When investing in new clothes, the most important consideration is the quality of the item, and anything else is a waste of money.

In recent years, Michela Allocca has created a capsule wardrobe to reduce clothes shopping and simplify getting dressed.

Allocca's closet didn't transform into a streamlined wardrobe with limited clothing items overnight.

The personal finance coach and content creator admits that she has bought many clothes in the past that she liked at the time, but they didn't fit her properly. Despite her experience in corporate finance, she strives to teach others how to manage their finances effectively and applies those principles in her own life.

In 2022, the average U.S. household spent approximately $162 per month on apparel, which is a nearly 11% increase from the previous year. This spending is significantly higher than what consumers were spending on clothes and shoes prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Allocca admits that selecting high-quality pieces for her capsule wardrobe required some experimentation. She believes that disregarding her personal style was a significant error she made during the process.

Buying a rarely worn piece of clothing is a waste of money, according to her.

Derek Guy, the menswear expert behind the blog and popular X account, "Die, Workwear!" believes that emotional durability is the most important dimension to consider when purchasing clothes, rather than just focusing on quality or brand name.

If a piece of clothing is not something you're excited to wear in 10 years, it doesn't matter how well-built and durable it is, as it will likely remain unused in your closet.

No matter how much you spend on clothing, if you're not going to wear it, it's a waste of money.

To determine your personal style and avoid overspending on clothing, consider the following three tips.

1. Identify what you're 'always reaching for'

To minimize your clothing budget, you don't need to commit to a capsule wardrobe. Instead, focus on investing in your closet staples, such as jeans and blazers, which you wear frequently.

She reflects on the high-quality items she frequently reaches for from her "elevated basics" closet and considers how to ensure their quality, regardless of their cost.

She feels confident in spending money on these items because she knows they are worth it. Although she spent $500 on one sweater, "it's a timeless design, I wear it frequently," she remarks.

Your personal style can determine if an item is worth a significant investment, regardless of what fashion blogs and influencers say about timeless pieces.

Allocca advises against shopping solely based on trends, as it results in a wardrobe full of low-use, high-cost clothing.

2. Trust your experience

Figuring out which brands, fabrics, and styles you truly enjoy wearing is part of the process of determining your personal style, and you don't need to be a fashion expert to do it.

Guy suggests that buying an item and discovering later that you don't enjoy wearing it can inform future purchases, hopefully preventing a similar negative experience.

If a fabric or hemline doesn't feel right on you, trust your instincts and avoid buying it. For instance, linen is a high-quality material, but if you don't like its texture or appearance, don't force yourself to wear it.

3. 'Buy less, but buy better'

Allocca's philosophy when purchasing items is to "buy less, but buy better."

Before buying something, she considers how frequently she'll utilize it, its durability, and how it will positively impact her overall.

Instead of purchasing a new dress for each wedding, she only owns a few dresses that she rotates through.

"I've stopped wearing your clothes for a normal period of time," she says. "I have a wedding guest dress that I bought in 2022, and it's my fall wedding guest dress. If I'm going to a wedding in September or October, I'll wear this dress."

By purchasing fewer items, you can save space in your closet and potentially reduce waste. While a higher price doesn't necessarily equate to better quality, having a larger budget allows you to be more selective and choose higher-quality pieces.

Guy says that by increasing your budget, you can keep things you want for a longer time and still be excited to wear them in 10 years.

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