Clothes by the world’s top fashionistas and sartorial brands reverberate a certain echelon class that many aspire to reach. But is the brand worth the price?
Are clothes a waste of money?
There’re a lot of people who like to skimp on buying quality pieces of clothing, and you probably know some people like that. Whilst there is a time and a place to conduct such roundabout endeavors, it’s smarter to take on the opposite approach in your thinking when it comes to how you spend your money in regards to your clothing.
Clothing is not a waste of money, but rather it is the concept of fashion which is a waste of money if you don’t have any to spare. Funds spent on appropriate pieces of clothes that serve function and form will be the way to go, buying items at prices dictated by their purpose and production, and less on their branding factor.
There are times when buying quality clothing will mean buying items priced at higher markups, but it’s important to be able to distinguish between the items labeled “expensive” due to the brand, the fabrics used to make the actual clothing, or both.
Example of “expensive” clothes due to BOTH the brand and the fabric
This LIFA MERINO LIGHTWEIGHT HOODIE is above $100 (link to HellyHansen.com) This product is an example of being “worth the money” due to BOTH factors – the exemplary reputation of the brand and the insane quality of fabrics used to make this product.
In my previous article which you can check out here, I went over the rigorous processes used to make clothing out of merino wool, it takes a lot of effort to make this stuff, and is such a product that can serve you in both hot and cold weather. It is seriously amazing, and for me personally is worth every penny. This is as far as the quality of fabrics is concerned.
However, the brand also plays a part. Helen Hansen is a brand known in the industry of outdoor gear, clothing, and jackets. They’re much like the North Face brand. Helly Hansen is a Norwegian brand that specializes in water and mountain gear and has more experience than North Face with years on the market.
Example of “expensive” clothes due to the brand ONLY
They’re well versed in their industry, utilize incredible Scandanavian designs, and are working with a material that is known for being able to serve a multitude of purposes in different climates. The LIFA Merino Lightweight Hoodie is a product that is worth the price, due to the brand, and fabrics used.
J’ADIOR ‘LOS ANGELES’ BRACELET SET – This pair of friendship bracelets by Dior fetches a whopping…(wait for it)…$420 for two navy blue and raspberry cotton bracelets. This is an extreme example of a product that is expensive due to the brand only.
The brand of Christian Dior, A.K.A Dior is a luxury goods company famed for revolutionizing the women’s fashion industry. This is a damn famous brand that no doubt carries weight and talent behind their designs, there’s no way the embroidery is that good on those friendship bracelets to warrant a $420 price tag.
Worst Overpriced Luxury Items You Should Never Waste Money On [designer pieces not worth buying] - YouTube
Check out this video for more insight into other luxury items perhaps not worth your time.
Fun fact: The cheapest product in the Dior store is a 30 Montaigne Card Holder (crafted in blue Dior Oblique jacquard) which retails at $380.
Example of “expensive” clothes due to the materials used (and not the brand)
What do I mean? Well, a piece of clothing or clothing accessory that truly is worth every penny, even without the involvement of brands. A piece of clothing that costs a substantial amount due to the labor-intensive processes used to create that piece.
An example of “expensive” clothing is this 100% GUANACO SHAWL & SCARF by Alpaca Collections retailing at $1,790.
This is what one of the finest fabrics in the world will cost you, no matter the brand you buy it from. Guanaco fabric (from camels) is considered one of the finest fabrics in the world, retailing at $280-$400 per kilo.
Why is Guanco fabric so expensive? Well because it’s really hard to get, and production is extremely limited. The actual guanco fabric used for production only comprises 10-20% of the animal’s fleece, which means only a mere two to three pounds of guanaco wool can be harvested per adult, along with a painstaking process of downy separation.
To top all this off, most of the guanaco camels (around 85% of the world’s population) live in a single country…Argentina. And to top it off even further, due to Argentina’s severely tangled economic policies, you’ll likely never see a guanaco camel unless you fly there yourself.
Now whether the scarf itself is worth the high price tag, or if going with a full suit is a more worthwhile option (costing around $21,000), the price tag of guanaco directly correlates to the insane amount of effort it takes to produce some. No matter which brand you buy this fabric from, it’ll still cost you an arm and a leg to afford it.
Guanco fabric is an example of a fabric that is “expensive” due to the materials used themselves – even before any brand gets their hands on it to sell to you.
Check out my full in-depth article here on the most luxurious suite fabrics in the world (including guanaco.)
What clothes last the longest?
While it can be tempting to buy cheap clothing at the cost of everything else, over time this could set you back more financially than if you simply went with quality clothing in the first place.
The best clothes guaranteed to last the longest will include
Are expensive designer clothes worth it?
Expensive designer clothes are not worth the money unless the material lasts long enough to be worn often and for long periods of time by the consumer. The price increase is exponential whilst quality will remain the same, if not a little better, due to the higher quality materials used by brands, incentivized by consumer reliance on such brands.
Expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better quality, but it should.
Quora comment
Quality whilst noticeable, is hard to define, as many won’t be able to accurately articulate what “quality” means to them. The fact is no retailer or brand label can guarantee quality, only knowing what quality is can help you know what to look for.
Let’s take a look at some of the most basic and popular weave fabrics (used to make all sorts of fabrics) and see how quality can vary.
This table is from my Ultimate Guide to Suit Fabrics which you can check out here.
Many different types of fabrics will be comprised of such weave types like the infographic shown above, but the problem lies within the factories that make the weaves and fabrics themselves, often at the expense of cutting corners for cost-saving practices.
Sometimes you’ll get two products from similar brands and of the same quality, however fabric by one brand may have cut corners by using a fabric with a loose weave, meaning it would be less durable, even if both fabrics were the same cost, and of similar fabric qualities.
This goes to show you that while the brand name might have some correlation in terms of quality output from that particular brand, generally it will only be up to a certain extent, with the rest of the price being grossly inflated due to such things as the quality of manufacturer/labor hours, implemented brand premiums (Gucci can charge more because they’re Gucci, etc.), and customization (if any.)
So while that $2,000 Armani suit might be unequivocally better than that $500 suit (from an unknown brand), you 100% will be paying a TON for the Armani brand name alone, even if you could find a similar suit at a lesser brand.
Do people actually wear designer clothes/ is designer clothing overrated? (maybe write a separate article)
How to identify branded clothes?
To best ensure that your clothing purchases are authentic it’s always best to buy straight from reputable stores. However, there are a few ways to identify branded clothes to check for authenticity when shopping.
The methods shown below will not be perfect and must be implemented on a case-by-case basis, as these tips cannot be applied to every brand, but you’ll get a good idea of how to identify branded clothes for most.
- Check for washcdare: A wash care with there same brands logo will add authenticity.
- Check for logos: Look for this on trims like buttons and zippers
- Check the buttons to see if the companies name is engraved within (a very common trait among high-end brands): Counterfeits will use cheap and light plastic which will likely be unlabeled.
- Check inside of the garment seam for overlook stitches: A uniform stitch is usually a good indication of good quality. Fake items will often be made with less stitches per inch (SPI) in order to save threas.
- Look for inside threads: They should be of the same color as the garment.
- Overall workmanship of item should be neat: Few to no visible “hiccups” or strings should be out of place, espcailly the logo.
- In denims/ washed garments/ faded garments: Check inside for timing/ colour staining on labels/ pocket bags.
- Check pocket bag fabric quality: If it looks cheap it is likely then a fake.
- Check fabric mixture: If it states for eg. “100% cotton” then try and feel the softness to see if this tallies with the label (deduction will not always work but can be effective at times.)
- Spelling: This one is fairly obviosu but can be glossed over if you’re not paying attention.
- Packaging: Keep an eye out for the packaging that your clothes rest in, as finer brands will always come in finer packaging (think Beats headphones, Apple products etc.)
- Prices: If the price seems too good to be true on a designer item then chances are its a fake. Clues to notice will be luxury items that will be heavily discounted up to 75% (which brands will never do, to begin with.)
It’s one thing to buy un-branded clothes or clothes not made from designer brands, but if you do you should at least know you’re inheriting some batch of perks that comes with shelling out your hard-earned money for expensive brands. This list should help prevent you from buying any more fake brands.
How/where to get branded clothes for cheap?
These are a few places where you’ll be able to find cheaper branded items at a bargain due to their stock always changing daily.
If you’d like the FULL LIST of the best places to buy affordable men’s clothing (branded or otherwise) then check out the full list right here (link will take you to another of mine which took me 3 weeks to complete!)
1.) Ebay
Discounts between 50-80% on timed discounts, monthly discounts.
eBay average pricing: $14-$100 for most things (the bigger the fashion item, likely the more expensive it’ll be.)
2.) Poshmark (“Trailer” section of website)
Fuss-free cheap listing & selling, American commerce giant Poshmark is the place to go when you want to sell/buy.
Poshmark sells everything, watches, jewelry, bags, hats, money clips, and of course – clothes. $15 hats to $65 authentic “hexagonal classic” Ray-Ban’s (off from the standard $160 in price.)
Here is a manual on how to score cool deals on Poshmark (link will take you to ChasingLovely.com)
Poshmark average pricing: $10-$10,000 (best you just go on to their website. I promise you their site has stuff for everyone’s budget.)
3.) Nike
You can actually get cheap stuff here! They have an excellent sales section all throughout the year, and to top it off every few months they throw a crazy 25% off clearance sale. Also, you get free shipping when you sign up for a free NikePlus account.
Nike average pricing: $25-$600 (Most shirts/ t-shirts/ hoodies will be between the range of $25 and $90 – though on one of their sales, these prices can plummet!)
How much should you spend on clothes per month?
There are a lot of factors and calculators to help you out when it comes to knowing how much you should spend on clothing every month, but it can get tricky if you don’t stick to the system.
You should spend around 5% of your monthly income on clothing, which can be found out by multiplying your take-home pay by 0.05. So if your monthly payment is $3,000, then around $150 of that total would be your 5% allotment budget to spend on clothes.
Best countries to get branded clothes in
are branded clothes cheap in bangkok/thailand?
Branded clothes will not be cheaper in Bangkok or Thailand due to such issues as added tariffs and value-added tax (VAT), presumably to encourage more domestic spending. 20 out of 22 of the world’s top luxury brands come from Europe, which means the majority of branded clothes will be imported.
As great as Thai Town is for their cheap shopping, the issue of imports from by the likes of luxury goods, watches, cars, etc. – genuine merchandise from globally recognized brands will always be more expensive in Thailand.
Quality goods that stem from unknown brands (relatively) will likely be cheaper in Thailand.
This is a good rule of thumb to note. For all of the West’s faults in price hikes for movies, food, and entertainment – they make up for in generous price differences when it comes to branded goods.
Asia does not produce luxury brands, but rather consumes them (being the biggest consumer of such products, along with the Middle East and Russia.)
As an Asian, this thought slightly irks me, though it’s true. And this fact is unlikely to change much any time soon, and there are many factors contributing to this.
Why Luxury brands will never be cheaper in Asia as a whole
European brands benefit from the historic association with qualities essential to luxury brands such as precision and craftsmanship. Other countries within the same area (or country) benefit from this via a “halo effect.”
Also, the success of European brands near to each other (Rolex in Switzerland, Chanel in France, Prada in Italy, etc.) will imply to consumers that other luxury brands within the same area will be able to draw from the same talent pool, thereby delivering products of comparable quality.
This is the reason that until Asia catches up by producing their own local luxury brands – luxury brands (generally speaking) will always be more expensive in Asia.
“Asian consumer’s own skepticism about the quality of native brands would seem to be the biggest barrier to the region producing its own luxury brands.“
Translate Media
One of the few Asian brands that have managed to achieve the status of international luxury is renowned fashion house, Shanghai Tang. Part of their success has been drawing from Shanghai’s 1930’s past, suggesting that Asian luxury brands still need to find authenticity outside their current market, in order to be perceived as premium.
Are banded clothes cheaper in Dubai?
International branded clothes will be (slightly) cheaper in Dubai compared to other places as Dubai is a tax-free port. There are also many government initiatives in place to encourage tourist shopping such as events and constant sales going around the city.
Dubai is a place where everything and nothing is both expensive and “cheap.” And by cheap I don’t necessarily mean “Thai prices” cheap, but in comparison to places like London and Pairs, you’ll likely find a better deal for branded clothes in Dubai with very little markup.
Appropriately given the nickname “shopping center of the world”, Dubai by design has been made to sort of lie in between the East and the West, with influences designed to cater to…pretty much everyone.
Dubai is made to entice tourist spending – and their prices (comparatively) will reflect that, even if only slightly.
When it comes to Apartments and living quarters – well that’s another conversation entirely.
Are branded clothes cheaper in Turkey?
Branded clothes are a lot cheaper in Turkey than in other parts of the world due to the currency conversion rates of the Turkish lira when compared to stronger currencies like the Euro or the American dollar.
Luxury brands are a lot cheaper in Turkey and is said by many to be the “cheapest place in the world for shopping” thanks to such things as the strengthening of the dollar and the depreciation of the Turkish lira.
This may not be the best for Turkey’s locals, who naturally hope to come out on top from their afflictions caused by the current economical “J-curve” situation (whereby less valuable local currencies who suffer initially from import prices, eventually benefit from the attraction of having goods at lower prices.)
Cheap currency =more costly to import foreign goods (i.e. branded clothes), but the attraction of branded clothes being cheaper in local currency= more tourists will come to buy the imported goods= a steady and balanced trade curve.
That’s the hope anyway.
So until this happens you’re better of coming here to take advantage of their cheaper deals on branded clothing.
Help their economy why don’t ya *wink wink*.
Can you resell branded clothes?
You can legally resell branded clothes regardless of the brand without any repercussions. This act of reselling can become an issue within the “grey area” if such profits from reselling are significant (thousands of dollars) and/or if the supply being sold exceeds a “vast amount.“
To put it plainly you can easily resell 1 branded t-shirt on eBay with no problems, but if you try reselling 200 branded t-shirts on eBay – well that’s when problems could arise.
If you resell branded clothes just like that then it would qualify as being under normative fair use, as you’re not misleading as to the source of the goods. But if you decided to use the manufactures logo to advertise any products you’re selling (misleading customers), well…in that case, you would need their permission.
Remember these are general rules with a lot of dangerous grey areas you may stumble in if you misstep your bounds. So trudge carefully fellas.
“The future is decided by someone’s merits.”
Elite (Netflix)
You needn’t spend hand over fist to look preppy and posh (like the kids from Las Encinas), though it’s no harm to get a little cheeky with your wallet if you save enough to warrant the splurge in the first place.
At that point, if your need for a certain style serves a function of some sort, then who am I to stop you dead in your tracks?
Stay Rogue.
