Fashion Fridays, Kuel Life Thought Leader: Tracy Gold
When to invest in expensive clothes isn’t always obvious — but learning how to tell the difference between a smart purchase and a regret can change your entire wardrobe.
When is it worth buying an item you really love that comes with a higher price tag? And when can you get away with a cheaper version? I want to help you avoid the high-price-tag, massive buyer’s remorse moment so many women experience.
Your body has changed, and you decide to go shopping because nothing fits the way it used to. Maybe you start with jeans. You try on a ton, and most of them are terrible. Finally, the heavens open, and you find the perfect pair. The fit, the fabric, the way they flatter your shape, they’re fabulous. Then you flip the tag and see the price. Of course, they’re the most expensive pair in the store. Now what?
You could skip them, try “similar” cheaper ones, and end up with a pile of meh jeans. Eventually, you might circle back to buy the expensive pair anyway, but now you’ve spent even more. I see this cycle all the time. So how do you decide? Let me share the approach I use for myself and with my clients.
Know What You Want:
The jeans story I just told? That was me. I tried on around 30 pairs for research, and most were a disaster. When I finally found the pair that worked — high-waisted, wide-leg flare, tummy-friendly — I knew they were special. Cheaper options didn’t fit the same. I didn’t even pay full price (I have my ways), but even at a higher price point, they were worth it because they matched exactly what I needed.
Consider How Hard It Is to Find:
Sometimes the deciding factor isn’t the price tag, it’s the hunt. Jeans that check all the boxes for my shape are rare. I could thrift $20–$40 pairs, but they don’t cut it anymore. I need more from my clothes as my body changes. When an item is truly hard to find, and it works for you, it can be worth paying more.
When To Invest In Expensive Clothes That Flatter Your Body Shape:
This might be the most important factor. Sure, I can find jeans that “fit,” but finding ones that flatter my changing body is another story. Out of dozens I tried, only one pair delivered. For you, it might not be jeans. Maybe it’s dresses, especially wrap dresses, which so many women struggle to find in a cut that actually works. That’s why I designed one with extra wrap. Yes, it’s higher-priced, but one well-fitting dress that flatters beats three cheaper ones that don’t.
Does It Suit Your Personal Style?
Trends come and go. Skinny jeans, anyone? But when something speaks to your personal style, it’s worth more. For me, the wide-leg flares hit my 1970s vibe perfectly. They’ll stay in my closet because they feel like me, not just because they’re “in.”
Do You Care About The Label Or Just The Look?
This is where you get honest with yourself. If the label matters, you’ll want the real thing. If not, a good dupe might be enough. I’ve done both. For example, I own shoes that look like Stella McCartney’s but aren’t — they were in my budget and they work. Later, I invested in a real pair of Stella boots, but I didn’t pay full price. Both choices made sense for me at the time.
Put It All Together:
Let’s take those Stella boots as another example. Did I know what I wanted? Yes, dark chocolate platforms for fall layering. Are they hard to find? Absolutely, especially in my size. Do they flatter my petite frame and elongate my legs? Yes. Do they fit my personal 1970s style? Completely. Do I care about the brand? This time, yes. So the investment made sense.
Here’s the bottom line: if an item is hard to find, fits and flatters your body shape, suits your style, and you’ll actually wear it, then spending more can be the smarter choice. But if it’s just “okay” or only about the label, skip it. Your closet deserves clothes you love, not piles of regrets.
Watch the full video below to see these tips in action.
Did you enjoy this article? Become a Kuel Life Member today to support our Community. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your expert content delivered straight to your inbox.
About the Author:
Tracy is a Menopause Style Expert, Fashion Designer, and Show Host. With two decades of experience in styling women of different body shapes and sizes, along with her personal journey through perimenopause, she founded Tracy Gold New York. Recognizing the profound effect clothing can have on a woman’s body image at midlife, she developed this brand, which offers a fun and customizable collection designed to adapt to a woman’s body changes with style. Need some help discovering what works for your body now https://tracygoldfashiontips.com/
