With all the recession business going on, there has been a lot of talk in the fashion world about investing in one’s wardrobe. Some of the main arguments being used for investment dressing are:
1) Better quality clothes last longer, look better, and are a wiser investment for your money than fast fashion in these times where money is tight.
2) Fast fashion is not environmentally friendly. Loads of trendy synthetic “throw away” clothes are piling up in landfills, and are not easily biodegradable. Not to mention, if the jeans are costing you $10 at the full store markup price, imagine the amount of money a factory worker did NOT make somewhere else in the world.
3) People are burnt out on fast fashion. You mean that top I bought yesterday is already out of fashion and on the clearance racks? I can’t keep up!
This article I happened across breaks things down pretty well:
As a tiny petite, I like the idea of investment dressing, and have been trying to implement it in my wardrobe choices. My personal reasons are:
1) Finding clothing that fits is difficult, and when I find a garment I like, that also fits me well, I want it to last forever!
2) Cheap clothing that I like, that also fits me well, does not last very long, and it makes me sad when I have to throw away something I like.
3) Getting garments tailored is a necessity for me, and adds cost to the garment’s retail price. Therefore, the garment must be worth the extra price of tailoring. Why spend the money on getting a fast fashion item tailored, if it will have a short closet life? Instead, purchasing a quality “investment” garment and getting it tailored makes more sense.
I’m hoping this philosophy will help me to buy less, and hopefully in the long run to also spend less. I’m also hoping to get to a point where I can open my closet, and have it full of garments I love, and not garments I bought on an impulse and feel regretful about. What an exciting thought!
