"Don't buy clothes, save your money for jewelry"

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#61
thegnome said:
all the time! thats why i spend on clothes not jewellery :smile1: I've never managed to lose my pants but bracelets and earrings are always running away.
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:D:D:D

loves said:
imho jewelry settings go out of fashion too.


a healthy balance of both is lovely.
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It depends on the setting. If you choose classics, they will always look good.

I have a mixture of "named" brands and non-named brands. The non-named earrings/pendant/ring were bought from a local jewellery manufacturing area. I chose them for the quality of the stones in them, and if I change my mind about the settings, I can easily get the diamonds taken out and reset. When I pass on the items to my kids, they can change the settings if they want at a fraction of the price of buying a new item. You can't do that with clothes.

I also consider my handbags as an investment - the price may be high initially but the cost per wear over time is minimal and they can be sent back for any cleaning/repair if they need it. I would rather spend on bags over clothes too.
 
#62
hermesfsh,
i agree with you theoretically that if it is a classic setting it will stand the test of time. but i used to collect fine vintage jewelry and those were considered classic clean settings then and it still looks dated to me today. they're still beautiful but it lacks the sleek modernity of today's pieces.
i have a piece that is from around 1890 and it looks startlingly modern but the hinge/post is well not what i am used to.

yup jewelry is easier to pass on to children but since i cannot have children perhaps that's the reason why i don't place so much importance on jewelry. so far i can and have given my clothes away when it no longer fits but i can't bear to do so with my baubles lol
 
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#63
I agree with you loves, some of my nicest jewelery is antique and it doesn't have the same appeal as modern remakes. Having said that though, I find that almost all vintage jewelry can be worked into most outfits. The only trouble I have is when I wear something like a little black dress because I always feel like a number like that needs to stay relevant.

Lucky for me I'm not in a little black dress too often :p
 
#65
Yes, I always have.
I remember thirty years ago my sister and I had a (friendly) argument. She said I should buy expensive clothes and (nicer) costume jewelry because 'people will recognize where your clothes came from and assume your jewelry is real'. I disagreed. Now, thirty years later, I have a lot of valuable and classic jewelry that I enjoy and can pass on and could sell or pawn in a pinch for something(not much maybe, but something), while she gave her outdated clothes to Goodwill long ago and couldn't wear them even if she still had them.

Of course, this presumes that you have put money into the bank and have savings before you buy EITHER.


QUOTE=IntlSet;4611922]This advice was given to me by the most elegant, polished woman I know. She's 52 and married to a hedge fund manager so I realize our lifestyles are somewhat different (understatement of the year). But she said that the biggest lesson she'd like to pass on is that when she was a working young woman, she should have saved her money for jewelry. She advises just a few very basic pieces worn over and over again, and putting the money you otherwise would have spent on clothes into her jewelry.

Does anyone follow this philosophy? Just curious. :heart:[/QUOTE]
 
#67
I just finished reading the Chanel purse forum and saw that there will be another price increase for the Jumbo (4k) and then I read that people would rather buy Hermes if prices keep going up, and so I went to the Hermes forum and read that current Birkin 30s are 8k, close to 9k pre-tax. For that price, I can get a nice watch (Cartier Balloon Bleu in SS & 18kt gold comes to mind) or I can even get a gemstone legacy from Tiffany (like the beautiful aquamarine) for less that amount. I love purses, almost as much as I love jewelry, but I can't justify spending that much for one!

I wrote in another thread that quality jewelry can and will stand the test of time - just look at the pyramids of Egypt. The bodies and clothes have rotted away hundreds of years ago, and yet what remains are gold pieces and jewelry. They are still stunning and look like "new" showcased in museums. Purses are a wonderful accessory, but they are an organic material that can deteriorate, unlike metals (which probably erodes after time as well but at a significantly slower rate.)
 
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#69
I'm so glad this post became active again. It's like a sign for me. I've been debating all these jewelry and watch purchases lately and what I want. Reading all these posts made me realize what I really want: High quality pieces that I can treasure for a lifetime and pass on to my children. Pieces that stand the test of time and aren't so driven by fads.

I am definitely a bargain shopper. Like a previous poster most shirts in my closet didn't cost more than $10 because a lot are second hand. Most my shoes are just regular shoes bought on sale. Cowboy boots are my exception here. BUt even so I've sold most of them off and just have a few pair of Fryes and two pairs of Tony Lama's. My purses are more fad driven but also didn't cost more than $100. Even though I'm a penny pincher in most areas of my life, I've never been to much into costume jewelry or cheap watches. And now I'm more sure than ever I'd rather focus on saving for a few heirloom pieces. Granted heirloom to me isn't the same as it is for some of you lucky ladies and your amazing collections. But I'm ok with that :-)
 
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#70
I just recently started buying expensive clothes - and I love them! I feel so much better in a nice dress. The clothes fit so much better too! But since my clothes are expensive they are much more limited but the quality of the clothes makes up for it. I only have 3 pairs of jeans but they were about $350 each and I wear them all the time, at least 4 times a week.

I got my first piece of fine jewelry for Xmas - Cartier love bracelet :) I'm totally in love and I now have a list of fine jewelry that I want. But the jewelry is so expensive so I do get a handbag, shoes and clothes here and there and hopefully a piece of jewelry every year. I'm only 24 so I have time :)
 
#71
Oh but I do get all my high-end clothes at the end of season sales like at Barneys and Bergdorfs - last year I got 5 dresses (bottega, balenciaga, chris kane, etc) for all under 2k
 
#72
I agree to an extent. I personally think that you should buy what you love. For myself, I love well made, quality clothes...I'm not a fan of cheap clothing but I LOVE a bargain. I always buy my clothes on sale...more for the money!

However, I also think that a good pair of shoes and a nice bag can make a simple, inexpensive outfit look like a million bucks. I come from a culture that highly values jewelry, and so I have a very nice collection built up from first my parents, and then my DH who luckily appreciates fine jewelry as much as I do. As wonderful as jewelry is to pass down to my children, a lot of it doesn't hold up its value much. If I bought a Cartier watch for example, it would be hard to turn around and sell it for what it was purchased for. Birkin bags are sometimes better investments! My personal philosophy is that if everything is bought with possible future reselling in mind, what's the point? Buy what you love and at least enjoy using it and wearing it. And make sure you invest your money well otherwise! :p
 
#73
My mother does have a friend who takes that advice to heart, to an extreme. She has many sets of gorgeous, amazing jewelry but refuses to spend on clothes. She goes around in second hand clothes with holes on them, while wearing a stunning pair of 4 ct (VERY real, high quality) diamonds. Because of her general appearance, no one even thinks her jewelry is real. I wouldn't care if people thought if my jewelry was real or fake, as long as I knew the difference, but how this woman can leave her house looking like that is amazing to me. She is married to a very wealthy doctor, and I am usually embarrased just walking around with her.
 
#74
I feel that if you have nice shoes, handbags, jewelry, watches it doesn't matter what you are wearing. These are the things I notice, not what brand your shirt is.

I buy alot of clothes from the rack and H&M. No point in spending alot since they wear out and styles change. You can look stylish without spending alot of money on clothes.
 
#75
everything goes on sale! thats my problem with purchasing clothes. I always wait for sales. I rather have only a couple of designer things i wear regularly then a closet full of clothes. I don't like closet clutter, and if wont wear it I don't want it in my closet, But I definately mix and match. My jeans are designer but they are from the outlet, and I only have a weeks worth but I'm fine with that, why do I need so many? I wear cheap leggings most of the time anyway because they flatter my body better. I have marc jacobs and vince and other big brands in my closet... in small amounts, which I mix up with cheap hollister shirts and stuff from H & M. I'd rather spend more money on jewelry I cannot get on sale, like stuff from Tiffanys. Jewelry and the right accessories really make an outfit, but I don't think life is as black and white, its not just Clothes OR Jewelry. It's a combination of both. As well as factoring someone's body type. I personally believe that I would look much better with my current body and cheaper clothes than if I were heavier with the latest fashion. It's just all a balance, having a healthy amount of clothes, a healthy amount of jewelry and having their health in tact. When it comes down to it, I think everyone should focus on having great qualitity essentials of both clothes and jewelry. Everything in life needs a balance.
 
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