A trench coat I never wear. Designer heels that sit unworn on the shelf. As a fashion lover and rather seasoned shopper, I've made many enthusiastic yet regrettable decisions at the checkout.
Some of them ended up in an op shop, while others were destined for Depop. My bank account never quite recovered.
And while I'm all for keeping clothes in the cycle of wear, I'd rather not have made those mistakes in the first place.
Watch: Speaking of purchase regret, here's how a stylist says we can break free of algorithm-driven shopping. Post continues below.
In my pursuit of a wardrobe that really serves me, I've had to get honest with myself about the things I actually need — and the ones I don't. Nowadays, my focus is on shopping smarter.
There are five questions I swear by to help me discern if something is actually worth its place in my wardrobe.
1. Would I wear it tomorrow?
I've expanded on this concept in an article if you'd like some further reading, but the crux of it is: if this item is really worth a place in your wardrobe, it should be something you could comfortably wear tomorrow.
Better yet, you should be excited to wear it at your first opportunity (you know that feeling when you get a purchase home and you want to rip your clothes off and put it on right away? That's the urge I'm talking about.)
There are a few exceptions, like formal dresses or workwear pieces that have a time and place. But generally speaking, any seasonal addition to your wardrobe should be wearable immediately.
You should want to wear it right away. Image: Supplied.
I don't believe in buying 'eternal staples' for capsule wardrobes that'll last years into the future. Everything has a used-by date, and "classic" silhouettes change over the years as our eyes adapt to new shapes and ways of wearing things.
I also don't believe in buying pieces now that you might wear "one day". Focus on the here and now. Focus on real-time wearability. Then you won't have shopping regrets staring at you every time you open your closet.
2. Do I actually like it, or have I been #influenced?
The way the algorithm pumps out micro trends, we can all be forgiven for buying into things we don't actually need.
But wasting money on trending items you don't feel comfortable in just because everyone else is wearing them? It's a no from me.
One way I avoid being influenced into buying things that are outside my own sphere of style is to only follow creators whose fashion identity and lifestyle really align with my own.
This way, if I see a particular item or style on their feed that I love, I know it'll fit in the context of my daily looks.
These days, I choose to use Instagram more like a moodboard and a styling resource. Narrowing down my frame of reference has helped me keep my wishlist in check, too.
3. Do I own it already, and is this purchase unproductive?
Sometimes you do have to ask yourself — am I addressing a gap in my wardrobe, or stuffing something into a gap that's already been filled? If you've got five pairs of linen shorts, you might be in the latter category.
I get it — you feel good in them, you're used to them, so you buy more. But you don't want to spend money on a facsimile of something you already own that serves no additional purpose.
The catch is, you can purchase productive dupes. For example, I bought two pairs of the same white Nude Lucy pants because I loved the first pair so much that I knew I needed a back-up for when I eventually wore them to death.
Another case would be buying a similar style to something you wear regularly, such as a pair of blue high-rise jeans in a slightly different wash or leg length, to give you outfit options.
4. Is this for my real life, or my fantasy life?
Sometimes, when I've watched back-to-back episodes of Emily in Paris, I convince myself I need a pair of patent leather knee-high boots. You know, for the me that might go to Fashion Week once this year.
The reality is, I live by the beach and have a toddler, so those boots will rarely see the light of day.
If I'm going to update my shoe-drobe, I need elevated flats I can wear on a daily basis. I can still opt for fashion-forward styles, but more practical ones.
Remember to shop for the person you are today, the body you're in, and the lifestyle you lead. It'll save you the heartache of owning lovely things you never wear.
5. Does this feel like me?
This vest was so me-coded. Image: Supplied.
This one is a little more intuitive, but hear me out.
Some clothes light us up, while others dull us down. We all have an internal style compass that guides us towards what actually suits us — but we have to learn to listen to it.
On some basic level, you know if you're a colour person or you're generally into neutrals. You also know if you like bohemian silhouettes or a more minimal aesthetic. You know the outfits that always get compliments, and the ones that make you shrink into yourself.
So the next time you try something on — whether it be a new thing in a changeroom, or an old thing in front of your mirror at home — listen to the voice.
If it feels sh*t, don't wear it. If it feels great, wear more of it.
Ultimately, the best outfits (and purchases) are the ones that make you feel confident. And at the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, that comes from within.
For more helpful style advice and shopping recommendations, subscribe to the weekly Nothing to Wear Substack , listen to the Nothing to Wear podcast or watch Nothing to Wear on YouTube .
Feature image: Supplied.
