STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kelly · Hermes

Where do you splurge? Where do you cut back?

Lilykind · Hermes

Cheaper with:

* wifebeaters. always under $10 and always whatever colors J. Crew has put on final sale + 25% extra off.
* sundresses. Unless they're Rachel Pally, they're generally cheapies because I get sick of the prints after a season or two of people seeing me in them.
* jewelry. I generally only buy costume/fashion jewelry unless the style is super-simple and classic (i.e. diamond studs)
* boring stuff like socks and underwear. I buy nice underwear but I get it on super-sale or when I have a coupon on me. Otherwise, I couldn't be bothered to buy the stuff.

Not-so-cheaper with:

* bras. The girls are too large for VS, so I have to spend to get ones with the support I want.
* jeans. They fit me better and IMHO they look much nicer and wear better than lower end.
* hoodies. It's pretty much either Juicy or Mike & Chris because I can't stand cheapy fleece after spending ages 8-16 wearing Hanes sweatshirts in various colors... ashamed

* special occasion dresses. Again, I have a hard time fitting into cheap special occasion dresses because they're too matronly in my size or cut for smaller chests/hips so I splurge or buy something I could never afford otherwise on Ebay. (i.e. my 3.1 Phillip Lim striped silk dress)

With most things though, I'm willing to entertain both high and low end options.

Kitty · Hermes

Cheap stuff:

- Basic tanks and t-shirts. Even with 50% off all the splendid, C&C, Zooey, etc. shirts we carry at the store, I still think they're over priced. All layering tanks and t-shirts I buy at old navy or at the JCrew outlet.

- Underwear. Don't see the point in paying a lot.

- Jewelry. I lose or break most of my jewelry, so I don't see the point of buying anything really expensive.

Splurge:

- Dresses. I LOVE dresses.

- Handbags. I will spend a few hundred on a handbag..and If I could afford it, I'd spend more.

- Jeans.

- Boots.

- Bras.

atlgirl · Gucci

I'm a miser with:

- tanks & tees. I have a hard time getting them to fit my broad shoulders / large chest and smaller waist. Even the pricey tees. Right now I've got a bunch of Target tanks & v-neck cotton tees, because they *do* fit me well. Plus they're around $7.99 or so.

- underwear. I buy On Gossamer on a super-sale ($5/pair) once a year. And I have Jockey "granny panties" that are perfect under most skirts, and they last forever.

- summer tops, pants, and skirts. I find that in general, summer clothes don't hold up as well for me as fall / winter clothes do.

- jeans. Levi's work well for me, and until recently, Gap jeans were great. I can occasionally find great-fitting, relatively inexpensive jeans at The Limited. I personally can't justify spending a couple hundred on denim.

I splurge on:

- shoes. I love, love, love shoes. I take care of them, so they last me for years and years. And my feet are more comfortable in more expensive shoes (blessing or curse, depending on your point of view).

- bags. I'm a leather snob - I love a soft, supple leather or suede bag. I have a few vintage deals from eBay, but mostly it's high-end leather that gets me. And I'm really picky about bag shapes / sizes, so I'm willing to spend when I find one that's perfect.

- jewelry. I don't spend a lot since I make 90% of my jewelry, but when I do find something interesting, or something I can't / won't make, I'll drop some $$ on it.

- sweaters. Fall is my favorite season, and I love soft, cozy sweaters. I have a few inexpensive cotton ones for summer, but mostly my sweaters are cashmere, wool, or a blend (wool / silk, etc).

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Cheap
Jewelry: I have yet to be bitten by the jewerly bug. I buy mostly Nine West, Liz Claiborne, and Target.

sleepwear: Consists mostly of hand-myself-downs.

pants: I need to quit this. I always end up getting pants that are on sale--not good sale--but clearance to tenth power sale. I wonder why they are so cheap until (1) they shrink, (2) I wake up and realize they are too short, or (3) realize they're not very stylish.

Colorful makeup: I'm always just using what I got for free or doing the drugstore route for uniquely colored eyeliners, lipglosses, etc. Not a good idea.

splurge: I'm willing to splurge on shoes, a beautiful top or dress, cosmetics, product, haircuts, swimsuits.

lynnie · Chanel

cheap:
*things i know will get damaged- tops i'll spill beer on or sweat all over, shoes i have to wear for walking a lot
*bags- while not cheap (i guess my bags are in the $100-$400 range, but i only have a couple), i hate changing my bags and i am not really into most designer bags i see. i do like that green gryson one in drews thread though...
expensive:
*jeans if they fit perfectly
*tees/tanks if perfect
*jewelry- while not super $$, i will drop money on this if i fall in love
*sweaters/jackets- my number one- it is so hard to find nice sweaters that aren't super basic!!!
*something i love, and something i'll love forever.

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

Basically I'm cheap on everything except bags.

cinderella4282 · BCBG

If it's something unique then I will buy it no matter the price.

I will splurge on something that haunts my dreams (usually bags and shoes, although tops and dresses occasionally catch my imagination).

Otherwise I LOVE sale shopping. Makes it more of a sport I think :)

NCshopper · Hermes

I'm pretty cheap on most stuff. I'll splurge a little on shoes and purses, but even then I still like to get a good deal and will either hold out for a sale or use a coupon code.

Rica · Kenneth Cole

I'm pretty cheap with everything unless I find a piece I just.can't.live.without., then I splurge. Ususally it's bags or dresses that I find myself drooling over and dreaming about and feeling like I can't go on with life until it's MINE. Ha.

Suasoria · Chanel

For me, spending money to augment my wardrobe is a very low priority, so I guess I would say I'm cheap on about everything these days. However, I'm more likely to buy nothing than I am to buy cheap junk.

But I love a deal. I wouldn't pay $30 for a basic t-shirt, but I will pay $30 for a cocktail dress marked down from $100. Does that make sense?

luckylily · Gucci

I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road on everything.

However, I'm most likely to splurge on shoes, especially heels. My experience is that more $ usually equals better leather and construction and my more expensive shoes are my most comfortable. I'm also willing to splurge on jeans. I only own a few pairs of jeans. I just find it so hard to find jeans I like that when I do, price is rarely a factor.

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

Cheap:
- T-shirts, tank tops, long sleeve shirts - I usually buy them at J. Crew & American Eagle on sale, + Old Navy and Target
- Jeans - it's been a long time since I've bought expensive jeans. I live in jeans and they wear out fast, so I buy cheaper
- Pajamas - I usually buy clearance bottoms and use an old t-shirt or tank top
- sweatshirts - usually bought at the Jansport outlet or on college campuses that I visit
- Underwear - I'm all about clearance undies at AE

Middle of the road:
- Shoes - not too cheap, not too pricy. I usually live in tennis shoes. Some day though, I want to start buying Louboutins and Blahniks!

Expensive:
- Handbags! My number one splurge.
- Jewelry - I usually go for classics like diamond studs or pearls, but I do ocasionally buy cheap, trendy stuff.
- Sweaters - I love cashmere
- Bras - I have such a large chest that I need really good, supportive bras. Thanks to the girls on this board, I'm now a huge fan of Le Mystere bras!
- Anything that I absolutely love and have to have

kahluamilk · Dooney & Bourke

You took the words right outta my mouth! I only splurge on bags..

zeitgeist4 wrote:

Basically I'm cheap on everything except bags.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I splurge on my skin care/make up. I have tons and not an ounce of it was cheap. I figure it's the one thing I'll be "wearing" for the rest of my life, so I take good care there.

I really don't pay full price for anything, unless I absolutely, positively must have an item right that very second.

Shoes and handbags do get more money spent on those items, but I'm not a big spender there either, no more than $300.

I get very tired of my clothes very quickly, so I don't spend a lot. I also don't have that much to spend, so there you have it.

I keep telling myself that once I am done getting the house like I want and am at my ideal weight, I'll but better stuff and build a proper wardrobe. Until then, nothing too fancy. It helps that I work in a pretty casual environment and with the most unfashionable people ever put on the planet.

-gd

erin · Chanel

most of my clothing/shoes/accessories are from thrifts or vintage shops, so it's hard to judge comparatively...but in general these rules adhere. keep in mind, my idea of splurging is different than probably most of the ladies here. (in general over $50-100)

cheap:
-unders
-purses (in general, but i did just do a splurge for one recently)
-jewelry -- i only wear costume (well, my wedding band is white gold, but that's it)
-shoes -- no shoes are ever completely comfortable for me so i don't see a point in spending $$ on them (but i will on occasion for style)
-tanks and tees. i can almost always find c+c for less than $10 at a discount place near me

splurge:
-bras - i started investing after seeing some "low to the ground" pictures of myself
-dresses - i really love these and will spend a bit more on something special.
-jeans if they fit me well
-pants if they fit me well (although express cropped pants are perfect for me)
-alterations. i have to get this done to so many things, but it's worth the money to not look dumpy!

honey · Gucci

i'm pretty middle of the road as well, and tend to buy most things on sale anyway.

save:
underwear, tanks, sundresses: pretty much anything that's disposable

splurge:
i don't really have categories that i splurge on except for jeans. but even then i try and wait until there's a sale at bloomies. i tend to splurge more on specific items. my rule of thumb is if i've wanted something for more than a year, tried (unsuccessfully) to find it on sale, then i'll splurge. my biggest splurges have been two pairs of shoes, a coat, and a bag. this fall i think i'm going to bite the bullet and buy a mike & chris leather hoodie, since i've wanted one for awhile and haven't been able to find one on sale.

littlebean · Kate Spade

Everything and everything! I love a bargain and will pick up cheaper versions of almost any item of clothing, handbag, shoes, underwear, accessories, makeup, etc. if I see a great deal and something I like well enough. But at the same time, I love to splurge when I can afford to -- and I'll do it on basically everything, too! Everything in moderation, I suppose.

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

Well, purely hypothetical since everyone and their mother knows I am to broke to splurge on anything right now. But when I'm flush with the cashola...

Cheap: thrift store finds
most of my clothes except a few standout pieces
towels
bedding
home decor

Expensive: furniture
shoes (heels in particular) most of my flats are cheapies
good jewelry

kittenheels · Coach

Hmmmm, is it a splurge if you really think the designer does a great job and you wear the stuffing out of the clothing?

That aside,

Save:
Tees/Tanks - I love J Crew and Old Navy for light tees and tanks
Jeans - I don't buy them all that often, and I wear them until they fall apart, so I think they are a save. (based upon the cost per wear theory).
Workout clothing - Lucy has great sales.
Summer dresses- Rachel Pally sample sale man. Same with J. Crew sale for patterned sundresses and Loehmann's.
Bags - I spend, but I only have about 6 really nice bags. So, I'm putting that in the save category by my under consumption.
Going out clothing - I at least by on sale. Since I don't go out clubbing at all anymore, there's really not a huge need for this category other than pretty tops (some of which I try to work style).
Jewelry - DH buys it for me, so I'm saving right there biggrin

Except for Turq, which totally falls into the cost per wear savings category.

Splurge:
Shoes - I will pay for comfort and style. In that order.
Suits - I need to look professional. I try to buy suits on sale, but for a nicely cut suit, I really think it is worth it if I have to pay full price.
Work clothing - I get a lot of things at Loehmann's but if I love something at a boutique, and I can envision it in a few different outfits, I'm down. This exception is really only for things found at the Trina Turk boutique though!

Grand analysis - If you love something - it's never a splurge biggrin