It’s always better to have fewer clothes in your wardrobe that are of a good quality than lots of ‘toot’. The cheaper clothes will not last very long and actually end up being more expensive than making an investment in the better quality alternative.

The true cost of clothes is not how much you spend on them, but the number of times you wear them. So if you buy a Top in the sale that costs you £15, doesn’t really go with anything else you have in your wardrobe and loses its shape after a few washes, that is actually an extravagance.

However, if you spend £40 on a Top that goes with everything else in your wardrobe, you love it to bits; it keeps its shape after numerous washes and is still in your wardrobe 5 years later, that is the bargain.

Start to re-asses how you spend your money on your clothes. Start thinking smart, we all work hard for our money and our money has to work equally hard for us. So, what should you look for if you want to make an investment in more expensive clothes?

Here are some tips:

Buy in natural fibres :

Wool – flannel, cashmere and crepe

Leather – the softer the leather the better the quality

Linen – improves with age as it moulds itself to the body

Cotton

Silk – the oldest material in the world, it’s been around since 1725 BC!

Rayon – a manmade fibre using natural materials

Items to check before buying :

Zips – should be light weight, dyed to match the garment and concealed

Button holes should be neat

Buttons should be good quality (you can always change these though)

Hems should be invisible

Linings should be soft and roomy

Good seam allowances – you should be able to tuck your blouse into your skirt

and cover the knicker line

Plaids and patterns should match, especially across the shoulders

Buy it in a neutral colour

It must have flexibility, ie if you buy a suit, hang the items separately and ask yourself,

“if this jacket was not with this skirt, would I buy it?” And vice versa. If the answer is ‘no’,

then don’t’ buy the suit, as you will be buying one outfit. They should work independently of each other, you are then buying the start of up to 10 outfits as that jacket will go with every skirt/pair of trousers and that skirt will go with every jacket

Judge its durability. This will be different for everyone as we all have different lifestyles. But consider what you are asking this outfit to do. If you travel to work and commute, then a pale wool coat is probably not the best investment buy as it will look a mess very quickly.

It must be comfortable and fit you. Forget ‘these shoes dig a bit, but I won’t be walking far in them’! You will only wear something for a maximum of 3 times if it’s uncomfortable and then it will stay in the wardrobe unworn.

Please consider the maintenance. A pale blue suede suit may look wonderful, but if you have to pay a fortune to get it dry cleaned, you may not be willing to take on that level of maintenance. If you are, fine, but think before you buy.

YOU MUST LOVE IT!!

Forget ‘this will do’ it won’t. If you can leave the shop without it, leave the shop without t, if you cant – BUY IT and ENJOY!

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