1. Budget

When looking at making fashion investments, always take your budget into account. What’s expensive to one person might be chump change to another. So, always spend within your comfort zone and within your means. There’s no point buying something you’ll be paying off for years to come. If you don’t have the cash right now then try coming up with a realistic saving or payment plan.

2. Personal Style

For those big fashion buys, you want something that will suit your personal style. There’s no point buying something because it’s in fashion or because everyone else has one only to not wear it because it doesn’t fit in with your style. Before purchasing an item, try and visualise different outfit combinations with things that already exist in your wardrobe. If you can come up with plenty then it’s meant to be!

3. Timelessness

Certain brands have signature styles that are available season after season, and never go out of style. Sticking to more classic and timeless designs is one way to ensure that your fashion investments never go out of style. Spend more on staples that will last you for years and less on trend-based items that will change with the seasons.

4. Cost per Wear

Calculating the cost per wear of something is a great way of seeing if you’re making a worthwhile fashion investment (it’s also a cheeky way of justifying a splurge). Divide the cost of the item by the number of times you’ll wear it. For example, wearing a $200 blazer around 100 times in a year will equate to about $2 per wear. Alternatively, that $20 top that you only wear once will cost you $20. It’s all about getting value for money.

5. Shopping around

It pays to be savvy with your spending when it comes to fashion. With the ease of online shopping, comparing items and prices is easier than ever. These days it pays to think twice before paying full price for something. If you can grab it on sale or at a reduced cost then that’s definitely a worthwhile fashion investment!

6. Quality

There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of money on something only for it to break. When choosing clothing and accessories, pay attention to the quality of an item. If you’re going to be splurging then you want your money’s worth. Check the quality of the material and the level of craftsmanship. If something feels cheap or you have doubts about the quality, then maybe wait until you find an item that you are truly happy to spend the money on.

7. Care Instructions

Some things, like designer clothing, can still cost you after the initial purchase. Delicate items or certain fabrics might be dry clean only. So not only will you be paying the initial purchase price, but you’ll also be paying every time you clean it. If you’re OK with things like dry cleaning then that’s fine. Otherwise, always make sure to check the care instructions before you buy something.

8. Sleeping on It

If you’re going to be making a big fashion investment, take your time. Sometimes impulse purchases can lead to buyer’s remorse. Make sure that you really, really want what you’re buying. Instead of making your mind up on the spot, go home and sleep on it. This will help you gain perspective and help you make a decision away from the pressures of a store environment.

These are just a few things to consider when making fashion investments like designer clothing and accessories. Have you made any big fashion purchases lately? What things do you think of before spending big?