Anyone brave enough to answer this: where do you get the money for expensive clothes?

[Childoftheseventies]

I work part time and earn a good wage. My husband runs his own (so far, succesful) business. For this I am thankful. However, I still can't afford anything other than basic high street clothes. Zara is pushing it; Gap sale only, Monsoon for special occasions. When I browse in what I consider to be expensive but desirable shops, or look at websites (LK Bennett, Reiss, Great Plains, Hobbs, White Company etc) I always wonder what gives people the income to buy from there. Now I know there are sales and outlets and eBay, but for those of you who buy non-sale stuff in these lovely places as a matter of course, I am fascinated to know where you get the money. Are you a lawyer or doctor or top sales person, or are you a SAHM with a high earning other half, or do you have no mortgage or what!? I promise this is not a snidey post, just a genuine, if very rude and nosey, question.

I could buy LKBennett etc but don't have the lifestyle to use it. I work from home and out of "work" prefer to dress smart casual.

Between us as a couple we have just over £100K a year- most of that is DH's as I work p/t self employed. We have a big mortgage but we still manage to save as well, and I'd rather save for nice furniture etc than clothes.

I suppose we all have our own "limits". For me, mine is around £150 for a bag, same for shoes and boots, and say £300 for a lovely winter coat.

I have very few clothes- last year, winter season, I think all I bought were 3 dresses from White Company, a Jigsaw coat, a cardi or two and that was it. I buy a couple of mid price items each year but always ask "Do I need this?" before I buy something.

My biggest outlay is skincare- not unknown to spend £100 on creams and make up in a month is everything runs out at once.

Ooh, just had a thought - if you are a large cup size don't waste any money on expensive knitwear because it will always bobble at the sides of your boobs! Even when I was a size 8 I was a DD cup and it STILL happened to my lovely lambswool cardi :( yes, I do wear properly fitted bras but I am only small so there is not that much space on my front for the bosoms iyswim.

I buy cheaper knitted stuff and replace it as soon as it looks a bit "eh". Exception being a Pringle cotton knit cardi that I've had for about 15 years and still looks great despite being worn to death!

Having said that my black Dorothy Perkins work cardigan is from about 1996 and still looks perfect, I can't do it up at the moment over my bf-ing boobs though. M&S knitted stuff has lasted me very well too. These are simple little cardigans though, I can never get a nice jumper to last me so I don't even bother.

Also agree with another poster upthread about "occasion" dressing, I have a few pairs of lovely shoes in various colours and loads of different clutch bags too, so I can buy a relatively cheap dress in a plain colour and my shoes make it look a much more expensive outfit. They are only Office/KG type prices, I've never paid more than about £75 for 'party' shoes but I only buy ones I can walk in and get them reheeled etc so its cheaper than a £20 pair that are so uncomfy they only get worn once.

Dh has a very well paid job - we are allocated the same amount of fun money - he spends on gadgets, I spend on clothes. I must be pretty sore on them because I don't find Boden, monsoon, jigsaw etc last for long. The knitwear shrinks and goes bobbly, jeans wear out quickly, t shirts lose their shape. I bought more expensive brands when i was size for their cut, cheaper clothes looked really awful on me. But now I'm close to a size 8 I'm having fun shopping in zara, top shop etc and the items I've chosen are similar quality to the more expensive high street brands I just don't need them to look quite as flattering.
I always buy good quality shoes, well made with soft thick leather, I've tried cheaper brands and I just hate wearing them so they end up being such a waste of money.
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Take a look on ebay - you can get cheap (new) designer dresses there :-)

No credit card debt here - I only buy what I can afford. Used my savings to fund 5 years of maternity leaves / PT work. Am now back FT, trying to save half of my net income, use the rest for household expenses (food, weekly cleaner), travel (we travel a lot) and fashion, makeup and perfume. Oh and also make regular and substantial contributions to my DD's investment funds.

My budget for clothing & cosmetics is about 500 eur per month. Fashion and perfumes are my hobbies. During the sales time this year I overspent (lifestyle change: new job, new country, new climate) but I tend to spend very little when its nor sales time.

Clothes make me feel better and also probably help me to increase my income - brokered a deal today wearing a fabulous watermelon silk DvF blouse. And will get a bonus that funds several good bags.

Life would be much tougher if I were a single parent or if DH did not have his great job benefits. We are also lucky - good schools, minimal school expenses, and affordable childcare. And we own our apartment. But we do pay a lot of taxes.

That's it, Yummy - I can't quite see Vogue publishing something so downbeat and frugal today.

It also advised avoiding cheap clothing in bright colours because they dyes, it said, are a giveaway.

I'm a SAHM and the only reason I buy decent brands at the moment is because I've recently inherited some money. When I was a single working mum to one child, I bought some nice stuff because it gave me immense pleasure. If I'm honest, I couldn't really afford it and got into debt by spending above my means. I'd rather have beautiful clothes than holidays, nights out, posh meals, wine, a good car etc etc etc.
My Mum was and is the absolute opposite. She couldn't care less what she looks like and wears whatever's cheap at car boot sales, despite having the means to buy nice stuff. I grew up with the message that looks don't matter and that caring what you look like is vain and silly, but even as a young child, I felt they mattered to me I like gorgeous garments like others like paintings, or amazing gardens. I think if you are passionate about something (and not on the breadline) you just find a way to get a taste of what you want. I buy loads of pieces 2nd hand too: I'd far rather have one 2nd hand coat from LK bennett (for example) than 3 new ones from primark

I just got some very nice Kurt Geiger shoes for £24 including delivery.

(just thought people on this thread might appreciate it)

When I was younger and a size 6 I could wear anything and look great.

Now I'm auld and rotund I need decent fabric and tailoring to look presentable.

Which is why e-bay is my friend. I get much more pleasure from a bargain than I would from paying full price for anything even though I could afford to.

You can take the girl out of Fife...

I'm finding this thread fascinating. Surely there are always people with more money and therefore able to afford things you can't. I remember being in the Dubai Mall earlier this year and watching open mouthed as someone came out of Hermes and needed help to carry all of the bags! Never occured to me to ask her where she got her money

Personally, I decided a long time ago that if I wanted to have expensive shoes, clothes, bags and holidays then I would need to ensure that I earned enough money to pay for them so that's exactly what I did. It's annoying when some of my girlfriends are made to feel bad or feel the need to apologise to friends/family for spending £££ on clothes. Their money their choice.

Don't mean to hijack, but am genuinely interested in those who say they don't care about clothes....why do you follow/post on the Style and Beauty threads?

If, like me, you are a horrifying label snob and tight-fisted to boot, you can get exactly what you want with a few minutes' effort.

My motto is Never Pay Opening Price. You don't need to - stores discount stock every 6 weeks now, so if you see something you like, wait and buy it in the sale.

If you can't wait, you don't have enough to wear. Never buy on need - it's expensive. So here is what I do to make sure I get exactly what I want but at an equally attractive price.

Work out what brands you like and then find the discount seller; there always is one. For instance LK Bennett is sold in its own outlet stores, in TK Maxx at 70 per cent off, and on BrandAlley. And in its sales. Everything is sold on ebay.

Once you know what you like, be a bit flexible. I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms but it works. I am OCD fussy about the fit of shoes, and a raging mag hag re style. So I can't find any summer shoes for months.

Finally, as it hits 90 degrees, I pick up a pair of wedges in Brixton TK and in desperation pay 30 quid despite the fact I have never heard of the funny Greek Label. As I skip about the flat, I checked the name on the internet, to realise that they were on net a porter for 270 quid.

Good bargain Corygal but the high end designers never discount. You will never see LV on sale for example. Or Louboutin in TK Maxx.

Like others, I buy in sales / buy fewer items / use BrandAlley.

I have things I like to prioritise (shoes, jackets, well-fitted denim) and others I couldn't give a hoot about.

I shop quality, not just 'name' - so yes to Gucci shoes, no to Juicy Couture.

We earn £90 - £100k. Having said that, we have high outgoings because we decided to prioritise a house over a flat, even though we don't yet have DC and it's been a bloody catalogue of nightmares

Most of my work wardrobe comes from Jaeger / Hobbs because their stuff fits me. I am small and curvy, so many young or fashion brands just don't work for my shape.

If someone on this thread feels the shopping is getting a bit too compulsive, I recommend the book "To Buy or Not to Buy" - very compassionate and offers good, practical advice. I sometimes shop online to lift my mood - have recognized the tendency and am doing my best to find other, more constructive ways to spend my time.

Despite having the budget to buy some higher end things I love outlets, bargain bins and wear regularly some thrifted items. But sometimes these too can become false friends: it is easy to fill your cupboards with things that you almost like - but never wear. I'm trying to become more selective and also try to shop my wardrobe, dye or alter clothes that I own but do not wear. Warmly recommend the book "Overdressed" - an eye opener. It will help to make the most of any budget.

I am a lawyer and so is DH. We have a very very good joint income but I still can't afford to buy from those shops regularly. Thee are too many other expenses in life!

I have nice/expensive clothes. I'll admit that this is partly as a result of not always being sensible with money. DH and I don't use up our ISA allowance before I buy something; my pension is laughable so far and yet I own a couple of really lovely dresses. So, someone else could easily have more money than me but a cheaper wardrobe.

I also have nice stuff because I have been able to shop slowly. My life is quite samey - I'm not someone who has to go to lots of weddings; I've been to two black tie dos in five years and they were different groups of people; the parties I go to are jeans-n-nice-top types not cocktail frocks. Therefore, I haven't had to rotate outfits as much as lots of other people who 'need' new things more than me. If you only need one black tie dress for 6 years (and counting) then you can 'risk' spending more on it. I haven't had any panic buys for a long time but when I was in my twenties I'd head out to the shops with £40 needing to get something for that night. The way I shop now is much more measured and longer term.

I don't have expensive handbags and I disagree with the received wisdom about buying good shoes and bags to 'lift' a cheap outfit. My bag might sometimes get put on a chair or table, but often it lives on the floor. I couldn't tell you what handbag any of my friends have because I mainly see mates with their handbags off and would no more consider their handbag as part of their outfit than their car/buggy/dog. (Not true for an evening do, of course). Shoes don't last like coats and neither expensive shoes nor expensive handbags can make you look significantly more shapely in the way that expensive clothes can.

I save lots! I don't often buy expensive clothing as I'm more than happy with 2nd hand.

I once sat down with my mother who 'just couldn't have brought herself' to buy my shoes. We very quickly works out she actually spent more, but cheap items. Fair enough, if she wore them all, but so much was bought on impulse but never worn.

So now we have determined that people who earn above average income do not buy at Zara, GAP etc or if they do, its in the sales.

So who does pay the full price?

I do, but only right at beginning of season. Lanvin flats and Celine bag- but latter will last for ages.

Was due to some good work, but with difficulty as no childcare.

I will do a shop soon for AW. Just a few things.

Choo there have actually been Louboutins in my local TK Maxx, and I tried on a Herve Leger in there last week. I concede this is a pretty rare find though!

I do buy the odd item full price, but I have to love it, and like marsha it has to be early season. I want to get a couple of months wear under my belt before it hits the sale.

I also find it phsychologically difficult to spend a lot of money. I was made redundant and got a large payout. When I got another job I was going to buy a Mulberry handbag or the like. I just couldn't do it. I didn't like any of them enough to justify the spend.

I also am constantly trying to lose weight, so don't want to spend a lot on clothes.

I buy a lot on eBay now which has made things worse. I loathe paying full price in a shop for something.