- The figure includes a new dress, a blow dry and make-up
- One in five women buys entire new outfit – including underwear
- Women are also more likely to splash out if they like the host
- A partner’s ex being on the guest list also triggers a splurge
By
Ruth Styles
PUBLISHED:
08:04 EST, 25 September 2013
|
UPDATED:
08:04 EST, 25 September 2013
With their flawless skin, lithe figures and killer dress sense, polished A-listers have a look that most of us aspire to.
But although celebrities will happily splash out thousands on looking good, the average woman can look a million dollars for far less.
According to a new survey, the cost of getting a flawless look costs £323, including a whole new wardrobe, hair and make-up.
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The figure emerged from a detailed study that examined how much the average woman spends on looking perfect for an evening out.
The majority splashed out an average of £69.91 on a new dress, £66.77 on a jacket, and £51.40 on new shoes.
Researchers also found that one in five fashion fans insisted on purchasing new versions of everything, including underwear and accessories.
The more important the occasion, the more money women were willing to spend – with a family member’s wedding the most expensive event.
A spokeswoman for Cream UK, the marketing firm who conducted the survey, said: ‘This research shows that women feel they need to spend a certain amount to look good for an important occasion.
‘But everyone knows it isn’t necessarily about how much money you spend, it’s more about knowing what suits you and buying wisely.
Retail therapy: For many women, an event is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a shopping trip
‘Just because a dress is expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it will look good. Consumers tend to stick with the same brands and retailers so it’s not surprising that women rule out certain shops when they are looking for a special outfit.’
The study also found that 25 per cent of women said they believe that the more you spend on clothes, the better you look.
In fact, 15 per cent of women said they wouldn’t look at certain shops because they consider them ‘too cheap’.
Bizarrely, another factor that helped determine the amount women spend on clothes is whether or not they like the host.
One in five said they intentionally spent less on an outfit if they disliked people either attending or hosting an event.
But a third of women said they would really push the boat out if their partner’s ex-girlfriend was in attendance and 36 per cent would ‘go all out’ if a man they fancied was going to be there.
The study also found that more than one in ten shoppers admitted to buying from certain stores just to be seen shopping there. 75 per cent said they tend to just stick to the same shops time after time.
The most popular high-street shop to buy a dress for a special occasion from was Monsoon followed by Coast, HM and Karen Millen.
For shoes, the favourite retailers were Clarks followed by Office, Schuh, Russell Bromley, Kurt Geiger and Dune.
Accessorise was the most popular destination for jazzing up an outfit with accessories and Pandora the most popular jeweller.
The Cream UK spokeswoman added: ‘Shoppers are reassured when they know a brand well and it’s common to stick to what you know.
‘Many brands do have a certain image and have aspirational connotations and many consumers want to own something purely because of what the brand represents.
‘We are launching an ongoing study which focuses on people who spend more than £100 a month on clothes and accessories – incredibly only 15 per cent of the population.’
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xfeelingthis,
Scotland,
11 hours ago
Monsoon, Coast and Karen Millen? How many women and of what ages did they ask? I’m 23 and can safely say my friends and I don’t even consider going into these shops before a night out.
there, i said it!,
Essex,
12 hours ago
Clark’s for shoes for a night out? Are you sure
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The real cost of looking a million dollars? Survey reveals a flawless red carpet look can be yours for just £323
