Planning to expand your wardrobe? Shopping for clothes is often seen as a financial liability. But this needn’t necessarily be the case. A little bit of money can go a long way, if you know what you’re shopping for. Plus, if you go about it in the right way, then you could actually be improving your finances by investing in items that will hold their value, or even appreciate, over the long term.
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Benefits of Investing
By investing in your wardrobe, you’ll have the pleasure of wearing superior-quality clothes. They’ll look better, they’ll feel better, and they’ll often fit better. What’s more, you’ll have to refresh your wardrobe less often if you’re shopping for timeless items that aren’t going to go out of style in six month’s time.
Heirloom items that you’re passing between generations can help you to save money, too. Whether you’re inheriting something from an older relative, or investing in something expensive with a view to passing it along to a younger one, investing in durable, quality items makes financial sense.
If you’re invested in the right clothes, you’ll also have less uncertainty about what to wear for a specific occasion. Everything you own will be spectacular, so deciding what to wear on a night out, to the gym, or to your local park will (in theory) become much less painful.
Finally, we should mention again that quality items will hold their value. Rather than having a cash reserve in your bank account, whose value is being slowly degraded by inflation, you can invest in a few quality items that will act as a store of value.
But exactly what should we be looking for when we make these sorts of investments? It depends on what we’re shopping for.
Jewellery
Fashion or costume jewellery can serve a purpose. But in the long run, cheap jewellery can be expensive. You’ll have to constantly replace it as it wears out, and you won’t be able to recover that money on the second-hand market.
By contrast, taking the time to research high-end pieces can make financial sense in the long term. Tissot watches, for example, will add amazing elegance to any outfit, and you’ll be able to pass them down to your loved ones.
Shoes
Shoes are, quite famously, worth investing in. Cheap shoes are a false economy since they’re going to wear out much more quickly than quality ones. A good pair of shoes will cost more, but you won’t have to buy as many of them. And your feet will be healthier, drier and more comfortable.
Get a pair of shoes for every occasion. Casual loafing around the town, hiking through the woods, doing the shopping, and going for an evening meal all require something different.
The basics
Certain items will make up the bulk of your clothing selection. Here, we’re talking about versatile things like t-shirts, dresses and blazers. You can mix and match these things, and achieve excellent results whether you’re dressing up or down. Versatility means that you can use the same item for multiple purposes, which means that you need to buy fewer items, which in turn means that you can spend more on quality.
Look into tailoring
The human body can be a tremendously varied thing. What looks good on a professional model or a mannequin might not look good on the rest of us. Subtle changes in the shape of our torso, hips and legs can make a big difference when it comes to fit. As such, it’s a good idea to get everything adjusted to fit your body – especially if you’re going to be wearing it over and over again. If you’re going to be doing this a lot, then you might even learn to sew!