A couple of weeks ago I was chatting with some girlfriends and the question came up about which pieces we were willing to invest in.
I had to think about it for a while, but here are the pieces that I’m willing to splurge on. And when I say splurge, I mean spending more than like $150 per item.
JACKETS/COATS
SHOES
HANDBAGS
JEANS
SUNGLASSES
Now, just because I’m willing to pay more for these pieces doesn’t mean I always splurge on them. I’ve bought plenty of cheap versions in all these categories.
BUT…the older I get and the more brands I try, I’ve come to realize that you often do get what you pay for. The stitching on cheap bags come out quickly, cheap shoes are often much less comfortable, and jackets with a higher price point are made with better materials and higher quality stitching.
I wanted to round up a couple of specific pieces that have been worth a higher price point.
A wool coat, either BLACK, CAMEL, NAVY, or some other neutral like GRAY. Choose a classic style and a really flattering fit. If you live somewhere rainy or less warm, invest in a good trench like THIS ONE.
A perfect leather jacket. I love a BLACK MOTO style and I wear mine at least weekly. Also THIS SUEDE JACKET was an investment and worth every single penny.
A small dressy bag, like THIS QUILTED ONE.
A large handbag. I have THIS LEATHER TOTE, and THIS BROWN ONE is amazing, and I have so many friends who have THE NEVERFULL Bag and swear by it.
A pair of medium or dark wash jeans. I recently bought THESE ONES and wear them almost every day.
A pair of basic sneakers. I have and love THESE PLAIN WHITE ONES, but if you’re into the athletic look I also love THESE BLACK & WHITE ONES.
A pair of neutral stilettos. I’ve purchased lots of pumps over the years, but my husband surprised me with THIS BLACK PAIR (also in non-patent HERE) a few years ago and for how tall they are, they are so comfortable, and the cut makes them so sexy and flattering. THIS PAIR is similar and much more affordable.
I bought THESE SUNGLASSES after years of trying dupes, and they’re maybe my best investment piece yet. I wear them every day, and the high quality lenses don’t scratch at all (which I can’t say for any of my other cheaper sunglasses).
I’d love to know what pieces YOU are willing to invest in, and which of the above you agree on — leave a comment below!
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Yes to all of those. My wool coat is 7 years old and holding up wonderfully (yay Quebec winters…), warm boots are essentials, my leather jacket is my 3-season go-to, and I’d rather have fewer pairs of shoes and have them all be comfortable.
Not so much on the jeans, but that’s a personal issue – I’m about halfway through childbearing (aka: we want 4 kids, I’ve had 2) and it seems like every pregnancy/nursing/back to work/start over cycle shifts my body enough that the jeans don’t fit well before they start wearing out, so cheaper jeans work fine for this stage in life.
Things that I’d add to your list: bras. Fork out the extra 20-30$ per bra and get GOOD ones. Swear to god, a good bra and a cheap t-shirt looks way nicer than the other way around.
And… I work an office job. A good suit. Or, for me: 2 blazers, 4 pairs of pants, 1 skirt, all the same material and interchangable (Boden ponte knit feels like sweatsuits and looks tailored and fits me like a glove). I get up in the morning and absolutely everything I can tug on matches, is comfortable, is machine-washable, looks professional, and fits well. I change up the tank top or dress shirt, that’s it. Not having to come up with an actual outfit every day? Priceless.
I agree with you 100% on everything you posted, but I also firmly believe a good pair of black dress pants are something to invest in, too. I used to roll my eyes when my mom told me that I would live in dress pants when I got older, but I do! I have some that feel like leggings and I would prefer to wear them over jeans to run errands most days.
Felicity | http://oliverandmoose.com
I finally invested in two pairs of designer jeans a few weeks ago, a light wash and a dark wash, and it’s been mind blowing to see how much better they are than any pair of pants I’ve bought from Target in the last 10 years. Never going back to bad pants again.
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I agree on the coat/jacket. I have a green wool coat I made myself 3 years ago and I love it! So worth the $100 in pattern and materials. I have 3 other jackets/ coats that I’ve made and I do tend to spend more on them. I also agree about SPLURGING on a nice bag. a few years ago after one of his mission trips to south america my father brought me back the most beautiful leather bag made by a friend of his down there and I love it so much, when it wears out I will splurge on another nice leather bag. To be honest though personally I wouldn’t splurge on anything else, but I’m WEIRD, I sew 50% of my wardrobe and thrift the rest, I can’t even remember the last time I bought something other than work out clothing at a “normal” store.
I love nicer coats that last for many seasons. I love getting them half the cost or less at the end of the season (about now). I also love leather bags in several styles/designers that hold up incredibly well. Kate Spade has some amazing sales and I’ve found black friday deals on other purses under $100.
Yes to jackets, even in Brisbane with it’s sub-tropical climate we need a good jacket, not necessarily a full Winter weight one but something that will stop the wind, I have two trench coats, black and red and they work well.
However, I also travel interstate to Sydney and Melbourne and so I also have other heavier weight jackets, all are vintage and one of them is my dream coat!
Definitely agree with you about shoes too, I have recently purchased three pairs of podiatrist designed shoes and they are the most comfortable I have ever worn!
Jeans for me only get worn in Winter or when I am on the back of a motorbike and my Kevlar Pants are in the wash, so I only buy the thicker weight ones and usually from a thrift store to keep the price reasonable.
Last year I purchased two designer bags while they were on sale, it was completely out of the blue and I have rotated through these since then and I do find that I am more cautious with how I put them down or pick them up, so that is probably a good thing!
I agree with Ros about bras, the knickers do not have to be as expensive but a well made bra can make all the difference in how your outfit looks to other people.
My only other suggestions are related to caring for yourself; as in natural skin care, a good quality hair brush like Mason & Pearson and things of that nature but that is a totally separate post!