Buying high-end items: Is it worth it? - YouLookFab Forum

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Buying high-end items: Is it worth it?

Gigi

Veteran

I've been thinking about high-end items today. I wore my Aquatalia Rhumba boots for the first time, and...wow. They were unbelievably comfortable. I got them on sale (30% off) and was still a little freaked out about the price, but then I started thinking that they were really only twice as expensive as any decent pair of leather boots. So instead of buying two mediocre pairs of boots, I just stick with the one.

This got me thinking in these kinds of terms about other high-ticket items. I saw a pair of really cute Kate Spade jeans the other day (blue with white polka dots; they were over $200). I had immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was just wrong to spend so much on a pair of jeans. But if it's exactly what you want, maybe it's worth it? You would buy one pair of jeans (or pants) instead of maybe three. And you would wear that one pair out because you love it so much. (FWIW, I did actually try on the jeans at Kate Spade, and they didn't fit me right, so I am not losing sleep over this :^).)

So my question to everyone is, do you find that buying high-end items makes you buy less? Are you happier with those items overall than with items that are cheaper (but still well made)? Do you consider the additional expenditure worth it?

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from April

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure I buy less because of them, but I am happy with my (also quite discounted) high-end items: Frye boots and Muubaa leather jacket. I don't necessarily wear them more than other, mid range items, but I do enjoy them immensely when I do wear them.
Still, a good portion of my wardrobe (mostly basics and warm weather wear) is from discount or lower end retailers like Target, Old Navy, and Ross. I can get 4 or 5 pieces for $100 from them, and can then afford the $200 item I'm coveting

Sam

(Warning: disorganized thoughts ahead, sorry.)

I've been pretty happy with my higher end purchases with some minor exceptions. In general, I'm willing to pay more for good quality and construction, but not so much for exclusivity. It's difficult with women's clothing because it's hard to separate one from the other; most of the luxury design houses have long since moved to selling the idea of their brand and no longer take great pains over the quality of their actual items.

For a long time, I had myself convinced that higher end items never meant better quality and couldn't see any reason to buy anything there, but over the last few years, I've found that well, actually, a lot of the time, the design, materials, and tailoring on the items I'm buying are a lot better than I can generally get at the lower price points I used to shop at. With what I've learned about how clothes should fit and look, I've gotten better at identifying good items in the low price ranges, but it's a rough slog. It's a lot easier to go to the higher price ranges and know that I'll have a much better hit rate there. (i.e. one out of every ten items working out vs one out of every fifty.)

That said, as one moves up the chain, gains in quality start getting replaced by gains in exclusivity. A $300 handbag is easily ten times better in quality/longevity than a $30 bag, but a $3000 handbag isn't even twice as good as the $300 bag by that measure. What the $3000 handbag will have though, is exclusivity of design and brand prestige.

By these measures, I'm primarily a mid-end shopper. If I had (a) the money and (b) a small enough body, I could easily see myself buying items from the likes of Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh, and maybe once my body size is more settled, I can start saving up to buy some exceptional items from them, but for now I'm happy with what I'm getting at the $100-$300/item range.

As for whether I buy fewer items by opting for higher quality/price? Yes, absolutely, and that's been a conscious choice. I don't get very much out of a large wardrobe, so I don't even try anymore. It's a result of growing up wearing school uniforms, I guess. I never really had more than three or four non-uniform outfits at any given time. The thought of my handful of items being well made, high quality, and tailored to me makes me happy, so that's what I shoot for.

Anonymous

For me it depends on how much I need to buy. When replacing a whole wardrobe, one might need to buy three pairs of jeans rather than one expensive pair, but if replacing it's a different story.
I find that if I buy a piece that is just what I'm looking for, great fit, color, etc. at any price range, that makes me happy, I stop looking for that garment and wear it a lot. If just settling for something that is OK, I'm often still looking for a great version at some level. So Yay to high end if it can fit onto the budget. It may be the best choice in the long run.

carter

Veteran

For everyday tops and bottoms, mid-range good quality works fine for me. It's the items I'll have for 25 years where I have no problem dropping big bucks. For me, those items are handbags, totes, coats, jewelry, some jackets, classic dresses.

deb

Veteran

Shoes and coats I do not have an issue with. Other items I hesitate unless it is very unusual.

Deborah

Veteran

I think it's a very individual thing and for some a $200 item is high end for others it's $2000.

With bigger ticket items my thinking is generally along the lines of how long am I going to want to wear this? If I view it as a long term addition to my closet them yes I might consider it worth the price tag. My black leather booties for example were worth every penny and I am very confident I am going to wear them until they are falling apart and can no longer be repaired. They are also typical of the part of my style that never changes.

My kimono jackets (which I am yet to wear) were inexpensive and are a trend item that will probably have a short shelf life.

I think it really comes down to what something is worth to you.

rae

(website)

Veteran

For me, it has become worth it to buy the exact thing I want, if I can afford it. I still won't break the bank to buy The Perfect Thing, but the approach you describe has really helped me pare down my wardrobe this year.

In my case, I am drawn to the items that are workhorses and make me feel awesome every single time I wear them - I have a much lowered tolerance for any kind of discomfort (mental or physical) these days, so I shy away from things that don't make me feel as awesome as the others do. It has helped me purge the mediocre and really revel in the perfect items... that said, it doesn't always translate to a high end or $$$ item. One of my workhorses this year was a $40 Olivia Moon skirt - worn so much that the hem is totally stretched out, and I'm still thinking of tapering rather than buying a new one.

ironkurtin

Veteran

This thread has come up over and over since I've been reading YLF. The answer is personal and based on personal budget. My stance is that quality is worth paying for, but quality means different things to different people. I have never found a cheap brand that matched my favorite, much more expensive brands in terms of design, quality, feel, and fit. However, not every designer piece is made well or is worth the money. So it's an exercise in evaluation on a piece by piece basis. Generally, I find well-made items are worth paying for.

Meli

(website)

I don't have anything that tops $350 full price in my wardrobe. I have found that I can get really great mid-range things, especially on sale. I won't pay $500 or more for anything but will snag something on sale if it fits perfectly and I have the need/will get my $ out of it. I refuse to purchase low end now though, i've had it with things that fall apart after 3 wears and were made in sweatshops. I just don't have the need or lifestyle where I need anything worth 1k+ right now, especially as a young mom of a 13 month old. My job is pretty formal buisness casual and I do enjoy looking dressy/professional so mid range suits me perfectly. I'm really enjoying the progress I've made over the last year.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I get a lot of pleasure from my higher end items. More than I typically get from my medium or lower end items -- but that depends. First, as others have said, what counts as "higher end" differs from person to person and budget to budget. My higher end would be some people's low-end, I expect -- and my middle-end would be other people's high-end!

I do find that regardless of price tag, I get more pleasure from those items that are absolutely right for me -- that do precisely the task I envision for them in my wardrobe. And I wear them again and again. Since I am a sucker for quality fabrics and perfect cut and fit, more often than not, those items come with a higher price sticker.

Function is also hugely important. I live in Canada, in a cold and often snowy winter climate. And I walk a lot. I do not commute by car. For me to shell out several hundred dollars on a pair of superb boots that look great and do what I ask of them (keep me warm, stable, and dry -- yet fashionable) -- that seems like a really smart idea. Cheap boots in this climate are false economy. Whereas a cheap bathing suit cover up might be perfectly reasonable. It will only get a few wears per year and isn't that important to me. If I lived in Florida, I'd do the reverse. My bathing suit cover up would need to be an excellent one. My boots could be purchased on sale. And the quality would not matter as much.

shedev

Veteran

I look for things that give me a high happiness factor. I get that from both the winter white Rag and Bone and the grey camo rewash jeans from JCP. I don't view clothing as an investment, so for me its all about the fit and design details.

Refugee

Veteran

For me it is not so much about price point as it is the amount of consideration I put into a given item. And since I am more likely to make an unconsidered purchase when the price point is very low, I am usually happier with items at a higher price point. There are, of course, exceptions to this. Like Mo, many basics and summer wear have much lower price points. But these have been considered purchases and so I am happy with them.

Claudia

Veteran

My thinking is along those of Sam, and also what Rae wrote, "For me, it has become worth it to buy the exact thing I want, if I can afford it. I still won't break the bank to buy The Perfect Thing."

I have a pair of Target's Mossimo "premium denim" jeans that held up like iron for several years that I wear often, I paid $29 for them, I just throw them into the washer and dryer; I also have a pair of Paige Premium Denim that retails for $180 that aren't holding up well, wear occasionally to "save" them, that I have to take pains to wash (cold water, inside out) and only air dry. So there are a lot of variables in answering the question as others have mentioned.

Anonymous

Higher end is a relative concept, Kate Spade to me is higher end but that's not going to be higher end to someone buying Prada.

To your question, well, I've had both scores and disappointments from both the higher end and the more affordable brands. It's a crapshoot sometimes. What I have found is that if I buy exactly what I've been looking for, even if it is more than I want to spend, My happiness is high.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I have had huge successes with inexpensive items and big misses with higher priced items so I don't feel that the price point is a major factor for me. I also move on fairly quickly as do quite a few other members. We just had a thread recently about what everyone is leaving in the closet and there were a lot of button shirts and tailored jackets (blazers) getting little love and they were much sought after pieces two years ago.

I also think those who do not have an issue with fluctuating weight benefit far more from the higher quality pieces as they can be confident of long term fit. I have a tendency to gain and lose enough weight that my size changes and I often buy at the lower end of the weight spectrum so am at risk of having nice pieces taunting me about my lack of willpower.

I agree with those who have said this is a personal choice and definitely not a one size fits all issue.

MsMary

Veteran

I'm coming around to Team Rae and Zap. I tend to be to much of a bargain shopper and I really want to concentrate on buying The Perfect Thing regardless of price as long as it's in the budget. When I do that, it makes me happy. When I don't, I end up less happy and with less money, like the time I bought no fewer than three pair of cheap leopard shoes before I finally broke down and paid full price for the pair I'd wanted all along.

MsMary

Veteran

Dianthus, we were posting at the same time but I wanted to say I feel your pain on the weight fluctuations! I was a yo-yo dieter for years and did most of my shopping at the smaller, unsustainable sizes! And when I was bigger I didn't want to shop, so I spent a whole lot of my life with closets full of clothes I couldn't wear!

Sam

Echoing the thoughts about buying The Perfect Thing:

This was a major factor in my slow move to shopping in higher price ranges. Pre-YLF me (I lurked for years before I started to post) was very much a "oh what the hell, it's $5" shopper, and I had a LOT of things I never wore because there was something off about each item, be it fit, fabric feel, drape, color, etc. (My mother told me recently that I was always incredibly finicky about the fit and feel of clothes and shopping for me was an impossible task.)

Accepting my neuroses about how things fit and feel helped me let go of buying many inexpensive but imperfect items, and move towards making my peace with paying higher prices for things that are absolutely perfect for me. I still make compromises (see: jeans length, faux leather on my most recent WIW), but on the whole, the things I'm wearing these days make me look and feel way, way better than I used to.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I like the idea of buying the item you really want, high price or low price. I think it's way too simplistic to say a cheaper item must have shortcomings and an expensive one is made better.

Echo

Veteran

I agree with ironkurtin. I find quality worth paying for, but everyone's evaluation as far as what constitutes quality, fit and a reasonable price is different.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I find some things worth paying for - I feel giddy every time I reach for certain dresses in my closet; or certain blazers that I know will go with -everything- and don't have that "OH BOY" kind of nag in the back of my mind when I try to wrestle with things to make them work.

I'd pay for peace of mind.

Also; quality doesn't necessarily reflect price - one of the dresses I wear often and get the most compliments on was $20 (retail $60); so... I've had it for about four years and is one of the few pre-YLF items that I have. My Doc Martens are also pre-YLF but are in need of repair currently.

Gigi

Veteran

This is all so helpful. Thanks, everyone!

@Sam, a lot of what you have said resonated with me. I too am very particular about fit, quality, and feel of the clothes I wear, and I am really struggling with stuff at the midpoint range in at least one of these three areas. I had very few clothes when I came to YLF, so I think it was fine to buy quite a few pieces at that midpoint range just so that I had enough variety and items to wear, but now that I am looking at the happiness factor, I may have to go out of my comfort zone financially and spend a bit more when I find the perfect item. And that's what I'm hearing everyone say here: if you find the perfect item, don't pass over it simply because it's more than you wanted to spend.

@MaryK, your situation with the leopard shoes is exactly what I am trying to prevent! Thanks for sharing that example. It's an easy one that I can bring to mind when I say to myself, "But item X costs too much..."

I'm still going to continue to shop a lot at midrange boutiques, but if I don't find what I'm looking for, I'm going to try to be open to spending a bit more. I am underweight now due to health issues, so I will be wary of making higher-end purchases on things like pants, because my size should (hopefully) eventually change. But things like boots or accessories, and even some skirts, are fair game!

Tania

Veteran

Gigi, I came to this thread late, but I'm glad the Rhumbas are so comfy! I had them for a brief time and they rocked! Sigh.

Peri

Veteran

Gigi, I'm late too but can add in a caution about buying at your lowest weight. I was really skinny last year for about a year, also for health reasons. During that year I bought two pairs of jeans and a dress that were really great items...but now I can't wear them.

I'm happy to be feeling enough improved that I'm back to my more normal weight, but just kicking myself that I didn't buy those items looser at the time. I knew that size 4 was not normal for me but I bought things anyway...now I really hate not being able to wear them! They weren't high end really, but I haven't found anything as great as that dress this year. And I remember being in the dressing room and debating, and going with the smaller size because it looked great at the time. I soooo wish I had gone with the size up one. Grrr.

Gigi

Veteran

Peri, thanks for your thoughts. When I first lost the weight, I was doing what you are suggesting--buying things a size larger if the look was tolerable. Well, that was five years ago, and I still haven't gained the weight back. :^( And emotionally I need to do something about how I look *now*. I think I lost one size in tops and two sizes in bottoms. I think most of my tops will still fit after I gain my weight back, but the bottoms are going to be a problem, except for probably a couple of elastic waistband skirts that I got. Thankfully, I haven't sunk too much money into bottoms. My biggest bottoms purchases were two pairs of jeans at $80 each, and then the BR cream skinnies at about $60, I think (I'm going to hate to lose the skinnies, argh). But I am going to take your advice to heart and definitely think twice before buying anything high-end for bottoms.

I figure that when I gain my weight back, I will feel so thankful for my better health that I won't care if I have to toss my entire wardrobe and start over. :^)

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Gigi, I am sorry to hear you have had health problems. I do agree it's important to feel good about how you look *now*. As far as buying higher vs. lower end, I'm on team "it's a crapshoot." I have high end items (Vince I'm looking at you) that are spectacular in delivering the holy trinity of design-workmanship-fabrication. As well as spectacular disappointments in delivering said fashion trinity (Vince I'm looking at you again). Likewise, I've had things from H&M and Zara that are solid favorites, or fall apart in 1 wear. I would say, however, that with my higher end items my satisfaction after 3 months with them is at about 75%, whereas my satisfaction with lower end purchases is more like 50% after 3 months. This is not scientific, just a guess.

Adelfa

Veteran

Gigi, I enjoy buying what for me are higher end items and I do find I buy less total, and spend less, and feel happier, when I do this. Last week I got a shock--two expensive items gave out on me in two days, a pair of booties after 3 months, and a leather jacket after less than a year. It made me wonder if I should rethink. But I'll be able to get refunds on both so I guess it's okay

Lyn D.

Veteran

I may be better able to answer this in 12 months time!
My aim is to buy fewer, better quality items in 2014.
I already have some off-season things waiting to be worn, and have noticed that I am not as readily purchasing similar items that aren't as good quality. (So far!)

viva

Veteran

I agree with what most have said here -- that "higher end" is relative, that better quality is satisfying, etc. What I find for myself is that what I consider higher end brands (probably mid-level brands if you consider the entire scope -- Vince, Theory, Rag & Bone, Tory Burch, Coach -- but still pricey for me) offer the design elements that I find most interesting, usually classic lines with a modern twist. So it's not necessarily inherent quality that attracts me (although I expect that for the higher price point) but I find the higher end brands often aesthetically more pleasing and I am drawn to them more often.
That is the real difference for me: how the clothes look. I am attracted to the quality but I think it is the design that really captures me first and foremost. I usually cannot afford these items at full-price so I tend to search high and low for sale prices, specials, and designer on consignment. I would probably buy a well-made classic consigned designer piece before three low-end items.

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