Product Description

Once luxury was available only to the rarefied and aristocratic world of old money and royalty. It offered a history of tradition, superior quality, and a pampered buying experience. Today, however, luxury is simply a product packaged and sold by multibillion-dollar global corporations focused on growth, visibility, brand awareness, advertising, and, above all, profits. Award-winning journalist Dana Thomas digs deep into the dark side of the luxury industry to uncover all the secrets that Prada, Gucci, and Burberry don’t want us to know. Deluxe is an uncompromising look behind the glossy façade that will enthrall anyone interested in fashion, finance, or culture.

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Product Details

Publisher	Penguin (Non-Classics)
Format	Paperback Bargain Price
Author	Dana Thomas
Label	Penguin (Non-Classics)
Edition	Reprint
Dewey Decimal Number	306
Studio	Penguin (Non-Classics)
Number Of Pages	384
Title	Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster
Publication Date	2008-07-29
Manufacturer	Penguin (Non-Classics)

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Customer Reviews

Gave me deeper insight into the industry of FAKE knockoffs

Review by Linqin Ruan, 2010-08-31

Having parents and family that live in Shanghai, I go back about once a year to visit, and I've taken advantage of the variety of fakes or defected designer handbags that are sold--guilty. The popular designers are the bigger brand names like Gucci, LV, Prada, Burberry, where the logo and brand name is big and bold, in plain view. I think it's a bit kitschy, but like Thomas said, more about showing off status and wealth rather than actual style. I've never thought about where or how they were made and this book gave me a greater insight into where these bags and accessories come from. The quality of some of these bags/wallets are impeccable and I wonder sometimes why people would pay several thousand on a purse...just to have it wrapped in cloth and stuffed in pretty shopping bags. My mom buys "luxury" bags in designer stores and after reading this, it's made me want to tell her to stop spending 1000-2000$ on handbags that come straight from China anyway. I mean if these designers and companies are exploiting and cheating consumers by lying about outsourcing, then I guess what goes around comes around. And if this business has given thousands of children and family in China an income, then that's great. Those kids in China need the jobs at the factory to support themselves and their families. I guess the only exploitation would be from managers not paying enough.

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Golden Calves are hollow

Review by Uncondition the truth, 2010-08-24

For someone who does not read about fashion and the alike, this book was a lot more interesting then I thought it would be. The Author writes well and gives a decent historical background of the players. The thing is in general the subjet matter is a turnoff for me and if.... the Author had delve deeper say into the meanlessness of modern day golden calves, perhaps I would have rated the book higher. If you must read this book, overall it is a good choice.

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Super interesting book!

Review by sharppen84, 2010-07-24

This book is super interesting, it traps you and makes you want to turn the page even before you are done reading the one you are on. It shows the author investigated a lot before writing this book that takes you behind the scenes of the twisted, complex, ever changing world of luxury brands.

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Our Insecurities Feed the Fashion Tribe!

Review by Rosie O'Grady, 2010-07-14

Deluxe has opened my eyes to the fashion industry, and to the cravings of everyday people that fund it. It is because of our lust to be someone "special" that we shell out hard earned cash for a hand bag, shirt, or jacket with the logo that says, "Hey, look at me! I have the money to buy this thing, and this thing also puts me in a special class of people." I have had my eyes opened, and realize we are suckers.

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An insiders look at the illusion of luxury and the reality of branding.

Review by The Cheap Diva, 2010-04-29

The book Deluxe, How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas is a fascinating account of how the commercialization of luxury products ultimately cheapened the products and their reputations. It's a must have book for serious fashionistas or any woman who wants to feel better about not being able to afford so called luxury goods. The book is long, over 300 pages and sometimes goes into more detail than necessary. I did not need to know the history of the silk worm to understand why silk is considered a luxury.

The book chronicles the history of luxury so the reader can understand the difference in what real luxury was and is supposed to be as opposed to a cheap handbag with a designer label slapped on it is. The author covers a variety of luxury products from clothing to perfume and details how corporate greed and aspiration caused the quality and the craftsmanship of what can loosely be called luxury goods to be watered down. In the case of perfume, literally watered down. Thomas brings a global perspective to the book by taking the reader inside sweat shops as well as the polished offices of high end luxury good leaders.

Thomas also discusses how economic conditions have affected who the luxury market is and in turn how this has affected the types of products being produced and where those products are sold. Different issues from counterfeiting to the importance of Hollywood are included to give a broader perspective on the whole issue of luxury products. Overall this is a thorough, sometimes too thorough, and well thought out book. I have an insiders point of view on the so called luxury trade and I now feel a lot better about not spending money on $400.00 handbags that cost $40.00 to make.

Stephanie Ann, Author
THE CHEAP DIVA'S GUIDE TO FRUGAL AND FABULOUS LIVING: How to Shop Smart, Look Your Best, Decorate with Style, and Have Fun for Less Money!

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