Making Your Closet an Investment

Shopping for the latest trends and stylish finds can be a blast. Not to mention that heading to the mall or local thrift shop with friends can be a bonding experience like none other. And is there anything as rewarding as finding a pair of jeans that fit you just right?

While there’s nothing quite like the thrill of the hunt, when you’re shopping for clothes and building out your wardrobe, it can be difficult to determine when you should be splurging on an investment piece and when you should be buying cheaper basics. Here are some guidelines to help you determine what clothes are worth investing in.

Building a Wardrobe

Picking out clothes is a personal experience and everyone’s style is different. Building a wardrobe you love means developing your personal style and finding pieces that fit in with what you like to wear.

Think about the types of clothes your day-to-day life demands. Are you a working professional with a 9-to-5 that requires you to wear business attire? If so, you’ll need to have more of those options in your closet. However, if you’re a yoga teacher or a stay-at home parent, a closet full of blazers and suits won’t be as useful to you.

Identify the pieces you wear the most. Do you gravitate toward skinny jeans? Are you constantly wearing the same pair of black booties? Do you always reach for the same denim jacket when you’re getting ready to leave the house? Try evaluating what you wear most, because these may be the items that you should invest a little more in when you are shopping.

When building your wardrobe, quality over quantity is a good rule to consider. Admittedly, this may require you to spend a bit more up front, so this system may not be for everyone.

However, you also may not want to assume that the most expensive item on the shelf is the highest quality item—because that’s not always the case. Sometimes even expensive items can fall apart after a few washes.

As you’re shopping, review both the price and quality of the item. Look closely at how the item is made, the material that it is made of, and how it fits when you try it on. These can all be good indicators of whether this piece of clothing is going to be a smart purchase.

If you’re investing in a luxury item, it can also be worth doing a bit of research before you buy. What have other consumers thought of the item? Did they run into any issues? Read a few reviews to get a gauge for how well the item wears.

Clothing Worth Investing In

Are you wondering “what are the best clothing investments?” There are few wardrobe essentials that may be worth splurging on. Keep in mind that everyone’s style is different, so be sure to buy what makes you most comfortable and what you know you are going to actually wear.

If the thought of spending a big chunk of change on a single item makes you cringe, think of the purchase price in relation to how often you plan to wear it.

If a pair of boots is $250, but you plan to wear them to work everyday, maybe the amount of use and comfort you get from them makes it worth it? (The answer to that question will be different for every shopper, but it’s something to think about.)

Blazers

A blazer that fits you well can add a level of professionalism to any outfit. Opt for one in a neutral color that you can wear with a variety of looks and you’ll have an easy upgrade for almost any outfit.

Jackets

Jackets are another item that could be considered an investment piece. You don’t have to spend a fortune on every jacket but good quality outerwear can go a long way.

A winter coat is especially important if you live in a cold climate. You may not want to skimp on a jacket only to find yourself still shivering in the cold. Invest in a piece that is durable, comfortable, warm, and will last you for years to come.

Jeans

High-quality denim is engineered to fit well and last a long time. Consider investing in a pair with an excellent fit and a classic wash. Since you can dress them up or down, you’ll have a plethora of new outfit combinations to try.

What if I Don’t Get Enough Use Out of These Clothes?

If you end up purchasing something you ultimately don’t wear as much as anticipated there is plenty of opportunity to make some of that money back. Reselling lightly used clothes could be an option to recoup some of your costs. The internet makes it easier than ever to buy and sell secondhand clothes.

Sites like ThredUp , Tradesy , and Poshmark make it as easy to put your clothes up for sale. Depending on your location, there are also likely local consignment stores where you could sell your gently used pieces.

The more wear and tear an item has, the less money you’ll make on the sale. So if you do plan to resell your any of your clothes or accessories to make a profit, try to keep the item in like-new condition.

While luxury items might turn a profit, it can be difficult to make money selling second hand clothes. Apps and stores like the ones mentioned above make it easy to resell your clothes, but also charge a fee for the convenience, which cuts into any profits you might otherwise make on the sale of your clothes.

Instead of thinking about selling clothing as an investment, you could think of it as an opportunity to potentially recoup some of your cost.

And keep in mind that with the growing movement to make the fashion industry more sustainable, reselling your clothes and shopping at thrift stores can help close the gap and decrease clothing waste.

Investing Beyond Your Closet

Now that we’ve talked about investing in good-quality items for your closet, let’s change gears and talk about investing in your financial future. consider SoFi Invest.

With an automated investment account with SoFi you’ll have access to a team of financial advisors and the latest in automated investing technology. Your money can be invested in Exchange Traded Funds or ETFs, a type of mutual fund. They’re a low-cost way to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds.

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