What is “Label Whoring” About Anyway?
For someone making a decent amount of money or have the means of a legit “hook-up,” having access to $300 sneakers, $90 jeans and $250 frames might not be an issue.
On the flipside, some people (whether they can afford it or not) will purchase apparel and accessories for whatever the price, as long as MasterCard, Visa or a grand hustle can pay for it. They simply want the label. Right?
So what are those people called? Well most of us refer to them as “label whores” and sometimes even the insecure.
Contrary to popular belief, being a label whore does not automatically place you in a certain income bracket or a particular demographic.
The Urban Dictionary defines a label whore as: “Someone who only wears brand name clothes, with the name of the brand usually placed somewhere for all to see. A walking advertisement for a clothing store or brand”, or “Someone who will do anything to wear big labels; someone who only wears name brands; someone who wears several big name brands at once.”
A label whore can also be someone who is simply infatuated with buying designer brands for attention, to boast, to fit in, to validate their success or to simply feel better about their worth. Was Kanye West on the right track?
Well, let’s back up. Everybody who’s a label whore doesn’t have low self-esteem issues. Sometimes these brand hunters are honest reflections of a pure addiction created by society’s ills or pop culture propaganda. At times, they really have a passion for high-end fashion.
We all know one or more label whore… and regardless of what it is, whether it’s a sheet or a towel, a sock or a belt, it must say something (on the inside or the outside). If the purchase doesn’t read a credible “cool”, than quite frankly they don’t want it.
Yes, it’s your cousin that won’t go to grocery store without her LV baseball cap or your homegirl who will consistently pulls out her MAC Lipglass in the nightclub.
It’s also the dude who wears his button up, unbuttoned so you can see the YSL symbol on his under garment. Yep. It’s them.
So, my question is: What separates a label whore from someone who simply loves to purchase clothes (that just so happen to be designer)?
My second question is: Do celebrities get the exemption pass because they have money (and/or connections) or is their over indulging also based on recent evaluations?
Think about it: “When it all falls down,” what is label whoring about anyway?
Label whores are mostly the ppl can’t dress for sh++!
They wear a brand because of recognion or because it popular, it not about personal style. Lil Kim mentions labels all the time but she can’t dress. Keyshia Coles has a fashion stylist who style her, but she more a label whore than someone who love fashion. When she dresses up you either seeing her wearing a wifebeater with some jeans tucked in some boots, or she wearing a top/sleeve tank with short shorts. I notice she will a “Gucci” or “Louis Vuitton” item because it a popular designer label. Soulja Boy is a label whore, he raps about “Gucci” bandanas, but all his clothes look like it comes from the bazaar. Mariah Carey is a label whore. Kanye West is a label whore too, but he actually loves fashion and he has his own style. Young Jeezy is a label whore too and he wear nothing but black.
In the real world, the perfect example of label whores are high school teens and “hood rats”. Most “urban brands” is based on their “label” and not love of fashion. “Apple Bottoms” and “Southpole” is a perfect example. That why, I like streetwear mor because of based more on artisitc concepts than their label.
I’d say label whores are people who defines/rely or hide behind the label and will name drop for the purpose of trying to impress or trying to make themselves feel better by making others jealous. A person who really likes it will stick with it even if other people have it etc. Label whore will look for another brand. A person who really likes it will appreciate the style, fit, quality etc. A label whore will look jank but will try to justify it with the label.
Classic case of the emperors new clothes,they all look kinda silly.
I’m so with the 1st answer & Rick’s answer!
This article sparked off something for me so I’m puttin it on Street Style RIGHT NOW!
1st: that if we all had the money for this stuff most of us would be buying big brand clothing…
2nd: ‘Label Whores’ can be people who express thier personality or attitude with the things they where…For example Kayne west wears clothes like that because He feels more comfortable in them clothes because they relate to him….That can go with Eminem and Lil Mama..
3rd:Some people hide behind the clothes they wear…i don’t own any big labels n i didnt grow up with a good life style etc…but the clothes i wear are the clothes that make me who i am…i mean the most famous brand of clothing i own is probably Nike..
Thats what i thinkk…lol
Most celebs get a pass because they do have the mula to splurge and buy Gucci,Chanel,LV,or what have you.
KanYe West has a fly style all his own and has a dress to impress attitude.He’s a trendsetter and a label whore can’t set trends in my opinion.Celebs who NEED a stylist are the ones who can’t dress and probably had no sense of style even before they became famous.
totally agree with real. I go to highschool and theirs so much pressure to wear name brands, and when you actually buy them its so expensive!! not worth it.. personal style=win
Thank u! rwr.
Oh yeah! Missy Elliot is a label whore too!
What celeb doent wear labels????
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