“You NEED to get that!” There’s nothing like the feeling of stepping out of a fitting room and seeing your friend's jaw drop. It’s one thing for the sales associate to give you a push to make a purchase, but having a friend utter the words “you NEED that” feels different. And hey, who are you to go against your friends' wishes?
Time and time again the purchase is made, only for the garment to resurface months later, tags still on. It’s easy to justify the purchase of that twenty something dollar shirt you only wore once, when you see it next to the thirty five dollar pants you haven’t touched or the fifteen dollar sale shoes still in the box, things change. Before you know it you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on clothes, yet still have nothing to wear.
So, what are the options? Investing thousands of dollars and countless hours crafting your ideal capsule wardrobe or being held captive to the universe of fast fashion? The reality is for most people, the ideal is probably somewhere in the middle.
Girl Math: Wear it Five Times and it’s Practically Free
The first step to realistically building your dream wardrobe is to shift your thinking while shopping. The phrase “cost per wear” is often thrown around casually, but it is valuable to think about. Of course, this doesn’t mean keeping a tally each time you wear a piece, but taking into account how an article of clothing fits into your existing wardrobe, personal style and lifestyle can lead you in the right direction when it comes to how you spend your money on clothes. Is a ten dollar top really worth it if all it does is hang in a closet? How does that top compare to a one hundred dollar top worn on a weekly basis?
Hit the Thrift (but do it right)
Buying clothes second hand has become the go to for people, opening the door to more experimental, unique pieces and also usually saving some dollars for shoppers. It goes without saying thrifting should be your best friend when you’re trying to find harmony between a complete wardrobe and an affordable one. One quality all good thrifters have is patience, that and time. It can be a long, sometimes exhausting task to sift through racks, especially without the guarantee of even finding something you’d like. This is why having knowledge of what to look for is important.
Yes, brand research is great and finding designer pieces is a win, but fabric and construction can be even more important. Investing time in establishing even a basic knowledge of what clean, secure seams look like or what fabrics are best for what piece can help you make informed decisions and hopefully, allow you to find practical items made to last.
Intention, Intention, Intention…
Finding a balance between indulging in simple pleasures, feeling fulfilled in your wardrobe and still having something in your bank account can be tough. The best thing to do while shopping is staying intentional. Impulse purchases can still happen, but impulsively buying something that adds value to your closet as opposed to something that just hangs there is all the difference. For some, this means investing in neutrals and basics only, creating a capsule wardrobe that makes getting ready effortless. For others, this means paying attention to the colours and styles you reach for most in your day-to-day life and expanding your wardrobe with more similar styles.
A lot of time, spending a bit more time searching, and a little more money investing, is worth it in the long run. In a world where so many of us are forced to be financially conscious, you can’t always afford to be cheap.
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