What are some clothing items that are best to spend more money on? And which, are worth saving money on?

I am a shoe snob, so I always go for expensive shoes. Today I am in Chicago agonizing over a pair of Burberry black patent gladiator platform sandals. They were $770.00, now they are only reduced to $450. I couldn't justify it even I love them to death. I walked around the city, trying to find something similar for less money. There are so many copies, sadly, I couldn't not stand the copies, since they all look a bit cheap comparing to the one I love.

Fabulousnobody, I can not wait to see these shoes! I totally agree regarding spending more for shoes. If your feet hurt, it is reflected in your mood.

I save money on casual wear - tshirts, jeans, shorts, etc. Wal-Mart sells the best T's for next to nothing. The fabrication is heavy enough to hide your underpinnings, yet light weight enough to layer and be comfortable. Sunglasses are another area where I save - I loose em constantly, so why pay $200 for a single item that I know I'm gonna have to replace within the week.

Genise - you are lucky to live in Atlanta (my home town), they have a lot of mid market stores , which sell excellent quality merchandise at good prices. Belks, Kohls and you might also try the Merchandise Mart. Most people don't know this, but the Mart is open to the public Monday thru Friday and you can buy name brand everything from clothes, jewelry, shoes, and furniture at wholesale prices. Might be worth checking out. Wear comfortable shoes if you go cause it's 5 or 6 floors of shopping nirvana.

Cool!! I will definately check out the Mart!

I agree with both fabulousnobody (spend on shoes) and Dsptchkity (save on casual wear).

Since I live in a place with hot--115 degrees and up hot--summers, I don't have to spend much on my summer clothes. I find cute basics at Target and other places.

But, even my town has chilly winters. I think it's generally better to invest some money in boots and coats. Usually, spend more money on winter items--especially winter items in dark colors. For bright-colored winter coats, you can get something more trendy and inexpensive. I have a maraschino-red coat with a fake-fur collar that I bought cheaply. If I get tired of it, I won't feel guilty for donating it after a few wears.

Another fun thing to save money on is costume jewelry. The costume stuff from Macy's and other places looks great and is fun for awhile.

Still, put away some money for finer, more-meaningful jewelry, too. I have stuff that isn't trendy but makes me feel confident when I wear it.

I try to spend more on basics (and shoes!) and less on trendy things. Studded t-shirt? Trendy, therefore cheap. Wool pencil skirt? Classic, spend. Also try to spend more on things I wear more. Good pair of jeans I'll wear once a week? Spend. Cocktail dress I'll wear once every 2 years? Cheap.

I make most of my own jewelry so I tend to save quite a bit on those accessories, but I don't skimp on my fine jewelry. A good piece of jewelry is an investment, and can be passed on generations if cared for properly.

I wouldn't want tell anyone how to spend their fashion budget - that's a very personal choice, based on lifestyle and occupation, and I can think of exceptions to any recommendation. Price is no guarantee of quality, and you can splurge or save on more or less every class of clothing there is, and still make mistakes at both ends of the scale.

However, I can think of two areas where it's worth spending a bit extra:

1. Shoes. You just can't fake a good pair, and if you look after them, they'll last you for years.
2. A really good bra that fits you properly and flatters your figure. Not a sexy one, but something to wear everyday. It can make a huge difference to how your clothes fit, your overall posture and your confidence.