When to spend and when to save on clothes? A detailed conversation to understand it & get solution & idea (female fashion advice)
When to spend and when to save on clothes? A detailed conversation to understand it & get solution & idea (female fashion advice)
What pieces are worth spending more money on and when is it
more cost effective to go cheap? How much is it worth to spend on certain
things to get the best quality and longevity for the price? What can
potentially last for a decade and what needs to be replaced often?
[–]coffee_for_dinnerValued Advice Giver
I think it depends on the person and their lifestyle. I
personally spend more on coats and jackets (keeps me warm and looks good no
matter what I'm wearing underneath), shoes that I wear on a day to day basis
(needs to be comfortable, durable and preferably look good), and jeans (90% of
my outfits include them).
Justine basically recaps exactly what I think about fashion
spending in this video. Spend more on basics instead of the stuff you only wear
for special occasions.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]Acme_Co 9
100% agree. Jackets and shoes are a huge portion of my
clothing costs. Not because I have a lot of them, but because what I do have
cost a lot of money.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]Hernandez999 7
I'm the same, I feel that cheap coats are thin and not very
warm, and in addition they may crease easily. Spending a little bit more on one
that has more wool in it and keeps you warm is worth it to me. Also a
flattering and eyepleasing cut that is mostly timeless is worth the money. I've
got a Gant cabin coat and MaxMara trench from 10 years ago that I could easily
wear today because they've held up and they are cut in a way that is functional
and inconspicuous (nothing outrageous or too different).
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]MsAnthropic
The advice about spending more on daily/frequent use items
is on point. After years of spending too much on the wrong things, I've finally
come around to this.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]FuckingaFuck
I struggle to understand the "splurge on pieces to last
a lifetime" mentality because I've never seen evidence that more expensive
pieces last longer. I have a ten-year-old leather jacket that cost around $400,
and I have ten-year-old, washed-300-times tops that I got for under $10 on
clearance at Kohl's. Meanwhile, a $90 Calvin Klein dress doesn't hold up to
armpit stains like a $30 JCPenney dress and requires the extra maintenance of
dry cleaning. Even $20 shoes wear out in the same 5-6 years that $70 shoes do.
I say go cheap on everything and it'll last forever anyway.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]OrigamiKoi
I think the thing here is that the quality difference in
shoes isn't so obvious in the $20-70 range, it's more obvious when you get to
$120+, imo.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]FuckingaFuck
That makes sense. I don't have any experience with shoes
over $70, but I would rather wear $20 shoes for 5 years and throw them away
than wear $120 shoes for 10 years and throw them away.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]OrigamiKoi
That's fair, it's not a worthwhile investment if it's not
worth it to you.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]foreignfishes
For shoes this is 100% not true. $20 shoes are going to be
made with the absolute cheapest materials all glued together. Sometimes you get
lucky and get a weirdly resilient pair, but a lot of times the glue comes
apart, the material creases or breaks, or the thin soles wear through pretty
quickly. The same style of shoe but $80 and made with real leather or thicker
rubber/canvas is on average gonna last longer.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]FuckingaFuck
I can only speak from experience. I've never had shoes break
or wear out to become unusable, I just upgrade to new and throw out the old
every 3-5 years.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]foreignfishes
Yeah I mean like other people said, if it's not worth it for
you personally to spend money on then it's not a good investment. I've
basically completely given up on buying cheap shoes because of several bad
experiences/huge blisters, but unlike some people here I really don't care that
much about the perfect basic tee and would never spend a lot on one.
Also if you have a ton of pairs of shoes they definitely wear
less quickly and last longer. My one friend swears by Payless ballet flats and
says they last years for her, but she also owns like 12 different pairs and
wears different ones all the time.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]TequiIa_MockingBird_
Speaking generally, I think that shoes are worth spending
money on. Not luxury money, per se, but there's a big difference between a 20
dollar pair of shoes and a 150 dollar pair of shoes. Shoes take a beating and
it can make a difference for your long term health. Exception: I don't think
expensive ballet flats are worth it because they just don't last very long, and
special occasion shoes that you'll only wear once or twice
On the other hand, I try to not spend too much on tops. I'm
a sweaty person and I spill things on myself constantly, so shirts aren't going
to last too long around me. It's also pretty easy to find cute, decent quality
shirts for cheap.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]Hernandez999
I agree with you on shoes, a classic, quality leather boot
is worth the money. However, I have had luck with Target Australia's basic
canvas sneakers which were about $15. They've held up and are still going
strong but then again I mostly just walk on fairly clean concrete paths for
casual occasions. I also got a pair of brogues there which have been a godsend
for the winter here: stepped into a deep puddle by accident but the shoes were
waterproof somehow and my feet stayed dry inside. Now, heels on the other hand
I would spend on because the more expensive ones seem more comfortable.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]ysabeaublue
I always hear that flats don't last and am trying to figure
out if I'm just an anomaly? Mine have lasted a minimum of 3 years - most
longer. And I'm talking about regular abuse - caught in rain storms and
puddles, walked across campuses, hills. Now granted, they die quicker than my
boots and other shoes, which can last 5-10 years, but 3-5 years for flats I
think is okay. Is that what you meant, in comparison to other shoes?
[–]zurkritikdergewalt
I feel like there's no easy answer to this question, because
I know people that swear by a brand. They got a pair of shoes there ten years
ago and they are great. But the quality of the product now versus back then is
much worse.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]KyrridwenV
The most of your budget should go to the clothes you wear
most, that are important to your overall look or are important to your well
being. The latter is the case with shoes, winter coats and outdoor clothes.
Shoes, coats, pants, skirts, dresses and jackets/blazers are
items that should last a long time depending on how stable your weight is and
how well you care for them. These items tend to be worth getting
tailored/altered (within reason) or made to measure to fit you better as well.
Items that are less likely to last are button downs, T-shirts, blouses,
sweaters, jumpers, cardigans, underwear, pantyhose and items made of soft/thin
fabric. They are more prone to stains, cuts and damage from friction (e.g.
pilling). Good quality button downs, if worn with an undershirt, and heavy knit
sweaters tend to last the longest of these.
Quality markers are seam finish, type and thickness of the
fabric and the overall finish of the garments. If they have poorly stitched
seams, appear flimsy, do not have lining, etc., they're usually not worth your
money. As logic dictates, be aware that there is a difference between summer
and winter weight fabrics, this means that lighter weight is not necessarily a
dis-qualifier as long as the quality is on par. Thicker, heavier fabrics tend
to be suitable for fall/winter and thinner, lighter weight fabrics for
spring/summer/(sub) tropical climates. Neutral solid colours and classic prints
like pinstripe and houndstooth tend to remain in style.
Finally, the fit of your clothes is important to your
overall look and your comfort. Structured items and button downs should always
sit neatly on your shoulders, so neither hang down your arm nor come in towards
your neck, and fit your bust and waist comfortably. Try them for fit the way you
intend to wear them so they do not end up too small/uncomfortable, for example:
a winter coat with a sweater underneath and a blazer with a blouse. In my
opinion T-shirts and non-button down blouses also look neater if the shoulder
seams align with the edge of your shoulders, but this is a matter of preference
and some do not have shoulder seams at all. Your pants, skirts and dresses
should hug your body gently but not pull. Slightly loose tends to look more
professional/polished and is more comfortable than too tight. Of course it's
fine to have tight clothes to wear to the club or so, but for your daily
classics, they may not be a good investment (except skinny jeans).
Edit: Don't forget to consider your laundry routine. For
example if you don't have the budget to get your clothes dry cleaned regularly
but intend to wear them often and are likely to get them stained, try to avoid
dry-clean only.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]lovekiva
Don't forget to consider your laundry routine
Laundry routine is so, so important when it comes to
longevity of clothes! Only washing when necessary, paying attention to the wash
temperature, using an appropriate wash cycle, and air drying everything makes a
massive difference.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]KyrridwenV
Yes exactly and also the detergent is important: some are
much better at preventing fading, bleed through and graying than others. Not
all fabrics fare well with fabric softener, so that's a consideration as well.
Tip: you can use white vinegar as prewash to set the colours
of new items and remove detergent buildup/sweaty smell from older ones. I
treated an old cotton shirt yesterday and it worked like a charm. You don't
smell it after washing either.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]xxxvegeta
I think leather pieces in general are a good investment,
especially jackets and belts.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]HungLikeJesus
Wool socks are also totally worth the extra cost.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]foreignfishes
Ya definitely. I'm currently wearing a pair of smartwool
socks that my mom bought for me in 2006, when was the last time you had a pair
of socks last 11 years??
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]cagedcat
hmmm...my socks vanish, so I don't know if they will last or
not. :)
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]Lillyeth
I prefer to spend most on what I wear most, so basically
shoes, outerwear, bags and basics. Tops (sweaters excluded) are where I save
because I find that I can get decent quality tops without breaking the bank,
mostly due to thrifting.
For me that doesn't mean that I have a closet full of luxury
goods, but I wouldn't buy 20 dollar shoes. In general I prefer few quality
items instead of having lots of variety but low quality items.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]OrigamiKoi
I consider shoes an investment. I immediately resole any
shoe (other than sneakers) that I buy so that nice leather soles don't get worn
through and I can continue to wear them for years. Wool coats are another one.
A good one will last several years of almost daily fall/winter wear. Leather in
general is a good investment. Realistically, I don't buy that very many clothes
will be a lifetime investment, but I'd hate to buy something that's worn out in
a year, It'd be wasteful and I'd be sad.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]syan22 2
I think it definitely depends on the person's lifestyle and
I guess where they live. I am a shoe girl so I always try to do ample amounts
of research on the specific pair of shoes I have my eyes on - this is something
I would never go cheap on. You have to take care of your feet! Like what others
have commented, coats, jackets and jeans should be of high quality. I wouldn't
spend a lot on basics. I generally get my basics from uniqlo or muji and
they're reasonably priced and of decent quality.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]luckyratfoot
I spend more on shoes, socks, and underwear because I wear
them everyday and they need to be perfectly comfortable. I buy a purse every
few years and spend more because I use the same one everyday.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]abeautyman
I think it really depends on what you enjoy wearing - me
personally I wear the same pair of docs summer and winter until they literally
cannot be not worn, so I'd say invest in a pair of shoes that will last a long
time. In terms of winter, spending a little more on a good wool jacket or coat
of any sort that will keep you warm, be worn in formal and informal situations
will also be a big plus especially if it's a grey or black jacket - they will
never go out of fashion if that's what you're looking for. I think generally
speaking it also depends on how your peers dress around you. I know that being
a uni student with little money means I always shop at Second hand places and
op shops etc, they also tend to be the Best as you can find great clothes at a
cheap price. I think you'd be surprised about how much 'nice' stuff is actually
just op shop bought clothing.
To sum up I go by the 'if I don't need it then why but it' mindset
but of course buying something nice can pay off if you sell it later on
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
[–]TheAnxiousFox
I wear dresses most of the time so I try to invest in better
quality ones, thin ones from F21 have always shrunk, ripped, and fallen apart.
I usually spend $30-150 on a dress. Jeans I buy cheap and second hand. Tops are
usually mid range, but some cheap basic ones are good too. Sweaters I go mid
range. I invest in good shoes now because I started running and have had a few
pain issues so I want to be preventive about major foot issues. I spent $90 on
a pair of sandals for the first time in my life instead of $15 and it felt so
wrong but boy are they comfortable and really helped me when I have to walk a
lot. I retired ballet flats and have been seeking out good quality oxfords
instead. I spend a lot on a good winter coat but I try to make it last 2-3
years since they are very expensive. But you can find good quality ones second
hand too. I also invest in bras because I'm busty. Underwear and socks I go
cheap.
Female Fashion Advice & Discussion on Clothes
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