How much would you pay for a coat?

escaped

I'm coming back as a handbag designer!

I will join you 👜

Maybe that’s why my daughter-in-laws are so nice to me 😹😹😹

Over the last decadeI spent so much time in Spanish markets and never spent more than 25€ on a handbag but I don’t blame GG for her affordable indulgence!

I once paid £120 for a stunning ivory raincoat but it worked out at less than 50p on a cost per use - I gave it to a charity shop after it went out of fashion but wish now I’d altered it into a more up to date style.

I'm coming back as a handbag designer!

Claremont

I could spend 400 on a coat- perhaps. Actually, no, I dont think so. On a handbag? No, absolutely not- whether I could or not afford it. I find is obscene.

How much would you be prepared to pay for a handbag?

I have one which cost four figures 16 years ago.

It is in pristine condition, still with original dust bag and receipt.

It is now worth three times what I (DH) paid.

I could spend 400 on a coat- perhaps. Actually, no, I dont think so. On a handbag? No, absolutely not- whether I could or not afford it. I find is obscene.

How much would you be prepared to pay for a handbag?

Doodledog

I'm sure there is a parable from economics or politics called something like 'the good boots theory', which means that a good pair of boots will last for years, but cost a lot so a poor man can't afford to buy them, and instead buys cheap ones which wear out quickly. Over the life of the rich man's boots the poor man has to buy several pairs, which cost him far more in the long run. It is used to illustrate that poverty can deny the poor 'sensible' economic choices and keep them poor.

The same applies to coats.

Yes, that's the 'Vimes Boots Theory' from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
"The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. ... A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. ... But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet."

I recently bought a coat for a special Christening, (well all Christenings are special actually!), but I'm not saying the price. It is made from virgin wool, which comes from the first shearing, so is very soft and warm. It also has some angora in it. It was made in Serbia, and the wool was dyed in Italy, so I think I've got what I paid rather dearly for. I've not long retired, so it will have to see me out. My dog walking coats are ancient.

I'm sure there is a parable from economics or politics called something like 'the good boots theory', which means that a good pair of boots will last for years, but cost a lot so a poor man can't afford to buy them, and instead buys cheap ones which wear out quickly. Over the life of the rich man's boots the poor man has to buy several pairs, which cost him far more in the long run. It is used to illustrate that poverty can deny the poor 'sensible' economic choices and keep them poor.

The same applies to coats.

A sale bargain for less than £100 about three years ago, a long black duvet style coat from thought. Love all they do.

I once spent silly money on a mohair dressing gown from France. However here it is still worn daily after 27 years. It is so cosy and classy and I love it. Not so expensive after all but I really had no idea it would last this long. A treasure indeed.

When friends mention that they’ve seen something expensive but feel guilty for buying it I say, can you afford it ( it’s always yes)
I say to them: Get it and forget it.

Wyllow3. Check your Seasalt labels. I too thought my wool sweaters, tee shirts and 2 waterproof coats were made in the UK.
But the coats are made in Vietnam, the sweaters in Bangladesh and the tees in India.
They are still lovely..but not made in Cornwall as I did think once upon a time.

Barleyfields

If you don’t buy cheap clothes you can save money for better ones. Buy well, buy once. Buy cheap, buy twice (at least). So many people seem to buy a lot of cheap clothes. Just stop and save the money for something better. You won’t regret it.

That's all well and good, but says something happens to your only coat and you desperately need a new one. You may not have any option other than to buy a cheap one. Most of my clothes were very cheap and have lasted me for years. I'm currently wearing a top I got from Matalan which is older than my son, and he's 30 this year. I will literally wear things until they are falling to pieces.

A good winter coat ,I suppose between £100-200. But look on ebay or other such sites. Two years ago I bought a wonderful Loden coat, practically new for £80. from eBay.

If you don’t buy cheap clothes you can save money for better ones. Buy well, buy once. Buy cheap, buy twice (at least). So many people seem to buy a lot of cheap clothes. Just stop and save the money for something better. You won’t regret it.

The problem with that is that you have to be able to afford the 'good' coat in the first place.

crosstitchfan
I am lucky enough to be able to afford nice things but would never spend that much! Why would I when there are plenty of lovely coats about that are much cheaper.

Thats the problem, if you want a good quality 100% wool coat, then it is going to cost a lot. There are not any available at lower pices. I have several quilted coats/jackets, which cost substanatially less than £100. One of them I have had for well over 15 years, but I do like, and want one good quality coat and it was a shock to me when I went to buy one this year to find how much the price had shot up.

But one is in a quandary, buy something really low price and it could be being made by sweated labour or children working 60+ hours a week in China or Bangladesh., alternatively the quality can be so bad, it only lasts a year or two. A new cheap coat every 2 years costs as much as one good coat every 10 years.

Here's hoping for a long and healthy life for your coat.

My last winter Coat was £ 40.OO from Asda, it lasted 5yrs before looking a little thin and worn around the edges .In December I bought a new winter coat from M& S for £90.00 I hope it lasts a long, long time. I haven't suddenly become wealthy, I had a big birthday and was lucky enough to receive vouchers and cash which enabled me to buy it. It's the best coat (and most expensive )I've ever bought. It was a shock to see it at half price in the post-Christmas sales but when I realised they only had sizes 6+8 left I felt better. I've not been that size since I was in primary
school !

GrannyGravy13

Cabbie21 I have a weakness for handbags, I am fortunate that I can afford them, I also drop very unsubtle hints to DH, leaving pictures of bags I have an eye on.

Would I buy one on vinted or eBay? only if the provenance was indisputable.

No disrespect intended , Granny Gravy as your hard-earned is yours to spend as you see fit, but one thing that has struck me as absolutely barking in the past roughly 20 years is the price some people are prepared to pay for handbags.
e.g. £4000 for a "a handbag"(Lady Bracknall voice🤣😘).
Who pays thousands of pounds for a handbag ......
😕 ??????

I like the colourful clothes from Sahara but they are very expensive. Two years ago I popped into their sale and bought a half price top for £64 ! I have worn it time and time again and don’t regret a penny of it.

I like quality coats, own many. Price is not a deciding factor, I know we're lucky in that regard. I'm quite careful, result many are ancient.

I'm less and less interested in clothes as time goes on.

As long as I put something on, and it goes around me, I don't even look at myself, these days.

So, no point at all paying for anything fancy.
An anorak will do.

In the past I have paid quite a bit for my coats and have long 3/4 and short coats of various colours - but all cashmere and wool. Consequently I shall probably never need to buy a coat again!

I do however, buy what were walking the dog coats and now just walking coats 😥.

My latest one was a padded red/brick corduroy from poetry.

I am really in the market for a wet weather waterproof. Haven’t really looked much though.

I hate being fleeced for over-priced "quality" items, be it clothes or anything else. (And no, I'm not a Yorkshire woman, I'm from London, argh, hold up the garlic!) If I have spare cash I try not to fritter it away. And why tell someone how much a thing cost? Is that a kind of my-thing's-bigger-than-your-thing kind of boasting, or what?