The Budget Fashionista

Hi, all! This is my first post in the Forums and I thought I'd start it out with a question.

For those on a budget (such as myself), is it better to buy cheaper (and sometimes poorly made) clothing or invest in pricier, better made clothing?

Are there any "cheap" brands that hold up better than others?

-Brandy

We've discussed this before and I am not sure if we came to any decision. For me I buy cheaper versions of high end clothes at places like Target, Marshalls, Old Navy and recently Steve and Barry's (we just got one near my city). And welcome!!!

It's all about the cost per wear- which is the price of an item divided by the number of time you'll wear it in a given time period.

The cost per wear forces you to focus on the value of the item rather than the straight cost. Using this formula I've found that a $300 winter coat that I keep for 10 years is a better value than a $20 bomber jacket that I never wear

^ So true. My most "expensive" items are special occasion dresses and shoes that hurt my feet (and thus have only been worn once or twice).

You do not necessarily have to sacrifice quantity for quality, and vice versa. Always buy during sales and promotions. Depends on your lifestyle. If you are a student or the type of person who enjoys fast fashion and must have a new wardrobe every couple of months, I'd say go for quantity. I've never seen one friend wear anything more than 5 times - but that's her, and not me.

For pieces you could see yourself wearing for a few years, treat yourself to better quality items (on sale or discounted, of course). If you are careful, better quality does not always equal more expensive!

depends… it does… I have a matte jersey wrapdress that cost 50 down from 150, for a dress that sounds like alot… but I travel with it, it works in summer.... It works in fall… I wear it when I say those dreaded words "I have nothing to wear" I wear it with skinny jeans and my brown boots and winter coat in winter… I actually wore it alot in the past week. When I had to go to a party, I wore it with dressy shoes. I can wear it in all most any crowd. It makes me feel svelte. It is my perfect dress. I wore it for grocery shopping with a pair of golden flats. With my pair of strappy pink leopard print sandals with gold flicker it is a perfect party dress. I wear it atleast once a month

I have a velvet blazer that was 50 down from 200. Its bohemian with its subdued yet rich purple and subdued bohemian embroidery. I wear it with jeans and a tee and create a bohemian look.

On the other hand, I have a graphic print v-neck long t-shirt by CK jeans for 13 dollars that I wear with my skinny jeans for a rocker chic look. (Can't you tell I love my skinnies?) I wear it alot too, but not as often.

I spend more on shoes and purses since I wear them more than a certain dress or piece of clothing except for that dress or my coat and my velvet blazer.

There are some items that I decide (or have been told by the fashion experts) are "basics" or "essentials" and these I try to invest more money in. I usually have to force myself though, it's not that easy seeing in to the future where it is worth it over the long-term when I have to deal with the price now. For me, these basics are: a overcoat/jacket, a pair of black pants, a black pencil skirt, work shoes, and a wear-to-any-party,any-club dress. Also I always end up spending more on running shoes because otherwise I'd end up with shin-splints, bad knees, and panging feet.

I think it really depends. I tend to buy some high quality items and some not. It really depends on the item.

also, as bassoon girl said, it doesn't work for her as a mom for expensive tops. You may work in a certain sector that is very image based such as marketing or advertising (maybe they are the same thing, lols), and have to wear somewhat expensive looking clothes, so you could wear a mix of expensive shoes and purses, and wear mostly expensive clothes and have less… But as a mom, you may need more lesser quality clothes. You may work in a very hands on business as nursing, teaching, construction and need better quality rough and tumble clothes, and lower quality yet very nice looking dressy clothes.

I ‘ll go for quality that goes with the right price.  sure it’s great to have a lot of clothes but it will be quite embarrassing when they breakdown on you in public!!

I like to buy good quality items at cheap prices. I usually look at stores like TJ Maxx, Filene’s Basement (my favorite!), Marshall’s, and outlet stores for deals. Also, shop at end-of-season clearance sales in department stores - lots of great deals to be had there! That way, you know you’re getting quality items without breaking the bank to get them!

Good luck bargain-hunting! :)

I say that you should buy quality shoes and bags. They can complete an outfit and make you look more “put together” then cheap ones. I buy an expensive pair of shoes and bag every season. I try to get them on sale and get them in a color that will be classic and not go out of style. For example, last year I invested in a Chanel bag. I go to Las Vegas every other year and will hit the Jimmy Choo and Manolo store for their sales. I have gotten all of my expensive shoes at least 50% off! So, if you can afford it buy quality classics and cheap basics or look for quality clothing on sale.

i agree! you should shop at end of season clearance! sometimes shops cut 70% off the original price!!

I depends on how you care for you clothes and what you life throws at you.

For example if you have toddlers, being able to buy new cheaper items regularly might work better than investing in quality. A toddler who ate spaghetti and has a tummy virus can really ruin an outfit. Ditto with the shape and size changes that several pregnancies work on a figure.

So if you are going to be pregnant or nursing or with toddlers or your size is changing frequently, stick to cheaper clothers and plan for the day when you can change to a cadillac wardrobe, and make it last.

If you have been the same size for a while and aren’t expecting to suddenly get pregnant or work with a lot of bleach, or cuddle toddlers then

go for a small workeable investment wardrobe and take very very good care. It requires you to be ready to do a few things:

1-wear an apron when cooking or cleaning (or change to another less expensive outfit)

2-learn to make a habit of hand washing graments

3-find and use a quality dry cleaner for those dry clean only clothes (this is a budgetary expense that goes along with choosing to buy a dry clean garment)--I don’t bother as I routinely pass up dry clean only garments, going for the ones that are machine or hand washable.

4-deal with spots as they happen. Tide to Go lives in your purse, Shout gel lives right where you take your clothes off, you treat spots before the laundry hamper and you don’t leave clothes sitting a week to perma wrinkle while the spots also become permanent.

5-laundry becomes a daily or every other day event as you do a mini wash or a hand wash.

6-learn to mend any small problems before they become big ones. If you hate re sewing hems and buttons, put a dot of fray check on the button threads, and on the hems-- just a few dots along the threads, you don’t want it seeping thru to the other side of the garment.

7- learn to iron carefully-- the heat of an iron can damage fabric, and set stains permanently, but it can also keep a garment looking fresh and perfect for a very long time.

8- use a lint brush, and a clothes shaver for those pills that happen.

These habits will pay off whether you buy top of the line or Walmart’s special of the month.

great tips overtaken by a nap.. Do you work with children?

On the one hand, I believe that it’s OK to pay a little more for something that’s going to give you a lot of wear and will make you look and feel good. On the other hand, I’m a mommy, so everything has to be washable. However, it also has to be reasonably good quality so that it will hold up well.

In short, it’s OK to buy less expensive pieces as long as you’ll get your money’s worth out of them. Just don’t fall for cheap garbage.

I like to make more infrequent purchases and save up a little so I could buy high-quality clothing, rather than make more frequent purchases and buy lesser clothing for less money. That is just the way I operate though, I am not saying the other way is bad. I would like to have more clothes than I do, but I am satisfied with the quality and the look of what I do have.