And @soozievt , your post makes a point. Aspirational window shopping can be helpful. Of course not everyone can afford designer labels and I did mention early on that budget is going to be important, especially for someone who hasn’t shopped in decades. Frankly, too, the Hugo Boss prices (adjusted for inflation from the 1980s) aren’t that outrageous. IIRC, a good “interview” suit when I was in law school in the 1980s would run approx. $400-500. When I was in school, a lot of professional women were still wearing the floppy bow “tie” thing with crisp white shirts (just like the men). Thankfully, the options for good tailoring in women’s suits have multiplied since then.
But, if one starts out by looking at classic things and picks up on the nuances of good tailoring, fit, coordinates and accessories, then it all helps once one goes on the hunt in the sales racks. It’s just good due diligence, which any attorney should appreciate.
I see clothing similar to the ones posted on threads at Ross and the Rack sometimes, and have tried them on, sometimes finding something that works well for me. I have no problem with clothing that I wouldn’t buy for myself and like seeing the ideas and knowing what’s out there and what folks like.
I certainly have NO problem reading posts about clothing I would not buy for myself. I enjoy it, in fact.
I was merely saying that if someone is asking for help with a particular situation, then it helps to read suggestions geared toward their style and price point.
I must say that the proper bra DOES change the fit of clothing and should provide support COMFORTABLY. IF you have painful red marks on your shoulders, you should consider getting a re-fitting because there really are comfortable garments out there, IF they are properly fitted. Of course, if you have a cup size above DD, there is more tissue that needs to be contained than if you have a smaller cup size, but that’s where skilled fitters earn the higher prices on their merchandise. I am OK with using their expertise and buying one or two of their garments for their knowledge, but won’t buy more than that with them.
Sometimes, folks post Dior and the like stuff on Dressing Young for style reference point - to figure out whether a poster meant a certain feature they were looking for. Then it helps to focus the hunt for reasonably priced lookalikes!
I think it’s always good to look at the more expensive stuff to get a sense of the fabrics, cuts and finishes that define quality, even if you need to go to a lower price point. I also think some of you are getting intimidated by Saks, etc. Sure you can find $800 jackets, but you can also find $200 jackets. I, personally, would rather see her buy a handful of really good things for the $2,000 and then down the road upgrade other things piece by piece, rather than declare that $2,000 is in and wind up with tons of cheaper things. Better the French approach of a few good pieces that are worn over and over again than a closet full of not so good pieces.
As for what people spend on things - this is a board where people routinely talk about spending money on wine / spirits (which I spend zero money on), gourmet / fine foods / spices / oils / cooking implements (ditto), home furnishings / home decorating / remodeling (I’m of the once-and-done school, I don’t routinely buy things for my home), and/or electronics (I still have the old-school regular TV’s, not flat screen). People on CC are spending WAY more on that stuff than I ever spend or would spend on clothing.
As for the bra thing - I go to a specialty bra store and get fitted. They actually tailor / take in the bras similar to how you would alter an outfit. It makes a huge difference. I am on the bustier side and always try to minimize. Like the clothing thing, I think having a few good bras is an investment versus a bunch of cheap ones.
“I was merely saying that if someone is asking for help with a particular situation, then it helps to read suggestions geared toward their style and price point.”
I think the point is that the OP is trying to (gently, nicely) change her style and open her mind to the benefit of thinking about the cost/value a little bit differently.
Well, I was only using the courthouse as an example! I am well aware of other locals and situations where an attorney needs to look her/his best. You will not change my mind that that must or should happen in a $700 blazer or pair of shoes. Ever.
Sigh. Glad I’m leaving for a weekend at the beach. I only have to pack my bathing suit, shorts and Keens. I’ll be wearing my athletic shorts for the drive and WILL stop anywhere I need to on the way and not horrify anyone because I choose to wear those decently length shorts, tshirt and dri-fit jacket if I stop in a casual restaurant, store or by a friends home. I will pack a duffle bag with an array of clothing - nothing fancy - but that will be nice name brands that please me and be clothing capable of lasting several years for some pieces and which the total of will be likely not more than a few hundred dollars. It will be what my budget can afford.
Fireandrain, I truly hope you had an enjoyable day with your friend and perhaps even more, I hope she had an enjoyable fruitful day!
I don’t think anyone has ever said that an attorney MUST have a $700 blazer or pair of shoes. Plenty of attorneys wear J Crew, Banana Republic and the like. If this attorney had been keeping up with the times, she could easily refresh a wardrobe and get quite a lot for $2,000. Because she’s starting from scratch and doesn’t have basic pieces to fall back on, it is going to cost her.
Someone who either already had good base pieces or who is in a business-casual situation can go a lot further on $2,000. I don’t routinely wear $700 blazers or pairs of shoes - but I’m also in a setting where I can wear jeans, t-shirts and sweaters on a daily basis and even when I go to clients, I need only go up the chain to nice pants and a blouse, not all the way to full business dress.
About five years ago I took myself (along with my breasts) to the local fancy lingerie store to get fitted. Of course I was wearing the wrong size, but they straightened me out. They brought in around 20 different bras for me to try on, and I wound up buying two or three. I didn’t even look at the price until checkout. They were expensive, but there was no doubt that they fit me better and made me look 500% better in my clothes.
I still have those bras, along with some others that I’ve bought since then. I was them in the washing machine in one of those net lingerie bags and dry them on the rack. And I never never never fold them with one cup inside out in the other cup. They have lasted extraordinarily well.
Also sign up for emails from Bare Necessities. They have 20% to 30% off sales from time to time. Once you know what brand, style and size works for you, the sale is a good time to buy a bunch of what you need.
I don’t know if anyone said “MUST” either to the $700 blazer (just a token reference) but there are several suggestions to items along those lines and references that $2000 just wouldn’t do. I don’t care if you are buying a blazer, a necklace, a pair of tennis shoes or a pair of jeans, if it’s not in your budget, it’s not in your budget!
She CAN get a full wardrobe that looks nice for $2000 starting from scratch. People do live this way. Power to you if you have $10K to spend on a shopping trip. Power to you if you have $100.
We are also talking about a forty something lawyer who presumably has been working for 30 years and will continue to work. So it’s not as though $2000 is the only money she’ll ever have. There is always next year and she won’t go naked. The advice might well be different if you said a 25 yo just starting out who needs to also buy a car and pay down student loans for whom $2000 is it and not a penny more.
(d) because for a successful attorney charging $300/hr, $2000 is less than gross earnings for one day - at least in theory;
(e) because of 70% off sales very similar pieces are way cheaper (e.g., the Max Mara Alessio etc. line at 70% off comes to less than $1000 for a jacket, dress, skirt, and pants - all gorgeously handcrafted in Italy of fine wool/silk blend; I wonder how do I know that… );
Believe it or not, recently I bought 2 short jackets (blazers) at Zara for less than $40 each. The fabric felt nice and stitchings were very good. They looked great with my a lot more expensive sheath dress.
When I initially posted, it was because recent previous posts said she would need to reconsider her budget. So, some comments were before, some were after - it’s the after that set me off! Because THAT WAS HER STATED BUDGET!
Why does it matter what her salary is? Maybe she is putting 10 children through college. Or supporting two sets of in-laws. Or has a H out of work. We don’t know or need to know those circumstances. We DO know her budget was $2000!
And given $10,000 for a shopping spree - of my own money??? Nope, still makes me want to gag to think of spending that kind of cash on clothing.
As I said, different strokes. I drawing my hard line and sticking to it.
She may not know enough to know what budget she should allocate relative to the results she wants to achieve. She doesn’t have a sense as to what anything costs.
