Should you buy that? 7 questions to ask yourself before you buy that clothing item

That Instagram ad pops up in your feed, and that cool maxi dress is just calling your name. And before you can even think twice, you’ve hit add to cart, and your credit card has been charged.

But… you actually never wear the piece. Or you wear it once and seem content with giving it heart eyes every time you open your closet, despite the fact it’s been sitting unworn for months. 

Adding new pieces to your wardrobe can be frighteningly easy. And to be honest, it’s not just about the wasted money or the environmental impact (although those are things to consider as well). In fact, adding in all those pieces is making your closet untenable, throwing off your wardrobe balance, and probably leading to outfit confusion or outfit fatigue. 

Your style and your wardrobe need to be about you, including your lifestyle needs, your aesthetic goals and ultimately expressing your true self.

In building an authentic personal style and a wardrobe that functions, you’ll make getting dressed in the morning easier, you’ll love the way you look, and you’ll never again stare at your wardrobe like it’s a black hole and you have nothing to wear (despite having 16 different maxi dresses in front of you). 

So before you click add to cart or jump on a new fashion trend ask yourself these 7 questions. Let’s explore how to buy clothes you’ll actually wear.

1. Does it fit MY personal style goals? 

Building an authentic personal style is a lot like building a brand. Your fashion will communicate who you are to the world far quicker than any elevator pitch or introduction ever could. And if you want more information on how to go about developing a personal style that feels like you, I have a video on that here.

It can be very tempting to look at the cover of Vogue or at your favorite influencers outfit and think, “YES! I need that too”. But if it’s not in line with your style goals, it will often go unworn. 

It’s ok to love clothes for other people, and admire their personal styles without feeling like you also need to try that piece out. 

For instance, I love the quirky colorful outfits trending right now. And I admire the people who look so in harmony with those styles. But, when I completed my personal style map, I realized that that look isn’t in line with my style brand. And just to confirm that I even tried those styles for a set period of time, took photos to document it, which fully cemented that that aesthetic was not right for me. 

2. Does it fit my lifestyle needs? 

If you don’t have any need for a piece, it will likely just sit in your closet. It’s great to buy clothes that are aspirational and make you feel like your best self. But if those pieces only work for special occasions or one time of year, how functional are they in your closet?

I love the idea of owning a killer pair of over-the-knee boots. But I walk everywhere, often taking public transportation, so they would just be a pain to carry around and I’d end up not wearing them. And how often do I actually go to an event where they would be appropriate? If you don’t have regular opportunities to wear something, how much use will you actually get out of it? 

Understanding your lifestyle needs is an important part of your closet balance. I don’t have a need to craft a business casual wardrobe, so I don’t have a lot of need for blazers or slacks. I could probably get away with owning one nice blazer that I wear for more polished events. But beyond that, there’s no real need to stuff my closet with polished suits. 

Now if you have a strict corporate work environment you may want to compartmentalize your closet into two separate sections: work and personal. That way your closet needs become more obvious and you can audit them more effectively for missing pieces. 

Hence, before you click add to cart, ask yourself “how many times will I really wear this?” and if you can’t think of at least 3 different ways to wear it within your current life, then put a pause on that purchase. 

3. Does it suit my body type? 

Whether you abide by the fruit body system, the kibbe body types, or simply don’t want to know your body type at all, understanding how you want clothes to look on you is important. 

There is no one right way to dress. But if you want clothes that give you confidence, then how they look on your body matters. 

And paying attention to how the clothes are marketed or being presented is important. Before you buy, ask yourself, do I like the piece of clothing and how it will look on my body? Or do I like how it looks on a 6 ft tall model with chiseled cheekbones? 

Failure to anticipate how it will work on your own proportions and whether or not it will highlight your best features oftentimes leads to style frustration and purchase regret. 

4. How will it fit into my style long term? 

Trying a new trend is a fantastic way to spice up your style or expand your personal brand. However, it’s important to make sure that the trend fits into your personal style maps.

Chasing trends often leads to a very high credit card bill and a loss of self in your style. You never take the time to access why a trend does or does not work for you, because just like that you’re moving on to the next one. 

A piece of clothing doesn’t need to have a lifelong shelf life in your wardrobe, but if you absolutely can’t see yourself wearing it in 6 months, then it should be re-considered. 

This leads me to my next point. 

5. What percentage of my style budget is this piece? 

Setting a style budget is a great way to slowly build your closet and avoid impulse purchases. It can also allow you to invest in foundational fashion pieces your wardrobe needs without stress or guilt. 

If you like to buy some trends each season, that is totally ok and encouraged if they meet all your style needs. However, the amount you spend on one trend or a year’s worth of trends needs to be put into perspective for your total wardrobe budget. 

Because buying a $1000 micro slip dress when you are chasing toddlers, and live in a rainy climate, isn’t going to be the most sound fashion investment. 

If you enjoy trends and have your style budget set, shoot to spend less than 18% of your yearly budget on items that you don’t see carrying on to future years. 

6. Why do I NEED to buy this?

Ask yourself why you’re itching to click purchase. Oftentimes, when we are feeling low or bored we start indulging in a little impulse purchasing to give us a quick dopamine hit. 

Believe me, I’ve been guilty of this many times. 

And sometimes, we get lucky and they are sound fashion choices. And other times, we end up with… well, not great choices. 

So before you buy, ask yourself is there a reason you might be craving a good shopping fix? 

And further push yourself to consider waiting 5 days to purchase it, and don’t use an “it’s on sale” as a justification.

Because even if the piece is on sale, it is still costing money. And if you wouldn’t buy it at full price, consider how much you actually NEED and WANT the item. 

7. Is this clothing piece right for me? 

Clothing should make you feel confident. 

I encourage people to find strength through style and allow their personal style to be an expression to the world of their true selves. 

So before you buy it, or try a new fashion trend, ask yourself how it will make you feel to wear it. Will it make you feel sexy? Will it make you feel strong? Will it make you feel capable? 

I encourage you to find your own style adjectives and understand how you want to be perceived by the world. This will help you determine whether or not the shopping purchase in question will help fill those goals. 

If you take the time to consider how a piece of clothing will fit into your wardrobe, style, and budget, you are more likely to make a purchase that you’ll be happy with long-term. By understanding your personal style and what makes you feel good, you can shop with confidence and make choices that reflect your true self. 

With a little bit of reflection, you can make sure your closet is full of clothes you love that make you feel great. 

Happy shopping!