Why do Women spend less on fashion as they age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-do-women-spend-less-on-fashion-after-45-1459983312?mod=e2fb


"Women’s spending on apparel peaks at age 44 and then enters a long slump, according to a Goldman Sachs research report. The question is, why?

Why would a woman’s enthusiasm for fashion slow just as her household income is reaching its highest level and her career and social requirements are at their most demanding?"

I think its because women begin to lose their looks and their interest in fashion drops too.

In my case, it's partly because I am paying for college now and can't afford to shop as much these days. And it's partly because I think so much of what I see in the stores is dreck.

But I also find that I am just weary of the bullshit. Time is precious. Do I really want to spend it thinking about whether I should be wearing boot cuts or skinnies, low-cut or high-waist? What a fucking bore.

And, as the report notes, I'm at my highest level. I no longer need to dress for the job I want. I have the job I want, and I'm damn good at it, thankyouverymuch, and now I'm the one who gets to decide what I think a person in this job should look like.

You go!

[Anonymous]

I would buy something if there was anything interesting to buy!

[Anonymous]

In my 20's I was all about buying the latest fashions. Now I'm in my late 30's and I'm more concerned with saving my money or spending it on travel. I regret not saving more in my 20's...blowing so much on fashion was a waste.

[Anonymous]

"Lose their looks"? Where? In the checkout line at whole foods? At the bus stop?

I haven't "lost my looks." I still have a face, and people still look at it.

I think there is a huge market gap for well-made well-fitting clothes for diverse body types and a diverse customer age base. I think the clothing industry has a marketing failure. They've spent so much time on making fashion something you are supposed to do to "fix" yourself, and using an aspirational model of marketing, that they've missed a huge chunk of market share.

[Anonymous]

I still buy clothes as I do care what I look like and doubt I will ever stop caring.

-- 45 and will go to the grave stylishly dressed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I don't look half as good in those clothes like I did when I was young!

For me it is this to an extent. But also, not only income peaks but also expenditures or prospect of expenditures (kids, looming college expenses, etc). by 44 I have lots of pieces that I accumulated over the years that I do not need to buy every single year again, and shoes for occasions that also I do not need to buy annually. And last, I do not have as many opportunities to "show off" my clothes, if at 22 I used to go out 2-3 times per week + weekend, at 44 i am lucky if I go out 2 times per month (not counting work and kid activities). Last at 44 I value comfort more than I valued it at 24 and even 33.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Lose their looks"? Where? In the checkout line at whole foods? At the bus stop?

I haven't "lost my looks." I still have a face, and people still look at it.

I think there is a huge market gap for well-made well-fitting clothes for diverse body types and a diverse customer age base. I think the clothing industry has a marketing failure. They've spent so much time on making fashion something you are supposed to do to "fix" yourself, and using an aspirational model of marketing, that they've missed a huge chunk of market share.

Exactly. I haven't lost my looks. At 50, I'm the same size and weight I was 38, and when I look in the mirror I'm quite satisfied with the way I look. When I walk into the store, I'm quite dissatisfied with what I see on the racks. So, no thanks. I look good enough in the 10-year-old trousers and 8-year-old cashmere sweater I wore yesterday, topped with my 20-year-old trench coat. (I did have on newish booties.) (BTW, is spring ever coming back?)

[Anonymous]

Because I'm spending less on fashion and more at the dermatologist (and probably plastic surgeon eventually)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Lose their looks"? Where? In the checkout line at whole foods? At the bus stop?

I haven't "lost my looks." I still have a face, and people still look at it.

I think there is a huge market gap for well-made well-fitting clothes for diverse body types and a diverse customer age base. I think the clothing industry has a marketing failure. They've spent so much time on making fashion something you are supposed to do to "fix" yourself, and using an aspirational model of marketing, that they've missed a huge chunk of market share.

Exactly. I haven't lost my looks. At 50, I'm the same size and weight I was 38, and when I look in the mirror I'm quite satisfied with the way I look. When I walk into the store, I'm quite dissatisfied with what I see on the racks. So, no thanks. I look good enough in the 10-year-old trousers and 8-year-old cashmere sweater I wore yesterday, topped with my 20-year-old trench coat. (I did have on newish booties.) (BTW, is spring ever coming back?)

Just wanted to clarify: It's not that I don't think I look 50--I'm sure I do. I'm definitely look older than I did at 38. But I'm no more dissatisfied when I look in the mirror at 50 than I was at 38. I still feel the same way about my looks, which is quite good. I'm not beautiful or anything, but I think I am pleasant looking and attractive. I thought that at 38, I think it at 50. So one can't blame my growing lack of interest in fashion on the way I feel about my looks.

[Anonymous]

Because they don't go to clubs.

[Anonymous]

I'm 37 and I'd say I don't spend less, but I absolutely buy less. Cheap clothes don't look great on me anymore, so I spend more on clothes when I do shop.

I also am at the point where I see so much recycled fashion that most trends are not something new and interesting for me anymore and I don't feel the need to go out and buy them. I can usually find something similar but better quality in my overstuffed-from-all-my-years-of-shopping closet.

And to the pp who stated that the color ways are different- I've got pretty much every color palette in my closet, and as to the cut- I have the cuts that flatter my body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 45 and would love to drop some money on clothes. I love clothes. But I'm short, chubby, bosomy, and have wide feet. No one makes beautiful, stylish clothes for me. So I buy the boring basics and channel my energies into decorating my home.

Same here. Pretty much exactly. I'm 45 too. Plus I'm a teacher and yes, I look clean and presentable. However, when you work with 5 and 6 year olds you don't want to come home every day with nice clothes covered in snot and glitter. It's Lands' End all the way for me.

[Anonymous]

Because fashion becomes harder at 40! I would love to spend money on clothing right now but I cannot find what I want. Everything is horrible quality. Retail doesn't offer this age group much, like there isn't much between J. Crew and Chicos.

[Anonymous]

Basic CBO.

At a certain point, even if you're attractive for your age, you're no longer the main focus in any environment you're in. People are looking at the 17-35, maybe 40 year olds, not the 50+ year olds. I can totally see how putting a ton of money and effort into your appearance in your 20s and 30s is beneficial and makes sense, but at 50? Why bother? Which isn't to say you totally throw in the towel but the benefits to devoting a good chunk of time and budget to things like having the latest clothes just isn't there anymore. There's no longer much of a payoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't find current fashions beautiful. I am bored of the clothes that I see.

This. I am in my mid-40s and I think that the current styles are the most dull, boring, and ugly in my lifetime (and I lived through the 70s, people).