# The most you've ever spent on a SINGLE article of clothing **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935 "2002-03-30T16:27:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/41 "2002-03-31T09:13:34Z")
Man, I don’t have any stories that come CLOSE to these. When I moved up North for a few years I got a wicked coat that cost (at a guess) maybe $150, but that was a gift from an extremely wealthy relative. I think I might have paid $60 for a pair of shoes once. Suits don’t count, but I have to share this: I have an Armani suit that I got for FREE. A friend bought it for $3 (that’s not a typo) at an estate sale because he wanted the BUTTONS from it for some reason, and I’m his friend who is closest in size to the suit (I’m an uncommon size for a guy, at least among guys I know: 5’10" and about 145 lbs.), so he gave it to me. $30 to the tailor and I am looking FINE in those threads. ---
**Author:** ![reoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@reoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reoch)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/42 "2002-03-31T13:12:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nymysys \* > \*\*I _do_ do that sort of thing still. > > Single largest ticket price: $1,000 for a pair of pants. It was definitely a splurge, but they fit me perfectly, I feel great in them and I’ve had them for at least three years and still wear them all the time.\*\* I’m sorry but I STILL can’t get over the fact that you spent a 1000 bucks on A pair of pants…I wouldn’t take it off if I spent so much on a pair…😃 As for me, a 150 bucks Nike Basketball shoes is the most I spent…now that I look back at it…stupidest purchace I’ve ever made…sheesh… Reoch ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/43 "2002-03-31T13:24:45Z")
1000 for a F#%#en pair (really only 1) of pants! The most expensive thing I can think of is ski boots which was around $450. Other then that about $200 for gortex ski parka. Excluding wedding dresses it looks like expensive clothes falls into 2 catagories - high fashion and high performance. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/44 "2002-03-31T14:48:41Z")
£110 (down from £150) on my long grey wool winter coat. (so that was $157) £80 on a satin corset. Almost everything I have cost under £50. I buy a lot in the sales. I have a Tufi Duek skirt reduced from £110 to £40, a half price Ally Cappelino suit, and a lovely leather jacket from H&M at only £40. Forty quid is my lucky price for good labels. I also have plenty of nice items that cost under a tenner apiece. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/45 "2002-03-31T14:53:20Z")
I was going to say my wool/tweed sport coat at about $140 in 1984, but my folks bought it for me for high school graduation. I still wear it - I need to put some patches on the elbows, though. The most expensive clothes I bought for myself? I guess that would be the work boots at $125. When it comes to clothes, I’m really cheap. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/46 "2002-03-31T15:43:16Z")
A bit off the topic, but I was glancing at the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED swimsuit issue, and I was amazed at how expensive the swimsuits were. How about $200.00 for a few square inches of stretch nylon-probably the most expensive garments you can buy! ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/47 "2002-03-31T16:35:23Z")
Probably my Year 11 formal dress, which came to around $800. It was made to my measurements - $250 was for the labour and the material was around $500, with zips, and other things making up the rest. It’s an absolutely gorgeous colour and cut, but I haven’t worn it since. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/48 "2002-03-31T22:28:36Z")
Nymysys Please note that if you want to fully exploit those $1,000 pair of pants, take them to a tailor and have a pattern made out of them. That way, when the pants finally wear out, you can have more pairs made out of any fabric you choose. I must admit however, that the sticker price made me sit up and notice as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/49 "2002-04-01T00:03:13Z")
$200 for a wedding dress. (clearance rack. Add about $60 for fittings) $120 for birkenstocks (worth every penny) $25 for a bra ( I’m usually a el-cheapo bra gal but after two kids, the ‘gals’ needed something to help them maintain their perkiness. One good bra is worth three so-so bra’s.) ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/50 "2002-04-01T00:22:14Z")
$800 + $50 for fittings - wedding dress (that’s AU $$, so halve it) ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/51 "2002-04-01T00:31:45Z")
My wedding dress only cost (counting the veil) $125. It was Italian velvet and a friend of mine designed it for me. My most expensive piece of clothing (that I paid for, well, Mr.Silky and I _both_ paid for) is my floor length, Scandinavian red fox fur coat. It originally was priced at $8800. They had some kind of sale going, and it was marked down to $4995. I kept walking by the store, hundreds of times, then walking in and trying it on. Somehow or other, I got them down to $3600. When Mr.Silky finally went in to buy it for me (this went on for months, I might add) furs were going downhill in a big way, and he got it for $2800. He gave it to me for Christmas, and had it inscribed with _To Stacey Love, Mike Christmas 1989._ I still have it. Living in Alabama, I average about once or twice a year wearing it, but it is the most gorgeous coat in the world. And the costliest piece of clothing I will **ever** own! ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/52 "2002-04-01T01:28:43Z")
I put shoes in a separate category - you don’t go cheap on your feet. The most I’ve spent was $240 a few years ago on a pair of Allen Edmonds. They were worth every penny and lasted me through almost daily wear, until middle-age-spread hit me feet-first. My most recent work shoes were slightly less expensive: Ecco CityWalkers at about $215. Wonderful, marvelous things. Other than that, a year and a half ago I spent $150 on a Joseph Abboud sweater. It was incredible on me - blue that made my eyes look like ice. But it shrank at the dry cleaners and has pilled rather badly. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/53 "2002-04-01T12:57:07Z")
$180 for a pair of Kenneth Coles. Worth every penny, since they’re the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/54 "2002-04-01T13:04:12Z")
My wedding dress was $80 and change because I only had to pay for materials; a friend’s mom made it. I bought a dress for a reception or something back in 1990 that was $90 and it looked fantastic…it has since vanished. I spent $40 on a pair of shoes last spring. Uhh…I think in the last 6 years I’ve spent less than $200 TOTAL on clothes for me and my three kids combined (other than those shoes) (thank you, hand-me-downs and thrift stores), so lately even a $15 pair of jeans seems pretty extravagant. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/55 "2002-04-01T13:48:31Z")
Hmmm…does 250 bucks for ice skates count? No? Well, then it’d be 150 bucks american for a black Italian cashmere sport coat the was 50% off it’s 300 dollar price tag. Someone bought for me a 300 leather jacket, but of course this thread is about what I bought. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/56 "2002-04-01T14:43:19Z")
Wow! And I thought I was high maintenance! 10 years ago I spent $300.00 on a cashemere winter coat. Oh Man! It is beautiful. The lining just started falling apart last year. I will probably have it relined just because I love it sooo much. And it’s warm and soft and pretty. Shoes, now I don’t mess with shoes. I gotta be comfortable. My purple suede Bandolino’s at $80.00 wore really well. (I’m gonna try to get one more season out of them.) I bought some dress sandals last year for a trip to our corp. office in Seattle, $115.00 for dress sandals. Not comfortable, not practicle, and now gathering dust, but I was not gonna wear cheap shoes to a dinner at the owners house. Fashion, she’s a cruel mistress. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/57 "2002-04-01T16:45:48Z")
Fifteen years ago or so I used to wear boots. I would treat myself to a new pair each year. I believe the most expensive were my gators and ostrich, at @ $500 a pair. The rattlesnakes were only $300 or so, and the lizard, eel, and pony, elk, etc. far less. I generally treat my feet pretty well with Docs or Birkies. And I wear my footwear until they wear out. My favorite coat is an Eddie Bauer down-filled leather bomber. I believe it was around $350. Several years old and just getting better. I wear it all the time when it is below 50F (which in Chicago can be pretty much from Sept thru May!) Is jewelry excluded? I wear only my wedding band, a Timex Ironman, and a gold hoop in my left ear. But **Ms. D** can put on several grand in stones. She has a 1 carat plus solitaire that I recall was around $8G 5 years ago. And for her b-day in June I’m planning on dropping something around $20-25G for a 2 carat in a setting she really loves. Heck, I don’t do enough drugs anymore to support terrorism, so I might as well do it through the diamond trade! ---
**Author:** ![Aleq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@Aleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aleq)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/58 "2002-04-01T17:52:11Z")
Well, I paid about $300 for a dress in Paris, but I guess that doesn’t count because it was a skirt, top and jacket. Besides, it was drop dead cool and I’ve yet to see a dress even remotely like it and I bought it fifteen years ago. So I guess the record holder is $140 for a pair of Birkenstocks that I’ve been wearing for six years now and sometime in the next couple of years I suppose I ought to have them resoled. Second runner up is a pair of Zodiac boots that I paid $110 for and they’re now twenty years old, have been back in fashion several times and still look like new. Quality counts… 😃 That’s why I always check the labels at the thrift store, heh heh… ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/59 "2002-04-01T18:31:14Z")
Well since we’re doing jackets an such the most I’ve ever spent on one thing would be my Aerostitch riding suit. It’s one piece and cost around $800. Best thing I’ve ever bought. The next expensive thing would be my leather jackets, two of them at 300 each. Then a pair of motorcycle boots at 250. Most everything else costs around 30-40 bucks. I always buy my jeans on sale, but I don’t like buying the cheaper golf shirts at Wal-Mart, they never seem to last so I pay good money for nice shirts that last for a good 4-5 years. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935/60 "2002-04-01T20:32:39Z")
I have a pageant dress…totally sequined and altered to fit my then 36/24/36 frame ☹ that cost about $1200. After that it would have to be my Prada skirt–$750. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-youve-ever-spent-on-a-single-article-of-clothing/100935.md?page=2)