When lower-end items bring higher satisfaction: Thoughts?

Vix

Veteran

Hi YLFers --

Seemed like the perfect time to add yet another post about item price, quality, and perfect-for-the-personness.

This one might be cheering for those like me with champagne taste and a beer budget!

My personal backstory around clothes and dressing is complicated but let's just say:

"wishing I had better and feeling guilty for wanting that" is a feeling that goes way back
in the last decade, it's been joined by "feeling dumb and/or guilty for paying full price"

For reference, I shop thrift, consignment, online used, and retail. And have had some custom items made, including ones where I supplied higher-end (discounted!) fabric.

Some of you've seen my posts re experimenting with Rent the Runway [RTR] and their Unlimited subscription for a couple of months. [Monthly fee to rent 3 items at a time and keep out as long as desired vs their usual shorter-term rentals.] I did it for 2 reasons:

access to more expensive clothes than I usually buy (most were MSRP of $400-1200)
ability to test dresses for a fancy fall wedding before committing to renting them (because I'm a control freak re color and fit)

At the same time, I was helping my mom (MoB) and friend (guest, fancy summer wedding) look for dresses. This led to me realizing I could get a great deal on a designer-y dress for about the cost of the the future dress rental, so I experimented with ordering from stores I normally don't. [Who knew Neiman Marcus -- main store, not Last Call -- carried anything under $200?!]

What I found surprised me: the grass wasn't necessarily greener. The more (currently or originally) expensive dresses weren't always the most "expensive-looking" on the 3 of us because fit, color, design, and that meld-with-personality thing all matter more than cost.

Am I saying we couldn't have found amazing dresses for more $$$? Of course not.

But between the rentals and the up for purchase dresses, I was pretty surprised I wasn't 100% wowed by construction, fabric, and design details each and every time. Separate from how the dress looked on.

Even though IRL and YLF I see great examples of women looking great on very very small budgets, I personally found that harder. And because like Caro in Oz and many of us I love clothes I define as beautiful, in the back of my mind I tend to think, "I'd look even better if I had more to spend."

I'm happy to say this experiment has helped knock that way back! Hopefully if you ever suffer from Nose Against Store Window Syndrome this will make you feel a little better.

In case anyone's interested in some of the losers and winners I'll post a few.

8 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from Vix

Vix

Veteran

Some of the experiments

1: Halston Heritage for me. 800, on sale for 110. Color was perfect but fit was off in a way that would have made alterations $$$. I'm kind of glad because style-wise it was a little off for me...despite loving rouching!

2-3 Theia for me (tried the gown because I was dying of curiosity, it was the wrong size and too expensive; showing short dress for color reference). IIRC 1400, on sale for 380. Amazing amazing color for me and super-well made. But so heavy (shipping had it at both 8 and 11 POUNDS! of dress). I have no doubt I could have carried it off in the right size LOL -- clearly I have past lives as socialites, pageant participants, presidents!)

4: Tadashi for my mom. ~ 700, on sale for ~ 220. Colors were gorgeous for her and she let me pick a pattern, woohoo! She normally dresses very simply/classically but skews very romantic for weddings. This with the scarf draped to create a higher neckline was lovely -- but dress was too big in ways that would have been $$$ to alter. I regret not seeing this in person but she said it was stunning.

5-8: Ralph Lauren blue and Xscape green petite for my mom. Both around 220 but both purchased for ~ 50% off. I sent her the blue, which looks more expensive in person (and on) than many other $$$ ones; she was pretty wowed. She found the green, which I'm not super-crazy about in theory (would prefer collar/bib with a column style dress) but it actually looks GREAT on her and she feels great in it. Not sure which will be the winner!

9: Maggy London petite for my friend. ~ 150 and when I looked this up it's now 40% off (sent her an alert as color/size that was right for her is still on its way!). She thought it might be too classic for her style but the color, fit, and details all came together in ways others, some higher-priced, didn't.

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is really interesting and I can well believe it. When I had to attend a big awards ceremony a few years back I tried on at least 30 dresses, half of those at Holt Renfrew (and very pricey). I ended up buying -- at half price or maybe even less -- the same Nicole Miller stretch linen sheath that Angie has in a different colour. (My actual dress is a different blue, less cobalt and more bright navy, but this was the only one I could find for Finds.)

Of course you know that I want to come and steal the blue RL dress from your mom, right? (Assuming she keeps that one -- the green is lovely, too, but not for me). I've actually seen the blue in person and really liked it. And....it was an Angie top pick!! (I know because it's in my collections).

Great eye for your friend's dress and I guess it is no surprise that Maggie London dresses regularly make Angie's top picks.

I am getting the sense, though, that you have yet to find your dress? Or is that coming in another post?

Macy's

Lauren Ralph Lauren Long-Sleeve Sequin Gown

View Info

Top Pick

Zappos

Nicole Miller Lauren Stretch Linen Dress

$290.00

View Info

Top Pick

8 years ago

Anonymous

Such a refreshing post. There are times when I need to be reminded and your examples really drove home the point. The most interesting thing was the "meld with personality" point.

8 years ago

tulle

Veteran

Sounds like you are a great personal shopper, Vix--these are beautiful dresses. (The Ralph Lauren is my favorite.) I shop like you, and have found items of outstanding quality--and disappointing failures--at every price point. The days when one could depend on a particular designer for attention to detail, fabric & dye quality, consistent sizing, etc. are over. (One more reason for giving thrift, vintage, & consignment shops a try, right?) But a thorough hunt online and in retail stores will still reveal great values. For cold weather, I try to find designer clothes and luxury fabrics on sale or second-hand (silk shirts, cashmere sweaters, good woolen trousers) and mix them with sturdy jeans & long-sleeved t-shirts from the Gap. For Summer, I have found that brands like Madewell and Old Navy often have pretty, comfortable dresses and blouses in cotton and linen, while expensive labels offer sticky viscose versions at several times the price. So I agree with you: price is no guarantee of satisfaction, and it helps to have a good eye!

8 years ago

Anonymous

There are disappointing failures at every price point. No doubt. That's why I spend as little as possible for certain things like tees and camis. I also have found some things at QVC of all places that are actually really nice, and not that pricey. And I bought a really nice floor-length dress from JC Penney to wear to a black tie optional gala. It's a fab dress, and I got it for under $90 including shipping. Considering how seldom I'm going to wear a floor-length dress that has sequins all over the bodice, I'd say I did really well with that purchase.

8 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

What a gift you have! Do you do research in your "real" job?

Because I have to stay in budget land, I've learned that more money doesn't always buy good fit, better fabric, or construction. As a cusp sized person, upscale brands often fit less well, or size me out entirely. That's actually kind of helpful (except for Zara and J. Crew -- I'd like to wear those). I will say, however, that good quality fabric is worth a few more dollars, particularly in items that will be worn long and often. Also, good construction is more necessary in fitted items, and tailored pieces like coats and blazers. Eileen Fisher, for example, has amazing fabrics!

Your experiment is another reminder to "leave no retail stone unturned!"

8 years ago

deb

Veteran

The Maggie London dress is beautiful in black, also. A friend wore it to a wedding last year and she looked stunning.

8 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Thanks for the great comments!

The widely varying quality (and sizing) sure makes shopping more difficult, doesn't it? I have to say it was nice when really spendy dresses FELT and LOOKED spendy when they arrived vs just looking good online. Bonus for looking good on. Of course it was better when the less pricey ones looked glam and seemed sturdy. What can I say, I was raised by a bargain hunter!

Suz -- I believe I remember that hunt -- at any rate, you're proof that the best item isn't necessarily the priciest! The blue dress would look great on you for sure. It also comes in a knee length version. Just sayin' . And a cap sleeve/long version. And yes, I think I've found my dress; semi-shamefully it's black vs color-color. And it was quite expensive marked way down which beats my usual (expensive, still expensive on sale, leave on rack).

[Thanks for posting the Find, too. Like retailer emails, I have to put Angie's temptations out of sight/mind so didn't know it was there!]

Sterling -- Glad I'm not the only one who needed the reminder. I admit I wanted my mom to have something a little more special at a bargain price, but a) she didn't really care and b) as we agree, it's the holistic picture that matters.

Tulle -- Thanks for the insightful remarks and tips to boot! And BC -- so glad you found the perfect dress at an amazing price at a store often overlooked for evening wear.

Beth Ann, wise words from you as always.I know when I've made a careful purchase and it doesn't hold up I'm disappointed but it feels better than the times I've overlooked quality red flags and been really let down. [And yes, my work is often research-intensive. And my passion is color and design. Friends/family know who will obsess with/for them about the latter....]

Deb -- Glad you saw the ML too. I liked it on the hanger because I love that type of neckline (retro!) but when I saw it on my friend it was hard to walk away from picking one up in a better color for myself! I know my friend will look great too -- very elegant but not at all stuffy.

8 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Very interesting observations. Having spent many, many hours thrifting and working as a sorter in a thrift store, I can say confidently that retail price, and for that matter label size, are at best one clue to the actual quality and size of any item. The most important consideration is the wearer, and what suits her, as you demonstrate.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Maggy London dresses are good, in my opinion. I just bought 3 that I'm happy with; just have to return the 4th one mostly due to style. Had the style been perfect, I would have exchanged it for a different size. The return has nothing to do with quality.

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Really glad you found your dress, Vix! I hope you show us. And sometimes, well, black is what you have to do. It will look great with your silvery streak.

8 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Shevia -- Absolutely to both your points. Marketing/branding aside, it's little disappointing when the luxe lines don't seem that different on the body than what I find in my discount store haunts. Just where are all all those "on the hanger, boring...but on, amazing!" items, ha?

BC -- 3/4 is a great success ratio. Enjoy!

Suz -- I will, no worries! I've left the tags on but I don't have a desire to keep looking now that the love child of a halter mated with Liberace's closet is here. Right now the spot with the semi-decent light for photos is a zone of construction dust and tools as we take on a bathroom leak. Would have to pose with my safety glasses vs sunglasses!

8 years ago

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