Should you buy it?

Making the decision to undertake the five piece French wardrobe challenge for 2019 has made me seriously shift my shopping mindset. I’m limited to five key pieces per season, and I want to make each one count. What doesn’t help? I have a basics/holy grail wish list that’s 25-items strong. Logic would tell me that I should focus my energy into investing in higher quality versions of wardrobe staples I love, but I’m also keen to inject some personality into my purchases along the way. I know I recently shared some shopping rules that I keep in mind when buying something new, but I think we can probably all agree that fit, functionality and style aren’t the only things that drive us to shop. So today, I thought I’d delve a little deeper into the practical mindset behind adding a new item to your wardrobe because the question really is, should you buy it?

Wearing Everlane turtleneck sweater (also like this option) Karen Walker beige skirt (old but this is a great alternative), Linjer cross body bag, Charlotte Olympia pumps (old but these are a dead ringer), Madewell earrings, Linjer watch, Orelia bracelet

Will you wear it often or does it have longevity?

There’s no hiding from the fact that I have a rather healthy-sized wardrobe, so I’m pretty realistic about how much I can really wear an item each season. Instead, I think more about <em>longevity</em>. The Joseph sweater I invested in at the start of last year is a staple I’m excited to get back into rotation when it cools down, same with the Stella McCartney coat I splurged on. These are the kinds of purchases that I see myself reaching for again next year (and the year after that, and the year after that…), and it’s how I like to frame my thinking when I’m shopping for something new.

Cost-per-wear is something I talk about a lot; basically, it’s a key consideration whenever I think about adding something new to my wardrobe – budget-friendly or not. It can make an affordable item seem expensive, and an expensive item seem “affordable”, depending on how often you reach for it, that is. 

Is it in your budget?

I don’t talk too much about finances but I think this is an important one – no shiny new wardrobe addition should put you in an uncomfortable place financially. One of the best decisions I ever made was closing off my credit cards, and I haven’t looked back. Everything I add to my wardrobe I pay for in cash – after allocating money for bills – and if I can’t afford it, I don’t buy it. I might have quite a few more expensive/luxury pieces in my wardrobe, but many of them I picked up pre-loved (mostly from The Real Real or private sellers on eBay). Personally, I think this is a great way to add a quality item to your wardrobe without breaking the bank – plus, it’s a more sustainable way to shop, too!

Do you have space for it?

A major tipping point that really made me begin to shift my mindset towards my wardrobe happened after one of my fortnightly shopping trips – many years ago. I got home, ready to put my new Karen Walker purchases into the closet, and I couldn’t fit a single thing in there. I stick by the theory of out of mind, out of sight – if I can’t see something, I won’t wear it, so I try to avoid letting my wardrobe get to tightly packed. It’s not quite a one in, one out policy, but if I feel things are starting to get a little bit crowded in my wardrobe, I’ll either re-evaluate what I have, or think twice about adding something new to my shopping cart.

How does it make you feel?

The best kinds of purchases are the ones that make you feel amazing. It might be a dress that hugs your curves in all the right ways – essentially making you feel like a million dollars – or a pair of shoes that gives you joy every time you slip them on and head out the door. It’s innate, it’s personal, and sometimes it might seem wildly impractical, but every item that makes its way into your closet should make you feel great, and in the words of Marie Kondo, spark joy.