A lot of development has gone into sailing clothing in the last 20 years. We have gone from fairly low tech fabrics that were heavy and only vaguely waterproof to a range of garments that are lightweight, waterproof, breathable and dare I say it, in some circumstances fashionable. With all these things the more you spend the more you get.
Don’t be suckered into buying for fashions sake and don’t buy kit above your needs. There is a tendency to buy for the name badge on the kit. This should not rule your decision making. Good quality kit does not have to be designer. If you are an offshore yacht racer competing in the globes biggest races, buy a survival suit made from real Gore-Tex. There is no substitute for the real deal no matter what the manufacturers say. If however you are coastal hopping then look for a nice breathable set of coastal kit. I have seen far to many people buying offshore kit for lake sailing. The reality is that you could save some money and have more than adequate kit that will wear out in exactly the same amount of time.
The undergarments are worth a mention as well. There is no point buying breathable oilskins and then putting them over the top of a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. If you layer correctly then you will remain warm, dry and comfortable. The lesson is to read the instructions from the clothing suppliers. They will tell you what to wear and in what order. If you want to save a bit of money then look at buying the thermal layers from diving suppliers. They tend to be a little cheaper.