Dang. This is reminding me of some of the case studies where people just can't can't CAN'T accept that three fancy vehicles, a fancy boat, and a really fancy house are not the minimal level of expense that someone can barely survive at.
If you are in a high paying job that requires nice clothes, then buy the clothes and quit crying about it. You can afford it.
And while you're buying them, be smart about it, and you'll spend a lot less.
If you're not in such a job, then you just need to dress well. "One notch better than average" isn't a bad measuring stick if you want to stick out as stylish or feel it matters to your promotional potential. Again, that can, in most professions and companies, be done in an affordable manner with a reasonable amount of effort. Or it can be done very expensively. Your choice. Choose wisely.
I just read a comment where sewing wasn't an option because one could buy a good shirt for $20. Well, hell, then why are people bitching about the cost of clothing? Unless someone sets out to be the Imelda Marcos of tops, you can get 2 work week's worth of tops for $200. For anyone in a job that pays middle class wages this isn't horribly expensive. (For the younger crowd, Imelda Marcos was the wife of the president of the Philipines, and owned thousands of pairs of expensive shoes.)
I'm just not buying the scenario being presented, that women can't get adequately clothed for a reasonable cost. Too many women are giving too many examples of reasonably priced clothing.
As for sewing, the ability to sew can enable someone to buy a garment on sale that isn't a perfect fit and make it a perfect fit. It widens options. This isn't an either-or suggestion. One does not have to sew 100% of one's garments. Just use the skill where it makes sense. For example, I use it to make leather tools or protective garments because it's very cost effective for me, in my life situation, for those goals. It would be great for some people, worthless for others. Poo-pooing it for everyone because it doesn't meet one person's needs is silliness. It's as foolish as a person with vertigo claiming no one should buy a ladder for do-it-yourself work around the house because it won't help them in their life circumstances.
Except the post started because someone found an article noting that this trend has been observed and they are surprised. And the majority of responses from forumers was that they don't, but can easily understand how and why people do.
If we look at gender as performance, and I tend to do so, then gender performance is more or less successful according to how well you conform to a theoretical idea of how your gender acts. As a femme female, I note that there are a number of markets that display the quality of a woman's performance of her gender. Women may choose to participate in the action for personal satisfaction, personal and workplace relations, career success, or any of a myriad of other choices. They may also choose to opt out. However, when you opt out of gendered trappings, you undeniably make life harder for yourself. I applaud the women who find that the personal benefit of opting out is worth more than the crappy treatment they risk by opting out.
One of the handiest trappings that you can employ to safely act out gender, is a spouse of the opposite gender. My people have known for millennia that this is hands down the safest, easiest choice. Plus, if you get one of those little accessories then you can opt out of icky stuff like high heels, long hair and make-up, and still be living up to gendered expectations. Not only that, but spouses are money savers.
The other key pieces can vary a bit by gender - long hair is generally a winner, but there are usually some short cuts that you can do too. Feminine, career specific clothes, shoes and makeup are all useful.
And the easiest way to play your gender correctly, especially if you aren't passionate about the trappings, is to throw some fucking money at it.
If you like doing your hair and make-up (I do) then you can do it all for cheap. If you like sewing, you can make your own clothes, although this might not be workplace appropriate or save you money (I don't but want to). If you like living with men, you can just get hitched (I don't). If you like jewelry and purses, buy them (I do purses with my backpack). If you like shoes, do them.
By all means it's a choice, but don't pretend that the choice is consequence neutral.