6 Factors To Consider Before Buying New Clothes

I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it. 


Yep, that's how it has been for me over the years when buying clothes. But I made it my mission at the end of 2020 that I would be a lot more sustainable in terms of how many items of clothing I buy each month. I aim to buy more classic, versatile pieces rather than clothes that I will only get 1/2 wears out of. Buying clothes that are just for keeping up with the trends is just not a viable, sustainable, or affordable way to purchase clothing. Fast fashion is something I am trying to steer away from. 

Buying new clothes

As we know already, fast fashion is fast becoming an unpopular fashion trend and it's something we should all avoid. Fast fashion contributes 10% to carbon emissions and I think we could all do our bit when it comes to buying clothes unnecessarily. 


I know that sometimes finding those ideal clothes can be a nightmare for some, you may prefer to buy clothes from a particular brand because their sizing works for you, or the factor of money can come into play. 


All I know is is that my main objective is to be more sustainable with buying clothes and here are the factors I will consider before buying new clothes -


1) IS  IT  VERSATILE?
__________
Can I wear the item with multiple outfits? Or is it going to be a 'one outfit only' item? If it's the latter, it will not be bought by me. One thing I have found so much fun is buying something versatile and creating and discovering new outfits every time I wear, for example, a new jumper, a new pair of trousers, or a new pair of shoes! 

is buying new clothes worth it


2) IS  IT  CLASSIC?
__________
An LBD, a trench coat, black boots, white trainers, a camel coat, a white shirt...
Yes, these are all classics and should be in any person's wardrobe as I class these as essential items. I'm aiming to buy more classic pieces as they're great for helping to piece an outfit together and also these items in particular (amongst others) won't ever go out of fashion and will last for years to come!


3) IS  IT  JUST  TO  KEEP  UP  WITH  THE  TREND?
__________
Trends go in and out of fashion quicker than my legs go in and out doing the Hokey Cokey. If I see an item I like and it's just part of a so-called seasonal trend, I won't buy it. Saying that though I've bought things that have been a part of a trend and I still use them today. But yes, if I know I'll only wear it once, then I won't buy into a trend. Speaking of buying things only once...

shopping for new clothes and shoes


4) HOW  OFTEN  WILL  I  WEAR  IT?
___________
I think one prime example I can give is when you go to a wedding - the wedding guest outfit. More often than not, you're only going to wear that outfit once. Once one group of people sees you in that dress, you're never going to want to show the second group of people. If that's the case, why not rent a dress? But saying that though, in Covid times, it may make you feel uncomfortable wearing a dress that somebody else has worn before you. I know it gets washed before being rented out again, but still, there's that factor to consider.


5) IS  IT  DURABLE  ENOUGH?
__________
Nothing worse than wearing a new top and you've found a hole in it or the stitching has come undone after 1-2 wears. I would be fuming. One thing I've started doing (which I never did before) is looking at the reviews for the brand and their items to see who raves about the quality and durability of the items they sell. It may be a little time-consuming, but it's worth it before parting with your money.

factors to consider before buying new clothes

6) CAN  I  AFFORD  IT?
___________
Don't land yourself in debt for that luxury handbag or pair of shoes. It's not worth it. If there's something that you like, save up for it and buy it when you know you're financially comfortable. This is why I'm not a fan of companies like Klarna, they're just asking for people to spend spend spend and pay later, which can be a little dangerous. Only buy it if you're bank account looks healthy. 


I'd love to know your thoughts on sustainable fashion guys, is it something you're trying to aim for in terms of buying clothes? Do you consider any of these factors before buying clothes? Let me know!
59 comments
  1. I am definitely trying to be more sustainable in the way I shop, I like to buy things second hand and I also try to sell an unwanted piece of clothing before buying a new one! X

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    1. That's great that you're buying things second hand, Depop and places like charity shops are great for that! I usually give my unwanted clothes to younger family members or to charity shops! x

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  2. I guess I'm luckily that most of this really applies to me, I have the same style I've always had. So as long as it fits, I'll wear it until it falls apart

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  3. I've noticed sustainable clothing sections in highstreet shops lately & I'm impressed and also intrigued to look into it further.

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    1. I've seen them too and I hope that the clothes are as sustainable as the brand claims they are x

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  4. You've mentioned some great points. I haven't followed trends for a couple of years now. Instead I'll pick things up as and when I really need them and I feel so much better about that. Its saved me lots of money too.

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    1. That will definitely save you a lot of money Kelly, following trends is just not ideal anymore really x

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  5. I'm not going to lie, I'm totally guilty of trend buying. I want a pair of straight legged jeans and I'm like, WILL I wear them for longer than a year?? x

    www.iridescentplaces.com

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    1. I got a pair of straight legged jeans as I know they don't really go out of fashion and I wear mine quite a lot, so they would definitely a good investment if you wish to go for it! x

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  6. I'm so happy to see more and more people talking about fast fashion! It is such an important topic so well done for sharing some light on the topic x

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    1. Absolutely lovely, fast fashion is a topic that needs to be discussed more often and how we should all change our buying habits! x

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  7. such great tips !! I need to consider these more too
    shy - https://www.shyyshianne.com/

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    1. I hope you consider these tips in the future lovely!

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  8. i ~adore~ this!! i've been trying to purchase clothing sustainably for awhile now, and though i can definitely improve still, these are the kinds of tips i try to bear in mind when i shop x

    brineandbooks.com

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    1. oh and omg?! the fresh look of your site?!?! i'm obsessed!! it looks amazing x

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  9. Yes to all of these!! Over the past few years, I've really started to be more careful and think before I buy in terms of clothing xx

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  10. I'm trying to create a sustainable capsule wardrobe so all of these considerations are a great reminder for me when I finally get to sort it all out. Fast fashion is definitely not something I wish to support so all your suggestions are a brilliant step towards avoiding it. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. That's good to hear that you're creating a sustainable wardrobe for yourself Molly! Fast fashion is definitely something we should all be trying to avoid now x

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  11. I've just bought some new clothes, but I haven't bought any in so long, mainly because I'm trying to be more conscious of what I buy and if I will actually get some wear out of it!

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    1. I think treating yourself once in a while is good for you Amie! x

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  12. Definitely a great checklist when I next want to purchase a new piece for my wardrobe! I tend to do it very much on a whim and that's very bad. Will keep this post in mind x

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    1. I think purchasing something on a whim once in a while is ok, there's many others though who purchase clothes just for the sake of it! x

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  13. For me, it is all about making sure that the choices I make are going sustainable. I consider all purchases now!

    Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk

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    1. Exactly babe, it's about being more sustainable now! x

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  14. Brilliant post. I have really started thinking about the sustainability of my clothes and the wear I will get from them.

    https://overtherhinestonerainbow.blog/

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    1. I love how I have become more sustainable in terms of buying clothes and it's important for us to try and do that!

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  15. I think the whole pandemic and lockdowns made me stop shopping and get back into making my own clothes. The only problem is I now hoard fabric rather than clothing! I like your checklist to see if you actually need the new clothing items!
    Thanks for sharing :)
    Aimsy xoxo
    Aimsy’s Antics

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    1. That's so good that you're making clothes for yourself, I bet it's so much fun to come up with new ideas and making them a reality! x

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  16. I have been trying to be more sustainable in the way I shop and where I buy them from. I don't tend to buy a lot of clothes anyway but the things that I do buy I try and ensure they will be well worn and can be used for lots of occasions.

    Sarah | www.aspoonfulofvanila.co.uk

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    1. That's a good mindset to have Sarah and I hope it's working well for you lovely x

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  17. Great post Lucy! I've always been really into vintage shopping, alongside high-street shopping but, more recently, I've been trying to only buy "basics" from high-street brands and then go to charity/vintage shops for my more exciting pieces. All six of the factors you mentioned are so important to consider! :)

    https://www.femaleoriginal.com

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    1. It's amazing how many ways you can style the so called "basics" and create new outfits and styles! I like that you buy some vintage stuff to go along with that too x

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  18. These are all such great tips! I very rarely buy clothes and usually only buy one or two items at a time if there's a specific item that i'm looking for but mostly i get everything from Thrift+. I also love checking out the good on you directory to see how sustainable a brand is

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    1. I need to take a look on Thrift+, that's really good to know about the Good On You directory, I'll definitely take a look at that!

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  19. Great tips Lucy! The older I've gotten the more I definitely think like this. A lot of pieces in my wardrobe I've had for years! I was laughing at myself the other day because if you look on my Instagram, I'm literally wearing the same outfit throughout my feed, just on different days. Haha. The money side of things is a Biggie for me too. It takes a lot for me to treat myself, I definitely make much more informed decisions these days.

    Claire.X

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    1. I wish outfit repeating was seen more on Instagram Claire, I think that money is a factor for you really does make you more sustainable in terms of buying clothes x

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  20. These are great tips Lucy, I've been way more intentional over the past couple of years when it comes to clothes shopping, especially going second hand and avoiding fast fashion as much as I can.

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    1. Thank you Jordanne! Second hand clothes shopping is something a lot of people are doing know which is great to see!

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  21. Hi Lucy. A commendable plan - and one that we should all aspire to. I've never really followed fashion trends (as anybody who knows me will tell you!). I just have 2 criteria: 1. Does it fit? 2. Is it fit for purpose? That's it :-)

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    1. That's a good criteria to follow Richie, I like it!

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  22. These are all such great tips for purchasing new clothes. I often tend to buy too much so I will take this into consideration for future purchases!

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    1. I hope you take these things into consideration next time you buy clothes Charity!

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  23. Loved reading this from start to finish and can't but agree on all this! I have been trying to be more sustainable and buying more durable items. I research a lot before buying and even if time consuming, I know what I am spending my money on. There are still pieces that I look at and would love to buy, but are a complete splurge and out of budget. I really want to look more into having a capsule wardrobe x

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    1. I like that you research a lot when buying clothes, like you said, it can be time consuming, but it's worth it! x

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  24. Love this post! I've been living a more sustainable life now for a few years and one of the things I'm trying to avoid is fast fashion. There are always clothes that remain in style so it's not really necessary to keep up with the trends. Thanks for sharing these points to consider!

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    1. It's never really necessary to keep up with the trends, it's just pointless! x

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  25. Another great post from you. I've not bought lots of new stuff in a while because I want more of a capsule wardrobe. I have some high end and high street bits in my wardrobe that are great for re-wearing over and over again!
    Rosie

    https://www.loverosiee.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Rosie! I'm aiming to have more of a capsule wardrobe too Rosie, it'll definitely be worth the effort into creating one!

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  26. Great post, Lucy! These are all great questions to ask when purchasing clothes! I tend to buy fast fashion clothing too but try and limit myself to only shopping when the seasons change so not too often. Thanks for sharing x

    Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

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    1. It's good that you have limited what you buy, that's amazing! x

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  27. This is fabulous fashion shopping advice!
    In the past I have purchased outfit pieces based on only one or two criteria or thinking about how it would coordinate with something else.
    As a result I have too many items of clothing that are seldom worn.
    Sustainable fashion is another thing I will probably factor in when weighing future purchases.

    https://full-brief-panties.blogspot.com/

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    1. I think we have all fallen for that fast fashion trend and ended up buying clothes that are only going to be once or twice, it happens!

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  28. Ruth| Ruthiee loves Glamour26 September 2021 at 08:44

    I love this post Lucy! I am trying to be more sustainable with the way I shop. I am trying to avoid fast fashion brands as much as I can and I'm trying to buy from more sustainable fashion brands as every little thing counts and could make the earth a much better place.

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    1. Thank you Ruth!
      I like hearing that you're buying more sustainably and I agree, everything we can do to help the environment is worth it!

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  29. Such a great post Lucy! I haven't brought any clothes since my son was born and I keen to make sure I only get long lasting pieces from now on xx

    Violethollow.com

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    1. Thank you lovely! That's good that you're planning to buy long lasting pieces in the future! xx

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  30. Hey Lucy.

    This is something I've become more aware of since lockdown actually. I still probably buy more than is necessary but I now first check Depop for example if I find a particular outfit or item of clothing I like the look of.. I also shop more in charity shops too which really are like aladdins cave of treasures if you know where to look! 👀
    Having a mix of high street clothes (Primark mainly!) to wear with the second hand treasures I have ensures I've plenty of outfit options!
    *I spend way too much time on Depop nowadays but I love it! *😂 Xoxo

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