Clothing: What's the most you've ever spent? (POLL)

[Walt34]

I think the most I ever spent on clothes at one time was when I went from uniform into the fraud section. At the time I owned two suits and all of a sudden I needed ten or 12. Like most everyone else there I went to J.C. Penny's Men's Clothier. But only when they were on sale for $100 or less each.

Now I wear a suit about once a year for weddings/funerals and the like and jeans flannel shirts the rest of the time. I buy new stuff (on sale of course) only to replace what wears out.

Now if one includes motorcycle riding gear as "clothes" then the cost just went way up. A decent helmet, gear, boots and gloves is well north of $1k.

[6miths]

I get to wear pajamas at work so my clothing outlay is very minimal.

[WhoDaresWins]

I bought a classic belted Burberry trenchcoat in London 20 years ago. I think the cost was about $800. Too bad I have grown too fat to button it. Fortunately the silk scarf and handbag that I purchased at the same time are still usable.

[ERhoosier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Thank you! Here's the shoe thread for your reading pleasure..... http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...oes-70921.html

Missed it. Sorry

[aaronc879]

I've spent under $50/yr on clothes every year since my mid-20's. The most i've spent on a single item is around $60. A couple pair of jeans before I started buying Walmart jeans and one fancy shirt were all around $60 each. Now all I buy per year are a few pairs of boxers and socks per year and maybe a cheap t-shirt or 2.

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERhoosier I plead guilty to having spent $300+ yrs ago on a pair of Italian cycling shoes. Far more than I've ever spent of street shoes. But in my defense, those Sidi's fit perfectly & are still in great shape after outlasting multiple pairs of cheaper bike shoes.

My sidi's are about 18 years old and still going strong. They feel like ballet shoes.

[Moemg]

I spent $300 on my Mother of the bride dress but I do rack up a nice yearly sum on JJill.com.

[splitwdw]

10 years ago, a long cashmere coat for $800. It was on sale. I still wear it.

[Gumby]

When I was at the big law firm, I regularly spent over $600 on a new suit. But they do last nearly forever, so amortized over all the years I wore them, it wasn't so bad.

[zesty]

$99 for a complete suit at Value City.

[W2R]

Once many years ago I spent over $100 on a very nice suit, to apply for a job that I wanted. Didn't get the job, and other than job applications I hardly wore the suit. This taught me a lesson. I think the cost of this almost un-worn suit was the most I have ever spent for an outfit. My wedding dress was hand sewn and cost almost nothing.

Last year I increased my spending on clothing, as part of my "you can't take it with you" campaign. I plan to spend even more on clothing this year. Here are my annual spending amounts for clothing. These amounts include (very expensive) shoes:

$402 total for 2008
$273 total for 2009 (retired Nov 2009)
$184 total for 2010
$385 total for 2011
$155 total for 2012
$527 total for 2013

My daughter married in October 2009, and I went to Macy's and tried on every dress that looked suitable for a MOB ("Mother of the Bride") while purposely not checking the price tags. Finally I was down to two dresses and couldn't decide so at that point I checked the prices. One was $400, but it turned out that the other one was on sale for $30. So, I got away with just $30 for that dress out of sheer luck. I was thrilled because normally I never have luck like that!

[someguy]

How do you spend $155 in a year including expensive shoes? Running shoes that don't fall apart and don't kill my joints cost at least $40 or so (marked down from 80-120) and I go through at least a couple pairs a year. Plus other athletic shoes that last maybe a year if I'm lucky. Just those two items alone would put me well past $155!

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R Last year I increased my spending on clothing, as part of my "you can't take it with you" campaign. I plan to spend even more on clothing this year. Here are my annual spending amounts for clothing. These amounts include (very expensive) shoes: $402 total for 2008 $273 total for 2009 (retired Nov 2009) $184 total for 2010 $385 total for 2011 $155 total for 2012 $527 total for 2013 :

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy How do you spend $155 in a year including expensive shoes? Running shoes that don't fall apart and don't kill my joints cost at least $40 or so (marked down from 80-120) and I go through at least a couple pairs a year. Plus other athletic shoes that last maybe a year if I'm lucky. Just those two items alone would put me well past $155!

I know, it's frightful what good running shoes cost these days, isn't it!! My shoes cost even more than yours do, though they also sometimes last a few months longer than yours. Also, I am not a runner and do not put much wear on shoes. I last bought new running shoes in January, 2013 and they are still in pretty good shape so I can get a few more good months out of them.

[Live And Learn]

I had to vote $200 - $399 because my wedding dress was $300. It was a very nice brocaded satin. My girlfriends were spending $1500 - $2000 on their dresses . Other than that I bought 3 dresses at $90 each when I was told I didn't "look the part" at work. Other than that I usually spent around $35 for a dress. I work from home most of the time now so last year our entire spend on clothing was $300 !

[someguy]

Indeed they are expensive. I'm also finding that more and more often, the ones at discount stores aren't actually higher-end models on closeout/sale, they're lower-quality models that were never in the running stores. So I had to pony up more like $85 the last time I needed new ones. I try to be religious about replacing them every 450-500 miles, even if that means having to buy at retail.

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R I know, it's frightful what good running shoes cost these days, isn't it!! My shoes cost even more than yours do, though they also sometimes last a few months longer than yours. Also, I am not a runner and do not put much wear on shoes. I last bought new running shoes in January, 2013 and they are still in pretty good shape so I can get a few more good months out of them.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Live And Learn I had to vote $200 - $399 because my wedding dress was $300. It was a very nice brocaded satin. My girlfriends were spending $1500 - $2000 on their dresses . Other than that I bought 3 dresses at $90 each when I was told I didn't "look the part" at work. Other than that I usually spent around $35 for a dress. I work from home most of the time now so last year our entire spend on clothing was $300 !

30 years ago I was a bridesmaid for my best friend, who was quite petite. She found a beautiful wedding dress on sale for ~$30. Our bridesmaid dresses cost a bit more, but not much, which was a good thing, because they were never worn again.

[sheehs1]

Spent over $1,000 on Mother of the Bride dress back in 2012. Spent even more for the various outfits for the parties, etc. It was an expensive year all the way around. Typically my clothes budget is several thousand a year ( 2K to 4K range perhaps - I'm guessing).

I hate to shop so once I go I try to get whatever I think I might need for whatever comes up.

[NYEXPAT]

Back in the 80's, I spent $12,000 for my ex-wife's Mink coat, i think she returned it and got another one.

[HawkeyeNFO]

Thanks to some credit card shenanigans over the past 8 or 9 months, I have accumulated a nice little stack of Macy's and other assorted stores' gift cards. Shouldn't have to spend much, if anything, for clothes for the next few years.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYEXPAT Back in the 80's, I spent $12,000 for my ex-wife's Mink coat, i think she returned it and got another one.

Wow, I think you "win" so far!

Obviously that was in your pre-LBYM days!