this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024
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I'll go with shoes and clothes (not the work kind)
That does not mean that I'm going out to buy the cheapest I can find. I just mean to say that I don't buy expensive ones.
And my definition of expensive is $100+ I always make sure to not spend more than $50 on a shoe or any item of clothing (shirts, t-shirts, shorts, jeans)
There's a famous example of the poverty trap that uses boots that fall apart every season vs quality boots that last, and I think there is a quality level that is so bad it's more expensive in the long run. So I do buy shoes that cost money. But I'm not buying fashion shoes or luxury brand shoes which I think is what you're saying too.
"The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. 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. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots thatβd still be keeping his feet dry in ten yearsβ time, while the 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."
Yeah, you don't want top of the line, but you don't want bottom of the barrel, either.
That's exactly my point as well. I've got a pair of shoes that I got for $40 around 5 years ago and I still wear them everywhere.
For men, or for women?
A well made pair of shoes will last far longer than a cheap pair. And a besboke pair of shoes is a treasure, more comfortable than any trainer and absolutely capable of outlasting the owner.
It matters with T-shirts, as well. It's harder these days, with online shopping driving down the bottom line, but a T-shirt made from quality fabric and good stitching will also last longer than a cheap one.
Price makes a huge difference in men's suits, as well. Again, fabric and stitching at the most basic level, but tailoring, custom, or bespoke has a massive impact on how comfortable it is, and on how good it looks.
Now, women's shoes and clothes? Maybe you're right. With fast fashion and a larger influence of branding on price, you may be right. Although, here there are exceptions. A quality jacket or overcoat - like mens' jackets - will look better and last longer than a cheap one.
Many people do pay a premium for branding alone, and there I agree with you: that's not worth it.
My point was about myself actually. I didn't mean to generalize to any group as much.
Also, I do agree that super cheap t-shirts don't really last very long. And my point wasn't that I'd buy t-shirts only if they're under $5. But rather that "I'm not spending more than $50 on a t-shirt".
Yeah, this is all subjective, for sure. And I agree that there's a sweet spot for cost for almost any product: under a certain amount, it's going to be really crap quality; and over some amount, you're probably just paying a premium for branding.
Bespoke boots are amazing especially if your foot width is out of the norm. Very few brands have width options. But I have 2 pair of boots (one pair tall, one pair below the ankle) custom to my foot shape and size and they fit so well. I expect them to last, though I expect to replace the sole several times.
Absolutely!
Having a set of footwear that you can replace the soles on is incredible. Not having to "break in" a new pair of shoes is fantastic. Knowing that you're not only contributing to craftsmanship, but also greatly reducing your landfill contributions is priceless.
I wish I could buy cheaper shoes. I have fairly wide feet. I've only found one pair of shoes for under $100 in the last 15 years that even fit properly. If I buy cheap runners the sides blow out in less than a year. On the other hand, I bought a pair of dress shoes for about $200 over 15 years ago which would look a lot better if I gave them a good polish, and the only real problem is the rubber soles are getting worn out.
My problem is the opposite, my foot is about as narrow as they get. I can get runners that fit (but laces are always pulled nearly as close as possible), but boots are impossible except from the custom boot companies, though my dad's 1960s leather navy boots for me fine - I guess they sized width and length
If you want to keep those dress shoes, you can get them re-soled. They'll be good as new!
They really only need a new outsole (?), and I have thought about it, I'm just not sure if it's worth the effort. They still look okay as long as you don't see the bottom of the soles, and it really only affects me when I'm on slippery surfaces.
When I typed that out, I realized I could get them resoled with something that has more traction and they would be better than new.
I had a pair of leather sole dress shoes. I wore the soles out enough and had them re-soled with rubber. Best solution ever
Incidentally we have the word "revamped" meaning renewed. That comes from shoe repair, where the vamp of the shoe is replaced
I'm lucky in the sense that I'm bang on average. So most off-the-shelf stuff fits me good enough.