The Times Wants to Know: Can Celebrities Persuade You to Buy a $30,000 Bag, Or Were You Gonna Do That Anyway?

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In an article written by the Times, a seemingly obvious question with a maybe-not-so-obvious answer is posed: How much does celebrity endorsement matter in fashion when products start to hit the—oh, you know—thirty-thousand dollar mark? Let's begin with these two heavy hitters: Victoria Beckham's $30,000 alligator skin handbag, and The Row's ante-upper $34,000 alligator skin backpack. They ask: "Do women who are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a designer bag really care about (or even want) pop celebrity branding?"

The answer is yes! absolutely yes! for some, and the Times adds that the fact that the bags are difficult to obtain make them all the more special. At least that's the idea. Stylist Colin T. McDonald is trying to score one of The Row's backpacks, which is sold exclusively at Barneys, but has dreadfully been waitlisted, and Victoria Beckham's bag is made to order. But we kind of think that only answers the question of "Will someone spend an insane amount of money for a bag that isn't a Birkin?" and not, "Do people care if it's made by the Olsens?"

Glamour contributing style editor Tracey Lomrantz remains dead-set on the fact that it's Beckham's image that will sell her bag, not just the bag itself. "When you see paparazzi photos of her carrying an alligator tote through LAX, she is the picture of the modern day woman who has it all: fabulous family, impeccable wardrobe, jet-set lifestyle," and adds, "she's always been her own best advertisement." Well, that much is true.

As not to leave all burning inquires unanswered, the article does point out a handful of celebrity-endorsement success stories that have kept the masses running to their local Macy's, Walmart, or Kmart: Items—and entire lines—hawked by Jessica Simpson, the Kardashians, Selena Gomez, and last but not least, Miley Cyrus.
· For Five Figures, That Look of Celebrity [NYT]
· Victoria Beckham [Official Site]
· The Row [Official Site]