Whether you’re a capsule wardrobe enthusiast, or absolute maximalist at heart, at the end of the day what we all want is to add pieces to our wardrobe that will endure. That we’ll love, cherish, and enjoy wearing for years to come. More styling, less buying. Fewer shopping mistakes.
So before you buy something new, ask yourself these simple questions first.
Wearing Karen Walker top; Andersons belt; Karen Walker shorts; Loeffler Randall ballet flats; Karen Walker bag; Pamela Card necklace (10% off with JAMIELEE10); Linjer moonstone earrings (buy one get one 45% off with JAMIE45); Monica Vinader bracelet
Does this make me feel GOOD?
The number one most important factor when buying anything. If you don’t feel good when you put said item on, then you’ll always set it aside in favour of another piece which does exactly that. What you wear has an impact on your mood, the way you present yourself, your posture. And if you feel even slightly uncomfortable in a piece, then it’ll show (and probably colour your experience of wearing it). If it feels too short, too long, too tight, too big, or just fits oddly, don’t do it. Unless you intend to get it tailored within a week of buying it. There is so much choice these days that it doesn’t make sense to settle – chances are something better will come long before you even know it.
Is it in my colour palette?
This is a question that has some fluidity to it, and pairs hand in hand with the previous question. Certain colours are going to cheer us up, make us feel good, make our complexion shine. Identifying the right colours for you is often a game of patience (and trying on lots of variations), and it’s worth nothing that the “best” colours for you might not be the ones you naturally gravitate towards, and that’s fine too – you’ll have your own perspective on what you want to achieve with your personal style.
But having at least a loosely guided colour palette is useful as it drives which colours do and don’t make the cut, to create cohesion and balance in what you do add to your closet.
Can I build at least 3-5 outfits with it?
And be realistic. It’s easy enough to come up with outfit ideas and pairings that would work, but if you wouldn’t wear them in your daily life, they aren’t really relevant. Three is the minimum, and even better if you can cross the boundaries of work, weekend, and an evening out. Five tends to be my personal litmus test (evening wear excluded – for obvious reasons) as that calls to easy versatility. It’s a dealbreaker if you need to buy something else to style it.
Am I shopping for me or my fantasy self?
One I was quite guilty of doing, especially in that initial transition of becoming a mum for the first time. Shopping for the life I once held, the life of others I saw online, the life I aspired to have. Rather than thinking, will this be practical for my day-to-day. Will I wear this now, or does it require a new set of circumstances to be appropriate. Learn to master the art of appreciation – it’ll save you from making so many expensive purchases in the long run.
Would I buy it full price?
This is the big one to ask if you’re shopping the sales – which can often be a trap, guided by the promise of a bargain. If you never would have considered buying it full price, then it’s an easy no. If the brand is usually out of your price range but on sale, it works with your budget, then that’s okay too. But if it’s an item that’s caught your eye on the clearance rack, but which you wouldn’t look twice at if it were a new arrival, do your wardrobe a favour and leave it at the checkout.
How does this serve me?
You can read more about this over on my Substack, but essentially, ask yourself what role is this item playing in your wardrobe. Is it filling a gap, a need, a want? This is a really helpful question which can guide that curation of what you already own in addition to anything new you’re considering buying. Given we tend to wear such a small percentage of what we own on a regular basis, this is an way to turn that old adage on its head.
