To the posters spending $10k a year on clothing...

[Anonymous]

I find it extremely difficult to believe that anyone can dress in a way that's professional and well put-together on a clothing budget of $200/year.

[Anonymous]

I wear business casual for work and generally casual at home. I have a few more formal dresses and outfits for weddings and special occasions. I don't own a purse that costs more than $150 and my most expensive shoes are probably around that amount too.

I probably spend about 2k/yr on clothing and accessories for myself.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the big spenders for stimulating the economy!

I don't have the income to shop as much as I want, but I opt for consignment more often than not (again, thanks!). I spend about $1K on clothes per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never been able to tell looking at the people in my life, who is wearing a 10k a year wardrobe and who is wearing 1k a year... and I know how to sew and grew up with a seamstress, so I know the differences between quality fabrics, well-made clothes, etc. The only things I recognize are gaudy expensive handbags because they have logos all over them.

This is just naive. Seriously you can't tell the difference between a quality wool suit and a polyester one? Or between unlined pants and lined pants? As for the handbags most nice leather bags look it vs. pleather or worn totes or those dump Longchamp totes that are so popular.

No I can't tell. Same with wine. Could be a $10 or $100 bottle and I wouldn't know the difference.

[Anonymous]

I can't afford to but I could easily spend 50k per year. I could spend 10k in one day Bloomingdales in friendship heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And what do you do with the clothes you own? Do you just get rid of them? Or are there more and more clothes in your closets etc? I'm serious.

Keep them. I have hundreds of pieces of clothing. I also gain or lose 15 pounds, unfortunately, so I have clothing anywhere from size 8 to size 12 in my closet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't afford to but I could easily spend 50k per year. I could spend 10k in one day Bloomingdales in friendship heights.

Me too! I've never added it up and am sure I spend more on clothing than I realize, but I'd guess the amount would be around $3,000 for myself. DH easily spends this amount or more on work clothes. He buys custom shirts and either custom or designer (Hickey Freeman) suits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't afford to but I could easily spend 50k per year. I could spend 10k in one day Bloomingdales in friendship heights.

Me too. One can dream....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never been able to tell looking at the people in my life, who is wearing a 10k a year wardrobe and who is wearing 1k a year... and I know how to sew and grew up with a seamstress, so I know the differences between quality fabrics, well-made clothes, etc. The only things I recognize are gaudy expensive handbags because they have logos all over them.

This is just naive. Seriously you can't tell the difference between a quality wool suit and a polyester one? Or between unlined pants and lined pants? As for the handbags most nice leather bags look it vs. pleather or worn totes or those dump Longchamp totes that are so popular.

No I can't tell. Same with wine. Could be a $10 or $100 bottle and I wouldn't know the difference.

Out of curiosity, what types of things can you discern value differences for? Did you grow up poor, or just with parents who didn't point out indicia of quality to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never been able to tell looking at the people in my life, who is wearing a 10k a year wardrobe and who is wearing 1k a year... and I know how to sew and grew up with a seamstress, so I know the differences between quality fabrics, well-made clothes, etc. The only things I recognize are gaudy expensive handbags because they have logos all over them.

This is just naive. Seriously you can't tell the difference between a quality wool suit and a polyester one? Or between unlined pants and lined pants? As for the handbags most nice leather bags look it vs. pleather or worn totes or those dump Longchamp totes that are so popular.

No I can't tell. Same with wine. Could be a $10 or $100 bottle and I wouldn't know the difference.

Out of curiosity, what types of things can you discern value differences for? Did you grow up poor, or just with parents who didn't point out indicia of quality to you?

Wow PP. I didn't grow up poor but even among good brands there are differences in quality. Personally, I like Brooks Brothers Outlet for my shirts/sweaters and I buy pants from Dress Barn. I spend maybe $2K per year.

[Anonymous]

I spend a lot because I ONLY wear dresses when I'm out and I only wear each one 2-3 times before retiring it. This means I'm always buying a new dress. I always buy on sale but it still adds up. Worth every penny to feel great though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never been able to tell looking at the people in my life, who is wearing a 10k a year wardrobe and who is wearing 1k a year... and I know how to sew and grew up with a seamstress, so I know the differences between quality fabrics, well-made clothes, etc. The only things I recognize are gaudy expensive handbags because they have logos all over them.

This is just naive. Seriously you can't tell the difference between a quality wool suit and a polyester one? Or between unlined pants and lined pants? As for the handbags most nice leather bags look it vs. pleather or worn totes or those dump Longchamp totes that are so popular.

No I can't tell. Same with wine. Could be a $10 or $100 bottle and I wouldn't know the difference.

Out of curiosity, what types of things can you discern value differences for? Did you grow up poor, or just with parents who didn't point out indicia of quality to you?

Wow PP. I didn't grow up poor but even among good brands there are differences in quality. Personally, I like Brooks Brothers Outlet for my shirts/sweaters and I buy pants from Dress Barn. I spend maybe $2K per year.

I am the original pp (who grew up with a seamstress) and to me the issue isn't that high-quality clothes aren't worth the expense, but that there's very little out there that's actually high-quality. When I go to a department store and compare a fancier brand dress that is $300 with a cheaper one that is $70, I don't really see much of a difference in quality, fabric, sewing, anything. It wasn't that long ago that a nice leather bag was $100, prices are just insanely inflated. Luxury appears to mean very little at this point. And as far as purses and such, I see brand purses that are pvc being sold for $400 as well. If you search, you could find higher-quality items on sale that were cheaper to begin with by looking at the material and quality of the sewing. My favorite cardigan, which is made of high-quality cotton and has kept well for years, was $10 in the junior's section. And if you are one of the few who makes an effort to buy wool suits, lined pants, leather bags, etc., you most definitely should not be spending 10k a year. Those items should hold well for years and you shouldn't be buying very much year to year.

[Anonymous]

OP, look for a few good brands that generally flatter your figure and work with your lifestyle, then go to a store and find someone who will help you -- Bloomingdales in Friendship Hts has good sales associates, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never been able to tell looking at the people in my life, who is wearing a 10k a year wardrobe and who is wearing 1k a year... and I know how to sew and grew up with a seamstress, so I know the differences between quality fabrics, well-made clothes, etc. The only things I recognize are gaudy expensive handbags because they have logos all over them.

This is just naive. Seriously you can't tell the difference between a quality wool suit and a polyester one? Or between unlined pants and lined pants? As for the handbags most nice leather bags look it vs. pleather or worn totes or those dump Longchamp totes that are so popular.

NP here. I can't tell either. Can you really tell by looking at pants whether they are lined or not? And if they are not, do you deem the wearer to be a cheap bumpkin? Yow, I am in trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And what do you do with the clothes you own? Do you just get rid of them? Or are there more and more clothes in your closets etc? I'm serious.

Keep them. I have hundreds of pieces of clothing. I also gain or lose 15 pounds, unfortunately, so I have clothing anywhere from size 8 to size 12 in my closet.

Your closet must be really big..