Can you feel bad for designers failing when they put out $400 bike shorts?

ShopbopShopbopIf you're not already familiar with Alexander Wang, he's a young designer in New York with an ever-expanding celebrity fanbase. Lindsay Lohan and Rihanna regularly wear his clothing while others like Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera might be spotted in one of his dresses or handbags.

Wang's Fall 2009 merchandise has just been released and one of the items is this $395 pair of bike shorts. Aside from a few interestingly placed seams, they are your average nylon and spandex shorts you might wear to the gym, or if you're going for a '90s look, under a skirt or oversized t-shirt. Is an item of this kind worth nearly $400? Hell no! But then again, Wang also released some cuffed, cutoff sweatpants last season for $225.

How do designers expect us to pay five times more than we'd like to on what is supposed to be a casual, affordable article of clothing? Are they just turning a blind eye to this recession we're in? $400 bike shorts are outrageous and almost infuriating. If designers continue producing "fashionable" items like this, we have no remorse for their declining sales figures. It's one thing to save up for a well crafted pair of leather shoes or couture gown, but bike shorts? We can scoop up a $20 pair from a sporting goods shop, or dare we say, American Apparel. [NY Mag]