The most cost-per-wear bang-for-your-buck items you own

[Anonymous]

Top: comfy oversized sweatshirts from anywhere - just needs to be 100% cotton
Bottom: Faherty wide leg jeans - love these!!
Dress: Theory shift dresses
Jacket: Burberry wool purchased 20 years ago
Shoes: Vince sneakers are very comfy. Guiseppe Zanotti crystal slides - purchased on sale at NM.
Purse: Chanel camera bag. Coach rogue
Jewelry: smaller diamond studs I never take off. Cartier watch/Chanel J12

[Anonymous]

Top: for cold weather, a soft, soft alpaca blend sweater by Lieblingsstück (about $80). For summer, a cotton boat neck 3/4 sleeve tee from Uniqlo ($20).

Bottom: Hudson high-waist wide-leg jeans ($30 from nordstrom rack) with just the right amount of stretch. Summer pants are flowy linen, high-waist black pants ($20 from amazon)

Dress: Quince black silk maxi dress. ($130) I’m a pants person, but this is a simple, versatile, flattering dress.

Jacket: A butter-soft leather jacket from Buffalo Exchange, ($50 new with tags), I’ve had it for over 10 years and wear it all fall long. Honorable mentions go to my cashmere Willard coat ($300), which elicits compliments whenever I wear it, and my trusty & warm Carhartt cold weather coat ($130) with countless pockets.

Shoes: Arche oxfords (~$250 in 2013). Slightly sexy workhorses.

Purse: A large-ish green leather bag I bought in Florence some years ago. I love the color and the size and how the leather has evolved. ($150-200)

Jewelry: Super special silver earrings I bought at a consignment store in 2007 ($11). I’ve worn them multiple times per week for the past 18+ years, so cost per wear is $.0025 and dropping.

[Anonymous]

I have two Max Mara coats that I will never get sick of wearing. They upgrade any winter outfit.

[Anonymous]

Hermès Kelly 28 Togo Black w/ Palladium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't cost per wear and bang-for-your-buck opposites? The greater your bang for your buck, the lower the cost per wear, right?

With that in mind, I'd say the best bang-for my-buck, lowest cost per wear items in my closet are:

a great pair of Citizens jeans that I picked up at an end-of-season sale at a small shop on Cape Cod; mid-wash with a slight flare

Blundstone boots -- paid full price, but they are super-comfortable and have a beautiful worn-in patina

Gola trainers in suede bought on sale in London in March 2020

black velvet pumps from Loeffler Randall -- versatile and comfortable, bought on sale

black silk pants with a slight flair that travel beautifully and can dress up a t-shirt and flip-flops in a hot minute, purchased on sale from Eileen Fisher -- their sales are amazing

LBD from Joseph Ribkoff, incredibly versatile -- I've worn it to funerals and weddings; purchased at end of season sale on Cape Cod (see above re Citizens jeans)

navy v-neck cashmere sweater from Uniqlo -- it never pills and fits beautifully

black boiled wool coat from J Crew -- paid full price but it was worth it; the coat fits perfectly is excellent quality and looks good with dresses, jeans or trousers

Eileen Fisher pleated silk, sleeveless maxi dress -- bought for a wedding and paid full price, but I wear it at least once weekly in the warm weather, so the cost per wear is very low

navy silk Ralph Lauren wrap dress, thrifted at church rummage sale -- it fits perfectly and is always suitable for virtually any work or social occasion, e.g., Easter, Mother's Day brunch, reception at work conference, etc., etc., etc.

black corduroy pull-on pants from Avenue Montaigne -- again, super-versatile, beautiful fabric -- purchased from going-out-of-business sale in Guilford, CT, when we stopped for lunch on the way back from the Cape

lessons for me: versatility is the Holy Grail! Also, always shop at the beach!

This is very millennial. Are you 45?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are mine!

Top: Falconeri Flat-Rib Ultrafine Cashmere Turtleneck (I have this sweater in six colors and wear it at least once per week from September to May)

Bottom: Escada Denim Godet Maxi Skirt (vintage, purchased on Poshmark)

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Green Silk Wrap Dress (vintage, purchased at Secondi)

Jacket/Coat: Cinzia Rocca Chocolate Brown Double-Breasted Wool and Llama Maxi Coat, vintage, purchased at Goodwill)

Shoes: Gucci Black 1953 Horsebit Loafers

Purse: Mark Cross Black Top Handle Bag and Coach Black Willis Bag (both vintage and purchased at Goodwill)

Jewelry: Mejuri Large Diamond Stud Earrings

I'd love to hear your top 5 vintage/thrift shopping tips!

Sure, I’m happy to share!

1. Decide on some rules and follow them to save time, energy, and money. Here are mine: 1) nothing outside my color palette, 2) no synthetic materials, including blends, 3) no stains, and 4) nothing that would require an enormous amount of tailoring in order to fit properly. I also have rule 5) no prints, but will occasionally relax that one for a special piece. Sticking to my rules means I can immediately eliminate 99% of the inventory in any thrift or consignment store, which saves time and allows me to focus on a few specific pieces.

2. Study clothing materials and construction. I can run my hand down a packed rack and pick out the only silk blouse, a handmade mohair sweater, etc. My mother and grandmother passed down knowledge about fabrics, clothing construction, and fit, but I mostly learned on my own. One book I recommend is Secondhand Chic by Christa Weil. Some of the information is outdated, but she does a solid job outlining the “tells” of a high-quality garment.

3. Secondhand shopping is a number game. When thrifting, I visit multiple stores so will plot my route in advance on Google Maps. Once I’m in a store, I visit sections in this specific order: 1) coats & outerwear, 2) blazer & jackets, 3) sweaters, 4) handbags, 5) scarves and belts, and 6) skirts. The rationale behind the order is that I want to maximize the gap between what a thrifted find is worth (because of the materials, construction, and fit) and what I paid for it. For example, I bought a beautiful green Bally wool coat a few years ago for less than $50. Similar coats retail for over $2,000 (out of my budget - I work in education), so that was a great score. On the other hand, buying a thrifted cotton tee for $7 when I could get a new one from Uniqlo for $15 isn’t worth my time, and a Uniqlo tee already fits comfortably within my budget. I prioritize searching through big-ticket items (coats, bags, etc.) to maximize my chance of scoring a deal. I don’t bother looking through jeans or pants because I’m 5’11” and everything is too short, but skirts are relatively easy to tailor. If I have time to kill because my husband is still looking around (he loves to thrift but is much slower than me), then I’ll walk through blouses or dresses.

4. Assemble a team of professionals to call on when a thrifted find needs some TLC. Here’s my team: tailor (Cheryl Lofton), dry cleaner (Parkway for couture, Besson’s for everything else), cobbler (George on U Street), fur cleaning and repair (Miller’s), and leather work (Bedo’s). Minor changes like raising a hemline, swapping out buttons, etc. can make a huge difference. You already saved money shopping secondhand - don’t be afraid to spend a bit more to make a thrifted find perfect for you.

5. Know your measurements! Vintage sizing is wildly different from today’s vanity sizing, but you can thrift online with confidence if you know the dimensions of your body. I use Poshmark, The RealReal, and sometimes eBay.

[Anonymous]

I have a suede DKNY jacket I bought for 90% off when a store was closing in the 90s for like $20 so definitely good bang for the buck but I can only wear it when the weather is perfect!

Levi’s bootcut are very good bang for buck.

My LL bean boots I bought in 1993 very good bang for buck — will need to retire them this year as the tread is gone.

grey cashmere crewneck for nordstrom that is great bang for buck — can easily dress it up or down and layer it under jackets or whatever. For whatever reason grey is just a very flexible color. Can look like a dressy sweatshirt or like a very professional color palette.

[Anonymous]

Vuori joggers. I have about 5 pairs that I bought before the quality tanked that get so much wear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a suede DKNY jacket I bought for 90% off when a store was closing in the 90s for like $20 so definitely good bang for the buck but I can only wear it when the weather is perfect!

Levi’s bootcut are very good bang for buck.

My LL bean boots I bought in 1993 very good bang for buck — will need to retire them this year as the tread is gone.

grey cashmere crewneck for nordstrom that is great bang for buck — can easily dress it up or down and layer it under jackets or whatever. For whatever reason grey is just a very flexible color. Can look like a dressy sweatshirt or like a very professional color palette.

NP. I believe LL Bean will retread your old boots for you! Not sure how that works, but saw something online about it and it caught my attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are mine!

Top: Falconeri Flat-Rib Ultrafine Cashmere Turtleneck (I have this sweater in six colors and wear it at least once per week from September to May)

Bottom: Escada Denim Godet Maxi Skirt (vintage, purchased on Poshmark)

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Green Silk Wrap Dress (vintage, purchased at Secondi)

Jacket/Coat: Cinzia Rocca Chocolate Brown Double-Breasted Wool and Llama Maxi Coat, vintage, purchased at Goodwill)

Shoes: Gucci Black 1953 Horsebit Loafers

Purse: Mark Cross Black Top Handle Bag and Coach Black Willis Bag (both vintage and purchased at Goodwill)

Jewelry: Mejuri Large Diamond Stud Earrings

I'd love to hear your top 5 vintage/thrift shopping tips!

Sure, I’m happy to share!

1. Decide on some rules and follow them to save time, energy, and money. Here are mine: 1) nothing outside my color palette, 2) no synthetic materials, including blends, 3) no stains, and 4) nothing that would require an enormous amount of tailoring in order to fit properly. I also have rule 5) no prints, but will occasionally relax that one for a special piece. Sticking to my rules means I can immediately eliminate 99% of the inventory in any thrift or consignment store, which saves time and allows me to focus on a few specific pieces.

2. Study clothing materials and construction. I can run my hand down a packed rack and pick out the only silk blouse, a handmade mohair sweater, etc. My mother and grandmother passed down knowledge about fabrics, clothing construction, and fit, but I mostly learned on my own. One book I recommend is Secondhand Chic by Christa Weil. Some of the information is outdated, but she does a solid job outlining the “tells” of a high-quality garment.

3. Secondhand shopping is a number game. When thrifting, I visit multiple stores so will plot my route in advance on Google Maps. Once I’m in a store, I visit sections in this specific order: 1) coats & outerwear, 2) blazer & jackets, 3) sweaters, 4) handbags, 5) scarves and belts, and 6) skirts. The rationale behind the order is that I want to maximize the gap between what a thrifted find is worth (because of the materials, construction, and fit) and what I paid for it. For example, I bought a beautiful green Bally wool coat a few years ago for less than $50. Similar coats retail for over $2,000 (out of my budget - I work in education), so that was a great score. On the other hand, buying a thrifted cotton tee for $7 when I could get a new one from Uniqlo for $15 isn’t worth my time, and a Uniqlo tee already fits comfortably within my budget. I prioritize searching through big-ticket items (coats, bags, etc.) to maximize my chance of scoring a deal. I don’t bother looking through jeans or pants because I’m 5’11” and everything is too short, but skirts are relatively easy to tailor. If I have time to kill because my husband is still looking around (he loves to thrift but is much slower than me), then I’ll walk through blouses or dresses.

4. Assemble a team of professionals to call on when a thrifted find needs some TLC. Here’s my team: tailor (Cheryl Lofton), dry cleaner (Parkway for couture, Besson’s for everything else), cobbler (George on U Street), fur cleaning and repair (Miller’s), and leather work (Bedo’s). Minor changes like raising a hemline, swapping out buttons, etc. can make a huge difference. You already saved money shopping secondhand - don’t be afraid to spend a bit more to make a thrifted find perfect for you.

5. Know your measurements! Vintage sizing is wildly different from today’s vanity sizing, but you can thrift online with confidence if you know the dimensions of your body. I use Poshmark, The RealReal, and sometimes eBay.

Interesting, I am a dedicated thrifter, and I have a very similar approach, including starting with coats. I would add: know your stores. I tend to find my gems in the same places over and over.

[Anonymous]

It changes seasonally but for right now:

Top: Pearl by Lela Rose black sweater turtleneck with cream trim
Bottom: Vince black wide leg pants
Dress: Vince black dress with long sleeves with a tie belt
Jacket: Taupe/black Zara jacket
Shoes: chloe ballet flats (different colors)
Purse: The Row taupe medium n/s tote
Jewelry: diamond studs, cartier ballon bleu watch, and e-ring/wedding band

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are mine!

Top: Falconeri Flat-Rib Ultrafine Cashmere Turtleneck (I have this sweater in six colors and wear it at least once per week from September to May)

Bottom: Escada Denim Godet Maxi Skirt (vintage, purchased on Poshmark)

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Green Silk Wrap Dress (vintage, purchased at Secondi)

Jacket/Coat: Cinzia Rocca Chocolate Brown Double-Breasted Wool and Llama Maxi Coat, vintage, purchased at Goodwill)

Shoes: Gucci Black 1953 Horsebit Loafers

Purse: Mark Cross Black Top Handle Bag and Coach Black Willis Bag (both vintage and purchased at Goodwill)

Jewelry: Mejuri Large Diamond Stud Earrings

I'd love to hear your top 5 vintage/thrift shopping tips!

Sure, I’m happy to share!

1. Decide on some rules and follow them to save time, energy, and money. Here are mine: 1) nothing outside my color palette, 2) no synthetic materials, including blends, 3) no stains, and 4) nothing that would require an enormous amount of tailoring in order to fit properly. I also have rule 5) no prints, but will occasionally relax that one for a special piece. Sticking to my rules means I can immediately eliminate 99% of the inventory in any thrift or consignment store, which saves time and allows me to focus on a few specific pieces.

2. Study clothing materials and construction. I can run my hand down a packed rack and pick out the only silk blouse, a handmade mohair sweater, etc. My mother and grandmother passed down knowledge about fabrics, clothing construction, and fit, but I mostly learned on my own. One book I recommend is Secondhand Chic by Christa Weil. Some of the information is outdated, but she does a solid job outlining the “tells” of a high-quality garment.

3. Secondhand shopping is a number game. When thrifting, I visit multiple stores so will plot my route in advance on Google Maps. Once I’m in a store, I visit sections in this specific order: 1) coats & outerwear, 2) blazer & jackets, 3) sweaters, 4) handbags, 5) scarves and belts, and 6) skirts. The rationale behind the order is that I want to maximize the gap between what a thrifted find is worth (because of the materials, construction, and fit) and what I paid for it. For example, I bought a beautiful green Bally wool coat a few years ago for less than $50. Similar coats retail for over $2,000 (out of my budget - I work in education), so that was a great score. On the other hand, buying a thrifted cotton tee for $7 when I could get a new one from Uniqlo for $15 isn’t worth my time, and a Uniqlo tee already fits comfortably within my budget. I prioritize searching through big-ticket items (coats, bags, etc.) to maximize my chance of scoring a deal. I don’t bother looking through jeans or pants because I’m 5’11” and everything is too short, but skirts are relatively easy to tailor. If I have time to kill because my husband is still looking around (he loves to thrift but is much slower than me), then I’ll walk through blouses or dresses.

4. Assemble a team of professionals to call on when a thrifted find needs some TLC. Here’s my team: tailor (Cheryl Lofton), dry cleaner (Parkway for couture, Besson’s for everything else), cobbler (George on U Street), fur cleaning and repair (Miller’s), and leather work (Bedo’s). Minor changes like raising a hemline, swapping out buttons, etc. can make a huge difference. You already saved money shopping secondhand - don’t be afraid to spend a bit more to make a thrifted find perfect for you.

5. Know your measurements! Vintage sizing is wildly different from today’s vanity sizing, but you can thrift online with confidence if you know the dimensions of your body. I use Poshmark, The RealReal, and sometimes eBay.

Interesting, I am a dedicated thrifter, and I have a very similar approach, including starting with coats. I would add: know your stores. I tend to find my gems in the same places over and over.

Thrifted coats for the win! What’s been your best outerwear find?

[Anonymous]

RICH BICHES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't cost per wear and bang-for-your-buck opposites? The greater your bang for your buck, the lower the cost per wear, right?

With that in mind, I'd say the best bang-for my-buck, lowest cost per wear items in my closet are:

a great pair of Citizens jeans that I picked up at an end-of-season sale at a small shop on Cape Cod; mid-wash with a slight flare

Blundstone boots -- paid full price, but they are super-comfortable and have a beautiful worn-in patina

Gola trainers in suede bought on sale in London in March 2020

black velvet pumps from Loeffler Randall -- versatile and comfortable, bought on sale

black silk pants with a slight flair that travel beautifully and can dress up a t-shirt and flip-flops in a hot minute, purchased on sale from Eileen Fisher -- their sales are amazing

LBD from Joseph Ribkoff, incredibly versatile -- I've worn it to funerals and weddings; purchased at end of season sale on Cape Cod (see above re Citizens jeans)

navy v-neck cashmere sweater from Uniqlo -- it never pills and fits beautifully

black boiled wool coat from J Crew -- paid full price but it was worth it; the coat fits perfectly is excellent quality and looks good with dresses, jeans or trousers

Eileen Fisher pleated silk, sleeveless maxi dress -- bought for a wedding and paid full price, but I wear it at least once weekly in the warm weather, so the cost per wear is very low

navy silk Ralph Lauren wrap dress, thrifted at church rummage sale -- it fits perfectly and is always suitable for virtually any work or social occasion, e.g., Easter, Mother's Day brunch, reception at work conference, etc., etc., etc.

black corduroy pull-on pants from Avenue Montaigne -- again, super-versatile, beautiful fabric -- purchased from going-out-of-business sale in Guilford, CT, when we stopped for lunch on the way back from the Cape

lessons for me: versatility is the Holy Grail! Also, always shop at the beach!

Every time someone gushes about Eileen Fisher, I go to look at their stuff and I'm confused. Do you mean this dress? For a wedding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't cost per wear and bang-for-your-buck opposites? The greater your bang for your buck, the lower the cost per wear, right?

With that in mind, I'd say the best bang-for my-buck, lowest cost per wear items in my closet are:

a great pair of Citizens jeans that I picked up at an end-of-season sale at a small shop on Cape Cod; mid-wash with a slight flare

Blundstone boots -- paid full price, but they are super-comfortable and have a beautiful worn-in patina

Gola trainers in suede bought on sale in London in March 2020

black velvet pumps from Loeffler Randall -- versatile and comfortable, bought on sale

black silk pants with a slight flair that travel beautifully and can dress up a t-shirt and flip-flops in a hot minute, purchased on sale from Eileen Fisher -- their sales are amazing

LBD from Joseph Ribkoff, incredibly versatile -- I've worn it to funerals and weddings; purchased at end of season sale on Cape Cod (see above re Citizens jeans)

navy v-neck cashmere sweater from Uniqlo -- it never pills and fits beautifully

black boiled wool coat from J Crew -- paid full price but it was worth it; the coat fits perfectly is excellent quality and looks good with dresses, jeans or trousers

Eileen Fisher pleated silk, sleeveless maxi dress -- bought for a wedding and paid full price, but I wear it at least once weekly in the warm weather, so the cost per wear is very low

navy silk Ralph Lauren wrap dress, thrifted at church rummage sale -- it fits perfectly and is always suitable for virtually any work or social occasion, e.g., Easter, Mother's Day brunch, reception at work conference, etc., etc., etc.

black corduroy pull-on pants from Avenue Montaigne -- again, super-versatile, beautiful fabric -- purchased from going-out-of-business sale in Guilford, CT, when we stopped for lunch on the way back from the Cape

lessons for me: versatility is the Holy Grail! Also, always shop at the beach!

Every time someone gushes about Eileen Fisher, I go to look at their stuff and I'm confused. Do you mean this dress? For a wedding?

Be nice. If you have any sense of imagination you could make that work for a wedding that’s not black tie. It wouldn’t be my choice, but I could style it to work for an event.