Blake Lively Wears 25 Million KRW Jeans
Italian Luxury Brand Valentino Product
Blake Lively (36), actress and wife of 'Deadpool' star Ryan Reynolds, has sparked controversy over a pair of luxury jeans worth around 25 million won. Although the product targets the top 1% wealthy class, it has been criticized for its exorbitantly high price compared to other brands.
On the 18th (local time), CNN reported that the $19,000 (approximately 25.74 million won) jeans Lively wore to a movie premiere in June raised questions about what constitutes a reasonable price for jeans.
The jeans she wore were made by the Italian luxury brand Valentino. They feature multiple holes from the thigh to the heel and are decorated with floral embroidery. CNN noted that while these jeans are an unusual product designed for famous celebrities and the top 1% wealthy class, the highest-priced jeans from brands like Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, and Ralph Lauren have mostly been in the $2,500 to $3,500 (approximately 3.39 million to 4.74 million won) range, making these jeans particularly expensive by comparison.
CNN pointed out that specialized jeans brands, including Levi's, offer classic to new designs priced between $100 (about 140,000 won) and $500 (about 680,000 won).
Annie Wells, spokesperson for the Transformer Foundation, a sustainability watchdog for the jeans industry, considers the appropriate price for jeans to be between $100 and $400 (approximately 135,000 to 542,000 won), stating, "Once the price exceeds $400, you are paying for the brand." CNN also reported that a worn Levi's pair once owned by Kurt Cobain (1967?1994) of the rock band Nirvana sold for over $400,000 (about 541.8 million won) last year.
There was also an opinion that it is better to avoid excessively cheap jeans when purchasing. Sandra Caponi, co-founder of Good on You, a site promoting sustainable fashion, said, "Producing a pair of jeans requires a lot of resources and labor," adding, "Considering the cost per wear, spending money on high-quality jeans that can be worn repeatedly and for a long time is not only more economical but also a better choice for the planet."
Meanwhile, Lively is a star popular for dramas and movies such as 'Gossip Girl' and married Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds (47) in 2012. Reynolds is known to have accumulated vast wealth not only through acting but also through investments in various startups and business ventures.
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