To ask how much you pay for clothing?

[pancakeloverrr]

Wondering if anyone wants to come out and state what they pay for a dress, blouse, jumper, jeans on average.

Would love to know the most you pay for clothing.

I buy most of my clothes from charity shops these days. I'm trying to shop more ethically so it's either charity shops so I'm recycling instead of buying new, and where I do buy new I'm willing to spend a bit more. Everlane is a really good site I tend to buy from for ethically produced clothing and accessories and it's not super pricey either. I used to buy from a lot of outlets like H&M and Primark but given the horrific working conditions of the people who produce these items I just can't do it anymore, especially after seeing the impact of Covid19 on their supply chains and that most of the workers aren't getting paid at all. Charity shopping is even cheaper and I feel a lot better in spending my money there.

About 30 years ago I spent £150 on a dress. Or it might have been £200 - I was so shocked at myself I've forgotten. I'm not sure what that would be at today's prices but it was a huge amount for me - I'm not wealthy now and I most certainly wasn't then. But I didn't regret it for a second, even though I had to live on jacket potatoes for a couple of months.
No doubt some of you would have been there wagging your finger and calling me an idiot, but I still have that dress, it still gives me pleasure and it's probably worth more than any piece of art my husband has collected. My only regret is not having a daughter to pass it on to.

So basically my point is nerr. And I hope the op enjoys her dress as much as I have.

pancakeloverrr It's irrelevant what other people spend because you don't know their circumstances or priorities. It doesn't matter what the cost is if you really love a particular item....just wear and enjoy!

Anything from sale/second hand up to 100.
I'm a thrifty bargain hunter with a low income but I do love clothes.
The most over ever spent on a dress is 75 quid and it was worth it for how I good I felt in it.

Up to £200 for bags and coats and up to £100 for everything else. Above that, I just don't think it's worth it (for me) and I would get worried about damaging/loosing the item.

There is always an offer code knocking about, so I wouldn't pay those prices anyway.

It totally depends why I’m buying the clothes.
A dress for going to the beach - £30. A dress for a ball - £500.
A tshirt top £20. A silk top for a night out £200.

Rarely less than £70 on a dress. £700 doesn't sound excessive depending on fabric and quality. I will spend £300-£400 on vintage 40s or 50s dresses.

Up to £800 for a vintage suit. Up to £200 for a cashmere jumper. Jeans are J Brand as they fit me the best: £250 new but I quite often buy on Ebay. Up to £180 for a silk blouse. T-shirts around £30. £100-£250 for shoes. Blazers can be £200-£300.

But I don't buy often. What I buy lasts me for years. Am mid 30s and same size and shape as when I was 18. Plus I earn 6 figures, no kids etc.

I think if you really love the dress OP, you should keep it . But if it just overwhelms you with guilt, then don't. Does it look amazing on you?

I can't think that I've ever spent £700 on a dress - I should do though, because I fritter more than that on several dresses, and would love to be sensible enough to buy one forever dress than a few other dresses.

And given that you rarely spend money on clothes, you probably spend less than many people on this thread just for one item. (For comparison, I think I've spend £ 5 or £600 on 4 items of clothing in May - a jumpsuit for £250, (which is still under consideration) a pair of Vejas £90 and a pair of shoes £190 and a pair of hush joggers £50. )

I hope you decided to keep the dress, OP. It sounds lovely, and will bring you joy for years to come. Also, as you said, it's much more sustainable to buy one piece that you plan to keep forever than a dozen cheaper things that only last for a couple of years each.

Also, I find it funny when people say they spend the most money on "occasion" dresses that might only be worn once, and the least money on jeans, t-shirts etc that get worn every day. I save up and invest most of my clothing budget in basics that I will wear again and again. I'd rather spend £50 on the perfect, durable, well-made t-shirt or £300 on a pair of jeans I know I'll live in, and buy a wear-it-once frock for a wedding on eBay for £20.

OP...... Have a look in your wardrobe and add up the cost of all the things you rarely wear or regret buying.

And enjoy your £700 once-in-a-lifetime dress

I usually buy things from places like Seasalt, White Stuff, Fatface, but buy in the sale as the styles in these sort of shops are pretty much the same each years just the colours change. So probably

Dress £30-40
Blouse £20
Tunic £25-30
Jeans £20
Coat £50-£100

For work I've bought 6 dresses in the last yr:

Boden £50
Cos £80
Boden £70
White Suff £60
Bravissimo £70
Monsoon £70
Also wear trousers and tops to work; often with a structured cardigan
Work shoes are pretty sensible from Clarks/Gabor/Hotter
Coats are M&S and Basler
Bags: Radley
For work I dress to be professional in a casual environment and to blend iyswim.

Outside work Seasalt/White Stuff Tops and a few very nice things from Brora

I have some very nice evening/occasion things that were v expensive.

Need what I call a "smart" coat this winter. Would expect to pay £500/£600 but it will last for 7/8 years.

Not much new, my jeans were eBay £10 and almost new, coats tend to be sainsburys, last one £20 I think.
Summer shoes eBay £6 canvas, special stuff, tending to choose phase eight, my dress for my sons wedding 4 years ago, monsoon, half price, I think about £50, new shoes £40, hat £50.
Few new t shirts sainsburys, around £6 each.
Lovely stuff from eBay pjs and other bits.
I wear a uniform at work

It varies, but I think I stick within a sensible range.

• Jeans: £30-£50 or so. Usually basic mom jeans or balloon jeans.
• Tops: whatever they cost tbh. I shop in Zara quite a bit, ASOS sometimes, or pop into Selfridges if I have time. Maybe £30-£40 average?
• Dresses: anything from £20 to £200 depending on how pretty I think they are.
• Shoes: again depends on how pretty I think they are! I spend more on winter boots - doc martens type stuff, and more on running shoes. On average £100-£200 overall. Less on summer shoes.

Basically I mill about and if I like something enough, and can afford it, I’ll buy it. The one thing I absolutely don’t spend money on is handbags - not sure why but I can’t be bothered. I usually use a tote or a simple black backpack type thing.

All my money goes on skincare...

I buy off eBay and when heavily discounted mainly and estimate that my yearly spend on clothing is not much more than £700 but if you love the dress then wear it often. I would love to see a photo!

I’m another one with extremes too. I think nothing of pairing £15 in the sale jeans from Next with a Mulberry handbag. I would never pay £285 for a cotton T-shirt no matter whose name was on the front of it (YSL I’m looking at you) but would happily spend thousands (If I had it) on a fabulous Cartier watch.

My DH only buys Levi’s and has expensive taste in cars but good god getting him out of his beloved Tesco and matalan shirts he’s had years (and are showing their years) is a chore!

Everyone is different and I simply wouldn’t tell some people how much something costs because they’ll pooh-pooh it yet spend that and more on a cruise instead.

Jeans £25-£35 I don't wear them that much so only buy 1 pair every year or so
Tops £8-£15 a go buy a couple each season
£30- £50 a couple of times a year for some nice pieces like a dress or dungarees or a blazer
£100- £150 on footwear, my biggest expense, even though I mostly wear flip flops!
£50 accessories and bags. Usually one bag and some cheap jewellery, maybe a scarf or something. I sometimes spend more on things like a watch or jewellery
£20-£60 on underwear depending whether I need a new bra or not! I usually spend £30 to £40 on one
£100 on pyjamas and loungewear
Another £100 if I'm going somewhere that I need specific clothes for, that might be for a wedding or a costume party or Christmas, I have spend less than £100 and covered all 3 though!
I also stock up on plain t shirts, vest tops, leggings and light weight cardigans whenever I can which probably add up to £100-£200 but I don't notice as it's just a few quid here and there
Sports and swim wear about £50 a year for a set of running clothes and some swimwear, more if I need a sports bra

As little as possible and only ever in sale/discounted but

30 for a dress
15 for leggings
10 for a top
40 for shoes - boots maybe go up to 80

Cheapskate me!

Cost per wear ratio here. More on boots, coats, bags, jeans, and some jewellery. I wear cheap supermarket underwear and night clothes. Stuff people don't see much.

I won't spend more than 40-50 on a dress that I wear once or twice, but will buy second hand.

I spend on great everyday clothing for the life I have rather than stuff for special occasions. Some of it is pricey, but I am not often extravagant in pursuit of well-made sensible clothes, and usually buy in the sale, sometimes EBay and we have a good market stall locally. Not handbags though... mostly secondhand or TKMaxx.

I had to up my spending recently as the Topshop end of the high street quality went to pot and it became impossible to get anything not acrylic/polycotton in my usual shops. I find buying merino wool jumpers from Whistles/Stories/Arket for £80 or so to be something I need to approach with caution as need to budget for them, but Gap is £50 for boring colours and increasingly shapeless, too long items. Everywhere else is now acrylic with a tiny percentage of wool if you’re lucky.
Tops - about £40
Trousers - £60. Would pay up to £80 for good fabrics.
Jeans - up to £100 but usually Topshop so £40.
Coat - would pay up to £150.
Bag - £60 for leather. I don’t do designer handbags.
Dress - £80 for work if pushed, usually from Stories.
Shoes - £150 for boots, up to £50 for shoes. Won’t pay more than £40 for anything ballet pump-esque. £100 for trainers.
Will spend up to £200 for an outfit for a wedding or big event.
I want to own silk shirts but can’t quite face the price. I should splurge on one and see if I even wear it!