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11 Questions to ask before buying a new piece of clothing

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Above Photo: Hamlet ponders the purchase of the brand new Allen Edmonds Mora 2.0. Available in black, brown, & the drool-worthy bourbon. Retail is $385.

1. What will this go with from my current wardrobe?

Try to come up with at least three outfits you could see the potential purchase working with. Teamwork makes an outfit. If you don’t have anything in your current lineup that’ll play well with the potential new addition, then it might not be the best buy.

2. Where will I wear this? Can I think of three circumstances in which I’d wear it?

That madras jacket might be smokin’… but where are you going to wear it? Would you really wear it to happy hour with your pals to watch the game? To work? At home on a lazy Friday night? If you can’t picture more than one place or one event you’d wear it, weigh that limited use against the cost.

3. What’s the return policy?

Is it a final sale item? Are you on the hook for return shipping? Are there free in-store returns? Is there a very small window for returns? It gets more complicated with online purchases, but it’s still good to know.

4. Do I already own something similar?

Let’s say there’s this hypothetical person who may or may not own five navy blazers (wool, corduroy, rumpled cotton, chino, and linen) with… hypothetically… a potential sixth on the way (tweedy English wool). This hypothetical person could have saved himself a boatload of money if he would have learned to ask himself this question earlier. Hypothetically.

plenty of navy blazers

Pretty sure we’re set on navy sportcoats & blazers here.

5. Do I even like wearing this style/color/type of thing?

Plenty of us often purchase articles of clothing that we’ll hardly make use of. Personally, I don’t wear sneakers that often. But recently I found myself drooling over a pair of rich-suede sneaks from Tretorn. Right before I clicked “complete order”, I saw the three pairs of classic sneakers I hardly ever wear sitting in the corner collecting dust. Purchase averted. Just because something is aesthetically awesome, and a great buy, doesn’t mean you’ll actually wear it.

6. Will this soon be out of season?

Buying during end-of-season clearance sales is a great way to save money. But what if you’ve got a few wants/needs for the upcoming season? Balance.

7. Is this a trend that’s going to die off soon?

Worst case scenario: Buying something that soon goes out of season and is at the tail end of a trend.

8. Are there additional costs like tailoring, storage, and/or maintenance?

Shoe trees. Garment bags. Nice hangers for suit jackets and blazers. And if you buy a linen suit, you’re going to want a steamer. And then there’s the extra costs associated with tailoring.

those hidden extras

It rarely ends with the price at the register .

9. Would I buy this if I was sober?

Drunk, late-night, online shopping is a real thing.

10. Is the main motivator for buying it the sale price, not the style?

Drunk on discounts!

11. Will I be too scared to wear this?

This is a real thing. You invest in a suit or a watch or a pair of shoes and… it just sits in your closet. You never wear your “good” stuff because you’re afraid you’re going to spill something on it, get it scuffed up, etc. Don’t be.

Of course, these are all questions that are asked AFTER the big important ones: Am I living paycheck to paycheck? How’s my emergency fund? What about retirement? Y’know, that kinda stuff. Super fun stuff.

Comments

  2. Well… it’s worse if you surprise yourself with an expensive, non-returnable sailor costume.

  4. What if the item in question is the AE Strand in walnut? Sure I might be a bit afraid to wear it outside in fear of scratching it or..dressing too nicely. Sure I may or may not already own a pair of strand in brown. BUT surely I cannot pass up on such a nice shoe, especially when purchased at a discount, right?! RIGHT??!!

  8. RE: #6 I actually like buying clothes near the end of the season–you get great deals and I like the pleasant surprise when I take them out 6 months later and see what cool choices I made.

  10. Not to be the buzz-killer here, but I’d like to make the point that its important to have a budget, so as to prioritize things like mortgage, retirement, etc. before grabbing a pair of the Mora 2.0 in bourbon. Or not. Oh yeah, also, its one thing to HAVE a budget, and a totally different matter to actually follow it… Still working on that part…

  11. i know this community is generally about the timeless/longevity thing (which is great), but if this stuff keeps your interest you will eventually hit a “versatility wall.”

    once you feel like you’ve accomplished the basics, don’t be afraid to buy more difficult to wear things if it fits the style you’re going for.

  16. #2 – Depends on the item. I have quite a few things that are strictly for work. I might potentially wear them for a special occasion/event but I’d have a hard time coming up with what they might be.

  18. Great advice, Joe. I’d only add another question, “Do I need this or do I merely want this?”

  20. Many great deals to be had for sure using that method. Only issue I’ve ever had with it before, is if I went up (ugh) or down (yay) in weight from year to year. I’ve bought some really nice end-of-season clothes which fit me when I tried them on, but sadly did not once their relevant season rolled back around.

    Of course, that’s a personal (battle/)thing. The deals are great when purchased like you say, Furious. No doubt.

  22. Absolutely a GREAT point, Alan. I have (ashamedly) purchased some items in the past – which *really* probably didn’t fit me as good as they should have – simply because they were on sale/clearance/etc. Worst of those are the dreaded “final sale” goods.

    I’ve gotten rid of quite a few items like those, after very few wearings. Not good.

  23. #4,5,7 should be preached from the mountain tops. I think #1 doesn’t apply when referring to colors as most dudes already rely too heavily on blue/black/gray/brown. regarding #2 its always better to overdress than underdress (Unless its over 90 degrees). Not that men should wear morning dress to do laundry, but nothing makes your lady feel more special than having her man be the best dress male at a function/party/gathering. The dudes might not notice, but the women do talk.

  26. Joe, Thanks for giving Dave some props. My wife and I are living by those principles. My wardrobe isn’t where I’d like it to be, but whatever. 🙂

  28. Ask yourself if you anticipate having any big purchases (clothing or otherwise) coming up and what’s more important to you.

  29. All I can think about is Mora 2.0 in Bourbon Calf… Hahaha…

    Good call on the sneakers though. I don’t wear sneakers often either, but I couldn’t help myself from getting a few pairs during the Nordstrom sales earlier this year. Good reason to return them (they’re still unworn and also evidence that I don’t need them).

  34. man that is awesome. Would not wear it as a suit. But as a jacket – yup. Agree with LolaB – not for work IMO.

  35. This + Sale= guilty. I think its close enough and then I don’t wear it because it looks “off” and I can’t tailor it.

  36. That’s a little much for a hospital, which I reckon is a bit more conservative. If you worked in a more “creative” job (e.g. marketing, graphic design, etc.), I’d say yes.

  37. Agree, it just catches your eye, thanks for the input. It’s not gonna happen.
    I do like the just jacket idea though, might be good for traveling with customers.

  38. Joe, I tried so hard to resist…. I even went back to your 11 questions to ask before buying post, to see if it could talk me out of this smoking deal. Sadly, I have a charcoal hole in my suit collection. Given all my recent splurges, no spend September may be on the horizon for me.