When you realise that something has to change, you decide to transform your life and level up. But with that, there are lots of areas to work on.
What about your wardrobe? This, too, needs a change. If you want to look elegant and classy, you have to purchase certain clothes. But the sad thing is that these clothes cost a lot.
If you persevere in your levelling up journey, what is more important. The cost of a garment or the value that it will give you in the long run.
Levelling up cost a hell lot of money
Levelling up cost, time, and money. And to level up, the first thing is to show the “outside world” you’re working on yourself.
This begins with the transformation of wearing differently. You look to more elegant and classic garments with a feminine touch.
But the issue is, when you want to purchase a garment that looks elegant and sophisticated, you’ll find this in a price range you didn’t expect.
What to do now?
Buying the garment that cost 2000- euro’s or go for an “affordable” alternative. And most of you will still choose the last option. Why spending so much money on a garment.
Is it worth the money?
Why you should go for value
We think that “affordable fast fashion” garments are best for our wallet. But the truth is that you’re your own thief of your wallet.
Bare with me! I don’t say that you all have to spend money on designers clothes.
Not every lady in her transformational, levelling up journey has to earn that amount of money to look elegant.
And you don’t have to be an entrepreneur or a CFO to look elegant and classy. The thing is you can purchase a lot of high-quality garments that are “affordable”.
I know everybody’s perception of “affordable” price is different.
For some of you 275,- euro is reasonable and for another 1500- euro for a blazer or any other garment you purchase.
Which one would you buy?
The question is not the cost, what you spend for it, but look at the value of your garment.
Don’t be a thief of your own wallet
How I look at a garment when purchasing this. What is the value this garment will give me in the long run? If I spend 1500- let’s say on a blazer.
How many years I will enjoy this.
Well, I hear you thinking!!
Why should I spend 1500 euro on one blazer, while I can have each year a new blazer for, let’s say, 275- euro?
Totally understandable. I feel you.
We don’t sometimes realise when buying a garment for 275- euro each year, you spend more than 1500 euro over 8 years. Instead, when buying a blazer for 1500- euro and this extent for 8-year. Totals saving is around 700- euro’s over those 8 years.
Are you still going to buy the “affordable” one?
The difference between value and less valuable garment
The value that you get out of the more “expensive” blazer is the durability spread over the years. The quality of the blazer is of a much higher standard. These blazers are designed with 100% natural fabrics like wool, linen or a blend of both.
Depends on the fabric choice, these blazers are fully interlined which makes them solid and structured.
This extends the longevity of the garment because it holds the whole fabric to its place.
Most Linings you’ll find in the high-end price range are from natural fabrics, just as silk which has more value.
Semi-synthetic linings are cupro and viscose lining. So often, you will find natural linings in garments, like cotton.
Embellishments just as buttons, (belt) buckles and so on are primarily from naturals sources.
What makes these garments more “expensive”?
These garments are more detailed, by using different cutting techniques. This makes each garment unique in its own way.
Cutting on the bias is one of the techniques, meaning more yards of fabrics are needed. The garments have mostly seam allowance to make adjustments if needed. The stitches are of a regular length, so your clothes can’t come off quickly.
These little details make a garment valuable.
Buying fully interlined “affordable” blazers is way too intensive. this ain’t going to happen.
First, they have to cut the interlining and then iron this on the fabrics. This whole process is too much work. So to cut the cost, they skip this part, or they use low quality interlining. This makes the garment less structured.
The task of the sewers is, cutting the fabric and sewing this together. The only interlining you’ll find is on places where this is necessary.
Fabric choices; are often a blend of man-made with artificial synthetics or natural fibres. The sad thing is these synthetic fabrics are not biodegradable, which is bad for the environment.
In fast fashion, clothes are made in a split second, without love for the design or the garment.
The length of the stitches is so large. To make it much cheaper and efficient, garments are sewed on a serger/overlocker—there no room for seam allowance. Meaning when your garment is too tight, you can’t make any adjustments.
Then you have the cheap plastic-ish buttons!!!!!
Polyester and acetate are the most common lining you’ll find in “affordable” garments. This to cut the cost.
Buyers are cutting the cost by outsourcing the orders to Third World countries. Garments made in these countries you’ll find in the low-price range.
There are two options in the mid-price range to cut the cost.
Manufacturers make semi-finished garments in third World countries.
After that, they dispatch it to Europe.
When arriving in Europe, the little less to do is adding some (horn) buttons made of Buffalo or other embellishments.
With these little additions, manufacturers claim that they make these garments in Europe.
Like Made in Italy, instead of Made in China.
The second options are that the garments are fully sewn in Europe. But to cut the cost somehow, they use synthetics primarily to finish a garment. In coats, you’ll often see polyester linings or acetate a semi-synthetic. The buttons are marbled acrylic named Faux horn buttons.
It doesn’t matter at some point. They have to cut the cost to make the garments “affordable” for us to buy.
Shopping idea’s that add value to your garment
To find high-quality clothes is by looking at small details in a garment. Interlining you’ll never see on the outside of a garment.
But trust me!
In fast fashion garments like blazers or even coats, you’ll hardly find fully interlined.
Purchase garments that are lined with silk. Or choose a mid-range quality lining like cupro or viscose.
Go for 100% natural fibres or a blend of natural fibres.
Always look at the labels inside the clothes. When shopping online, read the product details. Look for natural fibres. These are biodegradable. The best thing for the environment and the extension of your garments.
To look elegant and polished in the long run, classic pieces will always do better. You can enjoy this many years after you buy it.
When paying attention to these little details, I assure you will find high-quality outfits that are “affordable” for you.
Conclusion
Your levelling up journey / transformational should be easy when it comes to buying garments. By just looking at small details and knowing what to look for, you can find high-quality, durable clothes that last for years.
If you find a garment that you love but has, for instance, a polyester lining.
Don’t worry. You can always change this by visiting a tailor or seamstress who can help you fix this “issue”.
Win-win!!
Buying high-quality garments add more value to your wardrobe in the long run.
By reading this, are you going to shop differently yet adding more value to your wardrobe? What are the most important things you’ll look for?