Is "buy the best you can afford" always the right strategy? - YouLookFab Forum

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Is "buy the best you can afford" always the right strategy?

Peri

Veteran

I'm rebelling against this because I think that's why my wardrobe/style is such a mess.

Not that I bought designer, but higher end stores that felt like real quality to me have been the way I've shopped for about 20 years. The problem with quality is that it lasts!! I'm only half kidding. I have things I'm completely sick of and probably look dated, but they still look "good". I'm trying to purge and its hard to get rid of things that I paid a lot for and don't look at all worn out.

A few cheaper things though...worn for fun, served their purpose, worn out looking...out they go. Easy, no guilt. I'm thinking I should shop more this way...I could be more current, easier to update. I'd probably spend as much in the long run, but it might be more fun and keep me a little further away from frumpy.

I'm not talking Prada to Kmart...but maybe less Ann Taylor and more Loft. Some Old Navy? That kind of switch. Any thoughts on this? Anyone tried it?

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Caro in Oz

Thistle

Veteran

I tend to put more of my budget to classics that will last longer. I put less of my budget to trendy pieces. I just think it makes sense.

Angie's high low strategy works. You mix your wardrobe between higher end pieces and lower end ones.

I still struggle a bit with this, but I am learning!

bj1111

Veteran

the answer as always is...it depends.

are you a person who responds quickly to trends and want to incorporate the latest and greatest? then in that case, buying fast fashion (and all it ethically, environmentally, yada yada, entails) may be the way to go and buy the best you can afford on the items that really speak to you after a season.

are you a person with a signature style and relatively low closet turn over because of high style fidelity? then in that case, buy the best you can because you are likely to wear then until the end of time with a few tweaks to keep updated.

is your budget small? surprisingly, this is where i would say buy the best you can and wear the heck out of the clothes.

ironkurtin

Veteran

This kind of switch would personally make me very unhappy. I am spoiled.

I do not consider "not worn out" as a reason not to get rid of things. Being sick of something is a very good reason to say goodbye. That just means it's worn out its welcome, right?

kkards

Veteran

i try to think about what the item is and how long i think i would want/need it. so more trendy items, like red work pants--loft. basic wool black pants-- jcrew or nordstroms.

Spiffy

I really like my core wardrobe to be very classic and built to last so I am continuing to buy the best and most classic I can in those items.

I have, however, discovered a few categories that I'm drawn to trends in
Winter hats
Non-winter toppers (light jackets, Cardigans... )
Belts
ballet flats

I'm thinking of going into shopping for those items with a lower budget so I can indulge in trends I may not love a year from their purchase.

rachylou

Veteran

My preference is Angie's high-low strategy. For me, entertainment and exploration are a big factor. I want to go in to all the stores, see what's happening at every level and, honestly, be a part of it. I'm pretty trendy. "Fresh and innovative" isn't necessarily something that finer quality clothing makers do at all. Also, sometimes when new styles come along, you want to do a test drive before jumping all-in. It is so much faster to run into H&M then to schlep out to Neiman's and submit to being serviced. For me, high-end all the way would be a waste of clothes, a waste of money, and limiting.

Besides, you can find quality and schlock at any level. I'm not entirely sure "the best" is the best; a lot of that is marketing spiel to me. I have Target jewelry that's lasted longer than stuff from Tiffany. And, you know, finer quality can mean the item is more delicate... so sometimes lifespan is very short when the price is high, and that can be rather depressing.

shedev

Veteran

It depends on the item. Shoes- yes, I just feel better in quality shoes. jeans and coats- yes, I wear the heck out of them. Shirts- not so much, these I tire of and ruin easier. My dogs will snag a $300 sweater as easy as a $30 one.

Louise

Veteran

I too find it tricky to get rid of things if they are still in great condition. I prefer cheaper items as they wear out quicker x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Why not Prada to KMart? I am all for it. As Rachy correctly said, I am all about high-low style. A few days ago I wore Sears jeans with Prada boots. I'll happily wear a Rag & Bone blazer with a J.Crew shirt. Or an Anne Fontaine Shirt with a Burberry belt and Bebe jacket. Why not! Personally, this type of dressing feels happiest in my style heart.

I 100% agree with your strategy. Love what Rachy and bj1111 said too. Sometimes, and it's happening to me now actually, I'm not as enamored with the styling of designer stuff. I was fully prepared to shell out a lot of money for my second bomber jacket (I have a better-end black lace one already). But the one I liked best - an apple green - was a quarter of the price. I was also fully prepared to fork out mega bucks for a white tux shirt. I tried on many. But loved the one from J.Crew best. So there you go! The best is not always designer. I fully support that statement.

I have no problem passing on items that are still in good nick. Allow someone else to enjoy on them while you move onto the next thing.

Anonymous

It depends on a lot of factors. In my case, I spend a lot more on shoes, accessories (I do think accessories make an outfit) and outerwear than I do on jeans, dress pants, etc. One thing I hate to spend too much $ on is a dress, mainly because I don't wear dresses that often. I try to get nice ones on sale. My feet have to be comfortable (I have bunions), I have to be warm, and my jeans and pants have to fit perfectly.

I still shop sales whenever possible, and try to anticipate upcoming needs (such as my DD's wedding in August) so I don't have to shop at the last minute.

Glory

Veteran

Such wisdom from the ladies. I am learning this slowly and from today's post you can see I am in major purge mode. I think once you have defined your style goals and have some good descriptors you can think about investment items. Things like shoes, boots, coats, leather etc. But if you are trying out a trend maybe an inexpensive one allows you to test the waters - here I am thinking a moto vest etc. But the waters are still murky for me. For example, - I just purged 3 excellent quality white button down shirts with minimal wear because styles have changed and they are simply shorter than I would want. So I guess at the end I am all for high low.

unfrumped

Veteran

Could you adjust your thinking to focusing on whether you got "good use" out of an item, as opposed to whether you "wore it out"? It can really be difficult for me to "wear out" really well-made items in good fabrics if I wear to work, and take care of them. Not impossible, of course. Also, by the time an item is truly recognizable as "worn out" it's something I really should not have been wearing for "nice" or work occasions anyway.

But I think I'm having some of the same realizations as you--that I'm gonna want to move on from some things maybe sooner than I used to think. And it doesn't feel as "good", or fun, to discard something after little use, as it does after, well, good-enough amount of use.

Then there's the "it depends" on buying quality. I don't think you go shopping saying, must buy THIS because it's really good quality, unless you also really love it. You're aiming for the concept that "quality" often carries additional rewards, satisfaction, fun, that you can't get in a low-quality item. As in, you tried on 10 black blazers, and you can really tell the difference between the high and the low, and the high fits like a dream and you feel fab everytime you wear it. But sometimes you get that same result at a lower price point--you know, a store or brand will sometimes just "get it right".

For me, putting all these ideas together means I found I needed a smaller wardrobe in some categories--because I wasn't wearing everything I had often enough to feel good about my purchases or to feel good about tossing them, and as I noted above, it is better to have all items for high-visibility or professional wear looking really good ( 3 cashmere sweaters in perfect condition rather than a large array in various states of pilling or stretching); I needed to "shop" more venues to come across items that had more wow factor, typically a combination of quality and style; and with some more of these "wow" essentials and/or special items, it was easier to mix lower-end items into the outfit or use lower-end items for certain capsules--casual, "experiment", "fun"..

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm totally behind some high low purchases. I splurge on things like a classic cut of wool trousers or cashmere sweaters or classic purses (the type of thing that it is worth your time and effort to store away for a few years until they come back into style) and bras. I always go mid-range or better for shoes. I scrimp on fashiony items that I think aren't going to be tickling my fancy for long. Last year, I really really wanted something with navy and green. I found a cheap top at Old Navy that satisfied that need. I wore it a few times. Now, I'm not so into it, so I've passed it along. I would have been really put out if I had bought a more expensive version of it.

catgirl

Veteran

It depends for me. I just got an F21 sweater instead of an Equipment sweater because it's not a need and it will look better for my coloring. Often other factors beside price come into play. But I have been spending way more and thrifting way less, and find myself much happier with my closet, so that says something.

cciele

Veteran

High-low is the way to go!

rachylou

Veteran

Angie said something that caught my attention... "Allow someone else to enjoy them while you move onto the next thing."

I've realized that makes a lot of sense, to pass things on when you're done with them as opposed to when they're done-in. It can be more meaningful and charitable to give away good things. I mean, everyone needs decent clothing and to be presentable. I think most places won't put worn stuff on the floor. I don't know what they do with it. Hopefully the send it on to be made into building insulation or something and make some money.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think high-low is the way to go. I adore quality, but I like it in those items that I know will be staples for me. I can go low for fun risks, trends that might or might not work out for me, new silhouettes. And sometimes quality and price point are not opposed. I agree with Angie and Rachylou -- pass on the items you've tired of, without guilt. Let someone else enjoy them. Of course they are not "worn out." It takes a lot of wear to wear something out.

Peri

Veteran

Thanks for all the answers...good things to think about. Especially the idea that being tired of something is enough. I don't know why but I've always felt guilty about that...like I used to like it so I should always like it. Where does that come from? Hmmmm...closet therapy!

DonnaF

Veteran

In my case, the idea of needing to wear something out came from my parents who grew up poor during the Great Depression. My dad would wear his cheapo flip-flops until the heel wore through, and after he passed away we discovered that he would recycle and reuse the elastic from his old Jockey shorts. I kid you not.

Decades later after being a homemaker for a long time, my mom worked outside the home for awhile. She went hog wild on buying clothing and hasn't got rid of a thing since the 1980s. We're talking serious quantity (to fill the equivalent of six closets not counting her big walk-in all to herself) but very little quality. Almost nothing is worn out, and a lot is NWT, but I've had to sneak stuff out to Goodwill just to empty a closet or two.

Ummm, to reduce guilt wear a lot of knits? Angie has mentioned that even pricey knits/brands sometimes pill and start to look bad quickly. But buying the best one can afford has to do with buying less quantity, so depends how much you like to change up things and if a small wardrobe works for you.

Kate

Veteran

Another vote for team high-low! I know what types of items I wear constantly (shoes, purses, watch) and make pretty big investments in those. And I know where I seek variety (in tops!), and often keep those purchases inexpensive. For whatever it's worth, the average price of my tops is $25, average price of my bottoms is $46, dresses are $58, layers are $59, and shoes are $97. And that doesn't show the range within each of those categories (tops is $9 for a plan tee shirt to $80 for a silk blouse, shoes are $36 for sandals to $169 for leather booties that I've worn 192 times). It's definitely a learning process ...and I probably shouldn't have bought that $80 silk blouse that I'm constantly worried about keeping clean and wrinkle free!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I had saved a lot of money to replace my winter wardrobe this year - I started out at the designer stores & honestly some of the things there were not as good - design or quality wise as some of the mid-price things I ended up buying. Having said that I do buy designer when I truly love the piece.

I love what Angie said about giving things to someone else if you are no longer enjoying them, it's such a great attitude.