I think about this question most days. Especially as a woman who married young/ish (23) and has been with her SO for almost 6 years now (dating plus marriage). I am married to someone who does not share my opinions on price points, and who does not really see the value in fashion as a hobby for me. (He is supportive and loves me but doesn't get why it matters soooo much to me. This results in having to offer really good reasons for the things that I want to purchase sometimes--esp at higher on sale price points like $325 for a coat that used to be retailed at $750. The coat is the most expensive item I have bought this year for example, while never spending more than $3.50 on underwear or $30 on pants because I need to cut corners somewhere.) We are in the middle of extremely aggressive savings goals, at the same time that I am trying to overhaul my wardrobe (2 year process and ongoing). The massive realization that I can't seem to escape is how damn cheap everything looks on me when I don't invest in higher quality materials. It hit me pretty suddenly, and I just couldn't shake how insecure I felt in a style that didn't feel like me and in clothes that were just too worn out. I am currently in limbo hell starting from scratch with the smallest budget ever that encompasses many no-buy months. Everybody knows that the internet changed the degree that fashion is accessible to the every woman, and I have been affected by that. From realizing how pricey and beautiful luxe fashion is from photos in Man Repeller or Satorialist to being able to find knockoff DEALZ online from all retailers. For me, fashion feels like a coming of age experience where I am making calls about the sort of person I want to be in "how" I experience my everyday clothes. The stakes feel so much higher as I've realized/and experienced the impact your appearance and presentation can make in a professional industry. As someone who is changing course and switching careers towards a more creative industry, the stakes are certainly raised when it comes to work wear --and how that may help open or close doors. I can't think of my work wear without equating it to my feelings on my financial constrains and I think that is really common.