Investing in your wardrobe to me is more than just a new purchase. It’s thinking about the future; what your style is going to be a year, two years from now, whether the piece will be durable enough to withstand everyday wear and tear, and whether the purchase is truly going to be worth it.
I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the essential pieces every woman should have in her closet, and why CPW should be an important factor when dropping a month’s worth of rent on a pair of shoes, but what I haven’t focused on, is which essentials I’ve found to be actually worth splurging on.
The everyday bag you will want to wear forever
One of the first big investments I ever made for my closet was a handbag from Proenza Schouler. I’d spent a good year (or was it two…?) thinking about this one bag and no other. I balked at the price – it was more than I’d ever spent on one item – but in the end I decided to just go for it, and I haven’t looked back since. That was almost five years ago and my PS11 is still going strong; so the proof is in the pudding.
If you’re planning to purchase your first expensive handbag, there are a few things worth considering. Is the style timeless (enough that you’ll still be wearing it five years later…)? Is it appropriate for the office and for play? Does the quality of the bag match the price? and, is it practical?
A luxurious wool coat you’ll wear all winter long, and then some
I may now live in a climate where a wool coat is almost redundant, but for me, it’s still one of those pieces that I think is well worth the investment. I’ve owned quite a few from Karen Walker over the years, and while they’ve set me back more than your average, they’ve really lasted the distance.
The key is to pick a classic silhouette, and opt for a fairly neutral shade; I’d recommend black, grey, or camel. If you’re spending more than $200-300, you really want to be sure that you’re going to get wear out of the coat beyond the current season. As much as I love the idea of adding a fairy floss pink or soft powder blue coat to my wardrobe, it’s not exactly a piece that I see myself wearing for years to come.
Ridiculously soft cashmere everything
Perhaps one of the most worn pieces in my wardrobe is a cashmere sweater that I picked up from Everlane a good two years ago now. It has an incredibly simple silhouette – crew neck, loose fit through the body, slim fitting sleeves – yet I can’t help but reach for it time and time again. As much as I love merino wool (the price point is much easier to swallow), it doesn’t quite have the same luxurious feel as a well-made cashmere sweater, and I find that generally, it won’t wear anywhere near as well.
Expect to pay upwards of $150 for good quality cashmere; it should be thick, yet feel light, fluffy and soft. My favourite cashmere piece is a light grey cardigan from Karen Walker’s ‘The Village’ collection, a good five or six years ago, and while it has seen years of wear and tear, it looks practically immaculate (and for the $400 price tag, you’d sure hope so!).
A hard wearing pair of jeans
I’m no stranger to Topshop’s Leigh Jean, I’ve owned a fair few pairs in my time, though there’s no denying that they’ve done their dash after a good six months of solid wear. Personally, I find it’s much better to spend a little more and get a pair that will last years, that won’t fade after wearing them only for a month.
It’s probably worth noting, not all denim is created equal. J Brand, Nobody Jeans, Dr Denim, and Acne Studios are my go-to brands for a well made, good-fitting pair of jeans.
The only blazer you’ll ever need
The first wardrobe essential I ever truly invested in, was a classic black blazer. Structured in the shoulder, with a relaxed fit through the body, it’s seen me through the last five years, and if luck is on my side, at least another five more. I opted to go for Helmut Lang, spending more than triple what I normally would on a jacket, but I haven’t looked back once, since.
Good blazers can be hard to come by, when you take into account tailoring, fit, cut, and quality; there’s a discernable difference between one that you’ve just nabbed off the rack at Topshop (though there’s nothing wrong with that!), to one that you’ve purchased based on those four merits. It might not be the star of your wardrobe, but it’ll be one of the biggest workhorses you’ll ever invest in.
Boots that are made for walking
Lastly, one of the pieces that I’ll always spend a little more on is a sturdy pair of leather boots. During the cooler months, a great pair of low heeled boots is something that I will reach for on a daily basis, and given how much I walk I want to be certain that I’m not going to be wearing the soles into the ground.
While I always recommend getting TOPY soles on your shoes (particularly if you wear yours as hard as I do mine), I find that a well made, and generally pricier boot, will tick all the boxes for me. Thick soles with metal toe points and supple yet sturdy leather that is comfortable right off the bat. I splurged on a pair of Acne Studios Jensen boots last year and these have really stood the test of time – they’re a little beaten up given how much I thrashed them last winter, but with a polish I know that they will look as good as new.
Perhaps the most important thing when making any investment, whether it be for your wardrobe or otherwise, is to really think it through. There’s no joy in dropping a weeks worth of rent on something that’s going to gather dust at the back of your wardrobe.
What wardrobe essentials do you invest the most in?
Do you have any J.Crew cashmere? I’ve read mixed reviews…
So weird you won’t publish or delete this….
Author
Hi there, I’m SO sorry for the late reply – my grandmother recently passed away and so I haven’t had a proper chance to go through all of the comments on here. I haven’t tried any of the cashmere from J Crew, the price has always stopped me although the low v neck sweaters do look lovely. I have heard that their cashmere quality has deteriorated over the years however I can’t really comment. I will be popping into J Crew when I’m in the US though so can let you know what I think then.
Great post with lots of good advice. Thank you. It’s shoes and boots for me. I spend a fortune on shoes but it’s always been worth it. My knee high boots from Aquatalia cost £400 quid but they have done five years of very heavy wear (probably five days a week in the winter) and they still look great. I get them resoled from time to time but the cost per wear is almost negligible by now. Plus, they are super comfortable. For me, that initial outlay was a much better bet than buying a £75 quid pair of boots and replacing them every year with all the attendant ‘breaking in’ that goes with new shoes. Why is it we refer to ‘breaking in’ a pair of shoes when it’s always my feet that get broken!
Author
Thanks Chris! I completely agree – I always get mine resoled too and they do last the distance. I’ve had my Charlotte Olympia kitty flats for four years and I can’t believe they are still going strong but it does make me glad as I know I’ve really gotten my money’s worth. Exactly! And who wants to break their feet? 🙂
These are great points, and I need to redouble my efforts in finding the ideal pair of black leather boots. I am very rough on my shoes, and since I have very few pairs, I tend to wear them days on end. The heels are always the first to go, but for my next pair, I’ll definitely take them in for a new sole right away.
Author
I find that if you spend a little more, the heels tend to last longer, and getting TOPY on them helps to make them last for what feels like forever (you just need to find a good cobbler!) x
Jeans and boots are definitely a must have! Love the boots in the photo 🙂 xx
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I’m so sorry for your loss. My first big investment piece was the classic wool coat last fall in a rich, burgundy. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a single clothing item & I have no regrets. I only need this one & will replace it only when it wears out hopefully many years from now. The second is the Acne Jensen boots. 🙂 When your Jensens wear out would you purchase the grain again or go with smooth based on your experience with the grain? How about your Acne Leather Moto Jacket – have you found it to be an investment piece worth the splurge? The Acne Mock is the next big purchase I’m considering, followed by the handbag. I’m a one bag at a time gal & have been using my current handbag for 6 years & it’s been looking worn out for a while.
Author
Thank you for the sentiments Holly.
That sounds like such a lovely purchase – I think it’s so satisfying when you know that the money that you have spent is going towards something that you will love for years to come. For the Jensens, I think I would go with the smooth as I prefer the look of them (even though they do crease a lot more); while mine are still going strong, I think given the type of leather, they don’t look as nice or ‘swish’ as my girlfriends who has the smooth.
Also, Acne leather is DIVINE. I couldn’t recommend it enough. It truly softens up very nicely 🙂
Thank you for your reply. I read a couple of books also that helped me realize that it would be better for me to have fewer pieces that I invest in and that I really appreciate & enjoy instead of constantly buying, not being satisfied, returning & having a closet full with “nothing to wear”. Now I have the least in my closet ever & always have something I like to wear. Thank you so much for your help with the Jensens! I had to google ‘swish’ 😉 Sounds like the Acne Moto jacket is a solid piece to invest in too. Acne rarely disappoints. I’m finding your posts really helpful & enjoyable! 🙂
Hi Jamie-Lee!
I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a pair of Jensen’s for myself so have been looking through your archives haha.
Did you get TOPY soles put on yours? I think I have read that they have rubber soles instead of leather?
Thanks so much!
Laura 🙂 xxx
Author
Hey Laura – I can’t remember what mine originally looked like when I got them but I did put TOPY soles on them after wearing them a few times (the leather softens so it’s best to wear them once or twice before getting them soled). If you’re after a more affordable pair I would recommend these from Marc Fisher – http://bit.ly/2qob4IY – I have them in the light beige suede and they are a very good dupe xx