Meg had an interesting post on quality vs. quantity (check it out!).
For better or for worse, I’d say most of my wardrobe is quantity-oriented, with good-enough quality for me. I do have several pieces that I really love (the bright yellow vintage coatdress that I got for $40 is a front-runner), but most of the time I happily shop at Ross and Target. Loehmann’s is considered a splurge.
I really would like one piece of a designer product. I like the idea of having something that I’ll treasure for years to come. But the problem is, I have no idea what to get, and at this point in my life, I really don’t crave anything badly enough to drop a quarter of my paycheck on it.
However, if the Luxury Fairy were to suddenly descend upon me and say, “here is $2,000 and you MUST spend it on something luxurious,” I’m sure I can come up with some ideas.
*pause* Oh, here’s an idea: Louboutins. I love, love, LOVE the red sole. A pair will probably set me back $600+. Throw in a Coach bag and a cashmere sweater from Theory, and the money’s gone.
In all honesty, though, I’d probably take that two grand and go on a weeklong vacation, stay at a fancy hotel, and splurge on a spa day. After begging the Luxury Fairy to let me stash half in my retirement account! 😉
My issue with this quality debate is the sheer exaggeration. Cheaper quality clothes do not fall apart after a few wears (I’ve had H&M and Forever 21 stuff for years) and expensive things do not last forever. Truth is: nothing is safe from wear and tear. I buy expensive things when they’re especially nice, but I find that most things can be found cheaper in a more diffused line.
I am the same way well heeled. I have never owned a leather coat. Can you believe that! In my 25 years on this earth I have never owned a leather coat. This year I think is my year. I am going to invest in a leather coat, wool blend coat, and at least one nice cashmere piece. If you take care of your clothes they can last for a loooong time.
Like Eric said, the quality vs. quantity debate has become a different question in recent years. Even the bigger-name designers started outsourcing the sewing once the demand for their brand increased. Now we associate the higer cost with higher quality, which is often the case (think Old Navy vs. Banana Republic), but not always (I paid $50 for a glorified t-shirt at Anthropologie, and the fabric is so thin that small holes have been forming on it).
ah. well, you just wait and see. you’ll recognize that designer piece you will treasure always the second you lay eyes on it. it’s just a matter of time 🙂
My vote is for a great pair of jeans. I absolutely love seven jeans because they fit so well. Try on a number of different kinds to find the brands and style that works the best for you. Once you own that pair of jeans that fits perfectly you will feel great every time you put them on.
I only buy one pair of jeans a year tops. And I love wearing them!
My recommendation is to wait until you’ve switched from your teen/college metabolism to your adult metabolism. Mine switched at 19 or 20, but my hairstylist’s is just now changing at 25. You don’t want to drop $$$ on great classic pieces only to change sizes later and it doesn’t fit. Figure out what weight is stable and maintainable for you. (I’ve got a dress from senior year when I was impossibly lean, kills me that it doesn’t fit like it used to) I do find that great clothes ARE a motivator for going to the gym.
I made my big clothing purchases in this order:
(1) Camel hair winter coat. Can’t throw a parka over an interview suit! I like the camel color b/c it works with both brown and black outfits, and is dressy enough for the theater too. This will last me a good 5-10 years.
(2) Great shoes.
(3) A frivolous micromini from a local designer.
(4) A pair of perfect trousers.
I definitely go for quality over quantity, because I find that if you take good care of them they will last much longer. It also helps to simplify my life as it means there is less stuff in my closet and less clutter in general.
Thanks for the link! I definitely think it’s not worth splurging for “quality” until you know your style and you know you really truly LOVE some particular item. Most of my wardrobe is quantity oriented, but having a few awesome pieces (especially accessories that can go with almost anything) to throw in the mix makes me a lot more satisfied with my Gap tees and cheap jeans! [Note: awesome can refer to the high quality, the high price, the high fashion statement, or just your high level of infatuation and attachment to an item.]
PS – I love the look of Louboutins as well, but I don’t think I’ll EVER be to the point where I am willing to drop that kind of money on shoes! They scuff and get worn out quickly (unlike handbags, for instance), and besides I don’t want to be one of those people who wants to cry or lash out if it rains or somebody spills something on my $750+ shoes. Although $250 for a major – and very occassional – shoe splurge? That’s another story…
Just be a retail buyer in nyc like me. You can go to sample sales and get designer clothing 50 to 80 percent off wholesale! Then you can have quanity clothes of quality!
Yikes, I just had the same debate with myself on my blog! Guess it’s a hot topic right now… 🙂
If somebody just gave me $2k, I’d definitely want to stash it and not spend it… Or else spend it on travel, my favorite splurge.
I absolutely adore my Coach bag, well, both of them really… I got one that was tiny and not very practical, and recently bought a larger one that works so much better for me. They were my first designer pieces, and I LOVE it. I’m now saving up to add more of the expensive pieces to my wardrobe, with my cheaper clothes… (I still consider Abercrombie to retain some quality, though… Not sure if that’s accurate or not, but I love their clothes because they FIT me!)
I have yet, however, to splurge on jeans… The most expensive pair in my closet was $50 wide leg American Eagle jeans. I would love to buy a pair of Seven jeans, but I dunno how I’d ever not feel guilty over the price. 😉
I agree. I wouldn’t know what I’d love long enough to spend a lot.
I love this topic, I was going to write a comment but it got so long I’m turning it into a post. I think the quality vs quantity idea is something that is really easy to struggle with because you have to decide where you want to start and how much you are willing to spend. I tend to be a spendthrift (for the most part) on what I’ll be wearing just because I know I will eventually have to replace them.
[…] Filed under fashion, personal finance and tagged: fashion, personal finance So I was just reading Well Heeled which happens to be a blog I like a lot and she had a post on this great topic about Quality vs […]
I’m a guy who enjoys fashion and I’m NOT gay. I really like quality AND quantity. I don’t need really high end things but I find some great deals at Thrift and Resale Shops. And, online. Ebay’s a great place for deals. I check often because I never know what people are selling. Buying used is insurance for my budget. I like to look nice but not spend too much to do it.
Jerry
http://www.leads4insurance.com