Reality is, you’re wasting money (and probably a lot of it.)
In 2021, a study found that men spend half as much on clothing as women and on average, women are spending anywhere between $150-$400/month on clothes. As consumerism is on the rise, so are women’s spending habits on clothes.
If you think about it, it’s a little crazy how fast we churn and burn through clothes in our closet. It’s not healthy for us and it’s not healthy for the planet. Aside from it being a huge waste of resources, it’s a complete waste of time. Odds are, you’re shopping because you can’t find what you want to wear in your wardrobe. Now, there are probably a lot of factors influencing that, but the main issue is that you’re probably shopping wrong.
If you’re not applying any type of strategy to your shopping, you’re probably buying a whole lot of nothing.
Three Ways to Shop Strategically
Make a list.
You’ll never be able to create a wardrobe if you’re just buying clothes. Get clear on what you need, what you want, and what aligns. Find wardrobe gaps, keep track of things you like to style, identify styles worth exploring, and pay attention to what you buy vs. what you wear. Remember, slow & steady wins the race.
Learn to say no.
Stop buying out of desperation, you don’t need it because it’s on sale, you’re justifying it because it’s on sale. Get picky about what goes into your wardrobe. Clothing doesn’t have an expiration date, so start acting like it. Consider each item and ask yourself if you’d be willing to keep it forever- if you don’t love it, leave it.
Invest.
Stop being afraid of spending a little money. Rather than spend $150-$400/month on a new season’s worth of clothes, invest in a few pieces a year. Creating a centralized focus will help speed up the process to help you build a high-quality wardrobe. Focus on filling wardrobe gaps, investing in staple pieces, and thrifting your statement items and watch your wardrobe transform. Consider the materials of the piece & where it was made to help make wise investments.