How much do you spend on clothes if you're a professional, and consider yourself well-dressed?

[Elfina]

I guess this follows on from my thread asking how anyone can afford to shop in stores like Boden. Our household income is good (70K, but live in London with a nursery aged child so cost of living high).

I realise that I can't remember the last time I bought something new for myself. I only ever buy from eBay. I don't go to the hairdresser (I do drink wine, so its not like I'm completely deprived). I'm 30, if that's relevant, and I don't like 'throw away' type fashion clothes (though like to look current and well turned out). I'm just curious to hear what well-dressed, professional people do! How much do you spend, and where do you spend it?

I'm a fund manager, I basically deal with loads of people both as a client and with clients. I would spend around £3k per year on clothes I think.

I prefer dresses with jackets; typically Karen Millen, Whistles, LK Bennett, Hobbs etc. I just bought a lovely silk dress from Farhi. Everything is bought on sale.

Shoes come from LK Bennett as they fit me well. I have 2 Marc by Marc Jacobs handbags, I just can't justify expensive bags. I nearly caved and bought myself a Chloe bag after passing a difficult exam but couldn't do it. I did however spend twice that on a fab watch after I passed my final exam.

Does anyone work in investor services/capital raising? Those ladies know how to dress, I'm always slightly intimidated by them!

I'm an exciting NHS manager. For work I wear a mixture if Gap, M&S, Boden etc. generally trousers and skirts are full price because I struggle to find them to fit me and tops/ dresses are bought in the sale. I need to smarten up my wardrobe a bit as some of my clothes are looking a but tatty now.

Interesting thread. May I ask a couple of questions...

Viscose and polyester have been mentioned a few times as fabrics to avoid. May I ask the reason for that?

Those who wear suits and heels every day, are you comfortable? I like wearing them occasionally but wouldn't like to wear them day in day out (my poor feet!) as I'd feet too restricted.

At the moment I mainly work from home so can wear what I like, and dress up for the occasional client meetings, but am working towards a career change. If I'm honest I'm dreading having to be smart every day as it's just not as comfortable as I'm used to and I loathe ironing blouses

I'm in voluntary sector management, whilst I very rarely wear suits I do need to dress smartly, dress and jacket, good quality separates etc

I have very little money to spend - it's not a highly paid sector and I am a single parent with a big mortgage

Tend to buy from outlet stores in sales, eBay and even car boots. I like Hobbs and Jaeger, but mainly high st. My best bargain this year was an off white linen Jaeger jacket for £2 at a local car boot, when I'm bored with it will sell on at a profit.

I do have an awful lot of clothes, as I like variety, but some I buy wear to death for a few weeks or months, then tire of, other more classic pieces like coats could be over 20 years old

I hate polyester as don't like the feel of it and it doesn't breathe.

I also don't like the feel of viscose and think it washes/wears terribly. I like natural fibres really.

Also really hate how certain of the more £££ high street stores are selling polyester/viscose at silk type prices - yes, Whistles - I mean you!

I don't mind viscose, but dislike polyester. I can cope with a polyester skirt, but try to avoid polyester in trousers, dresses or tops. I do have a couple of M&S sleeveless work dresses in polyester, which are okay, but I wouldn't want it in sleeves. I try to buy cotton or cotton/silk mixes when I can.

I find viscose creases like a bugger.

LividofLondon Yes, comfortable in heels everyday. Have worn them everyday for 15 years, they aren't uncomfortable to me at all.

I think it's just a matter of getting used to it.

Just seen the heels question. I wear heels every day, or nearly every day, but I travel to work in flat shoes and keep my heels at work.

I wear heels everyday. I'm used to it, I worked until I was 8months pregnant with both DDs (I'm a bit of a workaholic) and lowered to 3ish inches once I hit the 6 months mark. I normally wear 4-5.5 inches everyday. I'm 5'10 so don't really need heels but I love them and all of the women at the hedge fund where I work wear them! People would be a bit if I wore flats to work. A cooling mint spray is a life saver to spritz over your feet if they start to burn, keep plasters in your bag and gel cushions for if things get really bad! Overtime your feet will get use to it and you will walk naturally in them. A bonus of daily heel wearing is legs do tone up!

livid if you just can't do heels, there is a lovely blog of nice flat shoes

enbrogue.com

I think the blogger works for instyle.

Thanks for the link OneLittleToddleTerror. I like heels but not sure about all day. Then I think about if I were to walk to work (like I used to do) then what on earth do I wear so I don't look a tit. Skirt suits work best with heels, so the people who walk to work but have to wear corporate wear, do they walk in flats and trousers then change at work? I'll shut up now because I'm over-thinking it and don't even have to yet

Ah yes, viscose creases doesn't it. I have a t-shirt in that fabric and it's one of the few I have to hang up rather than fold. And polyester is sweaty and sheens. Nice

I walk to work and walk in heels.

It does mean your heel tips wear down a bit quicker, but I've learnt how to reheel them myself, so it doesn't cost much.

I go to work in flats because I find heels impractical for Tube and buses, and because I've got a bad back. My heels all live in my drawer at work

I only wear flats, but did splash out on the ones I got, so they're ok. I might at a push, wear heels to a presentation.

But it's agency rather corporate, so I'd feel very out of place in heels for everyday stuff.

Viscose feels ok, but agree very much on the creasing. A pain to iron. I avoid polyester because it makes me feel itchy and claustrophobic.

I travel mostly in Converse, tbh. May well look a nob, but don't care much, if at all.

I just find that natural fibres wash better, though I do like cotton tops etc to have elastase! X