*update with sweater photos*......How do you determine the value of a purchase? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

update with sweater photos......How do you determine the value of a purchase?

wendy

By value I mean monetarily, emotionally, and wearability.

There is history behind this possible purchase, so.....

Back in the 80's my brother bought me a sweater from the Boston Store. It was an ivory oversized off-shoulder style. It was a chunky cable knit with large popcorn stitching. I loved that sweater and wore the heck out of it. For the life of me, I cannot recall what happened to it. But, over the years, I've wished that I still had it. Recently, even more so.

Fast forwarding to today, I have had this sweater saved in my pinterest forever. For me, personally, it is the perfect sweater.

Yesterday, I decided to check out Etsy and see if one of the knitting artists could duplicate it. I did find someone and she quoted $400. I think the price is fair, but I have become very frugal over the last few years. Clearance, secondhand, and vintage have become my best friend. I have also become a haggler. I will and have walked away over a dollar, lol.

So, how do you determine the overall value of an item, not just the dollar value. Or.....maybe me feeling an emotional attachment to a piece of clothing is a little bit off and I need to try to let it go? Also, I'm not wrong, correct? $400 does seem like a fair price?

On a side note, I believe this is Christian Dior circa 1999.

*****first pic original sweater, all others competed sweater******

Ps..That is not me. That is the person who made the beautiful sweater.

This post has 7 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Cardiff girl

taylor

Veteran

If I really ,really LOVE something and it gives my heart enough of a extra beat, and if I feel I can afford it ...
I will pay WHATEVER !
Have no guilt , no regrets
Life is too short .

Gretchen

Veteran

Wow this is a big question,

On the one hand, I don’t think 400 is outrageous for a custom hand knit sweater. On the other hand, I would have to know I was going to love it to want to spend that money.

If you’ve been watching/ wanting that sweater for a long time, it probably fills a need for you, (I did the same with a scarf 2 years ago - made myself wait a year and see if I still wanted it).

If your brother were to show up with that sweater, having paid 400 for it, how would you feel? Maybe that’s a way to decide if you feel ready to make that investment?

SarahD8

Veteran

I also think $400 is a fair price for a custom-knitted sweater.

The main thing that gives me pause is that you say you loved this sweater back in the 80s. But how well does it mesh with your current wardrobe, and to what degree do you need this sweater to complete outfits you want to wear right now? (I'm not sure your statement that you wish you still had the sweater quite gets at that question.)

As well, our bodies often change over time such that styles that were once staples no longer flatter or suit us in the same way. Do you have any sweaters in a similar silhouette now?

wendy

Taylor, the heart singing. That is how I feel about the sweater. (And, I hate admitting that.)

Gretchen, I could never let anyone spend that amount on me. I would be embarrassed. I tend to be very independent and like to do/buy things on my own.

But, I have been looking at it forever, it feels like anyways.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Taylor, said. Almost to a tee.

That said, I am re-thinking my support to the top luxury designer brands because so many of the designers behave badly, have intolerant attitudes about age, beauty and body type, and are far removed from reality. There is a big ethical question for me there these days since it goes against my core belief: a diverse and inclusive world of fashion and style.

wendy

Sarah, all fair and good questions.

I've lost weight and can wear all my old cloths. I actually have quite a sweater collection, because I love them. I tend to wear them over-sized and very relaxed. I'm not really a tailored type of person.

As far as completing outfits.....I think it is perfect for over slip dresses rather than a cardigan. I have this skirt and others like it that I think would pair beautifully with the sweater.

View Info

View Info

em

$400 is reasonable for something handmade. How long do you think it will take her to make it? 4 hours? That's $100 an hour. How much do you pay the person who cuts your hair on an hourly basis? Your mechanic? Your accountant or lawyer?

wendy

"a diverse and inclusive world of fashion and style."

Angie, I couldn't agree with you more. And, you should be aware that it is sites like this one and people like you that have helped me to stop using agism against myself. You give us the courage to be who we are and express ourselves with honesty and without fear.

wendy

Em, i'm not going to disagree with you. I do think it is a fair price. If I am honest, more than fair.

em

Wendy, why don't you ask for it for your birthday, then? That's what birthday gifts are for--something you've always wanted but would never buy for yourself.

wendy

Em, you kind of read my mind. We are not really gift exchangers. But....I was thinking maybe I should consider asking for a combination Valentine's Day/birthday gift.

ETA: I could throw in a late Christmas too, since we didn't exchange, lol.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think this is a highly individual question.

I agree with Taylor, although I am scaling back these days. I'm going to have to REALLY love something and be able to envision wearing it a lot for years to come, to justify to paying $400 (or whatever amount) at this stage of my style journey. My husband and I are scaling back our budgets in some areas, and I'm starting to shift priorities towards travel funds, as my wardrobe is quite flush.

I think if this is something you can see loving and wearing for years to come, and the budget allows, it certainly seems you've been craving this style for quite a while.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'm too frugal - I'd probably buy something like this as a reminder more than as a replacement.

That said, if you love it and you can afford it without hesitation, then why not have one custom made?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FREE-.....-TOP/22331

Mainelady

Veteran

Custom is usually expensive, but you can get exactly what you want. Only you can decide upon if you feel the price is fair. From my own experience, I can tell you that I have not once regretted going the custom route. Not once. The items I have chosen to have custom made, built or created are items I love and also items that have longevity and will be handed down to my children and grandchildren. Zero regrets and in my opinion money well spent.

em

I want to point out that most of the clothes we Americans buy are made in China or a country where the workers were paid pennies. Labor costs really drives the overall cost of the item. Obviously, every person has the right to determine how and when and where they spend their money, but if one is going to spend it on something mass made in China then you also need to recognize half of the cost went to the retailer, half of the remaining to the distributor, and half of THAT went to the manufacturer...where ever they are. If you buy something something custom from a real person, they take some of that money and buy the raw goods to make the item, and use the rest to buy groceries, food, clothing, and shelter for themselves. It always makes me feel better (and more willing to spend money) when I think of it in those terms--I'm really helping someone out. Actually, this is the premise behind trickle-down economics...but that's a discussion for another day.

Sal

Veteran

I am trying (not always successfully) to spend more at the top end - which for me means NZ designed, NZ made (or ethically produced overseas) and more at the bottom end (thrifted, second hand - from whatever brands I like)...

I do buy from mass retailers as well (often my essentials and gear and shoes)...

If you love the sweater, it speaks to you and you think you will get good wear from it - and can afford it - I would get it made!!

wendy

Janet, Texstyle, and Mainlady, thank you for your thoughts.

Em, I sort of use the same line of thinking in buying secondhand and vintage. I see buying secondhand/vintage as a way to support small business, single parents, college students, retirees trying to supplement thier SS, etc. I also see it as recycling. I'm saving the item from ending up the landfill.

Sal, I think that is a good way to go about it I think. I'll have to keep that way of thinking in mind. Thank you.

I think what I'll do is sit on it for a few weeks and see how I feel then. I never really considered the sweater as an attainable thing. So, I need to make sure that I am not confusing actually wanting to being excited that I can have it.

Thank you all for helping out.

Now, I can put that aside for the moment and put my efforts into getting a full length mirror. I do not have one.

Runcarla

Veteran

I have to echo em. Artisans rarely make much of a profit. As an alternative, if you can knit, you may want to attempt making a/the sweater as a personal project. It would be priceless.

ChristelJ

Veteran

I love the idea of a custom sweater and think the price is good. As a knitter, I would urge you to give as much detail as possible about what you want, if you decide to go that route. Lots of measurements, both of your body’s and the ideal size of the garment itself, how you want it to hang/ drape on you, the color and feel of the yarn, the material the yarn should be made out of. Every factor makes a difference. If the artisan is experienced, they will ask for all this. That said, follow your heart! Life has a way of supporting heartfelt actions.

wendy

Carla, I wish I could knit.

Christel, thank you for the tips.

wendy

Photos of actual sweater at the top.

Bonnie

Veteran

WOW! That is a fabulous copy. I'm sure you will love wearing this beautiful sweater. Will you model it for us?

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Lots of great advice above. Price is fair, the question is how expensive is it for you/how much joy/how much use will it get/would you rather spend the money on something else/are you getting it for the memory alone? If yes to the later, will it bring joy today or should you find a photo of you in it and put it in view (if such photo exists), and/or share with your brother how much you loved it.

A way to justify it- using the savings from you second hand shopping to pay for it.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Time to learn to knit!However it would probably still be quite pricey as yarn of any quality is actually quite expensive and you would probably need about 8balls so you might find what with that and factoring in your time it wouldn’t be worth the effort unless you really loved knitting and enjoyed the process as much as the final result.