What a difference a economic collapse makes! Not that should come as any surprise, really, but it hit me in a new way this last week. 

For the past couple years, there have been dozens, if not hundreds, of blogs that have popped up that follow the "ultra-luxe" market. They're blogs that highlight diamond-covered iPhones for $35,000, 24K gold-plated flat screens, and tiaras for dogs that sell for $4.2 MILLION! Admittedly, I follow many blogs like those in a futile attempt to satiate my own unquenchable thirst for luxury.

However, the message to brands was clear: to get onto the pages of magazines or to generate blog buzz, you needed a product that was outrageously over-the-top. Not just luxurious, but profanely so. Who cares if it's never going to sell? It was a form of advertising based on the premise that people would want to read -- or dream, rather -- about objects of excessive luxury.

And we fell into the trap as well, but to a much lesser extent. We have some over-the-top products that we like to show off: a $500 belt made of dinosaur, a $2,600 Sterling Silver shave set, or the $13,000 Tumbled Croc gym bag pictured above. They are expensive, and luxurious for sure, but I would argue they are just under "profane".

So as we started putting some feelers out to our favorite press contacts about gifts for Father's Day -- it's June 21st this year! -- I was shocked to hear back that a very popular regional luxe magazine was focusing on gifts under $30. Ultimately, I shouldn't have been surprised at all, but it did illuminate how quickly things can change. From the-most-expensive-product-someone-may-never-buy to a-pricepoint-below-what-most-luxury-companies-offer in less than a year.

That said, we have some great gifts for Dad under $40, including magnetic collar stays, shave cream from the oldest barbershop in the world, and our favorite socks among other ideas. After all, it's the thought that counts.

UPDATE: What's one of the first things I read about this morning? A $24,000 mattress that incorporates 22K gold. You couldn't make this stuff up!