Yes, Gryffin! “ I am better served by getting the one thing I will enjoy them a more reasonable alternative that does not compare.”

I know the guilt-inducing churn that can come from settling for a piece… it’s actually how I arrived at the Babaton coat. It ticked all my boxes. I had purchased TWO other camel coats, before I landed on this one. Even though I have sold both, it cost me more energy and money in the long run; I would have been better off just getting the right piece the first time.

This applies to my Lole puffer as well - I had been in the habit of buying fast fashion puffers for around $100 that were lasting me two years, and even being a bit sad/falling part the second year (non visible things like pockets ripping). I basically just got tired of the churn and decided to ‘invest’ in something better, which ended up being a Lole puffer for around $400. It’s going strong after 4 years or so and really has no signs of wear. I don’t count wears but subjectively, I like it enough and find it appropriate for wider weather conditions and situations such that I actually wear it more than my previous puffers too. But I have many previous ‘investments’ that didn’t work out so well. It’s my own taste that I doubt will last.

I think I don’t look for a “perfect” item like some of you do- I am thinking of Gryffin and Nemosmom here. My own psychology doesn’t really “get” that. I suspect it’s because I am not a classic dresser. My tastes are eclectic and to a certain extent for me there will always be another piece of clothing. I have learned to have less FOMO myself over time.
So I think I have learned to go over my price point occasionally mainly for love of the item, and also for the likelihood of lots of wears because it suits my wardrobe so well- a HEWI, if you will. But because my wardrobe is still pretty large, and the most sustainable item to wear is something I already own, then that will be a rare case. Maybe that *is* what Gryffin and Nemosmom are doing too, but the thought process appears different to my mind.

Jules, so you were getting new puffers because the pockets ripped in the earlier ones? I don’t understand that. Isn’t finding a new one more of a pain than fixing the one you have/getting it fixed?
I think this is getting close to a difference between my son and me if we have an inexpensive thing that’s starting to wear out; my attitude is to baby it, try to help it last as long as possible. He tends to assume a thing is trash as soon as the first cracks show up. By refusing to be extra careful, he has sent many items to an early (IMO) grave. Some people are more gentle with expensive items; I almost think that’s reversed for me.
I’ve just had linings repaired in both my leather jackets, from the 80s 90s,, and plan to sew up the pocket in my red puffer, which is nearly 3 years old.

FI, the pockets are just an example of what happens when cheap, thin nylon starts to wear. I put up with the pockets per se then the following year the entire lining would be ripping (as an example). I once took a wool coat to be relined at a very reputable but somewhat cantankerous local tailor and was basically told the quality of the coat did not warrant the work. Along with a lot of faces made about my coat! But she had a point when I compared it to a proper menswear lining… even though the coat was Club Monaco and this was about 20
years ago before quality declined quite so much overall. So point being I guess I internalized the idea that most of my stuff was not repair level quality, which is still the case.

I have just re-read this thread for about the fourth time.
Partway through, Shevia asked if someone had once had a thread about having a minimum price for what you bought, and the answer is yes, Jenn did, and she has linked here up-thread to the article that prompted it, her first link about having a minimum of $150 as a price point, enough to make the writer think about how much he really needed the item- in regards to sustainability.
Interesting to re-read that.
I still think for me it may be love of the item that may make me go higher, but on a rare occasion and carefully considered, if I just can’t get the item out of my head. And even then that’s only to try it on! I would really have to know it would get worn again and again to go above my self-imposed limits, since I so want to wear everything lots of times, hopefully for several years.

I found that old thread, just in case anyone wants to see. https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-under-150

From way back in 2015! It was a really interesting and thoughtful conversation.