What I ask myself to ensure I’m making a good purchase

I’ve always tried to work towards a wardrobe that’s versatile as it makes pulling outfits together every day a little easier. This requires some major editing and also some savvy shopping. When faced with so many gorgeous things in a store it can be easy to get caught up in the moment and just purchase something purely because you like it but I think it pays to ask yourself a few questions before buying anything as it can help you avoid wasting money on an item of clothing that won’t get much use. These are the five questions I always ask myself before I buy anything.

How will this work with the rest of my wardrobe?

I always think about how I will be able to wear something with other items I already own. To do this imagine your wardrobe and identify at least five outfits that you’ll be able to wear with a potential purchase. A cohesive wardrobe that can be mixed and matched in different ways will extend the number of outfits you can make as opposed to buying one item, for one purpose and having it sit in your wardrobe gathering dust.

How many times will I wear this?

If something is expensive I’ll think about how many times I’ll wear it and how many seasons it is going to last. I aways consider cost per wear. If I think “I will wear these shoes the whole year, and they’re something that I will keep in my collection for years to come”, I consider them an investment. If I’m only going to wear something once and it’s outrageously expensive I won’t buy it because it just doesn’t make sense to spend so much on something with minimal wear.

Is this adding to my wardrobe?

I sometimes fall into the trap of buying too many black shoes. And while I do wear black shoes quite often, if I find a pair of shoes that I like but I have five other pairs like it I won’t buy them. The same approach applies to the rest of my wardrobe. If I buy something it’s got to add to my wardrobe by bringing in a new element rather than just purely adding to my wardrobe.

Is the fabric and make a good quality?

I always look at something and consider the fabric and how well it’s made. I believe if you spend a little more on good fabrics and good construction then you’ll be able to have something for many years to come and get plenty of use out of it. Where possible always look for natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk.

Do I really need this?

Most women will identify with this question! And often the answer to this question will negate all the other questions before this one. While there will always be exceptions (a girl can never have too many bags, right?) generally if you answer this question honestly you’ll be able to stop yourself from buying something that you’re not really going to use.

What do you consider before making a big purchase?