How to Build a Luxury Sustainable Wardrobe
And make your fashion budget go further.
Introduction
You may be conscious of the impact that the fashion industry continues to place on the environment. Or, perhaps you’re a self-confessed shopaholic who wants to change course, ditching the impulse buys for more considered purchases? You might be at a loss with your closet, suffering from disorganisation and confusion, while struggling with personal style. Or, perhaps you’re wondering how you’re ever going to afford those dream high end pieces. If any of that applies, then this blog is for you!
Admittedly, I’m a bit of a bean counter, and I like to make sure my money is stretching as far as it possibly can. Think maximum performance, multi-use, cost per wear, high quality, longevity – all that stuff. Which brings me to the point of this current blog. What if you wanted to curate a wardrobe that contained less clutter and more luxury, but you only had lemonade money as opposed to champagne funds? Can it be done? Of course! Maybe it won’t be instant, or tomorrow, but by putting in place a strategy, in time, you can integrate some high end lux into the mix.
Change your wardrobe and the way you shop, forever. You can curate your best, most feel good, most talked about wardrobe yet!
The Luxury Closet Strategy
Clear out Your Closet
Out with the old you and in with the new. Bag up those items that no longer serve you - items that don’t fit, don’t suit you and/or those that you just never reach for. The things you’re saving for ‘when you lose weight.’ Be honest with yourself. Why are you holding onto certain items? Do you need them to be taking up space? First things first, every item needs to earn its place in your closet. Do what you can and aim to go from cluttered to curated.
Create a Seasonal Wish List
As each season approaches, it can be beneficial to look for gaps in your wardrobe and create a wish list of new (and secondhand) pieces that you think would benefit and refresh your closet.
These could be high investment accessories that elevate your current pieces to a new level, or a specific piece that will help you create new outfits by utilising what you already have. Or, it might be different outerwear that offers a completely new silhouette, but complements all your chosen colour ways.
Think, how many outfits can you create with a new purchase? If they are all going to be identical because you have almost identical items already in your closet, then there is no gain. If the new item is so radical it will only create one or two new outfits, then it’s probably not worth it.
Challenge Yourself
You might want to try this challenge: Decide how many ‘new’ items you will allow yourself to purchase each season and decide what the limit might be. Note, when I say new, this challenge excludes secondhand items – they don’t count. You might decide on a limit of 4 ‘new’ items each season.
Whatever the number, decide what’s right for you and stick to it. If you want to aim towards more higher end pieces, then you might need to make your funds go further by committing to purchasing less.
Ditch Fast Fashion
And ditch it fast! Trust me, fast fashion is making you poorer! Fast fashion is the culprit behind all the bad press the fashion industry currently gets in relation to its huge impact upon the planet. Your incline towards faster fashion might often be based on impulsive, cheap, trend driven buys, season after season. Eventually though, it eats into your budget and thus denies you a more luxury and better quality wardrobe in the long term, and one that will last beyond a season.
Work Around Budget
This bit sounds dull, but it’s necessary. How much do you want to spend on fashion? Be realistic about your available budget, then try and determine what your monthly budget will be, and stick to it. Don’t fall for the ‘pay in instalments’ opportunities, instead, opt to know exactly where you are with your finances by only buying what you can afford. You’ll be empowered and feel more in control, clear headed and organised – a plus for your mental health!
Avoid Impulse Buys
What with all the constant noise of online communities, mailing lists and the like, sometimes it feels impossible to avoid the urge to hit the buy now button. Try to take a step back and employ a slower approach.
What’s it like to avoid online shopping and instead, opting to try on in person in a bricks and mortar store? It creates a calmer setting with better comparison opportunities and less room for error. Also, at this point, you’ve had a good chance to consider your potential purchase, which in turn will make you more confident in that purchase. And, it’s definitely more of an experience, one where you’re fully engaged and immersed in the moment. Doing this slows the pace a little and gives us opportunity to also enjoy and support the high street.
If you’re very impulsive, you might find it helps to unsubscribe from mailing lists or refrain for viewing brand websites or other people’s purchases online. The more you avoid impulse buys, the less waste you will create, and the better your wardrobe will be for it, because you’ll have more available funds for the bigger and better buys. At this point I need to mention sales. Don’t just make a purchase because the item is in the sale and it seems a good deal. Remember, if you didn’t want it at full price, then you probably don’t really need it or want it now.
Pool Your Budget
While we’re on the subject of budgets, this is where less becomes more, especially if you want to bring in some high-end. Invest in the best you can afford. If you wish to aim for more high-end items, then pool your allocated monthly budget – putting it towards one or two high end items rather than an item or two every single month, for example. When it comes to quantity then this is the long game, but it’s most definitely worth it and will make some of your wish list achievable. When deciding what to buy, focus on cost per wear.
Always Place ‘Classic’ over ‘Trend’
The seasonal trend carousel can make you dizzy! I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to waste your money and you don’t have to climb into the hamster wheel and keep pace with everyone else. Like so many things in life, finding balance is key. You can balance your interest and love of fashion without having to constantly buy into the latest trend or newest things. If you’re in a close knit social community, do you really want to be wearing the same item everyone else is wearing? I remember when it was a goal not to turn up in the same dress as someone else!
Basically, you’ll not go wrong with focussing on classic pieces and to quote Coco Chanel: “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”
Buy Secondhand / Pre-loved
This tip had to be in here – of course it did! Investigate all preloved opportunities as there are some great quality items out there - some of which are totally unique, at bargain prices. If you can get items via the charity shops even better, you’ll get much better deals than those offered online. I’ve monitored online pre-loved for some time now and with some items, sellers are sometimes asking more for an item that would actually be cheaper, new, in a sale. Keep an open mind when it comes to monitoring pricing. Also, stay aware. When you come across a Facebook selling site that appears to host individuals who sell so much Chanel on a weekly basis that they could literally be a Chanel factory, there’s obviously something not quite right - I personally steer well clear.
If you like browsing and handling items in person, then traditional designer dress agencies, as well as retail platforms such as Sellier and Reselfridges are one of your best bets. For me, it’s super important to try items on, and to inspect the condition of an item.
Flannels, which you may have heard of, was one of the very first stores I ever visited back in the early 90’s, so they’ve been around a long time, notably bringing designer goods to regional locations outside of London – at a time when it wasn’t all that common. Sellier has recently opened a permanent retail space at Flannels in Sheffield (in addition to those at Belfast, Liverpool and Glasgow). Sellier often showcase a curated selection of pre-loved rare handbags and accessories from luxury brands including Chanel, Hermès, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. Sellier have also launched a new pre-loved luxuary app called Sellier Selected. You can also check out Reselfridges at Selfridges, offering an extensive selection of authenticated pre-owned clothing and accessories from all the big names.
Visit Designer Outlets
There are many outlet villages around these days, and these can be a fabulous source for securing a designer bargain, especially if you don’t mind buying previous seasons items. Really, these opportunities are not to be missed.
Look out for High Street Collaborations with Top Designers
Classic example – take H&M, who have collaborated with many high-end designers to bring limited, yet affordable ranges to the high street. From the likes of Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Moschino, Versace and Balmain! You’re getting design, quality and lux for a fraction of the price! You’re also getting something limited and unique. Others include Zara x Kate Moss and M&S x Bella Freud. It’s not a bad option.
Consider Diffusion Lines
Diffusion lines offer a good entry level into the world of high-end designer pieces. Relative to the main line, they are inexpensive options, retailing at much lower prices. Lines come and go so do your research. Historically, such lines had a more casual element to the design, for e.g. Versus by Versace, or D&G by Dolce & Gabbana, but these days choice may well be very much expanded.
Investigate Press / Sample Sales
This takes some digging around and a bit of work but if successful you can bag up to a whopping 90% off retail! The downside is that sizing is limited, and if you’re a small size you’ll probably fair much better. This warrants a blog all of its own – one of many I’m working on, but it’s definitely food for thought.
Choose Product Reviews Carefully
If you’re really keen to find out the detail of how a product performs, then make sure you seek out totally independent and objective reviews. An honest review should highlight the good points, but also should not be afraid to mention negatives (if there are any) about a product. Product reviews, where they exist, can help you to figure out if it’s the right investment for you.
A review or advice can help you with sizing (is it true to size?), quality (What is the fabric composition? Where was it manufactured? Has it worn well? etc). The devil is always in the detail, so try to avoid any opportunity for bias, or the glossing over of any potential cons.
Accessorise
And then accessorise some more, but don’t make things too busy. Sometimes you think you need a new outfit, or a new look, but in actual fact, what you probably need is a different set of accessories to work with a hero piece you already own. Don’t forget, accessories can really change up looks, and if you place your investments here, they will indeed help you to look more ‘expensive,’ adding that touch of lux to all of your outfits. If you budget carefully, many high-end accessories are often achievable, especially if you buy second hand.
Build Relationships with Sales Associates
If you’re likely to be visiting or purchasing in-store, then getting to know and build relationships with sales associates is very worthwhile. Not only are they an excellent source of product/brand knowledge, they can be extremely helpful when it comes to organising transfers of items from other boutiques – even those abroad (I had a pair of gloves shipped from Hawaii because that was the only place they had them in stock! All organised by a fantastic SA and delivered to Manchester). They have the essential knowledge if you’re searching for something specific, or even just doing your own research – I’ve experienced all scenarios.
A good relationship is essential if you want to stay informed with regards to events, special discounts and those fabulous sales - see my next point. They might even be able to put items on hold for you. Finally, it’s good to foster human relationships – anyone who knows me is aware I’m not a fan of life lived ‘through a device.’
Shop the Sale
If you want to buy new items in-store, a great option is to shop the sale. There are a few high-end designer brands that offer a whopping 40% off straight up in their sales. I have been lucky enough to have had access to Burberry and Chanel sales in the past. Is this possible for a customer who does not spend a fortune? People will tell you no. They’re wrong!
I like to think if you’ve built genuine relationships and have a genuine interest and passion for the brand, there’s no reason why sometimes you can’t get lucky – keep the glass half full! I am by no means (and likely never will be) among the high-end best, most frequent most high-profile customers, but sometimes keeping it real and being authentic – no agendas, is what makes things work. There are good people out there who will help you. The sales are beyond popular, therefore getting access is essential.
Designer Clothing? It’s all in the Fit
As ever, my advice is always to go to a bricks and mortar store where you have an opportunity to try on (see point my shopping preloved). It’s worth bearing in mind that I’ve found many high-end designers to run small. Whether this is because we are now getting a form of vanity sizing pushed our way, I don’t know, but never assume if you’re a Size 8 in H&M that you’re going to get into a Chanel size 8!
As far as designer clothes go, the clue is in the title, meaning a poor fitting item will detract entirely from its unique ‘designer’ attributes, rendering it useless and a waste of time and money. Make sure your investment fits – today, and not when you’ve gained some more weight after your bout of illness, or when you’ve lost those few pounds you keep promising yourself is going to happen! When our focus point is cost benefit and smart budgeting, we want to avoid any ‘false economy.’
Avoid being side-tracked by ‘influencers’
It’s their job to convince you that they’re obsessed with a piece, (that in reality is often a freebee) and that – yes, you actually need to go out and purchase said item, when most probably, you don’t!
It’s absolutely fine (and fun) to engage in discussion and admire trends, and to take action to learn about a product from these people - that is indeed useful. But when it comes to purchasing, know what is best for you, your budget, your needs and your personal style.
Remember, you don’t always have to have the next newest thing – tomorrow, and actually, if you don’t, you’ll probably stand out from the crowd with your own shining individuality! Nobody can tell you how to do you, because nobody does you like you!
Reads: Less - Stop Buying So Much Rubbish. How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier, by Patrick Grant
As I said earlier, don’t get too caught up in the noise and the hype that can sometimes surround new releases. Instead, engage and have fun, but remain focussed on your own fashion goals. Stay disciplined, and organise your budget so that it goes further. Happy shopping!