the problem?
the price tag…
when is an item a good buy?
i have some clients that believe that because an item is “expensive” it is therefore…”good”
i have some clients that believe that spending hundreds of dollars on one item is “insane”
so how do you determine a good buy?
this is the process that i go through with my clients to decide if an item is a “good investment”
first and foremost…organize your budget…sort out what you want from what you need…then think about what you can afford…
how do you know if something is too divine…or just too dear?
this is where you need to put it under the microscope…
money well spent will buy you high-quality fabric, sensible (if not brilliant) design…and remarkable workmanship…
a few questions to ask yourself…
how versatile is it? chances are…you’ll have that exquisitely tooled black leather bag for years…it is the hot-pink quilted purse that may be headed for the tag sale next season…
how well does it fit into the rest of your wardwrobe? a really perfect suit is always more than just the sum of its parts…
how delicate is it? one rainfall after another and even the most expensive suede pumps will look shabby…
invest in a good basic wardrobe…then spruce it up with a few things each season that will update or enhance what you already own…
clothes worth spending money on shouldn’t be disposable…
so what is a good investment?
classic design and the best quality you can afford
– a beautifully tailored suit and blazer in a high-quality, seasonless fabric
– pants that really fit in a neutral color
– the perfect simple black dress
– accessories that last (classic structured handbag, fine leather belts, durable opaque stockings and well made leather shoes)
– things you will wear to death (fine cotton shirts, well-made sweaters)
if you can answer “yes” to the questions below…most likely…it will be a good investment purchase…
is it a necessity?
is it versatile?
is it made well?
is it timeless in cut, color, and pattern?
do you feel great in it?
and the big question…how often will you wear it?
so…what was your best versatile investment purchase? please share!
I have to disagree with this: “how versatile is it? chances are…you’ll have that exquisitely tooled black leather bag for years…it is the hot-pink quilted purse that may be headed for the tag sale next season…” — plain “timeless” stuff, sure, will get used day after day and beat up till you don’t care about it anymore. But I keep my most distinctive pieces for 10 or 20 years (so far) and have no plans of giving them up. The distinctive pieces age best, IMHO. You don’t wear them as much but they’re always special. If you’re brave enough to stick with them.
wendy…i agree with you! i am talking more about the real trendy buys…the ones that we all know are not going to make it past one season…i as well have those very distinctive pieces in my closet…and it is what i search for most…but they are “well made” pieces & worth the investment…and the reason why they keep so well 10 & 20 yrs later…