The Sartorial Edit: Investing in worthy pieces + a low buy year

How to find quality and timeless pieces that you’ll love forever.

As someone who’s always loved fashion but could never nail down her personal style in just one category, you can imagine how many clothing pieces I’ve obtained over the years. From edgy, to classic, to tomboy femme, to girly, to just tomboy…and then all the experimenting in between. My personal style has been a wild ride since the beginning.

Throughout my twenties, this ambiguous personal style of mine caused me a lot of confusion but now at the tail-end of this decade, I’m actually quite proud and happy with my style. There’s almost a sense of pride that comes from not being able to be categorized under one bucket. Although that, in itself, probably draws from my self-acceptance and learning to love that I’m a multi-hyphenate, un-niche-able human being.

The one common thread in my purchasing and styling has been shifting my focus towards not buying as much cheap, fast fashion items and instead saving for investment pieces that I know I’ll keep around forever. It started with banning Zara, H&M, Forever 21, Aritzia (and some others) from my shopping list. Nothing I bought from those brands really lasted more than 1 or 2 seasons. Then it was figuring out what pieces I wore the most, and how I could potentially trade-up for similar styles made from nicer materials.

In understanding myself better, I was also able to learn what clothes I reached for the most, what I felt most confident in, and what was worth investing in. Although I still sweat a little spending hundreds of dollars on a single sweater, or a terrifying four digital number on a jacket or a pair of shoes—I do feel a sense of pride in being able to confidently invest in pieces I know is worth it*.

I definitely didn’t cut my cheap fast-fashion buying habits instantly. It honestly took me years to learn restraint and discipline when it came to shopping. There are still a few exceptions I’ll make when it comes to purchasing from more affordable brands. I personally still love Garage for sweatpants, tank tops, and leisurewear. Uniqlo is also one of my faves for basics. But walking into Mango, Forever 21, Zara really isn’t something I care to do anymore and that habit has made my wardrobe so much more fulfilling.

*”Worth it” is going to mean different things to different people. Humans place value in different things and since fashion is a big part of my creative outlet, I’m willing to splurge on pieces that I’ll get a ton of wear from.

What to look for in investment pieces

Aka everything I consider seriously before I purchase, especially for my low buy year.

If you’ve also been considering changing your buying habits to only investing in quality pieces here’s what I look for now in (nearly) every piece I buy.

• The material - this is by far the most important thing to me now. Is my sweater actually wool, alpaca, cashmere, or some other natural fibre? Or am I purchasing an acrylic sweater that isn’t worth what it costs and will look awful very quickly?

• The fit - I love a good trend but does this piece actually look good on my body? Does the length, width, texture fit well with other things in my closet? If I’m buying a top, I make sure I can wear it with at least 5-10 bottoms I already own and vice versa.

• The construction - Check the stitching, seams, and overall craftsmanship. Quality pieces have clean, sturdy stitches with no loose threads. Examine buttons, zippers, and other hardware to ensure they're securely attached and operate smoothly.

• The versatility - Consider how many different ways you can style the item. Versatile pieces that can transition between seasons or occasions provide better value and longevity in your wardrobe. Also going back to the point of making sure the item you’re purchasing can be worn with AT LEAST 10 other pieces in your closet.

• Cost per wear - Instead of focusing on the price tag, think about how often you'll wear an item. A $200 coat worn 100 times (at $2 per wear) is more economical than a $50 trendy piece worn twice ($25 per wear).

• The timelessness - Will this piece still feel relevant in 3-5 years? Investing in classic silhouettes and colors that transcend fast-moving trends ensures your wardrobe remains functional and stylish for a long time. Again, I love a good trendy or edgy piece. My style has remained pretty consistent for the past few years so that’s a good tell for me on what types of trendy/edgy/statement pieces I actually would wear for many more years to come.

Create a wish list—and follow it

Something I can thank my younger self for is starting the habit of creating Pinterest boards for saving outfits. I’ve done this since 2018 and I’ve always split the boards up into S/S (spring summer) and F/W (fall winter). Looking back at some of my older boards I am SO thankful that I didn’t end up purchasing many of the pieces. My style has drastically changed since then (thank GOD) and only started to become more consistent in the last 3ish years.

Besides having Pinterest as a time capsule for my personal style, I also have been creating wish list for a few years now. I definitely do not purchase everything on my wish list, I couldn’t afford to. The point of the wish list really is just to give myself some time to consider whether or not I really want that item or whether I was just shopping on whim. Here’s how to do it:

1. Whenever you find something that you really like, instead of impulse buying, put it on your wish list.

2. Budget for shopping! After you know you’ve covered all other expenses, set aside a small budget each month towards a shopping fund. The goal is to only spend what you have within this fund. I’ve been using the YNAB (You Need a Budget) app for about 8 years now and it’s the best thing to have ever happened to my finances.

3. When you’re in a shopping mood, instead of browsing websites and clicking add-to-cart, browse your own wish list. How do you feel about these items after a week? A month? A quarter? A year? Do you still LOVE that piece and want to obtain it?

4. If there’s something that’s been sitting on your list for a while and you have enough to cover it with your shopping fund—buy it. You’ve waited it out, you’ve budgeted for the item, you deserve it.

Tip: I’ve been using the Moonsift app for a few years now to track my wish list. It has a Chrome extension that allows you to quickly save items to specific wish lists. It will also notify you if something goes on sale. It’s been the easiest way for me to keep track of things I’m loving.

Things I’ve invested in

Here are some of the pieces I’ve purchased in the last year that I think were worth the investment. The pieces shown here were all purchased new—I purposely didn’t include items I purchased vintage because there are added rules when it comes to hunting for vintage. Things like price influxes, condition, when and where you buy it. (Let me know if you want a separate article on hunting for vintage investment pieces!)

Acne Studios Leather Jacket - I’ve been pining for an Acne Studios leather probably since I was 15. I ended up purchasing this specific style because while it still has a cool, moto look, the silhouette and style is also slightly more unique.

Nothing Written Pound Sweater - This is a recent purchase. I’ve been looking for a quality v-neck sweater in a chocolate brown and this ended up being the perfect, relaxed, alpaca + wool piece.

Margiela Tabi Boots, Painted Tabi Flats, & Tabi Ballerinas - Another piece I’ve pined over since the Tumblr days. I don’t wear my Margiela pieces all the time (I do live a city that rains a lot) but whenever I can, these are what I reach for.

Remain Sweater - Discovered this Copenhagen based brand a while ago and found this piece on SSENSE on sale for half off. This is one of those pieces that just goes with everything whether I’m trying to dress tomboy femme or like a classic Parisian girlie.

Ganni Striped Dress - Actually found this piece at the Ganni Archive store in CPH. Everything about it is perfect—the fact that it’s a mini, the cut, the way it sits on my body, the way the dress actually compliments my square shoulders.

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Behind the paywall, you’ll find:

• Things I’m currently pining for—my wish list since Dec 2024 along with links

• Details on my low buy challenge for the year

• Some of my most worn pieces