ARE EXPENSIVE BRAS REALLY WORTH IT?

I have 3 friends with very different approaches to buying lingerie:

Person A: I never spend more than 10 pounds (N3,130) on a bra. I don't see any difference across brands, besides I wear it inside. I'd rather spend good money on clothes.

Person B: I try to spend a bit more on quality stuff, something between 20-25 pounds (N6,250-7,800)

Person C: I spend at least 35 pounds (N11,000) for a bra, I know its a lot but bras are important and I prefer to splurge a bit more on quality.

So which friend is the smartest?

Most people are shocked when they find out how much bras cost at high-end stores. Why would you pay those prices when you can snag a much cheaper option? I know some people would argue for cheaper prices to save money because "I wear it on the inside"... while some might argue that higher prices are 'always' equivalent to higher quality. Well this doesn't always hold because, depending on the brand, expensive bras last or they don't.

Now lets say person A purchases a bra at 2,000 naira at her local supermarket or market.

Person B picks up one with a N6,000 price tag from the mall while out with friends

and my third friend Person C buys a N12,000 lacy balconette bra from a luxury lingerie store

Now the real question is, which one is worth the price tag?

I will leave you to answer for yourselves after you've considered these 2 things:

1. A bra should last approximately 6-9 months or 121 wears, whichever comes first. Think back to how many bras you’ve bought in the past year. Did it give you at least 6 months wearability and remained in relatively good physical condition?...while wearing them, were they wearing out quickly, not to mention falling apart literally at the seams. After about 1 month, did the straps stretch out much further than the tightener would go, and thin even more quickly on the shoulders?

2. A good bra should 'feel' AND 'look' good on its own AND under clcothes. Suppose you buy some sexy chantilley lacy bras from a luxury lingerie store. Now think about how those bras made you feel. Are they digging into your skin? Are they falling apart? Are they not as supportive as you would like? How do they look through your clothes? Are they to be handwashed, machined wahsed or dry cleaned?

Now who do you think is the most sensible of the 3?

My Bottomline:

For me, I don't think any of them are totally right. However I know I'd rather buy 3 everyday wear bras at 24,000 and get to keep them for 9 months or 121 wears, whichever comes first, than buy 12 bras at 2,000 naira only to buy new ones the very next month or 2, or even worse wear them even after they are worn out and out of shape. Bras with higher prices tags which are often very delicate can be left for special occasions.

Sometimes, we frugals feel like we have to suffer through items that are cheap and wear them until they literally disintegrate, but when you invest in high quality items that last, then you’re practicing frugality at it’s finest.

Instead of buying a few new bras every 2 months or so, I can go much longer without purchasing a thing if I wanted. They not only make me feel great, they are made with superior quality and materials that feel just as good 9 months down the road as they did in the fitting room. And that’s worth it to me!

Now whats worth more to you: PRICE or DURABILITY/COMFORT

But I’ll leave that decision up to you and let you respond to my thoughts in the comments!

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SPEND ON A GOOD BRA AND WHAT OTHER FACTORS WOULD YOU CONSIDER?