Is It Wrong to Wear Expensive Designer Clothes to a New Job?

Vanessa Friedman, fashion director of The New York Times, takes reader questions.

It’s true that after periods of economic crisis, signs of conspicuous consumption often feel uncomfortable and inappropriate. After the Great Recession of 2008, for example, there were rumors that Hermès shoppers were carrying brown bags instead of bright orange ones, and that the wealthy were holding secret shopping parties so not to flaunt their ability to spend. Identifiable luxury logos were definitely out. Then, of course, the logos came roaring back, which means that anybody who has been buying fashion over the last decade probably has some highly branded stuff in their closet — stuff that may seem even more like a red flag today, given the increasing focus on the wealth gap in the United States and the deep pain many families have experienced over the last year, with lost jobs and homes. At the same time, saving your money, thinking deeply about your purchases and investing in a few responsibly and well-made pieces that you will keep for decades (and maybe pass down to your kids) is exactly the kind of shopping we should all be doing if we possibly can. It’s better for the environment, for our own long-term economic stability and for building a sense of personal style. It is not something to be embarrassed about or to eschew.