Okay, so I know what I’m about to talk about is probably old news to everyone, but I think it’s such a helpful reminder. Earlier this week I endured the grueling (and depressing) task of cleaning out my closet. The reason I say it was depressing is because of the amount of clothes I got rid of, some of which had never even been worn. Thinking about how much money I wasted on clothes I only wore a couple of times made me almost sick to my stomach.

As I grow older and realize that money does not grow on trees, I’ve had to become a smarter, more conservative consumer. I know that spending $20 on a trendy top at Forever21 doesn’t seem like much, but when you do your annual clean-out and reazlize how many of those $20-something tops you’re getting rid of, it really starts to add up! What I’ve learned in my 27 years of being a serious shopaholic is what seems to outlast all of my closet clean-outs are the quality accessories and staple clothing items that I’ve splurged on over the years. Don’t get me wrong- I love a good clothing trend just as much as the next, but when you’re on a budget like I am, splurging on an accessory that I can pair with all of my outfits gives me way more bang for my buck than buying 8 trendy tops that I will end up throwing away a few months later.

I know spending $200 on a nice leather jacket or a beautiful designer purse or a stunning pair of shoes can sometimes seem daunting in the moment, but I never seem to regret those purchases, and I always get the most use out of those items. So if there’s one piece of advice I can give to you, it’s that spending a little more moolah on staple accessories & timeless clothing items and saving on certain trends will take you much further in your fashion life. Check out my examples on when to save and when to splurge below!

Splurge: Leather Jacket

Save: Patched Denim

Splurge: Simple, everyday Jewelry

Save: Fun, eye-catching accessories

Splurge: Great black bootie

Save: Slides (especially fur!)

 

lauren b