How to Build a Wardrobe That Lasts for Years

Recently, Ragtrader.com revealed that Australians spend around $1320 on average every year on buying clothes. This is equal to about £680. While our British number is around £400 per year, so it looks like Australians are spending a lot more on clothes than us.

This number equates to about 56 pieces, according to the Australian Fashion Council, who also published the shocking finding that over 210,000 tonnes of clothes are thrown away by households on an annual basis. Much of which finds its way into landfill. Since I have Australian readers, I thought I would include these stats as they’re higher than ours here in the UK.

Not only is this very bad for the environment, but in this current economic climate, where the cost of living is stretching our finances to the limit, it is simply not sustainable for many Aussie women, and people in general around the world.

For this reason, many fashion lovers are focusing their energies on creating a wardrobe of fabulous pieces that will last for years. If this sounds like something you can get on board with, here’s how you can build one yourself.

Assess Your Needs and Lifestyle

If you want to build a wardrobe that lasts for years, the first thing you should do is to work out exactly what types of clothes you actually need.

The best way to do this is to think about what you need to wear for specific aspects of your life. This might include work, regular hobbies you do such as going to the gym or that require sporty outfits, special occasions, going out and your everyday life.

By doing this, you will quickly get a picture of what types of clothing and accessories best suit your needs, which can be the baseline from which you work from.

Establish what you already have

Creating a wardrobe that lasts for years should not involve completely reinventing the wheel. Instead, you should build on the clothes you already have.

To do this, it is worth undertaking a thorough audit of each specific clothing item you have. Although you will need to be ruthless in getting rid of anything that won’t last the test of time at some point, but keep it for now if you enjoy it, so it’s not wasteful.

Once you have settled on what you will keep, make sure you sell, repurpose, donate to charity or recycle as many of the clothing items you no longer want, to avoid them ending up in landfill.

Buy Quality Basics

Having established what clothes you have and what you need, you can start to build your wardrobe through the addition of quality basics.

Try to procure items made from high-quality fabrics, including the likes of denim, wool, cotton and linen. They offer excellent longevity and comfort, while also being able to withstand the rigours of daily wear and tear.

Likewise, classic t-shirts, well-fitting jeans, premium pants and tailored blazers can all form the backbone of your long-term wardrobe.

There are some great places online that you can shop for these types of pieces, like Maplestore, although you should also check out your local thrift stores and second hand websites, as you can often pick up some real gems there.

Choose Pieces with Neutral Colours

Fashion trends tend to come and go. But if you are planning on building a wardrobe that will last for years, it is worth ignoring them in favour of pieces with neutral colours.

Neutral hues like beige, grey, navy, white and black have a timeless appeal, which means they can be mainstays in your collection for many years.

The great thing about neutral colours is that they offer you the ability to mix and match different pieces, which means you have countless outfit combos at your disposal! I personally love them as you know!

Pick Versatile Pieces

On the subject of versatility, you should pick clothing items that can easily be dressed up or down to be worn for both casual and more formal occasions.

For instance, the classic button-down shirt can be tied around your waist when you want a more relaxed vibe, layered under a sweater when you feel the cold or worn as is to create an elegant look.

By choosing multi-purpose pieces that you can style in numerous ways, you will have the peace of mind and confidence of knowing that each item can serve multiple functions.

Embrace Accessories

Accessories are a girl’s best friend because they can instantly lift the overall look of an outfit.

It is amazing the difference a hat, scarf, killer heels, jewellery or bag can make to your ensemble. So, while you are looking for clothing items to add to your wardrobe, keep an eye out for eye-catching accessories as well.

Build Gradually

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither should your long-term wardrobe. So, while it might be tempting to go on a mass shopping spree to get everything you need, it is better to take a more strategic and measured approach to compiling your collection of clothes.

It is a good idea to prioritise what items of clothing you need the most and focus on procuring them first. That said, if you spot a bargain for something else that is lower down your list, then don’t be afraid to save some money by purchasing it.

Overall, the key is to make sensible decisions and only purchase what you need. To do this, you’ll need to take the emotion out of shopping, which is why it is a good idea to take your time to find something you really LOVE, as opposed to just like.