'I'm a personal stylist and these are the 6 questions I ask myself every time I go shopping.'

The aim? Build a wardrobe you love, that you feel good it. A wardrobe you can wear again and again.

A wardrobe that is easy, effortless and versatile. With great cost per wear. But shopping can be tricky. And exhausting. Do you get overwhelmed when you hit the stores and don't know where to start?

Never Fear FiFi is here. Follow these easy rules and you will be able to decide quickly what is worth trying on. And then what to purchase. Buyers remorse? Be damned!

Here’s what I always ask myself every time I go shopping…

1. Does it align with my style?

Work out what your style is before you hit the shops. Then always ask yourself if what you're buying aligns with your look. I am a minimalist. I like simple cuts and simple colours. (Black, grey, beige, choc brown, camel, navy and white. A little soupçon of khaki). So I religiously stick to those colours. Because I know that’s the direct line to my personal style. It makes me feel good. It makes dressing easy. I veer away from anything that doesn't fit the bill. Same goes if you are into florals and brights: walk past anything that's plain, minimal and low key. (Even if it's screaming for you to buy it). There’s no point. You’ll never wear it. You won't feel good in it. Know your style, own your look and stick to it.

2. Can I wear it multiple ways?

Whether you're a millionaire or not the aim is to get serious mileage from your wardrobe. What's the point of buying something that has limited versatility? You want to be able to wear it lots of different ways. I always ask myself: can I wear this piece day to evening, work to weekend? If you can think of 3 ways to wear it then it’s allowed into your closet. Why? You'll wear it on repeat. It will be part of your everyday capsule wardrobe. The cost per wear? It will be paying you to wear it! But there will always be pieces that are fun, very fashiony and even outrageous. These pieces will spark joy even if you can't wear them multiple ways. They’re one offs that add some magic. Just don't buy a wardrobe of these crazy pieces. You can't rely on them day in day out. They need time. They're attention seekers! 

Watch: One Scarf Three Ways. Post continues after video.

3. Is this item missing from my wardrobe?

Ask yourself is this item missing from my wardrobe? Is this a key piece that I don't actually own already? Will it inject a little edge and some much needed cool? Work out the answers before you hit the shops. I make a list before I go shopping so I know exactly what I am looking for. Figure out the gaps. Which pieces will effortlessly slide into my wardrobe and instantly joosh it. Remember you don’t need to update every single thing every single season: just invest a few key items. Then watch as they magically give your old current wardrobe another lease on life. Case in point? Invest in an oversized camel blazer and you can keep wearing your old favorite jeans for seasons more. A big, long slouchy coat will instantly update everything you own (so will white shoes but that's another story).

4. Tabletop dressing.

One of my philosophies to make shopping easier? Tabletop dressing! Meaning? Keep the focus on top of the body where everyone is looking. Why buy beautiful stand out items that are going to be hidden under the table? I'm talking to you print pants and floral skirts! What a waste. You sit down and no one can see them! Instead, the focus should be on top. A beautifully cut blazer, a stunning sequin top, a pretty blouse or a simple cashmere knit. These fashion pieces should be where they will command most attention: near your face! Go for a major statement top and hide the boring bits where they belong: under the table. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FiFi Milne | Personal shopper (@shopwithfifi)

5. How does it wash?

Hands up who avoids the dry cleaners? Apart from it being so expensive it's also quite hard on your clothes. Repeat dry cleaning is never good. I check the label to see if it’s possible to hand wash or if it’s machine washable. And can we talk about ironing? I try not to do it! When you are shopping always read the label. Scrutinize the fabric: I sometimes scrunch it up in my hand to see if the fabric wrinkles too easily. Rule of thumb: natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk will generally wash better. Tip: I generally throw most things in the washing machine on a cold wool wash (apart from blazers and coats of course) and some man-made fabrics don't need ironing. Yes, please.

6. Can it be worn across the seasons?

If you want great cost per wear, you need pieces that can be worn across the seasons. From summer to winter. And with climate change this is more important than ever. Faux coats, puffer jackets and bikinis (not worn together!) are an exception to the rule.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FiFi Milne | Personal shopper (@shopwithfifi)

Generally speaking, I like to buy pieces that can go the distance whatever the weather. Think cotton chinos, denim jeans, a blazer in a lightweight wool, a silk blouse. I would avoid spending a lot of money on heavy fabrics that are too wintery and can only be worn when it's really cold. (that’s why I love inexpensive Uniqlo puffer jackets!) And linen? It's good in summer but very limiting as you can’t wear it into winter. I wear pleather pants and skirts as they can be worn in spring and autumn as well as winter. (Real leather can be too hot out of season). The result? More mileage from your purchases. And isn't that what building a wardrobe is all about? Think before you buy, be a conscious consumer and say goodbye to impulse shopping!

FiFi Milne is a former fashion editor, now personal shopper and wardrobe detoxer. She won the Nobel Purchase prize in 2023. She loves to share FiFi Fav finds from luxe to less on shopwithfifi and on her Blog The FiFi Report. Which incidentally should be in the Guinness book of records as the longest running fashion blog, starting in 2001. When she is not shopping, she is asleep.
@shopwithfifi www.FiFi.com.au 

Feature Image: Instagram @shopwithfifi.

Are you someone who loves beauty, health, or self-care? Take our short survey to go in the running to win a $50 gift voucher!