A simple plan for buying clothes over a year

Short answer: A plan makes shopping cheaper and more useful. Twice a year with a few pieces at a time keeps your wardrobe up to date, without ending up with everything new at once and without everything wearing out at the same time.

Spring and autumn are the two points

Two fixed times are enough. In spring and autumn you go through your wardrobe, see what is worn, and replace it. This fits well with the weather changing and you bringing out other pieces anyway. Start with what sits closest to your body, see bamboo underwear for women.

Buy a few pieces at a time

Three to five pieces per round keeps wear spread out over time. If you buy everything at once, everything wears out at once too, and a few years later you face a big bill again. Small purchases make it easier to keep your wardrobe in good condition all the time, see bamboo T-shirts for women.

Top up socks more often

Socks wear out fastest and should be bought three to four times a year. They are worn daily, rub against your shoes and are washed often, so heels and toes get thin before anything else. It is easier to replace one pair as it thins than to face many holes at once, see bamboo socks for women.

Write a short list

Before each round of shopping, write a short list of what is worn and what you are missing. The list keeps you focused on what you really need and makes it easier to say no to things that just look good in the moment. Keep it on your phone so it is always to hand.

Watch what you wear most

What you wear most often is also what wears out fastest. Look at your most worn pieces when you go through the wardrobe. If they are getting thin or have lost their shape, they belong on the list. Pieces you rarely wear can usually wait until next time.

Avoid impulse buys

Without a plan, it is easy to buy something because it is on offer or because you happen to be in a shop. Purchases like that often end up at the back of the wardrobe. With a plan, you know what you are looking for, and you can leave the rest for another time.

Stick to what fits

Once you have found a size and cut that fit well, it pays to stick with them. You can then buy a new piece without trying it on first, knowing it will go with the rest. That makes your regular purchases quick and free of surprises.

A plan you can keep

A plan only works if it is simple enough to follow. Two reviews a year and socks a little more often are easy to remember. Put a reminder in your calendar so you do not forget. After a year, you will notice that your wardrobe is more useful and that you buy less than you used to.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you buy new clothes

Twice a year for most things, and three to four times a year for socks, because they wear out faster than anything else in the wardrobe.

Why is a plan better than buying as you go

Because you buy based on what is worn, not on what happens to catch your eye. That way fewer pieces end up unworn at the back of the wardrobe.

How many pieces at a time

Three to five. That way your wardrobe never wears out all at once, and each piece gets used before the next one arrives.