Three Money Sucking Wardrobe Items I Refuse to Buy

black shoes that look so much like the other black shoes in my closet that I'm the only one who can tell them apart.

I don't buy shoes in colors other than brown or black - I know that they'll go with everything I have. I also don't buy trendy jeans.

When I was volunteering at a consignment sale this weekend, some of us marveled at how anyone could buy white pants for their kids. I won't even wear them myself! If I can't keep them unstained, how would a 2-year-old? 

I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.

I second the black and brown shoe idea. I've got a couple of metallic-look shoes that go with black or brown pants.

Mostly I avoid cheap shoes. I'd rather spend good money on a pair of shoes I'll wear into the ground than get a cheap pair that I'll only wear once or twice. I think you have to look at it on a cost-per-use basis. My $150 NAOT shoes are now down to a couple of dollars per use (and I've had then a year). Compare that to my $30.00 satin dress shoes that I wore for three hours once.

I have also found that, if you're going with the leggings trend, that cheap leggings are terrible. They get stretched out after one or two wears. I practically cried when I bought a pair of Danskin leggings for $25 but they have lasted me over a year of regular wear. Sometimes investments can be worth it!

I don't want to sound mean, but to be honest -
Don't avoid buying black jeans because they fade; avoid buying black jeans because they're ugly. Either wear regular blue jeans or black pants.
Just say no to black jeans.
... unless you're going to a honky tonk bar and it's 1994.

:)

Nylons used to be required at one place I had worked. I did find that some of the better designer brands lasted much longer than the cheap discount store ones. They were also more comfortable.

I gave up on nylons completely the last job I had to dress for work. I decided life was too short to spend the day strangled at the waist and yanking up pantyhose. So I would wear pants and boots or go bare legs in the summer. It made so much more sense.

I predict that durable classic clothes will make a bigger comeback as stores finally get the clue that people are not going to buy overly trendy items that fall apart days after you buy them.

Myscha, I'm totally with you on the white bras and cheap t-shirts.

And I agree with Elizabeth regarding shoes. I bought maybe five pairs of AU$30 ballet flats last year, and the ones that haven't died already are coming apart or looking tatty. What's worse, none of them have been very comfortable. From now on, I'm buying the best I can afford.

The other thing I've had problems with is cheap knits, which pill, sag and sprout holes. I'm looking at getting one or two classic cashmere pieces instead next year. Has anyone else done this? Does cashmere really last as long as they say it does if you look after it?

I still love my black skinny jeans, though, and just redye them to keep them fresh-looking (it'd be a hassle for you, Myscha, though, on the road).

Danskins tights and Danskin pants last and look good when others don't. I've been finding the pants at Walmart clearance online.
I also second the good shoes and add that I feel the same way about good purses. They last for years. I find them at resale/consignment stores, the kind sponsored by groups like the Junior League and the Symphony League. Those have castoffs from folks much richer than I. (I have a beautiful full length 100% cashmere coat that I bought for $40 at one of those stores).

White tends to get dingy, black fades. I keep my black and white items to a minimum.

I don't buy heels over 2 inches, because no matter how comfy they feel in the store, they aren't going to be comfortable all day. So I have my rule. It seems all the cute shoes are the real tall ones, so this rule saves me lots of money!

When a leg tears, but it off below the panty. do the same with another pair when a leg tears. so...now you have two panties, each with one leg of hose to wear simultaneously. I've done it for years. only works with the same color and brand.

Bleach and cold water will shift almost anything out of whites! We deliberately chose white sheets because we knew we could get menstrual blood out of them better than anything else.

I agree though I do have some white bras since the kind I prefer is hard to find so I take what I can get! I also go with a pair of black and a pair of brown "work" shoes. These go to the office.

My additions to the list:

CHEAP socks! Forget it!

Cheap Jeans--they never fit right. I buy one brand of jeans, one brand of pants. I'm loyal because they fit and wash well.

I agree with the poster who mentioned White Stag brand at Wal-Mart. Their kakhis used to be the only ones I'd buy. I also loved the Ts--they changed much for the worst. I love Targets styles, but they don't fit me right at all. Ditto Old Navy. Trying to find tshirts that aren't for men, but aren't for Size 2 Juniors!

Hi Shanon. Thanks for the product recommendation. This is such an outrageous and sadly required expense for so many women. Any information about brands that are worth the money is helpful.

Long time no hear. And congratulations on checking out of the pants scene altogether. Way to dance to your own tune!

NO pantyhose is comfortable, and none of them last beyond one wearing. I've largely given up, like other posters here, and just go bare-legged in summer, and wear pants and boots in winter. Period. (I also think pantyhose is unhygienic and not good for you, but YMMV.)

As to cashmere sweaters, someone asked:

"Does cashmere really last as long as they say it does if you look after it?"

YES, and I know this because my mother, who lives and dies by the "one or two really good items" rule of clothing, often gives me a single cashmere sweater for Christmas. I still have them all. (One year it was a bright magenta cashmere hoodie--glorious.) And the answer is yes, they have held up beautifully, year after year. They stay soft and smooth, have held their colors, and have almost no pilling. They are also incredibly warm, yet lightweight.

As for care, I don't dry-clean anything except my winter coats --and I'm still looking for a good, stylish washable alternative--so I hand-wash these sweaters in cold water and a tiny, tiny bit of Woolite, and lay them flat to dry. (BTW, my mom taught me this too.) This has kept them in great condition.

Incidentally, I do the same thing with my cheap acrylic sweaters and they do last longer than you'd expect. The pilling is the worst part of cheap sweaters.

Cashmere has various grades or 'plys', similar to threadcount for sheets, that enters into the equation of quality. the past five years or so have seen cashmere for the masses, ie. you could buy a sweater at Kohls. There are not, however, quality pieces that will last.

If you have to wear hose, you might want to try Silkies.com. I need hose for warmth and comfort. (I hate the feel of bare feet in closed shoes.) I've been wearing Silkies exclusively for about 10 years now. They have several styles of hose and they have tights, which I wear all winter. I use their regular control top kind and they are actually quite comfortable. I also get the tall sizes. I used to have to buy Q-sizes (regular sizes were too short) in other brands, but they were too big and kept falling down. Also, they last and last. I just put them in a lingerie wash bag and toss them in with my regular laundry, then hang to dry. Taken care of this way they last forever!

The only panty hose I ever wear are black opaque Donna Karan. While pricey they never, ever run and work with most outfits in the winter. I have one pair I have had 4 years and just throw in the washer and dryer. Otherwise I never wear hose. Use self tanner or in a pinch, spray on leg make up which looks beautiful if applied properly. I hate the look and feel of nude pantyhose or any pantyhose for that matter. Worst invention on the planet. This with skirts. With pants? Cute bobby sox. My thrift outfit: White Brooks Bros. Tee Shirts, Gap Jeans, discount blazer (Marshalls, TJMaxx, shopping outlets), cute sox and clogs -- mine are hand painted but Dankos are good and never wear out.