Am I shallow if I only feel that I look my best in clothes with designer labels?

This all came up when I noticed a very cool looking pair of tennis shoes at wal mart except for the generic label on the sides. I realized the only thing keeping me from buying them was the generic label and now I feel silly about it.


Am I a 34 year old man thats still behaving like the child in school who had to have a cool pair of $100.00 nikes. Am I retaining my youth through a check mark on a darn shoe? I feel like a square, paw paw, or %26quot;dork%26quot; in no name brand shoes.


Does anyone relate? I feel its just a hang up and realize I could by 5 pairs of the cheaper shoes for the price I pay for one.

Am I shallow if I only feel that I look my best in clothes with designer labels?
You%26#039;re shallow if designer labels are ALL that make up your personality.





Otherwise its a social prefferance thats been conditioned into your from an early age - statements like: the popular kids wear the best cloths, only poor people wear generic brands, I feel that am not attractive unless I wear the best cloths and so on.





It could also be related to a massive inferiority complex. Maybe you were dumped or mistreated by an old GF and subconsciously you delt with the bruised ego by wearing designer cloths.





Other than that, if those don%26#039;t apply then its likely related to a low self esteem or poor self image.





Its only a disorder or %26quot;abnormal%26quot; if this desire to wear designer cloths is obsessive and compulsive - you can%26#039;t help but wear these cloths and you think about them a lot. Then you have OCD and probably a related to a subconcsious defensive mechanism to help you deal with doubt and anxiety and make you feel like you are in control.





If none of that applies then you are just you.








Hope that helps!
Reply:I think of %26quot;shallow%26quot; as meaning a person is entirely superficial but obviously you have thought about this and the implications for yourself. Hence, you are not shallow.





The advertisers deliberately lead us all down this path and it appears as though young people are more vulnerable to this than are older people. Nevertheless, to some extent nearly all of us are aware of brand names and their implications for social status.





People who can afford to buy the expensive brands (and the status that goes with them) are to some extent choosing not to be thrifty. They are also choosing to spend money to indulge their egos rather than choosing to spend it on others who may be in more need. It%26#039;s not just about shoes, but you already knew that.
Reply:If you have the money to do it, then why not. I personally think that off-brand clothes are just as good as name brand clothes. And, I save a lot of money looking good, while you are spending a lot of money looking good.
Reply:Hell no man.Im 35 and just spent 80 on nikes like a day ago.Why not have some fly **** if u can afford it.And besides,walmart shoes do suck,lol
Reply:It%26#039;s good that you recognize you are behaving like a child. You should realize that you don%26#039;t have to live the life that you did when you were a kid. You have the power to change your life now, and live it as you see fit. No one is going to really care what kind of shoes you wear now, like no one really did when you were a kid. They were just being mean, like kids do. People are very egotistical and really just think about themselves. When they tease, they are doing it to make themselves feel better, not to really hurt you--it has nothing to do with you. Wear whatever you want.
Reply:Well, Mr. %26quot;GoodGuy%26quot;,


Why do you feel like a square or dork? Is there something wrong with wearing something generic? Why do you feel that when you wear something cheaper but better looking, that you look like a dork? If your friends and family were actual friends and family, they wouldn%26#039;t care about what you wear. Strangers wouldn%26#039;t care either. Its the first impression that counts. If your nice and not a snob, then there wouldn%26#039;t be a problem just because your wearing something generic. If you think they are cool, then buy them and wear them. Its your hard-earned money. Spend it the way you like. Just because their not popular doesn%26#039;t mean its not cool.. Its all about whats on the inside man..
Reply:Lol... At least you do see it as a little silly.... Shallow, well not really, if you are only talking about yourself... but if you look down on other people because they dont wear those super cool nikes then, yep you sure are shallow...
Reply:see i wouldn%26#039;t say shallow, kind of dumb but not shallow


a little misguided, trying to do whats best...


it depends doesn%26#039;t it on which social circle you wish to be in


it depends who you want to come across as


you could have bought the cheep trainers you liked on principle and donated the other 4 pairs worth to charity


and simply explained your bit to help save the world if anyone asked and probably giving you just as much kudos as the Nike label


but hey each to their own...





do you never think at first we chose the labels - at that point in time they were %26#039;cool%26#039; - now the labels define us... its just not as fun anymore?
Reply:Don%26#039;t think shallow fits.





Maybe egotistical or narcissistic in that you feel you only deserve the best and don%26#039;t want anyone to ever think otherwise.





Possibly insecure in that you feel you would not be viewed with any importance if you just wore generic clothes. Maybe afraid who you are isn%26#039;t enough to get you through life.



myspace