by The Social Butterfly
Being in the fashion industry I am frequently asked for any inside secrets or advice when it comes to shopping. Sometimes I am qualified to answer and sometimes I have to draw on the knowledge of my wonderful design team. But I or they or we will always answer.
Of course there are some times little snippets of generic advice that pop up and which will fit most people and most situations. They are fashion fairy gold dust. And this post will see me dispensing one.
BUY TWICE.
Seriously. It is the best advice I can give. If you have something you love I suggest buying it twice. Not a similar something with the same fabric, same cut or same mood but buy thee exact one again. Different colour is ok, neigh encouraged since it stops people thinking you are wearing the same thing day after day. But it must be the same style.
Now before you think I have gone crazy know that my advice comes from many a broken heart when I have had to throw the best denim I have ever owned away due to massive holes in unforgiving areas. And I am sure I cannot be the only one who spent most of the summer looking for shoes in the exact same nude colour as the shoes I had adored, used and abused the summer before?
The trick is to buy one and see how your reaction and infatuation is within a month. Does the lust keep up? A month is a respectable time for the garment to still be available in store and you for you know if the item has any longevity in your affections.
Ok before anyone starts to think I have an unlimited bank account and a wardrobe full of double ups you have to know this way of buying is actually capable of saving you money. This is because when you have a favourite item of clothing you are going to swing towards wearing that more than others and the cost per wear actually goes down. As a result all the other items you add to your collection actually end up costing you more if you don't wear them. The key is to stop continuing to buy similarish items since, in the end, you are only going to revert to your favourite (the same old comfy jeans, the reliable t-shirt) but one day those favourites are going to go to clothes heaven and you haven't lined up a reliable successor.
On top of this by investing in similar items you are actually helping to create sense of style loyalty and paint a consistent picture of who you are. And who doesn't want to be known as the girl always rocking killer denims, coloured knitwear and perfectly co-ordinated pumps.
What's your thoughts?
