Hey Op, I Find myself in a similar situation as you. We have a higher household income but my clothes are pretty bad: dated, not stylish, nothing good quality ( lots of generic Ann Taylor, loft and H&M and Zara for casual stuff). And I come to realize that I personally am just not fashionable, I don’t know really how to put together an entire wardrobe on a reasonable budget. Some of the above posters have recommended shopping sales, going through the budget store racks like T.J. Maxx – – I would totally suck at that, would find it painful like a chore, and a huge amount of time needed to do it well.

If you don’t like clothes shopping or have an eye for a fashion, I think it’s difficult to put together a good wardrobe without paying too much. Not really a solution or an answer to your question, but I think a lot of People responding may Have not only different priorities, but more of a fashion innate sense than you (or I! No shade intended. I’m sure you’re great at a lot of other things).

So it very well might be that, if you want to look better, which I do think is important as a functioning adult, then you may have to resign yourself to spending some more money - maybe shop very occasionally at a fancier dept store with a stylist. Buy a few things they recommend but try to get the wardrobe basics cheaper elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They make more money than you. They have family money. They have a trust fund.

+1. Also, buy nice staples like neutral cashmere sweaters, well fitting jeans and pants and store them properly. They are timeless.

This is definitely not true. Boot cut jeans, for example, were out for a good 15 years and have only come back recently. You can keep and store a particular cut of jeans, but in the meantime you'll have to buy new jeans to look current.

I kept my favorite 7 for all mankind boot cut jeans from 15 years ago. I still love them. They waited kindly in my drawer until they came back it style. Now I get compliments all over again.

Buy good quality neutral colored basics. Flash it up with some trendy pieces and keep them. You'd be amazed at how frugal style can be. Plus I have a consistently preppy style (likely) since birth. They cuts change but they come back. There's only so many cuts and styles that can be done. Quality pieces that fit well are key

Forgot to mention... skinny never goes out of style. You can rock almost anything if you're thin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They make more money than you. They have family money. They have a trust fund.

+1. Also, buy nice staples like neutral cashmere sweaters, well fitting jeans and pants and store them properly. They are timeless.

This is definitely not true. Boot cut jeans, for example, were out for a good 15 years and have only come back recently. You can keep and store a particular cut of jeans, but in the meantime you'll have to buy new jeans to look current.

I kept my favorite 7 for all mankind boot cut jeans from 15 years ago. I still love them. They waited kindly in my drawer until they came back it style. Now I get compliments all over again.

Buy good quality neutral colored basics. Flash it up with some trendy pieces and keep them. You'd be amazed at how frugal style can be. Plus I have a consistently preppy style (likely) since birth. They cuts change but they come back. There's only so many cuts and styles that can be done. Quality pieces that fit well are key

There’s not a tremendous quality gap between factory stores and their counterparts anymore (J.Crew Factory and J.Crew). The factory stores have 50% off sales frequently and I buy most of my basics that way.

For more expensive pieces, I search Poshmark. Lots of things new with tags, things worn only a few times, etc. I get a lot of workwear there because I’m only in office about 25%.

I will pay more for shoes because they do last. That said, I haven’t bought work shoes in 4 years (and I did travel all throughout Covid). I have had the same pairs of casual shoes for probably 3 years. I just bought a new pair of tennis shoes, I think the previous pair is 2-3 years old.

I spend decent money on textiles for my house, my wall art is all made by local artists - I live on an island and the talent here is amazing. I’m not a minimalist by far, but very purposeful and intentional in my purchases.

I have a $65k car that I bought with my bonus 2 years ago. I save 15% - 20% of my income between 401k, IRA, stocks, cash savings.

I live on a little island and that has significantly cut down in how much I want to vacation. I am going to a different island this weekend and paid $625 for the house for 3 nights. That’s the only real “vacation” I have planned right now.

Biggest thing for me is that my mom died at 37, my dad at 62. My dad had a bucket list a mile long that he planned to enjoy in retirement. Instead, he worked his whole life, saved his whole life, and missed out on things he dreamed of and had the means to do. I’m financially responsible with the understanding that I have to live while I’m alive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They make more money than you. They have family money. They have a trust fund.

+1. Also, buy nice staples like neutral cashmere sweaters, well fitting jeans and pants and store them properly. They are timeless.

This is definitely not true. Boot cut jeans, for example, were out for a good 15 years and have only come back recently. You can keep and store a particular cut of jeans, but in the meantime you'll have to buy new jeans to look current.

Anonymous wrote:I think I usually have a nice wardrobe and that was true when I was one person making $50k.

I have basic bottoms - jeans, black pants, etc. Get 1-2 new pairs each year. I don’t wear a lot of prints unless it’s a deal or I’ll wear it a ton. I look for tops with texture or details instead of print. I usually get 1 outfit per season - 1 dress, 1 top + sweater, 1 skirt + top. I tend to wear a specific color palette so new things rotate in to mix-match outfits. I think the key is to find brands you like and suit your body shape - then pay attention to when sales happen.

My point being that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your chinos are likely dated. Get 1 new pair of jeans and 1 new pair of chinos. Get 1 dress for spring/ summer, a long sleeve too for fall, a sweater for winter and then a skirt and shirt sleeve top next spring. After 2-3 years you will have a lot of mix and match outfits.

I think I usually have a nice wardrobe and that was true when I was one person making $50k.

I have basic bottoms - jeans, black pants, etc. Get 1-2 new pairs each year. I don’t wear a lot of prints unless it’s a deal or I’ll wear it a ton. I look for tops with texture or details instead of print. I usually get 1 outfit per season - 1 dress, 1 top + sweater, 1 skirt + top. I tend to wear a specific color palette so new things rotate in to mix-match outfits. I think the key is to find brands you like and suit your body shape - then pay attention to when sales happen.

OP, clothing is important for how people perceive you. You don't need trendy things all the time. You should have basics for a capsules type wardrobe and you need to buy decent quality and get things tailored if need be. Makes a huge difference.

I buy a few new plain t shirts every year because they are cheap and are constantly being washed and I want them to look nice. I have a few dresses I've had for years- a wrap dress, a second hand black dress I had taken in that looks amazing and I wouldn't have been able to buy new.

Buy quality shoes but I find a lot of mine at Nordstrom Rack or on Poshmark. And remember you can sell some items if you keep them well maintained. Keep all original packaging and dry clean and then sell on Poshmark ( I don't, I just don't want to spend the time but some people do really well that way.)

I don't really get it OP- I spend a lot of time in Lululemon and old navy active pieces but when I have work, dinner out, even appts for things like a meeting with a new lawyer I dress well and I blow out my hair, wear makeup... Go out regularly in old stuff and without much effort then try a dress with heels or perfectly fitted jeans, a white button down and nice shows with hair and makeup done- I would be SHOCKED if you don't feel differently about yourself and the way you're treated by strangers. It's just a tool. People are visual.

Anonymous wrote:
If you look good, you will feel good!

You don't have to spend a lot to look stylish. Just wear things that fit properly and are flattering and age-appropriate.

And please buy clothing ever year at a minimum, not every 3-4 years!

-1

Anonymous wrote:You don’t buy hundreds of dollars in clothes every few months. You set a budget for buying necessities (undergarments, tees, shoes) and a couple good quality items each year.

I am stylish, and have years where I buy nothing except a pair of shoes and then replacing necessities. Most of my clothes last a decade or longer. I don’t shop at Walmart. I shop sales and consignment. I am careful to buy things in more classic or timeless cuts, that go with other items in my closet.

I do occasionally spend more to afford something like a fantastic winter coat or update items that are truly out of fashion. But I care about style so I’m okay saving a little less that month. But I’m not making that choice 4 times a year. I’m making it once every few years. That way I maintain a high level of savings but also get to enjoy some of my money now in the form of quality clothes I enjoy wearing.

Similar approach to travel.

If you don’t prioritize style that’s fine. It’s something I do for me, like splurging on a massage or a great vacation.

This is the way to do it.

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to buy high-end designer pieces to have "style." Nor do you need a ton of clothing.

Also, you don't need to pay full price for your wardrobe and you can find some nice pieces at good prices if you keep an eye on reviews and such.

+1 Some people shop "smarter."

It’s just priorities. You don’t spend money on clothes because you don’t value it. I spend a lot of money on clothes every year because I love nice fabric - quite literally. I only buy clothes made of natural fibers and I love to wear clothing that feels really good against my skin. It sumptuous, and expensive. What may be less obvious are all the things we don’t spend money on - the biggest thing is certainly that, relative to our income and DC housing prices, we have an inexpensive home - it literally saves us thousands of dollars every single month. We don’t drink alcohol and only rarely eat out. We haven’t taken a big expensive vacation since having a kid. Pre-kid, we travelled internationally only every few years, not annually. Kiddo goes to a relatively inexpensive daycare in our relative inexpensive neighborhood. We fully fund our retirement, are paying off our student loans, spending big money on house projects, etc. We make responsible financial decisions. And because I love clothing and fabric, I chose to spend the most I can afford to spend on it.

We have a lot of money and I don’t think I have style. I don’t think style is associated with money. I do buy a lot of athleisure and shoes that I don’t wear. I have a closet full of uncomfortable shoes I don’t wear.

You could join a buy nothing group and get clothes for free. My group is always shedding clothes from their closets.

I have no style, just buy what I need when things start looking and feeling old.

My wife buys crazy expensive stuff but it actually isn’t that bad. She will buy a 1k pair of shoes then sell it 2 years later for like 7-800. She’s even made money on some stuff. Had a 2k Hermes blanket in the house for a few years which she flipped for 3k after it got discontinued. It still costs overall but not as bad as the headline figures. Some of it is like buying a classic car that goes up in value or could go down. We make 400k and have plenty of disposable income and it’s only a handful of really high end stuff each year.

If you look good, you will feel good!

You don't have to spend a lot to look stylish. Just wear things that fit properly and are flattering and age-appropriate.

And please buy clothing ever year at a minimum, not every 3-4 years!