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Designer brand Guess began by selling jeans before expanding into clothing and leather goods collections – but can we consider Guess a luxury brand?
Guess first became famous in the 1980s and 90s for their outstanding denim collections, before the iconic Guess logo decorated t-shirts, bags, and shoes, and then was spotted in actors and supermodels all over the world.
The long history of creating luxury jeans and designer clothing worn by celebrities would suggest that Guess can be considered a luxury brand. However, the price tags on Guess products are not as high as other established luxury brands, meaning others may not see Guess as luxury.
This article is going to explore the history of Guess, the quality of their clothing and accessories, taking a closer look at some top products before reaching an answer to the question, is Guess a luxury brand?
Is Guess a Luxury brand?
The history of Guess
Guess is a clothing brand founded in the United States in 1981 by brothers Maurice, Georges, Armand, and Paul Marciano. The company began as a book of styles and then changed to selling jeans made with lighter-weight denim.
The good quality Guess denim became popular quickly and in 1985, Michael J Fox’s Marty McFly in the film Back to the Future is seen wearing Guess denim clothing.
Guess took the fashion industry by storm in the 1980s and 1990s with their highly memorable black and white advertising campaigns shot all over the world, including Italy, Los Angeles, Florida, and Paris.
Models clad in Guess denim collections made the denim look ultra glamorous and helped to make it the wardrobe staple we see it as today. Some of the most notable models for Guess included Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Anna Nicole Smith, Eva Herzigova, and Drew Barrymore.
The Marciano brothers have ensured the Guess brand has steadily grown over the years; in 1984 the Guess Watches line and Baby Guess were introduced, the 1990s saw the addition of the Guess Home line, and in 2005, Guess launched their perfume collection. In 2005, Guess for Women was introduced, and the following year Guess for Men was added to the collection.
The Guess brand has also expanded to produce some lower-priced collections specifically for Guess outlet stores and a more luxurious women’s wear line named Marciano after the brothers themselves.
On the brand’s 30th anniversary, Claudia Schiffer posed for the brand’s jeans advert, 23 years after first appearing in a Guess fashion shoot. On their 35th anniversary, Guess launched the Guess Originals capsule collection which featured Hailey Bieber as the face of the campaign.
Today, Guess, the global lifestyle brand, has their own boutiques across America and can be found in department stores across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
The quality of Guess products
There are several different aspects of the Guess brand we are going to take a look at to determine if Guess is a luxury brand.
1. Price range
First, let’s consider the price range of the Guess products. Guess offers a wide variety of items, with everything from watches to home wear to small leather goods.
However, for this article, we are just going to take a look at a few of the key pieces in the womenswear collections. The full range of Guess denim is wide and expansive so we took note of the price range for their famous pairs of jeans, which can sell for affordable prices such as $69, or can sell for as much as $220.
Bags range from $60 to $390, depending on the size, style, and material of the bag – Guess luggage also sits within this price range. Women’s shoes from Guess range between $45 and $190, which is pretty affordable for a high-end brand.
As previously mentioned, there is also the more luxurious, high-quality Marciano range, in which women’s clothing and accessories range between $50 and $400, making these items a little more pricey than the regular Guess collections.
2. Craftsmanship and materials
It is also key to take a look at the craftsmanship and materials of this popular brand’s products. All Guess products are made in China from a range of different raw materials. Guess bags are mostly made from leather, suede, nylon, and faux leather – you need to take a closure look at certain bags to work out whether genuine leather or faux leather is used.
The brand’s clothing is also made from a very wide range of materials, including cotton, satin, and leather, making for clothes with a luxurious feel. The craftsmanship and use of faux leather may explain the lower prices of some Guess items, however, it also means that many do not see Guess as being on par with names like Tommy Hilfiger and Tory Burch.
3. Celebrity Clientele
As already established, Guess is a favored brand by many celebrities, actors and models included. Kendall Jenner, Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Lopez, Hayley Williams, and Jade Thirwall are just some of the celebrities that have been seen in a Guess t-shirt or pair of jeans, displaying the enduring popularity of Guess.
Our top picks from guess
Guess offers a whole range of men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and homeware, so we have just picked a couple of their most notable pieces to take a closer look at.
1. Jeans
Guess Jeans were a favorite of the 1980s and 90s, and still remain one of the most popular items that the brand offers to this day. As you would expect, Guess offers a wide range of different colors and styles – below are just two we think you’ll love.
Blue skinny jeans are a fashion staple that can be dressed up or down. We love these Guess 1981 High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans because of the pale blue wash and ankle-skimming length – so stylish.
If you are looking for something with a little bit of a looser fit, we would recommend the Guess Sexy Straight Leg Jeans. The relaxed straight-leg silhouette is so popular and trendy right now, while the high-rise waist is super flattering and the mid-blue wash is endlessly versatile.
2. Handbags
There are a whole plethora of bags available on the Guess website, but we have just chosen a classic camera bag and satchel bag as they are stunning, versatile options everyone needs in their life.
The Noelle Quatto G Camera Crossbody Bag is made from durable faux leather, printed with the Quatto G pattern, and finished with gleaming gold hardware. The practical bag features two main compartments, inside which you will find card slots and a zipper pocket – just perfect!
The Alexie Girlfriend Satchel is a little smarter and more structured, perfect if you are going for that polished, elegant work look. The black bag is decorated with gold hardware and a gold Guess logo, and has an interior divided into three compartments, which is so handy!
3. Shoes
We love Guess shoes and have picked out two favorite pairs. The Aindrea Sandal is the perfect summer shoe, ideal for a dinner out on a warm summer night. The sculpted block heel is a stunning feature, while the ruched foot straps are plush and sumptuous. Slip them on with any summer look as the perfect accessory.
Alternatively, if you are looking for something a little more versatile, the black Abagail Pointed Toe Pumps are just ideal. The block heel is oh-so-chic and easy to walk in, while the pointed toe ensures you always look stylish. Black heels are a must-have, and these striking pumps are just ideal with an affordable price tag of just $99!
Conclusion
After considering all the different aspects of the Guess brand, we would say that it is an entry-level high-end clothing brand. The price tags and craftsmanship of the Guess products are not high enough to consider Guess a strong luxury brand, and the materials used are not up to the same standard as other more prominent luxury designers.
However, the quality of clothing and attention to design means it is not an affordable clothing brand by any means.
It is a great option if you want to treat yourself to something a little more luxurious or you are just entering the world of luxury fashion – and for these reasons, we see Guess as an accessible, entry-level high-end brand that is great if you eventually want to dip your toes into luxury fashion.
We hope you loved this article answering the question, is Guess a luxury brand! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
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