Hi again Carla ( my third reply- I keep thinking about this, ha ha). I agree with you about expensive items not always bearing up any better than cheaper ones. An example was my black Arche sandals which I have shown on the forum before. I bought them not for brand, or quality particularly, but because they were very similar in style/shape to some others I had owned for several years from a cheaper store, really comfy for walking while still looking good, which had become stained. I bought the Arche in an Australian tourist town on sale, and was very pleased to get that brand for $100 AU (which is more than $100 NZ, maybe $10-20 more in our dollars.) Now they could have been several hundreds at full price. But they came apart and needed gluing by my DH at 18 wears! Gluing was successful, and I wore more times last summer until reached 35 wears. But they do rub on one big toenail a little, and I have just bought some new sandals looking for better comfort and similar style from Styletread, for next summer. These ones are not leather but "smooth" ( a synthetic that looks similar to leather) and fit perfectly, for $45. I can't tell you cost per wear obviously yet since it's winter. I put the Arche ones in the "clothing bin" today. At 35 wears about $3 a wear. But how happy am I they were on sale, with what happened!
The most I have ever paid for shoes was $ 359 for tall leather boots in 2011. Only the third pair of tall leather boots of my life at the time. 65 wears so far, I still have them.
I relate to what J'Aileen and Gigi said.

When I first saw Runcarla’s question, I composed 3-4 responses, none of which felt accurate. My previous response boiled down my thoughts by picking only one factor, good fit, which is elusive for me, so I weigh it more heavily than others when deciding to pay more. However, also coming in to play are all the other factors I personally consider important…..a few that come to mind easily are natural fibers vs synthetic, quality construction, cut/color/unique design features, practicality, washing & care needs, emotion, need vs want, budget, competing needs and wants, etc. It’s really a web of multiple decisions in which an individual weighs each factor and prioritizes them before making a final choice.

I am finding this hard to answer. There are categories is clothing where I spend more.

Shoes: are expensive in Australia full stop. I stick to a few known brands to limit costly mistakes. I often pay a bit more for my favourite brands, but the fact I know they work for my low volume and fussy feet make it worth it.

Bags: I love statement bags. Not high designer, although I have a few designer bags, but it is the style that sings to me. I am very good at looking after my bags, I scotch guard fabric bags and polish my leather bags.

Jeans: after finding jeans that I can sleep in on planes, buying jeans from Mother, Paige and Jbrand are the only ones I wear. Less is best in this wardrobe category and my denim gets softer and improves with wear.

Locally sold, designed and made. Since Covid 2020, this has become a priority for me as local retailers and designers are doing it tough. I have 3 small local boutiques that have had the bulk of my non thrifted 2021 purchases and if I have paid a fraction more, that is OK with me.

This has been such a fun thread to read! We are all so different but there are a lot of similarities also!

I've never had much money for clothes and that's true of most of my family and friends so doesn't seem unusual. I am a bargain shopper and rarely buy things at full price. I always have been and for me that's part of the fun. However, I do spend more on things like shoes, coats, bras, purses. They last me a long time and comfort and fit are important. But I am a fickle dresser and it is hard to tell when something will become a workhorse and when it will sit in my closet. I don't want the guilt of an expensive mistake. I admit my tolerance for higher prices has gone up over the years but it's still pretty low and I'm OK with that.

I've been reading along, debating an answer. I am a bargain shopper by nature -- I love finding a good deal, and I won't spend a lot on a trendy piece that I suspect will only have a season or two before it starts looking a bit dated for my style. I am, however, willing to pay for certain pieces, items, and brands if they tick all my style boxes and they fall within my ability to comfortably pay for them. My wardrobe is a mix of high and low, and I fully recognize the privilege I have of being able to afford to buy items I love at many price points. It was not always so -- I spent many years avoiding full-price "expensive" stores unless I scoured the sale racks. I still remember what a treat it was when a lovely couple for whom I petsat many years ago gave me a Nordstrom gift certificate, and I bought a pair of full-price black boots that I wore happily for years.

I'll pay more for good fit, nice quality, etc., but mostly if the style really speaks to me and there is some unique quality of the item that can't be found at a lower price point. I don't care about labels, and in fact, I avoid any large or obvious logos or branding, but I do appreciate that certain brands have a design aesthetic that appeals to me, is unique, and yet retains some bit of timelessness. Examples: I splurged on Valentino Rockstuds many years ago and they are still my go-to dressy shoe for occasions -- they're comfortable, sexy, and well-made. I'll wear them for decades to come. Also, my teal Burberry trench -- perfect color for me, lovely quality, classic but with a twist. I'll wear it forever.

So what else will I spend a bit more on? Jeans, for one. I don't do super trendy denim, so my jeans last for years and I'm willing to pay for premium denim, up to a point. My threshold for jeans is around $200. But I wear them near daily from October into May, they are hard to fit for me, and my preferences defy trend for the most part, so I more than get my money's worth out of my denim. On the other hand, I also have $30 jeans from Gap and Old Navy, so I'm definitely a customer based on style and fit, not price or label. I'm not a big secondhand shopper, and the thrift stores around my area tend to be filled with things that hold little appeal for me.

I am more likely to pay a bit more for footwear (particularly boots, although I've learned that sandals can be a decent investment as well because I wear them so much), denim, pants, and jackets. I'm less likely to pay a lot for knits, tees, basics, and summer casual tops. And I don't really spend a lot on sneakers either. My gear is a mix of REI, Lululemon, Athleta and tends to last a long time. I've learned not to skimp on bottoms but that I can get away with cheaper tops. Cheap bottoms always end up being too short or they slip down my hips.

Another item I'm willing to pay for -- as many of you know, I've developed a fondness for Alexander McQueen scarves. The designs are unique and very "me," and I carefully choose color schemes and patterns to fit in with the outfits I'm trying to accent with those pieces. For instance, I looked for a while for a red/black/cream patterned scarf before I finally decided that the butterfly print McQueen one I originally fell in love with was worth the $$ because nothing else sparked that love -- the cheaper ones I found didn't have appealing prints and the fabrics were nowhere near as nice. I now have three McQueen scarves, and I know some folks here think it's ridiculous to spend between $150-300 on a large square of silk (I purchased two of them secondhand or on sale), but I love those scarves and will wear them happily for the rest of my life. I suspect that they will end up with a CPW of pennies. They make me happy every time I put them on. They'll fit no matter what my size or weight.

So, yes, I'll happily wear a $15 tee from TJMaxx under a Veronica Beard blazer, paired with $30 boyfriend jeans from Old Navy and $300 boots. For me, it's about the item and my particular style preferences, not a label or name. A high price makes me think more carefully and often research other options, but usually if I get that far in even considering a more expensive piece, I find that nothing quite compares to the original.

I'm glad this thread has remained respectful and nonjudgmental. I believe very strongly that each one of us has to respect our own individual priorities and situations. Like some of you, I have never had to think about clothing and feeding children (at least not full-time), and style has long been a hobby of mine, so I have a bit more freedom to consider things I never would have dreamed of buying 25 years ago. I do have times when I spend less, and times when I spend more, and my spending thresholds are well in line with our overall household budget. I would like to continue being more mindful about the quantity and usefulness of my purchases, regardless of price point.

Researching my insurance claim, I’ve realized that I don’t always hold to the $$ amounts I mentioned earlier. My NYDJ jeans did indeed come in at my stated max—$50 on the nose. But my Seychelles boots, with metallic flowers, were $129, which is considerably over the €80 I said is now my max. Money is fungible—spending more on footwear just means spending less elsewhere. I’m fortunate in that my maxes don’t come from absolute need, just from a feel for priorities in my life.

Interesting that judgementalism has been mentioned by several posters. The kind I think (*hope*) we are moving away from is sniffing at “last year’s model”. Rachylou’s jacket, which must’ve fallen behind a shelf in the warehouse, sounds great. Given how long I keep my clothes, I may be more sensitive to this kind of judgement than others are, but as sustainability comes into vogue, I hope we can all move away from the wish for things from the current season for its own sake. Bringing it back around to how I decide to spend money on clothes—getting current items for the sake of “updating” is not a thing for me.

Chiming back in. I can remember the first times I spent considerably more than my usual at the time for items-

A dress I still have in my memory closet that I saw in a small boutique while walking by. I kept passing it, and, eventually bought it. It was quite unique. It made me so happy for so long and I felt fabulous in it. I felt like the best version of me.

Another example from a long time ago-a watch that has both silver and gold tones. So long ago that this was the first time I saw that combination. I mostly wear silver jewelry but my wedding rings are gold. Seeing it I instantly knew that I had to have it. I wore it every day until it died, then was able to replace it exactly, and now that one is at the watchmaker to find out if it can be fixed. I didn't replace batteries on any of my watches during lockdown and I'm hoping that that did not create problems.

Around the same decade as those purchases I purchased an expensive pair of distinctive pants and top at a fancy department store-I still have the top and maybe the pants in the same memory closet. If I remember correctly, it is not impossible that they will fit again.

And from the same decade-a spectacular necklace that I still love but perhaps should start wearing more regularly and not save for the perfect occasion as I tended to only wear it with a dressy black dress.

The ironic thing is that those splurge purchases when I was young are my current price limits but nothing is that exciting anymore. Maybe it's time to allow myself a splurge purchase now and again.

Just want to say that this is one of my favorite forum posts of all time. Thanks to everyone who has answered, and for the question, too.

I will pay a kings ransom for jeans that made my ass look fab and my belly disappear.

bj1111, I would join you!

Bj1111 & Irina, me three—but they have to be comfortable, develop lively patina and form, but never wear out.

Returning to this thread to thank you, Gaylene, for introducing the idea of *pleasure* into the discussion and sharing your art purchases as an analogous pursuit. I do think in terms of pleasure a lot when I buy and wear clothes, and I love buying and having art (mid-century ceramics, drawings, paintings). These purchases are definitely not grounded in pragmatics, but in the pleasure of having beautiful, thought-provoking, enriching objects in my life. When I was younger and had very little money, I would find lovely objects at the thrift store, whereas now I have more options, but the general engagement with art is the same.

And yes, the rear view for jeans is also very important to me ;)!

This is a hard one for me to answer as well. I also identify very much with Gaylene's response, which focused on the emotional component.

My spending and price points are really not very rational or precise. I spend more on clothing than my budget really allows for; I love clothes, but I also love variety and newness. This is a strong urge that fights with the lack of supply. I am very hard to fit, and being unable to find, let alone buy, flattering basics has been a huge challenge since I was a teen. Combine this with not coming from money (and still not really "in the money") and I have no rules for clothing spending, but lots of instincts and emotions.

Scarcity mentality: Truly well-fitting basics used to be an automatic buy unless they were obscenely expensive (for me). I had to train myself out of this habit, and still fight it when it comes to neutrals that seem practical but I know I won't reach for.

Colors is another place where I have to be firm with myself. I have to leave the rare, beautiful color behind if it's a garment/cut/style I won't want to wear. But it's really hard. This has very little to do with cost.

YLF has taught me about higher tier stores and brands. I'm not dissatisfied with the quality I get at lower price points, but I have experimented. For example, I now prefer Wolford hose, which are 5x the cost of my previous brand. but to me they are vastly more durable, comfortable, and easier to handle. That is an emotional decision. I really like these hose and am willing to pay the price.

Footwear is another emotional thing. I've always splurged a bit more on shoes, since I'm very particular about what completes my outfits. It's mostly about style, and secondarily about materials. If the style I want can only be bought for a higher price point, I'm not going to settle for non-leather material.

But while I do buy high-end items at retail, I always try to find them at resale first. Poshmark and eBay are my first stop. I don't try to stay current, so I don't mind styles that are several years past. If I do need to buy full price, it's something I struggle with. And it usually comes down to the WANT, not the price. But the price keeps me from doing it too often.

My epiphany about pushing the price limits I had in my mind came with one of my first big closet clean outs after coming to youlookfab. Piled on my bed were lots of clothes and shoes and belts I'd bought (and had so much fun hunting) in the city neighborhood thrift and vintage stores where I lived at the time. As I stared at the mini mountain of things that I was now willing to purge, I had a realization: that if I added up all the money I had spent on that pile, I COULD actually buy those more expensive items that I often told myself I could not afford. I HAD actually spent the money, just a little bit at a time, over a longer period of time. So did I want the pleasure of wearing better things (though of course more money doesn't always mean better quality) or did I want the pleasure of shopping? Well, it was both, really. I learned to buy with better fit in mind and to be more choosy and to give myself permission to get over some sticker shock. I remember the moment it hit me. It was a beautiful jacket at Nordstrom's and it fit perfectly and it was about 200 dollars. I put it on and loved it so much. But it frightened me to spend that much money and I bolted out of the dressing room. As I started to walk home sanity returned and I saw it as an act of self-love to go back and try it again. And I bought it. I remember being very nervous handing over my debit card. But the sky did not fall. Because I was not buying lots of smaller ticket items, I could afford it. I loved and wore that jacket for years and then passed it on to a dear relative after I'd had a weight change. It fit her so much better. Double the joy!

@ Judy - ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ for your story. A very good epiphany.

Just chiming in from spotty WiFi up north so I hope this posts I am not very spendy by nature ... I sort of know what's good enough for me, and stop there ... Even as more budget has become available. For me it's always the opportunity cost ... Like, I can upgrade to higher end jeans that would certainly look more fab, or I can wear my good enough for me 40% off Gap jeans and then go wear them out for dinner with my family ... I'd rather do the latter. Of course this math and mentality works out differently for everyone! Thought provoking Carla!

This is such an interesting thread! Thank you, Carla, for starting it.

The art thing is illuminating for me, as I think my art/decor price threshold is even lower than my clothes price threshold. I like having stuff on my walls, and I like it to have some personal significance, but I’ve managed to find more than enough prints and posters in the $10 - 50 range that make me happy that I can’t imagine dropping lots of cash on an original. Having one would, I think, make me nervous! I just bought a nice handcrafted cedar chest above my usual price point and realized I probably shouldn’t put it where I’d planned on putting it because of sun exposure/UV damage, and now I’m fretting over where it should go. With a less special piece (both how much I paid and how long I waited for it to be made), I probably wouldn’t worry so much.

Likewise, I’m not necessarily happier wearing “special” clothes on a daily basis; I’d much rather have things that are easy to mend and easy to replace. In the end, it’s never the outfit that makes me happy, but the things I did while wearing it. The less conscious I am of my clothes while they’re on me, the better.

The hobby/entertainment aspect intrigues me as well. I tend not to think of clothing this way; for me, it’s just a soft good — not quite a consumable like beauty products or food, but not quite a long-term purchase like hard goods (dishes, silverware, furniture). I go in knowing it will need to be replaced in due time, like sheets or towels. For me, thinking about personal style (both in my wardrobe and in terms of housewares) was a direct result of having a baby and adding what felt like a huge amount of stuff to my home all at once. I’d never had to do that before, and it made me a lot more mindful of how things go together, how they’ll age in the long run, and how much mileage I expect to get out of an item. Useful/beautiful a la William Morris.

I’m obsessed with this . Keep thinking about it when I should be doing something important like work - lol. My personal epiphany here is the word “value “ . Prices are all over the place and so is what I am willing to pay . It all depends on what value I assign to that thing - and of course it’s all personal , internal and a moving target . Jeans have no value to me because they are a dime and dozen and have no impact on how I feel . McQueen scarves ( I’m with Janet on this one ) DO have value to me , and I will likely be buying another one this fall . Anyways , if nothing else , this has helped me “ name “ some ideas amd thoughts around purchasing .

it’s never the outfit that makes me happy, but the things I did while wearing it. The less conscious I am of my clothes while they’re on me, the better. is well-stated and very much how I feel.

There’s a parallel for me, too, between my attitude about clothes and what I put on my walls. My clothes have been gathered throughout my life; it isn’t hard for me to come up with a story about any given garment. My “art” isn’t pricey, but it is precious to me—a pair of letters candidate Obama wrote to my son & me (framed), a silk handkerchief map a relative carried when he parachuted into France behind enemy lines in WW II (also framed), my grandma’s dish towels, pottery from my hometown, which is famous for it, and serving trays with images from there, “my” town in Switzerland, and a basket used to separate grain from chaff in Tanzania. It’s all stuff I love, and pretty much all of it was gifted to me. I hang onto it and take care of it because I love it.

This really is the most fascinating topic in all senses of the word. I have spent more money on a painting than I did on my current car. But rather like with cars, my buying days for paintings are over - I ran out of walls! My clothes buying actually has slowed down a lot too. I wonder now what that does to the value of all these things in my head… I still like to buy socks, lol! I have increased how much I’m willing to pay for soft, warm socks…

I go through phases of what I spend a lot on, aside from clothes. Right now it's been outdoor living and plants, but it's been craft supplies, musical instruments, sports equipment, tools, etc. Plus all sorts of classes that look interesting. It's generally not a lot per item, though it can be, but cumulative. I think of it as my magpie budget

Wow this thread has hit so many chords. How much we must justify ourselves! I think art is an interesting analogy, as is most any hobby or way we choose to spend our leisure time and budget. Just nodding along with so many insightful comments, thanks Carla!

If I lived in a climate where I needed a winter coat, I would splurge as I would if I wore blazers. Tailoring and nicer fabric just looks better and is more accommodating with respect to weight changes. But I don’t wear either so it is easy for me to say.

If I could predict what would become workhorses and the footwear that would prove to be comfortable after eight or more hours, my price point would go up. But I have non-leather shoes that are more comfortable than some pricey leather ones. And then I learned here that even pricey knitwear can be problematic so that price point didn’t go up.

I am not much of a tee shirt wearer, so no angst there. I have never tried premium denim but may try on a few pairs on at the Rack to see if I can figure out why some women swear by them. I suspect they don’t work for my body type so are lost on me.

I will spend on bras because I am a rare size. Nonetheless, I almost always buy them on sale.

I keep thinking about what Gaylene said about joy. I really wanted lug sole waterproof chelsea boots and found these blondo boots which were the exact aesthetic. But they are sooo comfortable. All day long I was conscious of how happy my feet were and what please these boots gave me. My VB scuba jacket which always makes me feel professional, elegant and sharp. The new L'agence jamie cardigan which is so comfortable and goes with everything but feels divine on. The theory clairene which is like wearing a cloud. The JCrew jackie shell which is the hardest working, most perfect, most beloved workhorse ever. It's the feel of things. The tactile sensous experience but also how I feel in the piece. The joy of things, their rightness and their ability to both disappear (because their are perfect comfortable and appropriate) and to enhance by feeling good on and making me feel good in them. The experience of things. This has incredible value to me and items than produce that feeling at any price point are highly coveted!! BTW add another fan of the McQ scarves. It's not just the design. AM is one of the few designers who uses silk chiffon. The scarves feel absolutely divine on the skin and drape beautifully. The patterns, when you hit one you love, are so unique. I just added two of his little bandanas https://www.intermixonline.com.....3624Q.htmlhttps://www.saksfifthavenue.co.....ana-137213
I can't seem to get finds. But the experience of them and the way they enhance the outfit has value to me.

Just reading Elizabeth Cline’s The Conscious Closet about how to merge our growing realization about the environmental and social costs of the fashion industry with our appreciation for style. The book walks the reader through the process of creating a fashionable but ethical and sustainable wardrobe. Many of her ideas have been discussed on this forum, but this sentence caught my attention :

Sometimes we make less-than-stellar choices not because we can’t afford to spend more but because the idea of expensive clothes is terrifying.

Now Cline definitely isn’t suggesting that expensive=quality or that frugality isn’t important—in fact, quite the opposite. She is a big advocate of thrifting, approriate budgeting, bargain-hunting, and careful thinking before opening your wallet. But she does point out that a higher price point will make most of us pause before clicking the BUY button thereby curbing impulse buying—and that higher-end items are more likely to be attractive candidates for the resale market if they turn out to be mistakes or no longer work for our bodies or our lifestyle. She also points out that most of us are likely to take better care of an “expensive-to-me” article of clothing than something which we regard as “disposable”. And, as another check for sustainability, for most of us, buying at a higher price point automatically will mean buying fewer items for our closets—and keeping our clothes longer.

Depends. If one raises a price point from$50 to $150 per top and still buys the same number of tops per year, there is obviously, no change. So, it’s not so much a price point but shopping strategies and habits. One can be wasteful or socially responsible at any price point. Also, can be both

Ohh, Gaylene- that sounds like a great book!

This hits home for me;

“most of us are likely to take better care of an “expensive-to-me” article of clothing than something which we regard as “disposable”.

My earliest expensive-to-me pieces are still in my closet. But, I’ve babied many thrifted pieces, too - that didn’t cost a lot of money - but I definitely spent a lot of my *time* hunting for them. I wonder if time could be considered as some kind of currency?

I think Gaylene cum Elizabeth Cline's point is excellent. As a small time reseller, I always think of the potential resale value of my big (and little) purchases because I don't always know which pieces will work out in the end. I do think a bit of sticker shock has it's value. I remember someone posted an article about someone who put a lower limit on his purchases for this reason (could I be more vague? maybe someone here remembers). I think I need to read that book, thanks Gaylene!

eta Nemosmom Yes! Agree that it is not just price - also time and emotional investment affects how well I take care of it.

Good point, Irina! To do Cline’s book justice, I should have made it clear she puts considerable emphasis on the importance of buying fewer items. Her opening chapter is pretty much devoted to the idea that we actually wear far fewer items in our closets than we think we wear. She also is very clear that socially responsible purchasing isn’t about spending more—or less—but about how we think about accumulating and disposing of what we own.

It rings true for me, that trying to be cheap can yield less than stellar results. Because it can mean ‘cutting corners’, trying to do without something needed. I’m not sure tho that I keep anything longer or take better care because of its price tag. I’m terribly hard on clothing and keep it all forever. On the other hand, I don’t lay out a lot of cash at once for anything that won’t last forever and get a lot of use.

Hmm. Probably my most uneconomical purchases are ones in the $200 range. What I buy in that range is usually not a wear-a-lot-last-forever kind of thing. It’s usually been ‘office fashion’… and not durable and dating quickly (that is, I get bored of it quickly, within a few years). Hmm.