Is a Rs. 15,000 designer kurta really five times better than a Rs. 3,000 high-street one? Sometimes yes — usually no. Here is how to decide rationally.
What you pay for in designer wear
Original prints, better base fabric, more careful finishing, and exclusivity. If you photograph well-attended events regularly, that premium can be worth it.
What high-street does well
Everyday basics, seasonal colours and trend pieces you will wear one season. The quality gap on simple items has narrowed dramatically in the last few years.
The 30-wear test
Divide the price by the number of times you will realistically wear it. A Rs. 12,000 formal worn twice costs Rs. 6,000 per wear. A Rs. 2,500 kurta worn thirty times costs Rs. 83 per wear. That math should drive the decision.
Smart middle path
Buy designer on deep discount — last season’s collections often drop 50 to 70 percent — and buy high-street at full price only when you need it immediately.
