13 Fashion-Buying Rules We Should All Live By
Everyone wants to have a great wardrobe of stylish clothes. But achieving that goal? That’s often more challenging than we’d like it to be. Without having the parameters in place that lead to quality, informed purchases, we can easily fall into having a wardrobe that’s simply not as fantastic as we’d like it to be — or as fantastic as it could be.
While it’s inevitable that you’ll make a dud purchase every now and again, we can greatly reduce the chances by following some tried-and-tested fashion-buying rules that all but guarantee that the bulk of our purchases will be good for both ourselves and the planet.
With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to buy together some fashion-buying rules that we should all live by. While this is far from an exhaustive list, you’ll find that, more often than not, it helps to push your wardrobe in the right direction. Let’s take a look.
Choose quality over quantity
Buying fewer quality items over a boatload of lesser-quality items is a classic rule that can be applied to just about every type of product you’d purchase, but it’s especially important when it comes to fashion. Quality items can take your outfit from ‘OK’ to ‘fantastic,’ and all that’s required is that you spend a little more cash buying each item. Plus, it makes organizing your wardrobe much more straightforward. After all, it’s easier — and more fun — to arrange twenty quality items rather than 100 items that you wouldn’t care if you never saw again.
Quality clothes cost more, but they’re a better investment since you’ll be more likely to wear them and they’ll also last longer than cheaper items.
Don’t discount second-hand goods
Some people only ever buy new items, and that’s a mistake. Not only are second-hand items more affordable, but you can also find clothes that you simply don’t make anymore that you love. If you live in anything resembling a large city, then you’ll have plenty of good second-hand shops to choose from, and the online market is extremely active too.
You’ll have to do a bit of digging to find items that work for you, but don’t consider it a chore — it’s a fun process, especially since there’s nothing better than stumbling upon an item that becomes an all-time favorite addition to your wardrobe.
Whenever possible, choose sustainable clothing
The fast-fashion industry has been a disaster for the planet, and it’s also generally a disaster for your wardrobe, too. Cheap items are simply not made to last, so even if you think the item you’ve bought looks good when you first try it on, in reality, you’ll probably be throwing away the item within a few months anyway. By buying from sustainable clothing brands, you’ll be getting quality clothing that’s as good for the planet as it is for your wardrobe. In an age when we all have to think about our carbon footprint, buying eco-friendly is a no-brainer.
Discounts are good only when you’re buying anyway
Everyone loves a discount, but that doesn’t mean that you should buy an item just because it’s on sale. If you weren’t in the market for that type of item anyway, then it’ll probably be best left on the shelf unless it’s an item that you positively love. The item used to be £100 and is now £50, yes, but it doesn’t mean that it’ll automatically become a beneficial addition to your wardrobe! If you do plan on visiting the high street when the sales are on, have a clear idea of what items you’re looking for before you make the trip.
The right fit makes all the difference
You might absolutely love an item of clothing, but if it doesn’t work for your body shape, then it’s not going to be a good addition to your wardrobe. The fit of the clothing is arguably just as important as how it looks. By buying clothes that make sense for your body, you’ll find that you’re much more confident when you’re wearing them and that it’s much easier to put together outfits. Even simple combinations can look great when they fit perfectly. Plus, it’s just an easy way to elevate your appearance — well-fitted clothes show that you style your outfits with intention.
Comfort counts
It’s easy to get carried away with the look of an item, but it’s important to keep in mind how comfortable you feel wearing it. If you don’t feel relaxed and comfortable when you’re wearing it, then you’re probably not going to wear it as often as you’d like. There are people who have some brilliant — and expensive — items sitting in their wardrobe, but they never see the light of day because when it really comes down to it, it’s the items that they genuinely enjoy wearing that get the green light. There might be a few fashion items — such as high heels — you select despite their discomfort, but as a general rule, it should be clothing you enjoy.
Dress from the ground up
Most people dedicate most of their fashion energy to the tops that they buy. And you can see why — since it’s those items that are nearest to eye level, the assumption is that they’re the ones that have the most impact on the quality of the outfit. But actually, in many cases, the opposite is true; it’s the bottom half of the outfit that does most of the heavy lifting. If the bottom half is on point, then a quality outfit will be more or less assured. On the other hand, then even a brilliant top may be unable to save an outfit if the shoes and bottoms aren’t as good as they should be.
Accessories deserve respect
Utilised correctly, accessories can have a subtle but noticeable impact on the quality of the outfit. So rather than seeing your belts, gloves, and hats as purely functional, treat them as additions that can help take your outfit to the next level.
Your intuition exists for a reason
There will be times when you try on an item of clothing and just instantly feel that you should buy it. If your intuition gives you that message, then listen to it. The same applies in reverse, too. An item of clothing might tick all of the boxes you’re looking for when it’s on the rack, but if you try it on and there’s something inside you telling you that it doesn’t quite work, then it’ll be best to keep your credit card in your bag.
Impulse purchases are risky
You might get lucky with an impulse purchase, and end up with an item that becomes a mainstay of your wardrobe, but it’ll be much less likely.
Understand your personal style
There is an endless amount of clothes that you can buy. But the ones that are right for you? That category is much smaller. What defines whether an item is right for you or not depends, in large part, on your personal style. It can take time to develop your personal style, but it’s a journey worth taking. Once you’ve figured it out, you’ll find that shopping for clothes becomes much more straightforward.
A little experimentation never hurt anyone
With that said, while you might have your own personal style, that doesn’t mean that it has to dictate every single item you buy. It’s good practice from time to time to experiment with items of clothing that you wouldn’t ordinarily purchase. After all, you only live once! If you find that you’re a little less-than-sure about wearing clothes that are slightly outside of your comfort zone when you’re at home, then wait until you take a trip. There are no fashion rules — even your own rules — when you’re in an exotic location far from home, so look at picking up a couple of items from local boutique shops. In all likelihood, you’ll be so comfortable wearing them by the end of the trip that you’re more than willing to wear them when you’re back home.
If it makes you feel confident, buy it
At their best, our outfits can help to really give us a big dose of confidence, allowing us to step out into the world with our heads held high. So perhaps the most important rule we’re going to share is that if an item of clothing makes you feel confident, then buy it immediately. It’s an easy victory in an age when it feels as if there are so many things that can dampen our confidence levels.
And there we go. As we said at the beginning of the article, the above rules won’t guarantee that you’ll always end up with items of clothing that you’ll love, but they’ll absolutely increase the chances. Plus, the rules we’ve shared offer benefits that extend beyond leaving the store with a good item. They’re also generally good for the planet and good for your confidence levels, two things that the world very much needs more of!
Top photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash
