Are designer price tags justified? Definitely not

For some, designer clothes are the ultimate symbol of wealth.

To satisfy this style-savvy lot, each slinky cocktail dress and every pair of ubiquitous skinny jeans must be adorned with the 'right' label.

But can a single dress really be worth in excess of £2000?

It certainly would seem so, judging by the legions of fans that are willing to pay a great deal more than Primark prices in order to dress to impress.

With television programmes such as Gok's Fashion Fix making it easier than ever to pluck up the courage to customise, I do not believe that it is necessary to splash out a small fortune on a tiny clutch bag.

But Lara, 20, a Biology student at the University of Nottingham has no qualms when it comes to spending £200 on a branded T-shirt.

"I try to buy investment pieces instead of buying into specific trends so that they last for several seasons" she insists.

"I may spend a lot more money, on a fewer amount of clothes, but I can be assured that they will last and that they are not made in a sweatshop".

And whilst designers remain exclusive, the high street is becoming even better at recreating each season's trends on a budget.

Janine Rasiah

Yet the only way to guarantee products are ethically produced is to purchase them from a reputable fair trade source, as listed on the official fairtrade website, so Lara's clothes may not be produced in the way that she expects.

And whilst designers remain exclusive, the high street is becoming even better at recreating each season's trends on a budget.

Example: Autumn/Winter 2008's biggest fashion must-have is undoubtedly the checked shirt, which has been found on the all the big runways, including D&G.

But for all those of us on a budget Oasis, Topshop and Miss Selfridge have all happily produced their own versions, with Topshop's cream and red number costing just £28.

Admittedly, I can see the attraction of designer clothes.

A friend of mine has recently bought a Chanel 2.55 quilted bag, which has led to much jealousy, but I can honestly say that if it was mine I would be eternally frightened of losing, scratching and/or staining it.

The stigma that is associated with shopping on the high street is waning, due in part to designer collaborations and the dreaded credit crunch.

With significant savings to be made on the high street, it seems ludicrous to shop elsewhere!