What on Earth!!!

We have The Times and I'm always aghast at the price of the clothes and accessories in their fashion articles. Some of the items would pay for my whole wardrobe.

The Sunday Times Style magazine is full of weird and wonderful clothes and accessories at astronomical prices (and lots are POA). I can’t imagine who would want them or could afford them. Or perhaps I would rather not think about who could want, afford and would buy them - probably hedge fund managers’ ladies and trust fund girls. At least there’s plenty to interest me in the remainder of the newspaper and its supplements. I’m happy in my jeans and jumpers thanks.

Most youngsters will await the look alike in Primark and similar shops I expect.

Emilia Wicksteed is a high end fashion designer like Stella McCartney, of course her ckothes are expensive and there are plenty of well of people who can afford her clothes.

That has always been the case since clothes cost money. having these expensive clothes in magazines enables one to see how the high fashion design is trending so that, if you like them you can look for less expensive clothes that follow that type of design.

POA + Price On Application . This probably means something that will be made to fit and may be available in a range of fabrics and price depends on what fabric you choose and what embellishments.

I like looking at these expensive clothes, their tailoring and lines are so impeccable.

I always enjoy reading them and the Times Style. I’ve seen something on Instagram where people (only seen women so far) are stopped in the street in NYC and asked about their outfit and the prices. They reel off literally thousands for single items in the outfit they have on, topping it off with say a $60k watch for example, or some other very expensive accessory. I find it fascinating though I couldn’t imagine walking around with £90k worth of garb on. But if that’s your life it’s what you are used to and normal. I feel I’m splashing out when I buy from Boden rather than white stuff or fat face.

Since I started buying better quality clothing, my total expenditure on clothes has gone down. The clothes last longer and because they are expensive I take better care of them.

I was looking at those figures for what income is needed for a 'minimum', 'moderate' and 'comfortable' retirement life style. Income for each group defined as new basic state pension, twice that amount and three times it respectively. The annual clothing expenditure is given as about £450 for those on the minimum income level to £1,500 for those living 'comfortably.

Despite being in the 'comfortable' group income wise, I do not think I have ever spent £1,500 on clothing in a year, or anywhere near that amount - and I am someone who cares about how I look and the impression I make.

I buy some things online/ from catalogues particularly for the grandchildren. I know that these companies "sell on " names of their customers to other similar firms. I am amused to open brochures marketing sweaters etc ( alpaca, don't you know) at £400 a pop. What on earth could I have purchased which makes the marketing department think that I would buy these garments I wonder??

£695 is relatively cheap for a Mulberry bag.

Ridiculous price for a jumper - they all go bobbly eventually , whatever the price

Ridiculous

I have more important things to spend my money on! (Not that I have very much to start with!)

People who have that kind of money to spend seem to live in Kensington and Chelsea. (TV series); Kensington and Chelsea: The Royal Borough Ch 5, 4 episodes. Fascinating stuff. How the 1% (or whatever) do live.🤴🫅

Out of reach for all but a privileged few like the Royals.

If you like those mega expensive clothes, there will almost certainly be a pattern and fabric the same or very similar. Dust off that lonely sewing machine and get cracking!

Some people will save for months or even years to purchase a designer handbag or an item of clothing from a designer’s collection.

Once people have paid their due taxes it is up to them what they spend their money on.

My weakness is designer (ethical) handbags, they last for ever. A much better investment than a £9.99 bag from Primark (or similar) which will be in landfill within a matter of weeks.

Grantanow There are a lot of wealthy people in this country who can afford these clothes. These companies would not stay in existence if they could not generate enough sales.

There are 8.8 million people in this country with incomes in excess of £1,000 a week (£52.000 a year) This is individuals not households www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-11894303/Where-does-income-Britains-earners.html.

I must admit most extremely expensive clothes, even if I could afford them, I would find morally repugnant to buy...same with cars tbh. To wear or drive such expensive items when so many do not have basics strikes me as wrong.

I drive an expensive car which I have owned for 17 years. It does not strike me as morally repugnant or wrong. I give generously to charity but don’t consider that I also have to live as though I were on my uppers.

I'm afraid if money was no object I would be buying £400 jumpers.

www.shetlandknitwear.com/product/fair-isle-jumper-traditional-shetland-black/
shop.purdey.com/products/cashmere-fairisle-falcon-crew-neck-sweater-in-kestral

fairislewithmarie.com/bespoke-knitwear/

www.shetlandknitwear.com/product/fair-isle-jumper-traditional-shetland-black/

I particularly love "all-over" Fairisle.

I really don’t object to people buying expensive clothing or vehicles if they can afford to. I, personally, cannot afford to spend the amounts mentioned upthread on clothing, but if I could, I probably would, and I certainly don’t begrudge those who can, from doing so.
There will always be people in this world who are very wealthy due to one means or another (either inherited or through hard work or both). The only ones I would like to see have their wealth removed from them are those who get it from drug dealing, illegal arms trading or other such dubious means. Otherwise, if people have it, let them spend it however they wish.

Not for me NotSpaghetti. I liked good clothes for work, things that made me look the part and stood up to travelling - but now my lifestyle is jeans and jumpers I definitely wouldn’t spend that sort of money on a jumper, but enough for it to be likely to last.

If you are making clothes out of fabulous fabric it will inevitably be expensive if priced next to a cheap fabric. Anyone could tell if they looked and felt them.

Quality (and short-run) fabrics can be £100s a metre, and more.. Bespoke has its own costs.

Hand woven fine cloth (silks for example) may take weeks to weave any quantity. Hand made lace likewise. You are often paying for someone's time - not just the name.

My daughter spent 10 working days hand-beading some court shoes for a show for one of the "bigger" names for example. If you don't want slave labour it needs to be paid for and will be reflected in the price. I expect those shoes vostok an arm and a leg.

Doubtlessly designer clothes are a little more exclusive , but I suspect there is an element of 'What can we get away with?' when deciding on a price. I have relatives who think nothing of paying hundreds for a handbag, but then perhaps those with a very high income don't see such prices as lavish - or a rip off! I have a level of resistance; if able to afford a certain thing, but feeling it to be stupidly over priced, I don't buy it. Germanshepherdsmum I also drive a very old, expensive car - but of course, it has proved to be a cheap car as the cost per year is going down as time passes, and it rarely needs a repair.

"vostok"! No, - "would cost"