Are expensive clothes worth it?

Edmontine · 03/09/2021 07:54

Things that attract me to a particular store:

Brand identity - does a store give the impression the designers care about the craft of making clothes? Or are they just piling items high to sell as much stock as possible?

Ethos - insofar as this might be discernible from their website, any other publicity, reputation. This isn’t something about which I can really gather in-depth information - I know this, but I would very much prefer to buy from brands that I perceive to be run by at least vaguely decent people who are not deliberately propping up fascist regimes, causing their employees significant harm through their working practices, or treating their customers with contempt.

Individuality, direction. On the whole I prefer brands that show ambition and experimentation - with cut and fabric and selling structure. Again, beyond a lifetime of Vogue reading and an active interest in the clothing industry I really can’t know anything more than the newspapers tell me about any particular shop / designer / owner - but these things definitely matter to me.

Consistent quality of product. I’ve been shopping for more than half a century; I have an eagle eye and am not easily fooled - beautiful quality is something to be worshipped.

I’d say more (but I have to get up and start the day). Essentially, all the things I’ve listed play into my willingness to spend a certain amount of money on an item of clothing. The biggest question is always - ‘will this item enhance my life?’. The more it adds to my life, the more I’ll pay.

Edmontine · 03/09/2021 08:02

(Active engagement with environmental issues, and ongoing evolution of production practices obviously comes under ‘Ethos’!)

Hemingwaycat · 03/09/2021 08:03

This is only really a dilemma if you have money. I remember Vivienne Westwood doing a campaign a few years ago to try encouraging people not to buy from ‘fast fashion’ stores like primark and buy higher quality designer items instead that would last many years. Fine if you have hundreds for the one off cost of those items but many just don’t hence why they’re going to primark to spend £20 on shoes they’ll inevitably have to replace after a few weeks/months.

DappledThings · 03/09/2021 08:06

All the shops you mention are expensive to me. I have plenty of items from Primark and supermarkets that have lasted 10 years+ as well.

Zampa · 03/09/2021 08:08

I only buy expensive clothes on the Outnet or in the sales.

I do think that the quality of more expensive clothes is there is some items. For example, the trousers I recently got from Me + Em are a brilliant, flattering fit and there's no compromise on material quality. They'll wash well and last ages.

I'm also wearing my Chinti & Parker t-shirts years after buying them, thanks to the material which lasts wash after wash.

However, I do only buy high street jeans after dabbling with more expensive brands. Denim is denim in my mind, once you've found the right cut.

Zampa · 03/09/2021 08:10

@Hemingwaycat

This is only really a dilemma if you have money. I remember Vivienne Westwood doing a campaign a few years ago to try encouraging people not to buy from ‘fast fashion’ stores like primark and buy higher quality designer items instead that would last many years. Fine if you have hundreds for the one off cost of those items but many just don’t hence why they’re going to primark to spend £20 on shoes they’ll inevitably have to replace after a few weeks/months.

The Vines Boots Theory of Social Economic Unfairness!

moneywise.com/managing-money/budgeting/boots-theory-of-socioeconomic-unfairness

turnthebiglightoff · 03/09/2021 08:10

This is what eBay is for. There's no way I'm going to pay £75 for a day dress that I'll only wear for 3 ish months of the year. Spend on the things that look after you; decent footwear and outerwear. The rest - adopt don't shop! You're not paying £100 for the "quality" of a t shirt, you're paying for the name and the brand.

OhWhyNot · 03/09/2021 08:11

Agree. When people say you get what you pay for I cringe

Not everyone can afford to buy expensive clothes (or household items)

I’m now in the position where I can spend a bit more but I don’t necessarily buy more expensive items (apart form boots for years my boots were always second hand off eBay as only like to wear leather boots and I still look on eBay)

Ive always found gap good quality and they have really good sales.

Iwonder08 · 03/09/2021 08:11

Different fit and different quality generally but there are some exceptions. What I've found is more expensive designer stuff fits better if you happened to be more on a small frame side. Clothes from M&S for instance just don't fit well if you are under size 10. Boden you used in your example is great quality, but fit is not for everyone.
It is not always black and white and people who can afford designer generally have a combination of designer and high Street brands they like.

Shirleyphallus · 03/09/2021 08:12

I buy expensive clothes because I have to really love something to be willing to part with that much money, so it stops me buying a load of £15 T-shirts that I think are “just ok” then barely wear and they sit clogging up my wardrobe before I throw them away

As a result I’ve got loads of stuff which has lasted 10 years or more and some really lovely classics like a Burberry trench which will last years more

EatYourVegetables · 03/09/2021 08:12

I’ve had children’s Tshirts from Primark outlast the ones from Boden, Next, and especially Frugi (which seems to lose all vibrancy and bobble in fear as soon as it sees a toddler approaching a spoon of food). So I’m honestly not convinced- I think it’s all produced for 25p in same appalling conditions, and the £50 and £100 ones are sold to us at a premium for the gullible.

BroccoliFloret · 03/09/2021 08:14

Not everything from a high-end shop is amazing and will last forever, and not everything from Primark will fall to bits after one wear. But in general terms, the more expensive brands use higher quality fabrics and pay more attention to construction.

You need to embrace second hand, OP. I have a lovely Toast tunic/dress thing which was less than a tenner from a charity shop. And lots of other lovely things from Cos, Wall London, Hobbs which were equally competitively priced.

Cherryana · 03/09/2021 08:18

So I think it’s material more than label eg cotton, cashmere, wool, silk look better and last better. Also trousers and dresses that are lined.

So I have an H and M cotton dress and it’s nicer than a designer polyester dress that I have.

Then it’s about the fit and cut. If it doesn’t fit or suit you it’s not going to look as polished.

I think that quality coats and shoes are where you need to spend money and last. The rest of my wardrobe is second hand wool, cashmere, cotton and silk!!

User875906 · 03/09/2021 08:18

I think that the very expensive ones are probably a bit more individual and exclusive than the middle market, I tend to mainly buy from the middle market of Seasalt, Fatface, WhiteStuff, etc. I find Seasalt quality particularly good and lasts and washes well.

FannyBrice · 03/09/2021 08:20

I'll only spend what I consider alot of money on shoes and boots now. I've got some lovely classic clothes but now fall back on the much cheaper shops and supermarkets who are actually much better quality than they were years ago

MattyGroves · 03/09/2021 08:28

So I think it’s material more than label eg cotton, cashmere, wool, silk look better and last better.

Partly depends on if you iron! I don't and so cotton looks awful on me!

Standrewsschool · 03/09/2021 08:31

I would splash out on coats and shoes. I wouldn’t splash out over £100 ob that shirt, when you can get similar things in high street stores for under half the price.

HeronLanyon · 03/09/2021 08:38

In my life I have had various expensive items of clothing. I’d say around 5% of my clothing items. Partic jackets and coats.
What I’ve found -
They last longer
They look/hang/fit better (also I take more time about choosing and trying on due to cost)
They are a pleasure to wear in small unexpected ways - a great well thought through feature or a lovely trim somewhere (often hidden) or just features that work eg fastenings or proportions etc. Good quality materials which wear and last well. I always feel good wearing something special (and pretty much without exception the ‘special’ have also been expensive).
So I do think they are worth the money if you can afford it. If not then no sense getting into debt. I’ve also given up wearing expensive things only eg when going out etc. Day to day I’ll wear things as I feel in the mood.

sub453 · 03/09/2021 08:39

I wouldn't spend £100 on a t shirt. I have bought True Religion jeans (at an outlet in the US but I think have an rrp of £200) because I like the low rise fit. I've worn them pretty much every day for 6 years and they're still going strong. As cheaper jeans might be too in fairness.

I really dislike it when t-shirts/jumpers/sweatshirts bobble, but that's not necessarily related to price. Jack Wills (now, used to be good), J Crew and GAP have been poor in this department, Uniqlo (not expensive) and Ralph Lauren are very good. I don't think good quality needs to cost the earth but generally I think the quality has declined in the last 10 years.

thevassal · 03/09/2021 08:42

I think people exaggerate how long cheap items don't last for. I've got shoes from primark, tesco etc I've had for years and are going fine. Things like a pair of winter boots might only last a season or two if you wear them every day...but twenty or thirty pounds every year is still cheaper than 150 for a good quality "classic" pair that you feel you have to keep wearing forever even though two years into buying them knee high black leather you can only wear with skinny jeans is completely out and everyone else is wearing brightly coloured ankle boots with their mom jeans!

Basically the ethos of buying something to last years assumes fashions, tastes, lifestyles and your weight all stay the same for a decade or more. But how many people does that really apply to? You could buy an expensive going out black dress, £300 boots, perfectly fitting work trousers, a burberry trench as a pp posted upthread, etc in your late twenties - all great quality 'classic' items....then 3 years later you're working from home so never wear smart workwear, lovely heeled boots have been replaced by wellies for walks in the countryside, the classic lbd no longer fits and you're too scared to get babysick on the trenchcoat!

Newmumatlast · 03/09/2021 08:44

@strawberrydonuts

On the back of another thread, I've been browsing some online clothes stores.

I tend to like places like FatFace, Weird Fish, Sea Salt, Boden occasionally... just decent quality, casual stuff. I usually buy stuff in the sale but I might splurge £40-50 for a really good quality top or shirt which will last me years. I have some clothes from these places that have lasted me 10 years.

But looking at some of the online stores people suggested on another thread, I am seeing cotton tops/ shirts costing £100+ that look no different in quality to what you can get at FatFace for half the price.

Things like:
www.toa.st/collections/womens-tops-tees/products/seed-check-boxy-shirt-french-blue

AIBU to ask what's the difference? Are they really worth it? If you would pay £100+ for a casual top/ shirt, why? (Not in a judgemental way... I'm just genuinely wondering if I'm missing something!)

It can't be just about quality because the clothes I buy are good quality. Is it design/ fit? Is it about the materials and where they are sourced?

Lol whereas I am always questioning if expensive clothes like Boden, Fat Face etc are. I have some Boden bits. Had one Fat Face top. No, they often arent.

Shirleyphallus · 03/09/2021 08:46

You could buy an expensive going out black dress, £300 boots, perfectly fitting work trousers, a burberry trench as a pp posted upthread, etc in your late twenties - all great quality 'classic' items....then 3 years later you're working from home so never wear smart workwear, lovely heeled boots have been replaced by wellies for walks in the countryside, the classic lbd no longer fits and you're too scared to get babysick on the trenchcoat!

@thevassal the more expensive stuff I buy I do so and wear like normal clothes. I wore the Burberry trench a lot on mat leave! Didn’t worry about baby vom but it was very practical to put on with jeans and white trainers.

I don’t see the point of buying expensive clothes if you then treat them like museum pieces and never actually wear them

Tarcietiger · 03/09/2021 08:50

There is a type of jersey made by some high end retailers that is a cut above (literally). It’s a bit heavier in weight and just sits more nicely/ washes better etc. I’m thinking Baukjen/ Pure Collection/DKNY. I wouldn’t spend £100 on a tshirt like this but I would spend up to £50 in a sale for something I’d get a lot of use out of.

Dogmum40 · 03/09/2021 08:54

I always used to buy designer but as I’ve got older I’m more aware of the planet and ethics as sadly just because they charge more doesn’t mean the items are sustainable, ethical sourced or better quality!

I once bought a £300 wool jumper and it be bobbled in the wash after just the second wash, I followed the care label as it was wool and even ended up hand washing but it did just get worse, whereas I have other wool and cashmere from mid priced retailers that have been regularly washed and I’ve had for a few years now

I no longer buy expensive branded items but I do still buy expensive shoes/boots as I prefer leather but some are and some aren’t an expensive brand

GrandmasCat · 03/09/2021 08:55

I have come to find out that what works cheaper is to pay for a colour and style consultation. With the right clothes for your body and the right colours you will look wonderful even if you are in Primark clothes.

Personally, I would throw the money into getting a nicely cut coat and good quality shoes than in expensive knitted stuff or t-shirts, which last as much as a middle range brand.