Clothing: 3 Tips For Buying Less But Better.

With the change of season, you have probably planned to clean out your wardrobe. This big autumn cleaning in your closet is an opportunity to take stock of the outfits you own and the pieces you need. To avoid buying clothes that you won't wear, here are 3 tips for buying less but better in the ready-to-wear section.

1- Sort your wardrobe by outfits

Followers of organization in general and Marie Kondo's method in particular know it well: it is important to regularly sort through one's clothes to make space in the wardrobe and avoid clothing waste.

The seasonal changes in spring and autumn are particularly conducive to this major cleanout of the closets. However, it is not always easy to part with old clothes or answer the famous question: "Should I keep it or not?"

In terms of ready-to-wear, the first of the 3 tips for buying less but better is to organize your wardrobe not by types of clothes (sweaters on one side and pants on the other), but by outfits. When tidying up your closet, imagine the tops and bottoms that you can wear together to create a complete outfit.

By doing so, you will realize that it is unnecessary to keep certain pieces that don't go with anything. These pieces are likely purchasing mistakes, meaning they were poor choices of color, shape, or pattern from the start. You will also realize that you need a top in a certain color to go with one of your favorite pants or to match with several other pieces.

2- Learn to recognize what suits you.

To avoid cluttering your wardrobe with unnecessary clothes that you will neglect on hangers and shelves in favor of more comfortable or flattering pieces, you must also learn to know and recognize clothes that suit you well. This is the second of the 3 tips for buying less but better.

A garment that fits you well is, of course, a garment in your size, and this first point is crucial for pants, bras, or swimsuits! Comfort is an essential criterion because, to be worn, a garment must not only be pretty but also comfortable (in terms of size and material) and suited to your lifestyle.

And that's not all! A garment that suits you well is also a garment suited to your body shape and complexion. People who seem to have style and elegance in all circumstances are those who have found the pieces and colors that enhance them. For some people, cool colors are more flattering, while for others, warm colors are. In fact, it all depends on the color of your skin and hair...

Finding the shades that flatter your complexion is much easier than you think since there are online tests to determine your color profile (see the link below). There are four in total, designated by the four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Once you know your color profile, it will be easier for you to choose clothes in the right colors, but also to coordinate the pieces together, in accordance with tip number 1!

3- Buy with full awareness

Fashion magazines, specialized blogs, and social media push us to consume clothing based on the latest trends and current favorites. But this generally leads to overconsumption, the harmful effects of which we are well aware of today.

By keeping in mind that your ready-to-wear purchases have an environmental and social impact, you can change your way of consuming fashion and choose your clothes with full knowledge. This awareness is the last of the 3 tips for buying less but better.

Even if you don't have the means to buy ecological or ethical fashion, you can limit the damage to the planet through a few simple gestures:
- Limit your purchases in fast fashion stores.
- If you have a small budget, prefer second-hand clothing.
- Ban synthetic materials and prefer natural and biodegradable materials such as cotton, wool, or linen.
- Prefer basic or timeless clothing as they go out of style less quickly than "trendy" pieces.

Moreover, if you analyze your wardrobe with a little perspective, you will realize that the clothes you have kept the longest and worn the most are basics like well-cut jeans, a little black dress, or plain high-quality t-shirts. Once again, just being aware of this allows you to make better choices when it comes to your clothes and invest your ready-to-wear budget in longer-lasting quality pieces.