The High Street or High Priced Debate
I am constantly at war with myself. As a student I am stereotypical; my diet is lacking in any sort of decency, I spend vast amounts of time sleeping, an hour and a half lecture is justification for 3 hours ‘napping’, I experience productive rushes at silly times of the night and my level of disposable income is disappointingly small. What’s more, the little I do have is more often than not spent on cider – on this note I would like to point out that I am a country boy, so I only drink cider and only the good stuff, so it is expensive. But being a chap with a keen interest in fashion and striving to dress as the archetypal stylish gent would, this leaves an almost laughably small amount of money with which to purchase desirable new threads. Thus is the question raised; should you wander down the high street or should you spend that little bit more?
As you are most likely an eager, fashionable gent, who is intent on looking good, it would be fair to say that the dilemma of choosing a suitable shopping establishment is not one restricted to me alone. I would in fact go as far as to say that it is one of the most important considerations when constructing that perfect wardrobe; so it is imperative that you get it right. I am also quite sure that given the adequate funding, we would all completely forgo the high street and dash off to the nearest Selfridges – or in my case Savile Row – but unfortunately, this is not the case and thus the issue remains.
The Argument For The High Street
Price is undeniably the high street stores greatest weapon. If price is the biggest influence on our choice of shopping establishment, then for the majority, the result must be obvious – you go for high street. A £7.99 polo from H&M becomes a very attractive prospect when you consider the Ralph Lauren equivalent can be anything up to £70. When you have very little money it suddenly becomes a clear cut choice; you get more clothes for your money. As the majority of fashion consumers are typically the younger generation (an often cash strapped consumer base), making the most of your money is the key to any shopping success. And with stores in almost every major town and city these companies offer great availability, flexible pricing and a huge amount of choice right on their doorstep.
In a world where individuality is the name of the game, variety certainly is the spice of life and variety is something high street stores have in spades; from basic tees to knitwear, shoes to accessories, they offer almost everything. They mix up their styles, colours and material to create unique lines that appeal directly to the target audience, reflecting the independent and experimental nature of fashion. They focus much more on the current trends and have a very strong connection to the catwalks and high fashion; meaning their collections have a very progressive nature, once again giving a younger generation that wants to play around with their style a lot to work with.
An interesting point to also consider is the actual layout of the store itself. Many high street brands focus on maximum stock, minimal design – all helping to allow variety – but the higher end stores appear more interested in the architectural appearance of their shop floors with a great deal of focus on placement and presentation, which begs the question – how much does it affect our attitude? Or how much should it affect our attitude?
Branding is also very much a player in this choice and it is closely linked to the issues surrounding fashion snobbery or stereotyping. As I have discussed before in my article on brand association, whom or what we associate a particular brand with has a very big influence on whether we decide to invest in them. Putting aside the age old adages, it can be as simple as people who shop in Primark etc stereotyping those that shop in higher end stores or vice versa or because you don’t like the brand itself, the way it is run or it’s company values.
In this instance my pet hate is the Abercrombie & Fitch family, but I am less concerned with the people than the actual company itself, which I find appalling, and the clothes it produces, which (personal opinion) are hideous, mostly because of the overbearing logos. This can easily be avoided by sticking to brands like Topman, H&M and River Island because they offer fairly anonymous clothing that shy away from any particular branding or logo – very important if you wish your outfit or wardrobe to remain neutral and timeless.
High Street Focus:
The Argument Against The High Street
However, there are of course downsides to these high street shops and they are nearly all directly linked to the things that make them an attractive choice. First and foremost there is the issue of quality. The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly rings true. It would naïve to think that the brand name didn’t have an impact of the price of an item (just look at apple) but even so the quality of your clothing is closely linked to the amount you spend. A cheap polo from any of the high street names will be made of cheaper material, using less refined production techniques and subsequently won’t last as long as one from Fred Perry for example.
Now, whether quality is of particular consequence is entirely up to you but it is worth bearing in mind that a cheaper polo will look and feel remarkably different to a more expensive one; the fit won’t be as good, colours may fade quicker, they will be more prone to shrinkage (or lose their shape) and this could ultimately make a big difference to the overall look of an outfit.
High street brands are very popular, there is no getting away from that and we can see from the reasons explained above why that might be, but this popularity does come with its problems. Certainly, they offer a great deal of variety but because so many people use them, overlaps do occur. Because places like Topman and H&M are so focused on trends and selling the latest items, they create an environment where a lot of people will buy the same clothes. Everyone knows the Topman stereotype and has probably raised their eyebrows at the number of people they see that dress in exactly the same way, a problem exacerbated by high street stores.
This is not to say that the higher end stores don’t suffer from a similar problem, despite their price or image differences they will produce similar items to those available on the high street – but because of the slight differences in design and the improved quality they will stand out. This focus on trends could also lead to a lack of high quality, timeless and classic items because they are pushed out by the need for new designs and the next big thing.
Designer Focus:
Conclusion
It is clear then that there are strong arguments for either side of this issue. High street stores offer shoppers a great many things; variety, low price, a strong affinity with trends and the catwalks and the avoidance of branding, but they also suffer from problems stemming from exactly those things. In the end the choice is subjective, you must decide what you look for in your clothes, what you wish to achieve with them and what would suit your style best.
Personally I feel that my style, or what I aspire to, is best served by investment in timeless and classic key items so I tend to stick to higher end stores (hence why I spend more time wandering around rather than buying). I look for quality and cut rather than quantity and choice, looking to create a capsule wardrobe that will provide stylish looks for years to come.
But now it is time for your opinion:
- Where do you shop and why?
- Do you agree with the arguments I have made in this article? Can you think of any others?
- What do you believe to be the most important factor in choosing where to shop?
- Are certain pieces of clothing more important to spend good money on than others?
- Should your choice of shop make a difference to an outfit?
- Do you believe that the choice of brand does make a difference to an outfit?
Let me know in the comments below.
Will
Hey, I enjoyed the balanced nature of your article and I agree with both sides on this debate. What is interesting for me is that having spent a year in England, being surrounded by such places like Topman and Harrods, there is a stark contrast to the stores that New Zealand has on offer.
In England, I loved Topman because of its modern, stylish attitude. Harrods also offered a rare glimpse into the high-end world that NZ is not accustomed to. So when I returned to NZ, there weren’t any shops that offered both. This made me rekindle my love for second-hand clothes because you can pick up some genuine beauties for half the price. I recently bought a good quality trench coat, which had a great fit and reminded me of Burberry, for a mere NZ$42.00 (Around 20 quid?). Although it needs a bit of TLC, with some sewing and mending there, and the quality may not be of a Burberry standard, I’ve got a good quality piece of clothing for half the price!
I would describe my wardrobe (and style) as a mixture of Topman (and ASOS, which I love because of the free shipping) & second-hand. Therefore I think it’s important to stick to those set-places that really capture your inspiration. I love the cheapness and quality of second hand stores, because you get a sense that people invested in these pieces once and you’re doing them the honour of continuing that investment. On the other hand, I am mindful of being too cheap, thus I’m fully aware of the trends that Topman or H&M have to offer.
Overall, the your choice of shop relies on your taste and style; these, I believe, are the two most important factors for truly fashionable men. Once you’ve chosen, your outfits will speak for your decisions.
As a note on vintage and second hand, providing you haven’t picked up a cheaply made American or Chinese import (not true vintage) then buying vintage clothes can be great way of finding high quality clothes. Manufacturing techniques were much better meaning clothes lasted longer.
I’ve taken a liking to these articles as they bring up worthwhile points to debate over. Well done!
I used to be a predominantly high-street shopper but have lately been making forays into higher end stuff. This is either the result of increased understanding of my personal style and choosing items based on other qualities besides price (i.e. All Saints is expensive, but I have yet to find anything that fits better for me), or just plain boredom with the trend-chasing nature of the high street.
Personally, the most important factors regarding where to shop are whether it looks good (to me) and whether it fits good. The latter is especially important since even the most expensive, rare or amazing clothing will not look good if it doesn’t fit right. So nowadays I don’t really care much about which shop my clothes come from. This approach also adds more variety to a wardrobe compared to patronising one shop.
Certain items of clothing definitely warrant greater investment than others, and knowing when and on what to spend money should be a skill that every stylish person has. For me, outerwear and footwear are the two categories that deserve more spending, since they are important factors in daily comfort and style.
A great article! As someone who’s been a student for 4 years and is in for a 7 year year stint I definitely relate to the budgetary woes you opened with! Personally I have found that the best thing someone can do is mix and match and know who you’re buying from.
For basics I’m definitely a highstreet kinda guy, all my casual t-shirts, jumpers, lounge wear are from easily available stores but only ones that are tried and tested! For example I can’t shop at Zara because their sizing just doesn’t work with my body, where as Topman will make something slim enough and long enough to fit my lanky frame. When going cheaper it has to be the best fit I can find. However to really lift highstreet clothes I think you have to have a bit of high end. I ALWAYS spend more on shoes, jeans, suits and accessories. Shoes are going to last longer when you pay more and trust me, you’ll be surprised at how many people notice your shoes. Again jeans last longer when you pay more and, in my opinion, usually fit better which is really necessary seeming as I wear some sort of denims most of the time! Suits is a no brain-er and accessories will give a more individual twist to your highstreet gear.
I don’t think where you shop or what brand you wear makes an outfit. I think having to work with a budget can force you to be more creative and always remember that if you find a 2nd hand bargain can be altered by a good tailor if it’s a bit big. I think most of the time it’s making good with what you’ve got and I think it’s attainable, where ever you shop there is always the risk you’ll look exactly like someone else so you have to make an outfit your own.
P.s. It’s nice to see someone talk out about A&F, I’ve never seen the attraction and always been looked down on because of it!
Topman has become the new JJB
I mix, but as I am younger and am not earning (Will be soon!!) I have to base my decision on price; which sometimes overalls quality.
I tend to go for a mix of Topman, River Island and sometimes H & M, although I do have some, very few, items from Higher end stores which I usually wear on important occasions. Although I am swayed by price, I don’t feel the need to give in to the constant advertisement of the ‘next big trend’ and like yourself, I look for items that I like that possess something individual. I prefer creating my own look, and I enjoy wearing things that might be in fashion but do not come with the annoyance of others wearing the same items too. Often I find myself looking at the ‘get the look’ pages on River Island in particular and taking pieces from them and using it as inspiration rather than a generic look. I also agree with your points on brands like A & F and Hollister, I hate them as they are ugly and boring, another favourite to hate for me is Jack Wills, and I have never purchased, and never will from any of these stores because everyone wears it!!!
** I forgot to add that although I may choose price over quality for my day-to-day clothing and dress up events, for things such as sixth form and occasions in which I require a suit, I always pick fit and quality over price. I tend to stick to higher end stores for these, although they may not be designer, I prefer that I feel good and look good in an expensive suit and shirt. One can really tell a cheap from expensive suit, and no one wants to look tacky when they’re trying to look their best, do they?
my favourite shop is definitely Yves Saint Laurent and Viktor & Rolf. Their clothes epitomise style and sophistication and you can’t beat their quality. H&M and topman are not a scratch on the style and quality offered by high designers.
Some similar ideas then! It’s good to see the mix of shops being used. In my experience, buying cheaper clothes, even the basics aren’t worth it, t shirts in particular shrink a lot, hence why I am happy to spend £20 or more on even just basic tees. That said I do still have a grey cardigan from h&m that I love to bits and still wear loads, even though it must be 4 years old now. You do occasionally find some real gems.
As usual everything depends on your personal preference.
Keep the comments coming guys.
It is good to shop a bit of both.
For example, I would rather pay 10 dollars for a plain v neck t-shirt of any brand than five times more for a Ben Sherman that’s exactly the same.
For more particular and special things is good to buy from a quality brand.
Great article! I’m trying to build a timeless wardrobe, but buy cheaper alternatives until I find exactly the quality piece I want. I’ve been given and bought quite a few second hand clothes, like a levi’s denim jacket for £12 from ebay, and if they don’t fit well enough then I just adjust them with a sewing machine.
I’m a single dad on a low wage, so while I’d love to consider buying high-end clothing for their longetivity and quality, I simply can’t. So rather than buying by trend, I buy what suits MY trend.
You answered a lo of questions already in this article. If you want to follows trends, or are thinking of purchasing something that you are likely to stop wearing in the next year or so, then it is obvious that high street brands are the ‘go-to’ choice. If you prefer to maintain the same style, with relatively few modifications now and again, then it is probably better to invest more money on clothes that really define your own style.
Personally, I do go to high street shops more often than branded stores, and sometimes I find it very hard to justify the price of a lot of brands. Sure, it’s business at the end of the day for those major brands, but I really can understand spending £80-£100 on clothes because of the branding. Some of these clothes probably cost £20 to make.
There has be to be a line between high-end high-street fashion like Fred Perry, All Saints and G-Star Raw and the real designers, such as Viktor and Rolf mentioned above. The latter often epitomise timeless style in the quality of the clothes. The same cannot be said for Topman, who’s chino’s often fall apart. Staple items, like chinos and basic tee’s will never go out of fashion, inevitably saving you money when you spend £30 instead of £7 5 times in 10 years (at best).
Couldn’t agree more on the A&F shout. There is little more irritating than a man in baggy checked shorts, white rubber flip-flops and an A&F t-shirt.
Great balanced article on the whole, really enjoyed it!
Over the last year or so I’ve been trying to embrace the whole timeless capsule wardrobe idea. It has to be the ultimate goal for any self-discerning man. It is tough to marry an interest in clothers and fashion with that policy though. I still find myself sidetracking too often and acquiring items from the high street that would be better spent on a single higher end item a couple of months down the line. It’s often about being prepared to just window shop for extended periods which is tougher than it sounds. It requires a quite militant discipline.
In Sweden we dont have many high street stores only like hm. So can anyone recommend some good clothing sites? With good prices?
Try mywardrobe.com they will ship overseas but it is quite expensive (about £16) or Asos, you just have to do a bit of searching.
Give Reiss a go for affordable, high quality items.
I love the first few sentences. So much like me. Amount of time not studying more than the time allocated to do so.. :)
TKMAXX is heaven.. you can find some really stylish high end stuff for uder 100£. Last year i found a lovely Dior blazer and fiting shorts for less than 200£. Or last week bought Patrick Cox shoes for 69£. Everytime you go there – you find something. And all Tkmaxx stores sell different stuff. Love them.