Price of women's clothing

[Denise savulski]

Has anyone besides myself ever wonder why womens clothes cost more then mens clothes. Plus most women's salaries are not on the same pay scale as a man's pay and women usually do more of the work than men do.

And I've always wondered this but it must of crossed others minds as well.

[Tori M]

Yes, I used to wonder too.  One thing I learned is that women's clothes often require/use better quality fabrics.  I've always sought soft materials since childhood but those are hard to find in men's clothes (more-so decades ago).  Ohh, how I hated stiff scratchy boy's/men's jeans.  As I started building a woman's wardrobe I was so pleased to find that most of the clothes are so much softer, even the cottons I've always loved.  Even cotton flannel shirts are subtly softer!  After years on HRT, I learned that this is because women's skin is more delicate and sensitive.  Even if the materials are simply pre-washed more, like they are in cheaper clothes (still my main choice, lol), that still adds to the cost of manufacture.  The downside is that delicate fabrics don't last as long, but that's ok because our styles and tastes change more frequently anyway.

I also suspect that there are more design costs in women's attire due to myriad tastes and body shapes.  I don't think most men's clothes require much design expertise (sorry guys).  Another factor might be the cost of warehousing/floor space needed to provide the variety needed to appeal to all types/sizes/shapes of women.  Then, while a retailer/wholesaler/manufacturer might sell every pair of the men's pants they make/stock, there is considerable loss in the number of women's articles that never sell and that loss must be offset before the bottom line is tallied.  Then add the cost of the warehouse and retail workers needed to distribute, manage, and sell all of this variety.  There are probably other reasons I haven't thought of.

[claire1000]

your right the cost is much higher for all the reasons stated above but like Tori I have always preferred much softer material than what was available in men's clothing. What I have done as an older lady being 70 years young is try to buy classic style clothing in a style that works for me.The retailers want you to keep returning to there stores and sites that's why the styles change every season. Find a style that works for you and stick to it, shop at second hand shops where on many occasions you will find high priced barely used clothing at a fraction of there original cost, I recently found a classic cashmere coat that looked brand new for 35 dollars so I'm set for next winter.So what I am trying to say is that there are ways to save money on the high cost of women's clothing you just have to be smart about your purchases.

[Ivy]

I'm kinda old too and don't try to be "stylish".

Also, I have sewn a few things, but fabric is high.

My skin is much more sensitive as well, but that's part of it, isn't it.

As for the pay scale… that's just sexism.

[Carolyn Marie]

Some of the reasons cited above I'm sure are valid, but i also know that there has always been a "gender premium" on many goods and services, and often for no good reason.  For example, dry cleaning, even for easy things like slacks or shirts, are more expensive for women's clothes than for men's.  The price of a haircut, same.  I know that studies and surveys have documented these variations based on gender.  Some states have tried to reign in such price gouging, but I'm not sure how successful those laws are.

 

Carolyn Marie