Why, G*d, why? Where are my $800 sneakers? [View all]

[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