STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

dot · Marc Jacobs

Splurge or Save? - when it comes to fall wardrobe

shopgirl82 · Chanel

dot wrote:

I find it harder to scrimp in fall/winter because the materials, like a really warm coat or a really soft sweater, definitely reflect on the price.

i agree. i save on spring/summer, splurge on fall/winter. i know that doesn't really answer your question, but that's what i did this year (minus my shoes and handbag purchases this spring/summer).

now to try to answer your question... i agree with zoe. i have always invested in one nice winter coat and one nice pair of boots each fall/winter. i also buy about 3 or 4 nice sweaters or blazers each year. over the years i have built a wardrobe of essential coats, boots, and sweaters. because realistically, i live in a sweater, jeans, boots, bag, and coat in the winter. (i'm lucky that i can wear scrubs to work). my biggest mistake has been buying chiffon and "going out tops" in the winter. i try to stock up on those (and handbags) in the summer and save the money for items like boots, sweaters and coats in the winter. also, i try to buy all my make up and stuff in the spring, so i don't have to use that part of my fall/winter budget to replace make up.

this year i decided on a casual juicy parka, and i will invest in a pair of dark brown dressy knee high boots. i also realized that i need casual winter clothes like hoodies, juicy velour, two pairs of jeans, etc...i found all the items i wanted from different websites using coupon codes.

HTH. sorry it was long, but you all know how super organized i am with my spreadsheets, etc...

atlgirl · Gucci

I splurge on things that I just looooove and know I'll wear a zillion times, or a more showy piece, like a handbag or boots. Or a great blazer, because I'll wear it for years (in most cases). I'll usually spend more for great pants than a great skirt - usually - because it's harder to find a good fit in pants. And I'd plunk down some $$ for a really cool belt too.

I save on jeans - all of mine are Levi's or Gap (I personally will never understand premium denim at a premium price) - tanks & tees for going under blazers or sweaters, bras and panties (I'm not a crazy-for-lingerie girl, though most of my stuff does come from VS - they just seem to fit and hold up well, and I wait for sales).

Jewelry - I make most of my own, so I don't really spend much on it otherwise. The exception is vintage costume jewelry, which I collect and wear, so sometimes those are splurge-worthy items. Or sometimes, I think they're going to be a bargain and then eBay foils me into parting with more money than I'd planned. *s*

I do think sweaters and jackets will show their "cheapness" faster than lightweight spring / summer items, in most cases. Many of my sweaters are wool or cashmere (I get cold!) so I don't consider them splurges, though some people might.

kenzie · Chanel

I tend to agree with splurging in the fall/winter and going cheap in the summer. But as far as *what* to splurge on in a particular season, I think I'm similar to altgirl.

If I love something and I know I'll wear it again and again, I'll buy it even if it is kind of pricey. And well-made, well-fitting pants are always a hard to come by, so I would pay more for those. I prefer cashmere or silk or some kind of blend thereof, sweaters and they tend to be more expensive as well. I can't wear wool, b/c I get all itchy and rashy, so I don't really have a choice when it comes to sweaters (or so I tell myself, to justify my purchases ). Also, a good pair of boots is always a good splurge. As is a coat, as someone else mentioned. I really would like to purchase a nice tote bag this year to carry my stuff for work, as well as my stuff for class.

Where I save money is on layering pieces like t's, tanks, Target crinkle camis, ect. I also save money on jewelry b/c I make almost all of my own. Weekend gear is also an area where I save. Who wants to spend a lot of money on something they'll be running errands or bumming around in?

I am, however, on a mission this fall for a rich, chocolate brown going out top that can be worn all year round (I do this with most of my tops anyway, I just throw a sweater over them in the winter). I want the top to be the most fabulous thing I own and I'm saving up for it so I can really splurge if I happen to find the perfect one and it costs $300!

honey · Gucci

i don't really have a succinct answer. one of the things that really helped me was taking stock of everything i had last spring, (small closet, had to put away stuff i couldn't wear) so i knew in advance where i stood. i made a list of things i want/need/have to replace and have been going from there. i'm trying to base a lot of my shopping on my future. i anticipate being a full time student next fall, so i'm trying to limit the amount of money i spend on work clothes. also i have no problem buying fall clothing out of season, since the turnover is so much lower than with summer stuff. also i tend to do my shopping in spurts. right now i'm focused on replenishment, but once the sales start in nov. i'm going to try and just pick up fun things.so far this is how it's shaping up

coat -- splurge. i need a nice black coat, i've been searching for 2 seasons, the only coats i really like (outside of fun coats) are by mackage, so i will be splurging on one this fall

pants -- i don't need work pants. to add a pair of gray theory tara pants to the rotation, but it's not a necessity. so i'll wait until the sample sale/stalk last call/ebay until i find something. i also wanted to pick up some cords/other casual non-denim pant to wear on thurs/fri and i managed to score 2 pairs of juicy cords for like $20 in june. i'm probably going to pick up a few more pairs of cropped pants, but i can get them from f21/assorted cheapie stores, so the sum total won't be that much (hopefully less than $100 not including the theory pants)

sweaters -- splurge. i really love sweaters. this past spring i went through mine and got rid of all the itchy, oversized, generally icky ones, including ones that weren't made from natural fibers. i've been slowly trying to replace them. again courtesy of out of season shopping i picked up 5 cashmere sweaters this season (all less than $40 and from reputable brands) so i'm set on that front. and will wait until november (my next session of no holds barred shopping to see what i can score)

skirts -- i'm a big skirt person, so i'm always looking for new ones. i'm pretty covered on tailored work skirts, but want to add a few casual cord skirts to wear on thurs/fri with fryes, etc. i will most likely save here b/c h & m, the gap, old navy, tend to carry lots of this sort of thing at good price points

blazers/novelty jackets -- this is a toss up. i have 2 cord ones that i love and i want to get some non-cord ones and some novelty ones. in theory i'm going to sew these b/c i see all these cute ones that i'm like, oh i can make. but finding the time/focus is an issue. i'll probably save though b/c i don't wear these that much and i've already spotted 2 that meet my needs & are less than $25

shirts -- again tricky. i've got tons of tees so i'm probably not going to buy more. however i do need to find more going out shirts -- but not like camis. i need "bar" shirts -- something to wear in the winter, that is warm enough to wear on it's own, but interesting so it actually looks like i got dressed for a night out. finding shirts like this in my price range is really, really hard. i started looking last fall and have only found 1 or 2 that work.

boots -- boots are my weakness...and while i don't "splurge" i have amassed a decent collection. i needed a pair of round toe brown knee hight boots, which i got recently from ebay. i really want a pair of fold-over boots (i'm eyeing this pair by j.lo that was in lucky, but want to see how they look in person) and a pair of motorcycle style boots from michael kors newest brand, michael. again these are shoes that i saw in a mag so i have to see them in person. also i might pick up another pair of fryes, but it depends. i'll wait until the end of the season when they're 75% off at macy's and if there's something i like i'll buy them.

lynnie · Chanel

I think the best thing to do if you don't have unlimited funds is to build your winter wardrobe slowly and see what you REALLY need before you settle. Like if you have absolutely no work pants, then yes, you might have to either splurge OR save here, because you're desperate. But if you already have most of what you "need", which i'm sure most of us do, then I like to try to "splurge" on most items, but look for sales. I shop in three rounds- early (now til mid-october)- this is where i buy things that I LOVEEE and things i know I can't wait for or they will be all gone), when its actually colder (mid-october til Christmas)- things I realize I need but didn't feel like buying on an 80 degree day- wool cardigan for example. This is the best time to get a look at both fall AND winter items at the same time, most places have fully rolled out their winter lines by now and some fall stuff is on sale. Then after Christmas through February- sales. This is where I stock up on things for next year. If I find a great cashmere cardigan that I know I'll wear next year for a great price, this is the time to buy it. But since a lot of things are sold out at this point, I'm not ever EXPECTING anything. If I find an awesome winter coat at 80% off, then cool, but usually things I find during this time are practical yet surprises- not things I'd been coveting. I like to splurge on sweaters, jackets (i want a nice one- but I"m scared to take it off anywhere if i have one, maybe its best i find a great jacket on sale? Honey- how much are Mackage coats? I'm guessing over $1000?), shoes (of course, though now I'm looking for a pair of boots and thats it, maybe work shoes too. Though I love shoes, so we'll see), and a nice bag maybe. I prefer quality over quantity, so I might only buy 5 or 6 winter things until November.

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

I never splurge. I'm a bargin shopper...or possibly just cheap....or maybe it's poor....

Lilykind · Hermes

This season, since I'm just coming out of school into a pretty low-paying job, I have very little to spend ($500 max). I spend more in the spring and summer only because I wear those pieces ten months out of the year.

coat: It doesn't make very much sense for me to splurge on this, nor is it really all that neccessary in LA. It never gets below 40 out and at those temps I'm fine wearing chunky sweaters and Juicy hoodies over t-shirts. If I find a cute coat at 80% off or whatever I might spring, but only if it's very 'Lilykind'. I do want said coat to be an investment, though. Not a priority.

pants: I have all the basic black and brown work pants I could ever want. They were a splurge last winter since I started an internship that required me to dress business casual and they're all holding up very nicely. I might add a fun cropped pair to the mix from like Forever 21/Nordie's B.P./Wet Seal/etc. But I am planning on losing weight this winter so I don't want to be spendy on these and shrink out of them two months later or something. Not a priority.

skirts: I'm getting a bit tired of the skirts I have and would like a change, but the situation here is the same as the pants...I will probably drop sizes so I don't want to spend money on them. Not a priority

sweaters/hoodies: There's a 75% chance I'll be getting the Juicy hoodie in 'Sarah J' that I posted about a week or two ago, especially if I can get it with a code or something. I have a decent number of sweaters, but since I use them as outerwear and layering pieces as opposed ot having a coat it's always good to have more. I'm also aiming for high quality pieces since I wear these a good portion out of the year. I really like chunky, wooly sweaters so I may invest in one or two of those. Priority $

shoes: I would like a pair of brown sneakers and brown knee-high boots. I forsee the brown knee high boots one to be a challenege. I've been looking for knee-high ones period since I was 16. My calves are huge, so this is really frustrating and never-ending. While I would be able to wear J. Crew's extended calf styles, I've never been really crazy for their dressier boots. I've also been kind of looking at sneakers for a long time, but I haven't found anything I really like. I also REALLY need a pair of black dress shoes for work/interviews since I HATED the pair I bought from BR last year. Much as I love buying fun shoes...I need to build a foundation of good practical shoes that I still love as well. Priority $

tees: Cosnidering I work in a business casual environment, I don't wear these much anymore. I'll only buy if the shirt really speaks to me. Maybe that 'talentless but connected shirt' I've been dreaming about, but it will take much to speak to me at this point. Not a Priority

tops: I really don't need any. I'd be smarter to build up my sweater collection. There you go. Not A Prioirity

accessories: I need a lot of them...I'm really good at putting tgoether outfits but adding the extra touch is something I'm still getting used to. I tend to be thrifty here because I'm not very skilled at using accessories and most of the looks I like are easy to get for cheap. I'll probably spend some money over at this accessories store that opened up the street from me. But I still don't know what exactly I'm looking for. I will probably also do flea markets for this since that's way more fun. Priority $

honey · Gucci

Grace wrote:

I never splurge. I'm a bargin shopper...or possibly just cheap....or maybe it's poor....

interestingly enough this is the first season i'll splurge. $60 is literally my price point, and i have severe heart palpitations about spending more than $60 on a single item. while i have spent more than that, i can count on one hand the number of times it's been and 2 of those times it was to buy jeans as a b-day present to myself. i really am an obsessive shopper -- it's kind of sad sometimes.

lynnie -- mackage coats run b/t $500-$600 for a full length coat. they're not *that* expensive, but for me it's a lot of money to spend on a single item and it will literally be the most expensive item i own (and that includes counting the cost of a computer.)

i'm justifying it in 2 ways (since it is admittedly outrageous to spend that much money on a coat). 1. i've been looking for a good everday coat since i graduated college (hardcore for 2 seasons). i personally feel a nice coat can really pull a look together. every year i'm always drawn to mackage coats. b/c they make really nice ones that are classic, but have enough detailing to keep them from being bland, which is quite an accomplishment for a black coat. 2. i plan on going to grad school next fall so my shopping budget will be seriously diminished, so i figure i might as well buy it now and be happy. i'm also thinking about using this same logic to justify the purchase of an expensive bag.

luckylily · Gucci

I budget about the same amount of money for spring/summer and fall/winter. In general, I find the things I like in spring/summer are just less expensive - tees and tanks vs. sweaters So even tho I budget the same amount for the seasons, I buy more stuff in spring.

Honey - I am also in the market for a Mackage coat. I was really wanting one from girlshop last year - the one w/ the slightly offset zipper. I thought I could get in on sale, but it was sold out in my size before it went on sale. If I find one this year, it will also be (by far) my biggest clothing purchase.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I tend to buy most of my clothes in the fall, so I definintly spend more. Fall clothes need to be warm (in most places) so you will spend more for better items with wool, leather, down, etc. The items you wear the most should be the ones of high quality. I think the best items to splurge on is one good coat, boots, and handbag that will go with practically everything.

dot · Marc Jacobs

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies! This thread is definitely something I'm going to be referencing in the on-going months when I do fall shopping. Since WW, my body has completely changed and I really need to budget and carefully think about all my purchases, as I will basically have to build a wardrobe from scratch since nothing fits.

Thanks honey and Grace for bringing up good points. I meant this thread to be a question of where do you concentrate your funds? Like not necessarily spend X amount here and X there..since I know everyone has a different budget for clothing, but more of a question of where to do put your money (any amount) when it comes to fall clothes. I think Lilykind has the right idea... making certain items priorities.

And like everyone else here on this forum, I love a good bargain!

Also honey, damn you for bringing up those coats! I can't stop looking at that website site.

Thanks again ladies... I really appreciate all your insight! :)

honey wrote:

Grace wrote:
I never splurge. I'm a bargin shopper...or possibly just cheap....or maybe it's poor....

interestingly enough this is the first season i'll splurge. $60 is literally my price point, and i have severe heart palpitations about spending more than $60 on a single item. while i have spent more than that, i can count on one hand the number of times it's been and 2 of those times it was to buy jeans as a b-day present to myself. i really am an obsessive shopper -- it's kind of sad sometimes.
lynnie -- mackage coats run b/t $500-$600 for a full length coat. they're not *that* expensive, but for me it's a lot of money to spend on a single item and it will literally be the most expensive item i own (and that includes counting the cost of a computer.)
i'm justifying it in 2 ways (since it is admittedly outrageous to spend that much money on a coat). 1. i've been looking for a good everday coat since i graduated college (hardcore for 2 seasons). i personally feel a nice coat can really pull a look together. every year i'm always drawn to mackage coats. b/c they make really nice ones that are classic, but have enough detailing to keep them from being bland, which is quite an accomplishment for a black coat. 2. i plan on going to grad school next fall so my shopping budget will be seriously diminished, so i figure i might as well buy it now and be happy. i'm also thinking about using this same logic to justify the purchase of an expensive bag.

splash · Kenneth Cole

I think spending more on a coat and boots makes sense. You can wear those items more frequently than most others, so they need to be better quality, besides that they're seen so much (and boots need to be comfortable). Beyond that, I look at my wardrobe each year to see what categories I don't have enough of - this year it's pants, so I'm spending more on nice ones that will last, but last year it was tops, so I got a lot of nice cashmere sweaters that I know I'll wear for a long time. Of course, I got stuff in other categories too, but I definitely didn't invest as much unless it was something I really loved, or that was a great deal. I agree with the others that winter clothes in general are more expensive, mostly because of the fabrics.