This is some sort of sick joke, right?

[Alex]

For me, the only part of fashion that I find truly perplexing is when people are only paying for a name attached and not the product.

For example, I can understand absolutely loving a Thomas Kinkade painting (even though I think his stuff is just atrocious) and being willing to pay $1,500 for a piece. But I don't understand why the exact same painting would no longer be worth $1,500 to you if the factory person who actually painted it had his name put on it.

The exact same painting in both cases. $1,500 if it says "by Thomas Kinkade" on the card next to it; $150 if it says "by Joe Schmoe." And it is the same with clothing fashions. If the only way you know it is worth $100 for a particular t-shirt for you is if you first look at the tag and see Fred Segal instead of Kathy Lee on the label then I'm lost.

However, if you just look at the price tag and say, sure this is worth that amount to me then I can understand that. I don't have many vices but watches are one of them and I'll pay much extra for watches that most people wouldn't find much distinguishable from a $50 Timex.