EK - lol about Birkenstocks, this is really funny! You can never overpay for a good comfortable pair of shoes. Before the last year, my most expensive pair of shoes was under ~$70-80 (some bought on sale), and most were quite old. Then a friend gently told me that my shoes need an upgrade. Ouch! The rest was history (but I am still pretty frugal, though I found some great bargains online)
Never had the money to spend growing up or for a decade after that. They also tend to ignore tall women with large feet and who then also gain weight. The more upscale department stores like to cater to petites and do not carry many, if any, plus sizes. Or for taller women. It has been so frustrating to try to find sleeve, torso and hem lengths that are not too short. You would think the largest regular sizes could be made long enough for the tall normal proportioned person and not the short fat ones!
We are not into fashion. We have plenty of money but it just isn’t worth buying even what most of you consider moderate priced goods. We also go by, and taught our son, that isn’t what you can afford but what it is worth. Did break down with better slippers for H and now myself as past experiences with quickly wearing out ones are no fun. H is hard to convince to get non shabby clothes. He has the opposite problem- plenty of big and tall for men but too often sizes start at medium or 32" instead of small or extra small for the short, slim man. If he hasn’t gained weight in the 30 some years I’ve known him he never will.
I like the casual Florida lifestyle- similar to my Wisconsin one. I’m a T-shirt and shorts, plus comfortable sandals type of person. Long pants, shoes that cover my feet plus a sweater for cooler weather. I dislike jewelry so that saves a ton of money. Shoes need to be comfortable- no more even low heels for me- so I don’t own many of them. Too much trouble to move things from one purse to another just to “look good” as well.
“Birkenstocks are trendy now, they even sell them at JCrew and Urban Outfitters.”
Some designers came out with their version of Birks… 
Birks are pretty timeless for people who wear them, so they are investment pieces. 
I do not care for fads. I might buy a trendy piece or two a year (and only something that has some staying power, like a leather pencil skirt), but most of my clothing is pretty conservative and easy to put on/take care of. I do not think I own a single linen piece, but there are plenty of cashmere and lightweight wool things in my closet. I don’t spend much on jewelry, but to each her own. I just hate to get tangled up in dangly objects.
“I tend to group my spending every two, or every three years. Most years I don’t need new outerwear…”
Ditto. Shoes… well, shoes are a differnt matter. As I said, to each her own. Some will go crazy about garden tools or bikes. Some love jewelry. Some are into shoes, running and whatnot!
Well, I buy garden tools & bikes too!
I think I need one of these to go with my arborists ladder.
http://www.amleo.com/silky-hayauchi-pole-saw%2c-15+375-inch-blade%2c-telescopes-8-to-21-feet/p/17939/
“H is hard to convince to get non shabby clothes.”
^ This truly deserves a separate dedicated thread. If anyone figured out how to convince H to buy new decent (and I really mean decent - not fancy) clothes, please share! I am at my wit’s end 
Emeraldkity4- I got this for Christmas - https://www.flameengineering.com/products.php?category_id=2
Can’t wait to try it.
Mycupoftea…I buy most of my husband’s clothing. And none of it is shabby.
My H generally only wears 501’s. Which I suppose doesn’t matter most of the time, but there are other options.
We had tickets to a premiere at the Symphony last week and I wanted him to at least have shoes that were not his Converse All Stars, which are his go to for non work activities.
I had to order some online, because the ones I liked in the stores were cost prohibitive.
They finally came about an hour before I left.( he ended up staying home with a cold)
Last year I bought him several things at JCrew to wear when I wanted him to look a little more updated when we attended our oldest daughters wedding reception and met her husbands family who are the opposite of ours in some ways. ( more money, more education, more conservative) I knew he would not go to the store, so I took advantage of a sales person who was similar build. I bought shirts, pants, shorts and sweater and jacket, figuring that something he would like.
I was surprised when he wanted to keep all of it, and that he didn’t even ask how much it was!
You might try the same thing. I really am not thrilled about picking out his clothes, but I’m less thrilled about him looking like he is going to work on the car when we go out.
Thumper - I tried (sigh). Best case scenario, it goes into the back of his closet… and several years later he asks where it came from. FIne for the smaller less expensive pieces, but does not go so well for more expensive ones… Worst case scenario, it goes back to the store… Shopping for the kids was so much easier (until they became teenagers anyway) Also, some pieces must be tried on for the right fit. But maybe I could hide all of his old clothes, then he would have no choice…
Mycupoftea…there is nothing in my husband’s closet that I didn’t buy. If he didn’t wear what I bought, he would be in his birthday suit.
The key is…I know his size, and I know what he likes. I’m also willing to return anything he says he won’t use.
What exactly is your husband wearing that you find shabby. Is it work clothing? Everyday casual? And what are you getting him…apparently it’s not his style.
There is a seriously huge gap in incomes and expectations on CC!! My expensive bag is a red messenger bag from Timbuktu - serious splurge, take it to work every day, on sale 90$. I only wear soft-footbed birkenstocks or Alegria shoes, which I love, (on sale, online $69.00) Everthing else I own is inexpensive… my favorite jacket was less than $50 from LLbean onsale, Lee pants are usually 30$ or less onsale. I don’t like to shop, so I buy online, and then only if I really need something. The idea of spending $600 on a coat or $500 on a scarf is totally foreign to me.
I ruthlessly throw away anything from Mr B’s closet that is outdated, too big, too holey, etc. He never notices! The company he works for has a dress code for managers, so no ripped or faded jeans or logo/screen-printed tees are allowed. I had to revamp his wardrobe accordingly: Dockers and long sleeve polo shirts for the winter/short sleeved for the summer. I buy his favorite Ecco shoes because they are consistent in sizing, and I know his size. Every pair of Tod’s I got for him had to be sent back, so I gave up. I even bought him a designer sports coat online. I’m blessed that he is of a “standard” size, so most items fit without alterations.
I keep a donation bin and trash can in our laundry room and anytime I come across something that I think needs a new home, off it goes. I enjoy shopping and my husband doesn’t, so I do most of the clothes shopping for him. If I didn’t, he’d have to go eventually out of sheer necessity. 
My husband appreciates nice clothes and he makes good choices when he does shop, he just doesn’t like shopping. I really like hunting for bargains, though, and carry a card with his and the children’s sizes so I can pick up deals when I see them. I rarely pay full price, though.
EK - Great idea, now I just need to find a correct-size sales person 
Thumper, I bought all of his clothes too (at least most of it), but then it became old and out-of-style, yet he does not “need” anything new. Because there is. Absolutely. Nothing. Wrong. With it. Period.
He does wear business clothes to office (they have a dress code), meaning suits, dress shirts, ties and all – all very conservative and good looking, he does not mind updating it. But I get troubles updating his casual wardrobe. If it was his way, he would live in his 10 yr old jeans, t-shirt and a fleece jacket.
Oh…so this is around the house casual? What is wrong with old jeans, a tee shirt and a fleece for around the house?
Adding to the to trash bin…when I put anything of DH’s in the trash, I cut it apart first…to use for rags. I cut the sleeves off…and sometimes cut shirts in half. That way, he can’t pull them out of the trash.
I honestly do not care how old his clothes are as long as they don’t have holes in them. And actually, he is fine with that too.
If you see that the old fleece has holes, look for a new one that is very similar…and then replace it. Get rid of the old one entirely. Your husband would have to agree.
If not, let it go. Clearly, he has decent clothes to wear when he needs to.
Now, back to the issue of spending money on clothes.
I like some nice things. But I don’t need all designer things. I have a mix of things in my closet from really inexpensive to more pricey.
Old jeans are fine for watching TV at home, or doing yard work - not for dinner with friends or a night out. I must let H win some of his battles, right? But why it needs to be about his clothes when he can pick all of his fav sport teams
You all lucky ladies! But I am really not complaining (well, maybe just a little). A girl can always dream!
I think a lot depends on where you live and your immediate peer group. Remember when Oprah came out with her magazine and had the “Oprah’s favorite things” section? (Maybe she still does)…I recall getting frustrated with that because it would highlight very expensive items that I couldn’t even imagine ‘regular’ people buying. lol
I do sometimes splurge and get something that is close to $50.00, but then it tends to sit in my closet because I don’t have a reason to wear it (even though it isn’t something formal…just nicer than my usual). I gave up buying anything that requires dry cleaning years ago…'cause that wasn’t going to happen.
I agree with a couple posters above about the purses; my philosophy is that my purse should not cost more than what I typically carry in it, which isn’t much. I choose one that pretty goes with anything, and use it until I get tired of it, several months to a year…or more. I wouldn’t want one that was so expensive that I’d worry about getting it dirty or scuffed. All that said, I probably should make more of an effort…and I sometimes decide to…that’s when I end up with those splurges that sit in my closet.
I don’t spend a lot on clothes, either. Have gotten more picky about shoes in recent years, which means I got a pair of Keen hiking boots and some Sanita clogs. I’m just not in a world where I need to be dressed up often.
When I met DH, he wore quiana shirts and polyester suits. He has some nice suits/shirts/ties, but he is definitely of the rumpled type despite my best efforts. Most of the time he wears khakis and an oxford to work, but being polished is not in his worldview. Let folks admire him for his mind instead… On weekends he wear Lands End polos with stains all over them (and does not care) – he has gotten grease spots on almost every polo I’ve bought him the first time he wore it. Just got him some new jeans, kicking and complaining all the way. Like the food he eats, he is very particular about what he likes and that’s a pretty limited universe.
I like good fabrics, good fit and nice details. These things tend to be at least the J Crew or Limited level. I want quality athletic wear and go for LuluLemon, Athleta and Brooks. I work in a business casual office environment but at my level we tend to dress with some style and usually wear a blazer or sweater. I enjoy jewelry and shoes, too. I’m not a fussy person and like comfortable clothes, but it’s fun to put together outfits. I will spend a lot on good jeans. They simply are better quality denim and more flattering.