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Original poster

£300 for a whole outfit isn't excessive? Is it?

99 replies

BigMacExtraPickles · 21/04/2023 19:39

Off out on a very rare day in London tomorrow. It's an all day affair, booze brunch and a show in the evening.

£300 is not bad for an entire outfit is it? Jacket. T Shirt, Jeans, Trainers and a bag.

I came away feeling I'd been quite thrifty but some people have implied otherwise! I do like a spend but literally for all that I'm quite chuffed.

OP posts:
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mast0650 · 22/04/2023 15:17

£300 for all those items doesn't seem particularly expensive or extravagant. If I took my average spend on bag, shoes, jacket etc it would probably add up to more than that. What seems extravagant to me is the idea of buying a whole new outfit (including bag, shoes, jacket...) specially for a day out, rather than buying things like the bag when you need it, to fill a gap in your wardrobe or because an old favourite has worn out.

mast0650 · 22/04/2023 15:19

However, I do agree that it makes more sense to spend on good everyday items that you love (like these) rather than a special occasion outfit for a wedding, black-tie dinner that you will hardly ever wear.

QuickGuide · 22/04/2023 15:25

I thinking it's buying a whole new outfit for such a trip that seems "a lot", but if you genuinely needed all those items, you haven't bought top end/been extravagant.

NatashaDancing · 22/04/2023 15:35

mast0650 · 22/04/2023 15:17

£300 for all those items doesn't seem particularly expensive or extravagant. If I took my average spend on bag, shoes, jacket etc it would probably add up to more than that. What seems extravagant to me is the idea of buying a whole new outfit (including bag, shoes, jacket...) specially for a day out, rather than buying things like the bag when you need it, to fill a gap in your wardrobe or because an old favourite has worn out.

But posters do that all the time for one off events/ wedding guest/ Ascot/ birthdays/ etc. Why should a day out in London be different?

LolaSmiles · 22/04/2023 17:03

But posters do that all the time for one off events/ wedding guest/ Ascot/ birthdays/ etc. Why should a day out in London be different?
To me a day out somewhere wouldn't warrant a new outfit, but to be fair I also don't buy new outfits for my birthday or other one off events.
I might get a new bag if I needed one, or a dress to wear with existing shoes, but I wouldn't buy a new look head to toe for the vast majority of events. It's why I probably wouldn't call it thrifty.

No reason why the OP shouldn't though if she has the budget and wants to. Everyone likes different things.

Fairislefandango · 22/04/2023 18:03

But posters do that all the time for one off events/ wedding guest/ Ascot/ birthdays/ etc. Why should a day out in London be different?

Because it was jeans and a t-shirt, which are items you tend to have already and aren't the kind of things you'd need to have new for a specific occasion, I guess. Though I can imagine maybe getting the jacket.

PollyAmour · 22/04/2023 18:11

£300 for a jacket, shoes, jeans, t-shirt and bag sounds like a good deal to me. Enjoy your day out!

crossstitchingnana · 22/04/2023 18:19

I think it's excessive. Buying clothes is a massive co2 producer.

Porkandbeans1 · 22/04/2023 18:27

crossstitchingnana · 22/04/2023 18:19

I think it's excessive. Buying clothes is a massive co2 producer.

Not if she will wear those clothes for years to come. And she was asking if the price was excessive not the co2 emitted in the manufacture.

Ruthietuthie · 22/04/2023 19:55

I would spend that or more on each of the items individually (well, not the t-shirt). If they are good quality and well made and you love them, plus you can afford it, don't feel bad.
I would rather have one really nice thing that ten cheaper things for the same price.

OldHouseLover · 22/04/2023 20:08

We all have to replace regularly worn items such as t-shirts, jeans, trainers so why is it perceived as 'better' that the OP does this randomly rather than using an event such as a day out to so it. With the intention of wearing all the items many more times

It's far more sensible than buying an outfit for a wedding/ party/ dinner o

Sunnydays0101 · 22/04/2023 21:27

crossstitchingnana · 22/04/2023 18:19

I think it's excessive. Buying clothes is a massive co2 producer.

Oh stop. Maybe she wore her last pair of jeans until they fell apart and this is a replacement. The same with the other pieces. How do you know how many items of clothing she has??

UsingChangeofName · 22/04/2023 21:57

Like many, it is a lot more than I would spend, BUT, if you have the money, why not ? All the things are things you will presumably get lots of wear out of.

The bit that sounds odd to me is the fact you needed to go and buy everything from footwear up, because you are going into London for a brunch and a show. Those things would be the 'treats' for this week / month / 3 months / year (whatever your budget allows) for me. I would just wear clothes I've got.

I'd buy a special outfit for a wedding or a royal garden party maybe, but have stuff in my wardrobe already I'd wear for brunch and to go to the theatre.

GiveInToTemptation · 22/04/2023 22:23

I spent £450 on just one bag this month if that makes you feel any better!

NatashaDancing · 22/04/2023 22:47

OldHouseLover · 22/04/2023 20:08

We all have to replace regularly worn items such as t-shirts, jeans, trainers so why is it perceived as 'better' that the OP does this randomly rather than using an event such as a day out to so it. With the intention of wearing all the items many more times

It's far more sensible than buying an outfit for a wedding/ party/ dinner o

I really enjoy threads telling grown up women not to spend their own money or that they're spending it wrong.

greenacrylicpaint · 22/04/2023 22:47

the trainers alone are the best part of a hundred. jackets easy that as well, or even more.

unless you go for very low end supermarket/street market/charity shop this is the lower end of mid price range.

Kittykatchunjy · 22/04/2023 22:54

Really nice outfit and great value

LlynTegid · 23/04/2023 10:20

Hope you had a lovely day and as they are not single use items, seems reasonable to me.

Marchintospring · 23/04/2023 10:23

@NatashaDancing The Op literally started the thread to get people opinions on how she spent her money on specific clothes. So naturally that involves conversations on ,well, telling her how to spend money on clothes.

ReluctantFishLady · 23/04/2023 14:05

Thrifty to me would be charity shops and ebay, but there's nothing wrong with buying yourself a few things to freshen up your wardrobe, especially if you have somewhere nice to go.

The amount you have spent sounds about right since jackets, trainers, bags and jeans aren't always that cheap.

Fairislefandango · 23/04/2023 14:10

I really enjoy threads telling grown up women not to spend their own money or that they're spending it wrong.

Nobody made you open it. And the OP literally started a thread to ask for people's opinions on how she spent her money.

NatashaDancing · 23/04/2023 14:15

Fairislefandango · 23/04/2023 14:10

I really enjoy threads telling grown up women not to spend their own money or that they're spending it wrong.

Nobody made you open it. And the OP literally started a thread to ask for people's opinions on how she spent her money.

The answers went well beyond what the OP was asking into one telling her buying clothes at all was wicked.

LolaSmiles · 23/04/2023 14:51

We all have to replace regularly worn items such as t-shirts, jeans, trainers so why is it perceived as 'better' that the OP does this randomly rather than using an event such as a day out to so it. With the intention of wearing all the items many more times

It's far more sensible than buying an outfit for a wedding/ party/ dinner o
I'd agree with you on this.
Buying new clothes for formal events is something I hate because it's not something that features much in my lifestyle. I'd much rather have a great jacket that's versatile than a dress for a wedding I'll probably not wear for 4 years.

Original poster
BigMacExtraPickles · 23/04/2023 22:41

Oh wow!!! Just doing my nightly trawl of MN tucked up in bed and saw this thread had taken off 🤣🤣

Appreciate all your responses. Glad to get a well rounded opinion.

For those who were asking I bought a completely new outfit because this was my first night away from my kids in 10 years. I was riddled with anxiety and wanted to look/feel good so it was one less thing I felt stressed about.

Of course I got off my wheels drunk and the white jacket is covered in my SILs lipstick and various alcohols 😬.

But once again thanks for your responses and well wishes and to those who complimented my outfit choice! Made a 38 year old mum of 2 feel like she still has it 😘

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