DIY Wardrobe Rehab Step 6 - Focusing your shopping

If you've been following along you'll have seen a few pics of what my wardrobe looks like now, smaller and way more organised. (Check out the other steps here) Hurrah! The final step in my project is to put a few rules in place to focus my future shopping, so I don't end up with a massive jumbled wardrobe again. I've put these rules together from looking at a number of different blogs and articles in magazines.
My rules for focusing your shopping - making sure that anything I buy is useful and will be worn - are as follows:
1. As mentioned in the Wardrobe Essentials post, buy your basics and essentials in a neutral palette such as black, navy, beige or another neutral colour that suits you, increasing their versatility;
2. When you put together your list of essentials in one of my last posts, there were probably a few things that were on your list but you didn't own. If there are things that you truly need that will make your whole wardrobe more wearable - a navy blazer or well cut pair of black trousers for example - put these items on your list and save up to buy the best quality you can afford. Go without anything else and keep that item in mind while you are saving.
3. Don't go to sales unless you have a specific item in mind. How many times have we all nipped out to have a quick look in the sales and come back with something we bought for a tenner that will only be worn a couple of times. All this does is add to the clutter in your life. Add up all the stray tenners you spend a year and that is a whole lot of money that could be saved up for something good quality and infinitely wearable.
4. Limit the amount of cheap clothing you buy. To be honest, a lot of it is crap and poorly made. When you can, head to charity shops. Often you find better quality in charity shops and vintage stores than you do in high street stores.

How else can you maintain your organised wardrobe? Try to work through it and organise it as much as possible - have a three monthly clean out to get rid of anything you have accumulated that you won't wear. Sell these items on ebay or at markets so you can pay for new, good quality clothing that has been on your list for a while. Tash from Excessive Consumption recently blogged about this being her approach, and Dead Fleurette (who is on a blogging hiatus - devo!) only buys 3 - 4 items per season, and makes sure those are items she will treasure forever. I am sure we can all take a leaf out of their book! Happy Wardrobe!

Images: Excessive Consumption