Is there a secret to affording expensive clothes?

[TheyCallMeJune]

Just wondering really.

We're comfortably financially but I certainly can't afford £300 dresses and Louboutins for nights out like so many people seem to buy.

Someone that I know who has a very average life/income goes on a two week holiday to Ibiza every year and buys an 'Ibiza wardrobe' each summer with expensive dresses and shoes.

Are there any secrets I don't know of?

I think if you don't buy much you will spend more on each items. I seem to have far fewer clothes than many people but I buy decent quality stuff and wear it forever. I wouldn't buy Louboutins for a night out but I would spend hundreds on a good quality pair of brogues for work that I'd wear regularly. Shoes are my weakness though.

Maybe she sells it all after so it doesn’t cost her as much overall?

Carrie Bradshaw?

I don’t really spend on expensive clothes but I do on accessories. A fabulous bag will make a classic/basic wardrobe look more expensive than it is.

My guess would be either they have no debt and therefore can comfortably afford to buy these things as they have plenty of disposable income, or, they have credit cards carrying the cost.

Or, like me, save up and/or buy secondhand.

Spending a lot on clothes is really no different to my DH spending loads on a camera and lens but people seem to think that spending loads on clothes is a Very Bad Thing compared to other stuff. Is her whole lifestyle extravagant or just the clothes.

I dress well. My clothes Most of them from reiss, lk bennet or whistles, etc. Ebay and charity shops not my thing. I usually shops in outlet websites. Like otrium and brand alley. I also buy from sample sales. I bought tods flat for £40 in sample sales, reiss and lk bennet also lots cheaper in sample sales. I never bought anything full price.

A lot of people have different streams of passive income and are not just dependent on their salary. Many of my artist/media/sports friends have pretty low income but comfortable houses in west London, a property portfolio, and can can buy designer items while working in low paid jobs.

If not the above, she could be friends with influencers and fashion people. My colleague's wife for example is a famous insta person with 200k+ following, and she used to give tonnes of current season clothes that she was sent to our shared EA.

Or like PP said her income is entirely her own and husband pays for expenses.

These days you can also rent designer items from many sites.

I spend normal money on designer clothes, but it’s all preloved. I have a very good second hand shop in my area who only sell designer clothes. The last time I went I got a pair of Isabel Marant trainers (£75), Burberry top (£45), Levis shirt (£20), Malene Birger knotted jumper (£40) and a Victoria Beckham coat (£150). All in great condition, and pretty much cheaper than Monsoon or similar.

Maybe it's all on a credit card.

Or maybe they save with that in mind.

Really wealthy people don't flash labels around.

Like EBay, but you have to be lucky and offer a bit more nowadays. I managed to get a new (with tags) Monsoon dress worth £100 for £ 60 . A cashmere sweater half price .Some people prefer to buy clothes ,some things for the home and so on .Unless they earn well or dont mind debt then I dont think you are missing a trick here!

Surely the answer is your friend is either buying on credit all the time or running up debts, or you are not as comfortably off as you think you are?

This is the 2nd thread I've pointed this out on. I have a dog, who i adore, but new job means I'm paying out for 3 days of doggy day care. This and insurance and food is setting me back about £400 a month. If I didn't have the puppy, I could easily spend that on designer stuff. Thats a £4,800 a year budget on dog things - before you factor in the couple of grand she cost in the first place.

Its easy to see what people spend and what they don't spend. Someone on the same wage as me but with a full time WFH partner or a retired parent who was happy to dog sit could have a dog as well yet have an extra £4,800 a year fun money budget.

Your friends may earn more than you think, or they could be earning the same as you but have significantly less outgoings somewhere else. They could have something they don't pay for that you do.

When i first started work, the secretaries were very well dressed. One of them always looked immaculate. Apparently, she had about 18 credit and store cards

It is not always about your salary, but your disposable income. Your friend may pay low rent or have paid off her mortgage. Perhaps she has a wealthy partner or has received an inheritance. I know if I did, I would not inform my friends. In the same way if I paid my mortgage off early I would not volunteer this information.

While I believe some people run up debts on credit cards, I also believe some also have more to spend.

I could have a bigger house but instead I choose more expensive clothes and holidays? Maybe she’s the same?

Virtually everyone I know like this has loads of disposable income from either living at home and not needing to pay for anything or from saving in other areas of their lives. Like another poster I'd have a lot more nice things if I didn't have to pay childcare or choose to spend money on hobbies...

You can sustain quite a serious level of debt for a very long time if you keep up the minimum payments and switch and consolidate frequently. And a lot of people have no savings and no pension.

Some people with pretty decent wages live much more month to month than you imagine

I generally prefer to save

Really wealthy people don't flash labels around.

that's outdated rubbish. Look at the Ecclestones or hang out where the super rich moor their yachts. Plenty of flashing!

I shop at Matches they do a £200 off if you spend £600 thing (or similar) twice a year. I don't buy that much anymore but will splurge in Matches for a few new nice pieces.

I have a fair bit of labels stuff, but I'd also wear designer shoes with Primark or Zara, when I was breastfeeding I'd be checking websites at all hours and get great deals. Also being organised for Sara with a wishlist and ready to go

Actually these threads do come up regularly, how does x person afford y?

Lots of people will say it absolutely must be debt /credit cards /stolen /benefit fraud.

Others will point out that you are assuming that a)their income in the same as yours and b) their outgoings on bills are the same as yours and c)they buy all the same "extras" as you do, just afford this stuff on top of your spending, rather than instead of buying the same things you do.

If you are asking how someone saves £3-4k a year then spend it in one go, then there are lots of ways. But it probably means you have misjudged how much they earn and/or how much they spend in a normal month.

If you are trying to say you think they are obviously making the wrong choice because they are chosing to spend their annual disposable income in a different way to you, then I cant help.

I have a great wardrobe on a low income. I do it as I've been building stuff up for 20 years. I use charity shops, eBay, Vinted, sample sales and to maxx!

I buy nothing from places like Primark and instead buy a decent branded item second hand. For instance last week I got a Whistles coat for £8. That's even less than Primark prices.

Tkmaxx, charity shops, secret sales, brand alley, eBay, find a friend roughly your size and borrow from each other , vinted