We are at the point that we can afford to buy what we like. Our biggest “problem” is that we have a lot of high quality clothing that is perfectly good and still looks great on us, so very little incentive to toss things. We have accummulates clothing over time, as we still fit most clothing we have had for decades (literally).
I also balk at paying full price on clothing for myself. I WILL sometimes indulge my kids but it’s a mental struggle, even though it’s a reasonable price and won’t affect our budget. Old habits of thrift due hard!
I generally use only one purse at a time. I have bought some Coach purses at sale and discount and one le sport sac (silent auction for a charity). Have also purchased several other brands. I rarely pay more than $100 for a handbag and my most expensive scarf was $40 as a memento of a trip.
I don’t entertain or go to galas so rarely have to dress up and mostly work out of my home and travel with H, so casual or business casual works great. (I do have a few suits and blazers, for more formal business.)
Dry cleaning is something I have rarely ever done and H is allergic to the offgassing after items are dry cleaned, so we only purchase washables.
H is happy with me shopping for him and always presents a neat appearance–casual and business casual for him too.
I like a “coat wardrobe” of nice wool coats even though most days I just wear a quilted puffy one that I call my Nanook of the North coat because it’s super warm. I’m paring down my work wardrobe and increasing my exercise wardrobe. I really couldn’t estimate what I spend. I do try to buy fewer pieces that are quality, but I did just buy two pieces at H&M for an upcoming trip.
@anxiousmom, even though I’m the guilty $600 coat purchaser, I totally agree with you. This was the first (and probably last) time I pay that amount of money on one article of clothing - or two, three or four articles of clothing. The coat was a splurge on my husband who needed a new coat. I usually spend much less (never even spent $600 on a single trip before). I just bought Ann Taylor clothes on their 70% off the total sale - $79 where the normal cost would have been over $200. That’s more my speed.
I tend to spend middle of the road (Banana Republic and J Crew supply most of my wardrobe) and look for sales. But last Christmas H surprised me with a gorgeous wool Burberry coat. It’s the most expensive item I own, but I feel fabulous every time I put it on! I wouldn’t spend like that everyday, but it’s nice once in awhile.
I have found the last couple of years that it’s quality not quantity that matters to me. But both “quality” and “quantity” are both subjective depending on your situation!
I rarely really dress up. So my closet is going to have a minimum amount of “dress up” clothing. One or two dresses and a dress up pair of shoes.
I like to dress stylish but comfortable at work in my business casual environment. For me that means, casual dresses/skirts that I tend to find at Athleta, Marmot, and similar type dresses that I find at TJMaxx. Cardigans to wear with dresses/skirts at JCrew, Eddie Bauer,The Limited and the like. A pair of black boots and tights I can wear with those dresses/skirts in the winter and then more shoes for the spring/summer/fall - flats and sandals that are not too bare for the office.
At home and out and about on the weekend…a couple pair of Gap 1969 jeans gets me through a year or two of jean wearing. I like layers on top of fleece or dri-fit type 1/4 zips on top. Some sweet athletic shoes, Keens or other sporty shoe/sandals are my favorite footwear - sometimes TOMS.
I do shop for sales and am a frequent visitor at 6pm.com to find the items I need and WANT that might normally cost more $$$. I also shop end of season sales and consider the item “new” the next time that season comes around.
I don’t think this is an odd first post at all? Look at all the stuff that gets discussed…why not cost of clothing? Anyway, I probably spend between $1,000 to $1,500 a year on clothing. That includes shoes, hosiery, jewelry, purses…anything that gets put or held by my person! I don’t shop high end…I just can’t bear to spend money quite like that. I won’t purchase a $250 purse, but I’ll spend $100. I’ve started to now try to have 4 nice purses, and swap them out for each season. I ususally spend up to $75 on shoes. I’ll spend more if I need something special, like I’m trying to find good walking shoes for Europe this summer. I’d spend up to $200 for those if I could walk in them 10 miles a day. I love a great deal…but if there is something I just HAVE to have, I don’t care what the pricetag is if it’s something I know I can afford. I’d purchase a $200 day dress if it was something that I looked spectacular in (which I haven’t bought, but I would), but I wouldn’t spend $500.
It’s not an odd post in content but it’s an odd post for someone to start as their first post on a college forum. Perhaps the OP is an old poster who has returned with a new ID. The topic is not odd and we’ve certainly discussed clothes, spending etc on this forum.
I had a 40% off discount and purchased a Brooks Brothers long wool dress coat that I think was somewhere in the $800-$1000 range (before the discount) for my son, as we outfitted him for the work world. He’ll have that coat the rest of his life and to me that’s a classic investment that is worth the purchase.
Great purchase, Puzzagirl. I love wool and cashmere coats, but I cannot justify buying them. The PNW rain turns them into mush. I did score a wonderful S Max down coat that is truly water resistant. The retail here in the US… you don’t want to know. $1,300. I bought it from a UK retailer; with shipping and tax, my Amex was charged $455. Not bad. Wearing it feels like being wrapped in a soft down blanket.
So much depends on the kind of life you live. When I worked in a corporate setting I bought clothes because having a quantity to choose from meant I didn’t have to do laundry/dry cleaning as often. I worked in a company where business casual was the rule, jeans were allowed on Thursdays and Fridays. In reality, most of us dressed slightly more formally than business casual and even jeans were paired with nice shoes and tops. Shopping made sense, and having nicer new things made the daily grind a bit more pleasant. But even then I rarely spent a ton of money, finding bargains on sales and being a regular TJ Maxx, etc., customer. But I do understand the pleasure – and the sense – of investing in an expensive but great quality classic piece you might wear for years. I think of fine clothes like furniture: a one-time expense that pays for itself over time. That said, I’m not one to redecorate often, and would limit such purchases both in furniture and wardrobe.
My mother taught me that if you have a high quality handbag, shoes, and coat, no one will notice if your clothes are more modestly priced. I still believe it, and today I’m wearing cheap leggings and a sweater I bought on sale from Anthropologie…along with my Prada coat, LV epi leather handbag, and Tod’s boots.
Why is it an odd first post? The is a “catch all” forum, not discussing college stuff per se. If you read thru the title threads, I would have thought (and probably did) to just ask away? Why do you think it’s odd? What criteria meets a good first post? She was respectful and a topic that many people like to talk about (fashion) here on this board. Sounds like a great first post to me.
I believe that buying quality pays. Back in the days when there was hardly any petite sizing, I used to buy more designer clothing because they offered free alterations and they looked more tailored on me. Now, I am into comfort and casual clothing. I dress it up by wearing fine jewellery.
My D who lives in Manhattan has been spoiled by her H. He’s the one who bought her Jimmy Choo shoes, Chanel and Prada bags, Burberry cashmere/wool coat. He doesn’t have time to wait for sales. I add a few things to her wardrobe when I see something nice on sale.
Hey, I don’t think MOWC was calling the OP out - clearly we are all participating in the thread. Maybe MOWC was just talking out loud - I myself would think given my history on this board, I came first for college info - and would have surely posted a question or contributed to a thread on that FIRST - before jumping into the cafe and starting my own thread. Or even commenting on a thread in the cafe before posting a new thread. It’s not a judgement just an observation - for me anyway.
Good topic OP, hope you’ll participate in other threads here as well!
abasket is right. It’s just that if you said to yourself “Gee- I wonder what other women spend on clothes”- College Confidential, if you have never been here before, would not necessarily be where you would find to start a thread.
No big deal. Give it a rest, Conmama.
If I was a new poster and had someone question me like when I’ve come aboard I wouldn’t feel very welcome. How did you want her to respond? And I’ll give it a rest when I feel like it…got it?
Maybe I’m ornery today, but I have to say one more thing - then I’m out (and you can smile and clap if you want)
MOWC wrote one short sentence about a first odd post. And then went on and participated in the thread (and in that same post) about the topic at hand - a few different times - and those comments were just as appropriate as anyone else participating in the thread.
Gotta wonder why some people are dissecting a few words followed by great participation in the topic at hand.
Off to shop at 6pm for a new pair of running leggings!!!
