I've spotted a gorgeous linen shirt that I'm really wanting in my life. It retails for $160, however, which would be the most I've ever paid for a shirt. I'm having trouble justifying the purchase in my own mind.

How do you determine how much is too much for an item of clothing (or other goods)? Do you have some sort of internal cost/benefit analysis mechanism?

For me it depends on the item.. I kind of judge it by how "classic" I think it is... I havent spent that much on a shirt, but have on boots, coats... things I can wear often.. Thats not to say if I fell in total love with it I wouldnt find a way to justify buying it! You only live once!!

My wedding dress was $300

that's the most expensive thing I ever bought

tinaz said:

For me it depends on the item.. I kind of judge it by how "classic" I think it is... I havent spent that much on a shirt, but have on boots, coats... things I can wear often.. Thats not to say if I fell in total love with it I wouldnt find a way to justify buying it! You only live once!!

And this is basically how I feel. $160 for a shirt is generally over my limit but I don't think I've ever fallen that much in love with a shirt before. If it's high quality and not overly trendy and I've got the means at the time then I'd likely go for it.

I'll spend that on a dress, but only after careful consideration.

CarrieMpls said:

tinaz said:

For me it depends on the item.. I kind of judge it by how "classic" I think it is... I havent spent that much on a shirt, but have on boots, coats... things I can wear often.. Thats not to say if I fell in total love with it I wouldnt find a way to justify buying it! You only live once!!

And this is basically how I feel. $160 for a shirt is generally over my limit but I don't think I've ever fallen that much in love with a shirt before. If it's high quality and not overly trendy and I've got the means at the time then I'd likely go for it.

I'll spend that on a dress, but only after careful consideration.

Same here. I once paid $130 for a pair of pumps from Nordstrom back in the 70's, and needless to say, I still have them and they could still be worn today. If it is a classic linen shirt and you really love it and can wear it for years to come, by all means, treat yourself if you can afford it, but if it's "trendy" don't waste your money for something that will quickly go out of style.

[Edited 4/19/14 7:08am]

The shirt is a vintage floral-printed piece. It's not trendy, yet not something most dudes these days would consider an enduring staple in their wardrobe. Perhaps 100 years ago... in Hawaii. And as it is a short-sleeved linen shirt, it's not something I'm going to get a ton of use out of in Canada, if I'm being honest.

I think it's going to boil down to my appreciation of the design, which makes my decision tougher... and lonelier, the value of art being subjective and all.

The struggle is real.

[Edited 4/19/14 19:18pm]

the most i've spent is $1200 on a pair of shoes for my wife

Um... I have spent lots of money on items of clothing. In high school I bought myself a velvet chartruse colored tunic for $180.00 retail.

It had shell buttons and it fit like a dream. Back in 1990 or so... everytime I wore it I was complemented on that shirt.

Kept it for years, then passed it down to my neice and she wrecked it and messed it up. I regret giving her that shirt to this day.

Ugh.

I also bought a long dress... about 200. Dollars, rayon... it buttoned up the front, long sleeves and draped beautifully all the way down to my toes. It tied around the neck and I adored my dress, wore that for years and it was signature in my wardrobe.

Any piece that you can wear over and over and NO ONE else will have or rock as beautifully as you can is worth it... doesn't matter how much you pay, its what you get out of the piece. You can buy a 20.00 shirt and NEVER wear it, or it falls apart in one wear. Or you can spend 200.00 bucks on a shirt and literally wear it heavily for the next 5 years and love it until it is threadbare.... everyone loves it on you and IMHO it was a better buy than the 20 dollar shirt you wore once.

The most item I bought was an 800.00 dollar wedding gown I bought, marked down from 8,500.00 because it was a stock piece.

I never married and I still have the dress that I never wore. THAT was a total waste of my money. Even though my Carmela Sutera original in to die for. Pffft

BTW I was a custom clothier... men bought shirts starting at 150.00 and wore those shirts (custom made and tailor fit) to death... it was a better bargain than shirts that were off the rack, ill fitting and uncomfortable. Those men wore those expensive shirts for YEARS and saved money in the long run because those shirts lasted and wore beautifully.

[Edited 4/19/14 17:33pm]

MoBettaBliss said:

the most i've spent is $1200 on a pair of shoes for my wife

Must've been these ones:

ZombieKitten said:

MoBettaBliss said:

the most i've spent is $1200 on a pair of shoes for my wife

Must've been these ones:

Shouldn't those heels be pointed to Jesus, cuz that's how you gonna have to pay for them!

tinaz said:

For me it depends on the item.. I kind of judge it by how "classic" I think it is... I havent spent that much on a shirt, but have on boots, coats... things I can wear often.. Thats not to say if I fell in total love with it I wouldnt find a way to justify buying it! You only live once!!

Agreed. It can't be too trendy.

Lammastide you should post a picture of the shirt.

Also, you may be able to find a similar shirt or the same shirt elsewhere at less cost.

I generally get great deals on my clothes. 150 dollar tops for 20 to 30 dollars on average. Leather coats for under 100 (originally 350 dollars and up.) But if I where to spend 200 to 300 it would be for a leather coat.

kewlschool said:

tinaz said:

For me it depends on the item.. I kind of judge it by how "classic" I think it is... I havent spent that much on a shirt, but have on boots, coats... things I can wear often.. Thats not to say if I fell in total love with it I wouldnt find a way to justify buying it! You only live once!!

Agreed. It can't be too trendy.

Lammastide you should post a picture of the shirt.

Also, you may be able to find a similar shirt or the same shirt elsewhere at less cost.

I generally get great deals on my clothes. 150 dollar tops for 20 to 30 dollars on average. Leather coats for under 100 (originally 350 dollars and up.) But if I where to spend 200 to 300 it would be for a leather coat.

I'm much too shy to do that. If you all hated my shirt, I'd be devastated after having talked it up so much.

To your point, though, I definitely plan on waiting until a deal avails itself. I've saved crazy money using combinations of Groupons in the past. I may go that route this time.

Lammastide said:

kewlschool said:

Agreed. It can't be too trendy.

Lammastide you should post a picture of the shirt.

Also, you may be able to find a similar shirt or the same shirt elsewhere at less cost.

I generally get great deals on my clothes. 150 dollar tops for 20 to 30 dollars on average. Leather coats for under 100 (originally 350 dollars and up.) But if I where to spend 200 to 300 it would be for a leather coat.

I'm much too shy to do that. If you all hated my shirt, I'd be devastated after having talked it up so much.

To your point, though, I definitely plan on waiting until a deal avails itself. I've saved crazy money using combinations of Groupons in the past. I may go that route this time.

It doesn't matter if we like the shirt. You are the one buying it, not us! I buy things that my friends say they don't like. And that's cool. (The clothes they don't like are the bold bright color clothes, for instance my bright red peacoat. Similar to the color of Prince's red outfit in TMBGITW video.)

When was the last time you bought something for yourself out of your normal range of spending =D? If the answer is "It's been a while" then maybe you should get this one as a treat to yourself! I bet it keeps coming back to your mind hehe

For a shirt I usually spend anywhere from $20 to $40 but then once in a while I see that one shirt that's quite expensive BUT I have to have it because it's better than the last 5 pieces of clothing I bought combined....that usually justifies my indulgence...good luck!! =3

Lammastide said:

I've spotted a gorgeous linen shirt that I'm really wanting in my life. It retails for $160, however, which would be the most I've ever paid for a shirt. I'm having trouble justifying the purchase in my own mind.

How do you determine how much is too much for an item of clothing (or other goods)? Do you have some sort of internal cost/benefit analysis mechanism?

i'm cheap but if i really like something expensive, i make myself think about it overnight. then, i go buy it. if i feel guilty about being self-indulgent, i also donate money to a good cause. have fun wearing your cool new shirt you love

I appreciate the insights here.

Lammastide said:

BobGeorge909 said:

Lammastide said:

I appreciate the insights here.

I know u said ure shy and all...but u can't make a whole thread about the shirt and its cost. Consume the advice...pros and con's. Describe the shirt; this being a rather feeble substitution for people with eyes and make a better evaluation. U can't hype and bounce. If u buy the shirt, presumably ur gonna wear it out in public at some point. At this point u will also be opening yourself up to criticism but at a point where its too late with the purchase having already been made. Just let us see the damn shirt bruh. then buy it, put it on, and hit the club with a good . U can't leave us all hanging here...not cool.

You make a good pitch.

I'll think about it.

I would say that it all depends on how much that piece of clothing is going to affect your wallet.
If you make $1,000,000 a year then a $160.00 shirt is akin to me $14 on a shirt.

Of course there are other variables...as Paintedlady mentioned...you can spend $200 on a dress that outlives 10 dresses costing $20 that only get a few wearings.



So...I guess what I'm saying is...If you can AFFORD it, and you'll wear the hell outta it...buy it.

Lammastide said:

BobGeorge909 said:

Lammastide said:

You make a good pitch.

I'll think about it.

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick #stillwaiting

paintedlady said:

Um... I have spent lots of money on items of clothing. In high school I bought myself a velvet chartruse colored tunic for $180.00 retail.

It had shell buttons and it fit like a dream. Back in 1990 or so... everytime I wore it I was complemented on that shirt.

Kept it for years, then passed it down to my neice and she wrecked it and messed it up. I regret giving her that shirt to this day.

Ugh.

I also bought a long dress... about 200. Dollars, rayon... it buttoned up the front, long sleeves and draped beautifully all the way down to my toes. It tied around the neck and I adored my dress, wore that for years and it was signature in my wardrobe.

Any piece that you can wear over and over and NO ONE else will have or rock as beautifully as you can is worth it... doesn't matter how much you pay, its what you get out of the piece. You can buy a 20.00 shirt and NEVER wear it, or it falls apart in one wear. Or you can spend 200.00 bucks on a shirt and literally wear it heavily for the next 5 years and love it until it is threadbare.... everyone loves it on you and IMHO it was a better buy than the 20 dollar shirt you wore once.

The most item I bought was an 800.00 dollar wedding gown I bought, marked down from 8,500.00 because it was a stock piece.

I never married and I still have the dress that I never wore. THAT was a total waste of my money. Even though my Carmela Sutera original in to die for. Pffft

BTW I was a custom clothier... men bought shirts starting at 150.00 and wore those shirts (custom made and tailor fit) to death... it was a better bargain than shirts that were off the rack, ill fitting and uncomfortable. Those men wore those expensive shirts for YEARS and saved money in the long run because those shirts lasted and wore beautifully.

[Edited 4/19/14 17:33pm]

See, great minds think alike, chile. I know how you feel. I've done that with shoes, dresses, coats, etc. You see your things all fucked up and it breaks your heart to think that bitches can be so careless and slovenly.

Back in the day when dashikis were popular, I once paid $50.00 for one. That was a lot of money back then, but just HAD to have that dashiki.0

okay, so did you buy it??? just wondering