on this the results would be very different. However, these are the statistics based on people who can actually afford the products, and unless you have family money or a rich husband, the Vogue salary is not going to make you one of those. The ratings are based on Consistently Superior Quality, Uniqueness and Exclusivity, Making the Customer Feel Special Across the Entire Experience and Being Consumed by People Who Are Admired and Respected.
Here are the results:
So, on Women’s Fashion, Chanel deserves top spot, I won’t argue that. I’m not surprised about Valentino (they probably haven’t been into the store since he stop designing), and although I love Louis Vuitton’s clothing, it is pretty hard to find (only sold in their own stores) so I am a bit confused about that one.
Women’s shoes: god this list depresses me. Christian Louboutin, as far as I am concerned, has been ruined as a brand by celebrities, notably Victoria Beckham, overwearing it. So has Manolo, although he is still fabulous, and Jimmy Choo, well, no thanks.
Handbags: Hermes, of course, Chanel, definitely second after Hermes. Jimmy Choo???? I can think of a hundred handbag brands I would buy over Jimmy Choo, unless I was looking for a royal blue snakeskin clutch with gaudy hardware. I guess rich people don’t have much taste after all!
