STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

Which end of the spectrum, budget wise?

erin · Chanel

i do a mix of both (other than walmart, where i refuse to shop). i try to buy the best i can afford for something i know will be classic and last me awhile, but for trendier items i go cheap. (that said, i have not translated this to shoes or purses, even though both items would last me awhile - i usually thrift those)

Kelly · Hermes

Well, since I'm still in college and don't make a lot of money...stores like Target, f21, and Old Navy are all I can afford right now. Sometimes they're too expensive, even. Still, when I start having a better income I plan to invest more in pieces. I don't think I'll ever buy top-of-the-line, but I'll definitely be able and willing to spend more money on clothes that will last a while. For trendier items or basics, though, I'm sure that I'll always go to the cheapy stores.

atlgirl · Gucci

It depends on what I want to get out of my purchase. For things like beater tanks, cheap flips, etc (mostly summer stuff) that might not last more than a season or two, I'm fine with places like ON or Target. But most of the time I buy things that I plan to have for years and years, and that means spending more.

Like you, green diamond, my budget doesn't always allow for "top end" but I buy what I consider well-made *and* within my budget at a given time. Often that means buying less, which I'm okay with. I'd rather pull out a items that I love and know make me feel/look good, than have a ton of cheap / trendy stuff in the closet that I end up hating after a while.

kittenheels · Coach

I completely agree with atlgirl. With tanks/tees/workout clothing - I am fine with Old Navy - and think their stuff actually really lasts for the price point. For work clothing - I believe in buying the absolute best you can afford, as my line of work has me meeting with clients and appearing in court frequently. I have spent a lot on a few suits, and have completely gotten my money's worth out of them! I also try to shop at discounters like Loehmann's. I am able to pick up fun clothing or nicer quality tees for a lot less than in a boutique. I've been able to get Park Vogel, James Perse, Theory, Nanette Lepore and DVF things that I actually wear all the time from Loehmann's! That makes me very happy!

I like to hit up sample sales too - like Rachel Pally's - because I wear her stuff all the time and love it. Waiting for Saks or Neiman's to mark something down is a good strategy too.

However, if I have my eye on a piece of clothing, like a top, that I think is well made and that I can wear in a lot of different ways, I am not adverse to paying full price. I've noticed that some of my full price buys have been worn to death!

sydney · Kate Spade

I go a little more high end. I would much rather shop off season and get better quality things on sale, then shop for full price stuff I can "afford" I always like those pieces better - Saks always has great sales. When I want a trendy piece right now - I go a little cheaper - maybe F21

cahabo · Kate Spade

Stores like Target, Old Navy, and Macy's are my go to stores right now since I'm a single mother in college. And yes sometimes I'll even check out Wal-Mart for some of their rare cute stuff.

It' the closest store to wear I live so I can't help myself! One day when I have a good paying job, I probably still won't shop high end. I can be cheap!

squishy · Coach

atlgirl wrote:
It depends on what I want to get out of my purchase. For things like beater tanks, cheap flips, etc (mostly summer stuff) that might not last more than a season or two, I'm fine with places like ON or Target. But most of the time I buy things that I plan to have for years and years, and that means spending more.

Like you, green diamond, my budget doesn't always allow for "top end" but I buy what I consider well-made *and* within my budget at a given time. Often that means buying less, which I'm okay with. I'd rather pull out a items that I love and know make me feel/look good, than have a ton of cheap / trendy stuff in the closet that I end up hating after a while.

this is me! i haven't really indulged in any trends, so i try to save my money for more classic, more 'me' items. i don't mean classic in the boring sense, but items that i know i'll wear for a while and flatter my body. i have no problem with waiting... and waiting for a sale, coupon or both.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Depends on what I am buying.

Nice blouses, pants and coats - splurge. I will only buy items that I know I love and will wear forever. I stopped buying stuff , just to buy it and be a quick fix.

Tanks, tees - Medium. Still designer but under $100.

Shoes - depends on what there for. If it is a classic amazing shoe I can wear forever I will shell out top dollar. If it is some funky pair of one season flats I usually wont spend more than $150.

Bags - splurge, always. I love my bags and will use them forever. I wont buy junk.

Jewelry - splurge. Again, I love my accesories so price isnt really a issue here, I want to buy items that will last.

Now I will occasionaly subsidize my wardrobe from places like target , but that is almost always a wear once situation for me. I really like finding designer items on sale , and of course I own a store so I also save alot bec I buy so many items at cost.

I am at a point in my life now where for me, fast fashion seems to be somewhat cheaply made items and I hate throwing money away on something I can wear 3x , when I could spend a little more and wear it forever.

I have 2 shopping motto's -

Quality over Quantity & Cost per wear.

Kitty · Hermes

Depends. I have stuff from Target, Forever21, Delias, etc. and I also have designer pieces.

lynnie · Chanel

i try to buy the best quality/fit/design i can afford, and stalk designer items til they go on sale. I don't find high high end stuff to be any better than mid-range designers- a lot of it is made in the same factories. So i wouldn't spend $800 on a blouse, for example, but maybe wait til a $300 one goes on sale. I do buy some stuff from H & M, old navy, etc, but they are rarely statement pieces- usually just a tank or a non-descript layering item. Vintage/ebay are also good places to find things that are fairly cheap yet amazing. I think i have somewhat expensive taste so i try not to shop a whole lot and just limit myself to a few pieces a season.

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

My clothes and shoes are all from low-end stores, but my bags are mostly mid- to high-end. I manage to ruin clothes easily, so I see no point in buying expensive stuff. High-end stuff isn't made in my size anyway.

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

What is that saying? I have "Champagne taste on a beer budget." I definitely look for quality at the lowest price I can find. Since I know what high markups and costs of garments are, I rarely pay full price in a department/boutique store. ex: I'd rather buy a few seasons old Theory cashmere sweater for $100 over 2 $50 Express acrylic sweaters.

Since I like trendy stuff that suits my personality, I can find those things at Forever 21 & UO.
Mostly I like to shop places like Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann's, Marshalls, sample sales, etc. Like kittenheels, I have found some awesome brands and things I wear for YEARS from Loehmann's and sample sales: Vince, Theory, DVF, C&C, Marc Jacobs, and more.
I will occasionally but full price on things I can tell are well made or if I really want it at stores like Zara, Bloomingdale's, Anthro, etc. The BEST rush (shopping adrenaline) is walking out with major scores!

honey · Gucci

i always knew the markup on clothing was high but i realized how ridiculous it was this year and in many ways it makes me sick. knowing what i know now it's really, really, really hard to pay full price for anything regardless of if its from the gap or barneys.

that being said i don't really think i fit into any particular end of the spectrum. i have always been a piece specific shopper so it really depends on what i'm shopping for. if i'm looking for a non descript item, like a blousy black top, then i will usually try to find it at the best (not necessarily lowest) price point i can. though in most cases i just end up getting it from f21 or a similar store. however sometimes i fall in love with a specific piece, like last year i wanted a specific pair of chloe shoes. so i was willing to spend "more" to get them, b/c for me there were no substitutes. though it still bought them on sale at the end of the season.

-- Edited by honey at 22:47, 2007-02-13

Suasoria · Chanel

I hear echoes of my own thoughts in everyone's answers so far, with just a few exceptions.

One is that if you've had the misfortune of working in the clothing biz, and you know what things cost and how they're sourced, you do find it really difficult to pay retail prices for stuff you want. It takes a few years to re-adjust to what normal people pay for clothes.

The other thing is I think a lot of this question depends on the age/stage one is in. For me, spending money to augment my wardrobe is a very low priority. I'm well established in my career, and my lifestyle is different than it was ten or twenty years ago. Obviously my house is my single most important investment, so if it can be improved I'll easily spend money there. These days my priority is paying down debt, and making it possible to semi-retire to a beach house in Mexico within 10 years. What I don't spend on clothes, shoes or bags is money I can put towards something I want more: peace, freedom, joy, time with my husband, etc.

If you're a college grad in your 20s-30s, working in a job that resembles a career, then your priority is different than mine, and it's a good idea for you to be accumulating quality workwear.

In addition to Alliegurl's mottos of quality not quantity and CPW, I pay attention to quality-for-price ratio - call it QFP. I agree with Kittenheels about Old Navy; I have some things from there that have far exceeded their QFP expectation. Target and F21 tend to have a low QFP since their focus is on trends instead of basics. Department store clearances, Fashion Bug and La Redoute, to name a few low-priced examples, have a good QFP in my opinion.

Just like Zeitgeist4, I am hard on certain things such as summer tees and tanks. This is mainly because I'm a spiller, so I'll always look for the lowest price on those things because I know I have to replace them often. However, work slacks and jeans are items I'll pay a higher price for, while still paying attention to the QFP. Hence I try Ross, Marshalls, etc. first for those items.

All said and done: I spent around $600 in 2006 on clothes because my money was better used elsewhere.

NCshopper · Hermes

I think I'm pretty middle of the road, when it comes to clothes shopping. I like nice pieces and I love getting a deal too. I suppose I could buy higher end things than I currently do, but I have a hard time justifying big purchases when I could save it or use the money to fix up my house. I guess it's just because at this point in my life (mid-20s), there's a lot of really useful places my money can go (namely my retirement account) and so I just have a hard time justifying dropping more than $200 on any given item.

berryahou35 · Dooney & Bourke

I buy everything on sale. That includes the "cheap stores." I don't see any point in buying clothes for regular price when I know it will go down. If it doesn't, oh well, I saved some money. Then when the seasons change, I'll shop at department stores where sales are something like 75% plus additional 50% I live in California and fashion doesn't change that much where I live, at least my specific town. So it doesn't make a huge difference for me

monica · Kenneth Cole

honey wrote:

i always knew the markup on clothing was high but i realized how ridiculous it was this year and in many ways it makes me sick. knowing what i know now it's really, really, really hard to pay full price for anything regardless of if its from the gap or barneys.

that being said i don't really think i fit into any particular end of the spectrum. i have always been a piece specific shopper so it really depends on what i'm shopping for. if i'm looking for a non descript item, like a blousy black top, then i will usually try to find it at the best (not necessarily lowest) price point i can. though in most cases i just end up getting it from f21 or a similar store. however sometimes i fall in love with a specific piece, like last year i wanted a specific pair of chloe shoes. so i was willing to spend "more" to get them, b/c for me there were no substitutes. though it still bought them on sale at the end of the season.

-- Edited by honey at 22:47, 2007-02-13

interesting - just want to know what you think it is - the m/u% is high but it covers all expenses at a company - i work at a wholesaler and we give the retailer a high IMU but again, that covers all of their expenses as well - so when it goes to its 2nd markdown they are losing money.