Things you SHOULD or shouldn't spend extra money on

[SwedishFish]

Don't cheap out on the bag/briefcase. Nothing worse than seeing an otherwise well-dressed person with a cheap, black nylon messenger bag slung over his shoulder. A classic leather or canvas bag without any branding or other tacky details is the way to go.

 

[gorgekko]

Originally Posted by likeitaloud

[T]ell me you would not enjoy when someone says something in the lines of "this suit looks amazing on you what is that a Kiton? I see you really know quolity clothes."

You bump into a lot of Kiton salesmen?

 

[likeitaloud]

lol no but I don't really know many other prestige suit brands.

 

[mmkn]

Since I respond the most to colors of clothing (even more than fit), my most expensive and regrettable purchases in the learning phase have been clothes that do not enhance my colorings.

I either don't like wearing the item, or don't take it out from the lineup often.

-M

 

[whiskeylaureate]

Originally Posted by swiego

I suppose some of the people here are secret agents who need their Lobbs to survive fast-paced pursuits on foot of criminals they tried to arrest at the gala event but got away.

Finally, somebody knows my pain.

 

[Biscione]

Shoes.

Great shoes enhance any outfit, bad ones have the opposite effect. Also, I've never seen shoes at a low retail price that looked particularly good; the price difference tends to be very evident in how the shoe looks and feels.

 

[Fortysomething]

Originally Posted by gorgekko

Which is probably the biggest problem with this forum. Granted, we are a self-selecting community and most of us are apparently willing to spend what other people view as ungodly sums of money on clothes and accessories.

I realize I'm walking out on a ledge here but it's relatively easy to look good if you're buying a suit at Oxxford -- if you're there, buying that sort of quality, it's unlikely a tailor is going to let you leave the place without the necessary alterations. Contrast that with the reality of someone buying at a low-end men's store where all sorts of rules are broken by the time a man leaves the store.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here but perhaps we need to be a little more tolerant of the "low end" and help those without the resources for high end still look as good as they can.

At any rate, my answer is accessories -- most people need to spend more on them.

+1, at least. Some people come to the forum looking for things they can do on a limited budget. It would be nice to have advice for those who can't plunk the cash that others do.

 

[Robwynge]

Nobody has mentioned dress pants, so I think I will. Pants are underrated in my view. They have a huge influence on your silhouette. I think they can be more important than suite\\ jackets and shirts. I rarely wear my suit jacket or sport coat around the office. And once one finds shirts the fit well (I like Mytailor.com), a cotton shirt is pretty much a cottom shirt, beyond a certain point.

Get nice pants that fit you well, even if they cost more. But look for sales - Style formum sellers and internet sellers like Shop the Finest, Virtual Clotheshorse, and eHaberdasher have been very good to me in the pants department.

I also second the idea that leather goods deserve more love - and cash. Shoes, wallets, and even belts. Maybe people don't notice belts, but *I* notice what I am wearing.

 

[sammy]

Until recently, I would have agreed with those who've opted to cheap out on socks. But this past year, I've purchased a number of pima cotton Marcoliani, Pantherella, and just received some merino wool Falke socks that feel and look fabulous. My feet really do feel pampered. A nice pair of socks can really add panache to one's personal style. Case in point, check out the "Rock your socks- show your sock, shoe & pant combos" thread:
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...ght=rock+socks

 

[upnorth]

i normally don't spend alot on umbrellas because a) i misplace then all the time and b) borrowed umbrellas are never return.

Also cuff links, expensive pens and pocket squares.

 

[yfyf]

Originally Posted by Biscione

Shoes.

Great shoes enhance any outfit, bad ones have the opposite effect. Also, I've never seen shoes at a low retail price that looked particularly good; the price difference tends to be very evident in how the shoe looks and feels.

+1

 

[Flambeur]

Very interesting thread.

 

[niwawa]

thing I will pay a lot:
Watch (my hobby, 60% of money go)
dress shoes
dress shirt
leather bag

I don't care for the rest.

 

[metkirk]

Things worth paying extra for:

Haircut
Suits
Shirts
Shoes

Things not worth worth selling my kidneys for:

Accessories

Although when I'm rich I don't think I'm gonna care that much anymore. $750 cufflinks, sure, why not? If it looks good to me and I can afford it without burning a hole in my pocket, I'll buy it.

 

[Geoff Gander]

Originally Posted by metkirk

Things worth paying extra for:

Haircut
Shoes

+1 Definitely it's worth it to spend what you can reasonably afford on shoes. having finally tried EG I can confidently say I notice the difference in terms of comfort, look, and fit.