Tell me what your best splurge has been...

[Swiftier]

Or what you have on your wish list!

In the past few years I’ve tried to only buy things I love and will last and get worn a lot. I try and think about items before I buy - if I still want something a few weeks after I’ve thought of it, it’s often a good shout. It’s surprising how many things I ‘go off’ after a few weeks.

So I have a wish list that I’m always adding to (and removing items from when I realise they won’t get worn....) but please inspire me and help me daydream with your favourite items and why you love them (or want them!) If you can, how much they cost, how much you wear them etc. Not limited to super expensive items at all though!

I’ll start - a big spend was my Mackintosh coat, it’s a classic beige, belted design so goes with blacks, blues, browns. I often wear it to work but also easy to wear casually. It’s really well made and completely waterproof so looks good, smart but also quite practical.

Another good splurge of mine has been good day-to-day underwear. Not crazy expensive, the Organic Basics set I have is so comfortable but also sits really well and doesn’t leave any lines under clothes.

Definitely my handbags I used to buy them from Dorothy perkins etc and they'd last a little while I've started buying from coach Kate spade etc and now can tell the difference and won't go back to the cheaper ones I feel so much nicer with a expensive (to me anyway) handbag

hammering bloody hell, missed that! Thanks!

@Rainb0w I did a similar thing with bags, I don’t spend loads and loads on bags (as I don’t wear leather I’m not even sure I could!) but now just have a small number of good quality bags (maybe spending £200 or so on a bag) instead of more from high street shops.

As I thought, this thread has been full of good ideas (though none that are good for my savings!). I dug out my dusty pink all saints leather jacket this morning and wore it on my walk.... had forgotten how beautiful it was!!

Ditto on handbags. They're my ultimate splurge. I'm definitely not awaiting delivery of one this week... nope...

I have a few things on my ‘to splurge’ list.

1 - a vintage emerald gold ring. I haven’t found the one yet so can’t really buy this until antique jewellers open again.

2 - a mulberry bag from the outlet. But as I’m about to pop a baby out it seems really frivolous as il be probably just using a baby backpack for the next year

I also have my eye on a splurge watch too, but I bought one this time last year and it seems too soon to add another one to my collection

I’m definitely feeling more splurgy than normal as I’m stuck indoors, waiting for baby to arrive and feeling so sad I have missed out on the two little pre baby city breaks I had booked and probably won’t be going anywhere again for a long long while

@StCharlotte those are the ones I've got too. I love them! I wear them every day pretty much as I sneeze when the sun shines in my eyes!
I forgot, my favourite summer shoes ever are a pair of gabor wedges in tan with gold details. They were almost £100 but I've had them coming up 4 years now and still good as new (I wear them practically daily in good weather!)

@Italianmeringuebuttercream

My optician told me I should wear them all the time in daylight where practicable (as should most blue-eyed people apparently). Obviously I took him at his word (not least because I lurve sunglasses!) and you wouldn't wear the same clothes every day would you?

Ha! True! I would like to get a second pair to live in my car (pointless now though as I don't drive anywhere!)
I think all my splurge have been footwear now I think about it. My grandmother always said spend your money on good shoes and a good mattress! My favourite going out shoes are Emmy shoes. I originally had them in ivory with gold trim, then got them dyed emerald green. I've had the coming up 8 years and they are perfect in every way. Probably cost upwards of £300 but cost per wear and all that!

@Rebelwithallthecause don't discount a nice handbag because you'll need a baby bag - I learned with baby 2 that a decent crossbody bag is incredibly useful alongside the nappy bag... though maybe it was just me who could never find her purse in the nappy bag!

Not just you! I got absolutely fed up of my keys and purse being buried under spare muslins in the baby bag so bought 2 little backpacks, from Fjallraven and Whistles. I'm still not sure I would take one of my 2 Mulberry bags or even my Coach one out with the toddler as, pre-lockdown, everything was being chucked in the boot with the pushchair or thrown in the car footwell!

Love all the ideas from this thread, thank you!

So my list of good investment pieces is:

-leather/faux leather jacket
-classic coat (maybe a wrap coat)
-great pair of boots/shoes
-couple of great handbags for different uses (day/evening/work)
-one or two pieces of amazing jewellery - love the idea of a vintage emerald ring or a beautiful watch
-perfect pair of sunglasses

I have some of these already but will be looking to fill the gaps

My favourites:

• my Prada sunglasses
• sequinned competition bikini; handmade in Finland at a cost of 1,000 Euros. I do love it

Oh and .... my personal trainer. He's probably the best investment that I ever made

Woah @NiceLegs 1000 euros! Are you a body builder or similar? That’s so cool!

Yes, I'm a novice: first show later this year – or maybe next year due to current madness. I'm 53 and lost a lot of weight in my late 40s and I really fancied competing. I'm bricking it to be honest but .... No guts, No glory. I'm striking a blow for all the post-menopausal women out there: your life doesn't end at 50 (or 60, 70, 80 ....). I'll be up against much younger women: there's no age classification in my category.

I got the bikini second hand (they only wear them once) for £33. How much of a bargain is that?

And the Prada sunglasses were £15 from a colleague on our online marketplace.

I'm from Yorkshire, ya know

You sound incredible well done!

Ray Bans and an All Saints leather jacket

I have the most superb luck with coats in charity shops and have a knee length fake leopard print (very similar to one in All Saints at the moment, a 1950s Hong Kong made tan trench, and a navy blue full length double breasted Nicole Ferrari cashmere coat.

If I hadn't I would add these to the list.

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace that’s so cool, good luck for your first competition - hope the bikini gets used soon!

@ajs88 any hints for finding gems in charity shops?!

A cashmere wrap by The Travelwrap Company. I wore it all autumn and winter and still using it when its chilly. Plan on using for cooler summer evenings. It's so soft and lightweight but warm. I love it and trying to resist another colour

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace One of the instructors at my gym is also a professional bodybuilder and I've seen some of her photos. She's tiny but her muscles are next level! I've always wondered about the fake tan that's used - is it a special one made for the industry? I'm not sure any that are sold on the high street would go that dark!

Cosy wrap sounds like a winner @afrikat

You know, I'm not exactly sure. My personal trainer does his own tan when he's competing but he may well have to buy a special brand and I know that he has to apply numerous layers.

I'm planning to get mine professionally done on the day at the venue. I may be on my own and can't guarantee having a 'tan buddy' to help me. I'm too clumsy to do it neatly myself and ..... I wouldn't be able to reach all my bits

Apparently I also need bikini glue to prevent a potential embarrassing 'fallout' while performing That's something else that I didn't know. However, my trainer has all that under control. He's just trying to not overwhelm me with too much detail for now. We've just started looking at the initial stage poses.

I'm bloody terrified. But ..... I'm doing it I won't place anywhere and that's fine. I'm just doing it to get myself right out of my comfort zone and also to show that there is life for women after 50.

@Swiftier I'm afraid it's mostly luck, everytime it's just been in the window or the front of rail staring out at me.