I think somewhere along the line, the question, "is it easier to look good with money" was twisted into "does money = style" - which is far from the original question.

As far as thrifting, not everybody thrifts because they can't afford retail price. Many do it to find unique pieces that express their style, some don't feel like retail is worth the price, etc. It does take time, though...but I think that's part of the thrill of the hunt.

However, if you compare someone with money (who shops conventionally at retail stores or online - not thrift shops) vs someone who has a tight(er) budget, I don't see how you can argue it's easier to have style with less money. With money you can order 10 pairs of shoes in 2 sizes each all at once. You can have that nude pair you've coveted by the next day. If you are working with a small budget could take you ages to order, try and exchange your way to your dream pair. You may have to leave your favorite dress on the hanger because the tailoring fees are just cost prohibitive (I know I've seen that scenario more than once on YLF). That doesn't mean you don't have style...it just means that you need the stars to align a bit more to find that wardrobe item in your price range with hopefully not too many alteration fees attached to it.

I don't think money=style, which wasn't the original question anyway, but I do think that money greases the wheels and makes things easier.

Very interesting thread. I didn't really find the photo as "bad" as I expected from the text. I know plenty of people who dress like that, including "professionals". And it seemed a very casual (and a bit dusty) affair.
I second most of what has been said above on the lines of money not guaranteeing style - but it does made it easier to achieve. And if you are on a subsitence income, I think it would be very hard indeed. To extend QM's point - what if that $100 had to cover your clothes for the entire year?

This is a very interesting and thought provoking topic. I think knowledge is what let's a person dress "well" and "put together." Too often I've seen women dressed in very expensive clothing and not look "good" to my eye. For example, last time I was in a Gucci store, there was a women in head to toe Gucci clothing with labels. Logo baseball cap, logo shoes, logo bag, logo on the t-shirt, it was logo overload. Perhaps her outfit cost far more than mine, but the logo's everywhere was too much for my taste.

As far as time goes, I think it takes a lot of time to look good, regardless of how you are shopping. You can spend just as much time and effort hunting down the proper item in a thrift store as you can in the mall. More selection doesn't always mean you will find an item you like, and fits, and is flattering, etc. I know I've come home plenty of times empty handed from both malls and Goodwill stores.

Such an interesting topic!

As for your questions:

Is it easier to look good with money? I am firmly on Team MPJ: Of course it is! No question it's easier to look good if you have a wider range of options, and also if you can more easily absorb wardrobe mistakes.

Should people make the effort for any reason other than their own desire? Team Maya: One should at least make the effort to find out what is appropriate and respectful for a given situation and be REASONABLY appropriate and respectful. (And that is entirely context-driven. If I were invited to Una's friend's graduation party, it would be appropriate and respectful to dress casually rather than in an LBD, pearls, and heels.)

Does it take an equal amount of effort to put together a sloppy outfit as a nice one? I don't think so. I spend a TON of time putting together my outfits and I think they are nicer than if I just picked up a pair of dirty jeans and a sweatshirt off the closet floor.

And if you never dress up for anything, is the significance of the event diminished? I'm not 100% sure I agree with this as stated. But I might agree with the opposite statement: "Dressing up for an event tends to enhance its significance."

And as for the group in the photo, I'm not sure I agree that they don't care about their appearance or their clothes. Cobalt skinnies are definitely a statement! I'd say this group is saying "We are rugged individualists and we don't buy in to popular fashion, so we like to wear our colorful gear at all times." Which is not at all the same thing as "We don't care how we look."

definitely more $$$ makes it easier to dress stylishly. you can afford retail, tailoring is an affordable option - when you have a LOT of money, personal shoppers, stylists, custom made clothing, and assistants come into play. it's possible to have other people buy your entire wardrobe and present you with a binder documenting complete outfits (down to hair, makeup and undergarments) for every possible occasion. these professionals will also update your closet every season, shop for spur of the moment getaway trips, and so on.

does this mean that person has true 'individual style'? i don't know, but i'd be inclined to say no. and i've seen people oozing style who are dead broke. some people have educated themselves about style and aesthetics, and there are a few folks who just 'have the knack' from basically birth! so style does not equal money in my experience, but money makes style easier.

and there's the question of 'who decides what's stylish?' there are people that i think look just terrible (it's awful of me, but it happens), but they and their peers think they are the bee's knees. as so many in this thread have pointed out, it's the 'group thing'.

i do think that dressing for an event makes it more special, and most people & groups i've been around think the same thing. this does seem to be less the case in very rural communities, though. very interesting thread!!! steph

I love reading all these replies!

Another thought just occurred to me: when you are person who HAS a lot of money, are your options truly widened that much? Or are there going to be social factors that restrict you to the *other* side of the price range? For example, if you're a socialite or heiress with next-to unlimited funds, would you be unable to shop at Old Navy or Payless because your family or your circle would expect you to only shop at very high-end stores?

hi rae! "For example, if you're a socialite or heiress with next-to unlimited funds, would you be unable to shop at Old Navy or Payless because your family or your circle would expect you to only shop at very high-end stores? " not in my experience - you get kudos for 'being frugal' and 'knowing the value of a dollar' if you throw a few of these ones in. wearing all 'cheapies' might cause some raised eyebrows, but if you're THAT rich people will be too busy fawning over you to say much, generally.

sorry for the cynical answer, but that's what i've seen. if you're trying to CLIMB the social ladder, i think you'd be better off going with the crowd and wearing more $$$ clothing. steph

mrseccentric, good point - those who are "climbing" or who are "new money" undoubtedly feel more pressure than someone who is an established figure. A lot may even be in the person's own mind if they feel they have to keep up appearances.

Rae, fascinating point! It is so much fun to read what everyone here has to say! You all are the BEST at taking on a topic and bringing out the finer points...

In pondering more, I think the whole "community' analysis is spot-on, as Girl, X, Mo, wilson and others have said. This is a group of people who have chosen to replace certain social conventions with other social conventions. People are valued for what they contribute or create - one woman paints gorgeous silk scarves and jewelry, another weaves beautiful rugs with clothes she thrifts and wears, then dyes and rips into rags. The most fashion-conscious, unsurprisingly, are the teens - I have driven them into Anchorage more than once after demands to go to Hot Topic, Value Village and the like.

From being on YLF, I also have come to believe that style, like music or art, does have a certain innate element of native talent - not enough in itself, perhaps, but definitely a head start. There are some people here whom I would call "style naturals", who started out miles ahead of where I am now, after nearly a year. You can develop it or not, and you can learn it mechanically rather than by instinct, but either way the drive has to be there.

The people in my photo have for the most part turned that talent to other more lucrative pursuits to survive, or ignore it. Money is a factor, but not the only one at play. And because they bring those skills to community events, the significance was not diminished. The cake was a work of art! But as Mary said, everyone was dressed for the context and the collective sensibility.

As someone else mentioned their friend does, my friend whose son graduated leaves all her really nice clothes here at my house, to wear when she comes to town or out of state to see her family. And when they need an event-worthy dress, they just come raid my closet!

Ok I didn't read everyones responses but i loved reading your post Una, having been born and raised in AK i get exactly where you're coming from.

The attitude there -- even more so when you get out of Anchorage (I spent a lot of time growing up in Talkeetna as well, my dad and step mom lived there) is so reversed when it come to style it's crazy. People wearing camo gear and stained shirts make fun of you. o.O

I'd like to think i'm a good example that it is possible to dress well on a small budget. I think rural Alaskans just don't hold it as a priority. And even look down upon others who do. :-/

Haha Nicole - I was waiting for you to chime in! Yes, this was Talkeetna (and I love Talkeetna). You are so right about the reverse standard.

That's one reason i love YLF so much. It's SO nice to post my oufits here and come back and read such nice responses after a full day of being frowned at in my small town lol.

On a relative basis I do believe it is easier to dress well with money than without.
A more expensive item tends to keep its shape rather than stretch and bag. Of course you can find inexpensive ones that do this but often you do not know until you have washed it a half dozen times.
I also find that the salespeople at the higher end stores tend to take more time with you and can suggest something you may not have thought of. Of course it takes time and effort to find a store that you like and the perfect consultant but I’m sorry to say that the higher end stores tend to help you more in this way than the lower end.
I also think its extremely difficult and time consuming to get it right no matter what your dress code is. If your style is different than your demographic just add more time and effort to that.
I’ll use my son as an example yet again. He’s 19, just finished his second year of university and wears anything from a suit with all the trimmings to a hoodie, runners, t-shirt/polo and jeans. The relaxed look is his day to day, work has a uniform and almost all sports have a uniform. Let me tell you that is much more time consuming and difficult to pull off the relaxed look and probably more expensive to do but not on a cost per wear basis.
The hoodie for example has to be a particular brand. Why this brand do you ask... It has the right weight, no fleece as he is always warm, washes like a dream, does not stretch out or shrink and lasts forever, but the brand name on it has to be very small embroidered in preferably the same colour. They have not made these in the last three or so years! It also is preferably brown with a grey liner in the hood. Navy is okay if you can’t find anything else but that is all. If it has the logo in big letters or in white forget it.
The polo is more flexible. It pretty much has to be a different brand due to the right weight and that he’s a warm person, collared since it’s a polo, white with black stripes and the logo practically indiscernible. The one we got last year is white with navy stripes but the logo is more obvious and not at all acceptable. He lives with it though as it’s as close as he can get. Had to get another one the same but navy and white striped...
On the other hand the t-shirts should be bamboo or cacao shells or something like that to be environmentally conscious and also as they are lightweight and not warm. If it is just a regular t then it can be red, bright green, etc. On the other hand if it is a “soccer” shirt it has so many different rules. If it’s supporting Ireland it has to be the bright green but the country and symbols small and just so. If the country is Italy it has to be white with lots of big bold graphics. Of course for another sport there are just as many particulars but different ones. The t-shirts usually cost more than the fancy dress shirt from a good store.
Now I think it looked like he hadn’t made any effort when he went to a grad bbq in this relaxed get up but nothing could be more wrong. He made effort to pull off the relaxed look and the dressed to the nines suit look but the relaxed look took a lot more time and effort.
When we went to a family function two years ago he wore his suit but threw his jeans, etc in the back for later on that evening. It turned out the function was way more relaxed than we thought. Did he change into his t and jeans? Nope, didn’t mind at all being the best dressed most drooled over guy there. You never know who you’re going to meet where now do you...

This is a really good thread. To address your original point, I don't know this kind of community first hand, but I strongly suspect that the issue is a large dose of reverse-snobbery with a small dose of financial practicality. (Reminds me of academic science...)
It is much easier to look good with money for two reasons that I can think of. A big part of what makes clothing look good, regardless of trends, is drape and cut. This is something money can buy, and it much more challenging to find on the cheap. You can skirt the issue by choosing certain styles where construction is less important. Two is, money saves time. Don't wait for a sale, don't shop around, don't haunt second hand stores, just buy what you need and be done. Also the sales people are much more patient and helpful in higher-end stores, like someone mentioned above. Having said that, of course plenty of wealthy people have no style, buy the wrong size, wrong things for their body etc.
If you never dress up for an occasion...this one has me stumped. It is something that I learned growing up that dressing up for some things in life is important to show respect. I wonder how many communities there are where this concept is completely dead.

I haven't read all the replies yet so please forgive me if I'm just repeating someone else, etc...

Is it _easier_ to look stylish and put together if you have money than if you don't?

I say ABSOLUTELY! As QM said, all other things being equal if I have money to spend I can much more easily find and purchase the items I want in my size. It requires much more effort (and yes it is effort whether you love it or not) to look great and buy well fitting, quality, killer pieces on a budget. You can also tailor things much more readily when you have more disposable income.

I feel that "effort" is the time and brain power you put into looking good regardless of how you feel about it or how much cash you spend. I love to cook. Does that mean that the fab Thanksgiving day meal I put together was easy or less work? No! It just means it was a labor of love. There are those who love thrifting and bargain hunting. It still takes effort. For those who do not love it, it is a major chore and one they will probably not excel in.

Should people put effort in to their appearance based on factors beyond their own desire? No, I do not believe so but let me qualify this.

"Desire" will cover not only my own concern with my appearance but also my concern with the message I send. While I might not personally care how I look maybe I DO care about showing my feelings for a given setting or occasion. That's still a desire. If I acknowledge that how I dress will send other people messages especially in professional or special occasion settings and decide that I don't care, well, that's my choice too. I'm willing to be judged negatively. If you choose not to "dress" for, say, the law office that's fine and dandy. Be prepared for possible fall out, probably dictated largely by social norms.