My Shopping Philosophy

There's so much to consider in the debate between buying designer or high street items: quality, design, creativity, affordability, and much more. Today I want to share with you my personal philosophy on how I decide whether to splurge or save, and how I let the long-term value of an item decide on whether or not it is worth the price tag.

Wearing Mango top, Zara skirt, Beverly Feldman wedges,
gifted ceramic floral necklace

Clothes: High Street
When it comes to clothing, I tend to want to wear something completely different every day, and there are very few items that I wear over and over, even when I love the shape, fit, and color of an item. For example, I really like the skirt I'm wearing in this post, but I've hardly worn it (the last time it was seen on the blog was here, over a year ago). That's why I stock my daily wardrobe with high street items because I know that I wouldn't wear a designer item enough to justify the cost. I do tend to opt for the higher end for staple items such as a pair of jeans or a winter coat, but for the most part, my closet is filled with high street pieces. No matter where I'm shopping, however, I always take quality into account - whether I'm spending just £5 or £500, I don't want the item I'm buying to fall apart, tear, or become otherwise unwearable, because that's just wasteful (both for my wallet and for the environment). For example, Topshop price tags are constantly on the increase, but their quality is becoming worse and worse, so I make it a point not to shop there.

Handbags, Shoes, Sunglasses, Jewelry: High End
I tend to save up and splurge on items that I know I will use over and over again, such as handbags, shoes, sunglasses, jewelry, watches, etc. If they're properly cared for, these items can last for a lifetime and can even be passed on to the next generation. (Of course, well-made clothes can also be handed down, but they're more likely to look and feel dated.) I've inherited a plethora of all the items mentioned above from my mother and aunts, and I hope that each item that I buy will have the same value and worth.

There's one thing that you should definitely note, though. I think that designers often make fools of consumers by expecting them to pay a ridiculous amount for something that has no intrinsic value. For example, Toy Watch expects consumers to pay $200-500 for something that is really just a piece of plastic. When plastic watches go out of style, the watches will be worth nothing. However, if you spend the same amount of money on a piece of gold jewelry, you will always be able to sell it and its price will usually appreciate. You only have to look at Net-a-Porter's jewelry section to see many, many more examples of this (D&G wants you to pay £245 for brass and crystal? You can buy a gold ring for the same amount. I know many of you are YSL Arty Ring fans, but what are you going to do when the gold plating rubs off?). My personal philosophy is to never buy fake jewelry that will just have to be tossed in the trash can in a year or two - I would rather save up and spend on semi-precious or precious items.

The bottom line is, don't be fooled by a price tag. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean that the item is actually worth that much. Splurge on items that you feel you will be able to use for a long time, but beware that designers are peddling plastic, glass, and low-quality metals in many of their jewelry collections, so make an informed decision before handing over your well-earned cash!

To sum up, my philosophy is:
- Don't overspend on items that you may not get a lot of use out of. For you, it may be worth it to buy a Gucci skirt if it becomes a staple in your closet - but I personally prefer to opt for high-street items when it comes to my basic wardrobe.
- Save up and splurge on timeless, classic items which will get a lot of wear.
- Only buy good-quality items.
- Remember that price and a designer label do not always indicate real value.

What's your shopping philosophy?

 

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