Which items of clothing are worth splurging on?

[Crosstraineraddict]

What items do you splurge on/buy the best you can afford,and which do you spend less on?

For me, a good quality coat is a must-have, also things like winter boots. I've also recently started spending more on jeans, as I always used to buy them from Asda and Primark and they never fitted properly and always shrunk.

I always spend more on my winter clothes, a good winter coat and boots are essential items.Whereas my summer clothes are cheap and cheerful, if you don't go on a summer holiday, you only get to ware your summer clothes for a few days here and there.I've also just invested in a waterproof anorak and Hunters for walking the dog.After many years of getting soaked to the skin and looking like a tramp whilst walking my boy, I decided to buy some decent gear.I put off buying these practical items because everytime I had money I would buy something that looked nice rather than what I needed !!!

Handbags... can make any outfit look chic.

Handbags.
Good wardrobe basics (flattering dresses and jeans) and tailoring.
Sometimes jackets (have a few Chanelesque ones for work, they are).
Good materials, natural fibers. Merino, cashmere, silk, cotton, tencel, lyocell; very occasionally linen (difficult to maintain).

I've spent a moderate amount of money on silver & semiprecious stone cocktail rings and real pearls (planning to get Tahitians at some point).

I spend less on shoes - they wear out anyway, and Zara and many others have done good budget alternatives - and winter boots (they get grubby no matter what I do and need to be replaced more frequently. The most expensive boots are rarely water and snowproof). Have been lucky and have gotten good winter coats on sale. And I get my vests and t shirts at H&M.

I also invest in a weekly cleaner who does my laundry and irons.

Premium denim is one item I always spend on as for me j brand, 7, Paige etc always look better on. They last well too so although more expensive to purchase cost per wear they are fairly good.

Bags- I have a true weakness there for mulberry and anya hindmarch especially. The odd prada classic too. I think they last for years and really lift an out fit.

Cashmere. Again I think the cost per wear of something like a brora cardigan works out well in the end. I have quite a few brora items that are over 10 years old and as they are classic they never are in or out of fashion.

The rest of my wardrobe I tend to mix and match from high street to NAP etc.

For me it's not a particular type of clothes, but more if I find something I just love I everyday and fits perfectly and is really "me". Then it's worth spending a lot as it will get worn a lot and last well.

However I avoid spending a lot on jeans as they always go through at the knee after a few months (from toddler-related activities).

Don't know where that "everyday" came from, daft iPad

For me its all about fit and how in shape/slim I am. Can get away with wearing anything when I am slimmer When podgy even the best things don't look great. Like a decent coat and boots though

Handbags.

Proper warm clothing - so bought the barbour arctic parka last year.

For smart coats - zara have some great ones for under £100.

Premium denim.

Ugg boots (proper ones- not cheap knock offs). Not everyones cup of tea but a winter/pregnacy must- so comfy and last forever plus they go with loads of stuff.

Underwear that fits properly. It's worth getting measured and buying decent stuff that fits properly. The amount of times I've seen someone in the loveliest outfit, but their bra is cutting their boobs in half or isn't giving anywhere near enough support.

Kay yes defo good underwear- especially for big knockers-it's a must.

Waterproof jacket. I am an outdoorsy type, and always get a proper mountain jacket type of thing. My last one cost £200 and lasted 10 years. It spent a few years in and out of rucsacs, up and down mountains etc then a few years pushing a pram!

Other sports kit, and bras (sports and otherwise) and anything that needs to "perform".

As suggested up thread, last winter I bought a beautiful subtley purple/blue wool coat from Austin Reed sale (£150 from £400) and black leather boots from Dune (£50 for about £160). On Mat Leave at mo, but I'll look fb when I go back to work if I can find a dress too....

Coats and boots must definitely be great - that's what people see me in most of the time! I really love Tod's for winter ankle boots as they last better and are more comfortable than any other brand, and they manage to be both casual and elegant. I've had loads of coats from MaxMara over the years. I also like decent winter tights and socks (Falke) that don't snag.

For shirts and trousers and skirts I mix and match - will happily buy Zara/Benetton/H&M as well as Marni/Vanessa Bruno/Sofie d'Hoore.

Handbags- they last if you look after them and make me feel abit more happier if I am not having a very good day. I do have some hight street bags that have lasted quite a while (10 years and counting for a Topshop BOGOF bag!)

Coats- they have to last!

Uggs- never bought at full price and they last!

Underwear- Fantasie bras, some Freya bras and some other from TK Maxx. Knickers from M and S.

Tops- surprised how good H and M ones are and at a good price too!

Cardigans-not the most expensive but the ones I have have lasted a good four years!

In order of importance, for me:

Coat
Bags
Shoes/boots
Jeans
Skirts
1 or 2 dresses.

Also cashmere and silk in small doses.
Loathe polyester: but it's a hard life when your hands are never out of the sink! (having to handwash everything)

I buy the best I possible can of:

1. underwear - it really makes a massive difference to how your clothes look, although it doesn't necessarily last that much longer than, say, M&S stuff
2. Very occasionally, fashion items that I know aren't just a one off season trend for me (i.e. I know I will wear them for perhaps 3 years). The key is to adopt a 'look' early and wear regularly. I feel this way about leather leggings, for instance - I know I will wear them even when they are 'out' so i don't mind splurging on a decent pair.
3. blazers/jackets - they last more or less forever if you buy a decent one
4. winter coats
5. Handbags, but only if I find one I absolutely love, as I would rather wear out a £35 River Island one that I love the style of than feel obliged to buy some terribly dull 'classic'. I just don't get classic bags, so boring - you have to carry it daily, make it interesting!
6. Knitwear (well, cashmere). I don't mind buying cheap merino knitwear from Uniqlo for work, but cashmere is Brora or bust for me, on the whole, as it just lasts about a million times better than any other brand I have ever come across. I have Brora cardigans that I have worn 2-3 times a week for 6+ years, and they look absolutely perfect. Very occasional de-bobbling smartens them up, but they don't really bobble

Conversely, I don't spend vast amounts on footwear, as I know I am not dilligent enough about re-soling/re-heeling to make a £300 pair of shoes last a lifetime. Maybe I will change tactics on this one day, but at the moment I tend to buy a pair of clarks boots for winter and wear them to death, and I have a handful of mid-range heels that I wear for work, and they have lasted really well. With flip-flops/casual shoes etc I also buy cheap, as even expensive ballet pumps wear out pretty quickly unless you get them properly soled.

With a lot of things, it's about finding the best brand for you, as well. I love my j brand denim, but actually I'm not sure I love it that much more than my Topshop denim - I'll probably replace my j brands with Topshop when they wear out, unless I happen to need to replace at sale time, when i'd probably get premium. Jewellery is mixed for me too - I have a couple of really expensive pieces, but they get a similar level of wear to my Stella and Dot and etsy stuff.

could I have made that any more of an essay?

Aw hopefully that was a very interesting essay

I do think its worth remembering as well that stuff does date and also you get bored of it. Best really to buy better quality but fewer pieces, wear them to death and then recycle/ebay etc.

Good quality and well fitting underwear tops the list followed closely by shoes/boots/handbags, jeans and knitwear. Coming to think of it, I don't buy that much but it is usually the best I can afford at the time.

I think sometimes you can try to over-control your wardrobe in terms of cost though (or at least I can.) Like, in theory I believe that I should buy good bags, coats, knitwear and boots but only cheap dresses. But the problem is that I've just never ever found a coat that I've been passionate enough about to spend £££ on. And I don't want to wear expensive boots and then feel anxious about wearing them out.

I spend more on winter clothes than summer clothes. I buy ladies quilted jackets that are good quality and average to high priced. I don't buy the cheap ones as they usually dont warm you enough. It's worth buying the higher priced jackets because I find that they make me warm. Even the boots, I see a lot of cheap ones out there but they don't keep your feet warm at all.

Footwear, well made, well designed shoes that won't cripple your feet. Sandals that fit and dont have toes poking over the edge. Cheap shoes ruin an outfit. Coats and jackets need to be well cut if you are slim you can probably get away with a cheaper version.

I think a designer bag with a cheap outfit will often just look fake and out of place.

Wool winter coat
Winter leather boots
Cashmere cardis (to go with all the cheapo dresses)
Handbags (usually good makes but from TKMaxx)
Bras (have a small back big boob situation going on)!

Even better if any of these can be found in sales

Coats because cheap ones are not warm or dry or durable enough. Ive made a lot of cheap mistakes that add up to one very expensive one with coats over the years. Shoes because synthetics and cheap leather are not comfy, and I am not hard on shoes at all so they last well. Bras due to small back large boobs scenario. Occasionally jeans, but I'm only talking gap or top shop so not a real splurge.

Everything else: cheap cheap cheap all the way. Because I get bored of stuff or ruin it.

Handbags.... I have quite expensive taste but only buy rarely. If I have my eye on something my mum will get it for me for a birthday. But I've not bought one for over a year.