Wardrobe breakdown: luxury vs contemp vs budget

[blushnbellinlvoe]

Just curious what everyone is currently cycling through their closet. I have been in trying to overhaul my wardrobe since the pandemic and was wondering what people have in their closet. This thread is kinda inspired from those threads ‘how many speedy s do you have’.
So I will start, i just started dipping my toes into high end luxury designers but hopefully will grow that percentage gradually.

High end luxury designer (Chanel, Dior, Hermes, etc) : 10%
Elevated contemporary (Akris, Lafayette, MaxMara) : 40%
Midlevel fashion (Vince, Theory, Alo, Zadig & Voltaire): 45%
Fast fashion/budget. (Zara, Aritzia, Walmart) : 5%

 

[Christofle]

It’s more of a category thing for me:

Jackets / coats / blazers :100% high end

Shirts: 95% Mid level since it’s essentially disposable (4% high end and 1% budget stuff from land’s end)

 

[blushnbellinlvoe]

It’s more of a category thing for me:

Jackets / coats / blazers :100% high end

Shirts: 95% Mid level since it’s essentially disposable (4% high end and 1% budget stuff from land’s end)

I appreciate that perspective of categories! Thanks for sharing. When you say some shirts are disable meaning you wear them a few times and they get discarded? Or am I being too literal

 

[lalame]

It’s more of a category thing for me:

Jackets / coats / blazers :100% high end

Shirts: 95% Mid level since it’s essentially disposable (4% high end and 1% budget stuff from land’s end)

I so relate! Lol I only buy designer bags and accessories, elevated contemporary for outerwear and shoes (Burberry, Toteme), everything else is under $50 from J.Crew, Nordstrom Rack, etc.

Using OP’s categories…

High end luxury designer (Chanel, Dior, Hermes, etc) : 10%
Elevated contemporary (Akris, Lafayette, MaxMara) : 10%
Midlevel fashion (Vince, Theory, Alo, Zadig & Voltaire): 5%
Fast fashion/budget. (Zara, Aritzia, Walmart) : 75%

 

[Christofle]

I appreciate that perspective of categories! Thanks for sharing. When you say some shirts are disable meaning you wear them a few times and they get discarded? Or am I being too literal

A bit too literally! It’s just that I only buy shirts that are roughly 150$ since they are still made in Europe and with organic cotton at that price point but without all the bells and whistles such as hand stitching and mother of pearl buttons.

I say disposable since shirts are worn directly against the body so they tend to discolour at the neck within a couple of years if worn regularly. (Unlike say a jacket that you can own for decades without signs of wear)

For example in this outfit everything is high end aside from the shirt and I don’t find it looks out of place with the outfit. The only real benefit of a high end shirt would be higher armholes for a greater range of movement I suppose.

 

[880]

Just curious what everyone is currently cycling through their closet. I have been in trying to overhaul my wardrobe since the pandemic and was wondering what people have in their closet. This thread is kinda inspired from those threads ‘how many speedy s do you have’.
So I will start, i just started dipping my toes into high end luxury designers but hopefully will grow that percentage gradually.

High end luxury designer (Chanel, Dior, Hermes, etc) : 10%
Elevated contemporary (Akris, Lafayette, MaxMara) : 40%
Midlevel fashion (Vince, Theory, Alo, Zadig & Voltaire): 45%
Fast fashion/budget. (Zara, Aritzia, Walmart) : 5%

I would put Akris in high end but JMO

For me, it depends on category with some vintage dead stock on equal footing (quality wise) as high end RTW.
Most of my t shirts and casual attire is contemporary, but serious rtw is somewhat upscale

 

[papertiger]

I would put Akris in high end but JMO

For me, it depends on category with some vintage dead stock on equal footing (quality wise) as high end RTW.
Most of my t shirts and casual attire is contemporary, but serious rtw is somewhat upscale

Agreed on Akris.

Agreed about most vintage

 

[papertiger]

I don't categorise my wardrobe by market segmentation, I leave that to the industry. Since I've ended up being the target market for all my clothes, much of the industry seems misinformed.

I am mindful of 'dry-cleaning only' and mostly those pieces are party or outerwear.

I buy and wear Saint Laurent with Primark with M & S with Artful Dodger with vintage with couture with Doc Martens and always have done. I think most people do. It's just as hard to get my size/colour of something in Cos mid-season as it is to get the latest of-the-catwalk piece in Gucci.

I don't browse except for fun. I usually know exactly what I'm looking for so that could be at any 'level'. I don't keep anything that's been a disappointment, donated, given, gone.

100% my wardrobe is Papertiger.

 

[880]

@Christofle , I agree with you re most things, but I find premium shirts do last It’s just the directions for their upkeep are as fancy and time involved as luxury bedding if not more so lol. A lot of hand work involved (and I do minimal if any ironing). I do stick to pret shirts, not MtM or bespoke, so there is that savings.

I have only a handful, but they get the job done. I do cut my budget on designer shirts, sweaters, scarves, (I have enough) and I wear a lot of Birkenstocks, doc martens, and t shirts to counterweigh My T shirts also last for years, and I love vintage dead stock concert t shirts) to counter weigh lol.

ETA: pic of a Charvet silk shirt (a third the price of an Hermes silk shirt and great cut (which I define as somehow both louche and soigne even if that is strictly in my head lol) Unlike @papertiger, I browse all the time, and my purchases are usually a unanimous vote between my SA, DH, and me. My SAs and DH dislike anything that doesn’t fit perfectly; backless; mesh; certain types of leather (high waisted leather pants get the thumbs down) and a bunch of other things I love, so heeding their advice IS a savings lol.

My new favorite pair of shoes is a 100 USD pair of ballet Mary Jane’s from a company called everlane

 

[papertiger]

@Christofle , I agree with you re most things, but I find premium shirts do last It’s just the directions for their upkeep are as fancy and time involved as luxury bedding if not more so lol. A lot of hand work involved (and I do minimal if any ironing). I do stick to pret shirts, not MtM or bespoke, so there is that savings.

I have only a handful, but they get the job done. I do cut my budget on designer shirts, sweaters, scarves, (I have enough) and I wear a lot of Birkenstocks, doc martens, and t shirts to counterweigh My T shirts also last for years, and I love vintage dead stock concert t shirts) to counter weigh lol.

ETA: pic of a Charvet silk shirt (a third the price of an Hermes silk shirt and great cut (which I define as somehow both louche and soigne even if that is strictly in my head lol) Unlike @papertiger, I browse all the time, and my purchases are usually a unanimous vote between my SA, DH, and me. My SAs and DH dislike anything that doesn’t fit perfectly; backless; mesh; certain types of leather (high waisted leather pants get the thumbs down) and a bunch of other things I love, so heeding their advice IS a savings lol.

My new favorite pair of shoes is a 100 USD pair of ballet Mary Jane’s from a company called everlane

View attachment 6082521

You look lovely.

IME, it's hard to find good formal shirts that fit, but that may be because like you, I'm a woman. Also, I feel like all fashion wants us (women) wants us to wear blouses and not shirts, and/or add some so-called feminine 'touches', odd colours or extra volume at the sleeves etc. I think shirt's are perfect Summer wear, and very understated.

Women often need better tailoring and a shirt needs to fit under the arms, to be darted, sleeve length, wrist size and over the hips if longer. I definitely think it's worth it to have tailor-made shirts for us (women) but men ave much more choice at all price points. I don't know if it's the same for guys if they're an average size/height/build. Liberty London and cordings are not bad, but everything is floral or with motifs.

When I've had tailored shirts made for £100-200, they may fit better, but they're thin material and rather ordinary. I went to Turnbull & Asser, the price is more than double, often triple my usual Mark Powell shirts (who does M2M and bespoke suits but not shirts). Shirt making is definitely an art, but even most tailors don't find it cost effective to tailor make shirts.

 

[880]

You look lovely.

IME, it's hard to find good formal shirts that fit, but that may be because like you, I'm a woman. Also, I feel like all fashion wants us (women) wants us to wear blouses and not shirts, and/or add some so-called feminine 'touches', odd colours or extra volume at the sleeves etc. I think shirt's are perfect Summer wear, and very understated.

Women often need better tailoring and a shirt needs to fit under the arms, to be darted, sleeve length, wrist size and over the hips if longer. I definitely think it's worth it to have tailor-made shirts for us (women) but men ave much more choice at all price points. I don't know if it's the same for guys if they're an average size/height/build. Liberty London and cordings are not bad, but everything is floral or with motifs.

When I've had tailored shirts made for £100-200, they may fit better, but they're thin material and rather ordinary. I went to Turnbull & Asser, the price is more than double, often triple my usual Mark Powell shirts (who does M2M and bespoke suits but not shirts). Shirt making is definitely an art, but even most tailors don't find it cost effective to tailor make shirts.

💯 agree. I have some turnbull shirts, and they are quite different stylistically from Charvet. Probably a function of British versus French cut and style

 

[mellecyn]

Very interesting...As I offer wonder how much in quality do I want in each item I purchase?
Classic everyday clothes = mid level brands like APC, Isabel Marant, Filipa K, S´Max Mara or just under like Cos.
Special events, parties, dates = Zara trendy
Short lived trends accessories or items = H&M-Zara
Accessories (scarf, shoes, handbag, jewelry) = Luxury

 

[880]

Very interesting...As I offer wonder how much in quality do I want in each item I purchase?
Classic everyday clothes = mid level brands like APC, Isabel Marant, Filipa K, S´Max Mara or just under like Cos.
Special events, parties, dates = Zara trendy
Short lived trends accessories or items = H&M-Zara
Accessories (scarf, shoes, handbag, jewelry) = Luxury

For me, it’s hard to make a sweeping generalization. I do agree with some up thread who posted that they spend more on everyday items than one of/ special occasion things, but at the end of the day, does an item speak to you; do you love it; will you use it a lot… it’s a slightly different calculus for everything.

One brand for cute fashionable puffy coats that are substantially less than moncler et al, is Herno. Herno, is by no means inexpensive, but everything is relative.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

Other than handbags or accessories most of my items are fast fashion such as H&M, Zara, Cos or Sezane. Few years ago I was heavily towards the mid level fashion range and would have thought I’d slowly progress to buying more elevated and luxury clothing items. I made a decision a couple years ago that it wasn’t important to me and and now I think twice if I am spending more than £50 on a single clothing item. Although I buy fast fashion, most pieces I have had for years, treat them with care and only add a few pieces each year.

Don’t get me wrong I would love to own a luxury clothing item but to me the high street is just as good and I’d much rather spend the money elsewhere.

 

[cecchetti]

This is a REALLY interesting thread, as everybody expresses their style through their clothing , in totally different ways.
In my 20’s(I’m 56), 80% of my wardrobe was Chanel, the rest was Valentino, Savile Row bespoke, the tiny bit of casual wear designer, absolutely NO high street.

Now I have half a dozen pieces of Zara, but I won’t replace them, and won’t keep them long.
I wear Skins often, bespoke, for shirts still bespoke from Savile Row(or Siniscalchi in Milan), also Saint Laurent , McQueen , dresses Valentino.
I have 4 year old Samurai Geisha jeans from Japan, but they’re too big this year, I might not keep those.

My basic style choices haven’t changed since my teens-gabardine suits, blue shirts etc etc but the fit I like has changed..I don’t keep my clothes for decades as DO think tastes change and things date, apart from the Christian Lacroix Couture skirt I wore to my sister’s wedding in 1998, everything is 2019 or later.