Shopping Questions

16 Things To Think About Before Buying New Clothes

Before I add something new to my closet, I ask myself shopping questions. These shopping questions allow you to have an intention about what you’re bringing into your closet. Asking these questions will help you build a wardrobe you’ll love. These shopping questions will ensure you have fewer purchase regrets and that you always feel like you have something to wear. So before you shop, consider these 16 shopping questions.

When considering a new addition to your closet, it’s important to think about the fabric of the item. Is it a high-quality fabric that you’ll wear and that will last, or is it something that might fall apart after one wash? If you notice loose threads or if the fabric feels like an inexpensive polyester or rayon, then it won’t feel great on your body, meaning you won’t wear it. Take the time to touch and feel the fabric to see if you like it. If you’re unsure, check the label to find out what it’s made of. Start paying attention to the fabrics you like and the ones you don’t.

This shopping question applies when shopping online too. Make sure to read the item description to see what fabric it’s made of. Knowing the fabric also helps you decide if the price is worth it. For example, if I see that an item is made of silk, I’m willing to spend more because I feel better about investing in higher-quality fabric that will last the test of time.

2. What Is The Cost Per Wear?

The second consideration is the cost per wear. For example, if something costs $100, I want to evaluate whether I’ll get enough use out of it to justify the price. It’s about determining if that $100 will be worth it in the long run. On the other hand, if I buy something for $20 and only wear it once, that’s $20 per wear. But if I purchase a higher-quality item for $100 and wear it 10 times, then the cost per wear is only $10.

This concept highlights the importance of how often you plan to wear an item when deciding how much you’re willing to spend. Spending $20 might seem like a great deal, but if you only wear it once because it falls apart or you realize you don’t like it, that’s not money well spent. In contrast, spending $100 on something you love that lasts longer could result in many more wears, making it a smarter investment.

3. Does It Fit Your Personal Style?

Does it fit your personal style is one of the most important shopping questions to consider when you’re deciding whether to buy something. It doesn’t matter if it’s trendy, or if you suddenly want to start wearing bright pink even though you’ve never worn it before. What matters is whether the item aligns with your unique personal style.

Understanding your style is one of the most helpful things when shopping because it guides you to make better decisions about what you bring into your closet. For example, if your style is more classic and you get caught up in the moment and buy something trendy, chances are you might not end up wearing it. That’s why it’s important to keep your personal style in mind when shopping.

If you like to buy items based on a personal style you aspire to be, take a moment to consider if that style truly fits your life, your personality, and your current reality. If it does, start thinking about the pieces that you’re missing to build that style. For example, if you want to move towards a minimalist personal style but your closet is currently filled with trendy or bohemian items, start identifying the foundational pieces you can gradually add to build that minimalist style. This approach will help your style evolve in a way that feels authentic to you.

4. Is It Comfortable?

When considering a new piece for your closet, think about whether it’s going to be comfortable enough for you to reach for it regularly, or if it’s going to end up being one of those items you hesitate to wear because it’s uncomfortable. If it’s not going to be comfortable enough to wear often, it’s not the best addition to your closet.

This applies to shoes as well. We’ve all been there, seeing a beautiful pair of shoes and thinking they’d be perfect for an upcoming event. But then, after wearing them once, they give you blisters, and you never wear them again. So, it’s important to be honest with yourself and ask yourself if this is an item you’ll reach for.

5. Do You Have A Shopping List?

Do you have a shopping list? If you find yourself struggling to get dressed in the morning, not loving your clothes, or feeling like you’re missing key pieces and rushing to the store at the last minute, creating a shopping list can be incredibly helpful. It will help you prioritize the items you need. Instead of just going to the mall and buying whatever catches your eye, a shopping list keeps you focused.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re shopping, especially if you’re with friends. Having a shopping list that you can quickly refer to before you shop will remind you of the pieces you need. This will make your shopping trips more intentional and ultimately create a more satisfying wardrobe.

6. Do You Have The Budget?

If you love that $300 pair of shoes but you only have $100 to spend, think about it. Is that something you need right now? Is it worth going into a little bit of credit card debt to get that more expensive item, or is it something you can save for? You don’t need to have all the best pieces in your closet today, especially if you’ve spent years buying things that maybe weren’t quality or weren’t your style. Take your time and think about what your wardrobe budget is. Don’t spend on something that’s out of your wardrobe budget and later be stressed out.

7. Does The Item Meet Your Three Criteria?

Does the item meet your three criteria? My three criteria or non-negotiables are that something needs to be high quality, versatile, and needs to fit me well. If an item I’m looking at doesn’t have these three elements, I know it’s an absolute no. It doesn’t matter if it has one of the elements, if it’s a good deal, or if I think it might work. If you want to curate a closet you love and a wardrobe you feel great in, you need to know what your criteria are.

Maybe it needs to be timeless, it needs to be fun, it needs to be comfortable, or it needs to be casual. It might need to be a certain color or fabric, or maybe you have more than three criteria. Whatever your criteria are, if something doesn’t meet them don’t buy it.

8. Will This Style Last?

The next thing to think about before you buy something is whether this is a style that will last. If it’s a trendy item ask yourself if you can see it being something that will last in the seasons to come. If not, consider whether you’re okay with spending the amount it costs. Is it worth it to you if you’re only going to get to wear it a few times? This ties back to cost per wear. If you’re only going to get a few uses out of it, is the price tag still worth it?

If you’re okay with getting two or three uses out of it and paying a certain amount, then go ahead. But if it isn’t going to be in style a year from now and you won’t be able to wear it then, consider whether this is an item you want to spend your money on. Is it worth bringing into your closet?

9. Will You Follow The Care Instructions?

Now, take a look at the care instructions for the item. If it’s dry clean only, ask yourself if you’re willing to have that piece dry cleaned. Putting it in the wash and then hanging it to dry might work for some items that say dry clean only, but you don’t want to take that chance because it may not work, and you could end up ruining it.

Think about the care requirements of the item. If your lifestyle demands easy-care items that you can throw in the wash and dryer without worrying about them getting ruined, then that’s what you should look for. Always read the care labels to see if the item is realistic for you to bring into your closet. If you’re not willing to follow the care instructions, I’d say leave the item behind.

10. Is It High Quality?

If you want to cultivate a closet that you love and curate a wardrobe filled with items you’ll have for years to come, then you need to think about the quality of the item before you bring it into your closet. This goes back to the fabric. What materials are used to make the item, whether it’s a bag, a shoe, or a piece of clothing? It’s also about the construction of the piece.

When you’re trying an item on think about how it feels on your body and how you feel in it. Also, think about how it lays on your body. Does it bunch up in some places? You want to bring items into your closet that are easy because if you only have five minutes to get dressed, you’re not going to reach for something that you have to fuss with.

Another thing to consider when you’re looking at quality is the stitching. Look at the threads, especially if you’re newer to brands or paying attention to details like fabrics and construction. Start paying attention to these things because they’ll help you choose items that you’re going to love and wear. This will help you build a wardrobe filled with high-quality pieces that will last.

11. How Does It Fit?

How does the item fit your body today? The person you are right now, not the person you’re telling yourself you’re going to be in six months? When you’re bringing new items into your wardrobe, they need to fit you today. If they don’t fit well, you need to be willing to have those items tailored. Can you commit to spending the extra money on tailoring before you decide to buy that item?

The same principle applies to shoes. Don’t buy a shoe that’s a size too small or a size too big thinking, “ I’ll make it work. I’ll add an extra sock, or I’ll just go without socks,” because chances are, you’re not going to reach for them. Make sure an item fits your body today. Not the body you aspire to have or the body you used to have, but your body as it is now. Embrace your body and find clothes that you love and that fit you well today.

12. Follow The 7 Second Rule.

It only takes seven seconds of trying an item on to know if it’s an absolute yes. If, in those first seven seconds it’s not an absolute yes, then it’s a no. Put it back on the rack. It doesn’t matter if you have somewhere to go or if you feel like you need something for an event tomorrow. If you don’t love the item in those first seven seconds, you’re not going to love it later.

This is an easy, quick way to bring more awareness into what you’re bringing into your closet. This way, you’ll curate a closet filled with clothes you love and will want to wear again and again.

13. Can You Return The Item?

If you change your mind, can you return the item? This is one of the most important shopping questions to ask, especially when you are just starting to curate your wardrobe. When I shop for my clients, I never buy anything they can’t return because being able to return something is helpful. You don’t want to buy something and feel stuck with it. Maybe a few days pass, and you realize you don’t like it. It’s okay to change your mind and have that flexibility.

Personally, I would much rather pay full price and have the option to return it if I change my mind, rather than buy something that’s final sale, even if it seems like a good deal. In the long run, you want to be able to return an item if you bring it home and don’t feel as good about it as you did in the store. Buying from a place with a good return policy is an absolute must-have.

14. Does It Work With Your Current Lifestyle?

Be honest and realistic. Does the item you’re thinking about buying work with your current lifestyle? Not the lifestyle you had five, ten, or twenty years ago, and not the lifestyle you imagine you might have in five, ten, or twenty years, but today. Think about whether you will get use out of this item today. If it doesn’t work for who you are and how you live your life right now, it’s probably not worth buying because you’ll end up not wearing it.

15. Is It Versatile?

Before you bring something into your closet, ask yourself, Is it versatile? Can you wear it for day or night? Is it something you can wear for more than one season? Versatility is such an important thing to think about because this goes back to cost per wear. The more versatile an item is, the more you’ll get to wear it, and the more you get to wear it, the less it actually costs each time you wear it. Having something versatile will work with so many different things in your closet and it’ll mix and match with other pieces.

If you’re not sure what makes an item versatile, here are some things to consider. Think about the style. Look for something that is classic, not trendy, so it won’t be out of style next season or next year. Also, consider the color. A neutral color will get much more use than a bright or pop-of-color statement item. And when it comes to versatility, a solid color is going to be more versatile than a print or pattern.

16. Is It One Of Your Brands?

Now, while I don’t recommend that anyone focus solely on certain brands, I do think it’s important to consider brands when shopping because some brands make good pieces compared to others. Some brands offer higher-quality construction, better fabrics, and more classic or timeless styles. These are the brands I like to look at.

What I always tell my clients is that when you’re trying to figure out what your specific brands are, take a look through your closet. Identify the pieces you love, the ones you wear again and again, and the ones that make you feel great. See if any brands come up repeatedly. Those are probably the brands that work best for you. These are the pieces that fit well because each brand typically has consistent sizing. One brand might run big, which might not work for you, or another might run small, which could also be a problem.

When I’m shopping, especially online, I like to filter by the brands I know have worked for me in the past. I look at the brands where I love the quality, the style works for me, and the fit is just right for my body. Pay attention to those brands for these reasons, not because of a logo or designer name.

These shopping questions will help you build a wardrobe you love and that works for you.