How to Budget for New Clothes When You Hate What You Own

As a freelance writer, I have a lot of flexibility in the topics I cover, but finance and fashion are two of my favorites—they are a better fit than most would imagine. Working in fashion is pretty dreamy but can be financially perilous, so balancing my fashion stories with ones about how to avoid debt or stick to a budget is a helpful reminder to keep my spending in check.

Like so many others, I’m beginning to feel a lot of consumer fatigue, especially regarding clothes. I used to take fashion inspiration from magazines as a teenager, and at the time, I was frustrated with not being able to buy clothes from the glossy pages easily. Now, I appreciate how that lack of accessibility forced me to stretch my styling muscles and didn’t allow me to jump on every trend. These days, it’s hard to resist buying into the trends. They are so readily and cheaply available, and in my experience, this is the kind of accessibility that leads to a lot of regret. Is there a worse feeling than doing your annual closet cleanout to realize you don’t want to wear something that still has tags on it?

With that in mind, I plan to be less impulsive and more intentional about my purchases this year. I’m putting my financial know-how to the test and making a plan for a year of purchases that align with my style. Truthfully, this isn’t about saving money as much as it is about saving me from a closet full of underutilized or completely unworn pieces. I’m optimistic that this method will work twofold: It will help me stop wasting money and avoid regret. Here’s how I’m doing it:

Create a style vision—and stick to it

Creating a vision board is a beloved New Year activity, and this year, I made one specifically for my style. I sought inspiration from Pinterest, coffee table books on style and iconic women, and magazines, and I steered clear of Instagram and TikTok. This helped me align future purchases with what I am truly drawn to instead of whatever tempting link was shoved in front of me on social media.

Since I’m not swearing off social media forever (although I did decide to stick with the TikTok ban), I am setting a goal to spend less time on these apps this year to help avoid impulse buying pieces that don’t necessarily align with my vision. There is endless inspiration waiting for me on those apps but also ample spending temptations. If I’m scrolling and am influenced to buy something, I will email it to myself and bookmark it for later. And if I’m still thinking about the item a week later, can justify the addition to my wardrobe, and it fits my style vision, then I’ll be much more comfortable actually buying it.

Review last year’s top purchases

As a finance writer, I give the same advice every January: Before you create a fresh budget for the year, you need to review last year’s spending. This gives you a chance to reflect on how you spent your money and how you’ll change your spending habits moving forward. I decided to apply this same strategy to my wardrobe. So I asked myself—what were my best purchases from last year, and why were they good buys? Here’s what I decided:

Leatherology

Train cases were a big trend last year, and I can tell why. They are an elegant and practical addition to your wardrobe—especially when designed to be used as a purse. This crossbody bag was one of my most worn bags last year. When I traveled, I packed it like a traditional train case but then later removed my cosmetics to use the bag as a purse.

Jack Erwin

I wore a few pairs of Jack Erwin shoes last year, but this pair was my most worn. Moving from Southern California to Northern California required a bit of a wardrobe update, and while I primarily wore open-toe shoes before in sunny SoCal, these loafers became my go-to. I love that I can wear socks with them; they are warm, and they are just as comfortable as sneakers.

Dorsey

Dorsey is famous for their stunning lab-grown diamond tennis bracelets and necklaces, but I firmly believe everyone should pay more attention to the brand’s colored stones. These ethically made emerald earrings make a more interesting statement than your typical gold hoops but aren’t so large that you can’t wear them daily. I wore them all throughout the holidays and already plan to bring them along for a packed upcoming wedding season.

Minnow

Minnow is best known for its stunning swimwear, but I’m glad I didn’t sleep on this cashmere sweater last year. I acquired it in the fall, but it quickly became a staple in my wardrobe. I wore it endlessly during the holiday season thanks to the festive red trim but plan to pair it with shorts in the summer for balmy nights by the coast. Because I live in California, where temperatures are pretty moderate year-round, I look for clothes that I can wear for as many seasons as possible.

So, what did I learn? Styles I can wear for multiple seasons, that serve multiple uses, and that are simply practical are the ones I turn to the most. This year, I won’t buy anything I can’t see myself utilizing multiple times a month as long as the style is seasonally appropriate (special occasion wear excluded).

I also found it equally helpful to look back on the purchases I regretted not making last year. My #1 regret was missing out on a cashmere triangle scarf I could wear as a shawl during wedding season and that was large enough to double as a travel blanket for my baby. I added it to my Christmas list to be responsible, but alas, it sold out before the holidays rolled around. If something that sold out is still itching my brain months later, I plan to look for a similar version this year.

Audit your wardrobe

Like most people, I enjoy a good closet cleanout in January, but this year, I did a full-blown wardrobe audit. It’s easy to donate clothes you won’t wear and move along, but I wanted to force myself to think about why I didn’t wear the rejects, why I wore my favorites so often, and what I could do to make the most of the clothes I currently owned before shopping. After all, I couldn’t create an effective spending plan without true insight into my wardrobe needs.

This year, while deciding what to keep or what to donate, I also asked myself what I needed to add to my wardrobe. But before I started shopping, I paused (always remember to pause!) and attempted to problem-solve. Whenever I studied a piece I loved but didn’t wear enough, I asked myself why. Does it need mending or a quick fix from a tailor? Would I wear this often if I had the right bra to go with it? For example, some recent health issues caused me to lose weight, and none of my jeans fit well. I was very tempted to buy new jeans after the holiday madness ended. Instead, I decided that a belt is a practical holdover solution until I can get my health back on track. I’ll still be able to wear the belt when my jeans fit again and won’t be stuck with too small pants collecting dust in my closet.

Plot your purchases

My hope is that by planning what I will buy this year, I won’t feel tempted by every new trend or sale that pops up. To help keep the temptations at bay, I made a budget for my style purchases and followed a form of the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. Similar to how you allocate more of your budget to essential spending than things like travel or eating out, I wanted to allocate more money to basics this year and leave room for investment pieces and special occasion pieces. With this in mind, here is how I formed my clothing budget—which I allocated $1,500 for:

• 50 percent: Wardrobe staples I will wear on repeat
• 30 percent: Investment pieces, whether or not they are “basics”
• 20 percent: Special occasion pieces that I need but know I won’t wear often

For each purchase I’m fully planning to make, I’m forcing myself to write down why it’s justified. Here are some examples of purchases I’m planning, which budget category they fall into, and how I’m justifying them.

Staples

Quince

Now that I work from home and spend a lot of my days more casually dressed, I wanted to upgrade my basic cotton T-shirt for a cashmere one. This has been a wishlist item for a few years, and I know I will get a ton of wear out of this elevated basic.

Le Bon Shoppe

Because loafers were one of my most worn shoes last year, I’m ready for a hosiery upgrade. I’ll wear these shoes even more (decreasing my cost-per-wear) if I don’t have to worry about bad trouser socks slipping down like I do now.

Quince

Realizing it’s time for an underwear drawer refresh is never fun, but an affordable, all-black pack of organic cotton underwear is basically the holy grail of undergarments.

Cosabella

When deciding where to buy staple pieces, I try to turn to brands known for a specific expertise. For example, for many years I’ve heard Cosabella is the best option for thongs, so I’m excited to try this set out this year.

SET

I reach for my leggings so often that every pair I own is sagging and pilled. I decided to invest in a new pair of black leggings so I can free up some much-needed room in my dresser.

SET

During my closet audit, I realized the #1 reason I don’t wear any of my coordinating workout sets is I don’t love walking around in just a sports bra. It was surprisingly hard to find a non-frumpy workout tank that actually covers my stomach. I am confident I will wear this top multiple times a week.

SET

One day last year, I went on TikTok and found out I no longer had “cool” socks—a problem I intend to fix with this handy three pack.

Special occasion pieces

Bromelia

I’m all set on wedding guest dresses and other special occasion outfits, except for swimwear. With a shiny new c-section scar I want to protect from the sun, I have a feeling this flattering one-piece swimsuit will be one of my best finds of the year.

Investment pieces

Selima Optique

Every five years like clockwork, my Ray-Ban sunglasses break. Currently, one leg is hanging on for dear life with a temporary screw. Knowing my days are numbered with my current sunglasses, I added this iconic pair of sunglasses to my wishlist for the year. If they look familiar, it’s because style icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy famously wore this pair. The fact that I still want these sunglasses in 2025 tells me they are a solid investment.

Quince

This tote is a great example of how I still plan to take advantage of trends. My love affair with suede goes far back, so I plan to get my hands on this trending fabric to find my dream everyday bag this year.

Decide when to wait versus when to buy

I am a shopping cart abandoner. This means I often miss out on great finds because I leave them sitting in the cart too long. This year, my goal is to recognize when I can benefit from making a purchase now or if it can wait. For example, I had a few items from Quince on my wishlist. The brand is known for its affordable prices and doesn’t run sales often. There was no need to wait for a sale, so I bought those pieces early in the year to give myself more opportunities to wear my new finds.

I plan to hold off and see if I can get a good deal for investment purchases or out-of-season styles I am hopeful will go on sale. Remember—President’s Day sales are coming our way soon. If your partner is anything like mine, they will also appreciate a convenient Valentine’s Day wishlist that can help check something off your list.

Knowing when to buy something and when to wait is tricky. Before I add anything to my list, I ask myself a few questions:

• Do I need it or just want it?
• Would I want this if it wasn’t trendy?
• What is the estimated cost-per-wear?
• Does it work for the season of life I’m currently in?
• What do I need now versus what purchases can wait for sales, my birthday, or a holiday?

Be flexible but strategic

I am sure that as my life, budget, and style evolve over the next year, some of my plans will change, and that’s OK. Having this framework ready and waiting for me will make it easier to see if a new “want” is an actual need. I also won’t hold myself to any planned purchases if I change my mind. I am sure I will still make a misguided style purchase this year, but my hope is that with a little planning, my budget will stretch further, and I’ll end up with a wardrobe I love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline DeMarco, Contributing Writer

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer based in Southern California who graduated from the University of California Irvine with a degree in Literary Journalism. She has written on a wide range of topics including finance, travel, and wellness for publications such as Coveteur, Girlboss, and Apartment Therapy. When not whipping up articles, she works with consumer brands like Gorjana, Voluspa, Underclub, The Well, and St. John to help tell their brand stories.