Did your mother or grandmother hit you with the “shoes, bag, coat” mantra? As in, sinking some serious cash into a fantastic coat, quality everyday handbag, or classic pair of shoes is a worthwhile investment? Well, kittens, I’m with the matriarchs, there. That old chestnut got to be old and chestnutty for a reason: It makes a heap of sense! Shoes, bags, and coats get used frequently and they get used HARD. So you unless you go for quality, you’re gonna look bad, feel uncomfortable, and end up broke from constantly shelling out to replace your cheap crap. Word.
But which other pieces should you consider splurge-worthy? And which pieces can be done on the cheap? Here’s my decidedly biased and non-comprehensive list to get the conversation rolling.
SPLURGE:
Perfect dress: Have you ever tried on a dress? You have? Ah, then you know that finding a dress that hugs your curves in just the right way, flatters your fabulous figure, and just generally makes you feel like Venus on the flippin’ mountaintop is something that happens very, very, VERY rarely. Like glimpsing-a-leprachaun rarely. I’d recommend against splurging on a foofy, sparkly ballgown even if it does fit like a glove. But a classically cut day-dress that can be dressed up or down with the right accessories, or even a timeless cocktail number that makes you want to paint on a smoky eye and haul out the martini shaker is well worth your buxx.
Signature piece: Only you will know which pieces are likely to become signature pieces. After all, it’s YOUR signature we’re talking about here. A cropped leather jacket, an asymmetric drapey vest, a pair of pink silk cropped pants … all worthy candidates, depending on your taste. Remember, though, that a signature piece is something that you can imagine deploying approximately every other week, and in outfits that run the gamut from hip-casual to office-friendly to out-on-the-town. Signature pieces are versatile by definition, so don’t confuse them with trendy pieces.
Sexy boots: Nearly all cultures and climates require boots at some point during the year. Andwhile pumps are pretty, sandals sexy, and sneakers sensible, I believe that an amazing pair of boots will serve you best. They can be worn three out of four seasons and with outfits that range from scrubby to pulled-together. They can make a feminine outfit tough and a demure outfit sexy. Boots are versatile and timeless and powerful. Investing in a pair that makes you feel all Nancy Sinatra is a goooood idea.
Total love: I’m not talking, “Wow, I just love that sensible a-line skirt.” I’m talking pieces that arrest your gaze, increase your heart rate, and suck all the air out of your lungs. Pieces that remain embedded in your mind after you’ve considered and reconsidered them for a couple of weeks. And, above all, pieces that fit you perfectly and suit your style. Total love pieces will make you want to do a happy dance.
Keystone bottoms: For me, this means the perfect black pencil skirt. For you, it might mean a pair of tropical-weight wool wideleg slacks. For someone else, a navy a-line that hits just above the knee. The majority of us cycle through tops quickly, and utilize tops to experiment with color, pattern, fit, trend, layers, and texture. Bottoms are frequently the root of an outfit, the foundation upon which other elements build. And finding a pair of pants or a skirt that can anchor the gamut of ensembles from casual to formal, work year-round, and flatter even during PMS-related-bloat is quite a feat. A keystone bottom is likely to get worn almost as hard as an investment coat, and is therefore investment-worthy itself.
SCRIMP:
Tees: Tees get ruined within a year. Less if you’re me and prone to spaghetti-sauce-related accidents. Tees are flimsy, simple, easily procured items that really shouldn’t cost more than $20 a pop. Now, I am loyal to fitted tees and do not condone stocking up on men’s undershirt 6-packs from Target as they will NOT flatter your female form. I’m just saying that I cannot fathom paying $100 for a designer tee that looks and feels exactly like Alternative Apparel.
Jewelry: WendyB is gonna MAIM me for saying this, but I very seldom spend big on jewelry. It’s a matter of taste, of course. If you love the real deal and it suits your style, that is more than valid. My arguement is this: Sparkly is sparkly, and if you’re feeling broke, cheap costume jewelry can totally tide you over. The casual observer will never know the difference and once you’re in a better place financially, you can get some geniune gems.
Layering pieces: I have a vast collection of long-sleeved layering tees. They hail from Target, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Gap and not a ONE of them cost me more than $10. They never get worn alone, they only ever peek out from beneath a higher quality garment, and they will always be a scrimping item for me. Garments that serve as base layers needn’t suck up tons of cash. Save your pennies for the stuff that shows.
Scarves: I drool copiously over the $70 silk squares from Echo … but I just never buy them because I can get equally fabulous scarves at Value Village for about $4 a pop. Scarves are all about fun and flair. Since they serve no purpose other than accenting an outfit, there’s no reason that a particular scarf could be worth giant amounts of money.
S’UP TO YOU:
Sunglasses: For years I swore by cheap sunnies, and I still keep several pairs around. But when I came across a pair of big-lensed Miu Miu sunglasses with a crown motif on the frames – quite possibly the first pair of big-lensers that didn’t make me look like a dragonfly with a mop of curly brown hair – I ponied up. And I ADORE them for being flattering, for having a crown motif, and (I’ll admit) for lending me their cachet. So I could really go either way on this one. If you lose your sunglasses regularly, forget it. If you wanna show some brand loyalty but can’t afford an it-bag, swank shades could be the ideal compromise.
Jeans: I have never spent more than $70 on a pair of jeans. But just I don’t WEAR jeans that often. As a dyed-in-the-wool skirt girl, it ain’t worth my while to sink serious cash into denim. But I have tried on a pair of Joe’s and seen the light. I have read K.Line’s ode to Superfine. I have come to understand that premium denim is deemed worthwhile by many jeans-worshipping gals, and I cannot say them nay. Since perfectly-fitting jeans are insanely hard to find, I can understand investing in label denim that fits and flatters your form.
So those are MY rules of thumb, and a good jumping-off point. Now let’s hear some other opinions. Would you splurge on jeans? Do you think that quality tees are well worth the dough? Is blowing the wad on a great dress something you’d never do? What are your spend-and-save guidelines?
Dress image is of Liza Reitz’s ruffle dress. I feel that this could qualify for both “perfect dress” and “signature piece.” And someday it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine. (Looks like the dress is down for now … check Liza’s Etsy shop in April.)
Boots via Aldo, necklace via Banana Republic, Superfines via fashionbinge.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I spent 100 dollars on a pair of J Brand jeans once, and they are glorious! But most of the time, I'm pretty satisfied with 20-30 dollar pairs from H&M.
I truly believe in the ‘coat, bag shoes’ mantra! My coat has experienced the most bizarre adventures (amongst others gotten stole by a junkie high on drugs). But a bit of frighting for your coat and keeping it clean at all times results in a long life for quality coats!
I’ll spend like a drunken sailor on the perfect coat, bag, shoes, bra, jeans, or dress. But I’ve never found a better tee than the Gap’s Favorite Tee. At 10 bucks each I get an armful of new ones each season (long-sleeved in the fall and short- in spring) and toss the ratty ones. I wear these tees every. single. day.
I’ve spent far more on tees (Michael Stars, Vince, James Perse) but keep going back to the Gap. Old Navy’s tees are also OK but don’t hold their shape as well.
I’m with you on the shoes-bag-coat thing! My mom and grandmother definitely taught me that one, and like you, who am I to challenge their wisdom?
The shoes part in particular is where I’m deciding that quality matters! Since I run, my feet take enough beating as it it, I decided they don’t need to take any more. But one can still find awesome shoes that are quality pieces at thrift stores for naught. Just like the pair A. scored me just a few weeks ago, so I still believe in good AND cheap. When those come together…sigh…. it’s beautiful.
S.
EXCELLENT post! Really helpful and insightful. I needed to hear it because I have a hard time “investing” in a piece, probably because I thrift so much, but I have my eye on some things that I should probably scoop up!
I will usually not hesitate to invest in antiques.
What does that have to do with clothing? Well for example I just bought a gorgeous chantilly lace shawl from the 1880s. They just don’t make lace like this anymore! I’m a sucker for antique jewelry, collars, gloves, you name it! And I’ll usually shell out because they really are one of a kind!
I think it depends on what you do for a living, but I invested in a quality suit. I rarely wear it together except for muy importante meetings, but I mix up the suit with other pieces quite a bit. I got it in heather gray since black is a bit harsh for Florida.
I don’t even own a coat. I’d die of heat exhaustion here. I would love a cashmere cardigan though. Recommend one?
I think these all fit into the category of the HTF. If it’s that rare of a find, I have to have it, and I have to splurge. Even if it is a cheap item, it ends up being a splurge because then I want multiples so I never run out!
When I was in college, I thought it was absolutely ridiculous to spend money on shoes–you could get five pairs of cute ones from Payless for the price of one pair of Jeffery Campbell! I never wondered why my feet were always so torn up and blistered. And then I splurged on a pair of Fleuvogs, and I have never, ever looked back when it comes to shoes. Bags, less so–bags are disposable, to me. They get ratty and dirty, no matter how much you spend, within a month, and I don’t want to be worrying about treating it tenderly all the time. I want to just haul my stuff. Jeans, though–I tend to buy Old Navy jeans. Until one day I tried on a pair of premium denim, and holy crap, the things it did for my butt and my legs and–wow. I don’t own premium denim because I can’t afford 300 bucks for a pair of pants, but someday.
And DUDE. I have been STALKING that ruffle dress for over a year. Someday, someday, someday.
For jeans, I really feel like fit it so important that price and brand go out the window. Fortunately, fit changes each season, so the best fitting pair of jeans for me this year might be $150, while next year they might be $25. Who knows.
I also don’t mind investing in some quality tees, as they’re great for layering colors, but I almost always go for solid colors rather than designs, so the cost is mitigated.
Again, pay for fit, you can take care of the design on your own.
I think I agree with you on nearly everything here except jeans and jewelry. I find it very hard to find a pair of jeans that fits perfectly under $75. I’ve had some lucky thrift store finds, but in general, I shell out for good jeans.
Jewelry, for me, is an in-between category. I don’t like to get really cheap jewelry (Target, Claires, etc) because it always seems to break and I never like the feel of wearing it. However, I have also never spent more than $50 on one single jewelry item. My preference is to almost always get handmade (or vintage) because then I know I’m supporting an individual artist and not some big box company.
Hilariously I bought $$$ jeans and sunglasses on the same day! I totally agree with you about the spend options and the save options. And, even if we all see it uniquely, I think we can agree that spending on everything isn’t necessary. How about those awesome days when you find your keystone item for next to nothing!?! Great post Sal.
Hi there-I love quality jeans and generally as I’m getting older, quality designer items that will stand the test of time in my wardrobe, be it a blazer, dress or blouse. I do thrift practically everything-my statement piece must be my Chanel jacket, worth every penny of the £100 spent on it from Mrs Stings designer sale. Thats my favourite investment piece.
What a great in depth post and so right on. I would shell out the dough for jeans though, because they are such an everyday staple for me and jeans that I feel good in make me feel happy
As far as jewlery goes: I am proud that I keep my prices down in my shop b/c I am probably just like those who buy from me- I wear everyday staple pieces that go with everything and I dont want to pay alot, but I want it to be quality and to last. Wendy B’s jewelry rocks though (great craftsmanship)and I would like to own a piece some day!
I agree with you in every case, other than the scarves and jewelry. I wear scarves a lot, as they are MY signature item, which means they cross over into your other category. In fact, I’m wearing my purple scarf right now.
As far as bags go, I’ve been nothing but happy with Queen Bee Creations. They are hand-made in Portland, OR and come in all different shapes and sizes. I’m a fan of the truckette, but am always tempted by other styles. Well worth the money! http://www.queenbee-creations.com/
Shoes – check. Handbags – check. But coats? Maybe it’s because I live in CA, but I’ve never had to spend serious bucks on a coat, even my Anne Klein with the mink collar. I just wait till Feb/March and they go for next to nothing.
I splurge on basics because I wear them to death. Black pencil skirt, fitted jacket, grey pencil skirt. These are things I’ve paid full price for, and would do again. I would splurge on a sheath dress but because I’m tall it’s too hard to find one that fits – they’re usually too short and the waist hits in the wrong place.
And because most costume jewelry makes me rashy, I splurge on the real, or real-ish, thing.
Splurge: Shoes that are both cute and comfortable. Bras–I can’t believe the price I pay for these now, but I have finally accepted that I require a certain amount of expensive engineering in this area. Eyeglasses–I wear them literally every waking moment, so I better love them. (And the lenses alone cost so much due to my horrific eyesight that I’m throwing caution to the winds by then anyway.)
Cheap: Non-bra underthings. Camisoles and other layery items. Bags–I just can’t see shelling out for them somehow.
I guess I’d pay a lot for the PERFECT jeans or coat, but I never find them, so I tend to acquire a vast collection of less-expensive coats and no jeans at all. And I’m torn about summer shoes. Being comfy as I walk all over the place is priceless, but they get all sweaty and gross so fast.
This is such a great topic! I’m always willing to be a bit more spend-y on a quality winter coat, boots, jeans, and sunglasses. It’s so hard for me to find sunglasses that fit and flatter that to date I’ve only found one pair (Chanel), plus I figure I’ve had about 15 years of practice taking care of prescription eyeglasses so I can be trusted to be careful with designer shades.
i love this post! :]
Absolutely agree with everything in this post! I am a firm believer in spending a little extra money on those main investment pieces, even pre recession lol. I always find it odd when people pay tons for a single shirt but skimp on a coat. Surely the other way round makes sense, you wear that coat all winter, and wear the shirt only once before washing?!
Great post Sal!,,,as I get older-wiser, I'd rather spend on quality & classisc pieces. ~Have a fabulous weekend beautiful!
Seriously, Sal! You always give the BEST advice. I agree with you on everything- now if only I could be that reasonable when I’m late night “window-shopping” online. Then the little voice in my head says “classic schmassic! Those sparkly pink hot pants are so cute!” Durrr… I need to have this post up when I do my late-night trolling. Thanks!
I LOVE this post and I have really loved reading all the responses! Yay Sweet Sal! Yay everyone!
For me – the one thing I’ve always been willing to spend money on is shoes – for me and my kids. Our feet take us everywhere and it’s worth it to pay for the extra support, comfort and engineering, I think.
But I’ve gotten to a point where I want fewer things of better quality and less “of the moment” items. So, I’ve invested in the good suit, the good bras, the good cashmere, etc. etc. I feel very lucky to be at a place that I can do this. I would rather have a few things that are FABULOUS that I can mix and remix than a closet busting at the seams with just so-so stuff that’s not built to last. Of course, it’s a total bonus when I get something really wonderful on sale or at resale.
I do love the cheap t-shirts – Old Navy and gap suit me just fine.
I would also be willing to pay almost anything for a GREAT pair of jeans. But, since I have not found them yet, I’m content to stick with my Gap ones that are mostly good and fairly flattering.
I agree with you on almost everything and especially on the jeans matter. I don’t wear them that much and even when I did, they stop fitting right when I gain or loose even a small amount of weight, so what’s the point? I usually splurge on shoes and beautiful dresses. I would like to spend more on quality handbags, but lack the dough. Someday…
to me, Jeans are worth paying a ton of money b/c I live in them and scarves are the best way to decorate your outfit. My friend introed them to me this year and I love them
My mother’s only rule was:
If you can’t afford (or conveniently thrift) a good quality leather bag don’t buy a cheap leather bag or a vinyl/pleather bag – go and find a fabulous fabric bag instead.
I still abide by that rule, and it applies to other things like suits and shoes too.
What a great set of tips / guidelines! I’ve recently discovered your blog and LOVE it. You are thoughtful, funny, practical and lovely! Keep up the good work!
That’s interesting. I find the concept of value fascinating; as a material society, we do not know much on the whole about how much whatever we’re buying cost to produce. Yet we blindly put our faith into the price tags until it becomes the norm that a t-shirt should be X price and a pair of boots can be up to 10x that.
I will have to think about this more, and get back to you x
I am soooooooooooo guilty of not investing in a bag. GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY!! I am holding out for leather. May have to reward myself with one when I make my first commission.
I have a hard time bringing myself to splurge, but I have to agree that it’s worth it for anything that you love and are likely to wear often! And for perfect dresses. You have to feel amazing in your dresses…
Such a great post, beauty.
Well, mother said the coat, the handbag and the shoes… I’m not following her advice… naughty girl I am… lol
Have a great weekend
xoxo
This is going to sound silly but i used to be petrified of dresses!! I simply refused to try them on because they never ever looked good on me. Then i found vintage dresses and have never looked back, they fit me perfectly and i haven’t tried on a modern dress in a store since i don’t think.
I agree with all your picks, but I’m cheap in EVERYTHING! I won’t spend over $30 on much (even most of my wool coats, designer shoes, and bags are around $30 or under.) I’m not cheap, I’m just thrifty. And lucky.
Hmm, this is a very interesting post! When I think about it, the only thing I really splurge on is nice jewellery…it seems like a good investment (diamonds are forever), anything made from fabric or leather is so short lived in comparison… but I rarely wear much jewellery, so maybe I should rethink my spending!
T-shirts and layering tanks I buy cheap.
Jewellery – I go both ways, fun and frugal and also great pieces that are an investment and will become heirlooms.
Boots – I’ve had pairs of boots last me 10 years (with resoling) so would spend on them.
Personality pieces – I spend big on great coats and other personality pieces that are my style, not what you find in the high street shop and those that are creative, so they’re not really in fashion so they won’t go out of fashion and I’ll get years of wear from them.
I do cheap shoes – especially summer thong/sandals, that might get me 1 -2 summers, that I can trash then throw out happily.
Fashion pieces – if I want to update with something that is so ‘right now’ I spend small $$$
I also agree with the matriarchs. But I’m throwing jewelry in there. I wouldn’t spend much on trendy stuff – but beautiful, classic jewelry really does last forever.
Hmmm. I doubt I’d spend big on jeans; really, Gap are just fine for me, though time has taught me to but the best quality coats, bags, and boots that I can. In fact, I’m contemplating shortening a trench that I bought in the late 80s (!!!) b/c it’s great quality but the length has served its time.
I have one scart that cost more than anything else I bought last year. It was worth it, because it’s gorgeous and contains every color in the rainbow so works like a neutral. It’s a Haverhill granny square scarf from Garnet Hill. Would definitely do that again. I wear it at least once a week in the winter.
Actually, it falls more into your category of “Love It” than “Scarf,” so I guess I do agree with you on everything!
Well, you left out bras! And I definitely splurge on jeans, but that’s only because I’m hard to fit. If Gap or Old Navy would cut it, I’d be all over it, but it’s always the $120 pair of Silvers that work on my ass. (I’ve mentioned before that I’ve never actually found tailoring trousers to be all that successful in practice.)
I agree on all these splurges (and would add “winter boots” because I am Canadian, and a pair of boots that doesn’t leak or slip is as essential as a coat in which one won’t freeze). I do – kind of – splurge on jewellery, since I can only wear real silver without getting rashy (and presumably gold, but I hate gold) and huge chunky jewellery happens to be one of MY signatures. Huge, chunky silver rarely comes cheap! (And oh! how I wish I could find, somewhere, one of those Elizabeth and James knuckle rings that were all the rage last year.)
Funny time for this post as I just lashed out myself on a new pair of ‘Vogs and a new bag.
I’m actually the opposite regarding scrimping on jewellery. I like my clothes to look a certain way – usually red or black, maybe patterned with tartan or polkadots – and there’s only so much I can buy to suit my taste.
I’d rather “splurge” on jewellery and accessories because my clothes are generally plain and therefore cheap.
Two more things to seriously invest in:
1. A really good hair cut
2. A really great pair of glasses (if, of course, you actually need glasses)
I say these two because you wear both every single day of your life. I’ve always been what I kindly call “frugal,” but I don’t mind sinking a bit of money into these two. Especially the glasses — they literally become part of your face.
Totally agree about the boots. It’s been about a year now since I started thrifting all my clothing but I’m glad I invested in my tall brown suede Camper boots before I did