Purchasing an item we don’t need, wearing it once, and then quietly letting it gather dust. We’ve all been there, whether we care to admit it or not.
Buying an incorrect size and not bothering to return it. Even buying something that will ‘re-invent’ our look, then realising that the new look is awful and sticking with what you already know.
It happens to the best of us.
The problem is not just what we buy, it’s the fashion habits we fall into without even realising it. Small decisions, repeated over time, that quietly drain our bank accounts and available wardrobe space.
The good news is, most of these habits are easy to fix once you spot them.
So let’s dive into the most common fashion habits that are costing you money, so you can learn to break them.
1. Don’t Always Buy New: Renting & Vintage is Your Friend
There’s a horrible misconception in fashion that ‘new is always better’; but this is simply not true; it’s just more expensive.
You don’t have to shift your focus entirely to pre-loved items; there will always be a place for new items. Instead, you can build staples of your wardrobe using vintage and rented goods.
Another growing trend, and an alternative to buying new, is renting an outfit. From finding a wedding outfit and renting a dress for that one special night to trying out a new look for your everyday wardrobe. Learn more about how it works here.
You’ll often have much more access to unaffordable and super high-quality items at a much lower price, not to mention the thrill of finding pieces that are no longer on the market, ensuring you’ll never be caught wearing the same thing as someone else.
Altering your purchasing habits and starting to compare vintage vs new will open your eyes to a world of accessories, antique jewellery, and much more.
Shifting even a small part of your wardrobe towards the second-hand market is a simple way to reset spending habits, whilst keeping things interesting.
So try adding character to your wardrobe and make the most of an incredible market by seeking vintage pieces that won’t be found on any high street.
2. Stop Fantasy Shopping
The Blazer for important meetings you might have one day. The dress for events that don’t even exist. The handbag for your red carpet moment.
Buying clothes for the life you might one day live is a surefire way to waste money, but it’s very easily done.
Coming across an item that might be perfect for a moment in life that is not on your horizon is not the right move, even if it's on sale. Try to stick to buying the things you need now.
Focus on what you wear week-to-week, not what you might wear in a year’s time.
Tastes change, styles change, and 9 times out of 10, that item will sit in your ‘never used’ wardrobe section.
If a special occasion does come up, consider renting instead of buying new. It removes all the pressure to own something you’ll likely only wear once, while still letting you dress for the moment.
3. Cost-Per-Wear
Many people would be shocked to find out the cost-per-wear of their items, and it only takes a bit of practice to get into the habit of considering just how much you’re spending on one wear.
£100 for something you wear until it breaks? Bargain. £30 for something you wear once? Not so much.
Using this mindset to think about items you're purchasing is a great skill to have, and it will start to teach you about the true value of quality.
It’s a superb way to help you figure out how to stop spending money on clothes that don’t earn their place in your wardrobe.
Don’t get suckered in by an expensive item that will not work for you regularly. Try to seek out items that will cost you pennies per wear in the long run.
Once you've got a few items that meet this criteria, you’ll find your outfit choices are diverse and have longevity. The perfect combo.
5. Resell Your Never-Wears
We’ve all got a few ‘maybe one day’ items in the farthest corner of the cupboard, and they really don’t do anyone any good.
Luckily, thanks to modern technology, the solution is simple. Clear out your clutter and list the clothes you know you’ll never wear on a secondhand platform.
Many are app-based and have their own systems for taking care of postage, shipping labels and insurance; so all you have to do is snap some photos and wait for someone who might actually wear it to click ‘Buy Now’.
Editing your wardrobe regularly and profiting from your useless items is one of the most underrated ways to start your frugal chic era.
6. Duplicates are no Good
How many black tops can we get away with before it’s too many? No one really knows the answer.
However, having multiple versions of the same thing is not a sensible choice if you’re worried about your spending.
Picking items carefully that can be used with multiple outfits is a great idea; there is no need to repeat your previous choices.
A quick check of the wardrobe before searching for a ‘new’ item that will end up being a duplicate is a great habit to get into.
7. No End to Chasing Trends
Trends change, and they change fast. It can be hard and expensive to keep up; so why keep trying?
You can still dress well in current and fashionable items without having to renew your wardrobe after every catwalk. Shopping around the fringes of a trend is far more sustainable; for example, spring dresses change slightly every year, so get something that suits multiple aspects of a trend and wear it endlessly.
Try building up a core wardrobe of items that are great day-to-day wears, then layer in some ‘on the button’ items. You’ll find yourself actually enjoying outfit creation and loving the clothes that give you comfort, value, and style, as well as saving your hard-earned cash.
Don’t chase buying the latest thing; trial rent it first, decide if it works for you and purchase the item in rental (at a mega discounted price).
The Last Word
When all is said and done, it’s rarely the big purchases that do the damage; instead, it’s the patterns we build and the behaviours we normalise.
Quick buys, ‘just in case’ purchases, pieces that never earn a place in our regular outfits, and items that feel like a good idea when they’re on the screen but are worse than we imagined when we get our hands on them, are all the enemy.
Left unchecked, habits and purchases like these can add up pretty quickly.
You don’t need to abandon fashion altogether or strip your wardrobe back to the bare bones to break these habits.
Instead, it’s about being more intentional with your processes. Buy with purpose, seek out quality, avoid flash sales if you don’t have a goal, wear things in multiple ways with multiple outfits, and make smarter use of what you already have.
It’s also super important to make the most of platforms that allow you to resell, repurpose, and even rent your fashion.
You don’t need a completely new wardrobe to get things right; you just need to get more out of the one you’ve already got.
It’s easy if you start small; question your next purchase by using some of the criteria above.
Make one decision at a time, and the rest will follow.
Written by: Sophie Bishop