How to Afford Good Clothes

Carol

It has been awhile since I've been on the forum. I thought I'd share a thought I heard recently:

I met a young Milanese man who was living in the U.S. I asked him:

It really does seem like Italians are always wearing designer clothes. That can't be. It's too expensive! How do you do it?

Well, he said, we don't eat. And we buy phones, but we just pretend we're looking at them, because we don't buy a data plan. Sometimes they are broken. We just want to look like we are doing something.

2 years ago

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

rachylou

Veteran

Ok, but now I’m thinking about how my one uncle LOVES Italy because he found this restaurant that saves his dirtied napkin for him to use the next time he comes in… which reminds me of the brothers of a monastery near me… everyone gets a napkin and a napkin ring because the nuns only launder them once a week…

2 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I am chuckling at this, but my chuckles are tinged with uncertainty. I can’t imagine pretending to be occupied by staring at a broken phone, in order to wear designer clothes.

2 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

La Bella Figura

2 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Vildy, yes.

I have family in Italy, and in my experience, they buy fewer but better clothes…at least the people in my generation and older.

2 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Well, I suppose it depends on your definition of 'good' clothing...

@Aquamarine
Isn't that the case for most generations worldwide, though (before the invention of 'fast' fashion?)

Edit: I don't mean to dissent here, just wondering whether anyone has experienced the opposite (that the generations before them had a lot of clothes)?

2 years ago

Star

Veteran

Gosh I love the cut of Italian clothes. I find them for a few euros in our thrift shops. We are so lucky as we get a lot of Italy's pre-loved stock.

2 years ago

BlueJay

Veteran

Funny Carol! Perhaps they have designer clothes, but less of them and take care of their clothes and wear them for decades.

Interesting Vildy. I Googled "La Bella Figura" and found this article. Very interesting reading.
https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.....talian-way

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Lol!

RL, that sounds like the practice in many traditional pubs of regulars bringing their own mugs and having a cubby to store them in.

Quite a bit of Italian clothing is available here. Some of it is expensive and well made. Other things, like the felted wool vest I picked up at a market a few years ago or the viscose skirt I was just looking at at a different market, not so much.

2 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

My son was going to a party where they were going to be really dressed up, and he wanted to wear a watch. It didn’t matter if it worked on not.

2 years ago

Star

Veteran

Jaileen that made me laugh I used to own many watches and used them for telling time and as accessories. I have not worn a watch for 7 years. What age is your son?

2 years ago

BlueJay

Veteran

haha! I guess it is like wearing glasses without a prescription and just glass to look "smart."

2 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Well if it’s about “ good” clothes but not necessarily designer— I think it takes a lot of looking and FEELING and trying on to get an idea of the target construction, fit and fabric- and then it takes discipline, ( not for skipping eating!) but to avoid frittering away both wardrobe budget and making random purchases. So I do agree with your young man that some priority has to be set. As for achieving any goal.
So I do think there are some mainstream brands that do better on some things , and sometimes unexpectedly higher- quality items showing up in their collections ( Angie shouts out these at times) , but not necessarily when you need it. And often people catch on quickly and such items sell out. In my town we don’t have a great selection of thrift stores carrying hidden gems, and I’m not good at online second- hand buying, but I agree that’s a good potential source— again not limited to “ designer “ items but to include items that are sold out at retail, or items from a previous year or decade that just had that great intersection of quality and style.
But if it’s a status thing— certain designers, head to toe designer wear, It bags, very current or trending things all the time- that would be pretty spendy.

2 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Star, I think my son was in college at the time. He uses his phone for the time, whereas I wear a watch. My phone is often dead.

2 years ago

cat2

Veteran

I love Italian street style.

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

That makes me giggle - it's a bit sad about the pretending on the phone.

I hope we are moving back to smaller wardrobes with higher quality pieces. I have seen this among my friends - but we still have a way to go.

2 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Zaeobi - My maternal grandmother had tons of clothes. Oh my goodness, I am so glad you asked. I had never thought of this before in connection to me, but she had a huge walk in closet full of outfits, tons of accessories, and several wigs. Will be pondering.

As for the Italians, well that is meant as a joke, but I do think it reflects a different attitude toward the importance of appearance and what constitutes the minimal acceptable presentation. I once had a British boyfriend that would not leave the house without carefully ironing his shirt - no matter that he was going to be late for something very important. I couldn't get over it .

2 years ago

Lana

(website)

Veteran

I think it was a joke too, possibly directed to how important our phones are to us in America. However, when I lived in Italy, tailoring came with clothes, so when you bought something, you automatically had it altered to fit. That could have changed with more fast fashion available, but I find generally Italian and Spanish people tend to wear more closely tailored clothing which adds to a more luxurious look.

2 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Lana , your point about closer tailoring is interesting to me. Whilst I hate clothing tgat is too tight or restrictive, I think I look better in “ barely fluid” fits. Just a bit over fluid and I start to look more frumpy and lost in my clothing. But for figure- flattery I also won’t wear fits or styles that hug in the wrong places.
Hence the HEWI search for the right combination of fit, shape, and often fabrics with some stretch but not cling.
I do get things tailored for stuff like waist fit, sleeve length.
The most troublesome items are often jackets/ blazers. I think on me they look mych better with higher- cut armholes and sleeves not too full— and to your point, I think that gives the sharper or more “ luxe “ look. But that is the very thing that often feels too tight with movement of won’t fit well over a layering top . I don’t wear sleeveless shells and such, which would allow tighter jacket fits.
Anyway, it’s something to keep in mind when shopping or editing wardrobe- those elements that give the right look and that might be reason why one style, or brand, or item in a category , might look better- quality.

2 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

It has to be a joke. Not eating, when in Italy?? Unthinkable!

Simple math -- if you buy fewer pieces, more carefully and thoughtfully, you can afford more expensive things. Also, shopping secondhand can help.

I also have found some very inexpensive pieces that look and feel quite luxe, while other pricey ones feel and look cheap. Quality and style are not always synonymous with "designer."

2 years ago

Carol

(website)

Veteran

JAileen--my boyfriend has 3 watches, all of which look expensive, none of which work. I call him a "New Yorker," even though we are in the West, because he always must look sharp. He also has Italian blood.

2 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Generations before me had teeny tiny closets and someone made most of their clothes so they had very few. Also they were constantly altering their clothes, especially the length, to keep up with fashion.

2 years ago

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