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Investment Dressing

Aleta

Do you subscribe to the theory of investment dressing? Would you spend your whole annual clothes budget on one or two higher quality pieces? If so how much longevity would you expect them to have in your wardrobe?

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from Elle

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I would love, love, love to do this, but through all of my adult life, my sizes have been too unstable for it to really work. I'd want really expensive pieces to last at least 5 years, longer for investments like shoes, handbags, toppers, and outerwear.

Anonymous

I'm interested in seeing the replies to this thread too. I was raised to be an investment dresser but I got so bored having a limited wardrobe in my 20s-30s. Over the past 2-3 years i've pitched my entire wardrobe of cheap tat and started over. Partly because I was in a brief window where I could spend money and that will end in a few years. I'm buying quality (anticipating my old ladyhood with a lot of St John knits!) but I am nervous about the pieces I'm adding lasting in terms of style.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

No, I think clothing is a disposable good and is never an investment in the correct usage of the word. I do think the idea of "less but better" makes sense for some people's lifestyle and budget. If you had to wear suits to work, for instance, it would be a good idea to 'invest' in some good ones that would last you several years of frequent wear.
Most of us don't have these dressing requirements, though, so it's more of a personal preference: how much do you enjoy (or hate) shopping? How much variety do you want in your wardrobe? How current fashion-wise do you want to be? If you prefer to shop less often and don't mind repeating, and have a pretty classic style, then spending on pricey sturdy items makes sense.

(Then there's the whole issue about an item's price not always reflecting its quality and longevity, which proves that none of this is easy.)

Thistle

Veteran

I second Laura. Stocks and bonds are investments. Clothing is a consumer good.

Staysfit

Veteran

Those St. John knits are very pretty though aren't they! I can see the draw.

Deborah

Veteran

I suppose it depends on how you interpret investment dressing:) I think I sit somewhere in the middle. I have moved to a smaller closet of much better quality items. I have established a style that I feel is very me and is not overly trend driven, so I do expect my wardrobe items to serve me well over an extended period of time. I don't think I could do as you ask and spend my budget on say two high quality items but I am looking at doing only 5 new items over Spring/Summer and another 5 for Autumn/Winter. Will see how I go.

Dee

Veteran

I couldn't buy one or two for a whole year. I like a little more variety and I'd be a little afraid to ruin one (see my recent post on laundry mishaps...). But I'm trying to be more like Deborah, buying fewer items of higher quality and trying to mix and match my wardrobe for more variety.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have been buying good quality clothing for a few years. Actually a decade or more. I find the clothing lasts longer in terms of style and wear. I also like it longer.

I found a few designers I like. One is Sarah Pacini. Her clothes are beyond trends. Very unique.

I agree clothes are not investments like stocks but they are investments for my creative spirit.

Anonymous

I'd need a head start, with a basic collection of pieces already established. At that point, I would absolutely do it. Not 1 or 2 pieces a year (that seems far too restrictive, and actually unnecessary to be spending anywhere near that amount of money on one thing - relative to the size of your budget) but I am in the same frame of mind as Deborah, where , say, 5 or 5 pieces a season would absolutely work. I'm hoping that by this time next year I have this as a routine. One more caveat: this would be for my work and better clothing wardrobe ; I don't want to be that precious with my casual , around the house stuff.

gryffin

Veteran

Deborah - you are so incredibly eloquent!! Ditto for me!! I don't think of clothing as a investment - as in holding value for sale, to anyone other than me. But I think or it as an investment in my wardrobe and my "brand" or presentation. A high quality, beautifully made piece of excellent fabric will wear well, drape beautifully and take hard usuage for a long period of time. To me that is the definition of an "investment" piece. I have a defined, well curated minimalist classic/elegant/edgy style. I expect pieces, especially blazers, jackets and coats to last 15 years - possibly more. I have been slowly spending more on beautifully tailored blazers - helmut lang, theory, vince coats and eileen fisher pieces. The fabric feels so much better, it drapes more elegantly, wrinkles from wear shake out and look unworn, the workmanship is excellent. I never understood the hype about tailoring until I tried on the helmut lang smoking tux - the jacket sat plumb, the tailoring at the neckline gave me a lovely swan neck and it felt magnificent to wear. This is what I consider an "investment" in my wardrobe. No this jacket won't last forever, but it will last and look wonderful for a long, long time and I will feel wonderful while wearing it. So yes, I'm a convert. Because I am at a point where I have a functional and much loved wardrobe I have the luxury of being able to choose to add a several marvelous things than alot of lesser things.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Nodding my head while reading Gryffin's thoughts. The ROI is in presentation of oneself in the best light.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I only see clothing as a very short term investment - as in if I thrift this for $2 how likely am I to get $10 back for it. Agree with Thistle that clothes are consumables and are not going to appreciate with the exception, perhaps, of a few bags or jewelry. That said, am in favor in investing in oneself, as Gryffin describes.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if it depends on who you hang out with and where you live, too. I theoretically could afford designer clothes (assuming they came in my size) but I don't know anyone who wears them regularly, and I'd feel pretty out of place in my everyday life. I already dress up more than most people I know.

Deborah

Veteran

Gryffin's point is a very good one she refers to "an investment in my wardrobe and my "brand" or presentation". The investment is not so much in the clothing but more in the desired outcome of our wardrobe.

em

I suppose that if your goal is to be trophy wife, then yes, your clothing is indeed an investment. Although it might be theorized that the necessary clothing might be more in the line of lingerie, rather than say...a winter coat, which to my knowledge, has never spurred a man to sexual frenzy.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

It is not an investment piece if it does not bring you financial returns. However, depending on your career and social circle, financial returns might be more likely if you are well-dressed and project a particular image.

catgirl

Veteran

A friend mentioned to me recently a really interesting concept: buying the clothes for the experience of wearing them. Viewed that way, it's like paying for a vacation, movie, or meal - not something to own but something to experience and enjoy, albeit repeatedly. I've been pondering that and whether I getting my money's worth in terms of investment in clothes that way, and also if I am enjoying the life experience my clothes give me. I'm a very abstract thinker, so this concept really resonates for me: how much would I pay to experience this particular item?

Cococat

Veteran

I doubt that I could cope with buying a few very expensive items each year although it probably makes more sense with my overflowing wardrobe. I have bought some expensive items in the past but I usually buy from consignment stores or Ebay. I don't wear them any more than my mid price and fast fashion pieces although they do seem to cope with seasonal fashion changes better. For example, I have a Prada dress, bought on Ebay, that is such a classical style, I doubt that it will ever look dated.

I do 'invest' in handbags. Only one is a true investment though as it's now worth much more than I paid for it. The rest are just gorgeous bags and to me, a reward and celebration of hard work (going back to study in my 30s and getting a job that I enjoy).

ETA: Alaskagirl, that's how I feel about vintage dresses. I buy for the experience of wearing them, even though they're often far from practical. It gives me great joy to wear something from another era and I fantasise about who once wore it. My brother often teases me by telling me that someone probably died in it....lol.

E

Veteran

I just read this post in my feed reader, which seems relevant. Honestly, I've no idea what the 39-year-old me would like to wear, so I wouldn't buy something expecting to wear it for a decade to get my money's worth.

However, I do feel that wearing clothes I love, in fabrics I love, and whose fit loves me back, is worth paying more for. Like AG, I see clothes & outfits as experiences as well as objects, and I'm happy to have them for all of the sensory & aesthetic pleasure they bring to my life. Also, I'm willing to spend more on pieces that I know will get worn a lot (comfortable shoes, wool coats & wool tights now that I live in the north, undies, pjs, etc.), which is a sort of cost-per-wear, investment-dressing idea I suppose. If I worked outside the home, I'd see my clothing/hair/make-up/etc. outlays as 'business expenses,' so to speak.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Aleta --

Interesting question! I don't think I could spend only on 1 or 2 pieces a year unless I lived in a world wear my frequent-use items lasted more than 3 or so years and my laundry magically did itself.

But I do tend to have 1-4 splurge-for-me items a year, things that are bought for the pleasure principle factor and that may or may not be frequent wear items (but generally I have to keep from wearing them more vs less often). The experience factor Alaskagirl mentions comes into play, for sure.

On the flip side of your question, I'll buy something (usually warm weather stuff) in the $20 range with the expectation it won't last more than about 4 seasons, then fall in love with it and baby it along with cold water washes/hang dry. Go figure.

CocoC -- Naughty brother, ha! Don't hold back on sharing your vintage, please.

Ps I do occasionally shop consignment/eBay/Poshmark etc and love getting to enjoy someone else's financial expenditure at a fraction of the price.

rachylou

Veteran

Deborah has a good point. I was going to say 'no', but then I saw mention of St. John. If that's the value:price ratio we're talking, I think that's worthwhile. But I regularly look at Akris and The Row and Stella and Victoria Beckham, and I have yet to convince myself...

Style Fan

Veteran

I like what Alaska Girl's friend said about clothes --- the experience of wearing them. For me there is something wonderful that happens when I wear well made clothing. And that is an investment in my creative self. It won't show up in my bank account but it is still an investment. I also find I buy fewer pieces of clothing when I buy well made clothing.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I have a fairly low boredom threshold for clothing and my tastes seem to change fairly often. I also have bought more expensive pieces that were not necessarily great quality and less expensive items that lasted and held up well. The correlation of price and quality is far from absolute.

I buy what I think I will like but we have all made purchase errors. I would be very disappointed if one of the errors encompassed a large percentage of my annual purchasing.

kerry

Veteran

I think I'm too fickle in my tastes.

Anonymous

Chiming back in to echo Alaska Girl and Style Fan's comments on wear enjoyment as self-investment. I loved the fun and variety of my disposable wardrobe in my 20s & 30s (at the expense of much tutting from my traditional Scots family). But I began to realise in my 40s that the cheaper clothes just no longer looked good or felt right on me. I'm now in a place where I want to look like my very smart, stylish Granny did. Asking myself "WWGW?" led me to St John. Also comfort: The Theory jackets and trousers I thought I was 'investing' in 2 years ago feel scratchy and stiff, and have sat barely worn.

I definitely can't afford to spend full price on St John. I'm lucky to live near an outlet and have enlisted the help of a fabulous staffer there who looks out for pieces in my size. Right now I'm eyeing a navy knit skirt for $150.

Anonymous

I very much used to believe in investment dressing. It made so much sense to me, but the reality was a bit different.

The flaw in my thinking resulted from a number of things, including fluctuating sizes. But the desire to change and try new things was the overarching reason for the failure. What I loved one year felt dated a mere three-to-five years later. And I do not buy wildly trendy pieces.

For example, I tried fluid knit fits after years of fitted button down shirts and blouses. I haven't worn those button down shirts for a couple of seasons now. About half of the have been donated, the other half is in storage.

I used to wear blazers exclusively. Now I am wearing cardigans. I haven't worn the blazers for a couple of seasons now either. More than off of them have been donated.

These are subtle changes. What it means to me is that I can still buy really good pieces that are well constructed, made of luxurious fabrics, and bring me joy to wear, but I have to be aware of the fact that in a few years they might not appeal to me. So I made the decision to wear all those pieces that I buy and love now. I am not buying them to donate them to the goodwill.

So do I still subscribe to the idea of investment dressing? Yes, but with some caveats. I now own a mix of pieces. The system works for me today. It could change tomorrow.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I also like the idea of a mix. Some things, like my Burberry trench and my DVF wrap dresses, I will wear for a very long time. I don't feel badly about spending more on something I really love; however, I find a lot of things that I really love at moderate prices and still feel that the quality is quite good.

Minnie

To me the term "investment dressing" is iffy, because it alludes to some sort of financial gain, which the clothes themselves will not realize.
All clothes and accessories will show wear with continued use and eventually look dated.
If somebody wants to invest in clothes for a job that will generate financial gain, getting good quality items should be possible without spending the entire budget on one or two pieces.
I wouldn't spend my entire budget on one item, I just know that there is no way I would be able to not purchase anything else for the season. Even if there was an item that had a 10-year longevity factor, it's highly unlikely I would still love and use it after 2 or 3 years max.

I do frequently spend more than is prudent on a piece I love, but I don't see it as an investment. It's simply an item that makes me happy at that time.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Cheryle on this one. My clothes are an 'investment' towards my happiness. Period.

I have a low boredom threshold and I get these seasonal phases where I love one style, and then another one next season. I'm trying to curtail this to some extent, and I can pin point areas that are worth spending big bucks. Since I collect bags, I don't mind shelling out big bucks for those. I don't try out bright colors in bags and choose classic, timeless pieces, so they CAN last years. It's not the same with clothing, though. I do love structured dresses...but my size is also susceptible to changes, so spending half my shopping budget on one dress is highly unreasonable. I buy and wear what I love, and that's not a constant.

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