Ehh. I kind of do both. I think cheaper pieces have their place, for sure – I’ll go to H&M or Forever 21 if I want to try out a particular style and see how it looks on me and how often I wear it before committing to a more expensive version. Also, sometimes you just want something you can wear once, like to a theme party or something, in which case a cheap item obviously makes sense.
But more expensive pieces are really the better investment, naturally. The thing is, they don’t have to be expensive if you get them secondhand, which I frequently do. People are always impressed that I have such a big collection of cashmere sweaters, for example, because cashmeres are usually at least $200 each – but it’s just because I go to a vintage shop in Kensington Market every year and buy a couple sweaters for $30 each, or I watch eBay auctions carefully, or I get hand-me-downs from friends and relatives.
The one thing I absolutely believe in spending a lot of money on is footwear. You will be straight-up miserable if you’re wearing shitty, cheap shoes. I have boots and shoes by companies like Dr. Martens, Michael Kors, and Minnetonka for a reason – they’re good quality and can stand up to reckless activities like taking long walks in Canadian winters and dancing in mosh pits.
One of my personal philosophies about buying clothing is that you should always consider the “cost per wear.” If you’re spending $200 or more on a dress you’re only going to wear once (with the exception of perhaps your wedding dress or prom dress), that sucks. I spent $90 on my anti-prom dress, but I’ve worn it on other occasions as well – and I bought it specifically so I could do that. I chose a dress in a color and shape that I wear regularly in everyday life, so it could be incorporated into my everyday wardrobe. It’s such a rush to be able to do that!
Sorry, this kind of turned into a big long ramble. Basically, to summarize, I believe in buying high-quality pieces when it’s financially feasible for you, and I believe it’s best to invest in things that are timeless and can be re-worn over and over.