10 Style Items To Pay Extra For – DON’T Buy These Cheap

It looked bad. It smelled bad.

It felt bad. It broke.

So you bought another…

for the same cheap price.

And then another. And by now…

You could have bought one good one with the money you’ve wasted.

Ever been there? I know I have. Today I’m going to save you from this fate.

We all want to make the most of our style budget. Upgrading your style means buying outside your comfort zone. You’re not going to be familiar with everything. So you’re not going to get the best look for the least money – unless you know when it’s worth paying extra. 

There are some style items you should NEVER waste money buying cheap. Read on for my top 10.

Now let’s look at the top 10 items you should save up and pay extra for… starting at the bottom with:

#1. Shoes And Boots

After your face, people – especially women – are most likely to judge you by your feet. Quality shoes last years and are repairable. They save you money in the long run because they last as long as 10 cheap pairs.

Bad shoes can cause injury – shoe comfort and quality matters for your overall health. When you pay extra you’ll get shoes that use better materials and manufacturing techniques. This is especially true for leather boots, dress shoes, and specific-purpose shoes like running shoes and hiking boots.

#2. Quality Suits

When you buy a suit expect to spend $300-$600 and another $50-$100 for adjustments. Cheaper suits are generally not worth it.

Most off-the-rack suits are mass-produced and cut loose to fit the most men possible. They’ll need adjustments and show wear sooner, and may have imperfections. A suit that’s poorly made or ill-fitting looks so glaringly bad that it’s a guaranteed waste of money.

#3. Pay Extra For Coats

You wear your coat EVERY day in cold weather. It defines your look whenever you’re outside. Ruining a stylish outfit by throwing a cheap plastic raincoat is a rookie mistake (especially in a work context.) Plus it’s hard to look powerful and confident when you’re cold.

Your best option for smart business wear is a wool overcoat – but if you want something that’ll go from smart to casual try a peacoat or trenchcoat. Trenchcoats are more for cool and wet weather. A peacoat will keep you warmer in the cold (especially paired with a watch cap – a traditional combo that looks great.)

#4. Leather Jackets

Good leather jackets last a LONG time. For the money even a middling one will cost, you want to make sure you’re getting something you’ll love for the long haul and that will look good for decades.

Cheap leather jackets (“genuine leather”) will start to flake in only a year or two. Be cautious and ask questions about any jacket under $500. Look for “top grain” or “full grain” – the most durable leathers, made from an animal’s outer hide.

You may have to pay extra up front for a good leather jacket – but you’ll have it so long you’re paying less per wear than anything else in your wardrobe.

#5. Glasses And Sunglasses

Which accessory should you DEFINITELY pay extra for? The one that’s right on your face.

People look at your eyes 30-60% of the time in conversation – and you probably wear your glasses every day. Wearing the right glasses or sunglasses for your face shape dramatically affects your attractiveness.

There are SIGNIFICANT differences in the comfort and durability of different frames (even the same brand) and the scratch resistance and optical performance of different lenses. Cheap online retailers often make their own lenses rather than using a specialist optical laboratory.

Cheap sunglasses can be worse than NONE – dark lenses without UV protection dilate your pupils to let in MORE UV. Even those labeled “polarized” and “100% UV protection” often allow harmful violet (“near-UV”) and blue light to penetrate the eye. Cheap reading glasses can cause eyestrain and provide no protection from blue light from screens.

#6. Men’s Watches

People judge your income, taste, and who you are as a man by your watch. And the science of enclothed cognition means your watch affects how YOU think of yourself too. You look at your watch all the time – get a watch that your best self would wear.

There’s no formula for how much to spend – you’ll see people suggest anything from 1% of annual earnings to 4 months’ wages (33%) or even admit to spending a whole year’s wages. But do get a watch you can pay cash for – save up and feel pride that you’ve earned it. Consider a mechanical or automatic watch if your budget’s over $200 AND you can afford a few hundred dollars for servicing.

#7. Bags And Briefcases

Backpacks look immature – you want a bag that looks adult and will last, made from leather or heavy-duty canvas. Look for thick, sturdy construction and full or top grain if it’s leather. Try it on and see if the straps and hardware feel substantial and all the clasps and zippers line up and open or close easily. Something that meets these criteria will be $250-$500.

Pay extra for a good leather wallet too. Keeping your money in a cheap shabby wallet makes you think and act POOR.

#8. A Good Haircut

$15 and a quick in-and-out is how you got haircuts as a kid. But now your hair has a significant impact on your image and you should invest in it. Find a barbershop that specializes in men’s hair and establish a relationship with a barber whose work you like.

“Old school” doesn’t automatically mean “high quality” – you want a barber who has an old-fashioned level of specialization and emphasis on quality but can execute up-to-date styles well. Expect to pay at least $25-$30 for that.

#9. Fragrances For Men

Women rate scent as the MOST important factor in a man’s attractiveness. The right scent can also boost your confidence and alertness, reduce stress, and make people trust you.

Cheap colognes are usually made with synthetic ingredients and smell chemical. The best perfumes have a unique composition that sets them apart from imitators. Some achieve this with very rare or expensive ingredients, others by blending scents in unusual orders or combinations. Most people balk at the price of Creed Aventus – then try it and agree it’s the best.

However, most expensive isn’t always best. Check Fragrantica, Basenotes, and my good friend Jeremy Fragrance for reviews of the cologne you’re thinking of buying. Then test it to find out if it works on your skin. Never buy before you try.

#10. Good Quality Toothbrush

Employers are 58% more likely to hire someone with a clean white smile – a good toothbrush pays for itself. 70% of women look at a man’s teeth before determining if he would make a good partner.

Manual toothbrushes don’t remove all the plaque and staining. And if you try to get around that by brushing aggressively you can remove enamel and end up with sensitive teeth (especially if you use medium or hard bristles).

An electric toothbrush essentially always removes more plaque than a manual brush. And a sonic toothbrush is better than a regular electric toothbrush – it uses mouth fluids to clean between teeth and below the gum line (especially important if you skip flossing.) Plus many sonic toothbrush users report that their teeth “feel” better.

There’s one caveat here – a cheap toothbrush that you replace regularly may still be better than an expensive one that you use to death.