How much money do you spend on a new wardrobe?

[echo_artist]

For me, I'm broke 99.9% of the time, I DO in face give my clothes away and if you guys are in the NJ area, I'll give you some when I find them in my room. ^_=;
There's a store in my town that I can buy 5 shirts for under 8 bucks. So I do most of my shopping there. They're not like American Eagle, but they damn sure look like something!~

[MaryXYX]

Most of my clothes shopping is in charity shops.  My largest one time spends were the equivalent of USD 530 on two bras and a pair of inserts and about USD 335 on three dresses and a pair of shoes.

[JLT1]

I go full time at work in two weeks.  I'm a technical person who is close to the top of the technical ladder.  I need to look "professional".  Good stuff on sale is running close to $200/outfit.  I need a minimum of 5.  I got a good start on everyday stuff for $400 or so.  I figure 2K should get me going well.

Hugs,

Jen

 

[Alainaluvsu]

I have a lot of clothes. I also have quite a few cis friends (and my mom) who have given me all their clothes they no longer fit or do not want, or in my moms case, bought me a bunch.  Don't be shy to ask! Girls love to offload clothes that they don't wear anymore. I'm guilty of it too, and have given quite a few to some of my girl friends.

[Kimberley Beauregard]

As I currently live with my parents, I'm saving up.  About two thirds goes towards another account leaving the rest to sort out snack money, a bit of weekly cash towards my parents, gym membership, phone bill and some additional spending money.  That goes towards lady stuff and the occasional canvas painting.  I spend quite a lot on makeup.  Bras and shoes are costly but I don't need many and boy shorts are reasonably cheap.

[MaryXYX]

Hey!  What's wrong with charity shops?  That's where most of my wardrobe comes from and women compliment me on my style.

[HoneyStrums]

I have wasted so much money, on clothes ill never wear. (Because I though it would be good)

I at first wasted money because my throw it out I'm supposed to be a man attitude caused a lot of stuff I liked to go to waste.

But since coming out less as been wasted. I still buy things I think Il need but guess what, just when I think I have enough,
(The seasons change)

So summer clothes I have enough of, but once autume comes around I'll need more practical footwear, and coat.
Then probably again for winter, can re use autum for spring. ish.

But yes too much on nice things, not enough on practical things.

[immortal gypsy]

Too much not enough
Work is an issued uniform and all I supply are pants or jeans pending on the location
Day to day one place pays me cash not into the account so every time I earn $1k from that place,  (about every three weeks) I buy few more things.

[Ms Grace]

Mostly Target for clothes - cheapish but stylish enough to get compliments from other women who are stylish. I've spent a few hundred, maybe a grand, over the last few months (including accessories and underwear) but I'm mostly done for now, I have enough clothes for most situations. Not that I can't do with more! Most of my $$$ has gone into shoes and boots.

[Hikari]

Mostly Target for clothes - cheapish but stylish enough to get compliments from other women who are stylish. I've spent a few hundred, maybe a grand, over the last few months (including accessories and underwear) but I'm mostly done for now, I have enough clothes for most situations. Not that I can't do with more! Most of my $$$ has gone into shoes and boots.

Target has surprisingly stylish clothes, I remember working at target when the First Lady of the United States came in and bought some clothes from a certain target on my side of the Potomac. I mean if it is good enough for Michelle Obama then it is more than good enough for me.

[Eva Marie]

I am always looking for clothes, because you never know when you might find some nice piece. I try to pick up a couple of pieces of clothing each month, and I budget no more than $100 a month. It just takes time to build a wardrobe.

I pick up a lot of nice clothes at target and surprisingly Walmart. Shoes usually come from Payless when they have sales.

If I've struck out everywhere else I will shop at kohls.

The thrift stores around me are constantly picked over and I've about given up on finding anything I'd like there.

[MacG]

Being ftm, it was easy for me to transition to guy clothes a long time ago. However, I've lost a lot of weight in the past year (size 46 waist to size 36 waist) and have had to buy a lot of clothes. I shop mainly at thrift shops , especially because I'm still losing weight and don't want to make big investments.
I did buy two binders at $37 each and will likely buy more. Plus I buy only new underwear.

And I will likely have to buy a suit for a funeral. Unless I can rent.

[MaryXYX]

MaryXYX, you look lovely. It's me that needs help 

Thank you Paula.  I bought lots of clothes from the charity shops, then I spent time finding out which items felt right.  Then I started getting compliments.  It's worth asking other women if they think something is your style and colour.  The real friends will give you honest opinions and that can help to get it right.

[Amathy]

When I decided to dress as a male full time, I went out and bought exactly enough clothing to last for two weeks.  At some point I will probably have to add more variety to my very small wardrobe, but I'm happy with it.  Never liked shopping so its easy for me to avoid.

[FrancisAnn]

New dresses, etc..... are great. New shoes are a must....However my local goodwill/thrift stores are packed with very nice clothes. And they are never crowded so I shop there a lot. The clerks are always so nice & it's no hassle on trying on any item of clothing to make sure of a perfect fit. No big deal unlike major department stores. So I just never keep count of $ for such a necessity?   

[Sabine]

I may go against the grain here, but my suggestion is buy as little as you need at first, and set a real budget (you will have other bills to worry about in transition), though that depends on what you need for work etc. You body will be changing, and also how you express yourself stylistically will as well. IDK if you have sense of what works for you or not yet, from knowing your body type and what works for it, to knowing how colour works for you.  I had a decent notion of all that as an artist, but I spent a ton on things that I later looked at and asked, what was I THINKING? Also, my body changed enough that what I bought earlier I had to give away -- I lost a lot of bulk and a shoe size.  I gave all my old clothes to charities, or threw them out.

I'd buy a few classic, dependable basics at first, wardrobe staples (think LBD, black skirt, black pants, jeans, a few versatile tops, etc)  mixed with things you use to experiment with style and daily causal. Build from that as you figure it out.  Don't buy a lot of jeans and shoes -- it's tempting but your bod changes and you begin to know what works in shoes and what doesn't Don't be afraid to borrow to test something, or to buy and return. Believe me, it's expected.


I also suggest that you don't buy a lot, but buy quality once you know what you want. It doesn't mean spending a lot, it just means know what the material is and how it's sewn.  There are good LBDs and bad LBDs. 

One useful book I saw was "Color Me Confident" which is a sort of makeover book that picks up from the 1970s "Color Me Beautiful."  It helps you figure out some what you really want and need, and it has some tips about how to deal with one body shape or another.  It also deals with face shape and hair style etc. It's meant to help women express who they are and figure out what's you. I am old enough to remember the earlier book (and gatherings of women I knew who passed it around and scrutinized each other by it), which was pretty basic. This is a nice start for any age and any background. I don't think the makeup section was that helpful, but there are lots of other sources out there for that.

[OreSama]

I've spent maybe 20, 25 euro so far?  I just went to the local thrift store and bought what fit.  Although half of what I already had was androgenous.  Honestly the only part of my wardrobe that I want to get rid of is the women's jeans, as they accentuate my curves and aren't even pretty like my lacy blouses to make up for it.