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That's partially because photos used to be rarer. So either the subjects were richer to have access to photos, or the subjects dressed their best when getting their photographs taken.

Also depends where you live. Seattle is very different than NYC or Paris.

Price doesn't reflect quality. Ever pull a good thrift store haul?

There's a phrase, 'cut and cloth'.

Better materials, the basic ingredients, generally increases the price (cloth from quality fabric mills, finer wools, nice dyes, shell buttons, leather, etc...). And the cut matters, to pay for a tailored shirt in England or Italy will cost you -- that is, the labor, design, and construction.

Sure, a high price tag does not necessarily imply quality -- but let's not be fools about the matter.