Quality-for-price rankings

Augusto86's thread got me thinking...

Some of us with a limited budget can afford to splurge a bit on a few items of clothing, but are forced to stick to good value-for-the-price clothing for the most part. For what types of clothing do you feel most strongly that the increase in quality justifies the extra cost?

For example, if I were choosing between a $20 dress shirt and a $100 dress shirt, and choosing between a $100 pair of shoes and a $500 pair of shoes, I would feel the 5x price increase is more worth it in the shoes.

In other words, what is most worth splurging on?

Here would be my rankings:
Shoes
Suit
Watch
Odd jacket
Dress Shirt
Overcoat
Tie
Cuff Links
Jeans
Socks
Belt
Pocket Square

It really depends on your lifestyle. If you wear jeans 7 days a week, then paying a lot for them is more worth it to you. I don't think there's any one answer to this question.

Assuming we're talking mostly standard businesswear ...

I think suits, sportcoats and shoes most demand to be of good quality. The return on investment is great, both in how they present and how long they last. A good tie, too, can elevate an entire outfit, though I don't think you need to pay a fortune to find a nice one.

While buying quality is always better than buying inferior merchandise, I think guys starting out can skimp on the shirts (assuming they'll be worn under a jacket), overcoat, underwear, socks, belt, etc. Decent basics can be found at a reasonable price rather easily these days. Just make sure everything fits properly, and upgrade along the way. You don't need a $300 shirt to look good, though having $300 to spend on a shirt makes it easier.

Some nice-quality items can be had so inexpensively that "skimping" is hardly skimping. My $42 Jantzens, for example, are as nice/nicer than other, significantly more expensive shirts in my closet, and they certainly fit better. And there's no reason to wear shoddy cufflinks when nice ones are available so inexpensively on eBay and online.

Finally, I'll recommend spending a bit more on visible accessories, or at least expending the effort to track down nice ones at affordable prices. A good umbrella, for example, is the perfect accompaniment to a nice suit and fine shoes, while a $5 drugstore special just brings everything down. A good-quality umbrella wouldn't be the first thing I'd purchase, but it would be on the list, as would nice gloves.

I agree with zj. I wear sportsjackets all the time so I spend a lot of them, not just because they look better, but because the good ones are so incredibly comfortable.

I'd respectfully diagree with the above. I think outerwear and accessories are the last things I'd drop money on. I use $5 umbrellas as I'm always breaking and/or losing them. Nobody cares if you're stylish when it's pouring outside. Not that you'll probably see anyone you know while commuting anyway. And as soon as you're indoors, all that gets put away anyway and hung up to dry anyway. If you're in a business environment - a good suit, good pair of shoes, and you're off to the races.

Personally, I think shoes are the most important thing.

I probably won't make any friends saying this (especially with my "veteran" 20+ posts ... ), but I've seen some cracking ensembles in WAYWT that have been totally let down by cracked, creased, dull, clunky or otherwise shite-looking shoes.

I agree with you on this one. Poor quality shoes are very obvious. A cheap suit that's properly tailored can look better than it actually is. Provided you go for simplicity, inexpensive shirts and ties can also be acceptable.

The shoes though...that's where you have to spend the cake if you don't have a lot of it.

I think money spent on an umbrella is money well spent. $30-40 is all one needs. I don't need Burberry plaid or anything... but a solid umbrella that withstands a downpour, lasts for years, and doesn't invert in wind is worth every penny.

I'm the opposite for watches. If it tells time, looks good, is well made, that's all I need. I don't need status symbols. I'm not time obsessed, and clocks are so ubiquitous that if you don't have a watch it's easy to find out what time it is.

Shoes are important since you spend a lot of time on your feet, but that doesn't stop me from buying cheap ass sneakers.

Socks and undershirts take a lot of abuse, so I go cheap there. Underwear... whatever fits, and is low rise enough... brand or price doesn't matter. My underwear lasts for years.

Originally Posted by gorgekko

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I agree with you on this one. Poor quality shoes are very obvious. A cheap suit that's properly tailored can look better than it actually is. Provided you go for simplicity, inexpensive shirts and ties can also be acceptable.

The shoes though...that's where you have to spend the cake if you don't have a lot of it.

I think inexpensive shirts and ties can ruin a whole outfit, personally. I can tell a cheap shirt or tie from a mile away.

Shoes
Suit
Sportcoat
Casual outerwear
Jeans
Dress trousers
Dress Shirt
Tie
Cuff Links/Socks/Belt/Pocket Square

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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I think inexpensive shirts and ties can ruin a whole outfit, personally. I can tell a cheap shirt or tie from a mile away.
I absolutely agree (particularly when it comes to shirts), but if you have to make a concession, I'd rather do it with the shirt and tie than the shoes. I doubt most have the same discernment that marks SF and wouldn't notice a lower end shirt/tie. I went out to a bar wearing a suit last night and a woman pointed me out to her boyfriend as a way he should dress. She was looking at my shoes the whole time. Chicks dig two things, the long ball and good shoes

Originally Posted by zjpj83

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I'd respectfully diagree with the above. I think outerwear and accessories are the last things I'd drop money on. I use $5 umbrellas as I'm always breaking and/or losing them. Nobody cares if you're stylish when it's pouring outside. Not that you'll probably see anyone you know while commuting anyway. And as soon as you're indoors, all that gets put away anyway and hung up to dry anyway. If you're in a business environment - a good suit, good pair of shoes, and you're off to the races.

Hold on, zj. Reread what I wrote -- I think we're on the same page, for the most part. The decent umbrella is something to add later, not something that takes precedence over suit/shoes. And I don't advocate paying top dollar for outerwear until you've got most everything else rounded out. Too easy to pick up something decent on sale or eBay.

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

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Hold on, zj. Reread what I wrote -- I think we're on the same page, for the most part. The decent umbrella is something to add later, not something that takes precedence over suit/shoes. And I don't advocate paying top dollar for outerwear until you've got most everything else rounded out. Too easy to pick up something decent on sale or eBay.

Got it.

The answer to your question depends a lot on what you usually wear and who you are. First, if you think in terms of cost per wear, a pair of jeans can be very cheap for someone (who wears jeans every day) and excessive for another (who never wears jeans). A pair of cordovans might last a lifetime (that's what I'm told), and in spite of the high tag price, they could come up to be very cheap. Second, if physically you're average or for some reason ready to wear shirts fit you well, then you're lucky. A low quality shirt can look very good in spite of the material, the buttons, etc etc, provided it fits well. Fit is the number 1 concern. On the other hand, there are people that never looked good in any RTW shirt, mainly because of their proportions. For example, for me, most shirts are 10 numbers too baggy with sleeves 2-3 numbers shorter. After starting to wear bespoke shirts, I feel I'm never going to buy a RTW shirts again. If you want to be practical, my advice for you is to start thinking of everything basic, and depending on what you wear most, and what difference in fit it makes to you, choose the category to improve. Keep in mind that many people on this forum are not practical, and with good reason too! Remember, fit is most important. Then comes fabric, make, etc. For some reason girls look at the shoes when checking out a guy. It's stupid and it proves a lack of knowledge about clothes. When I have a good shirt on, I look good, but most women cannot see the difference in quality. They just know it looks good without realizing why. Immediately their eyes go to the shoes. I doubt they can tell much about the shoes too. Buy The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing. It will teach you a lot about how to look at the quality of clothes, at least classic clothes. --trajan

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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I think inexpensive shirts and ties can ruin a whole outfit, personally. I can tell a cheap shirt or tie from a mile away.
The advice I've heard is that tie and shirt can bring up a cheap (but fitted), conservative suit because they're the first things noticed and therefore provide the first impression. Since women apparently look at shoes first, I guess those are even more important. Someone should do eye tracking studies for outfits!