FJ readers share the most they’ve spent on a single fashion item

“Do I regret it? No. Would I do it again? Also no.”

If you’re as online as we are, you might’ve noticed that Kylie Jenner was the latest guest on Jake Shane’s podcast, Therapuss. And, like us, you might’ve also heard Kylie talking about her tradition of exchanging bags with her mum: “Christmas? Birien. Birthday? Birkin.”

For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.

Of course, not all of us trade in Hermès bags so casually. However, it did get us thinking about the most we’ve ever spent on a single item. If the Jenners are proof of anything, it’s that ‘expensive’ looks different for everyone. From luxury designer pieces to a really good op shop find, these are FJ readers’ biggest investment purchases.

Sunny*, 27, she/her

I spent $750 on my engagement dress and it was absolutely worth it. It’s a piece I’ll keep forever and hopefully pass down one day. I felt so beautiful in it, and it was made by a designer I loved and admired. At the other end, I spent eight dollars on a vintage Prada bag from the op shop. Golden find.

At the end of the day, it’s not the price tag that makes a piece valuable. It’s the feeling that it gives you. If you love and treasure it, it doesn’t matter if it was one dollar or $1,000. It’s priceless.

Katie*, 27, she/her

It’s not very chic but I bought a jacket from Patagonia around five to six years ago. It was around $600 from memory, which is crazy to think about now. I ended up selling a few other jackets to fund it. To be fair, it’s still in really good condition and I’ve gotten plenty of wear out of it. But I don’t think I’d spend that much on a jacket like that again.

My least expensive item was a four-dollar black leather bag at a super random secondhand sale out in the Eastern suburbs.

Marnie*, 28, she/her

All up with lenses, I got my frameless Miu Miu glasses for just under $1100, and they are absolutely worth it. I agonised over them for literally two weeks before taking the leap, and I wear them almost every day, which is saying a lot as someone who’s been wearing contact lenses almost exclusively for the last 16 years.

They’re the first glasses I’ve owned that actually feel chic and cool, and since they’re technically a medical-slash-fashion device, I will always recommend choosing the more expensive glasses if you love them.

Kel*, 29, she/her

I accidentally bought a Kenzo hoodie for $750 at Guangzhou airport. I wore it for years until it stopped fitting me.

Lily*, 31, she/her

I don’t think I could bring myself to spend over $1,000 on a single item. I’m fairly sure the most I’ve spent was $850 on a trench coat from New Zealand label, Penny Sage. It’s a full-length cut in a beautiful bronze-khaki cotton drill, such a classic. I bought it during the Covid lockdown in 2020, where I went on quite the online shopping spree (I was doing my bit to support local!) and I still wear it all the time, six years later. The cost-per-wear must be pretty low now.

When I was in high school, I bought a pair of Jeffrey Campbell boots – black suede and stacked with heavy bronze buckles, like the ones you’d see on ski boots. This was my first really expensive fashion purchase (about $400, I saved up with babysitting money) and they got held in customs, so I had to pay an extra $250 just to get my hands on them. They were worth every penny, though. I wore them into the ground.

My least expensive purchase was a one-dollar bright, poppy red shirt from the op shop. It looked really great with the khaki trench coat, actually.

Flynn*, 27, he/him

I spent $400 on a pair of black Frank loafers from Sebago. I was searching for the perfect pair for a while and they nailed the brief. I’ve had them for just over a year now and after a few months of wearing them in, they’ve earned their keep.

The cheapest purchase was a recent one – a purple long-sleeve shirt with perfect proportions for a steal of five dollars, found at Second Sails Opportunity Shop in Apollo Bay.

Anjali*, 25, she/her

I spent $160 on an authentic Valentino bag at an outlet shop in Milan.

Cecilia*, 25, she/her

It was approximately $500 – and totally worth it! It was a secondhand Burberry coat that I had been looking for for around four years at the time of purchase. I err on the side of spending less, usually to make the bigger purchases feel more worthwhile and meaningful.

Bianca*, 34, she/her

My most expensive purchase was around $700 on a pair of custom-made boots. Unfortunately, they started to fall apart after the third wear, so I won’t be doing that again.

My cheapest finds have been a free (bootleg) Chanel T-shirt, a Cambridge sweater and Lee jeans from a housemate’s generous friend. I met him coming home from a jobseeker appointment at Centrelink, so I was especially grateful for the free clothes.

Ally*, 52, she/her

I spent a little over $750 on a vintage Fendi baguette as a gift to myself on a milestone birthday. Do I regret it? No. Would I do it again? Also no.

Sienna*, 31, she/her

I spent $1,500 for a second-hand Loewe cushion tote. It was questionably worth it since I love the style and it’s endlessly wearable, but the canvas material gets dirty easily and, being an intricate luxury piece, it is costly to clean.

In complete contrast, I’ve also spent five dollars on a thrifted blouse, which is also endlessly wearable and was a perfect fit without the need for tailoring. Arguably, it’s more valuable than my most expensive piece since it’s one-of-a-kind!

I somewhat regret my most expensive purchase. It was an instance of online retail therapy during the Covid lockdowns. While I do love it, it’s an expendable piece in my wardrobe, style-wise.

*Names have been changed for privacy.

For a closer look at the value of a luxury designer bags, try this.