How much is too much for a top?

Callistemon

*I think it's obscene to spend that sort of money on a top*

It's obscene to spend £5 on a top made by young children in dreadful conditions then ditch it after one wearing because everyone's seen it.

Hear, hear. Cheap as chips clothes are essentially part of our throwaway society which encourages sweat shops and poorly paid workers.
If a t shirt costs a fiver, once you allow for the shop’s mark up (50%?) the wholesaler’s profit, and transport costs there cannot be more than pence for the person slaving away at their sewing machine.
I fully accept that more expensive items could still exploit cheap labour and I think we should all be more careful about what we buy and where it has been made.
But if it’s only a few quid - there is no way a living wage will have been paid to its maker.

I would spend that much on a top if I loved it, it fits well, I can get a lot of wear out of it. Over the years I must have spent 4 times that amount on cheap clothing that stayed at the back of the wardrobe

It's Trisher's hard earned money, to do with what she wants, not really our place to criticise her extravagance.

Life is too short. If you can afford it and will get your wear out of it, what's to stop you Trisher? You don't need to justify how you spend your money.
Some posters are really quite rude.

Hetty58

trisher, I don't like it as all I can see is a face - when looking at it on the right side at boob level. A yellow/gold face profile with eye, nose and mouth, looking down towards the navel. There are ears, or maybe hair on top!

Isn't it funny I see rocks and waterfalls a sort of Japanese landscape.

I think it's obscene to spend that sort of money on a top

It's obscene to spend £5 on a top made by young children in dreadful conditions then ditch it after one wearing because everyone's seen it.

I once picked up a silk shirt on an M&S clearance rail. It was originally £99, when I got to the checkout, I paid 99P!

It feels lovely on.

Trisher it’s a stunning top. If I were taller and slim I wouldn’t hesitate. Definitely a statement piece. I have a beautiful silk shirt that I wear often and feel great when I do. Friends don’t think ‘oh she’s wearing that again’ but often say ‘oooh I love you in that’.

If it is truly your heart's desire and you can afford it, then buy it and enjoy it. I actually don't like it or think it is worth the money, but your life, your choice.

I think it's obscene to spend that sort of money on a top unless it's for an important wedding ie Mother of bride or something.I don't think it's worth it !!!

For me the amount depends on the expected price per wear and/or whether it is for a very special occasion like a wedding, and what I can afford. The top in OPs photo would not be my choice for an expensive purchase because big prints do not suit me at all and I would not wear it enough. The colours are pretty though.

And - the same face is on the bum, and, it's made of silk, oh dear!

theethicalistmag.com/5659-2/

Intend to buy in the sale and usually it’s just m&s £20/30 is my usual price. I too have been cutting down and have some reduced tops that I like from m&S but knowing I’m not socialising much now has stopped me buying!

I have my eye on some beautiful wool and a knitting pattern. Together they cost £100 and I'd still have to knit it!
I bought some beautiful local yarn when I was in Tasmania; it was expensive so I only bought enough for a hat and then the pattern (a photocopy) was $4 on top. Then I was tempted by the hand made wooden needles too.
I still haven't knitted the hat! But I take it all out sometimes and admire it.

trisher, I don't like it as all I can see is a face - when looking at it on the right side at boob level. A yellow/gold face profile with eye, nose and mouth, looking down towards the navel. There are ears, or maybe hair on top!

It would reach down to my knees, and over my fingertips so No, I wouldn’t buy it. Being a shorty is a pain when you see something nice, but know that it would never fit properly.
For that reason I have always hated shopping for clothes

It depends how much disposable cash you have. To some people it would be a snip; to others completely unaffordable.

i bet she bought it. I bet she didn't. I bet it was given to her.
Advertising ? But on a different level.

Loobs

I caught the end of the Mary Berry programme last night and she tried on an absolutely beautiful dress - it looked stunning. It was in Paris and I can imagine it would have cost a small fortune but it was lovely - I would have been tempted.

I definitely agree. It was exquisite and suited her frame and colouring. I bet she bought it.

I agree with the if you love it and can afford it then go for it brigade.

I was seduced by a nightie from Toast
a few years back. It cost about £80 but truly, I have hardly had it off. It is supremely comfortable
www.toa.st/uk/category/womens+nightwear/womens+nightwear.htm

On the other hand, I paid, I don't remember but, lots for a dress and jacket for my DD's wedding. It was slightly too small, too short and although I wore it on the day I have given it to charity long-since.

I have my eye on some beautiful wool and a knitting pattern. Together they cost £100 and I'd still have to knit it!

Like many anything that needs dry cleaned is a definite no from me.If its your style and you can afford it ,why not .When I was 18 I saw a Donegal tweed skirt suit in a shop window and watched it for two weeks .My boss heard me talking about it and told me to take the cash out of the till ...and enough for a nice blouse to go with it .It was two whole months wages in 1972 .He told me to pay it back whenever I could,even a couple of pounds a week would do .I never forgot how nice he was and how fantastic I felt in the calf length skirt and green tie neck blouse ..the jacket lived for decades after the skirt went out of fashion.I would always say if you love it ,buy it .

Loobs. There was nothing under £20.000 in that shop. Mary Berry always looks very smart and now we know why.

£165 is a lot of money to spend on a top you could only wear a few times before everyone noticed!. I would prefer to spend that money on something I was going to get a lot of wear out of.

I never do the ‘cost per wear‘ sums. If it’s something you really like and can afford it then why not? I agonised over paying £270 for a dress recently but my DH told me to get it if I think I’d wear it,which I agreed with. Why not? You can’t take your money with you, as they say. And all my ‘dry clean only’ and ‘hand wash’ go in the machine. Most new machines actually have a hand wash option these days. Get it and enjoy it.

Katy1950

I keep buying plants and yarn. I'll never use all this yarn!

Quite agree Calli. I don’t go out to be part of a fashion show. If someone notices I am wearing the same outfit yet again...lucky them ??‍♀️?

I'm not a top sort of person so I wouldn't buy it but I do love dresses and am addicted to Bombshell! I watch out for the sales although they're not exactly cheap then. The styles are so flattering, the materials of the best quality and they're made in England. I don't care what they cost- I'm lucky enough to be able to buy them and I definitely feel if you like the top and it's in the budget, just get it! I will add that I'm just as happy to buy from Peacocks - they do great linen dresses for around £20 - and my daytime dress of choice through lockdown was a very pretty blue & white number from Primark.