It is no secret that I am a full out shopaholic. I love clothes and I love shopping. Over the years I have learned to make the most out of the clothing pieces I purchase. I used to buy lots of clothes none of which were particularly great quality. I have really paired down my wardrobe to more simple pieces that I can wear several different ways and that are great quality allowing me to wear and wash the piece over and over without it falling apart.
I am fortunate enough to know what colours and cuts work well with my skin tone and body type. I also am more wary of trends. There are certain trends I will just sit out because I have expensive taste (truly a curse) and will likely not be able to justify purchasing a piece that I wont be able to use over and over again.
There are three main tenets that I like to follow now when shopping to make sure I am getting the most bang for my buck and decrease the “cost per wear” of any piece I buy.
- plan outfits. Before you buy something make sure you can think of AT LEAST three different outfits that you can use the piece for (think of things you already own). This is a great way to justify the piece. Sometimes what I will do is go on pinterest and do a search on the item that you think you want. For example, if its leather leggings do a search on pinterest and a hastag search on instagram and have a look at some outfit ideas with the item. Once you are confident that you can pull the item off with the existing pieces in your wardrobe this will help justify the purchase especially when its pricey.
- Avoid duplicates. I am slowly gearing away from this issue the less I buy and the more expensive things get. I always think long and hard before I purchase something and if its something that is too similar to a piece I already own I almost always do not purchase it. There is no reason that someone needs two white halter tops (unless the item is something that you use very often and duplicates are required – this is rare). A good example are my grey sweatpants. I only have one pair and I have not purchased an additional because its just not part of my lifestyle. Although I am working from home now, it is rare that I’ll ever need more than one pair of grey sweatpants so I cannot justify another pair or anything similar.
- Avoid things you know you don’t wear or like. The older you get the more in tune you are with your body. You develop your own taste. You know what colours and style you prefer and what cuts, styles you prefer over others. This will really allow you to be more intentional in your shopping. If you know you don’t like halter tops, then don’t buy them (whether or not they are on sale). Also if you know that you gravitate more towards neutral colours, don’t waste your money on neon or vibrant coloured pieces you know you will likely never wear.
- Avoid one time use outfits. I am guilty of purchasing outfits for an event and then never wearing it again. This is very dangerous practice because then you end up with a bunch of dresses that you can never repurpose or reuse. I have really tried to avoid this. If I have a work event, christmas party or wedding, I will use a dress I already own. The key to this is to make sure the dress that you purchase is not too trendy, is a classic colour and cut that can be repurposed. I usually have a couple of dresses for winter and summer (christmas parties vs. summer wedding). I am not afraid to reuse a dress I already own especially since these dresses are generally more expensive than other things I own. Better to wear and re-wear the same dress than buy a bunch of cheapo dresses of inferior quality.
I am hoping these tips are something that you can incorporate into your own life and use to really make the most out of your wardrobe and the pieces that you choose to buy.
A bonus tip is to go through your closet at least once a year to purge what you no longer use. When doing this it is also a good idea to use pinterest and instagram for outfit inspiration especially for pieces you already own.
