I know, ladies, life is hard owning a $1,000 Louis Vuitton bag and being forced to buy $150 of text books every semester.
Being a college student can be expensive and it is irrational to purchase expensive items that leave no money for real necessities, like books and tuition.
Every once in a while I hear a student on campus share their economic struggles with a friend.
“Oh my god, copies in the library are so expensive,” says the participant of conspicuous consumption while clutching a designer bag.
The friend of the bag owner verbally agrees and nods, yet I assume she feels the same type of contempt I feel toward these students who make irresponsible purchases.
Let me be clear, I direct none of my thoughts towards the students who purchase luxury goods responsibly and those who were given these items as gifts.
I salute the student who received a bag as a gift, or visited South Coast Plaza and dropped $500, $1,000 or even $2,000 on a plastic coated canvas bag.
These students have the type of money-stuffed mattress I would like to take a nap on.
The students who open their Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Balenciaga bag and simultaneously open their mouth to share unwarranted complaints are the ones who annoy me.
I always wonder about the intentions of a student who buys an item beyond their economic resources, especially an item that is purchased to reflect economic status.
I assume trying to live beyond one’s resources can be caused by a couple of things.
A student may have low self-esteem and buying fancy items makes them feel better.
If lack of self-esteem is the issue, a student should talk to the counseling department; they are more understanding and would judge a student less harshly than I.
Remember, buying luxury items does not make you luxurious.
While some students visited Rodeo Drive for their monogrammed accessories, others purchased their bags from the boutiques on Santee Street in downtown Los Angeles.
Yes, I see you women with the fake bags; why are you fronting?
Like my friend Ashley Sourapas says, “buying a fake bag is like ordering a virgin margarita and pretending to be drunk.”
While most people will not know if a bag is real or fake, since our international allies have perfected their deceptive craft, the owner will still be living a lie.
The intentions of a fake bag are more about gaining glances and less about the original intention: keeping items in your bag.
While all people are allowed to complain about petty issues in the same way I am, my complaints do not arise from insecurities of vanity and irresponsible purchases.
Brian Velez, a senior communications major, is a staff writer for the Campus Times. He can be reached by email at brian.velez@laverne.edu.
