So here’s a confession, not a single item that I am wearing in these images is new, with the exception of my earrings (but that’s only because the actual piercings are new). All of the clothes have been staples within my wardrobe for several years, some maybe one or two but this jacket for example has been in there for at least 5 years now. It’s not by accident that after a few years of rotating in and out of my winter (and sometimes summer) wardrobe these are still the items that I am reaching for when I’m pulling together an outfit. Even when I was a student I was always thinking about my cost per wear and how I could get the most out of the money I invested in clothes. It’s something that I’ve always thought about but in recent years I have certainly become better at it.

There’s a myth that we always have to have new all of the time and I really don’t prescribe to that. I’ve shared my thoughts on the importance of re-wearing more items before but fundementally it’s an easy to curb our consumerism and end up with fewer things ending up in landfill a few seasons (or sometimes even months) later. But in order to constantly re-wear the same items you need to be picking out pieces that you truly love and are seen as more “timeless”, i.e. they aren’t lead by quick trends and instead feed into a more general theme as to what your personal style heading.

Over the past few years I have become a lot more confident with what my idea of personal style is. I know that whilst I like to be comfortable and have a casual twist on some outfits I generally like a tailored cut with an elegant and classic design. I like to incorporate trends but nothing too crazy and my frugal (some may stay stingy…) instincts like to make sure the quality is something that will last whilst not paying over the odds for the sake of it. Whether you’re style is very similar to mine or is the other end of the spectrum I feel that these tips can be used by us all to pick up a few more pieces that stand the test of time.

A timeless investment does not have to mean designer: It seems that nowday’s “investing” in your wardrobe means you must be splashing out on the latest deisgner and that simply isn’t the case. Everything I am wearing in these images (and actually everything I ever wear for that matter) is from the high street. The difference is that I’ve spent my money with brands I trust and have invested more in the design and style of pieces than the label on the inside. I have nothing against designer goods and beleive me, if I could there are certainly a few things I would pick up, (I’m constantly dreaming of a Stella McCartney coat) but we need to get away from this idea that you can only invest if you spend a lot of money. It’s all about how you spend that money, not where.

Stay above the trends: If you really want to find something that is going to last you for years to come then you need to ignore the “of the moment trends”. I’m not talking about the more general things like looser fitting denim, structured coats and smaller handbags. Instead I’m thinking of the trends that will crop up and change every season, think along the lines of spring/summers ‘must-have’ colour of Living Coral. Whilst you may love your bright coral bag this year and still think it’s beautiful next summer are you really going to get as much wear out of it as you may a brown, black or even cream bag? Go in for the small bag trend but maybe keep the detailing and colours more paired back and minimal to ensure it goes with your outfits for the next few seasons.

Ensure it’s within your personal style: Let’s stick with the cream bag example, you may find the perfect small cream bag that you love but it doesn’t go with the majority of your wardrobe. Of course, not everything you buy has to go with every single item you own but when it comes to picking timeless pieces, especially if you’re choosing to invest a little more money, it’s always better to go for something that goes with the majority of your wardrobe. There are two reasons for this; the first is that quite simply you’re likely to get more wear out of it espeically if the other items in your wardrobe are also intended to stay in your wardrobe for a longer period of time. Secondly, even as you style adapts and changes across the seasons, if it goes with the majority of your wardrobe to start with then it’s more likely it will work in the future because some elements of your original style will probably still exist.

Don’t impulse buy: Generally I’m always against impulse purchases for a number of reasons but when you’re looking to pick out something that’s going to be more of a long-term staple and timeless item you want to think about it more carefully. Work out whether you really need it, the gap that it’s filling and how you will update it as new trends start to emerge. Once you know the item you want, how you’re going to get the most wear out of it and you’re confident that it will be in your wardrobe for a long time go ahead and purchase it.

Not everything you own has to be a timeless and classic piece. Have fun with the trends and experiment with new looks to your hearts content - I’m a firm believer that fashion should be a fun way to express yourself! But if you are looking to incorporate a few more things within your wardrobe that are more likley to stand the test of time and go with your ever-evolving style then I’ve found these tips to be really helpful. Sure, sometimes you misjudge it. There are definitley things I’ve bought thinking they’d be staples for years but I’ve actually hardly worn (hello black suede over the knee boots that make my feet burn like the 7th ring of hell) but over time I’ve got a lot better at picking out the things I know I love, the things that have worked well in my wardrobe season after season and the things that I desperately try to repair if anything ever happens to them. It takes practice but there is something so satisfying in knowing that you spent your money well and you can see it for years to come.