Cheap Clothing, Expensive Handbags

[Metope]

I love bags, clothes and shoes, but I don't think all has to be designer to look great. If I see someone wearing all expensive luxury from head to toe it sometimes looks kind of boring and excessive at the same time, and it also shows lack of creativity*. Expensive does not always equal style, and cheap does not always equal poor fit and quality. It's much more fun to have a mix of good quality affordable clothes, some staple luxury items (if you can afford it), and you can never go wrong with a bit of vintage in the mix! If I had all the money in the world, I'd still go rummaging through those dimly lit vintage shops, they're the best.

*Not always, of course! There are plenty of ladies who are able to rock the all luxury look and look amazing. It's equally boring to have your entire wardrobe be all H&M (I was guilty of that in my teens for sure, whoops )

 

[misskris03]

This is an old thread, but I'll bite. For me, my weight, style, and mood fluctuate so much that it doesn't make sense to spend a small fortune on designer clothing. I much prefer to spend money on things I don't have to fit into in the same way, like bags and shoes. That said, I buy high end shoes and "affordable luxury" bags for the most part. Clothes are not as important to me, and I can usually find stuff I'm happy with at Ann Taylor, Gap, Banana Republic, etc. Target and H&M even. Plus I feel that shoes, and a bag, makes the outfit. I think shoes first, then the outfit.

Yes. Good shoes & accessories can make an otherwise boring outfit look much more fun. I also think it's hard to go wrong with a nice coat.

 

[SakuraSakura]

The threads name must be based on my life.

 

[mintmatcha]

cheap clothes don't necessary mean bad quality - I guess the OP's question was more on the quality of clothes or not looking cheap in terms of outfit, regardless of the actual price?

I stick to real basic items so quality comes to the most important thing. Stores I usually shop clothes would include zara, asos.com, uniqlo, club monaco.. and some comtemporary designers like acne studios, theory, thom browne.

yoox.com carries designer brand clothes with good deals too.

 

[Baglover121]

There has to be a balance somewhere,
I love bags but I love well made clothes more,
Accessories like good shoes and bags can make an pact on your total look, but not to the extent that they can perform magic and make cheap , ill fitting clothes look good,
Sometimes it's wiser to buy an expensive staple like coats and cashmere than another bag,

I'm totally against the idea disposable consumerism,which is what most high street chains are,

The idea of constantly replacing items on regular basis is off putting and a total waste of time and money and in the long run can be more expensive than buying into luxury clothes,

 

[serenityneow]

There has to be a balance somewhere,
I love bags but I love well made clothes more,
Accessories like good shoes and bags can make an pact on your total look, but not to the extent that they can perform magic and make cheap , ill fitting clothes look good,
Sometimes it's wiser to buy an expensive staple like coats and cashmere than another bag,

I'm totally against the idea disposable consumerism,which is what most high street chains are,

The idea of constantly replacing items on regular basis is off putting and a total waste of time and money and in the long run can be more expensive than buying into luxury clothes,

My mom taught me to invest in bags, shoes, and coats because these items get the most wear, and that's what I do. This doesn't mean that I have a closet full of premier bags, shoes, and coats! I have two Burberry coats and one pair of Burberry flats that I wear often. Most of my shoes are Stuart Weitzman (they always fit me!) that I found on sale. They weren't cheap, but they also weren't $400. I'll wear all of these things unless and until they fall apart. My closet full of bootleg pants, though? Not so much (although I keep hoping bootleg pants will come back!).

I know what clothing brands fit and flatter me (AG and Paige for denim, Theory, DVF, Joie, Equipment and Vince for everything else), and almost always buy them on sale. I don't cheap out on my clothes, but I do opt for a few good items that fit over a closet full of cheap, poorly made items. I buy most of my clothes at TJMaxx or online.

Above everything else, clothes should fit well and flatter! Find one or two brands that consistently do both, and you'll be golden!

 

[soramillay]

I think central to this discussion is understanding one's body, style and arriving at a clear minded awareness of what works. I am only getting to this point in my mid-30s. In my teens, fashion was about rebellion against conventional taste so I wore loud, garish prints. In my 20s, I accumulated a lot of clothes, either purchased on impulse for stress relief, purely functional for work, or were on sale.

Some were expensive, and some were cheap. The point is that none of that matters if you don't know how to dress your body. You are not going to feel good. It's not as easy as bags (even though taste evolves with bags too).

It's only been in the last 5 years that I have really learnt about finding my personal style from reading blogs and really examining my clothes with a critical eye and asking myself how I feel.

The result is now I am much more particular about shopping. My demands for cut, neckline, material etc. are more stringent. So it doesn't matter if I'm in Old Navy, a thrift shop or a high end store, I am no longer walking out with big bags of clothes anymore.

So I agree with everyone who says know your style, love your body, find the brands that work for you, and only then invest in better clothes.

 

[Sparkletastic]

This was an interesting thread to read.

For me, my wardrobe is both important (I can't be naked and I need to move through work, social and other engagements) and an indulgence (it's only for me and I can express me). So I want good quality items at the lowest possible price (I value wealth and experiences like travel more than any physical "thing").

I've found that I can get crazy good deals on nice clothes that aren't designer when shopping online sales and the clearance racks. And when I pair a Tahari blazer or Ralph Lauren dress with a Chanel bag I look very "put together". I didn't need the Chanel blazer or Prada dress. A ready to wear clothing item is good enough.

And as crazy as it seems even to me, it makes perfect "sense" to me to buy a well crafted designer bag for 3 or 4 figures. But I can't wrap my head around spending $300 on a blouse. Not in any way. Why? I guess because the clothes have little value after purchase and are much more likely to need to be replaced quickly. Don't get me wrong. I love clothes and I work out so I can rock cute outfits daily. But I don't ever feel like I have to spend a lot of money to get the look I want.

My bags, however, are unique. They feel like wearable art. And practically, they hold their value well and can last multiple seasons to a lifetime.

Maybe if I ran with (and had the money of) the yachting / independently wealthy / royalty crowd I would feel differently and my clothes would just have to be designer because that's all I would know or see. But I'm "just" comfortably well off. So, I'd much rather snag great dress and shoes from Nordstrom Rack, pair them with one of my Gucci bags and be happy. That extra money I could have spent on a designer sweater looks reeeeaaallly good nestled in my brokerage accounts.

So, no real logic. Just my own non defendable rules and perspective. I like to look good. But, I don't run in circles that examine my clothes or my bags. So I'm free to buy what I really want. And while I love designer purses, designer clothes just aren't it.

 

[Baglover121]

My mom taught me to invest in bags, shoes, and coats because these items get the most wear, and that's what I do. This doesn't mean that I have a closet full of premier bags, shoes, and coats! I have two Burberry coats and one pair of Burberry flats that I wear often. Most of my shoes are Stuart Weitzman (they always fit me!) that I found on sale. They weren't cheap, but they also weren't $400. I'll wear all of these things unless and until they fall apart. My closet full of bootleg pants, though? Not so much (although I keep hoping bootleg pants will come back!).

I know what clothing brands fit and flatter me (AG and Paige for denim, Theory, DVF, Joie, Equipment and Vince for everything else), and almost always buy them on sale. I don't cheap out on my clothes, but I do opt for a few good items that fit over a closet full of cheap, poorly made items. I buy most of my clothes at TJMaxx or online.

Above everything else, clothes should fit well and flatter! Find one or two brands that consistently do both, and you'll be golden!

Boot Cuts are back, they are just calling it skinny flares for some reason!

The whole idea is not about quantity, more about how far a few items can go as in contrast to a closet full of cheap clothes that disintegrate after a few wears,
Good clothes don't always mean designer ones, as I've seen some terrible designer clothes, and some really good high street pieces from time to time,

It's just that good tailoring and fabrics means nothing to high street chains, they are just copying trends and designers, so I won't expect to find a good fitting black trousers in H&M but I might find a good pair at Joseph or Stella McCartney so at this point an expensive trousers is more appealing to me than say a new bag,

 

[SarahWal]

I don't think it really matters whether your clothes are 'designer'. It's pretty easy to find good quality stuff that, if styled properly, can look amazing without an insane price tag. But of course, if you can afford it and prefer the designer clothing, go for your life!

 

[ladysarah]

Boot Cuts are back, they are just calling it skinny flares for some reason!

The whole idea is not about quantity, more about how far a few items can go as in contrast to a closet full of cheap clothes that disintegrate after a few wears,
Good clothes don't always mean designer ones, as I've seen some terrible designer clothes, and some really good high street pieces from time to time,

It's just that good tailoring and fabrics means nothing to high street chains, they are just copying trends and designers, so I won't expect to find a good fitting black trousers in H&M but I might find a good pair at Joseph or Stella McCartney so at this point an expensive trousers is more appealing to me than say a new bag,

precisely! I think people tend to bundle together 'designer' and 'quality' some designers, especially diffusion lines are just money spinners, poor quality and made in questionable circumstances. I am referring to really good clothes, in organic cotton, British wool or good cashmere - made in Europe or US by skilled people. The brand may not be a famous one, but the clothes are good. These are usually produced in relatively smaller quantities.

 

[Shelby33]

the threads name must be based on my life.

+1

 

[vintagefinds]

I invest in bags because I love them, I invest in shoes because my feet were designed by the devil.

I don't invest in clothes because I have a casual lifestyle, and I'm allergic to animal fibres. The long sleeve tees and cardigans from Old Navy are just fine for me. They hold up fine, and I never, ever leave the house looking shlubby. Inexpensive is really the right word, not cheap.

 

[catsinthebag]

This was an interesting thread to read.

For me, my wardrobe is both important (I can't be naked and I need to move through work, social and other engagements) and an indulgence (it's only for me and I can express me). So I want good quality items at the lowest possible price (I value wealth and experiences like travel more than any physical "thing").

I've found that I can get crazy good deals on nice clothes that aren't designer when shopping online sales and the clearance racks. And when I pair a Tahari blazer or Ralph Lauren dress with a Chanel bag I look very "put together". I didn't need the Chanel blazer or Prada dress. A ready to wear clothing item is good enough.

And as crazy as it seems even to me, it makes perfect "sense" to me to buy a well crafted designer bag for 3 or 4 figures. But I can't wrap my head around spending $300 on a blouse. Not in any way. Why? I guess because the clothes have little value after purchase and are much more likely to need to be replaced quickly. Don't get me wrong. I love clothes and I work out so I can rock cute outfits daily. But I don't ever feel like I have to spend a lot of money to get the look I want.

My bags, however, are unique. They feel like wearable art. And practically, they hold their value well and can last multiple seasons to a lifetime.

Maybe if I ran with (and had the money of) the yachting / independently wealthy / royalty crowd I would feel differently and my clothes would just have to be designer because that's all I would know or see. But I'm "just" comfortably well off. So, I'd much rather snag great dress and shoes from Nordstrom Rack, pair them with one of my Gucci bags and be happy. That extra money I could have spent on a designer sweater looks reeeeaaallly good nestled in my brokerage accounts.

So, no real logic. Just my own non defendable rules and perspective. I like to look good. But, I don't run in circles that examine my clothes or my bags. So I'm free to buy what I really want. And while I love designer purses, designer clothes just aren't it.

Totally this.Thank you for explaining, better than I probably could have, why I will spend $3,000 on a bag but won't spend $300 on a blouse. Add to all your reasons that I live with pets, and there is nothing to ruin nice fabric like kitty claws! What I am willing to spend on, besides bags, is scarves, some jewelry, and outerwear. A great coat can serve multiple purposes and last decades. But day to day clothes to run around in? Just not happening.

 

[beachkaka]

Today my best friend just said the same question as this, I like to spend money on handbags because I really really enjoy it, so when she and I passed by I invited my girl friend to go with me into a Chanel store because recently I want to get another bag that I have my eyes on it for a while,then she refused it nicely said" I wear tee shirt that is under 100 bucks, I am not gona carry that bag." Well I don't really understand why do these related. In my opinion, as long as you dress up clean, tidy and properly in a good sense of asthetics, spurge your money on bags shoes accessories or cars whatever it doesn't matter as long as the things you spend money on please you.