Now, when our mortgage and kids colleges are paid off, I can finally afford many nicer things, yet prices of many luxury goods give me a huge pause. And, although I like nice clothing and jewelry just like many other women, I just cannot justify to myself paying these insane prices, and shopping for luxuries makes me fill guilty. Yet I see so many people, including both friends and strangers, who have absolutely no problem buying a $500 scarf or handbag. I wonder how normal is that? Am I the only one always checking sales racks even though I don’t have to? I realize that everyone has different tastes and preference, and it is normal to splurge on certain luxuries people enjoy. But who are those “average” customers paying tag prices in designer stores? Are they all multimillionaires, or regular upper middle class folks? How much does a typical professional woman should spend on business and casual clothing, jewelry, accessories etc? And how many handbags, watches, coats etc does she typically own? I used to think that one nice handbag and one nice coat is enough for each season, but I just cannot believe how much stuff some folks buy and what they pay for it. Not judging anyone, just trying to understand what is the “new normal”. Thanks for your input.
"Am I the only one always checking sales racks even though I don’t have to? "
No. 
I will pay full price only for certain things that I either absolutely love/need to have and when I know that I will get a lot of mileage out of the item. I probably have some hunter genes vs purely gather genes, because I love the thrill of hunting down a good bargain after painstaking stalking. 
I’m not a purse person, but can’t pass a great shoe or scarf bargain.
I just remind myself that will probably be happier to have some extra money available in my retirement or to spend on a great vacation with my kids instead of having another purse or scarf (or a more expensive one). Works for me, but may not work for everyone, of course.
I don’t spend much money on clothes even though I have the means. It’s mainly because I just hate to go shopping and I haven’t had good luck with online shopping for clothes. And I hate returning stuff also.
Laziness is also a factor.
My style tends to veer between seriously boring - jeans with a plain cotton top and a jacket or nice sweater to somewhat more artsy - a purse made out of recycled fire hoses. I don’t buy coats - I wear a quilted jacket my Mom found a lot, I love my old German wool coat, but wear it rarely, and sometimes wear a black Northface jacket my mother grew out of. All my jewelry is from local craft stores except a few pieces from my mother. With short fat feet and an aversion to heels I don’t spend much on shoes - though I seem to end up buying a lot of them.
We never hesitate to spend $$$ for a great vacation (by that I don’t mean luxury hotels, by rather some great adventures). But spending money on “stuff” is somehow much more difficult. However, I still want to look good when I come to office, and I know that time is running out for me 
I’m not where you are yet (we have a mortgage and will begin college payments in the fall) but I can’t imagine spending the amounts of money I see others pay for shoes, bags, or even good clothing (and there’s nothing better than very good clothing). Last November, I did buy a wonderful winter jacket for my husband, it was the first nice adult jacket for him (we’re in our 50s). It felt a bit crazy to spend $600 on a article of clothing but the wool fabric was just too enticing. He loves it and I think he deserves it. So, I can spend for others but I’m not sure I’m ready to spend $500 on a purse or a pair of shoes for myself.
Like @mycupoftea, I would prefer to spend $$$ for an experience, such as traveling. Everyone has their preferences.
I always shop the sale rack. I just went last week and spent approx $700- - but $225 of that was on a pair of boots which were 50% off. I did buy a white shirt ($80) and a cotton sweater ($90) that were not on sale. Besides the sale booties I bought 2 tank tops ($28 ea) a 3/4 sleeve shirt ($60) and a pair of ponte pants ($90.) Those were all 50%.
I don’t work so I buy only buy casual clothes and the occasional frock to wear to weddings/special occasions.
I bought the dress I am wearing to son’s graduation last summer on sale. I think I paid $190. I wore it to a party, too.
I have been looking for the perfect winter coat but nothing I have seen this year I liked so far. I think I am going to have to wait until next fall and pay full price. 
It’s possible I won’t shop again until fall when the summer clothes will be on the sale rack.
I shop exactly the same way as emilybee. Trying to find some great bargains at 50% off or more. Shop end-of-the-season sales and put these new clothes away until the next year. Cannot remember the last time I paid full-price for anything above $100. I admit, it gets difficult to buy less expensive brands once you are used to the nicer ones. The fabric, the fit, the quality just cannot be matched.
I shop twice a year: December and June clearance sales. In the interim, I pick up a few pieces here and there on a need/want basis. This strategy works well for me in my neck of the woods where no one frowns at the fact that my clothes are “last season.”
If you want classic, well-made clothes at great prices, look at Yoox, Outnet, RueLaLa, Myhabit, etc. Places like RealReal and Yoogi’s have nice pre-owned finds. It does take some work to sort through the junk to get to the gems, but search engines make it easier.
European sellers are usually a trend ahead of the US and can be a great place for bargains despite shipping fees. The stuff they clear out often can be found at full prices only in the US. I shop clearance and sales at Stylebop, Mytheresa, Selfridges, Matchesfashion, and Farfetched, to name a few.
This seems like an odd thread to start immediately upon joining the forum.
I don’t tend to bargain shop, but I will take advantage of online coupons or discount codes. I like to have a lot of things- but I wouldn’t call most of my purchases “luxury” items. I would spend $500 on a purse, but haven’t for quite awhile because I like a lot of bags that are in the $250 range. I would not spend $500 on a scarf.
Wow, thanks for the advice, BB, I’ve never heard of many of these stores. As anything in the US, the more time you spend the more you save. Of course, fInding this free time is a different problem - not every day is a snow day
Here is an example. This is still available in the US at $400:
https://us.burberry.com/archive-weather-design-silk-square-medium-p39519381
Myrheresa is now sold out, but their price was 1/2, and that included all import duties and taxes! If you bundle several things, the shipping fee becomes reasonable.
http://m.mytheresa.com/en-us/raining-cats-dogs-and-pitchforks-printed-silk-scarf-328395.html
" I would not spend $500 on a scarf."
Me neither. But I like some $500 scarves.
Yeah, I guess you could say this is an odd first thread to start. But why not - this seems like the right peer group and I am getting some great advice
I have one thing that I will spend lavishly on, and that would be boots. I have skinny legs, and it is so hard to find riding boots that fit. When I see a pair that I like, I will buy them. I bought 2 pair in Paris in December, and paid an obscene amount for one pair, but they are gorgeous, and so well made.
I like nice quality clothes, shoes and bags. I often shop when things are 50% off (the day after xmas at Saks). I would rather buy fewer pieces and spend more on each piece. D1 shops like that now too. This year she spent around 1000 at Saks the day after xmas. She got 5 different outfits for work. I have a lot of coats, but some of them are over 10 years old, same with my shoes and bags. A blue cashmere coat is timeless, so is a Burberry quilted jacket. I recently talked my mom into buying a pair jeans for over 100. She really hesitated, but they looked great on her. I said instead of buying 3 pairs you didn’t really like, it is better to buy one pair that you would love to wear all the time.
I think I am the opposite of most of you. The thought of spending even $50 on boots makes me shudder. I might spend that on shoes that are worn daily. I have never understood spending much on purses. My mother always said it was better to have the money inside the purse rather than in the purse itself. My purses get thrown on the car floor and dropped here and there. I don’t want an expensive one. I do like coats but again the most I have ever spent on one is about $100. I have a lovely pink wool one that I love that I got at a sidewalk fair for $12. I guess I will spend my money on vacation (but then we travel pretty cheap) and on my grandson.
I’m like you, onward. I don’t really care about clothes. I do not enjoy shopping. Wouldn’t know one brand from another. Spend next to nothing on clothes.
I tend to group my spending every two, or every three years. Most years I don’t need new outerwear or footwear.
This year, because I’m not only still adjusting to an artificial knee, but have found that I have severe arthritis in my feet, at 57, I am buying several pairs of new shoes. ( which means I have to throw out the ones that hurt my feet so I don’t * accidentally* wear them )But this entails buying Birkenstock sandals from Zappos at $135.00 apiece, not alligator pumps from Barneys for $1350.00
Birkenstocks are trendy now, they even sell them at JCrew and Urban Outfitters.
My boots aren’t expensive Imo, my most pricey pair is probably $270. full retail, but I will get more wear out of them than I would a pair that would not hold up to being resoled.
I did just buy 4 prs of Levi 501’s for H & I, big sale online.
$30 a pair wasn’t bad for raw denim.