15 questions to ask yourself before buying a new item of clothing

Trying to become more conscious of your spending (and your ecological footprint)? Here are 15 questions to ask yourself before making your way to the till

Black Friday has come and gone. We are now devoid of the need to shop, finally. The majority of us have made some worthwhile purchases like a new TV or a really good coat. While others may have made some bad decisions when it comes to investments.

It’s very easy to get sucked into the vacuum of discounts and cheap tat so nobody can be blamed for giving in to temptation. However, all of us have an obligation to be more aware. As we all know, fashion is one of the world’s biggest pollutants. Tonnes of clothing waste goes to landfill each year and as consumers, we continue to add to this amount.

We need to be more considered in our sartorial choices. Buying exclusively sustainable and ethical fashion can be quite expensive and though we may like to think it to be true, not everything needed can be found in a vintage store.

Buy less but buy better

So, when it comes to shopping habits, one of the best mantras to repeat is this: buy less but buy better.

When you do decide to shop, really think about what you are buying and why you are choosing it. Trends come and go and when they exist in your wardrobe they do the same. Often we buy without thinking about the quality or the fit – usually, we buy without even considering if it goes with any other item in our wardrobe.

To help you with your new shopping journey, we have compiled a list of 15 questions you should ask yourself before you make a purchase. You don’t have to ask yourself the full 15 (unless you want to be standing in a shop for 2 hours) but the minimum number should be five. If you are churning a negative answer to even one, you shouldn’t buy the item.

Now, go forth and buy less but much better.

Questions

1. Can I afford this?
2. Is it good quality?
3. Is it worth the price?
4. Will this go with other pieces in my wardrobe?
5. Where can I wear it to?
6. Do I have something similar already?
7. If it wasn’t on sale/discounted would I still buy it?
8. Does it fit me properly or will I have to make alterations?
9. Will I be able to pass this down to my daughter?
10. What’s the cost-per-wear ratio?
11. Do I absolutely love this piece?
12. Do I actually need this or am I impulse buying?
13. Does this align with my personal style or is it just a trend?
14. Will I still want to buy this in a year’s time?
15. Can I think of five occasions off the top of my head where I will wear this?

Image: Becoming Minimalist 

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