The Fashion Index: How to Shop Purposefully
Shopping is often spontaneous and uncalculated. While we all enjoy the high that comes from retail therapy, it is important to ensure that the high doesn’t turn into regret. In order to avoid impulse shopping, and end up with a wardrobe you truly love, it’s helpful to construct a set of standards to help determine if a piece is really worth it.
The most vital elements in deciding if a piece is really worth purchasing can be divided into four categories: Quality, Versatility, Fit, and Style. In order to showcase these standards in action, we have highlighted several brands and noted how best to shop them for pieces that are really worth the price.
Madewell - Known for high-quality denim and timeless wardrobe essentials.
ASOS - A fashion-forward online retailer with over 800 brands carrying a vast range of styles.
Everlane - Offers designer quality pieces, without the designer markup
Zara- Offers high fashion, trendy pieces at a moderate price point
We’ve broken things down into four main considerations for when you’re shopping. Next time you pull a piece of the rack, ask yourself how it measures up in these four categories before swiping your credit card!
Quality
The quality of a piece of clothing is determined by the materials and construction. Before buying anything, make sure to inspect the care tag. For the best quality, you want to look for natural fibers, or natural fiber blends, containing materials such as cotton, wool, linen, cashmere and silk. While synthetic fibers such as polyester and rayon work well with certain articles of clothing, natural fibers and blends typically stand up better than 100% synthetics. In addition to checking out the care tag, make sure to perform a tug test, or to ensure that your piece has strong stitching and won’t easily become unraveled.
Madewell - Look for 95-100% cotton denim with great structure that will last for years
ASOS - Check out the 70-100% cotton denim, corduroy, and knit tops
Zara - When buying knits, look for blends that contain fibers such as wool, mohair, and cashmere. Avoid pieces that are 100% acrylic.
Versatility
When looking for a new piece to add to your wardrobe, its wearability should be considered. With the exception of special occasion wear, it is important to gauge how many times you will realistically wear a piece. Additionally, it can be helpful to indicate how versatile a piece is, and the different ways you could potentially style it. Take a moment to arrange an outfit in your head, matching your new piece with items you already own. A good way to determine versatility is to try and think of at least three different ways to wear a single piece.
Everlane- Everlane focuses on wardrobe staples and carries minimalist pieces that pair well with nearly anything.
Zara-Check out the basics category for tees, turtlenecks, and button-up shirts that will serve as the building blocks of your wardrobe.
Fit
This element is the most personal and often the most obvious. While alterations are always an option, consider how likely you are to follow through. Take note of what fits you gravitate towards, and what has worked for you in the past. Go through your closet and identify the fit and fabrication of your go-to pieces. Additionally, make sure to always consider the comfort factor. While at times fashion can be painful, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Does the fabric bother your skin? Is it too tight or too loose? You are always more likely to get the most wear out of an article of clothing you truly feel comfortable in. At the end of the day, we all want something we feel good in, and that shouldn’t be sacrificed.
Style
Finding your style and navigating trends can be some of the toughest obstacles in the shopping realm. Does it really reflect your personal style, or will you be over it in a few months? How well will it integrate with what you already have? To determine if a piece will be around for the long haul, it is crucial to be conscious of what feels true to you versus a fad that is destined for the back of your closet. If you are on the fence about a piece, it is better to go without it. It is more valuable to have a small closet of pieces you love than a larger one with pieces you don’t care for.
The brands mentioned carry a wide array of styles, at varying price points, from minimalist to maximalist, and classic to fashion-forward, that cater to anyone’s taste.