investment dressing

English

Noun

investment dressing (uncountable)

1. The purchase of expensive clothing in the belief that it will last longer.
   • 1983, Leonard McGill, Stylewise: a man's guide to looking good for less, page 122:

     Investment dressing on the classic track is safe banking, all right, but — was Picasso a classic painter? Does a Ferrari show the staid, sturdy lines of a BMW coupe? The point is, traditional classics are like granite, strong to build on, but to many eyes boring to look at. And when you spend big, you should get clothing that satisfies in a big way.

   • 2001, Brenda Kinsel, In the Dressing Room with Brenda:

     I used to preach "investment dressing." The whole idea was that you buy the best quality you can find, preferably a core wardrobe, and those clothes interchanged would last nearly forever. I don't believe that anymore.