Generally, the price of clothing has a direct correlation to the quality of the product and to a higher social status.
The main draw in purchasing more expensive clothes is the idea or connotation that accompanies it. Men who work on Wall Street, for example, are judged immediately by their colleagues based on how expensive their suit is.
Wearing a $300 suit in a $3,000 suit atmosphere is not only socially unacceptable but also slightly inappropriate.
Custom-made suits are the more financially burdensome alternative to buying suits from typical retail stores such as Dillard’s or Men’s Wearhouse. The custom business is more expensive simply because it’s a more tedious and intensive process and makes for an ultimately better quality product.
Individually tailored suits are also exactly that: individual. Making a suit to fit a person instead of the other way around provides a new realm of fashionable clothing that only certain men buy into.
There’s definitely a time and place for splurging on more expensive clothes. It’s all about creating a personal and professional image for yourself.
Now, if a man’s career includes building cabins or surveying land, a multi-thousand dollar suit investment might be unnecessary. But if a man is a stockbroker or successful business entrepreneur, a nice suit portrays not only economic success and prosperity but confidence.
However, there is more to buying expensive clothes than trying to visually advance your stature.
Casey Stannard, assistant professor in the University’s department of textiles, apparel design and merchandising, said another reason consumers, and men in particular, invest in custom-made clothing comes from the desire to keep alive a classic process that not many can emulate.
“People who buy custom are really buying a piece of tradition,” Stannard said.
Not many consumers actually understand the time and effort that goes into creating a handmade sweater or socks, and those who do will often pay for the superior fabrics and quality, Stannard said.
Keeping that in mind, people do use clothes to represent status, she said. A cheap suit superficially represents a lack of economic success.
“[They] want to dress the part and look appropriate for the arena [they] are working in,” Stannard said.
While it may be easier to recognize quality in men’s clothing because of their more restricted dress code, Stannard said it may be even more difficult for women to “dress the part” because of all the options presented to them.
Most men have to worry about pants, a shirt, a blazer and shoes when trying to pick out a nice suit. Women, on the other hand, have more to work with in their outfits as far as patterns, fabric and styles, but they still have to find ways to look professional and distinctive, Stannard said.
However, there are numerous minute details that can separate even the higher end of men’s clothing samples that most don’t often consider.
For example, belts are a male accessory with a broad market, which is unknown to most average shoppers. The price of belts can often range from $20 to $300 depending on the type of materials used. Belts are also part of the custom market through personalization or inscription of initials.
Cufflinks and tie clips are also good examples for fashion splurging. A pair of cufflinks can be bought retail at about $20 or custom for $1,000. Additionally, Nordstrom tie clips can reach almost $200.
“Spending the extra money is worthwhile to certain people, but it’s always a personal choice,” Stannard said.
Of course, buying expensive, or really expensive, clothes is a financial commitment that most people find excessive and unnecessary, but there is nothing wrong with spending money on nice clothes if you have the money to do so.
Shoppers shouldn’t feel guilty for buying clothes that exemplify their hard work and success as long as it doesn’t result in fashion binging.
Michael Tarver is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Houma, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @michael_T16.