I am shifting the conversation back to eyeglasses: I have had a pair of Gucci and Ralph Lauren specs and gosh dang if they basically weren't the same as all my cheapie ones in comfort, durability, etc. In fact, my RL ones lost the logo on the side, so they look really really stupid right now. I do as Lunchy does, and buy ones that look nice on my face, and since my insurance covers most, I've never really needed to look at the label.
A label can act as a placebo though, (I don't think that's the right word). But you know you spent more money, or you know the label, so you automatically think they're nicer, even if they're not. I'm probably biased though, as I grew up working class.