Investing in more expensive items

[ReallyBigTable]

I'm currently looking at buying my third faux leather biker in 5 years due to them cracking and flaking but I'm starting to think maybe I should bite the bullet and buy real leather in the hope I'll never have to buy one again.

Ditto boots. I buy new flat boots every Autumn, not necessarily really cheap, £40-60ish each time. I walk a lot and always manage to split the soles on boots and end up with wet feet. So I'm thinking of buying a pair of Doc Martens, either classic style or chelsea boot.

My question is has anyone done this (or similar) and found that they were still replacing them or, even better, you did this 20 years ago and they are still going strong?

My style hasn't changed for years so I'm not worried about going off them, I'm early 30s but love seeing older ladies in biker jackets and DMs and I'm pretty sure I'll be one of them.
I don't have loads of money to spend but can't help but think I'll actually save money in the long run by doing this.

Any advice gratefully received

I have some dr martens that I bought aged 14 with Birthday money. Quickly lost interest, threw into back of wardrobe. My mum found them a few years later and is still wearing them to this very day. They look new. They're 20 years old now.

Following with interest.

On the moths point, I have managed to get rid of them with Formula C spray. It's taken a few years but not a single one this year. Preventative spraying in late Spring and then again in July/August seems to work wonders. I suspect it's highly toxic though.

I've got a leather blazer in my wardrobe! Love it but haven't worn it in many years.

DP calls it the Donnie Brasco.

Be very careful about alleged 'classics'.

Oh and when Sophie Raworth presents the BBC News in a biker jacket, safe to say that style's lost its edge.

(the channel 4 news woman wore one the same night too iirc)

Couldn't agree more about Uniqlo for long lasting basics in great natural fibres. I have a plain camel Pringle cashmere sweater which I bought with the tags on 25 years ago in a charity shop for £1.99 that still looks like new. My quilted Barbour is still going strong after 10 years. I have a black reversible waterproof/fur coat with a hood I bought in M&S Amsterdam 20 years ago which is still fantastic. Just wish I'd bought a leather jacket on my trip to a factory near Florence £250, soft as butter and fitted perfectly.

You're not wrong Morris but the point is that I am still getting wear out of mine years later so I did not waste a penny.
Mine is the washed Cargo so hopefully a bit less Raworth. OMG what if I look like Lorraine or worse... Jane McDonald?

Yup! Boots, maybe not so long if you do serious miles on foot. The key with boots is to spend money each year on resoling as needed.

Coats, bags, absolutely worth it. Winter kit is my thing - we live in a cold climate and I’m eyeing up an 800 quid parka because it’s freezing here half the year and you really do get what you pay for with that stuff.

Be prepared to spend on maintenance as needed - stuff does need to be looked after.

Store woollens in plastic bags!

yes do it,i done this approx 3yrs ago boots,coat,purse,bag etc and they should last years

i was lucky as some were in the sale but was still planning on buying them

all are very practical and colours are popular so easy to mix and match

Lol, my mum wears my old jeans from the 80s too!

Don't worry OP, I'm sure you're a million miles from Raworthism and will continue rocking the style for many years.

I'm more of a fading britpop parka monkey, the entire universe wore the same coat as me last winter but they weren't humming Sally Cinnamon to themselves so they just aren't as cool as me.

Go for it. Leather bikers are so very much nicer than pleather. I intend to be wearing mine for a good while yet.

DH knows his style boring and has classic high quality items that last forever.

Meanwhile I do not own a jacket and have a wardrobe of polyester tat.

Although buying DH's stuff is expensive, it happens once in a blue moon while mine costs a fortune repeatedly.

I suggest you go for it and buy a lovely classic biker jacket.

But is a biker still a classic or has it become fashion? It might have been a classic 10 years ago but I'd say it's the latter now, which inevitably means it's going to go out of fashion sooner or later. And I don't think it can go straight back to it's former timeless/edgy identity.

I that when something you love - and I know how some people love their bikers - becomes fashionable, it's always a double edged sword. I'm hoping it never happens to tweed - it has the odd moment but, fingers crossed, I don't think it's seen as cool enough to catch on the way leather has.

I agree men's fashion has much greater longevity.

I honestly don't think it matters, providing it's not too long or too short, or too baggy/tight, is pretty unadorned and the leather is nice. They haven't really changed in the last 15 years or so, at least.

Just because people 'in fashion' are wearing it, doesn't mean that people 'outside of fashion' won't be able to carry on wearing it afterwards. Like DMs.

Just to update, I did it and I'm very happy.
Sophie Rayworth would love my new jacket I'm sure

Raworth.
Balls.