Which is better, expensive quality clothes, or cheaper and lots?

[helloitsme]

Well that it, that's my question. I am about to upgrade my wardrobe, and I'm really in two minds about whether to buy a few quality and lovely items, or whether to by cheaper things and be able to buy lots more.
And another thing, if you were going to buy some cheap and some expensive, which items would you go for being cheap and which expensive? For example, should the boring staples be cheap because there's not much to them, or should they be expensive because you wear them a lot?
[am confused now....]

I would say dress for your lifestyle and spend more on your basics and cheaper on the occassional pieces.

You can always liven up outfits with accessories so would say. Cheap and cheerful for seasonal trends and a bit more expensicve for everday.

thanks for all those replies, they're extremely useful. I think i get carried away by seeing lots of nice cheap clothes for sale, but it's true that the things i wear for years and years always tend to be the more expensive pieces. Most of mine are out of fashion now though, and i do need some new stuff.
It seems like some people really manage their wardrobes to make sure they don't have too much, but are ready for any occassion, whereas i often panic vaguely about what i think i need, without much of an analysis of where the wardrobe gaps are. I really appreciate the suggestions about what to buy where, and also the suggestions of what's required to make up a complete but not overfull wardrobe. I feel like if i plan carefully, i can actually justify spending more on a few good pieces. I was also interested to see that people seem to have more coats and shoes than me, as these are items i am always scared to spend on, but i'm now thinking more about the importance of shoes for every occasion.
I need to go away and have a good think now about what i DO really need in my wardrobe, what are my staples, which might prove to be the million dollar question. Isn't that something you normally figure out only after you buy something and discover you wear it a lot?

Staples depend a lot on what your lifestyle is like.

I work in an environment where I need to be smart-casual, but nothing too revealing or 'fashion-ey'. My work wardrobe is a 'capsule' wardrobe which works for me:

• skinny jeans in black or dark grey from Topshop (at the moment they are packed away)
• slim fitting trousers in black, navy, stone from Dotty P/Zara/Gap (also packed away at present, and replaced with capri versions from Dotty P)
• a few simple, fitted dresses in black, navy, camel, green. I still wear these, just with bare legs and wedge sandals, rather than thick black tights and boots/courts.
• a couple of fitted white shirts from Gap - will get lots of wear in the summer
• cashmere cardis in black, grey and navy and have a lovely pastel blue one that is more summery
• various simple tops in bright and/or muted colours. Always cheap. I dont buy expensive tops as these are the things I go off most quickly.
• flat metallic sandals and and tan wedges in this weather, courts or ankle boots otherwise - all good quality
• 2 blazers (an expensive black one, a cheaper navy one from of all plaves Next, but great fit)

I have a nice briefcase and work handbag + various silk scarves and 'statement' jewellery pieces to dress to up. I only add to it by replacing something that is headed for the charity shop. I always keep it 'capsule', or it just gets out of control and confusing knowing what to wear for work.

I tend to buy cheaper fashion bits for weekends. At the moment I am wearing a £7.99 dress from H&M and £10 flip flops from Accessorize

I tend to buy outfits as and when I need them for big nights out / special events. I rarely wear a 'special' dress more than 3 times, as I cant be doing with wearing the same dress to three weddings. I ebay them when I'm bored of the and usually make back at least 50% of what I bought them for.