This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2043.
Do you shop high end?
How to talk about your brand preferences in English.
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Hey, Michelle, how's everything going?
It's hot.
It's hot.
You are in New York City summer.
Oh my gosh.
Are you dying?
Yeah, it's pretty hot and my air conditioning is broken everyone, so i am.
Just, if you notice that i'm shinier than usual, it's because i'm sweating um, but that's okay.
That's okay.
So we're getting it fixed today and you know, This happens.
Yeah, it happens.
Oh, man.
It builds character.
Oh, it builds character.
And some of the places, I mean, Egypt was so hot when I was there.
Oh, it was crazy hot.
Places in the Middle East where our listeners are, I'm sure you guys are just baking.
And I know a lot of places like may not have air conditioning or like it may not.
I mean, I have a friend in London who said, you know, they just don't have air conditioning.
So I think in the US, AC is like, everywhere.
And yeah, so it's true.
So Michelle, let's talk about luxury items.
Do you like luxury items?
How do you feel about luxury?
So I don't really.
It's not my thing.
I mean, like people, people are really into it.
I have friends who it's like a really I mean, and that's fine.
Like they.
It's a big deal for them to get, like a, a name brand, you know, a purse or something like that.
I know some people who, who like that, but for me, I expensive things make me nervous.
Like I can't be trusted to not lose something.
Or like sometimes Dan will be like Oh, why don't you get yourself like a nice pair of sunglasses instead of the 10 ones you have?
And I'm like, my kids just like, step on them or they're just broken.
It's just not worth it to me.
But I can appreciate that they're very nice things.
How about you?
Yeah, I feel very similar because I like to live in a way that if I lose something, it's OK.
Like I'm just I just I don't need that much.
Right.
Because then also when you have luxury items, you have to insure them.
Right.
Like, if you have an expensive ring, you have to buy insurance for that ring and you have to worry about where it is.
Life just becomes a little more stressful.
I think when you have more luxury items, I would I'd rather have my value built up in my memories.
You know my life, my
That's why we're the same, Lindsay, in that way.
Like, yeah, I same.
Yeah, same.
That's how we feel.
So that is what we think.
But we're going to talk a little bit about luxury on the show today.
But first, Michelle, we need our listeners to hit follow on the podcast.
Why?
Well, because let it come to you guys.
I know that if I like for podcasts I listen to.
If I'm not subscribed to them then I have to look for them.
But if I'm subscribed, I get a notification that it's ready for me.
So yeah, easy.
Exactly.
So guys, go and hit that follow button now.
So Michelle, would you like to read the question from our listener today for a change?
We'll switch it up a little bit.
Oh, here we go.
This question was from YouTube.
So it says, Hey, I'm Basira.
I'm sorry if I mispronounced it from Iran.
Dear jessica and dear aubry, or i guess lindsay and michelle too, i appreciate your time and effort in helping us.
You're such good teachers.
They are um.
By the way.
A quick question can i describe a luxury house?
Oh, so this is.
This is an IELTS question.
Okay.
So I missed that, that it's a little bit of an IELTS question, but we're going to still talk about this today.
And if they want to touch on that in IELTS, they can go for it too.
Well, yeah, totally.
Oh, you want to finish the question?
Yes, sure.
In the cue card question when it describes a luxury.
Oh say, describe a luxury item that you want to have.
Right.
So I think she's talking about probably speaking part...
One, two or three is my guess.
So guys, if you are taking IELTS, go over and listen to the IELTS Energy podcast with the experts Jessica and Aubrey.
They will get you ready for IELTS.
All right.
So this is actually a question related to IELTS.
But the thing about IELTS is that IELTS tests your real English.
It is a test of your ability to live in an English speaking country.
And so we're going to take this question, repurpose it into how to talk about luxury in everyday conversations and business, Michelle.
So good yes yes, exactly.
So um yeah, we're gonna talk about this word luxury.
I felt like this would make for a really good all ears English episode, so Let's go for it.
So luxury basically means expensive, fancy, high quality.
So it's a noun, right?
But we also use it kind of as an adjective before some nouns, right?
So like a luxury bag, right?
Yeah, that's kind of a modern use of it, right?
I don't know, luxury furniture bag.
We'll think of more examples later in the episode, but you're right.
I hear it a lot as an adjective before the item, before the noun.
But we do have a couple other episodes, Michelle.
One that our listeners should make sure they go back and listen to is 1713 how to talk about generations and trends in English.
I love that idea.
Yes.
Or there's episode 961 is how to describe your style and flair in English.
So go and listen to that.
Yes. so yeah well we use luxury uh to talk about general things um so we're gonna like so first of all do we would you say luxury house so we're touching on this luxury house i don't think i would say that like maybe a luxury home right but a luxury house just doesn't quite work that phrase for me what about you michelle That's how I feel like I feel like, oh, I might hear luxury home, but I don't know that I would hear someone say, I live in a luxury home or I want a luxury home.
I don't know.
Also, how do you spell it's interesting this word luxury, right?
Yeah, it's spelled and pronounced. what right like how is it how do you spell luxury oh spelling is so weird in english l-u-x-u-r-y it it's it doesn't seem like it should have a good sound luxury right it has a lot of weird sounds like it should it seems like it should be like l-u-g-z-h-u-r-y luxury you know i was just in when i was in egypt on my trip we went to luxor and i was assuming i don't know but i'm assuming maybe that's where the word luxury came from this could be fake news i don't actually know i haven't confirmed this but my thinking when i was there the whole time was oh we're going to luxor egypt is such an old civilization that's probably where the word luxury came from or some derivative of the word Lux.
Yeah.
Luxor.
Lux.
L-U-X-O-R is the city, right?
Where, all where, like King Tut's tomb is, and all these ornate Egyptian, you know, temples and things.
So, It kind of makes sense, but I'm just not I'm not sure if it's actually true.
Yeah.
Interesting.
Interesting theory.
Yeah.
I feel like you.
If you're going to say luxury house or luxury home, I feel like you would go with luxury home.
And I was thinking, why is that?
And I feel that like home maybe sounds a little bit more luxury than the word house.
I mean, what is the difference between a house and a home?
Oh, good question.
OK, so the difference between a house and a home.
House is more about the physical structure.
Is it a house or is it an apartment?
But your home could be either a house or an apartment or a boathouse.
It could be anything, right?
So a home is more like where your heart is.
Home is where the heart is.
It's where your family lives.
It's what you come home to, come back to.
And I think the reason, Michelle.
Another theory that could be just a theory luxury home.
I think this is about marketing in the real estate industry.
Ah, yes.
That's where it might be used in real estate.
So a realtor is much more likely to say oh, can I show you a few luxury homes in this neighborhood instead of a few luxury houses.
Because home feels more marketable.
Right.
Like I feel like if you were looking on, I don't know, did you ever used to look on like Redfin or any of those?
Yeah.
I feel like, you know, they always have a description.
And if there's maybe a really nice house, somebody they might write in it this luxury home.
But I wouldn't see luxury house.
I don't think.
Right.
So that's, it's really just marketing, right?
Comes down to the market, the industry of real estate.
And that's why we say home.
Yeah, yeah, it was interesting with the home house thing reminds me of career versus job.
But we've talked about that before.
A little bit.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But anyway, okay, so let's talk more about luxury.
So okay, so a luxury home, what would that be?
Lindsay?
What?
What is a luxury home?
I mean, it would be high end.
Right.
So it'd be an expensive home with designer things around, very like the highest tier quality appliances.
Right.
The best appliances may be all decked out for voice activation.
Beautiful wood floors, expensive wood floors, all redone bathrooms, maybe like a pool in the back.
That's what I think of.
I think of like Beverly Hills and, you know, there are all these shows right around on the TV.
Love it or list it or all these shows.
I think of that, so.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
So yeah, I do not live in a luxury home.
I don't either, who does, right?
Yeah, so, but who knows, maybe one day, but yeah.
So Lindsay, but we don't only use that to talk about homes, right?
So what else do we use luxury with?
What might you hear it with?
Yeah, so luxury bags, luxury sheets, which might be worth the money.
Luxury brands, right?
So yeah, certain brands, I think like, for example, luxury cars.
There's the brands that you think of Porsche BMW, right.
These are considered kind of luxury brand cars, the higher end cars, right, Michelle?
Luxury hotels.
Like I know, Marriott has a couple of lines in their brand or just in general, I think Marriott is considered more in the luxury end of things as opposed to like a days in or you know that kind of thing.
Lindsay, should we see how many luxury brands for fashion we can name between the two of us?
Good luck to us.
I bet our listeners would do a heck of a lot better than we would.
Okay, let's try.
Let's try.
This is fun.
Okay, I'll start.
Louis Vuitton.
Oh, that's the obvious one.
Yeah, I took it.
I was thinking like Gucci.
Okay.
Gucci's luxury, right?
Chanel.
Okay, what about?
About donna karan?
I feel like she's never around anymore, but she was luxury at one point, right?
Is that is that valid?
Yeah okay, prada.
Oh, i think i'm done.
I think i'm out.
I know, i feel like i'm getting.
I'm getting to the end too.
We're so funny.
We're just not with it.
Michelle, we're clearly not not exactly tuned into luxury, especially for fashion.
Now, when it comes to luxury sheets, I have stayed in a couple of guest houses, like family that has like a guest room where they invested in like high thread count sheets.
That is worth it.
That's the one place that I think it's worth spending.
We don't have them here in my house, but when I go to their place and stay in their guest bed oh, it's amazing.
It's just like you sleep so well.
Really?
That might be worth the money.
I mean it depends on how much you're willing to spend, but high thread count worth the money, I think.
All right.
Okay.
Good to know.
Good to know.
So, I mean, Lindsay, we also sometimes use the word designer, right?
Instead of Instead of luxury, right?
Would you say that?
Yeah.
And I think the designer term also extends to other strange things like designer dogs, right?
Which is kind of a different topic for a different day, right?
But yeah, I agree.
I think luxury and designer are pretty much interchangeable, depending on the product you're talking about.
Right.
Like I would hear designer brand designer bag, but I don't know.
I don't I feel like I wouldn't hear designer car.
Right.
I feel like that would be.
Yeah, that would be scary.
I don't want a designer car.
It sounds like it's homemade or something.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Yeah.
I feel like designer is good for fashion.
Yeah.
So, well, yeah.
I don't know.
So the only the thing that's close to luxury that I get is the only like kind of name brand that I kind of like is Kate Spade.
But I get the outlet ones or like, yeah, like sometimes like there's like a really good outlet.
And then I always you know what?
I like to look at them.
I mean, I have on line, I always get ads for Kate Spade and I'll just like spend time looking at it.
And it's like all the stuff that's like 50% off.
And I'm like, maybe I'm going to do it.
And then I just like forget.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's one pro tip for our listeners for today.
If you're living in the States, in most places you can go outlet shopping and you can get things like Tommy Hilfiger or Kate Spade.
Maybe not the super, super high end stuff, but like the second to top tier stuff.
Yeah yeah yeah, at these outlets for 50 off.
I don't, is it just rejected stuff?
I mean it's perfectly good stuff.
They just i think it's like it's like last season, last season, okay.
So i i'm pretty sure.
But anyway guys, i love out like the outlets, like i don't understand why i would ever shop anywhere else.
It's just that they're not like everywhere, like it's not as easy to find as like a mall or something like that.
Like I don't have it.
Like, well, mostly I've ever lived right.
Colorado, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, even Maine.
They have, they have outlet shopping.
You just have to drive a couple of hours to get there.
Yeah.
Right.
But it's it's, it's like it's like christmas and so um.
But yeah, i mean another thing i do love a luxury hotel, but like i don't do.
I know you're a hotel person.
You shared that with us before, michelle.
Yeah, a good luxury hotel, like a really high-end marriott or something is, is pretty nice, you know.
Yeah, you can't complain the the breakfast buffet that's included in your room.
Um, just pools saunas, spas it's nice.
Yeah yeah, yeah.
But last time when I was traveling, I stayed in Airbnbs and I love those too.
I mean... It's also amazing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So anyway, this is a fun conversation.
So let's just throw out... What are some other words that we can use to describe luxury?
Okay, guys.
So write these ones down now.
So upscale, fantastic word, high-end word.
Would be great for IELTS, by the way, too.
It's an upscale brand, so it's more expensive.
Okay?
Good.
Yeah.
Or...
High end.
She works in high end retail.
She is very successful.
Yeah.
A top of the line.
Right.
Which this bag is top of the line.
I love it.
Right.
And then one could be ritzy.
Right.
I don't know if this comes from the hotel, the Ritz Carlton, but do you hear this word Ritzy?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I know the word for sure.
Or is it the other way around?
Yeah.
I don't know.
It's a great question.
Again, I don't know if that comes straight from just Ritz, the name Ritz or vice versa.
Probably, I'm guessing Ritz is probably like a family name, right?
Okay.
I don't know.
Google it.
Google it.
Yeah.
Let's just do our sample sentence for our listeners, right?
So the place they chose for the reception is really ritzy.
Yeah.
These words do come up quite a lot, at least in my world.
Like I said, I don't indulge that much in luxury stuff.
But for some reason, I feel like I'm using these words a lot to compare products, services, hotels.
They just come up a lot when you talk about... I guess we're just in a consumer culture, Michelle.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
For sure.
Yeah.
You'll hear these all the time.
All the time.
Yeah.
So good to know.
So should we do a role play?
Oh, yeah.
We're going to do that in just a minute.
All right, Michelle, we are back for our role play.
So we we are here and we both love designer shoes.
That is not true for me.
We're shopping.
Here we go, all right, here we go.
Uh oh wow, look at these shoes.
They're designer.
I love them.
I've heard of this brand.
It's definitely a luxury brand.
Yeah well, this mall has great stores.
They are really high end.
Yeah upscale, for sure.
Everything in this place is top of the line.
Oh yes, and the prices are ritzy too.
Oh, that's for sure.
Yeah, you're gonna pay for it if you're gonna always buy luxury items right, michelle?
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah.
So here, the first thing you said, you said, Oh, wow, look at these shoes.
They are designer.
That's interesting.
Because, you know, designer is really an adjective, right?
But you're saying they are designer.
So it's an interesting construction there.
Yeah, I guess I guess it's just that I'm like leaving out the word shoes, right?
Like, instead of saying they're designer shoes, it's kind of cutting it off.
Exactly, exactly.
And then what did I say?
You said I've heard of this brand.
It's definitely a luxury brand.
Yeah.
And then you said they're all really high end.
Yeah.
Very common.
And then I said, yes, upscale for sure.
Yep.
And then I said, everything in this place is top of the line.
And I said, yes.
And the prices are ritzy too.
Yes.
That's funny.
I like that.
So what's the takeaway?
This is fun.
I mean, we live in such a consumer oriented culture in the United States, right?
I mean, that's how kind of industry grew post-World War II in our country.
That's why we had these booms that we've had because we love to shop.
A huge portion of our economy runs on consumerism.
Humongous.
In the US, if people stopped shopping, I think our economy would be in a lot of trouble.
If people started to realize oh, my value doesn't actually come from having a high-end car, we'd be in a lot of trouble.
We would be in a lot of trouble.
So but it's not gonna be me.
So well yeah, I think also the thing is, even guys if, like Lindsay and I, we don't get luxury stuff, but we still, it was so much fun.
It was kind of a fun discussion topic to just talk about these things.
Share, share what we get what we don't get a giant play game naming brand.
Yeah, great connection topic.
So don't think to yourself like Oh, I don't get that stuff, so I'm not going to use this vocabulary.
It's fun to talk about.
You're going to hear it a lot.
So very good connection topic, I think.
Yeah, I think it's just to go one level deeper there.
I think it's a connection topic, because people love to talk about things that say something about themselves subtly right.
When you say, what kind of brands do you like to buy?
Or what do you think about this?
Oh, it's a little high end for me.
Or yeah, I love that because it's so luxury.
That is saying so much more than just talking about that purse or that car.
That's saying so much about your value, your success, what you think is important.
So guys, open up this topic.
Right.
Yes.
Topic in a subtle, interesting way could make a great conversation to connect.
I agree.
I agree.
All right.
Well, thank you so much for this question.
And we will talk to you soon.
All right, Michelle.
Take care.
Bye.
Bye.
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