Remember when you were in high school, and the value of a dollar seemed so much more valuable? Having more than ten dollars in your hand made you feel like you were hot stuff. Do you also remember how your parents would buy your clothes for you, especially during the ‘back-to-school’ season? Considering that the season is creeping up upon us, I found myself wondering about my clothes (shocker, right?) But, more importantly I found myself really considering how my tastes have changed over the years, and how I value the quality vs. quantity.
Growing up, my mom and I would hit up all the local thrift stores almost every Saturday morning. I remember looking through all the childrens’ clothes and picking out armfuls of clothing to try on. At that point in life all I really cared about was the quantity of clothing I was getting, rather than how well it would last. During childhood this way of thinking is perfectly acceptable considering the fact that kids grow like weeds and they’ll wear and tear through clothes outrageously fast. As we grow up we come to realize that how long an item of clothing lasts increasingly outweighs having a more generous quantity. However, there are always exceptions to this rule. For example: items like leggings, undershirts, and other every day basics are always useful in a big quantity because you use them on a regular basis and they are always available. Things to invest more money in are work clothes, boots, and jeans. When you invest more money into quality items (the RIGHT kind of quality) the difference is extremely noticeable. Quality jeans usually have a much better fit, and the material is more forgiving and durable. If you’re like me and generally fin jeans to be uncomfortable, you will notice a huge difference between bulk made jeans, and high quality jeans.
Another area to focus on are work clothes. If you are lucky enough to find yourself employed in a full time job during this jobless time it is important to keep your work clothes up to date, and comfortable. Think about it this way: you wear these clothes everyday and the way you look represents your entire company. If you look disheveled, or heaven forbid, cheap, you wont be taken seriously. Being overlooked means missed opportunities, and we do not want that to happen.
Now, here’s the part where money really comes into play. Most of us young folk are really struggling for money these days. Paying for rent, food, and fun activities take up more than enough of our monthly budget. Adding in money for clothes seems almost impossible, especially if we’re aiming to buy the good stuff. The best advice I can give you is only buy what you truly need. I know, I know, this seems like common knowledge, but stores like to lure you in with display windows and over-advertised bland sales. Don’t be fooled or wrangled into these traps! really plan out exactly what you need to buy, and save up for it. Also, don’t buy it unless it is perfect! I used to find myself settling for half-decent items when I should have just been waiting for the perfect piece to add to my wardrobe. Styles are always changing and expanding, and stores are always coming out with new designs and new fits that will suit your needs perfectly. If you have strong control then do not be afraid to shop the sale room. Sometimes you can find the most awesome deals on stuff you’ve been looking for, for what seems like forever. However, it is very easy to be swindled into buying some cheap item that you don’t really need. Also, do not be consumed with brand names. Not everyone looks good with “Juicy” written across their butt (Juicy Couture). Flashing brands is still not a classy things in my room. Be respectful of what you’re buying, and if someone happens to ask you what brand it is don’t be afraid to bust out the brand name! There’s a difference between being flashy, and being classy.
Written by: Kailyn Wolf