What’s The First Luxury Purchase For Gen Z?

According to the Cambridge dictionary, the term luxury refers to “something expensive that is pleasant to have, but is not necessary”. Eight Gen Zers tell us what their first luxury purchase was, and what their relationship with luxury is.

MENDEL PHUA, 21, NATIONAL SERVICEMAN

HIS FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “My first designer item was a Balenciaga Le City bag. I got it off Vestiaire Collective when I was 17 or 18 and I think I paid around $400 for it. I was really into collecting bags at the time, and the Le City really had me in a chokehold for some reason. I had got really deep into reading about the history of Balenciaga, and this bag (arguably one of its most iconic designs) found its way onto my radar quickly.”

ANOTHER PRECIOUS LUXURY POSSESSION: “I’ve never really felt the urge to get a watch, but while trying on different models at Cartier, I decided to try smaller styles instead of the larger watches that men go for traditionally, as I have a really slim wrist. I also prefer something subtle. The Santos de Cartier in small felt right the moment I put it on and it became my first luxury timepiece.”

WHAT DETERMINES HIS FASHION PURCHASES: “I think I have a firmer sense of self than before, so I’d want everything I buy now to be a reflection of that. I’m sick of looking back at outfits from five years ago and wanting to shoot myself in the eye, and I think both the Balenciaga Le City and the Santos de Cartier watch will hold me in good stead for a long time.”

DOES AUTHENTICITY MATTER? “Dupe culture has become crazy – it feels like almost 90 per cent
of everything is a dupe of another thing, so just wear what you want, I say. Personally, I wouldn’t buy inauthentic items, but the value of any possession is ultimately determined by its owner.”

ON SHOPPING SUSTAINABLY: “Personally, I avoid fast fashion and brands with unethical manufacturing
practices, but I don’t have the bandwidth to police the footprint of everything I buy. I also don’t think most of the rest of the world does – everyone’s just trying to get through life looking cute. The ones who should be responsible for enforcing more sustainable practices should be the government and big companies.”

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NATALIE SEOW, 25, FREELANCE COPYWRITER

HER FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “The first designer item I bought was this pair of two‑toned wool pants (they’re in a lighter shade of grey at the back) from the now‑defunct Proenza Schouler boutique in what was formerly Hilton Singapore (now Voco Orchard Singapore). I was 17 then and the pants were on sale. I think I was more impulsive at that age. Coupled with how my personality had been formed by Tumblr – I was previously an obsessive reblogger of fashion content – and my good fortune of being able to visit such stores with my mum, and the truth is, there’s no deep story to this purchase. I wanted them and paid for them myself.”

WHAT DETERMINES HER FASHION PURCHASES: “For me, there are multiple tiers of justification. Timelessness, which I define by how well an item aligns with my personality and, in turn, how it fits
with what I already own, is one. I see my wardrobe as a collection, so I want it to offer infinite styling opportunities. Craftsmanship has also become a given. These days, I’d rather purchase a pre‑owned designer item that I’ve thought carefully about than something brand‑new and more affordable from a fast‑fashion brand.”

HER DEFINITION OF LUXURY: “It’s easy to confuse hefty price tags with luxury. To a certain extent, pricing strategies do create perceptions of exclusivity, but we have a choice as consumers to define what luxury means to each of us. To me, it means buying into a well‑executed idea.”

WHAT SHE’D BUY IF MONEY WAS NO PROBLEM: “When I read this question, I think of a generous
budget, so I immediately think of watches, having perhaps been influenced by my partner, who’s big on timepieces. Right now, it’d probably be a toss‑up between a new Cartier Baignoire bangle watch in yellow gold and a vintage 18mm white gold version of it. To me, it doubles as a piece of jewellery and I like that it’s not overtly flashy.”

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LEONG XIN MIN, 23, SALES ASSISTANT

HER FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “This second‑hand pair of Yohji Yamamoto skirt pants just after I turned 21. I found it on Carousell and bought it off a Japanese lady for $200, which felt like a splurge since I had never spent that much on a piece of clothing before. I got into fashion during the Covid‑19 pandemic and started learning about different brands, beginning with the three major Japanese labels: Issey Miyake, Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto. I had always wanted a pair of skirt pants from the last, and the pair I got was a lot more reasonably priced compared to other items of the brand that I found online, so I went for it. I must confess: I hesitated at first, as some friends told me no one would even know it’s branded. That made me second‑guess myself, but, in the end, I’ve come to realise that collecting these pieces brings me real joy and I now own between 35 and 40 items – most of which
are from Comme des Garcons.”

WHAT DETERMINES HER FASHION PURCHASES: “I started getting into designer clothing because I wanted a wardrobe that’d last. As someone who studied design, I appreciate the time and effort that go into creating new and innovative pieces. When choosing brands to invest in, I focus on uniqueness and quality, and buy pieces I genuinely like and know I can style with my existing wardrobe … A brand’s history and storytelling are also factors I consider when deciding if I should support a label. I like independent brands such as the London‑based footwear label Cherevichkiotvichki, Elena Dawson, Guidi and Christopher Nemeth because of the materials they use and the fact that many of them are helmed by self‑taught designers who prioritise quality. I find their designs meaningful.”

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SERENA JANE MCNEILL, 24, MODEL

HER FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “A Saint Laurent cardholder from the brand’s store at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands in February 2016. I remember the date because I was turning 16 years old that month … At that time, I really wanted something from the brand and a cardholder seemed the most practical for what I could afford. I love that this cardholder is an efficient way to access all my most-used cards and I still use it daily.”

ANOTHER PRECIOUS LUXURY POSSESSION: “I got a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso from a store specialising in pre-owned watches here in 2022 for my 22nd birthday. I like the symbolism: My birthday is Feb 22. This Reverso checked all the boxes I had when I was looking for my first designer timepiece: a bracelet strap, good value with its reversible dial with two faces, and I like how it looks and sits on my wrist.”

ON HOW SHE AFFORDS FOR HER PURCHASES: “By working and saving money. I’ve worked part time jobs since I was 14 and I save the majority of what I earn.”

DOES SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE HER PURCHASES? “I’ve not yet bought an item under the influence of an influencer. On the contrary, I think I’d be less inclined to purchase an item if an influencer talks about it because I think most influencers aren’t very authentic. I purchase an item because I like it and not because someone else has been paid to promote it… The only factor social media has on my shopping habits is that it helps me discover new items via fashion pages or resellers.”

Hair & makeup Sarah Tan

SADIQ SHAH, 26, FREELANCE WRITER

HIS FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “This Maison Margiela navy blue pinstripe shirt that I bought at the closing-down sale of the brand’s store at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands in 2015 when I was 16 years old. It was a steal as it was going for around $200 – 90 per cent off the original price. While the big discount was a draw, I got the shirt also because it was during the time when Vetements was starting to pop off with its signature oversized aesthetic. This Margiela shirt, which is two sizes too big for me, was my way of interpreting that vibe.”

ON HIS PREFERRED DESIGNER BRANDS: “I generally feel more inclined to splurge on independent emerging designers over big-name labels. Many tend to have to do everything themselves, including crafting the garment, and knowing that they have overseen and been part of the design and production process from start to finish just makes an item feel so special.”

DOES BRAND HERITAGE MATTER? “I try to separate the product from the brand because I think good design can and should stand on its own. Heritage and reputation can be factors that sway the buying decision, but I don’t think too much about them. If something is good, it’s good, and if it’s within my means, I buy it.”

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SHIRO KUAN, 21, STUDENT

HER FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE “This Junya Watanabe trench coat from his Fall Winter 2005 collection, which I found after scrolling through Mercari (the Japanese secondhand fashion marketplace) for two days. I got it five years ago for S$200, which was a great deal, as another seller had listed the same design for S$800, so I bought it on impulse, worried that someone else would snap it up if I didn’t. I was so excited at the thought of owning an archival piece. I was getting tired of fast fashion then and wanted to start a wardrobe that would last, which led me to develop a taste for designer fashion.”

WHAT DETERMINES HER FASHION PURCHASES: “To me, the most important thing is that the item will bring me joy and make me feel confident because nothing feels better than feeling good in your outfit.”

DOES AUTHENTICITY MATTER? “I feel rewarded and proud when I own the real thing because authenticity is a big part of my personal values. Of course, if I don’t have the funds to get the real deal, I would either find an alternative or wait until I can afford it.”

ALYZZA MERCADO, 24, STUDENT

HER FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “This pair of Saint Laurent black leather pumps from Vestiaire Collective back in 2023. I had been searching for a present for my mum on the site and decided to get something for myself too since our birthdays are only one week apart, and I wanted to treat myself for having just semi-entered the workforce as an intern.”

ON HER PREFERRED DESIGNER BRANDS: “I prioritise design over branding so I would consider the work of emerging designers as luxury fashion even if they aren’t as widely known as established houses. Furthermore some of these big brands have been criticised for a decline in quality in recent years and maintain their luxury status mainly because of their history and marketing. To me, luxury is more about artistry and quality instead of brand name or price point. For example, I like independent designers such as Joe Ando, who’s found fame on TikTok for sharing insights into his working process. His work is luxury to me because of the amount of time, effort and artistry that go into it. Independent designers also tend to work with smaller teams and in turn produce in less quantities – this in itself offers a sense of exclusivity.”

ANY REGRETFUL PURCHASES SO FAR? “None because when I buy something expensive, I really consider its practical aspects such as how often I would wear it and in turn whether the cost is justified.”

WHAT SHE'D BUY IF MONEY WAS NO PROBLEM: “Probably Robert Wun’s Bleeding Love wedding gown (from his Spring Summer 2024 couture collection) because I love the artistry of it – even though I don’t plan on getting married anytime soon.”

DANE SALBINI, 21, NATIONAL SERVICEMAN

HIS FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE: “This Comme Des Garcons top that I got when I was 17. I found it on Carousell and haggled the seller’s price down from $50 to $35… At the time, I was very interested in Japanese designers such as Comme Des Garcons and Junya Watanabe. I used to frequent Dover Street Market Singapore a lot to windowshop. I didn’t have the money for a full priced Comme des Garcons-anything so finding this piece was like finding gold! I bought it instantly and felt no regret because I had dreamed of buying and owning a piece from the brand for a long time.”

DOES BRAND HERITAGE MATTER? “Heritage doesn’t matter much to me, but reputation does to some extent. To me, a brand’s attractiveness has a lot to do with which creative director is guiding it.”

ON SHOPPING SUSTAINABLY: “In my opinion, buying a designer item means a higher investment and a higher cost-per-wear. By that extension, it is a slow approach to consuming fashion… For me it takes time, money and a lot of premeditation before I decide to spend on something and I’d like to think that that’s a way of shopping sustainably as I’m buying something new at most only once every few months.”

WHAT HE'D BUY IF MONEY WAS NO PROBLEM: “I would buy the largest Loewe Puzzle bag available in a black or chocolate-coloured deerskin, then max it out with a lot of charms. I’d also fill the bag with as many candles I can fit from Loewe’s homeware collection. I’ve been following the brand since Jonathan Anderson debuted as its creative director in 2014 and have always admired his vision and tenacity as a designer. He’s so relevant today in my opinion.”

Hair & makeup for Mendel Phua, Natalise Seow, Serena Jane McNeill, Sadiq Shah, and Alyzza Mecardo Sarah Tan Hair for everyone else EC Tan/Kizuki+LIM Makeup for everyone else Sarah Tan

This article first appeared in the March 2025 Great Fashion Edition of FEMALE