How to Know When a Piece Is Worth Investing In
Luxury fashion isn’t just about price.
It’s about purpose — how a piece is made, how it makes you feel, and how it lives in your wardrobe over time.
If you’re building a wardrobe of lasting elegance, learning when to invest is everything. Because not every expensive item is worth it, and not every investment needs to be extravagant.
As a fashion designer, I’ve spent years learning how to identify which pieces are truly worth it — and which are just fleeting infatuations. Here’s the framework I use to make confident, considered luxury purchases.
1. Does It Match My Long-Term Style?
Luxury is personal. It’s not about chasing trends — it’s about curating identity.
Before I invest, I ask:
- Would I have worn this five years ago?
- Can I imagine still loving it five years from now?
- Does it reflect the style I’ve grown into — not just what’s popular right now?
Because I work in fashion, I’m constantly surrounded by newness. It’s easy to get swept up. But over time, I’ve learned to integrate trends through seasonal updates — minor, fun, lower-cost additions that I enjoy for a while and donate when I refresh.
My investments, though, are rooted in classics. Pieces I return to again and again because they never feel out of place.
2. Will I Actually Wear It — Often and Joyfully?
True luxury is lived in, not locked away.
I always ask:
- Can I wear this at least 10 different ways?
- Does it work with my life, not just my imagination?
- Will it bring me joy every time I reach for it?
If the answer is yes — and especially if I feel that quiet thrill when I try it on — then it earns a place.
3. How Well Is It Made?
Luxury is in the details.
You can feel it in:
- The hand of the fabric
- The precision of the stitching
- The weight and movement of the garment
- The ease of the zipper, the finish on the buttons, the lining you barely see
I’ve learned to recognize quality instinctively — and I apply that discernment most when it comes to my wool coats, leather shoes, and designer bags. These are items I have worn for years. They’ve traveled with me, adapted with me, and they still invite compliments.
Living in a cold climate in Canada, investing in tailored wool coats was a practical luxury. It’s a choice that brings both elegance and function to my life.
4. What’s the Cost Per Wear?
Luxury pieces aren’t “expensive” when they are used intentionally, often, and they earn their place.
Here’s how I calculate that:
Cost Per Wear = Price ÷ Estimated Uses
That $3500 handbag I’ve carried regularly for 7 years?
Worth every cent.
That $700 dress I’ve worn twice because it doesn’t fit my life anymore? A lesson.
Luxury becomes affordable — even smart — when it’s worn often, well, and with ease.
5. Can I Care for It Easily and Keep It Beautiful?
Elegance should support your lifestyle, not complicate it.
I ask:
- Does this fit naturally into the way I care for my wardrobe?
- Will it still feel and look refined a year from now, with minimal upkeep?
If something is too delicate or demanding, it loses its charm. Luxury should invite grace, not anxiety.
6. Is This a “Forever Piece” — or a Feeling I’m Chasing?
The wrong luxury purchase often comes from a place of seeking.
We imagine a bag, a coat, or a dress will make us feel more stylish, more worthy, more complete.
Before buying, I pause and ask:
Do I already feel like myself in this piece, or am I hoping it will change how I feel?
When an item amplifies who you already are — not who you’re trying to become — that’s the moment to invest.
My Personal Philosophy
Over the years, I’ve refined what I call my luxury core — the categories I continually invest in:
- Wool coats that make Canadian winters feel chic
- Leather shoes that wear beautifully and last for years
- Designer handbags that elevate even the simplest outfit
- Gold jewelry — understated, timeless, and passed down
Even though I’m not really a “jewelry person,” I’ve come to appreciate a few quiet statement pieces that hold meaning. A delicate gold ring, a pair of sculpted earrings — they become part of you.
I still enjoy trend-driven updates, but I spend much less on those, and donate them when they’ve served their season. Luxury, to me, is what stays. What lives with you.
Recap
Luxury isn’t about logos or status. It’s about intentionality.
When you invest in clothes and accessories that feel like you, work for your life, and endure with grace, that’s true luxury. Not because it costs more, but because it matters more.
And that, in the end, is always worth it.
