Why, G*d, why? Where are my $800 sneakers?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

To quote DUer steve2470 from two days ago, "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." He was quoting H.L Mencken. Maybe P. T. Barnum's best known aphorism is more appropriate here.

The Key to Selling an $800 Sneaker

Business
Buscemi Brand, Made in Italy and Spotted on Celebs, Keeps Supplies Tight
July 27, 2014 8:56 p.m. ET

For years, rap stars have boasted in their songs by name-dropping luxury brands such as Gucci, Versace and Dior. In a recent mixtape, 2 Chainz dropped the name of a new and little-known shoe: "Buscemi." He rhymed it with "sashimi."

"It's definitely not a brand that a lot of rappers mention—I try to stay ahead of the trends," said 2 Chainz, who added four pairs of Buscemis to his 600-pair shoe collection after spotting the solid-colored leather high-tops last summer on a New York shopping spree.

The sudden appeal of Buscemi—a year-old, $800-a-pair sneaker brand that has been snapped up by Justin Bieber, Sean "Diddy" Combs and other celebrities—marks a new chapter in conspicuous consumption. In the digital age, where nearly everything is a click away, there is growing pressure to flaunt possessions that no one else can buy.

"You ain't got THESE!!! Na na na na naaa!" tweeted Mr. Combs to his more than 9 million Twitter followers in October, linking to a picture of his new chocolate-hued Buscemis on Instagram.

Here's Mr. Fashion himself:



Jon Buscemi, co-founder of Buscemi shoes, poses in front of a photo of Larry Flynt at his office in West Hollywood, Calif. Annie Tritt for The Wall Street Journal

And here's what your hard-earned $800 can buy, but only if you're lucky:



A pair of Buscemi shoes Annie Tritt for The Wall Street Journal

[steve2470]

1. fool, money, wash rinse repeat, imho nt

[elleng]

2. Yup, A sucker is born every minute!!!

:thumbsup;

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Used to be we bought $800 shoes for our...

wives and girlfriends.

But now, a lot of them can buy their own Jimmy Choo's so we can blow the money on ourselves.

(Conspicuous consumption will always be one of our species' least adorable habits.)

[blueamy66]

11. My boyfriend must have $3000 worth of shoes

Puma, Nike, Adidas, Vans, Cons...wish he didn't wear a size 13 so I could wear them too.

Oh, and 4 pair of golf shoes.

I don't own as many shoes as he does.

[LynneSin]

4. I'd pay $800 for them....

If they also brought along Steve Buscemi and he hung out with me while I wore them

[Brigid]

6. At least he'd be entertaining to hang out with.

[LynneSin]

7. We'd probably laugh at the fact that I had sneakers named Buscemi that were $800

Then we'd go hang out and drink a beer somewhere.

I think Steve Buscemi would be fun to hang out with even if I had to pay $800 to do so. Sneakers look like crap and were probably made in China for the whooping cost of 10 cents.

[jakeXT]

8. "now the fam has some gear to rock"

From ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to do my own label. With my family name. It means a lot to represent the whole clan. Cousin Steve has been holding it down for years on the big screen, now the fam has some gear to rock.
http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/articles/jon-buscemi-is-now-a-brand/

[Skittles]

9. aw man

wouldn't you just love to booze it up with him?

[LynneSin]

10. Seriously, I think that would be so kick-ass cool to hang out and drink with him!!

I could honestly say he'd be in my top 10 list of Kick-ass Cool people I'd love to hang out and drink til we get drunk!

[bluesbassman]

5. Might be worth it if they made me run faster and jump higher...

but I doubt it, so I'll just stick with these.