Would you spend $395 on a sweater?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's get real, people. With the exception of those who are truly poor, pretty much everyone splurges on something at some time or another. It's just a matter of your poison. Great wine, date nights at a fancy restaurant, nice vacations, a new kitchen, and pricey Starbucks lattes every morning when you could just as easily drink instant. OP just happens to like nice clothes.

But didn't you hear about the rule #15 of DCUM? You are not allowed to splurge on clothing - ever! Food, vacations, furniture - yes. Clothing - no!

Because, see, when it comes to clothing, price means nothing. Better food is more expensive, sure, and likewise for better housing, hotels etc. But when it comes to clothing, $300 sweater is the same as $30 sweater.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:No, I wouldn't, but we have not finished saving for our kids' college educations.

Wow...so, you'll look like a hag until your kids' college funds are fully funded?

Um, the opposite of not buying a $400 sweater isn't looking like a hag. Get a grip, PP. Plenty of people look fantastic in clothes that cost less than three digits.

Not in this area. Sacrificial lambs rarely look good.

WTF are you talking about?

I rarely spend more than $50 on one clothing item and I'm pretty sure I look like neither a hag nor a "sacrificial lamb." When I go to the store I see no discernible difference between Levi's jeans and $200 ones. We do not live in an age where luxury items reflect quality or sophistication (see gaudy Coach bags etc.), although this "yak" sweater appears to be the exception (?!). Almost everything is made in the same few factories in China. People compliment a blouse I bought for $6 at Macy's every time I wear it. I would rather make my own clothes if I had to than buy this over-priced status item crap.

Agree with PP here. Would also add that people with truely great taste and fashion sense can make something that they got for $5 at a thrift store look like a $500 purchase. With the exception of haute couture, it's rare that price equals really unique style, cut, or quality.

Moreover, I was a designer for a high-end, off-the-rack, brand for several years and the manufacturers we used also produced lower-end brands. In the same factories often using the exact techniques and processes. It's very rare that price equates to quality in the fashion world, especially off the rack (though there are certainly exceptions). Honestly, most of the people who pay big bucks for clothes are suckers.

A thrift store find is not the same as buying a shirt with a retail value of $5. In fact, many thrift stores have name brand items for less. Your comparison fails.

Duh, that's exactly my point, Einstein. How much you spend doesn't equate to the quality. It can be a $5 purchase or a $50 purchase and still look phenonmenal. Your reading comprehension fails.

No, yours fail. You make the assertion that a $5 thrift store find can be made to look like a $500 purchase. How about because sometimes thrift stores carry name brands? Not that hard to make something look designer, if it is, in fact designer. Dumbass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:fyi: that sweater and other vince sweaters can be purchased directly from their website with a coupon of $50 off, free shipping, and no taxes! hello my new sweater its going to be a warm and cozy winter.

Oooh! Good to know. I'm heading there now to check out the Vince sweater I've been stalking!

[Anonymous]

Does anyone knit? I'm making basically this sweater right now: http://www.vince.com/honeycomb-turtleneck-sweater/invt/vnv063974510/&bklist=icat,4,shop,women,wsweaters

[Anonymous]

Looks like this is the yarn that was used:
http://www.paradisefibers.com/bijou-basin-50-50-yak-cormo-wool-blend-yarn.html

Now if I could just find the dream pattern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I wouldn't, but we have not finished saving for our kids' college educations.

Wow...so, you'll look like a hag until your kids' college funds are fully funded?

Um, the opposite of not buying a $400 sweater isn't looking like a hag. Get a grip, PP. Plenty of people look fantastic in clothes that cost less than three digits.

Not in this area. Sacrificial lambs rarely look good.

WTF are you talking about?

I rarely spend more than $50 on one clothing item and I'm pretty sure I look like neither a hag nor a "sacrificial lamb." When I go to the store I see no discernible difference between Levi's jeans and $200 ones. We do not live in an age where luxury items reflect quality or sophistication (see gaudy Coach bags etc.), although this "yak" sweater appears to be the exception (?!). Almost everything is made in the same few factories in China. People compliment a blouse I bought for $6 at Macy's every time I wear it. I would rather make my own clothes if I had to than buy this over-priced status item crap.

Agree with PP here. Would also add that people with truely great taste and fashion sense can make something that they got for $5 at a thrift store look like a $500 purchase. With the exception of haute couture, it's rare that price equals really unique style, cut, or quality.

Moreover, I was a designer for a high-end, off-the-rack, brand for several years and the manufacturers we used also produced lower-end brands. In the same factories often using the exact techniques and processes. It's very rare that price equates to quality in the fashion world, especially off the rack (though there are certainly exceptions). Honestly, most of the people who pay big bucks for clothes are suckers.

A thrift store find is not the same as buying a shirt with a retail value of $5. In fact, many thrift stores have name brand items for less. Your comparison fails.

Duh, that's exactly my point, Einstein. How much you spend doesn't equate to the quality. It can be a $5 purchase or a $50 purchase and still look phenonmenal. Your reading comprehension fails.

No, yours fail. You make the assertion that a $5 thrift store find can be made to look like a $500 purchase. How about because sometimes thrift stores carry name brands? Not that hard to make something look designer, if it is, in fact designer. Dumbass.

What is wrong with you? Why are you so angry? Do you think that because an item has a "designer" label on it, then it is automatically, objectively better? Because the whole point here is that low-cost things can look just as good, whether they are designer or not. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's half my weekly income. I would not spend that much on a sweater or any other article of clothing.

Well, then that's smart of you considering your income. But say you made, $395 in 2 hours, would you spend that much on a sweater?

I don't think I would do it. In times where I've made more money or had a lot of money to spend on clothes, I still don't spend a lot. I know how to make clothes and would rather make what is too expensive in the store. Jeans and swimsuits are not easily made, which is why they have a higher limit, but still not anywhere near $400. I avoid paying full price.

[Anonymous]

I want to buy that wool
And the sweater that the op was considering is not that pricey. Any kind of @coat that you buy that has wool lining will be double the price of a regular fashion item. Quality costs, as do expensive materials. The sweater in question is fairly large and will have needed a lot of yarn. The wool used is 50% yak wool and 50% real wool. The garment is lightweight and very warm. It is warmer than a traditional winter coat and also breathes, ie. You will not sweat when you go from outdoors to indoors. It will most certainly last for years, and the design is classic

I really like it and am considering getting the yarn to make one for myself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I wouldn't, but we have not finished saving for our kids' college educations.

Wow...so, you'll look like a hag until your kids' college funds are fully funded?

Um, the opposite of not buying a $400 sweater isn't looking like a hag. Get a grip, PP. Plenty of people look fantastic in clothes that cost less than three digits.

Not in this area. Sacrificial lambs rarely look good.

WTF are you talking about?

I rarely spend more than $50 on one clothing item and I'm pretty sure I look like neither a hag nor a "sacrificial lamb." When I go to the store I see no discernible difference between Levi's jeans and $200 ones. We do not live in an age where luxury items reflect quality or sophistication (see gaudy Coach bags etc.), although this "yak" sweater appears to be the exception (?!). Almost everything is made in the same few factories in China. People compliment a blouse I bought for $6 at Macy's every time I wear it. I would rather make my own clothes if I had to than buy this over-priced status item crap.

Agree with PP here. Would also add that people with truely great taste and fashion sense can make something that they got for $5 at a thrift store look like a $500 purchase. With the exception of haute couture, it's rare that price equals really unique style, cut, or quality.

Moreover, I was a designer for a high-end, off-the-rack, brand for several years and the manufacturers we used also produced lower-end brands. In the same factories often using the exact techniques and processes. It's very rare that price equates to quality in the fashion world, especially off the rack (though there are certainly exceptions). Honestly, most of the people who pay big bucks for clothes are suckers.

A thrift store find is not the same as buying a shirt with a retail value of $5. In fact, many thrift stores have name brand items for less. Your comparison fails.

Duh, that's exactly my point, Einstein. How much you spend doesn't equate to the quality. It can be a $5 purchase or a $50 purchase and still look phenonmenal. Your reading comprehension fails.

No, yours fail. You make the assertion that a $5 thrift store find can be made to look like a $500 purchase. How about because sometimes thrift stores carry name brands? Not that hard to make something look designer, if it is, in fact designer. Dumbass.

What is wrong with you? Why are you so angry? Do you think that because an item has a "designer" label on it, then it is automatically, objectively better? Because the whole point here is that low-cost things can look just as good, whether they are designer or not. Sheesh.

I'm not angry. But when you start with the insults "(Einstein") don't clutch your pearls when you get back a snarky response......and you still don't get it about the whole thrift store thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is what people mean when they talk about investing in expensive clothes.

PP, your point about high quality garments/clothing being an investment is well-taken.

You cannot, however, assume an item will hold up several years by price tag alone. That $395 sweater jacket shown was made in China, no?

This was my first thought. It's just another 'Made in China' item.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like this is the yarn that was used:
http://www.paradisefibers.com/bijou-basin-50-50-yak-cormo-wool-blend-yarn.html

Now if I could just find the dream pattern

http://brooklyntweed.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_4&products_id=145

I'm making this right now. It looks like one of the Vince sweaters on their website. Granted I got the yarn that goes with this sweater, so it's still not a cheap sweater, but it is beautiful and it's a quick fun knit.

[Anonymous]

We have a HHI of $90k and it would have to be north of $900k for that kind of purchase to be rationalized. Of course, if you have $900k coming in, this sweater is for you!

[Anonymous]

It is a nice sweater. Kind of trendy. But if you love it, why not? Expensive things that you wear a lot are worth it if you can afford it. Enjoy your shopping.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read this whole thread (sorry, but you guys do go on and on sometimes!) but has anyone had the guts to mention that paying $400 for a sweater is just plain obscene? Outrageous conspicuous consumption? It's like the person with over 100 pairs of shoes. Sure, we all have things that we don't actually NEED but that's a lot of money for a sweater. A sweater. Wow. Did you know there are kids in this city who are hungry when they go to bed at night?

[Anonymous]

Never. Ever.