Question:
thenmarcher, I'm glad you found success through hard work If you worked as hard as you did to get where you are, then, hats off to you. It's interesting how on one hand, there are people who grow up poor and are therefore motivated for greater things - and people who grow up rich and need to maintain their lifestyle. They *do* say you usually go up, not down. If you earned every penny, then, you're probably entitled to your lifestyle! Perhaps once you settle into it more and see the big picture, those materialistic tendencies will evaporate a little since you're more comfortable with the way things are?
And Scentronic, that article is *totally* hilarious. I can't believe I forgot to comment on it! I have one friend who is that way, and my theory is that she spends so much money despite a limited budget to compensate for other things. She's the daughter of a family friend, and while everybody else went to university, she ended up in college (colleges here in Vancouver are a step-down from universities) instead, so everybody sort of looks down on her now (particularly because she has the habit of "acting" like she's smarter than us all). I feel incredibly sorry for her parents, though - her mother is a hotel-cleaning maid, so I don't know how her daughter ends up in $300 jackets.
CoTHukoB, I see! Yeah, I always have issues putting my own face on an avatar because I keep looking at it and feeling strange afterwards... so perhaps celebrities are easier to use.
Your attitude is really admirable! Had I grown up the same way, I don't know if I would've had the same kind of fortitude. And that quote is really a great one - so true, in so many ways. Plus, it's from Dali, which makes it even greater

Answer:
We'll have to find out what means expensive taste for each of us or for other people...
i have always thought that expensive and taste do not necessarily come hand in hand, for example, i would never choose a 150000$ bling-watch when i could have a 1500$ "bare bones" vintage watch if i had them both in front of me.
I like the way Mr. the_good_life thinks when choosing his ties.
I think it's only natural and human to want better things when one is growing, and getting older and absorbing more information as time passes by,and not be entirely satisfied with the things you have; but when(or if) that meddles with your income, i don't think it's a smart move to pay more for something that you (as an absolute must) do not really need.
What a fun thread to read!

Answer:
I think expensive taste doesn't have to come in the form of fashion. I am not a fashion hound at all. Something like Express is about as high on the money scale as I go. And even then, what I get is probably from the sale rack. But then I don't care about fashion.
But I do have expensive taste...
...In outdoors gear. It's even worse.
Rossignol? I don't think so. Bring on the Stoklis. In fact, I'll take two pairs of skis, just in case the conditions change. Bam: $3000. I go ice climbing maybe twice a year, but I have crampons and two ice axes. Bam, bam: $700. I'm still learning to use use them, but I have a enough camming devices to scale El Capitan. Gore-Tex everything. And don't even mention bikes. The list goes goes on. My room looks like an REI with a fragrace boutique in the corner.
But I don't feel guilty. These things genuinely enrich my life. They make me healthier and allow me bond with people in ways that are hard to replicate in other arenas. I don't buy these things to flaunt at others. They aren't made at the expense of other peoples' quality of life.
So I would say feel free to buy what you want...if you feel that the things you buy really make you a happier, more fulfilled person. I'm not beating up on fashion here. I mean, I spend a lot on fragrance, which isn't too far off. If you're really into intricate details and fine textiles, fashion may very well make you happier. Just try not to buy things because you feel pressured to and your money will not be wasted.

Answer:
Exactly, LiveJazz.

And besides, the fashionistas are the ones who HAVE no style or sense of their own and feel a need to borrow someone else's (or need someone to tell them what to wear or do) - and a page of a magazine or runway is where they turn.

Answer:
Quote: Originally Posted by CoTHukoB Exactly, LiveJazz.

And besides, the fashionistas are the ones who HAVE no style or sense of their own and feel a need to borrow someone else's (or need someone to tell them what to wear or do) - and a page of a magazine or runway is where they turn. In most cases. I definitely know a few someone who genuinely appreciates good fabrics/color combos/unique styles...all without EVER reading a fashion magazine or closely following trends. This person gets more respect for her taste than everyone else I know that meticulously works to stay up to date. Obviously, the true creative lovers of fashion are a small minority though.
People off of this board probably assume that we fragrance lovers fall victim to fragrance trends and marketing, which isn't true at all. We actually appreciate the artistry of it. And my point is....I don't know. It's OK if you love it.