Question to the masses as I'm contemplating on buying something possibly inadvisable!

[ohsweetcrepes]

What is your most expensive piece of clothing and how much did it cost? What did you consider before actually buying it?

I'm debating on buying a gorgeous-looking coat, but am still balancing out the pros/cons/risks of the endeavor, sob.

(It's such a pretty coat though no Nin stop thinking and sit on it for now)

Comments

[carotid]

Most expensive single purchase: $200 for black patent leather Cole Haan high-heeled pumps. They're an "investment item" for me -- a pair of high-quality, "adult" high heels was on the list that I had begun making for myself part through grad school. I first put my eye on them... maybe two years ago? Three? Anyhow, I scoped them out online, and then when I was in NYC one time (before moving here), I made a side trip to the Cole Haan store and spent a good amount of time trying on different sizes and heel heights. I noted which size worked best for me. Then I just checked prices online every so often. As luck would have it, when I checked Zappos in November, they had them on sale. Because it was Zappos, I ordered two sizes (since I had been kind of in between in the store) and wore them a lot around the house when I got them. And then just shipped back the extra pair!

I can't remember exact prices, but my other splurge is black leather jackets. I've always had one since... undergrad, I think. I started out really cheap, but again, as I've gotten older, I've started going for better quality. Nothing designer, but a good solid Wilson's Leather number. Whenever my current one begins wearing out, I start keeping my eye out for sales. And now that I've started buying higher quality ones myself, I've also bought leather care products for it.

Over the past four years or so, I've gotten a lot pickier about my clothes, having developed a more firm individual sense of style and starting to go more quality than quantity. There are a few things that I want to invest in for the long run -- aside from the shoes, I also want to get a high-quality purse and a couple of absolutely awesome coats (winter, trench) at some point. I want to put my money into mostly really classy basics (e.g., black high heels, a black purse) that can get a lot of use within my own style. It hasn't come up yet, but it would be much less likely -- but not impossible -- that I would spring for something that is just absolutely singular and that would be a very individually defining statement piece. I want something that helps me to work my image and that I can picture myself wearing a decade from now.

tl;dr a lot of consideration usually goes into it for me! Both of myself (knowing my own style and needs) and of the item (price, fit, function, etc.). The former is necessary for me to be able to judge the latter. Also... return policies are always comforting. |D

[ohsweetcrepes]

Oooh, man this was informative, thanks!