The Sam Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness, often called simply the boots theory, is an economic theory that people in poverty have to buy cheap and subpar products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than more expensive items.
I was ridiculed for wearing a cheap shirt to my dissertation defense in college by somebody wearing a Hugo boss shirt.
I figured I could buy 10 shirts for the duration of his one shirt. He bent over to tie his shoe and the shirt ripped.
All was well that day.
From someone who makes clothes: a cheap, but tailored shirt (or anything, really) will always look better than an expensive off-the-rack piece.
Until you get into stuff like high end suits, but if you’re spending 2000 bucks on a suit, you’re an idiot for not getting it tailored.