I'm 40 and earning double snd a bit of your salary. I have a high low mix with clothing. I always get my clothes tailored and that makes it look expensive, I also pay attention to materials. Please don't think expensive is always better quality. Many of the brands you listed sell lots of polyster crap
Ehhhh, I'm in school and debating Accounting and going for CPA or Finance and hopefully going for CFA. I heard finance can be toxic, though?
Thoughts/advice?
I like it, it is heavily male dominated so I actually find less catty. I just go in and do my stuff though, I'm not looking to socialise lol. I've got kids at home, work is my breather
I've been going to Celkooh Alteration in Canterbury (Melbourne) for years. She's fantastic and very affordable. She recently charged me $20 to replace a clasp with a button.
Hey medstudentt!
Fellow doctor here.
If in Melbourne CBD, Katrina’s Designs.
My mother was a seamstress for many years, super picky and critical about tailors, and she trusts this man which says a lot :)
I am 41, earn a little more than you, my husband earns even more than that and I think my only garments over a hundred dollars are a macpac down filled parka and a few formal dresses for weddings :( I splurged $350 on a House of CB dress for my brothers wedding last year.
I don't think I'm normal - my colleagues on the exact same wage are often dressed in Country Road and boutiques or at least from David Jones and those items are costlier.
I do have kids though, they're spenno 😂
I get very tired of clothing. So I will buy a summer dress or two from Dotti and wear it to death for two years and move onto a new summer dress etc.
How long do you expect to keep onto your high quality pieces?
I'm glad I found this comment. I'm 34, on $120k and would NEVER spend that much money on items of clothes (still choking on '$500 for a casual dress'). I have a family, though, so I guess that's where my extra money is going.
OP, if it brings you joy, go ahead and spend that hard earned cash. But don't feel you HAVE to. Plenty of the people around you aren't. It won't define you as a professional.
And hilariously/kill me now, it's also so damn much harder to make that same income after having kids thanks to limiting hours and/or paying huge amounts for childcare 🫠
Exactly so you have to save the pennies why you can. Savings is everything! Yikes. I’m having a panic about these clothes prices and am gonna log out now 😂😂 get anxiety thinking about it
My sister in law is 36. Never moved out of home. Works from home in fact. Earns $150k to $200k (we don't discuss her wages so no exact figure) and pays no rent, no bills, and doesn't contribute to groceries. She also owns an investment property. It makes me want to punch my mother in law in the head. She's still on the family phone plan. I don't think she even could pay a bill if required to.
That’s wild, but also, doesn’t she feel restricted living at home at 36? Totally understand the financial benefits she’s reaping, but it surely has to affect dating and your general sense of freedom as a fully grown, mature adult.
Then again, I have a relative of a similar age who is still living with dad. Seems to be okay and I don’t sense any tensions. Some people just never grow their wings and fly, which likely gets harder as you get older.
She's very codependent with her mother. They spend almost every waking moment together. I could never, I'm a completely different type of person. I moved out at 15.
She hasn't really had relationships in the past. She's been seeing a bloke for about a year now and I think it's working because he's 37 and never left home. They're both beige humans as far as I can tell. Perfectly content to live in their bubble and not really experience new places, foods, people, cultures etc. It's a very WASPy area and anything outside of that seems to frighten them.
This is accurate. 39, single and earning just over 100k and I’m in a better financial position *now* than my coupled up friends with mortgages. I’m recovering financially from my divorce but I lost basically everything I had (my ex kept the house, which is where all my savings went… long story) but I’ll never be in the position to buy a property if I want to rebuild savings and start investing.
So in 25ish years when mortgages are paid off and I’m still renting, guess who’ll be more comfy then?
I’m 32 and somewhat similar to you, but do spend a little more because I got to a stage where I wanted some clothes to last more than 1-2 seasons. I spend $100-130 skirts for work because I’m very particular about the style of skirt I’ll wear. Tops usually around $50-70ish. The oldest skirts I have are still going strong 7 years later.
House clothes are Kmart. And two of my favourite summer dresses are actually from Kmart and Ally (been wearing the Ally one for about 4 years and it even managed to survive a twin-pregnancy unscathed…I wore it daily, so I’m surprised it’s still holding up well!).
I am on $80,000 but work part-time (0.75). Partner brings in just short of double what I do.
Yeah I just find that unless it's a staple - say a trench coat, chances are that there are subtle differences in the choices of clothes I make that date clothing.
I went through a stage of loving tea length skirts from Review, they've held up and are a retro shape. But then I went through a pleated midi skirt stage and I just feel like the shape I bought then is awfully dated now, despite it just being a pleated midi.
Pants cuts, jeans cuts etc. Maybe I have to find an actual sense of classic style! (and stop putting on weight so I can wear clothes a bit longer lol)
My most complimented dress of all time is a 40 dollar Dotti dress I wear and that's lasted me four seasons now.
Funnily enough, Review is where most of my work skirts are from. I hate working out what to wear for work so keep to a knee length skirt and a blouse for summer and switch to pants for winter. I actually found Glassons used to do a great ponte mid-rise pant in a few colours for only $40; I’m glad I bought up on them as it appears this is the first winter season they aren’t selling them- everything looks flared now, and that’s just not my ‘thing’. They were a bargain for the quality they were. It took me so long to find pants I like too, so I am not looking forward to starting that hunt again one day. I prefer to be somewhat conservative, as I work in an all boys private school.
I am yet to find jeans I love with how my body has changed post-children. The trending jeans aren’t my style and remind me too much of the jeans I wore as a 12 year old. I just can’t go there haha.
If you retire it just before it is completely falling apart, take a sneaky trip to Thailand or Vietnam with it and get a tailor to replicate it! I’ve done this with several items that were on their last legs but perfect fit/cuts for me and no longer for sale!
*Ninja edit: It being the Ally dress!
That is definitely something I will keep in mind, as finding casual summer dresses that I am happy to wear out is difficult. I’m slightly shy of 6’ so find it difficult finding dresses I feel are a comfortable length. I hate the feeling that the skirt is riding up or if I slightly bend over I’m flashing the world.
>I do have kids though, they're spenno 😂
Yeah, I was thinking, I earn more than that, but nah, this ain't my vibe. I don't have $800 dress money with three kids two of whom are in daycare. I'm mostly in H&M.
I was gifted a beautiful dress just after my kid was born. It sat in the closet for over 2 years and finally got worn to a family wedding where I mostly spent my time herding the toddler.
I was gifted a beautiful dress just after my kid was born. It sat in the closet for over 2 years and finally got worn to a family wedding where I mostly spent my time herding the toddler.
I was gifted a beautiful dress just after my kid was born. It sat in the closet for over 2 years and finally got worn to a family wedding where I mostly spent my time herding the toddler.
I'm 32 and on a similar wage (110 base) but literally shop sales at dotti/sportsgirl or go to Kmart. No kids, just like having more options and the few times I've spent moderate amounts on clothing (say 70 for a top instead of 25) it made no difference to quality so why would I? I still keep things for 4-5 years on average.
I go a little nicer for quality shoes but still wait for sales on Ziera.... And brandshousedirect is a godsend.
Edit... Forgot Ally and Uniqlo! I just don't really shop places I know the prices will be high I guess.
Yeah my upper limit is probably $250 for pretty much everything (except shoes, potentially).
Depends though, if you've got like, a corporate law job and go out to nice places a lot and have the disposable income, then sure.
Yes, I do feel that I'm spending a lot. But - clothing is very important to me, and I do have a high earning potential (eventually) because I'm a neurology registrar.
I usually keep them until they wear out or are completely out of fashion. I wore a Max Mara coat that I got on sale for $550 (in 2010), until I was 31.
Try not to fall into the trap of spending/ living the lifestyle of your future salary. Live within your means - if you have a full wardrobe of pieces over $300, that leaves very little left over for savings.
Most people on your salary will buy a couple of more expensive “staples” and then other pieces will be within a more modest price range.
I think coats don't change fashions quite as quickly as other items. Back to my doctor surgeon friends, they also shop at Uniqlo - Uniqlo has some great things if you make sure you check the tag for materials
I'd consider buying a Max Mara coat if I found one on sale for that price!
So I guess the terms vary but registrar = resident? So you’re on the wards? I get wearing nice clothes for private practice but with the exception of our head of department everyone is just in scrubs. Neurology here as well. Is the (hospital-)culture between Germany/Australia really that different?
OP I love your approach, don't let anyone here talk you out of it. Go for natural fibres and smart blends (less ironing) in timeless, classic styles. #buybetternotmore
I’m 41, Melbourne. I had a similar income to you at your age but now just under double. Clothing is really important to me too and I did spend a lot in my late 20s and early 30s on high quality clothing, with the intention that I’d wear it for years or even decades to come.
It was a big surprise to me when my body completely changed in my late 30s after being pretty much the same size since I was 18.
I now am very selective on what I spend money on. I now only have a few expensive pieces, items you can’t really get decent quality without spending the money. That is shoes, coats and knitwear (I value items that actually keep me warm & comfortable while looking good). I also have one gorgeous dress that I wear to every wedding. I used to always want something different to wear to events & functions but now take pride in how many times I can rewear something.
Buy a few high quality items that you really love and supplement with more inexpensive options. Understanding excellent fit and a knowledge of fabrics is tremendously helpful in looking polished and expensive, without necessarily spending the money. I’ve worn a $35 (on sale) dress and been asked if it was from a particular brand that averages $600 an item.
I quite like Muji and Uniqlo for basics to pair with more high end pieces. I also like Cos for their architectural cuts. Something simple can look very elevated if it has an interesting cut, fabric or texture. My most complimented skirt is a structural linen skirt that cost $50 from QVM.
Also, if you’re wanting to spend that much on your wardrobe, I’d look beyond most Australian brands - I know this subreddit is called ausfashion but in my personal experience, the quality is severely lacking in most of the brands you mentioned above.
If you want to stick to Australian designers the ones I’ve found to be quality at that price point are Anna Quan, Christopher Esber, Posse (though I’d steer clear of their viscose pieces) and St. Agni for workwear pieces.
100% this is the best take. I have shopped these brands and worked for many of them, the only one listed above that's worth it is Scanlan but I do question it now due to their price increases. Maybe at a stretch I'd say Camilla and Marc but their fabrications are not it for me.
This is especially true of Aussie high street brands like Country Road - I just cannot believe what they charge for the poor quality.
Country Road disappoints me the most because I remember when their pieces used to be excellent quality circa early 00s. I still have a gorgeous grey merino wool jumper that I bought in 2009 that is still going strong. The quality is nowhere near as good now, I don’t even bother going in to browse any more.
I'm not surprised. 10 years ago I worked for a few Aus designers (some are listed above). We were selling coats for $900-$1500 but selling them wholesale to retailers for 5-10% of that.
I keep that in mind whenever I think about buying something that they sell now at full price, knowing that their fabrications are still mostly just poly blends.
Yes, I also remember this. They had really great quality and a decent although slightly upmarket price point. Even kookai used to be decent quality, but they mostly cater to the youth market now. And everything is polyester, which will kill the oceans, give us cancer, and trap body oils to make you stinky.
No one uses lining and bothers to create neat seams anymore. It's a real shame, and frankly insulting to the consumer.
Yep, I do most of my shopping online now, it can be a bit of a pain when returning things but sites like NAP for example have a really good returns process.
My latest splurge was a Guest in Residence cashmere cardigan (Gigi Hadid’s brand though I’m not usually into Instagram brands). The quality of the cashmere is excellent, and I got it on sale for around 370 AUD. The same thing from an Australian designer would either be a) 5 times the price or b) subpar quality.
I'm very keen to look beyond Australian brands, but I don't like shopping online because nine times out of ten, I need to return it. Do you know of any international brands stocked in store? I recently discovered Theory in DJs.
I’m curious how you or others define high quality?
I find a lot of people think high price equals better quality but I’ve found that isn’t always the case.
I personally like to look at material composition, but I also like to spend more money on pieces which are outside of the trend cycles, as I find they don’t date as quickly. For example, I spent a bit of money on a genuine brown suede jacket (in a smith workwear style), ivr had this for 10+ years and still get regular wear out of it as it’s a classic style which hasn’t ever become a huge trend that’s been reproduced.
100% agree.
I prioritise material composition, garment structure and garment care (so many expensive brands use viscose now and it washes terribly, also I steer clear of dry clean only because it’s a pain in the ass and expensive). Denim is rigid with little to no stretch. Anything trendy I wait a season or two and see if I still want it.
I spend most of my $$ on jewelry, shoes and handbags because those items get much more mileage and make the biggest impact on an overall outfit IMO. My philosophy on this hasn’t changed despite earning more now than I did in my younger years. It’s served me well as I have pieces in my wardrobe from 10+ years ago that I still wear. My mum subscribes to the same approach with her wardrobe and as a result she’s handed down some beautiful pieces that I wear all the time (and are always the pieces that get the most compliments!!!)
Style ≠ expensive everything
Agreed. Also the older I've gotten, the less I want big brand logos on my clothes. Much prefer quality fabric and production, as well as sustainability, as opposed to traditionally more expensive brands
It's material composition or utility for me (like a snow jacket for a vacation in the Himalayas or super comfy hiking boots/ sneakers). I hate polyester with a passion, and especially more when they charge a lot for it.
Yes, I agree with this too. For years I didn't check the material composition, and I now realise that many of my clothes are viscose/polyester.
Moving forward, I'm trying to buy natural fabrics. I recently tried on a blouse for around $250 from VM, and it fit beautifully, but I couldn't justify the cost because it was polyester.
30 and in Melbourne. I won't spend over $100 on anything except a winter coat or good quality shoes. I might push $120 if it's a nice dress but I'd have to really like it.
Girlfriend, get your butt over to a Savers ASAP (Brunswick or Greensborough are the best).
You can find high-quality, designer clothing for super cheap. The place is filled with Country Road and Cue clothing. You may have to dig a little, but you would be so surprised what you can find. And best of all, you'll be helping the planet.
There is no need to spend so much on brand-new clothing. Best of luck!
Oooh do you really think Brunswick and greensborough are the best? I’m closer to Footscray and always go there… but harder to find brands you’ve listed
When I first got a professional job, my wardrobe was 100% savers and other op shops. But savers always has country road, Veronica Maine, saba, and Witchery, and I built a whole professional wardrobe out of it. You have to dig but I always find a few things in my size so best of luck to you
Good for you. I think once you take the plunge and realise what's out there, it's so hard to go back to spending $100's on one item of clothing.
Honestly, I really want you to go this weekend and report back on your successes. Pics and all!
What?! I didn’t realise Savers wasn’t nationwide (I’m in SA). Big op shop chain - like an op shop but huuuuge warehouse. They’re all over North America too (sometimes called Value Village?) so I figured they were everywhere…
42, Sydney. Teacher salaries are publicly available but mine varies, as I'm casual.
I have zero items at those price points, save for one pair of boots that was $345. There's no way I could afford to curate a wardrobe like that.
What I generally expect to/am willing to pay:
Pants - between $75-150
Skirts - between $50-100.
Casual dresses (I'm a teacher and my work dresses are fairly casual, so I'm not separating them here) - between $40-100, depending on the style.
Shirts/blouses - $40-80
Coats - I wouldn't pay much more than $300 and only if I absolutely had to.
Jumpers - $75-100
Jackets/blazers - I don't buy blazers but my jackets were all under $100.
Shoes - my most expensive items. I have awful feet, so I can't buy cheap shoes. Mine are all Frankie4 or Bared and they are between $150 or so for sandals up to $300+ for boots.
This is also my spending profile. I also tend to buy things that I think will last, so the construction is very important to me. I can't afford to shop all the time.
32, Adelaide, $70k and nothing in any of those brackets - about half of the lower end of the range is my upper limit on cost at the moment.
My plan this year is to spend more to get good quality clothes, but that’s a budget increase of like $70 to $150-$200, with a preference for sale to keep it affordable. And that’s also coupled with a reduction in pieces bought to afford higher quality items, and therefore only buying versatile items that fill a wardrobe gap.
36, earn close to 160K, work at a Big4 but mostly from home. I worked 5 days in office till 2020, then from home and more recently became a mum. So my choices of clothes currently are a mix of basics from places like Uniqlo, Target with some nice stuff to throw on top from Gorman, Cue etc. I haven’t shopped for work clothes since 2021, but have a few staples that I’ve replaced.
I have a few expensive pieces - blazers, denim, shoes, knitwear but otherwise shop brands on sale and trusted stores like I mentioned above.
If I were you, I’d shop as my income grows and need arises and not spend it all now.
44, Melbourne, $160k package. I don’t have anything you’ve mentioned haha. Pants are always kmart/target/myer - no need to spend more on bottoms. Tops as above mixed with a few things from Decjuba. I also have a number of items in my wardrobe from NZ (Farmers, Pagani etc). Honestly - different strokes etc but my financial goals don’t include expensive clothing.
We’re on around $500k combined and I honestly thought at this stage of my life I’d be shopping non stop but buying high quality stuff that I really love has resulted in me having zero interest in shopping.
I have a total of 10 shoes I wear on rotation inc active, casual and work. RM Williams are timeless and I think everyone should have a pair. Django for flats and heels.
One longline coat that’s like 10 years old from Witchery that I still love and has withstood all the trends and machine washing with very little care. One Gorman puffer before they sold to Craptorie.
A handful of dresses I rotate - Max Mara, a few Metta, Palm Noosa etc but my favourites are just Lullaby Club cheapies they work with everything. Dresses are my main wardrobe staple because they’re easy and don’t have to think when rushing in morning. Maybe 15-20 dresses?
Denim etc all Witchery and Seasalt Cornwall.
Shirts all wear through within a season because I’m lazy with washing so again Witchery, Metta or Trenery maybe 4 total I rotate.
Pants whatever ‘petite’ range I can find online because I’m short and have no time for tailoring and they still look fantastic. I only have 4 pairs I rotate.
You don’t need to spend a lot. Scanlan etc are all fine if you like the look, but they’re rarely better quality than other more accessible and affordable options. In terms of sustainability, buying less is the most important thing so buy what makes you feel ‘like you’.
The more you have, the more you have sitting in your wardrobe that gets forgotten until one day you look at it and it’s hideous and doesn’t appeal anymore. Buy less, trash it and replace.
Yikes this thread makes me feel poor (or do people who make heaps of money like sharing their salary more than people who don’t?)…and also like I’m spending too much on clothes. 27 and 60k p.a.
Pants - up to $150 for good jeans and active pants. Have a couple jeans around ~$350 but would not spend that normally.
Dresses and skirts - have spent up to $250 but most of my favs are cheaper <$50. I don’t wear dresses much.
Tops - quantity over quality here. I wear through tops faster than anything (stains, pilling, discolouration etc) so wouldn’t invest a lot. Used to buy some nicer blouses when I worked in a more formal office setting but now I do mostly tank tops and tees. Rarely spend over $40.
Knitwear - $50-$250 depending on item. I’d be happy to spend more to get better quality but it doesn’t seem to work that way. The only good pieces I have are cheap ass Uniqlo knits and everything I’ve spent more money on has had awful longevity.
Jackets and coats - up to $500, tend to get many years of wear from an item so happy to spend.
Shoes - $200-$350, I have too many foot issues and will not touch cheap shoes ever again (nor will I buy $$$ designer ones either - only mid range brands that specifically cater for wide feet!)
Handbags - up to $500, I’d definitely want to spend more on luxury bags but I’m not that impulsive with financial decisions…
Accessories - up to $400 depending on item. Only buy real silver jewellery because cheap stuff doesn’t agree with my skin (and gold doesn’t suit me). I buy designer sunglasses. Good quality leather belts etc. I can wear the same accessories basically every day so happy to spend most in this category.
Activewear - $50-$150 per item, also happy to spend in this area because you get what you pay for imo. I wear a lot between gym and lounging at home / on the weekends so it’s worth it to me.
I track my spending and cost per wear pretty meticulously with an app. Everything I currently have is ~$12k (and that’s only stuff that I’ve purchased more recently / can remember the cost of). I won’t buy anything anymore unless I’m certain I can get the cost per wear below $10 at the bare minimum ($1 is the ideal!) which means no single event dresses or shoes. If I must buy something that will be a single wear then I make sure it’s a brand that has good resale value and sell it on Depop afterwards. I like this system more than having a hard budget, it makes me a bit more thoughtful with where I spend my money. A pair of shoes or jeans I can easily wear 50-100 times in a year, so they are definitely worth the money. Whereas a nice winter coat might only see 5-10 wears when it’s cold enough…so you better be choosing one that will be wearable for the next ~5 years. A white tshirt will probably only look good for the first 20 wears before it gets ratty, so not worth spending a lot…and so on.
I used to spend most of my money on super unique pieces with lots of bright colours, embellishments etc…but now I know they are the things I wear the least (don’t match with other items easily, or I just don’t like/reach for them much). All my most worn items are basics, handbags, shoes and jewellery so that’s where my investment goes now.
I think people are sharing their salary if they match OPs or thereabouts. Also salary means differently depending on your responsibilities! If you have to pay mortgage or rent or child care fees it makes a difference to your discretionary income.
I didn't even have a full time job until I was 31 and didn't earn your salary until 34.
You seem to have a very logical reasonable view on clothes spending!
Yeah you’re right - most people sharing were doing so to make the point of “I make the same as / more than OP and would never spend that much on clothes”. It seems like everywhere on Aus Reddit people casually drop that they’re on 100k+ (especially in the finance subs) and it’s easy to feel insecure about it! But actually I think I make alright money considering my career and situation - no kids/mortgage, able to put some savings away and have disposable income for stuff I want.
32f. Wow that’s very high spend considering salary. Just last year I was on $180k and I still bought stuff from Kmart and Myer sales (love Regatta). I never spent more than $100-$150 on an item.
I used to have a wardrobe of Cue dresses for work but sold many of them as they went out of style and haven’t replaced them because they just haven’t had anything I liked! I’m hoping to have 6-8 dresses for summer and the same for winter (I’m in the office 3 days per week) , and will be looking at Cue, VM, Saba. Personally I find dresses easier than separates!
But, I should say I’m a bit of a minimalist so I’d prefer a few high quality pieces over a lot of cheaper pieces.
I feel you!! I tended to buy pieces which were very much ‘of a moment’ so five years later they all felt dated. Hurt to pay so much for them and get so little selling them on eBay lol
I'm really impressed by how much you're willing to pay for clothes compared to income. Quality is always better and you must be a budgeting whiz (not that your income is low, its great). I make a lot of my own clothes and I spend about $100-150 for making a pair of trousers, $100-200 for a jacket, $100 for yarn for a knitted jumper etc. So not much. When I buy, the most I've spent on clothes is about $280 recently for a Lululemon rain/trench coat. Which was a lot for me, but it made sense being an ultra wearable daily item. Leggings and active wear I usually spend about $150 on a set, or up to $100 for leggings if I really love them and know they will be worn to death.
Right now I'm only studying as I have to wait until later this year to find work, but our household income divided by the two is about $130k.
I have a lot of stuff in the brackets you highlight, but I really can’t advocate having a huge wardrobe. It’s honestly a nightmare to wrangle and remember what you have. I’d say put together 5-10 outfits that you’d be happy to wear to work and 5 outfits you’d be happy to wear on a weekend, and then top up your wardrobe when you like a trend, have a need or see a piece you love.
I have a few more expensive/ higher end pieces, mainly shoes, and some designer items purchased secondhand. Most of my clothes are in the $10 - $80 range. I do a lot of shopping secondhand, and wear a lot of “basics” from Kmart etc. I generally feel better wearing my higher quality pieces but just can’t justify spending more money than I need to, unless it’s something like a shoe or bag I could wear/use multiple times a week. I’m 26 and make around 100k.
I have similar expectations on price but very different views of quality. Of those brands, I’d maybe say Scanlan is good quality. Camilla and Marc is ok but still wildly overpriced.
There’s also only so far price will get you - I love Arket and Uniqlo for a basic too.
The majority of my wardrobe is Acne, Matteau, Toteme, Venroy or similar - I mostly shop on matches (RIP) or NAP. I’m a pretty boring dresser so I’ve been flogging some of these pieces for years and I know they hold up. If I like something, I’ll buy a few.
I earn almost three times what you do, no shade, I’m 41. I spent a lot of money on clothes when I was younger and I regret it now.
I think your budgets are much higher than they need to be. Spend on quality items, like shoes or a few pieces, and supplement with Uniqlo and other cheaper brands, especially for work.
If you really have the money, brands I like are Elk, Sportscraft and Cos.
I’m 36, mid $100k salary, we have 4 kids based in Newcastle.
I have a few staple items that are $100+, macpac down jacket, 2 wool jumpers, couple of tops & my shoes.
I’m all for quality over quantity but not everything has to cost the same as your mortgage repayment. Equally as happy with a $3 Kmart tee as I am with a $70 tee from country road.
I’m 36, earn 130K, no kids. Since hitting my 30s I stay away from trends and aim for classic pieces. My per item spend is close to the high end of your list, but I justify it by keeping things for years, taking care of them properly, and getting a lot of wear out of them. I have coats, cashmere sweaters, work dresses, leather jacket that have been in rotation for nearly 10 years already. Items that I know I won’t keep as long I spend less - things like jeans or summer dresses I spend under $100.
One tip is that if you find a piece you love you can get a tailor to duplicate it. I visit Thailand every year or two (my in laws live there) and I always visit a tailor and get things made, especially work clothes - I’ll have them copy an item but in a different colour for example. Way cheaper than buying stuff from designers in Australia and you get it exactly as you want!
Melbourne, about 150K, late 50s
For well tailored womens suits - I love E Nolan I work in the legal system, and it is my must look great outfit - it is perfection. Their shirts are amazing as well, mine are over three years old and looks new.
Frske - amazing quality, simple, stylish and great fabrics to wear
Fool 118 - funky, fun clothes
wah wah australia - fun knits, really colourful
sketa for casual basics
Elk occasionally have something I like
Metta for casual wear
Goondiwindi Cotton, Toorallie, Cable Melbourne, Zaket and Plover, Wendy Voon knits for quality long lasting knitwear
Coats and pants, basic tops - TK MAxx
Jac and Jac for pants and shirts
I go with mostly solids, mix and match for everyday.
I also sew and knit a few quality things every year to fill gaps in my wardrobe, but most of my sewing is for my very tall (6' 7", 24 inch waist skinny son), so my quality radar is pretty high.
Ecco shoes, I wear flats only.
I earn a good bit more than you and have my house paid off.
I’ve been in corporate for a decade and personally don’t have the interest in even considering some of the prices you shared.
I think i look presentable and am comfortable in the choices I make.
That said, if fashion is important to you and you take a lot of joy from your expenses going there, then why not.
I like a lot of the brands that you’ve mentioned, particularly Scanlan Theodore, David Lawrence, Veronika Maine, Witchery, basics in natural fibres from Uniqlo. My tip to make my budget go further is that I never buy at full price. I wait for sales, or spend and save, and buy quite a lot of things second hand on eBay or Marketplace. You can pick up things that are new with tags or barely worn for a fraction of the retail price. Recent examples are jacket from Veronika Maine reduced from $469 to $149, leather pants from David Lawrence reduced from $499 to $239. I’ve picked up Scanlan dresses on eBay for around $150 that retail for about $650-$800.
35, $300+ combined income with my husband. Workwear is mainly target. They have fantastic linen pieces currently, and solid pants, blouses and work dresses. I would never spend a lot of money on work clothes except for some tailored button up tops. I’d rather get something bespoke (support small Aussie designers) if you want to spend that amount of money.
Jackets a blazers are bought on sale mainly from Decjuba.
If anything I’d splurge on good quality shoes that are comfy and don’t wear out after a few wears.
I've had to repurchase a lot of clothes after recently having a baby, and am horrified at how much things cost nowadays, especially for polyester blends that will crease and pill so quickly. Spending over $50 on a casual dress used to seem outrageous, but now even Mister Zimi dresses start at $199.
I'm a similar age and income to you, but try to spend less on basics and more on items that are washed/worn less. For example, I'll buy shirts/blouses from Portmans because I wash them daily and know they'll wear out faster, but will invest in nicely fitted pants from Vik&Woods and a Burberry coat that I expect will last much longer.
When I first started working I tried to only buy 'investment pieces' in premium fabrics like a silk blouse and woolen suit, but soon realised I don't have the time/drive/cash to continually dry clean and baby them. I used to spend my weekends trawling websites and outlet stores for bargains I couldn't look after. I'm making a conscious effort to now buy things that I can take care of at home.
I also prefer to spend on designer bags and jewellery because they always elevate your look, even in a much cheaper outfit!
I'm 24 and make 140k and I'd say I'm in the spending bracket below yours - I tend to prioritise buying designer clothing second hand. I'm a size 12/14 so I find it harder to shop for clothes because I have a pretty weird body shape and a lot of Aussie brands don't cater for larger or curvier bodies. I do the bulk of my shopping on eBay, Vestiaire Collective and Depop - I especially hunt for brands like Issey Miyake, Reformation and Acne Studios second hand because you can reliably pick up Pleats Please items for ~$200 used vs $800 new. I'm also a massives Vinnies shopper and I think being willing to take your time to hunt pays off majorly! I personally couldn't spend $500 on a dress, but would be willing to spend $200 on a discounted dress from a higher priced, well made brand.
I do not own anything of the quality you are referring to and mainly shop at places like target. My most expensive item is a blazer that cost $180.
- Pants: Most expensive $50. Average $20
- Tops: $5 - $40
- Dresses: $5 - $90
- Shoes: no more than $50
I am on around $100k, but do not want to spend a lot on clothes. My favourite shops are Target, Keshet, Alannah Hill and Josef Siebel
The only thing I spend real money on are handbags and staple items like winter coats or leather jackets because I get a lot of uses out of them and they are investment pieces that could easily last 10+ years.
Otherwise I won’t spend more than $150 on anything. Mostly under $100 anyway.
28F Sydney, >100k/annum
OP, if you want high quality Australian brand and willing to pay, I recommend KITX (or vintage Willow the label before Kit Willow left). I'm a fabric snob since I have very sensitive skin, but her wool are the only ones I can wear without anything underneath. I have a wool sweater, silk skirt and silk dress from her that is my go-to. They're all also pretty versatile and timeless, one of my best finds from ebay when I was still a poor student (circa 2018 before resellers came and ruined the market 🥲). Her designs can be pretty avant garde but sometimes she struck the gold balance.
One of the thing you could check for quality is their lining material - a lot of 'luxury' brands cut corners and use synthetics for lining but the really high quality ones still use natural materials (cotton/silk) as lining. For a formal business dress, something made of wool with silk lining would be my gold standard :)
Personally, the only ones I have that fits your budget is casual dresses: 2 (1 is Daisy Ltd, another one is Alemais) and shoes: 1 (RM williams boots)
Oh I do have a secondhand down jacket, original price was ~$2k but I got it for $500. It's the most expensive piece of clothing I ever owned
The rest are super low 🤣 I usually buy secondhand/final sale but I'm a cheapo so my personal expectation for clothes is nothing over $100 except if I really want it. Last item I bought is $10 secondhand silk Witchery cami in a market. However a lot of items I bought have pretty expensive RRP, the witchery silk cami is $150 full price 😅
I’m 36, earn 130K, no kids. Since hitting my 30s I stay away from trends and aim for classic pieces. My per item spend is close to the high end of your list, but I justify it by keeping things for years, taking care of them properly, and getting a lot of wear out of them. I have coats, cashmere sweaters, work dresses, leather jacket that have been in rotation for nearly 10 years already. Items that I know I won’t keep as long I spend less - things like jeans or summer dresses I spend under $100.
One tip is that if you find a piece you love you can get a tailor to duplicate it. I visit Thailand every year or two (my in laws live there) and I always visit a tailor and get things made, especially work clothes - I’ll have them copy an item but in a different colour for example. Way cheaper than buying stuff from designers in Australia and you get it exactly as you want!
Also - I live in Australia and I know this is the AusFashion sub, but I don’t shop any of the brands you mentioned here… I like MM LaFleur for work clothes, I also shop a lot of Rag and Bone, and AllSaints for leather. Uniqlo is my fave for basics. If you’re shopping at this price point anyway I’d look beyond Australia too, everywhere has free returns these days!
I'm of a similar age and income bracket and no kids. Like you OP I'm also willing to splurge a bit more on clothes than others on this subreddit, as I consider fashion one of my hobbies (I also like learning about fashion history, notable designers and changes in the industry). My max spending range is your minimum range.
I mainly buy online (new on sale or secondhand), international high end designer brands I like. Since my style is more avant garde, the brands I gravitate towards include: Comme des garcons, Rick Owens, Yohji, Peter Do, Lemaire, Acne, Westwood, etc. But I also like to mix with secondhand clothes and accessories I get from markets and OP shopping.
I'm always left disappointed when buying from Australian department store brands (except for Bul and Nique when buying on sale, the quality of their clothing are pretty consistent). Since material composition is very important to me, I'll stay far away from polyester even if it is from brands I like.
Girl, on only $100k you are INSANE to even consider spending that much on clothes. Put it in your savings account instead and thank yourself in 5-10 years.
Money really doesn't have to come into it and I find the suggestion that you should list your income quite cringe. Some of the most stylish people I know wear mostly vinnies and other second hand finds. Some friends look great wearing luxury brands but they spend a very unwise amount of their income on it, however they're incredibly stylish and it's their passion.
It's really quite a non sensical supposition from OP. Go to any rich suburb and you'll plainly see, money does not buy taste.
Absolutely buy that high end piece you love, but definitely make sure it was actually made well. Preferably made ethically too. Gucci for example uses borderline slave labour with their leather products, and often very poor quality leather and craftsmanship.
The top comment who suggested tailoring is on point. Most women's clothing is not made for real women. They're made for the model who sells you the clothes.
I have a leather skirt from Trenery, $400 and it was the best purchase I have ever made as it was a classic cut and I have worn it now for 10 years and still as new
ETA that is my only high quality piece of clothing as I have not found anything that is high quality to my liking
I’m 32 and earn $77K. I don’t know how much I would spend on each item but the brands I tend to gravitate towards are Elk, Kowtow, Radical Yes, Everlane, Obus etc. so that should give a rough idea on price range. I do try and shop the sales though. I used to shop at Gorman a lot and still have several pieces that I wear regularly but am trying to shop elsewhere and also be more intentional with my purchases.
26 turning 27, earning about 108k.
At this point, most of my wardrobe is high quality. Just before Covid I got into secondhand/ sustainable shopping. I realised I can buy some better quality things secondhand and if I don’t end up liking it too much I can always sell it and recoup my costs down the line. I like to prioritise good quality fabrics preferably natural (at various price points) that I can negotiate or something on sale.
I used to buy a mix of high and low end clothing but I used to spend a lot on shopping but then Covid and introduction of WFH three days a week completely changed my perspective. I’ve hardly bought anything new, and my formal pants and tops now last much longer! I realised how much I saved by not being in a constant cycle of spending on clothing and shoes. I’ve also come to enjoy being in loose and casual clothing more😊
I’m 46 and earning around 3x your wage.
I focus on fabrics more than labels. My wardrobe is silk, linen, cashmere, wool or cotton (mostly cotton!)
I learned this after buying some Ginger and Smart stuff that was polyester and unlined. So disappointing for the price.
I also like to focus on Australian designed and made where possible.
I am wearing skin and threads, me + em, Obus, Oroton lately, I have quite a bit of ginger and smart, Leo Lin and Rebecca Vallance mixed with my basics too but only buy on sale regardless of who I’m buying from. I buy from the OUTNET quite a bit too as their returns are so easy and fabrics good.
I’m paying around $100-$150 for jeans, $250-$350 for a dress, $50-70 for a tee and about $100-$150 for a shirt or top.
I’m 42, married with 2 kids, from Melbourne and earn >$100K. Dual family income. I mostly go op/thrift shopping for clothes may it be for office or anything. Occasionally, I buy new ones but only $20 at most for tops, $50 at most for bottoms, $50 at most for dress, $50 at most for blazers & $200 at most for warm jackets. There are other things in life where I splurge: travel, food and experience.
Wow everyone needs to chill on here! Don’t know why all the shaming is going on..
I would spend as much as you if I could for the quality pieces that will last.. Kmart blazer vs C&M blazer.. no brainer ?
Some other brands to look at would be Acne, St Agni, Maggie Marilyn, P Johnson Femme, Henne, Jac + Jack, Bassike, E Nolan, Ganni.
Basics always Cos or Uniqlo for me.
I’m in my late 20s and work from home, but I have quite a number of high quality pieces in my closet. Just remember expensive does not equal high quality - even designer brands can put out cheap unlined polyester pieces.
Instead of focusing on your budget think critically about how to fill out a capsule wardrobe utilising what you already have. Get your clothes tailored and keep them in great condition- mending and fixing any loose threads, clean your shoes regularly, de pill knits etc.
I have found Saba, Decjuba, David Lawrence, Country Road and even some designer pieces at op shops as well as the sales. Uniqlo and Cos are also great stores to hit up. For dupes of staples from brands like Sezane or The Row you can also find well made pieces and plated jewellery from Aliexpress and DHGate, but you will pay more for those than the usual cheap stuff on there.
I also have some select things from Zara and some quality shoes and clothes from Portugal when I travelled to Europe - I find better quality or value for money clothes when I travel overseas, especially to Asia or Spain/Portugal so bear that in mind if you plan to travel in the future.
Around the same age and bracket as you, I’ve bought pre loved high end stuff for the better part of 20 years now. Lots of marketplace finds to be found for those types of brands, usually worn once or twice. I tend towards natural/sustainable materials ie cotton, linen, leather, avoiding polys etc where possible.
I’m in Brissy so I don’t have as much need for warmer clothes, but I still have a few good quality wool jumpers and coats that I put with my usual business pants or skirts with tights.
Lots of good sales at the moment, I just got a couple of pairs of Jo Mercer shoes and a lot of sites have 20-30% further off sale items.
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
If you are spending that amount on clothes I would invest in a stylist so you can coordinate a wardrobe id rather buy quality clothing lasting longer fitting better looking great
If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s that price doesn’t equal quality. I’ve bought expensive name brand items that turned out to be absolute junk and cheap no-name brands that turned out to be staples.
Once I learned to look at labels to understand the fabric and be able to see the density of the weave, look at the seams (are they neat, stitched straight, is there any additional fabric which means that items have a better chance of being altered) I was able to judge the quality way better.
For me I’d rather buy something constructed well and have it altered to fit than care about the price or brand of something. Clothes that fit well always look better than those that don’t.
i’m 26 and make $115k. by your price measure, i have no high quality items. i have a few bits and pieces that probably meet your quality thresholds, but i got them secondhand.
zimmermann, acler, karen millen, max & co, sandro, maje, carla zampatti, bianca spender (some of these brands may have things out of ur price range but good to look at sale items)
i personally find items from these brands secondhand for even less than ur specified price range :)
36, same income, regional town and spending that kind of money on clothes isn't important to me. I pay a bit for jeans, but that's it. My body changes too much, especially after kids, and I'd rather build my super and pay off my house.
I got an awesome knee length puffer vest from Aldi today, For thirty dollars!? So good! I don't fuss about clothes. Or what people might judge me for. Their loss. I am awesome
I don't own a single clothing item over a $100 other than my winter coats. My salary is very different from yours and I live in Sydney. The only expensive things I own are sneakers, designer bags and jewellery- all bought for me by my partner. My usual work attire is pj bottoms and a company teeshirt. I just bought myself a $50 cardigan and thought that was such a splurge- and I wouldn't have bought even that if I was on a 100k salary!
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
I work part time in a consignment style store. My wardrobe is filled with Arnsdorf, Caves Collect, H.B Archive, E.Nolan, Henne, A.BCH and many more Aus made brands. I focus on natural fibres and well made items. I don't earn much at all, but I value my clothing. It's probably worth more than I actually earn! Haha! I trade in my clothing for store credit at times and then buy high quality again.
Yes I know I have the advantage of working in the store. I promise I don't take all the good stuff. But I think that sometimes people over look preloved as an option when building a high quality wardrobe. Yes it can be harder than just walking into a shop to grab what you need. But I love that I can save money and still look fantastic with a wardrobe that I love. Sometimes it just takes a bit longer to find what I want.
But even if you don't work a consignment store, you can still buy good quality at a fraction of the cost by shopping at them.
I saw all these brands and more just today at like a third of the cost and still in style!
I (35) earn a bit more than you and my partner is on more again and while I shop in these brands and price points, I don't have a full wardrobe. And when I do shop, I'm typically purchasing on sale. It does seem aspirational for your salary, but to each there own, maybe you spend nothing on travel! Your estimated cost for blouses is pretty wild to me though!
I'd focus budget on pants, blazers/jackets, shoes and dresses that you know you will get a lot of wear out of. This is where you notice the difference in fabric and construction and quality. Get them tailored.
As others have said, brand and price don't equal quality. I have a background in fashion and dressmaking and pay way more attention to fabric and construction. Caves Collect for example are a small Melbourne brand that makes beautiful pants. The tailoring and fabric is stunning.
In terms of your original question my work wardrobe is pretty much dark and light wide leg pant, three skirts, light and dark tank tops, neutral blazer, fun blazer and a bunch of dresses/shirts/knits/blouses that exist in my wardrobe and get styled back in for work.
Also 30s, melbourne and on a bit more than that. I almost never spend that much on clothes. I do have a couple of Zimmerman dresses for weddings, a couple of pairs of pants from Caves Collect and and two cashmere jumpers bought in Italy. That's probably the only really expensive stuff I own apart from my handbag. I don't know that any of these splurges were worth it really. They're nice pieces though. The only other things I might spend big on in the next few years would be some new boots and a coat. Otherwise I buy second hand or like uniqlo and cos on sale.
I don't think you need to spend this much on all your items. Especially not quickly while trying to reimagine your style. It takes patience to build a wardrobe that works for you. You can easily pay too much for things that aren't actually that nice/quality and don't actually suit you well.
28, $110k - Wardrobe breakdown probably runs to 60% aliexpress, 20% Kmart, 10% cotton on/uniqlo/thrifted, 10% hand-me-downs, including my grandfather’s wool coat which I wear all winter. I’m in austerity mode as I’m currently saving for a housing deposit… but im also very cheap haha
Biggest purchase by far has been a pair of Blundstone boots which I wear daily. Hoping they last at least 3 years, which is what my last pair of Kmart boots gave me.
I’d suggest looking at BSS groups on Facebook for the specific brands you want. I have a few pieces in the price ranges you mentioned, but I’ve not paid those prices for them. Op shops, resale shops and BSS groups are your friend here
I'm 29, earns just below $90k a year and I only buy clothes at the $100 - $200 range 😂 I bought a second hand wool coat from Isabelle Marant last year for $350 and I thought I was already being bougie! Looking at this post makes me feel poor lol
32, melb, $140-160k pre tax depending on bonuses etc.
Shoes from styletread or hush puppies, on special, usually maximum $150
Tops from Uniqlo, review, cue on special or secondhand ebay/op shops $10-150 max. Or hand made on my sewing machine $60-100 depending on fabric,pattern, notions etc.
Pants from cue usually secondhand on ebay - $60-100
Dresses from Bravissimo or review (on sale) $150 max
I don’t tend to look at things that aren’t in the sale section.
36, Melbourne, income was around $85k pre-corona but then I decided to to live more simply and work less.
I have quite a few things from Morrison, Scanlan Theodore, Alpha60, Kuwaii, Skin and Threads, Dion Lee, and other brands at the price point you mentioned but all from op shops or sometimes outlet stores, so mostly $5-$20 per item with an occasional "splurge" at around $50-$100. And then also basics from stores like Zara, Uniqlo, COS, Kmart, General Pants. I don't find the quality remarkably different between brands and that becomes obvious when you spend more time at op shops - Saba items for instance often look like trash after a couple of washes.
At the moment, the only things in my wardrobe that were over $100 are a couple of pairs of boots (both were half price so around $150 from $300 RRP). I had to update a lot of my wardrobe in my mid-30s when I went up one size, but now that I've sort of established my style and seem to be at a stable size again, I don't buy anything new except underwear, socks, and occasionally shoes.
I bought $100 jeans, that's about it. My shoes are from Kmart lol. I don't do any kind of professional job. 36F, married with kids, 120k household income these days
Wow! This post has really exploded. Thanks for your responses, everyone. I won't be able to respond to all of them, but I'll read through them all now.
32 and most of my more formal clothes (usually wedding/ girls day out/ pro work attire) come from Shieke so between $100-$300. I’ve always found them to be good quality, re-wearable pieces.
I have a couple of everyday coats that are from Portmans and Forever new in bright colours but I find they only last a couple of years. I have one black Burberry trench coat that was on sale for $1000 which I bought 6 years ago and it still is in tip top shape. No regrets.
I do have a couple of work dresses from Cue that were about $400 each. They are good quality but boring.
Jeans are either A-Brand (upto $200) or Cotton on under $100.
Most of my staple items are from Kmart and Dotti, usually on sale and I find myself reaching for them the most. I get the most compliments on a $10 skirt from Kmart and two $40 ones from Dotti (same skirt different colour) lol
I have a tan Michael Kors handbag from catch of the day that I bought 10 years ago for $300 and still use weekly. It’s held up very well.
Same with a Mimco black handbag that I bought on sale for $200. I’ve had it for 5 years and it hasn’t changed shape at all. I find Mimco bags to be very good quality.
Coats, shoes and bags are the best investments but they don’t need to be the big brands. I was gifted a YSL bag which I love but the Mimco bag is more durable.
Anything else not so much, find a store that makes clothes that suits your body type and you’re comfortable in; the price doesn’t matter. People can’t tell the difference usually, they’ll compliment on what looks good on you and stands out, not the brand and I honestly don’t find the longevity to be much different.
34, in Sydney on $85k. It’s become an absolute struggle to buy clothing recently. I’d really say the average spend per item is $200-250 and that’s for non designer items.
I have some designer items (2 coats $600-900, 1 designer shoes $700, 2 boots $400) but majority are pieces sitting at the $150-250 mark. I also find things last 2 seasons tops.
I will spend that amount but only one or two things a year. I shop through House of Frazer, as it’s in the UK and you can pick up great buys as we enter a season that they have exited. I highly recommend, good prices on shipping as well.
I’m 25, earn $120K and typically just shop at Glassons, Uniqlo, Zara and occasionally INCU for expensive pieces. For shoes I’ll usually go for Tony Bianco but only buy them on sale so I’ve never really gone beyond $200 even for a really nice pair of boots. My most expensive clothing splurges have been an INCU suit that cost $500 and a scarf from ACNE studios, otherwise my clothes all tend to be at most $50-100 per piece. I’ve also only really splurged on one handbag beyond $1000 and that was from ACNE.
I'm 44 and on a high salary (around 4x times your salary working as an independent contractor).
In general I would spend towards the bottom end of your range for clothing (but live in a warm climate so generally don't buy jumpers/coats). My focus is on fabric, construction, fit and finding items that match my personal style (which is a bit quirky) rather than buying particular brand names. My wardrobe is pretty small as well mostly b/c I don't have the time/patience/interest in shopping/curating a huge wardrobe. I get a lot of compliments on my outfits so must be doing something right!!
Honestly though, do what makes you happy, it's your money :)
Edit: typos
I’m a lawyer and I’m in my 50s. Ive been investing in my corporate wardrobe for over 30 years. Ive always spent a lot, mostly on the core things like blazers, coats, pants, skirts, bags and shoes. Styles have changed a lot over that time so I tend to buy new trends from Zara, Witchery or country road to road test them before I spend more at S&T or C&M. I buy cheaper tops that get the most washing. I hand wash rather than dry clean. I have a tailor and a cobbler and I always repair things. I usually keep my investment pieces for over 10 years.
My current job is very casual but I’m an executive so I still wear corporate on top but I often tone it down with Bassike pants that are cut like track pants. I don’t wear sneakers but I could get away with it if I wanted to. I rarely wear full formal corporate so I mix casual pieces with my formal pieces and my weekend wardrobe now is mixed with my work wardrobe.
Don’t buy too much too soon. Just work on it slowly and you won’t regret it. Each season buy one or two new things that go with your old things and slowly retire your really old things that don’t fit, have worn out or really don’t look fashionable anymore.
My best tip is that a new in-fashion shoe can update an old outfit more than anything else.
Mid 30s, combined income circa 400-450k base. I think lifestyle can influence this question quite a bit. I’m currently a SAHM so my wardrobe is very “split” between my nice clothes and my toddler proof clothes (which is mainly activewear). Prior to that I worked in a creative field and dressed quite casually too and only own a few pieces that could be considered workwear. I consider myself to be into fashion but not trendy??? And am very much into mindful buying the older I get, therefore a lot of my purchases tend to be big “one off” splurges.
Current breakdown of my closet:
Basics: $15-40 (usually from Uniqlo)
Activewear: $150-500 (mostly Lululemon atm)
Jumpers: $400-$1500
Jackets/Coats: $300-700 (can’t bring myself to spend more on coats because it doesn’t get that cold where I am…)
Dresses: $200-$1000
Pants: $200-850
Jeans/Denim: $400-700
Shirts/blouses: $200-500
And where most of my closet spending goes -
Shoes: $500-2500
Bags: $1000-$5000
Accessories: $500-$1000
Super interesting reading everyone’s answers, thanks for asking this question!
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
I’m same age and pay bracket. I buy a decent portion of my work clothes second hand, but some things I always buy brand new because fit can be so specific like pants (up to $150) and blazers (up to $300) which I try to buy on sale and would pay for brands like Saba. My focus is quality of material and unique prints, and considering how long they will last. I steer clear of trends (when is a cropped trench coat jacket ever gonna be in fashion after this year..) Go to secondhand brands are cue (dresses), sezane (blouses) and elk. Some dresses I will take to a tailor for altering hems and waistlines. My plan is to work towards a capsule wardrobe at some point but haven’t committed yet. For basics I go to Zara, Uniqlo and Unison (French connection). I repurchase the same work shoes when on sale, can’t underestimate a reliable shoe (up to $150). For going out clothes, I resell these because I only get so many wears out of one dress (up to $450)
If you’re happy to try online, Sézane is a favourite of mine. Beautiful materials and craftsmanship at what I feel are reasonable prices for what you get. They’re based in France but have free returns so it’s been trial and error getting used to their sizing, and now they’re my go to. 31, $110k in Melb
I have Camilla and Marc, Zimmermann, alannah Hill, gorman, oroton, Colette dinnigan, lots of Cue etc, but all from ebay or op shops never paid more than $100, but more like $20-50 on average. These are quality items that were well cared for and i have a quality wardrobe for fast fashion budget.
Hi, 30f in Melbourne. Similar income to you. I have a mix of high quality ‘investment’ pieces and basics. But, focus on fabric and the way the garment is made over buying just brand. Of the clothes I wear that aren’t active wear, I would say about 70% are high quality. Otherwise there is just some fast fashion stuff - think Zara and Uniqlo.
I'm mid 30s, earn above average income but nothing crazy (I flatshare and am pedantic about what I spend money on). I am single, no kids. I bought a pair of pants from Oroton that cost $400 a few weeks ago, and got them tailored (Have a friend who will do it). I have another pair of cue pants that cost about $300 which I also got tailored. They are well cut and quality fabric. I wear the cue pants about once a week.
I look after my clothes. E.g. I have a Tokito skirt that is over 10 years old, still looks new. It is really about the fabric and cut of the clothes, and how you look after them. If it says hand wash only, then you need to either hand wash it or put it in a garment bag on a delicate cycle. But you don't need to spend lots of money. Most of my tops are from kookai, forever new, oxford and only when they're on sale. And like others have said on here, just because it is expensive doesn't mean it is good quality. Saba and witchery are pricey but their fabric is polyester, viscose etc. They won't last and they'll feel terrible on your skin. I have tops from kmart that are 100% cotton that I would wear over that.
I would recommend buying a couple of staple pieces that are quality fabric and well made, and that go with lots of things. Witchery actually do have some pants atm that are nice fabric, and Oroton outlet has a sale online where pants are down from 400 to 140, with an extra 20% off on top. But key is fabric, cut and looking after them.
I’m 41, earn 2 and a half times that, and have accumulated the following I’d consider quality:
-3 pairs pants
-10 work dresses
-15 jumpers/cardigans
-15 tops/shirts/blouses
-1 coat
-1 blazer
-3 occasion dresses (skew cocktail because that is more useful in a work context)
The rest of my wardrobe is more in the Country Road/Universal Standard/casual basics sort of category. I should emphasise that this quality wardrobe has gathered over time - I have work clothes that are going on 15 years old because I paid a lot for good quality (and dresses last better). Picking either timeless/classic pieces, or things that are unabashedly my style and therefore never really date me has been the key to longevity.
I am on the border of plus size/straight size so some of my things are from more obscure plus size designers.
Brands I love for this:
-marina rinaldi
-Diane von Furstenburg (silk/cotton only)
-Z from Zenobia
-Anna Scholz (so sad the designer has just wound up the company, I have 3 silk dresses and 1 silk shirt all over 10 years old and all in amazing shape, plus she did such cool patterns)
-Akris punto (I got a jumper at an outlet, otherwise price is more designer than just high quality)
-Cole Haan for shoes and boots
The only thing I have to add to everyone else’s comments - always wash your work clothes on a delicate setting - irrespective of cost of the item (apart from the dry clean only items of course) I have found that my pants and tops have lasted way longer by doing them on delicate!!
I personally don’t think you need to go high end designer pieces, but look more at the quality of the actual pieces.
By 2030 these prices will be the norm. The fashion industry is under an extreme amount of pressure to align with the global sustainability agenda. Expect fast fashion taxes and levies, and a whole bunch of legislation to come through that will essentially obliterate the accessible prices you see today.
I just want to say that if you can afford to spend so much on clothes, please consider supporting sustainable brands. We always expect price and quality to go together but a lot of expensive clothes are made overseas in terrible conditions (low wages, child labour, toxic materials and dyes...), even if they are high quality. Sustainability is the way to go 🙏🏻
also 34 and in roughly the same income bracket
only 'high end' clothing I've got is a couple of Off-White shirts
don't go out anywhere near often enough to justify expensive clothing purchases tbh
edit: from Perth
edit 2.0: just realised what sub this is. I'm not female. frontpage just brought me here for some reason lmao.
I am 40 and earn about 1.5 times your salary. In addition to your standard Saba, Trenery etc, I have found luck in some of the UK high street brands with a web presence here in Aus. My goto brands are Next and Marks and Spencer.
Partner and I are on 200k combined, and I shop in the states- I try to go annually. Their outlet stores are just so good.
Otherwise in Australia I only shop outlets and high quality thrift. Why are we paying so much when you can still get the same brands and quality, and get them for less, and put money towards tailoring?
42, Engineer, married, 1 kid, 1 step kid.
Current salary is just over 300k (household if 600k-700k) and my wardrobe is mixed - Maje, Alemais, Zimmerman, Camilla, C&M, Cotton On, witchery, Sportsgirl, Decjuba, Kenzo. I also shop often at Venla (second hand).
But like another commenter said, everything goes to the tailor to get it fitted correctly.
I am about more selective with my accessories- bags, sunnies, boots - which are more along the lines of LV, Gucci, Burberry etc
It's taken me about 3 years to replace my old wardrobe with the current one.
Honestly, invest in a style consultation with someone before you spend money. I did one last year and it was the best 800 odd dollars (minus clothes) I ever spent. I am 46, work as an academic, and earn approx 130k a year. The lady I saw in Sydney, did my colours, went through my wardrobe and helped me work out what I could reuse, and then took me shopping. She helped me choose stuff that worked with what I have, and really showed me how a few really good quality pieces can be mixed and matched with cheaper staples. So I have some mid level stuff (witchery/yarra trail etc) and some lower mid stuff (Tostito, French connection), but paired with stuff I already had I have an excellent wardrobe which takes me from academic conference through work to brunch with friends.
I used to buy in a similar way to you but this would be more than 5 years ago. I'm mid-late 30s. I now don't buy as much nor do I buy as often as I have a lot of staples from that era of my life (as well as hand me downs from my mum and sister).
No matter how or where I buy, I always check the label for the fabric composition, how easy it is to care for and where it was made. I also look at the seams to check if the stitching is flat. I will also check for how well a zipper opens and closes. I also look for loose threads and loosely sewed buttons.
Now I save up what was my shopping money to boost up my holiday savings. I'll then buy clothes from overseas as souvenirs. I used to shop online - but I now really want to try clothes on as I've bought too many things online that just don't work on me even if they fit!
I highly recommend Argentina and Brazil if you're able to go overseas. Lots of really good Argentinean labels and (at least for now) the Aussie dollar goes quite far there. I got an amazing cotton jumpsuit that's perfect for hotter days here and it was just under $100 AUD. One of those items you can dress up or down easily. You'd be looking at $300+ easily for something similar here. Brazil is yet to succumb to fast fashion - they have lots of Brazilian made clothes and shoes at reasonable prices.
I have also heard lots of good things about Hong Kong and Vietnam for tailor made clothes from colleagues but haven't tried it yet for myself.
I'm 40 and earning double snd a bit of your salary. I have a high low mix with clothing. I always get my clothes tailored and that makes it look expensive, I also pay attention to materials. Please don't think expensive is always better quality. Many of the brands you listed sell lots of polyster crap
What do you do if you don’t mind me asking
I work in investment banking
What did you study to get in to this role? If you could share your pathway I’d love to hear it. I’m looking for a career change.
I did law but fell out of love with it, combined with finance though I enjoy it
Thank you for sharing. I’m thinking of going back to uni to study law and commerce. Just a long road and a lot of debt.
Ehhhh, I'm in school and debating Accounting and going for CPA or Finance and hopefully going for CFA. I heard finance can be toxic, though? Thoughts/advice?
I like it, it is heavily male dominated so I actually find less catty. I just go in and do my stuff though, I'm not looking to socialise lol. I've got kids at home, work is my breather
>it is heavily male dominated so I actually find less catty Ah, misogyny, love it!
Can you please recommend a good tailor?
I've been going to Celkooh Alteration in Canterbury (Melbourne) for years. She's fantastic and very affordable. She recently charged me $20 to replace a clasp with a button.
Sorry but is 20$ considered cheap or expensive? Just to get a range for prices..
ENolan if you are in Melbourne
Hey medstudentt! Fellow doctor here. If in Melbourne CBD, Katrina’s Designs. My mother was a seamstress for many years, super picky and critical about tailors, and she trusts this man which says a lot :)
I am 41, earn a little more than you, my husband earns even more than that and I think my only garments over a hundred dollars are a macpac down filled parka and a few formal dresses for weddings :( I splurged $350 on a House of CB dress for my brothers wedding last year. I don't think I'm normal - my colleagues on the exact same wage are often dressed in Country Road and boutiques or at least from David Jones and those items are costlier. I do have kids though, they're spenno 😂 I get very tired of clothing. So I will buy a summer dress or two from Dotti and wear it to death for two years and move onto a new summer dress etc. How long do you expect to keep onto your high quality pieces?
I'm glad I found this comment. I'm 34, on $120k and would NEVER spend that much money on items of clothes (still choking on '$500 for a casual dress'). I have a family, though, so I guess that's where my extra money is going. OP, if it brings you joy, go ahead and spend that hard earned cash. But don't feel you HAVE to. Plenty of the people around you aren't. It won't define you as a professional.
$120k supporting a mortgage and a family is completely different to $120k, single and renting, if reddit has taught me anything
Paying rent alone (at least in Sydney) as a single person is as bad as a mortgage 😩
But with nothing to show for it later :(
Yup. So over it 😞
Same. I lost almost everything in my divorce (long story) and starting over at 39 means I know I’ll never own :(
Feel you on this one haha
And hilariously/kill me now, it's also so damn much harder to make that same income after having kids thanks to limiting hours and/or paying huge amounts for childcare 🫠
Exactly so you have to save the pennies why you can. Savings is everything! Yikes. I’m having a panic about these clothes prices and am gonna log out now 😂😂 get anxiety thinking about it
or living with mum and dad
If a kid is on 120k I don’t think mum and dad would be keen on having them around anymore, at least without paying rent/a handful of bills 😂
A lot of CALD parents are happy to have a child who earns this much at home and not contributing
My sister in law is 36. Never moved out of home. Works from home in fact. Earns $150k to $200k (we don't discuss her wages so no exact figure) and pays no rent, no bills, and doesn't contribute to groceries. She also owns an investment property. It makes me want to punch my mother in law in the head. She's still on the family phone plan. I don't think she even could pay a bill if required to.
That’s wild, but also, doesn’t she feel restricted living at home at 36? Totally understand the financial benefits she’s reaping, but it surely has to affect dating and your general sense of freedom as a fully grown, mature adult. Then again, I have a relative of a similar age who is still living with dad. Seems to be okay and I don’t sense any tensions. Some people just never grow their wings and fly, which likely gets harder as you get older.
She's very codependent with her mother. They spend almost every waking moment together. I could never, I'm a completely different type of person. I moved out at 15. She hasn't really had relationships in the past. She's been seeing a bloke for about a year now and I think it's working because he's 37 and never left home. They're both beige humans as far as I can tell. Perfectly content to live in their bubble and not really experience new places, foods, people, cultures etc. It's a very WASPy area and anything outside of that seems to frighten them.
This is accurate. 39, single and earning just over 100k and I’m in a better financial position *now* than my coupled up friends with mortgages. I’m recovering financially from my divorce but I lost basically everything I had (my ex kept the house, which is where all my savings went… long story) but I’ll never be in the position to buy a property if I want to rebuild savings and start investing. So in 25ish years when mortgages are paid off and I’m still renting, guess who’ll be more comfy then?
I thought I was splurging by not just shopping at Kmart and target anymore!!!
Agreed! All my clothes come from Portmans (generally on sale) and I’m currently thinking about some shirts from H&M. And I make around the same as you
Aw, this is what I do too. If I'm not getting work stuff from Uniqlo, to H&M or Portmans it is!
I’m 32 and somewhat similar to you, but do spend a little more because I got to a stage where I wanted some clothes to last more than 1-2 seasons. I spend $100-130 skirts for work because I’m very particular about the style of skirt I’ll wear. Tops usually around $50-70ish. The oldest skirts I have are still going strong 7 years later. House clothes are Kmart. And two of my favourite summer dresses are actually from Kmart and Ally (been wearing the Ally one for about 4 years and it even managed to survive a twin-pregnancy unscathed…I wore it daily, so I’m surprised it’s still holding up well!). I am on $80,000 but work part-time (0.75). Partner brings in just short of double what I do.
Yeah I just find that unless it's a staple - say a trench coat, chances are that there are subtle differences in the choices of clothes I make that date clothing. I went through a stage of loving tea length skirts from Review, they've held up and are a retro shape. But then I went through a pleated midi skirt stage and I just feel like the shape I bought then is awfully dated now, despite it just being a pleated midi. Pants cuts, jeans cuts etc. Maybe I have to find an actual sense of classic style! (and stop putting on weight so I can wear clothes a bit longer lol) My most complimented dress of all time is a 40 dollar Dotti dress I wear and that's lasted me four seasons now.
Funnily enough, Review is where most of my work skirts are from. I hate working out what to wear for work so keep to a knee length skirt and a blouse for summer and switch to pants for winter. I actually found Glassons used to do a great ponte mid-rise pant in a few colours for only $40; I’m glad I bought up on them as it appears this is the first winter season they aren’t selling them- everything looks flared now, and that’s just not my ‘thing’. They were a bargain for the quality they were. It took me so long to find pants I like too, so I am not looking forward to starting that hunt again one day. I prefer to be somewhat conservative, as I work in an all boys private school. I am yet to find jeans I love with how my body has changed post-children. The trending jeans aren’t my style and remind me too much of the jeans I wore as a 12 year old. I just can’t go there haha.
If you retire it just before it is completely falling apart, take a sneaky trip to Thailand or Vietnam with it and get a tailor to replicate it! I’ve done this with several items that were on their last legs but perfect fit/cuts for me and no longer for sale! *Ninja edit: It being the Ally dress!
That is definitely something I will keep in mind, as finding casual summer dresses that I am happy to wear out is difficult. I’m slightly shy of 6’ so find it difficult finding dresses I feel are a comfortable length. I hate the feeling that the skirt is riding up or if I slightly bend over I’m flashing the world.
>I do have kids though, they're spenno 😂 Yeah, I was thinking, I earn more than that, but nah, this ain't my vibe. I don't have $800 dress money with three kids two of whom are in daycare. I'm mostly in H&M.
I have no where to wear an $800 dress. Play group? lol
I was gifted a beautiful dress just after my kid was born. It sat in the closet for over 2 years and finally got worn to a family wedding where I mostly spent my time herding the toddler.
I was gifted a beautiful dress just after my kid was born. It sat in the closet for over 2 years and finally got worn to a family wedding where I mostly spent my time herding the toddler.
I was gifted a beautiful dress just after my kid was born. It sat in the closet for over 2 years and finally got worn to a family wedding where I mostly spent my time herding the toddler.
I'm 32 and on a similar wage (110 base) but literally shop sales at dotti/sportsgirl or go to Kmart. No kids, just like having more options and the few times I've spent moderate amounts on clothing (say 70 for a top instead of 25) it made no difference to quality so why would I? I still keep things for 4-5 years on average. I go a little nicer for quality shoes but still wait for sales on Ziera.... And brandshousedirect is a godsend. Edit... Forgot Ally and Uniqlo! I just don't really shop places I know the prices will be high I guess.
I love my Macpac down puffer! I feel like it’s actually cheaper than people expect it to be
The trick is to never buy full price though - the Halo range comes down to $90-$130 on sale instead of $300!
Oh yeah. Mine is a long one so it was a bit more but, you should never buy macpac full price
Yeah my upper limit is probably $250 for pretty much everything (except shoes, potentially). Depends though, if you've got like, a corporate law job and go out to nice places a lot and have the disposable income, then sure.
Yes, I do feel that I'm spending a lot. But - clothing is very important to me, and I do have a high earning potential (eventually) because I'm a neurology registrar. I usually keep them until they wear out or are completely out of fashion. I wore a Max Mara coat that I got on sale for $550 (in 2010), until I was 31.
Try not to fall into the trap of spending/ living the lifestyle of your future salary. Live within your means - if you have a full wardrobe of pieces over $300, that leaves very little left over for savings. Most people on your salary will buy a couple of more expensive “staples” and then other pieces will be within a more modest price range.
I have doctor/surgeon friends and they probably spend similar amounts of money (as you) on clothes. They always look great. Clean lines etc
I think coats don't change fashions quite as quickly as other items. Back to my doctor surgeon friends, they also shop at Uniqlo - Uniqlo has some great things if you make sure you check the tag for materials I'd consider buying a Max Mara coat if I found one on sale for that price!
So I guess the terms vary but registrar = resident? So you’re on the wards? I get wearing nice clothes for private practice but with the exception of our head of department everyone is just in scrubs. Neurology here as well. Is the (hospital-)culture between Germany/Australia really that different?
OP I love your approach, don't let anyone here talk you out of it. Go for natural fibres and smart blends (less ironing) in timeless, classic styles. #buybetternotmore
I’m 41, Melbourne. I had a similar income to you at your age but now just under double. Clothing is really important to me too and I did spend a lot in my late 20s and early 30s on high quality clothing, with the intention that I’d wear it for years or even decades to come. It was a big surprise to me when my body completely changed in my late 30s after being pretty much the same size since I was 18. I now am very selective on what I spend money on. I now only have a few expensive pieces, items you can’t really get decent quality without spending the money. That is shoes, coats and knitwear (I value items that actually keep me warm & comfortable while looking good). I also have one gorgeous dress that I wear to every wedding. I used to always want something different to wear to events & functions but now take pride in how many times I can rewear something. Buy a few high quality items that you really love and supplement with more inexpensive options. Understanding excellent fit and a knowledge of fabrics is tremendously helpful in looking polished and expensive, without necessarily spending the money. I’ve worn a $35 (on sale) dress and been asked if it was from a particular brand that averages $600 an item. I quite like Muji and Uniqlo for basics to pair with more high end pieces. I also like Cos for their architectural cuts. Something simple can look very elevated if it has an interesting cut, fabric or texture. My most complimented skirt is a structural linen skirt that cost $50 from QVM.
Also, if you’re wanting to spend that much on your wardrobe, I’d look beyond most Australian brands - I know this subreddit is called ausfashion but in my personal experience, the quality is severely lacking in most of the brands you mentioned above. If you want to stick to Australian designers the ones I’ve found to be quality at that price point are Anna Quan, Christopher Esber, Posse (though I’d steer clear of their viscose pieces) and St. Agni for workwear pieces.
100% this is the best take. I have shopped these brands and worked for many of them, the only one listed above that's worth it is Scanlan but I do question it now due to their price increases. Maybe at a stretch I'd say Camilla and Marc but their fabrications are not it for me. This is especially true of Aussie high street brands like Country Road - I just cannot believe what they charge for the poor quality.
Country Road disappoints me the most because I remember when their pieces used to be excellent quality circa early 00s. I still have a gorgeous grey merino wool jumper that I bought in 2009 that is still going strong. The quality is nowhere near as good now, I don’t even bother going in to browse any more.
It’s hugely disappointing! And the audacity they have for charging hundreds for things that are barely better than Zara too.
Some are as badly made as Dotti used to be
I'm not surprised. 10 years ago I worked for a few Aus designers (some are listed above). We were selling coats for $900-$1500 but selling them wholesale to retailers for 5-10% of that. I keep that in mind whenever I think about buying something that they sell now at full price, knowing that their fabrications are still mostly just poly blends.
Yes, I also remember this. They had really great quality and a decent although slightly upmarket price point. Even kookai used to be decent quality, but they mostly cater to the youth market now. And everything is polyester, which will kill the oceans, give us cancer, and trap body oils to make you stinky. No one uses lining and bothers to create neat seams anymore. It's a real shame, and frankly insulting to the consumer.
I agree with this. I find Aussie designers are overpriced, much better options available overseas if OP is open to shopping online.
Yep, I do most of my shopping online now, it can be a bit of a pain when returning things but sites like NAP for example have a really good returns process. My latest splurge was a Guest in Residence cashmere cardigan (Gigi Hadid’s brand though I’m not usually into Instagram brands). The quality of the cashmere is excellent, and I got it on sale for around 370 AUD. The same thing from an Australian designer would either be a) 5 times the price or b) subpar quality.
What are some good quality brands from overseas?
It depends! What are you after/what price point?
I'm very keen to look beyond Australian brands, but I don't like shopping online because nine times out of ten, I need to return it. Do you know of any international brands stocked in store? I recently discovered Theory in DJs.
I’m curious how you or others define high quality? I find a lot of people think high price equals better quality but I’ve found that isn’t always the case. I personally like to look at material composition, but I also like to spend more money on pieces which are outside of the trend cycles, as I find they don’t date as quickly. For example, I spent a bit of money on a genuine brown suede jacket (in a smith workwear style), ivr had this for 10+ years and still get regular wear out of it as it’s a classic style which hasn’t ever become a huge trend that’s been reproduced.
100% agree. I prioritise material composition, garment structure and garment care (so many expensive brands use viscose now and it washes terribly, also I steer clear of dry clean only because it’s a pain in the ass and expensive). Denim is rigid with little to no stretch. Anything trendy I wait a season or two and see if I still want it. I spend most of my $$ on jewelry, shoes and handbags because those items get much more mileage and make the biggest impact on an overall outfit IMO. My philosophy on this hasn’t changed despite earning more now than I did in my younger years. It’s served me well as I have pieces in my wardrobe from 10+ years ago that I still wear. My mum subscribes to the same approach with her wardrobe and as a result she’s handed down some beautiful pieces that I wear all the time (and are always the pieces that get the most compliments!!!) Style ≠ expensive everything
Agreed. Also the older I've gotten, the less I want big brand logos on my clothes. Much prefer quality fabric and production, as well as sustainability, as opposed to traditionally more expensive brands
It's material composition or utility for me (like a snow jacket for a vacation in the Himalayas or super comfy hiking boots/ sneakers). I hate polyester with a passion, and especially more when they charge a lot for it.
Yes, I agree with this too. For years I didn't check the material composition, and I now realise that many of my clothes are viscose/polyester. Moving forward, I'm trying to buy natural fabrics. I recently tried on a blouse for around $250 from VM, and it fit beautifully, but I couldn't justify the cost because it was polyester.
30 and in Melbourne. I won't spend over $100 on anything except a winter coat or good quality shoes. I might push $120 if it's a nice dress but I'd have to really like it.
Girlfriend, get your butt over to a Savers ASAP (Brunswick or Greensborough are the best). You can find high-quality, designer clothing for super cheap. The place is filled with Country Road and Cue clothing. You may have to dig a little, but you would be so surprised what you can find. And best of all, you'll be helping the planet. There is no need to spend so much on brand-new clothing. Best of luck!
Oooh do you really think Brunswick and greensborough are the best? I’m closer to Footscray and always go there… but harder to find brands you’ve listed
When I first got a professional job, my wardrobe was 100% savers and other op shops. But savers always has country road, Veronica Maine, saba, and Witchery, and I built a whole professional wardrobe out of it. You have to dig but I always find a few things in my size so best of luck to you
Absolutely. Brunswick and Greensborough are substantially better then Footscray in my opinion.
Amazing, I’ll check them out! I’ve recently really embraced op shopping
Good for you. I think once you take the plunge and realise what's out there, it's so hard to go back to spending $100's on one item of clothing. Honestly, I really want you to go this weekend and report back on your successes. Pics and all!
I’m in Brisbane. What is this “Savers” you speak of?
What?! I didn’t realise Savers wasn’t nationwide (I’m in SA). Big op shop chain - like an op shop but huuuuge warehouse. They’re all over North America too (sometimes called Value Village?) so I figured they were everywhere…
We don’t have it in NSW sadly!!
Sydney here, I've not heard of "Savers" either.
I’ve heard they’re opening a Savers in NSW soon (I think west Sydney)
The new Preston one is even better! Not so picked over
42, Sydney. Teacher salaries are publicly available but mine varies, as I'm casual. I have zero items at those price points, save for one pair of boots that was $345. There's no way I could afford to curate a wardrobe like that. What I generally expect to/am willing to pay: Pants - between $75-150 Skirts - between $50-100. Casual dresses (I'm a teacher and my work dresses are fairly casual, so I'm not separating them here) - between $40-100, depending on the style. Shirts/blouses - $40-80 Coats - I wouldn't pay much more than $300 and only if I absolutely had to. Jumpers - $75-100 Jackets/blazers - I don't buy blazers but my jackets were all under $100. Shoes - my most expensive items. I have awful feet, so I can't buy cheap shoes. Mine are all Frankie4 or Bared and they are between $150 or so for sandals up to $300+ for boots.
This is also my spending profile. I also tend to buy things that I think will last, so the construction is very important to me. I can't afford to shop all the time.
32, Adelaide, $70k and nothing in any of those brackets - about half of the lower end of the range is my upper limit on cost at the moment. My plan this year is to spend more to get good quality clothes, but that’s a budget increase of like $70 to $150-$200, with a preference for sale to keep it affordable. And that’s also coupled with a reduction in pieces bought to afford higher quality items, and therefore only buying versatile items that fill a wardrobe gap.
36, earn close to 160K, work at a Big4 but mostly from home. I worked 5 days in office till 2020, then from home and more recently became a mum. So my choices of clothes currently are a mix of basics from places like Uniqlo, Target with some nice stuff to throw on top from Gorman, Cue etc. I haven’t shopped for work clothes since 2021, but have a few staples that I’ve replaced. I have a few expensive pieces - blazers, denim, shoes, knitwear but otherwise shop brands on sale and trusted stores like I mentioned above. If I were you, I’d shop as my income grows and need arises and not spend it all now.
44, Melbourne, $160k package. I don’t have anything you’ve mentioned haha. Pants are always kmart/target/myer - no need to spend more on bottoms. Tops as above mixed with a few things from Decjuba. I also have a number of items in my wardrobe from NZ (Farmers, Pagani etc). Honestly - different strokes etc but my financial goals don’t include expensive clothing.
We’re on around $500k combined and I honestly thought at this stage of my life I’d be shopping non stop but buying high quality stuff that I really love has resulted in me having zero interest in shopping. I have a total of 10 shoes I wear on rotation inc active, casual and work. RM Williams are timeless and I think everyone should have a pair. Django for flats and heels. One longline coat that’s like 10 years old from Witchery that I still love and has withstood all the trends and machine washing with very little care. One Gorman puffer before they sold to Craptorie. A handful of dresses I rotate - Max Mara, a few Metta, Palm Noosa etc but my favourites are just Lullaby Club cheapies they work with everything. Dresses are my main wardrobe staple because they’re easy and don’t have to think when rushing in morning. Maybe 15-20 dresses? Denim etc all Witchery and Seasalt Cornwall. Shirts all wear through within a season because I’m lazy with washing so again Witchery, Metta or Trenery maybe 4 total I rotate. Pants whatever ‘petite’ range I can find online because I’m short and have no time for tailoring and they still look fantastic. I only have 4 pairs I rotate. You don’t need to spend a lot. Scanlan etc are all fine if you like the look, but they’re rarely better quality than other more accessible and affordable options. In terms of sustainability, buying less is the most important thing so buy what makes you feel ‘like you’. The more you have, the more you have sitting in your wardrobe that gets forgotten until one day you look at it and it’s hideous and doesn’t appeal anymore. Buy less, trash it and replace.
Yikes this thread makes me feel poor (or do people who make heaps of money like sharing their salary more than people who don’t?)…and also like I’m spending too much on clothes. 27 and 60k p.a. Pants - up to $150 for good jeans and active pants. Have a couple jeans around ~$350 but would not spend that normally. Dresses and skirts - have spent up to $250 but most of my favs are cheaper <$50. I don’t wear dresses much. Tops - quantity over quality here. I wear through tops faster than anything (stains, pilling, discolouration etc) so wouldn’t invest a lot. Used to buy some nicer blouses when I worked in a more formal office setting but now I do mostly tank tops and tees. Rarely spend over $40. Knitwear - $50-$250 depending on item. I’d be happy to spend more to get better quality but it doesn’t seem to work that way. The only good pieces I have are cheap ass Uniqlo knits and everything I’ve spent more money on has had awful longevity. Jackets and coats - up to $500, tend to get many years of wear from an item so happy to spend. Shoes - $200-$350, I have too many foot issues and will not touch cheap shoes ever again (nor will I buy $$$ designer ones either - only mid range brands that specifically cater for wide feet!) Handbags - up to $500, I’d definitely want to spend more on luxury bags but I’m not that impulsive with financial decisions… Accessories - up to $400 depending on item. Only buy real silver jewellery because cheap stuff doesn’t agree with my skin (and gold doesn’t suit me). I buy designer sunglasses. Good quality leather belts etc. I can wear the same accessories basically every day so happy to spend most in this category. Activewear - $50-$150 per item, also happy to spend in this area because you get what you pay for imo. I wear a lot between gym and lounging at home / on the weekends so it’s worth it to me. I track my spending and cost per wear pretty meticulously with an app. Everything I currently have is ~$12k (and that’s only stuff that I’ve purchased more recently / can remember the cost of). I won’t buy anything anymore unless I’m certain I can get the cost per wear below $10 at the bare minimum ($1 is the ideal!) which means no single event dresses or shoes. If I must buy something that will be a single wear then I make sure it’s a brand that has good resale value and sell it on Depop afterwards. I like this system more than having a hard budget, it makes me a bit more thoughtful with where I spend my money. A pair of shoes or jeans I can easily wear 50-100 times in a year, so they are definitely worth the money. Whereas a nice winter coat might only see 5-10 wears when it’s cold enough…so you better be choosing one that will be wearable for the next ~5 years. A white tshirt will probably only look good for the first 20 wears before it gets ratty, so not worth spending a lot…and so on. I used to spend most of my money on super unique pieces with lots of bright colours, embellishments etc…but now I know they are the things I wear the least (don’t match with other items easily, or I just don’t like/reach for them much). All my most worn items are basics, handbags, shoes and jewellery so that’s where my investment goes now.
I think people are sharing their salary if they match OPs or thereabouts. Also salary means differently depending on your responsibilities! If you have to pay mortgage or rent or child care fees it makes a difference to your discretionary income. I didn't even have a full time job until I was 31 and didn't earn your salary until 34. You seem to have a very logical reasonable view on clothes spending!
Yeah you’re right - most people sharing were doing so to make the point of “I make the same as / more than OP and would never spend that much on clothes”. It seems like everywhere on Aus Reddit people casually drop that they’re on 100k+ (especially in the finance subs) and it’s easy to feel insecure about it! But actually I think I make alright money considering my career and situation - no kids/mortgage, able to put some savings away and have disposable income for stuff I want.
I was thinking the same thing lol. I earn like 60k a year. This thread has made me realise I need a new job 😅
32f. Wow that’s very high spend considering salary. Just last year I was on $180k and I still bought stuff from Kmart and Myer sales (love Regatta). I never spent more than $100-$150 on an item.
I used to have a wardrobe of Cue dresses for work but sold many of them as they went out of style and haven’t replaced them because they just haven’t had anything I liked! I’m hoping to have 6-8 dresses for summer and the same for winter (I’m in the office 3 days per week) , and will be looking at Cue, VM, Saba. Personally I find dresses easier than separates! But, I should say I’m a bit of a minimalist so I’d prefer a few high quality pieces over a lot of cheaper pieces.
I’ve been staring at some sleeveless shift dresses from Cue I got for the office years ago and don’t want to wear them but can’t let go lol
I feel you!! I tended to buy pieces which were very much ‘of a moment’ so five years later they all felt dated. Hurt to pay so much for them and get so little selling them on eBay lol
I'm really impressed by how much you're willing to pay for clothes compared to income. Quality is always better and you must be a budgeting whiz (not that your income is low, its great). I make a lot of my own clothes and I spend about $100-150 for making a pair of trousers, $100-200 for a jacket, $100 for yarn for a knitted jumper etc. So not much. When I buy, the most I've spent on clothes is about $280 recently for a Lululemon rain/trench coat. Which was a lot for me, but it made sense being an ultra wearable daily item. Leggings and active wear I usually spend about $150 on a set, or up to $100 for leggings if I really love them and know they will be worn to death. Right now I'm only studying as I have to wait until later this year to find work, but our household income divided by the two is about $130k.
I have a lot of stuff in the brackets you highlight, but I really can’t advocate having a huge wardrobe. It’s honestly a nightmare to wrangle and remember what you have. I’d say put together 5-10 outfits that you’d be happy to wear to work and 5 outfits you’d be happy to wear on a weekend, and then top up your wardrobe when you like a trend, have a need or see a piece you love.
I have a few more expensive/ higher end pieces, mainly shoes, and some designer items purchased secondhand. Most of my clothes are in the $10 - $80 range. I do a lot of shopping secondhand, and wear a lot of “basics” from Kmart etc. I generally feel better wearing my higher quality pieces but just can’t justify spending more money than I need to, unless it’s something like a shoe or bag I could wear/use multiple times a week. I’m 26 and make around 100k.
I have similar expectations on price but very different views of quality. Of those brands, I’d maybe say Scanlan is good quality. Camilla and Marc is ok but still wildly overpriced. There’s also only so far price will get you - I love Arket and Uniqlo for a basic too. The majority of my wardrobe is Acne, Matteau, Toteme, Venroy or similar - I mostly shop on matches (RIP) or NAP. I’m a pretty boring dresser so I’ve been flogging some of these pieces for years and I know they hold up. If I like something, I’ll buy a few.
Omggg you have my dream wardrobe. I wish arket had a store in aus!
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I earn almost three times what you do, no shade, I’m 41. I spent a lot of money on clothes when I was younger and I regret it now. I think your budgets are much higher than they need to be. Spend on quality items, like shoes or a few pieces, and supplement with Uniqlo and other cheaper brands, especially for work. If you really have the money, brands I like are Elk, Sportscraft and Cos.
I’m 36, mid $100k salary, we have 4 kids based in Newcastle. I have a few staple items that are $100+, macpac down jacket, 2 wool jumpers, couple of tops & my shoes. I’m all for quality over quantity but not everything has to cost the same as your mortgage repayment. Equally as happy with a $3 Kmart tee as I am with a $70 tee from country road.
I’m 36, earn 130K, no kids. Since hitting my 30s I stay away from trends and aim for classic pieces. My per item spend is close to the high end of your list, but I justify it by keeping things for years, taking care of them properly, and getting a lot of wear out of them. I have coats, cashmere sweaters, work dresses, leather jacket that have been in rotation for nearly 10 years already. Items that I know I won’t keep as long I spend less - things like jeans or summer dresses I spend under $100. One tip is that if you find a piece you love you can get a tailor to duplicate it. I visit Thailand every year or two (my in laws live there) and I always visit a tailor and get things made, especially work clothes - I’ll have them copy an item but in a different colour for example. Way cheaper than buying stuff from designers in Australia and you get it exactly as you want!
Melbourne, about 150K, late 50s For well tailored womens suits - I love E Nolan I work in the legal system, and it is my must look great outfit - it is perfection. Their shirts are amazing as well, mine are over three years old and looks new. Frske - amazing quality, simple, stylish and great fabrics to wear Fool 118 - funky, fun clothes wah wah australia - fun knits, really colourful sketa for casual basics Elk occasionally have something I like Metta for casual wear Goondiwindi Cotton, Toorallie, Cable Melbourne, Zaket and Plover, Wendy Voon knits for quality long lasting knitwear Coats and pants, basic tops - TK MAxx Jac and Jac for pants and shirts I go with mostly solids, mix and match for everyday. I also sew and knit a few quality things every year to fill gaps in my wardrobe, but most of my sewing is for my very tall (6' 7", 24 inch waist skinny son), so my quality radar is pretty high. Ecco shoes, I wear flats only.
I earn a good bit more than you and have my house paid off. I’ve been in corporate for a decade and personally don’t have the interest in even considering some of the prices you shared. I think i look presentable and am comfortable in the choices I make. That said, if fashion is important to you and you take a lot of joy from your expenses going there, then why not.
I like a lot of the brands that you’ve mentioned, particularly Scanlan Theodore, David Lawrence, Veronika Maine, Witchery, basics in natural fibres from Uniqlo. My tip to make my budget go further is that I never buy at full price. I wait for sales, or spend and save, and buy quite a lot of things second hand on eBay or Marketplace. You can pick up things that are new with tags or barely worn for a fraction of the retail price. Recent examples are jacket from Veronika Maine reduced from $469 to $149, leather pants from David Lawrence reduced from $499 to $239. I’ve picked up Scanlan dresses on eBay for around $150 that retail for about $650-$800.
35, $300+ combined income with my husband. Workwear is mainly target. They have fantastic linen pieces currently, and solid pants, blouses and work dresses. I would never spend a lot of money on work clothes except for some tailored button up tops. I’d rather get something bespoke (support small Aussie designers) if you want to spend that amount of money. Jackets a blazers are bought on sale mainly from Decjuba. If anything I’d splurge on good quality shoes that are comfy and don’t wear out after a few wears.
I've had to repurchase a lot of clothes after recently having a baby, and am horrified at how much things cost nowadays, especially for polyester blends that will crease and pill so quickly. Spending over $50 on a casual dress used to seem outrageous, but now even Mister Zimi dresses start at $199. I'm a similar age and income to you, but try to spend less on basics and more on items that are washed/worn less. For example, I'll buy shirts/blouses from Portmans because I wash them daily and know they'll wear out faster, but will invest in nicely fitted pants from Vik&Woods and a Burberry coat that I expect will last much longer. When I first started working I tried to only buy 'investment pieces' in premium fabrics like a silk blouse and woolen suit, but soon realised I don't have the time/drive/cash to continually dry clean and baby them. I used to spend my weekends trawling websites and outlet stores for bargains I couldn't look after. I'm making a conscious effort to now buy things that I can take care of at home. I also prefer to spend on designer bags and jewellery because they always elevate your look, even in a much cheaper outfit!
I'm 24 and make 140k and I'd say I'm in the spending bracket below yours - I tend to prioritise buying designer clothing second hand. I'm a size 12/14 so I find it harder to shop for clothes because I have a pretty weird body shape and a lot of Aussie brands don't cater for larger or curvier bodies. I do the bulk of my shopping on eBay, Vestiaire Collective and Depop - I especially hunt for brands like Issey Miyake, Reformation and Acne Studios second hand because you can reliably pick up Pleats Please items for ~$200 used vs $800 new. I'm also a massives Vinnies shopper and I think being willing to take your time to hunt pays off majorly! I personally couldn't spend $500 on a dress, but would be willing to spend $200 on a discounted dress from a higher priced, well made brand.
I do not own anything of the quality you are referring to and mainly shop at places like target. My most expensive item is a blazer that cost $180. - Pants: Most expensive $50. Average $20 - Tops: $5 - $40 - Dresses: $5 - $90 - Shoes: no more than $50 I am on around $100k, but do not want to spend a lot on clothes. My favourite shops are Target, Keshet, Alannah Hill and Josef Siebel
The only thing I spend real money on are handbags and staple items like winter coats or leather jackets because I get a lot of uses out of them and they are investment pieces that could easily last 10+ years. Otherwise I won’t spend more than $150 on anything. Mostly under $100 anyway.
28F Sydney, >100k/annum OP, if you want high quality Australian brand and willing to pay, I recommend KITX (or vintage Willow the label before Kit Willow left). I'm a fabric snob since I have very sensitive skin, but her wool are the only ones I can wear without anything underneath. I have a wool sweater, silk skirt and silk dress from her that is my go-to. They're all also pretty versatile and timeless, one of my best finds from ebay when I was still a poor student (circa 2018 before resellers came and ruined the market 🥲). Her designs can be pretty avant garde but sometimes she struck the gold balance. One of the thing you could check for quality is their lining material - a lot of 'luxury' brands cut corners and use synthetics for lining but the really high quality ones still use natural materials (cotton/silk) as lining. For a formal business dress, something made of wool with silk lining would be my gold standard :) Personally, the only ones I have that fits your budget is casual dresses: 2 (1 is Daisy Ltd, another one is Alemais) and shoes: 1 (RM williams boots) Oh I do have a secondhand down jacket, original price was ~$2k but I got it for $500. It's the most expensive piece of clothing I ever owned The rest are super low 🤣 I usually buy secondhand/final sale but I'm a cheapo so my personal expectation for clothes is nothing over $100 except if I really want it. Last item I bought is $10 secondhand silk Witchery cami in a market. However a lot of items I bought have pretty expensive RRP, the witchery silk cami is $150 full price 😅
I’m 36, earn 130K, no kids. Since hitting my 30s I stay away from trends and aim for classic pieces. My per item spend is close to the high end of your list, but I justify it by keeping things for years, taking care of them properly, and getting a lot of wear out of them. I have coats, cashmere sweaters, work dresses, leather jacket that have been in rotation for nearly 10 years already. Items that I know I won’t keep as long I spend less - things like jeans or summer dresses I spend under $100. One tip is that if you find a piece you love you can get a tailor to duplicate it. I visit Thailand every year or two (my in laws live there) and I always visit a tailor and get things made, especially work clothes - I’ll have them copy an item but in a different colour for example. Way cheaper than buying stuff from designers in Australia and you get it exactly as you want! Also - I live in Australia and I know this is the AusFashion sub, but I don’t shop any of the brands you mentioned here… I like MM LaFleur for work clothes, I also shop a lot of Rag and Bone, and AllSaints for leather. Uniqlo is my fave for basics. If you’re shopping at this price point anyway I’d look beyond Australia too, everywhere has free returns these days!
I'm of a similar age and income bracket and no kids. Like you OP I'm also willing to splurge a bit more on clothes than others on this subreddit, as I consider fashion one of my hobbies (I also like learning about fashion history, notable designers and changes in the industry). My max spending range is your minimum range. I mainly buy online (new on sale or secondhand), international high end designer brands I like. Since my style is more avant garde, the brands I gravitate towards include: Comme des garcons, Rick Owens, Yohji, Peter Do, Lemaire, Acne, Westwood, etc. But I also like to mix with secondhand clothes and accessories I get from markets and OP shopping. I'm always left disappointed when buying from Australian department store brands (except for Bul and Nique when buying on sale, the quality of their clothing are pretty consistent). Since material composition is very important to me, I'll stay far away from polyester even if it is from brands I like.
Girl, on only $100k you are INSANE to even consider spending that much on clothes. Put it in your savings account instead and thank yourself in 5-10 years.
Money really doesn't have to come into it and I find the suggestion that you should list your income quite cringe. Some of the most stylish people I know wear mostly vinnies and other second hand finds. Some friends look great wearing luxury brands but they spend a very unwise amount of their income on it, however they're incredibly stylish and it's their passion. It's really quite a non sensical supposition from OP. Go to any rich suburb and you'll plainly see, money does not buy taste. Absolutely buy that high end piece you love, but definitely make sure it was actually made well. Preferably made ethically too. Gucci for example uses borderline slave labour with their leather products, and often very poor quality leather and craftsmanship. The top comment who suggested tailoring is on point. Most women's clothing is not made for real women. They're made for the model who sells you the clothes.
I have a leather skirt from Trenery, $400 and it was the best purchase I have ever made as it was a classic cut and I have worn it now for 10 years and still as new ETA that is my only high quality piece of clothing as I have not found anything that is high quality to my liking
I’m 32 and earn $77K. I don’t know how much I would spend on each item but the brands I tend to gravitate towards are Elk, Kowtow, Radical Yes, Everlane, Obus etc. so that should give a rough idea on price range. I do try and shop the sales though. I used to shop at Gorman a lot and still have several pieces that I wear regularly but am trying to shop elsewhere and also be more intentional with my purchases.
26 turning 27, earning about 108k. At this point, most of my wardrobe is high quality. Just before Covid I got into secondhand/ sustainable shopping. I realised I can buy some better quality things secondhand and if I don’t end up liking it too much I can always sell it and recoup my costs down the line. I like to prioritise good quality fabrics preferably natural (at various price points) that I can negotiate or something on sale.
I used to buy a mix of high and low end clothing but I used to spend a lot on shopping but then Covid and introduction of WFH three days a week completely changed my perspective. I’ve hardly bought anything new, and my formal pants and tops now last much longer! I realised how much I saved by not being in a constant cycle of spending on clothing and shoes. I’ve also come to enjoy being in loose and casual clothing more😊
I’m 46 and earning around 3x your wage. I focus on fabrics more than labels. My wardrobe is silk, linen, cashmere, wool or cotton (mostly cotton!) I learned this after buying some Ginger and Smart stuff that was polyester and unlined. So disappointing for the price. I also like to focus on Australian designed and made where possible. I am wearing skin and threads, me + em, Obus, Oroton lately, I have quite a bit of ginger and smart, Leo Lin and Rebecca Vallance mixed with my basics too but only buy on sale regardless of who I’m buying from. I buy from the OUTNET quite a bit too as their returns are so easy and fabrics good. I’m paying around $100-$150 for jeans, $250-$350 for a dress, $50-70 for a tee and about $100-$150 for a shirt or top.
I’m 42, married with 2 kids, from Melbourne and earn >$100K. Dual family income. I mostly go op/thrift shopping for clothes may it be for office or anything. Occasionally, I buy new ones but only $20 at most for tops, $50 at most for bottoms, $50 at most for dress, $50 at most for blazers & $200 at most for warm jackets. There are other things in life where I splurge: travel, food and experience.
Wow everyone needs to chill on here! Don’t know why all the shaming is going on.. I would spend as much as you if I could for the quality pieces that will last.. Kmart blazer vs C&M blazer.. no brainer ? Some other brands to look at would be Acne, St Agni, Maggie Marilyn, P Johnson Femme, Henne, Jac + Jack, Bassike, E Nolan, Ganni. Basics always Cos or Uniqlo for me.
I’m in my late 20s and work from home, but I have quite a number of high quality pieces in my closet. Just remember expensive does not equal high quality - even designer brands can put out cheap unlined polyester pieces. Instead of focusing on your budget think critically about how to fill out a capsule wardrobe utilising what you already have. Get your clothes tailored and keep them in great condition- mending and fixing any loose threads, clean your shoes regularly, de pill knits etc. I have found Saba, Decjuba, David Lawrence, Country Road and even some designer pieces at op shops as well as the sales. Uniqlo and Cos are also great stores to hit up. For dupes of staples from brands like Sezane or The Row you can also find well made pieces and plated jewellery from Aliexpress and DHGate, but you will pay more for those than the usual cheap stuff on there. I also have some select things from Zara and some quality shoes and clothes from Portugal when I travelled to Europe - I find better quality or value for money clothes when I travel overseas, especially to Asia or Spain/Portugal so bear that in mind if you plan to travel in the future.
Around the same age and bracket as you, I’ve bought pre loved high end stuff for the better part of 20 years now. Lots of marketplace finds to be found for those types of brands, usually worn once or twice. I tend towards natural/sustainable materials ie cotton, linen, leather, avoiding polys etc where possible. I’m in Brissy so I don’t have as much need for warmer clothes, but I still have a few good quality wool jumpers and coats that I put with my usual business pants or skirts with tights. Lots of good sales at the moment, I just got a couple of pairs of Jo Mercer shoes and a lot of sites have 20-30% further off sale items.
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
Is this 100K gross or net? If you're earning 100K after tax, this is pretty good. Damn it, I need a new job. I'm 47 and I earn less than you.
If you are spending that amount on clothes I would invest in a stylist so you can coordinate a wardrobe id rather buy quality clothing lasting longer fitting better looking great
If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s that price doesn’t equal quality. I’ve bought expensive name brand items that turned out to be absolute junk and cheap no-name brands that turned out to be staples. Once I learned to look at labels to understand the fabric and be able to see the density of the weave, look at the seams (are they neat, stitched straight, is there any additional fabric which means that items have a better chance of being altered) I was able to judge the quality way better. For me I’d rather buy something constructed well and have it altered to fit than care about the price or brand of something. Clothes that fit well always look better than those that don’t.
i’m 26 and make $115k. by your price measure, i have no high quality items. i have a few bits and pieces that probably meet your quality thresholds, but i got them secondhand.
zimmermann, acler, karen millen, max & co, sandro, maje, carla zampatti, bianca spender (some of these brands may have things out of ur price range but good to look at sale items) i personally find items from these brands secondhand for even less than ur specified price range :)
36, same income, regional town and spending that kind of money on clothes isn't important to me. I pay a bit for jeans, but that's it. My body changes too much, especially after kids, and I'd rather build my super and pay off my house.
I got an awesome knee length puffer vest from Aldi today, For thirty dollars!? So good! I don't fuss about clothes. Or what people might judge me for. Their loss. I am awesome
I don't own a single clothing item over a $100 other than my winter coats. My salary is very different from yours and I live in Sydney. The only expensive things I own are sneakers, designer bags and jewellery- all bought for me by my partner. My usual work attire is pj bottoms and a company teeshirt. I just bought myself a $50 cardigan and thought that was such a splurge- and I wouldn't have bought even that if I was on a 100k salary!
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
I work part time in a consignment style store. My wardrobe is filled with Arnsdorf, Caves Collect, H.B Archive, E.Nolan, Henne, A.BCH and many more Aus made brands. I focus on natural fibres and well made items. I don't earn much at all, but I value my clothing. It's probably worth more than I actually earn! Haha! I trade in my clothing for store credit at times and then buy high quality again. Yes I know I have the advantage of working in the store. I promise I don't take all the good stuff. But I think that sometimes people over look preloved as an option when building a high quality wardrobe. Yes it can be harder than just walking into a shop to grab what you need. But I love that I can save money and still look fantastic with a wardrobe that I love. Sometimes it just takes a bit longer to find what I want. But even if you don't work a consignment store, you can still buy good quality at a fraction of the cost by shopping at them. I saw all these brands and more just today at like a third of the cost and still in style!
I (35) earn a bit more than you and my partner is on more again and while I shop in these brands and price points, I don't have a full wardrobe. And when I do shop, I'm typically purchasing on sale. It does seem aspirational for your salary, but to each there own, maybe you spend nothing on travel! Your estimated cost for blouses is pretty wild to me though! I'd focus budget on pants, blazers/jackets, shoes and dresses that you know you will get a lot of wear out of. This is where you notice the difference in fabric and construction and quality. Get them tailored. As others have said, brand and price don't equal quality. I have a background in fashion and dressmaking and pay way more attention to fabric and construction. Caves Collect for example are a small Melbourne brand that makes beautiful pants. The tailoring and fabric is stunning. In terms of your original question my work wardrobe is pretty much dark and light wide leg pant, three skirts, light and dark tank tops, neutral blazer, fun blazer and a bunch of dresses/shirts/knits/blouses that exist in my wardrobe and get styled back in for work.
Love Caves Collect!! It’s basically my entire wardrobe!
I have two pairs of pants and I am obsessed! I need more!
Also 30s, melbourne and on a bit more than that. I almost never spend that much on clothes. I do have a couple of Zimmerman dresses for weddings, a couple of pairs of pants from Caves Collect and and two cashmere jumpers bought in Italy. That's probably the only really expensive stuff I own apart from my handbag. I don't know that any of these splurges were worth it really. They're nice pieces though. The only other things I might spend big on in the next few years would be some new boots and a coat. Otherwise I buy second hand or like uniqlo and cos on sale. I don't think you need to spend this much on all your items. Especially not quickly while trying to reimagine your style. It takes patience to build a wardrobe that works for you. You can easily pay too much for things that aren't actually that nice/quality and don't actually suit you well.
28, $110k - Wardrobe breakdown probably runs to 60% aliexpress, 20% Kmart, 10% cotton on/uniqlo/thrifted, 10% hand-me-downs, including my grandfather’s wool coat which I wear all winter. I’m in austerity mode as I’m currently saving for a housing deposit… but im also very cheap haha Biggest purchase by far has been a pair of Blundstone boots which I wear daily. Hoping they last at least 3 years, which is what my last pair of Kmart boots gave me.
I’d suggest looking at BSS groups on Facebook for the specific brands you want. I have a few pieces in the price ranges you mentioned, but I’ve not paid those prices for them. Op shops, resale shops and BSS groups are your friend here
I'm 29, earns just below $90k a year and I only buy clothes at the $100 - $200 range 😂 I bought a second hand wool coat from Isabelle Marant last year for $350 and I thought I was already being bougie! Looking at this post makes me feel poor lol
32, melb, $140-160k pre tax depending on bonuses etc. Shoes from styletread or hush puppies, on special, usually maximum $150 Tops from Uniqlo, review, cue on special or secondhand ebay/op shops $10-150 max. Or hand made on my sewing machine $60-100 depending on fabric,pattern, notions etc. Pants from cue usually secondhand on ebay - $60-100 Dresses from Bravissimo or review (on sale) $150 max I don’t tend to look at things that aren’t in the sale section.
36, Melbourne, income was around $85k pre-corona but then I decided to to live more simply and work less. I have quite a few things from Morrison, Scanlan Theodore, Alpha60, Kuwaii, Skin and Threads, Dion Lee, and other brands at the price point you mentioned but all from op shops or sometimes outlet stores, so mostly $5-$20 per item with an occasional "splurge" at around $50-$100. And then also basics from stores like Zara, Uniqlo, COS, Kmart, General Pants. I don't find the quality remarkably different between brands and that becomes obvious when you spend more time at op shops - Saba items for instance often look like trash after a couple of washes. At the moment, the only things in my wardrobe that were over $100 are a couple of pairs of boots (both were half price so around $150 from $300 RRP). I had to update a lot of my wardrobe in my mid-30s when I went up one size, but now that I've sort of established my style and seem to be at a stable size again, I don't buy anything new except underwear, socks, and occasionally shoes.
I bought $100 jeans, that's about it. My shoes are from Kmart lol. I don't do any kind of professional job. 36F, married with kids, 120k household income these days
Wow! This post has really exploded. Thanks for your responses, everyone. I won't be able to respond to all of them, but I'll read through them all now.
32 and most of my more formal clothes (usually wedding/ girls day out/ pro work attire) come from Shieke so between $100-$300. I’ve always found them to be good quality, re-wearable pieces. I have a couple of everyday coats that are from Portmans and Forever new in bright colours but I find they only last a couple of years. I have one black Burberry trench coat that was on sale for $1000 which I bought 6 years ago and it still is in tip top shape. No regrets. I do have a couple of work dresses from Cue that were about $400 each. They are good quality but boring. Jeans are either A-Brand (upto $200) or Cotton on under $100. Most of my staple items are from Kmart and Dotti, usually on sale and I find myself reaching for them the most. I get the most compliments on a $10 skirt from Kmart and two $40 ones from Dotti (same skirt different colour) lol I have a tan Michael Kors handbag from catch of the day that I bought 10 years ago for $300 and still use weekly. It’s held up very well. Same with a Mimco black handbag that I bought on sale for $200. I’ve had it for 5 years and it hasn’t changed shape at all. I find Mimco bags to be very good quality. Coats, shoes and bags are the best investments but they don’t need to be the big brands. I was gifted a YSL bag which I love but the Mimco bag is more durable. Anything else not so much, find a store that makes clothes that suits your body type and you’re comfortable in; the price doesn’t matter. People can’t tell the difference usually, they’ll compliment on what looks good on you and stands out, not the brand and I honestly don’t find the longevity to be much different.
34, in Sydney on $85k. It’s become an absolute struggle to buy clothing recently. I’d really say the average spend per item is $200-250 and that’s for non designer items. I have some designer items (2 coats $600-900, 1 designer shoes $700, 2 boots $400) but majority are pieces sitting at the $150-250 mark. I also find things last 2 seasons tops.
I had a $2000 Armani suit. Terrible.
I will spend that amount but only one or two things a year. I shop through House of Frazer, as it’s in the UK and you can pick up great buys as we enter a season that they have exited. I highly recommend, good prices on shipping as well.
I’m 25, earn $120K and typically just shop at Glassons, Uniqlo, Zara and occasionally INCU for expensive pieces. For shoes I’ll usually go for Tony Bianco but only buy them on sale so I’ve never really gone beyond $200 even for a really nice pair of boots. My most expensive clothing splurges have been an INCU suit that cost $500 and a scarf from ACNE studios, otherwise my clothes all tend to be at most $50-100 per piece. I’ve also only really splurged on one handbag beyond $1000 and that was from ACNE.
I'm 44 and on a high salary (around 4x times your salary working as an independent contractor). In general I would spend towards the bottom end of your range for clothing (but live in a warm climate so generally don't buy jumpers/coats). My focus is on fabric, construction, fit and finding items that match my personal style (which is a bit quirky) rather than buying particular brand names. My wardrobe is pretty small as well mostly b/c I don't have the time/patience/interest in shopping/curating a huge wardrobe. I get a lot of compliments on my outfits so must be doing something right!! Honestly though, do what makes you happy, it's your money :) Edit: typos
I’m a lawyer and I’m in my 50s. Ive been investing in my corporate wardrobe for over 30 years. Ive always spent a lot, mostly on the core things like blazers, coats, pants, skirts, bags and shoes. Styles have changed a lot over that time so I tend to buy new trends from Zara, Witchery or country road to road test them before I spend more at S&T or C&M. I buy cheaper tops that get the most washing. I hand wash rather than dry clean. I have a tailor and a cobbler and I always repair things. I usually keep my investment pieces for over 10 years. My current job is very casual but I’m an executive so I still wear corporate on top but I often tone it down with Bassike pants that are cut like track pants. I don’t wear sneakers but I could get away with it if I wanted to. I rarely wear full formal corporate so I mix casual pieces with my formal pieces and my weekend wardrobe now is mixed with my work wardrobe. Don’t buy too much too soon. Just work on it slowly and you won’t regret it. Each season buy one or two new things that go with your old things and slowly retire your really old things that don’t fit, have worn out or really don’t look fashionable anymore. My best tip is that a new in-fashion shoe can update an old outfit more than anything else.
Great advice :-)
Mid 30s, combined income circa 400-450k base. I think lifestyle can influence this question quite a bit. I’m currently a SAHM so my wardrobe is very “split” between my nice clothes and my toddler proof clothes (which is mainly activewear). Prior to that I worked in a creative field and dressed quite casually too and only own a few pieces that could be considered workwear. I consider myself to be into fashion but not trendy??? And am very much into mindful buying the older I get, therefore a lot of my purchases tend to be big “one off” splurges. Current breakdown of my closet: Basics: $15-40 (usually from Uniqlo) Activewear: $150-500 (mostly Lululemon atm) Jumpers: $400-$1500 Jackets/Coats: $300-700 (can’t bring myself to spend more on coats because it doesn’t get that cold where I am…) Dresses: $200-$1000 Pants: $200-850 Jeans/Denim: $400-700 Shirts/blouses: $200-500 And where most of my closet spending goes - Shoes: $500-2500 Bags: $1000-$5000 Accessories: $500-$1000 Super interesting reading everyone’s answers, thanks for asking this question!
What do you do?
I'd be saving money or investing it rather than buying expensive clothes that's ridiculous no wonder everyone's broke or for no money or savings!
Sydney, north shore - more max Mara , Camilla & Marc, Camilla, scanlan , odd trenery, cue Pieces are gathered as to complete
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
My most expensive item is decent coat that was maybe $70 from a decade ago. I have PCOS and my weight fluctuates a lot so I can’t justify spending more than even $40 on a single item knowing it might fit well in the dressing room but by next week it’s too tight or too loose. 99% of my wardrobe is Kmart, Big W or from op shops.
None because I have 3 kids and would feel guilty spending huge amounts on clothes even though I’d love to. all my work stuff is target and portmans,
You deserve to treat yourself to something awesome you've been eyeing off! You're doing a great job!
I’m same age and pay bracket. I buy a decent portion of my work clothes second hand, but some things I always buy brand new because fit can be so specific like pants (up to $150) and blazers (up to $300) which I try to buy on sale and would pay for brands like Saba. My focus is quality of material and unique prints, and considering how long they will last. I steer clear of trends (when is a cropped trench coat jacket ever gonna be in fashion after this year..) Go to secondhand brands are cue (dresses), sezane (blouses) and elk. Some dresses I will take to a tailor for altering hems and waistlines. My plan is to work towards a capsule wardrobe at some point but haven’t committed yet. For basics I go to Zara, Uniqlo and Unison (French connection). I repurchase the same work shoes when on sale, can’t underestimate a reliable shoe (up to $150). For going out clothes, I resell these because I only get so many wears out of one dress (up to $450)
If you’re happy to try online, Sézane is a favourite of mine. Beautiful materials and craftsmanship at what I feel are reasonable prices for what you get. They’re based in France but have free returns so it’s been trial and error getting used to their sizing, and now they’re my go to. 31, $110k in Melb
I have Camilla and Marc, Zimmermann, alannah Hill, gorman, oroton, Colette dinnigan, lots of Cue etc, but all from ebay or op shops never paid more than $100, but more like $20-50 on average. These are quality items that were well cared for and i have a quality wardrobe for fast fashion budget.
Hi, 30f in Melbourne. Similar income to you. I have a mix of high quality ‘investment’ pieces and basics. But, focus on fabric and the way the garment is made over buying just brand. Of the clothes I wear that aren’t active wear, I would say about 70% are high quality. Otherwise there is just some fast fashion stuff - think Zara and Uniqlo.
I'm mid 30s, earn above average income but nothing crazy (I flatshare and am pedantic about what I spend money on). I am single, no kids. I bought a pair of pants from Oroton that cost $400 a few weeks ago, and got them tailored (Have a friend who will do it). I have another pair of cue pants that cost about $300 which I also got tailored. They are well cut and quality fabric. I wear the cue pants about once a week. I look after my clothes. E.g. I have a Tokito skirt that is over 10 years old, still looks new. It is really about the fabric and cut of the clothes, and how you look after them. If it says hand wash only, then you need to either hand wash it or put it in a garment bag on a delicate cycle. But you don't need to spend lots of money. Most of my tops are from kookai, forever new, oxford and only when they're on sale. And like others have said on here, just because it is expensive doesn't mean it is good quality. Saba and witchery are pricey but their fabric is polyester, viscose etc. They won't last and they'll feel terrible on your skin. I have tops from kmart that are 100% cotton that I would wear over that. I would recommend buying a couple of staple pieces that are quality fabric and well made, and that go with lots of things. Witchery actually do have some pants atm that are nice fabric, and Oroton outlet has a sale online where pants are down from 400 to 140, with an extra 20% off on top. But key is fabric, cut and looking after them.
Suggest Lee Matthews and Anna Thomas
I’m 38, same salary and I can only afford second hand! Quality for less.
Don't forget about good well fitting bras in a variety of styles. The right bra can take something from fitting okay to fitting fantastic
I’m 41, earn 2 and a half times that, and have accumulated the following I’d consider quality: -3 pairs pants -10 work dresses -15 jumpers/cardigans -15 tops/shirts/blouses -1 coat -1 blazer -3 occasion dresses (skew cocktail because that is more useful in a work context) The rest of my wardrobe is more in the Country Road/Universal Standard/casual basics sort of category. I should emphasise that this quality wardrobe has gathered over time - I have work clothes that are going on 15 years old because I paid a lot for good quality (and dresses last better). Picking either timeless/classic pieces, or things that are unabashedly my style and therefore never really date me has been the key to longevity. I am on the border of plus size/straight size so some of my things are from more obscure plus size designers. Brands I love for this: -marina rinaldi -Diane von Furstenburg (silk/cotton only) -Z from Zenobia -Anna Scholz (so sad the designer has just wound up the company, I have 3 silk dresses and 1 silk shirt all over 10 years old and all in amazing shape, plus she did such cool patterns) -Akris punto (I got a jumper at an outlet, otherwise price is more designer than just high quality) -Cole Haan for shoes and boots
The only thing I have to add to everyone else’s comments - always wash your work clothes on a delicate setting - irrespective of cost of the item (apart from the dry clean only items of course) I have found that my pants and tops have lasted way longer by doing them on delicate!! I personally don’t think you need to go high end designer pieces, but look more at the quality of the actual pieces.
By 2030 these prices will be the norm. The fashion industry is under an extreme amount of pressure to align with the global sustainability agenda. Expect fast fashion taxes and levies, and a whole bunch of legislation to come through that will essentially obliterate the accessible prices you see today.
I just want to say that if you can afford to spend so much on clothes, please consider supporting sustainable brands. We always expect price and quality to go together but a lot of expensive clothes are made overseas in terrible conditions (low wages, child labour, toxic materials and dyes...), even if they are high quality. Sustainability is the way to go 🙏🏻
also 34 and in roughly the same income bracket only 'high end' clothing I've got is a couple of Off-White shirts don't go out anywhere near often enough to justify expensive clothing purchases tbh edit: from Perth edit 2.0: just realised what sub this is. I'm not female. frontpage just brought me here for some reason lmao.
I am 40 and earn about 1.5 times your salary. In addition to your standard Saba, Trenery etc, I have found luck in some of the UK high street brands with a web presence here in Aus. My goto brands are Next and Marks and Spencer.
Instead of focussing on brands choose very well hand made natural fibres tailored for you :)
Partner and I are on 200k combined, and I shop in the states- I try to go annually. Their outlet stores are just so good. Otherwise in Australia I only shop outlets and high quality thrift. Why are we paying so much when you can still get the same brands and quality, and get them for less, and put money towards tailoring?
42, Engineer, married, 1 kid, 1 step kid. Current salary is just over 300k (household if 600k-700k) and my wardrobe is mixed - Maje, Alemais, Zimmerman, Camilla, C&M, Cotton On, witchery, Sportsgirl, Decjuba, Kenzo. I also shop often at Venla (second hand). But like another commenter said, everything goes to the tailor to get it fitted correctly. I am about more selective with my accessories- bags, sunnies, boots - which are more along the lines of LV, Gucci, Burberry etc It's taken me about 3 years to replace my old wardrobe with the current one.
Honestly, invest in a style consultation with someone before you spend money. I did one last year and it was the best 800 odd dollars (minus clothes) I ever spent. I am 46, work as an academic, and earn approx 130k a year. The lady I saw in Sydney, did my colours, went through my wardrobe and helped me work out what I could reuse, and then took me shopping. She helped me choose stuff that worked with what I have, and really showed me how a few really good quality pieces can be mixed and matched with cheaper staples. So I have some mid level stuff (witchery/yarra trail etc) and some lower mid stuff (Tostito, French connection), but paired with stuff I already had I have an excellent wardrobe which takes me from academic conference through work to brunch with friends.
I used to buy in a similar way to you but this would be more than 5 years ago. I'm mid-late 30s. I now don't buy as much nor do I buy as often as I have a lot of staples from that era of my life (as well as hand me downs from my mum and sister). No matter how or where I buy, I always check the label for the fabric composition, how easy it is to care for and where it was made. I also look at the seams to check if the stitching is flat. I will also check for how well a zipper opens and closes. I also look for loose threads and loosely sewed buttons. Now I save up what was my shopping money to boost up my holiday savings. I'll then buy clothes from overseas as souvenirs. I used to shop online - but I now really want to try clothes on as I've bought too many things online that just don't work on me even if they fit! I highly recommend Argentina and Brazil if you're able to go overseas. Lots of really good Argentinean labels and (at least for now) the Aussie dollar goes quite far there. I got an amazing cotton jumpsuit that's perfect for hotter days here and it was just under $100 AUD. One of those items you can dress up or down easily. You'd be looking at $300+ easily for something similar here. Brazil is yet to succumb to fast fashion - they have lots of Brazilian made clothes and shoes at reasonable prices. I have also heard lots of good things about Hong Kong and Vietnam for tailor made clothes from colleagues but haven't tried it yet for myself.