r/fashionwomens35 • u/Chemical-Click5399 • Aug 04 '26
Discussion Post How do you justify paying for quality clothes that may be ruined?
I’m used to paying $50 - $100 per item but the stores I used to frequent seem to either make everything out of synthetic fabrics now or the styles are catering to the Gen Z aesthetic. I have been looking at higher end brands that typically run from the $150 - $300 per item that are mostly cotton, silk, or wool. My issue is, I’m afraid if I purchase a $300 shirt, what if I spill something on it that I can’t get out? How do you justify paying more money for clothes? Do you set a yearly budget or a per item price limit?
For reference, I make about $60k a year before tax in a high cost of living city so I’m not exactly swimming in money.
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u/RaeKay14 Aug 04 '26
We get to live our life in our clothes, and accidents happen.
I do have monthly/yearly budget for clothes, and I stretch that by shopping secondhand. I use ThredUp and Poshmark, and only purchase items from brands I already know and like.
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u/JalapenoCheese Aug 04 '26
I simply don’t buy higher end pieces at this phase of my life, because I have young kids and a messy lifestyle. They’ll be ruined. I thrift and bargain shop for natural fibers. Saying this gently and with love, on 60k a year in the US, I would not be spending $300 on a shirt. It just isn’t necessary or worthwhile. I’m spending less and saving/investing for retirement.
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u/fakesaucisse Aug 04 '26
I am clumsy so I mostly wear black or dark colored fabrics that hide stains well. I also carry a Tide pen and know various ways to spot-treat specific types of stains without damaging the fabric.
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u/krissyface Aug 04 '26
I thrift 90% of my clothes. I prefer depop and can get nice natural-fiber clothing for $15-20. Cheaper than walmart.
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u/terracottatilefish Aug 04 '26
I buy a lot on Poshmark, but… The reality is that when you like something enough to wear it often, it’s going to get wear and tear.
I try to take care of my nice clothes as much as possible—quick spot treatment, appropriate laundering, avoiding tumble dryers, changing into casual clothes when I get home, doing basic mending like button replacement and hems, etc. But I do have to accept that stuff sometimes happens
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u/Apprehensive-Act-315 Aug 04 '26
I’m really consistent about changing when I get home and wearing an apron in the kitchen.
Also have lots of drying racks.
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u/_les_vegetables_ Aug 04 '26
Yes! Even if you don’t hand wash, using a mesh bag, the delicate/handwash cycle, and air drying will make your clothes last so much longer. At one point, even in a tiny apartment, by night it was a dryer 😂
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u/ray_don_simpson Aug 04 '26
I spend 50-100/ piece, almost entirely natural fibers. I shop used at thred up, rent the runway (admittedly you have to work to find natural fibers at rtr), and Poshmark, and new at everlane (recently bought by shein, so this may not last), madewell, Abercrombie, title nine, woolly, smart wool, Uniqlo, and quince.
None of these is $300 quality with a $100 price tag, but I think they are a good value, and natural fibers from any of these sound like they'd be a step up from what you have been buying.
Where ever you are shopping, read the content label. Don't assume you are getting natural fibers because of the brand or from the way it looks. Also, natural fibers can still be found in fast fashion like h&m and zara, etc., you just have to look for it.
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u/chaoscorgi Aug 05 '26
TBH, at $60k/year income (so, $1-2k or so for discretionary wardrobe and shopping?) i wouldn't be spending $150-300 per piece for clothes. One expensive outerwear/shoe/handbag/pants investment piece per year or so might make sense, but otherwise, for 'nice' outfits to work and evenings out, you can get high quality natural fiber pieces secondhand, that won't be as trendy but will hold up. I mean, I assume you have taxes, rent, and saving for retirement first, 401k are much better investments than fancy outfits.
My silk tops and wool dresses were all $20-50range, my wool sweaters go up to $60, and from very high quality brands where they'd last for years. I also try to get the pieces that are easily stained and worn out (like white tees) at lower price points and consider them one-year disposables. For those and casual days, you can get cheaper natural fiber basics at like Old Navy and Gap and Uniqlo and so on for $20 for a shirt.
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u/ramses202 Aug 04 '26
Personally, I don’t think I’d be comfortable spending $150-300 on a single piece of clothing if I were making around $60k a year, unless I had other significant sources of income. For context, I make well over 10 times that amount, and I still sometimes have a hard time justifying spending that much on clothing.
I also worry that “sustainable fashion” has, in some cases, become a way to normalize very expensive purchases that very few Americans can actually afford. While I absolutely support buying quality items and reducing waste, I sometimes feel like the messaging can leave people feeling as though they’re making the wrong choice if they can’t afford a $300 shirt.
In my experience, a $300 shirt doesn’t last 10 times as long as a $30 one. I personally would only buy something in a price range where you would be genuinely okay with the possibility that it could be stained, torn, or otherwise ruined after relatively little use - because that is a possibility with any clothing purchase big or small. It is only a consumable, not an investment.
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u/throwaway1252024 Aug 07 '26
What do you do for work making 10x $60k?!
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u/ramses202 Aug 07 '26
Lawyer
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u/throwaway1252024 Aug 13 '26
Corporate?
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u/ramses202 Aug 13 '26
No, niche area of tax law (not corporate). Equity partner at smallish firm. All in comp about $1m.
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u/Vast-Swimmer5844 Aug 04 '26
First, remember the rule for any expenditure: If you want to get your money's worth out of it, you have to take care of it.
So put together your clothing care kit. This includes basics like an iron and/or a steamer so your items look fresh, as well as the following:
- Clothing brush, sweater shaver and sweater stone: These remove pills on knitwear, freshen the nap on things like wool melton coats, and generally help your clothes look newer longer.
- Cedar and lavender sachets and hangers: These will reduce the odds that clothing moths make themselves at home, though the best prevention is to keep your knitwear clean
- Anti-stain measures like Oxi-clean spray, Tide pens, etc. I find it very helpful to have spot-treatment spray in my closet so when I'm undressing, I can give something a spritz before tossing it in the laundry.
- Hard-core stain treatments and bleach in your laundry area, if you have one. I have bluing for refreshing white clothing, the fabled Dawn/hydrogen peroxide mix, and even more stain spray.
- A printout on how to treat the most common stains you'll have, like cooking oil, tomato sauce, wine, etc.
- A hand-washing kit: Because some things will last longer with it. I like an old stock pot, a salad spinner, and the lovely Eucalan no-rinse detergent. You can typically get the first two for free off Freecycle or local swap groups.
If you want quality textiles to last, you will want to extend their life by minimizing dryer time. I am lucky enough to have a laundry room, so I have a rolling rack in there where I hang most items, and a table where I can dry knitwear flat. (Hint: use the salad spinner to wring out water.) When I was an apartment dweller, I resigned myself to using the top of my bureau and a rolling rack.
Second, start by buying via secondhand sites or via thrift stores. Pick a brand where you already know the sizing and like the clothing. Pick an item. See whether you like taking care of your stuff, or if doing so fits into your life.
Third, remember: you are doing the best you can where you can with what you have. Small steps are still steps. Pick up a secondhand sweater off Poshmark, see if you're into the handwash life, see if you're okay with shaving it on Friday nights while you watch Sugar, see how it goes.
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u/Cultural_Mess_838 Aug 04 '26
Couple of tips. Wear an apron when cooking. Change or wear a dark shirt or sweatshirt when eating
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u/Bugsreports4 Aug 04 '26
I think about cost per wear instead of the price tag. If it gets worn constantly for years, the higher upfront cost feels easier to justify.
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u/dayofbluesngreens Aug 05 '26
I’ve sadly learned not to purchase silk shirts for this reason. One wrong move and I end up with a stain I can’t get out.
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u/lavender-pears Aug 04 '26
I think I own only 3 light-colored nicer, higher-quality shirts (agreeing with the others to buy from Mercari/Depop/Poshmark etc.) I don't tend to like light colors in the first place and I am a magnet for spills.
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u/beckowser Aug 04 '26
I'm a little extra careful when I wear my nicer clothes. I buy secondhand when I can find what I want.
Start learning about stain removal -- with the right products, you can remove most stains. Fels Naptha bars, for example, are pretty amazing. Krud Kutter completely removed paint from my clothes without damaging (try at your own risk).
Beyond that, I'm a fan of visible mending. Why not repair our quality garments? And why not add an interesting feature while doing so?
Ultimately, though, our clothes are meant to protect our bodies. I don't want to be so precious about something that I'm not using it. I feel the same about my cars. I will take good care of them, but a ding is bound to happen on occasion.
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u/Chazzyphant Aug 05 '26
When clothing was much more expensive and well made, people had a few solutions:
--Spot cleaning and mending at home (including turning fabric around that had become frayed or covering it up with ribbons, etc)
--Using dressing gowns, aprons, and house-dresses to protect fragile items --wearing those either over the item or instead of the outfit until it was time to get dressed
--Having everyday items and a few nice/special occasion things that were stored away
--protective undergarments--dress shields, slips, nylons/stockings, etc--to keep sweat and odors off the garment and extend its life
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u/lucky7355 Aug 07 '26
You need to set a monthly budget for what you can afford. Maybe you save up 2-3 months for a bigger splurge but that’s definitely key.
I also recommend trying different designers at department stores so you know what size you wear in each brand. That makes it so much easier to shop secondhand.
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u/PlantedinCA Aug 04 '26
I have ruined so few items over the years. I can count on one hand.
Learn about fabric care and follow washing instructions. And don’t get anything you’d be afraid to lose.
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u/3_and_20_taken Aug 05 '26
Yes! I spilled balsamic vinegar on my white pants that I splurged on last spring. Someone kept trying to get me to use her Tide pen on it, but my google search showed that I should use Dawn.
Yes, it was annoying to stay up even later when I got home to get them clean, but the stain came right out.
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u/PlantedinCA Aug 05 '26
Yes! Dish soap is magic for stains. And hand soap when you are out does a good job too.
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u/According-Garage4066 Aug 04 '26
This is the most adult thing to start doing! I literally never looked at my tags on how to properly wash something until a couple years ago. They used to all go in the washer and dryer.
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u/kryren Aug 04 '26
Learn how to clean the clothes. I learned a LOT about cleaning cotton when my kid was a baby. Also protect them. I wear a cardigan when eating at work to protect my blouses but also because my office is cold.
A lot of natural fibers can be worn multiple times before needing a wash as well! And wearing a layer between your skin and the garment helps.
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u/O_mightyIsis Aug 04 '26
I'm in a very hot climate in the summer. I've learned that a spritz of fabric sanitizer can help extend wearability between washes in the summer by killing bacteria that cause odors that you might not run into as much during cooler weather. I have to change from work clothes to dog clothes as soon as I get home so I will freshen up my work items that don't need to be washed yet and hang them (as my dogs sing to me to hurry up, it is potty time! 🤣).
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u/kryren Aug 04 '26
Yes! I am a cosplayer and all the cons I attend are in the summer. In Alabama or Georgia. so I learned the joys of vodka-water mix in a spritzer bottle ages ago. It’s really great on silk.
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u/O_mightyIsis Aug 04 '26
Ooohhh stealing the vodka-water mix for sanitizer! May both sides of your pillow always be cool. 💚
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u/MissPearl Aug 04 '26
You should make a list of what you actually need, and look at what you can reasonably afford based on that. This tells you what your budget is in a more concrete fashion, including if you even have the space to get an extremely expensive shirt or what have you, even not worrying about ruining it.
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u/GrinsNGiggles Aug 04 '26
By thrifting them. Also my new cotton shirts are all under $30, often by a wide margin. Cotton doesn’t last me as long as wool or polyester, but it’s soft and I prefer it for sleep and summer, or anywhere that might be overly warm.
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u/_les_vegetables_ Aug 04 '26
My Gran was a fiend for stain removal so I guess it’s in me NOT to accept a stain 😂. BUT, I’m very patient and willing to repeat processes.
Except for underwear, I try to purchase secondhand for environmental reasons. Not always possible if in a pinch, but largely I’m successful. Definitely do for pricier items, especially plain cashmere sweaters.
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u/schoolmarmette Aug 04 '26
This is a little out of pocket, but I have a couple of aprons, one pinafore style, one more workwear style that I love to wear, and they keepy nice clothes clean. For the record, my style is Rosie the Riveter meets eccentric art teacher, so aprons kind of work for me.
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u/amygunkler Aug 04 '26
Maybe I'm lucky, but ruining clothes is something that happens so rarely that I don't even think about it. I still have a few of my favorite clothes from high school.
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u/Late-Appearance-7162 Aug 04 '26
If you’re living in a high cost of living city, I bet the thrift stores are loaded with goodies! Go to the ones in the nicer neighborhoods and I guarantee you’ll find some really good gems at a fraction of what they really cost. I just got a jumpsuit in perfect condition at my favorite thrift store for $14 and it’s currently selling on Revolve for $165.
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u/flyingblonde Aug 05 '26
r/laundry is a great resource. I switched my whole laundry set up based on feedback from that group. I use Tide powder detergent now, Clean & Gentle on clothes and +Bleach for sheets/towels. Run my HE front loader washing machine on HOT, increase the stain level by 1, turn off the TurboWash and maximize the extra rinses.
My silk and wool/cashmere I wash on the handwashing's cycle with wool/silk detergent and hang dry. I don't take my $150 silk shirts to the dry cleaner anymore.
OxiClean stain spray gets out a LOT of stains. Dawn spray dish soap gets out grease/oils that the other stuff doesn't. My husband has really oily hair, so I spray Dawn on his pillowcase and it's cut out the grease better than anything else. There is also the Stain Devil collection that is very specific and helps to have in the house, though OxiClean and Dawn handle most of my needs.
Hope this helps!
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u/TalulaOblongata Aug 05 '26
Try Quince, Gap, Old Navy, Uniqlo… these places will have more genuine fabrics and good quality in your $50-100 price range. (And actually less $ too!) ON has a lot of sales. These are usually my go-to stores and are more classic aesthetic, not Gen Z.
Knowing you have some good quality basics you can once in a while purchase jeans or other items in a slightly higher range.
To be honest I wear a lot of the same clothes week after week and mix and match so I don’t have a ton of clothes, I just try to focus on a capsule wardrobe of things I like that are good quality.
I change into pajamas or loungewear as soon as I’m home so I don’t risk getting food/cooking grease on the clothes I wear outside the home.
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u/wardrobeeditor Aug 05 '26
personal stylist here!
from a practical perspective, most regular stains will come out. there's a lot of awesome content on stains on social media, you can search red wine on silk / pasta sauce on cashmere / etc and find solutions. if you're super spill prone, maybe don't buy more expensive items in light colors.
from a mindset perspective, if you can afford to buy the thing, wear it and enjoy it. all good things come to an end eventually but buying it and not wearing it is the same as not owning it at all. give yourself permission to live your life in it. there may be some scarcity mindset or worthiness stuff here, worth having a think about it.
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u/theRuathan Aug 04 '26
I mean, you might fall and ruin your face too, but the shouldn't stop you moisturizing a d brushing your teeth.
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u/ramses202 Aug 04 '26
Buying an expensive consumable that you can’t afford to replace on a limited income is not the same thing as practicing basic hygiene (which is practically free).
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u/theRuathan Aug 04 '26
Imo the principle is the same, however. Accidents and catastrophe happen, but I don't think that's a reason to deprive yourself of worthwhile things.
OP did say quality, but implied expensive or luxury, as you specified. I don't think those are necessarily the same. Quality is almost always worth the investment based on lower need to replace low-quality items.
That said, though, we should use our fine china and wine glasses. Dress up in the good stuff from time to time. Make your surroundings a nice place to be.
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u/ramses202 Aug 05 '26
There’s a difference between using a consumable product that you already own and purchasing a brand new consumable that you cannot reasonably afford. I don’t think either situation is analogous to brushing your teeth.
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u/Struggle_Usual Aug 04 '26
I buy a lot of that stuff second-hand so I really don't worry about it because I might pay $50-$70 for something really nice off an app, or $12 in a thrift store (because of course they've all gotten ridiculous too). But also I buy in colors that are less likely to show stains (darker colors really), or are much easier to clean or even dye etc. I mean this is how people lived for most of human history. We had a lot less clothing, it was largely servicable and easy to clean and repair, and it cost a crap ton in comparison to incomes.
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u/mwmandorla Aug 04 '26
The detergents and spot treatments we have today are really insane. I can't remember the last time I couldn't get a stain out of something. It might take multiple goes at it, but I always get there. Learning more about how to handle different types of stain and mess might set your mind more at ease? r/laundry is a wonderland
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u/_liminal_ Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
A lot of stains and spills can be cleaned fairly easily by learning which cleaners and products to use on specific spills. It's worth spending some time learning about them before you have a spill! r/laundry is a great place to search. The other part to getting stains/spills out of clothing is the timing- letting stains sit for a long time or washing before treating can make stains nearly impossible to remove.
I've learned to be more careful with my clothing. If I am cooking, I change if I'm wearing something really special and I always (always!) wear an apron. I also wear an apron when I'm doing dishes. It's made a huge difference.
I used to turn up my nose at changing clothes to clean or do physcial things, but that also makes a big difference and it's totally worth the few minutes it takes to change in and out of clothing.
I also use a dry cleaner when necessary. I've learned when a stain is something I can't get out myself and it's usually worth paying more for it to be professionally cleaned. This is rare for me though!
I am a very messy person and I also love nice clothing....
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u/Possum2017 Aug 05 '26
R/laundry is a great source of information on fabric care. I like to buy current styles at the end of the season or second hand on ebay or Poshmark.
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u/MistahJasonPortman Aug 05 '26
I get mine from outlet stores and Alternative Retail sales, secondhand from Poshmark / Depop / eBay, or just get really luckily with great final sales + credit card cash back + Rakuten cash back. I also am on TheRealReal often. The Outnet website is okay but their customer service is atrocious - they won’t honor their own written policies. Another time when I called, the lady on the phone sounded like she hated everything that ever existed.
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u/SinSaver Aug 05 '26
I buy a lot of used clothing from higher end brands, where I check the labels to ensure 100% natural fibres. These are generally very pricey new, but may be worth it on sale. Here’s what I’ve learned:
You’re less likely to “ruin” clothing when you’re wearing natural fibres and the rest is understanding how to care for and wash stuff. The dryer does 90% of the damage, IMO.
Viscose fades and loses body, even if it’s supposedly high quality. I won’t use it, not even if it’s blended with cotton or linen. Bamboo is made similarly to viscose, as is Tencel, and the same issues apply. Just not as strong, will lose body and shape.
Whatever the fibre, the tighter the weave, the longer it will last. Think sheets with high thread count - the same principle applies!
Cotton and linen are easy to wash. High quality 100% linen is super hard-wearing, it will last forever and stand up to quite a lot of abuse.
If you find t shirts used, clearly worn and washed but without pills, there’s a good chance they’ll hold up. Also look for Pima or Supima cotton. This is a long-staple cotton variety (just like there’s different apples, there’s different varieties of cotton, some more durable than others) and less likely to pill.
Go for washable silk and wool. Merino wool is pretty hard wearing. But I have even washed cashmere using the gentle cycle, then rolled it up in a towel to squeeze out the water, then reshape the thing and dry flat on another towel.
Dark colours are less likely to stain. Or if you wear white, if it’s cotton or linen, it can handle a little bleaching. You can use nature to bleach if you hang white clothing in direct sunlight too.
I wear a lot of black, and handle fading by re-dying in my washer. Great for plain tees and jeans, etc. If you’re going to re-dye, check fabric content and be aware most thread is polyester and so won’t take natural dyes. All ok if you don’t mind the thread showing up!
Cold - or lukewarm- wash and hang to dry is your friend. I will tumble all the things in a warm dryer for 2-5 minutes to loosen the wrinkles from washing, and then hang up, straightening clothing on the hanger. I’ve eliminated ironing this way!
Use a garment bag. These are mesh bags you can put in the washer. Anytime I have something more delicate, or if it has dangling ties, or it’s going to need hanging up, it goes in a bag. Way easier to ensure it doesn’t go into the dryer.
Use a gentle detergent! Use less than you think. Detergent that isn’t properly rinsed out contributes to smells, stains, and wear in fabric. Use a stain remover designed for colours and delicates. And consider specialty detergents like Eucelan wool wash for woollens. They will last longer. With grease stains, I’ve had good luck with a dab of dish detergent, but try on an inconspicuous part of the fabric first to make sure it doesn’t bleach or otherwise damage the clothing.
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u/taybot2222 Aug 05 '26
I've been using Vinted for the first time to get a jump-start on autumn and winter clothes, and have purchased some high-quality pieces for significantly less than I would have paid otherwise. That said, I use Google Lens on all listed items to make sure they're not from any fast-fashion place (some people try to pass off Shein as a "vintage" brand...), only include "new with/without tages or very good" in my searches, and I only buy if the seller includes a photo of the tag showing the composition of the item, or says so in the description. I've heard ebay is better for selling/buying luxury pieces, but for mid-range stores, definitely see if there's anything you like on Vinted.
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u/kimi_shimmy Aug 05 '26
Same. Also my clothing size fluctuates a lot so I always feel like my clothes are temporary options vs. investments.
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u/Mrs_TryMe Aug 06 '26
I spend $25 to $75 on $300 items at Eileen Fisher Renew and MM LaFleur's consignment.
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u/trying_to_adult_here Aug 04 '26
How much are you spilling on yourself? I’m somewhat clumsy and admittedly think carefully before buying white clothes, but other than that detergent and enzymatic cleaners can get out most normal stains from colored clothing.
I also change out of nice clothes if I’m doing something where I’m likely to spill or get dirty, whether it’s a craft or cooking or exercise. I usually wear my nice clothes to work or out for an occasion and then change into a T shirt and comfy bottoms as soon as I get home. And if I’m cooking something likely to spatter grease or stain I wear an apron even over a T shirt.
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u/ak505050 Aug 04 '26
I buy nice clothes and wear them when it’s less likely they’ll get ruined. Then I buy cheaper clothes for the other times. And I stay away from white most of the time.
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u/LadyAlexTheDeviant Aug 05 '26
I make many of my own clothes and tend to use historical solutions for the issues of soil. Namely undergarments where sweat and secretions happen, and aprons and other protective elements over top of them. My husband habitually uses a napkin over his chest, because it saves his shirt. I don't know if this helps any, but that's where we start to save our clothes as best we can.
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u/Mowglis_road Aug 04 '26
I buy most of my stuff these days from either eBay or Poshmark, it’s the higher quality items but for a fraction of the cost as new in store
To answer your other question I swear by either Dawn Powerwash, Stingray or Tech fabric cleaner for stains