How to Avoid Impulse Buying and Choose Sustainable Clothes

Impulse buying feels thrilling as it’s happening, but it can end up doing some serious damage to your wallet, to the environment, and to the integrity of your closet. Impulse buying – when you buy something spur-of-the-moment that you didn’t intend to buy when walking in the store – can be fun in the moment. It feels like a treat –you walk into Target to pick up hand sanitizer and you walk out with a cart full of home goods, gadgets, food, and toys. But then you get home and look at your haul and wonder, “Why did I buy that?” This happens all too often with clothes, particularly when we walk into fast fashion stores. We think, “Oh, this shirt is only $5, I’ll grab that too!” And suddenly we’ve spent $300 on a bunch of clothes we’ll wear once or twice.

If you’re looking to build a more sustainable lifestyle, including a sustainable wardrobe, then impulse buying is enemy number one. You might have every intention to buy clothes made from organic materials or items that are only in your budget, but if you fall victim to impulse buying, all those intentions suddenly fly out the window.

You’re not alone. One study found that Americans spend an average of $183 per month on impulse, unnecessary purchases. That adds up to an extra $2,196 per year.

Beyond the impact on your wallet, it’s rare that you come home with an impulse buy that’s going to be a good investment for your closet. Most often, you end up with a tee that you’ll wear once or an ultra-trendy blouse that will be out of season next month. Not only are you wasting your money, but you’re also contributing to the 11.3 million tons of textiles that end up in American landfills each year.  

So, what’s the answer? How can you save your wallet and make more sustainable purchases while also looking chic in the process? The quick and easy answer is to buy preloved clothes from consignment stores like Current Boutique that offer high-quality, made-to-last designer pieces at a fraction of their original ticket price. Beyond that, below we’ve created a list of the best questions to ask yourself when shopping for new or preloved clothes to avoid impulse buying and choose sustainable clothing.

Would I have liked this item three years ago? 

I love this question. It’s my favorite way to determine if a piece of clothing is actually sustainable for your wardrobe. It’s easy to think that future-you will love this dress or this blouse because present-you feels like you love it. But what about past-you? If you-three-years-ago wouldn’t have worn this item, it’s probably not as timeless or sustainable as you think.

Is this print/color trendy or timeless?

Are you looking at something that’s a bright color or a unique pattern that you’ve never worn before? If you’ve never been attracted to or worn that pattern or color before, it’s probably a trend that will be gone by next year (if not next season). Stick to timeless colors like neutrals, navy, maroon, bright red, and colors that you personally love and feel good in! Stripes and polka dots are classic for a reason, but don’t sleep on neutral animal prints as an enduring option for your wardrobe as well!

Is this a high-quality piece that can withstand lots of wears and washes?

Sustainability doesn’t just mean a garment is made with eco-friendly fabrics and dyes (although that’s part of it). It also means that the garment can last for years in your closet. The more use you get out of it, the more sustainable it is. This is often called “slow fashion,” which is in direct opposition to the fast fashion culture of buying cheap products that last only a few wears.

When you’re going to buy something, consider its quality. How long will it last you? Is this really a good use of your money? Quality pieces are going to cost more than cheap ones. But you’ll have it for much longer, you’ll end up buying less, it’ll reduce your personal waste and carbon footprint, and long-term you’ll end up saving a lot of money. So, before you make that impulse purchase, consider if it’s worth the investment. 

Will I wear this item at least 30 times?

Livia Firth, the founder of Eco Age, who we talk about in our article about fashion sustainability, is a pioneer in the world of sustainable and circular fashion. One of her campaigns was the #30wears campaign, which encourages you to only buy an item if you’ll wear it at least 30 times. If the answer is yes, buy it. “But you’ll be surprised how many times you say no,” Firth said.

This 30 wears test helps you focus on purchasing pieces that have longevity. Stop spending money on that statement piece you’ll wear once or a cocktail dress with no event to go to. The focus is to purchase versatile pieces you can use in different ways for months, seasons, and years to come.

Can I wear this for more than one season?

If you live in Alaska, you probably don’t need a new summer wardrobe every year (it won’t pass the 30 wears test). If you live in Washington D.C., you have to learn how to dress for all four seasons… without having four different wardrobes! Try to spend most of your money on items that you can repurpose for different seasons to get the biggest bang for your buck. A little black dress that you can wear with strappy heels for a summer event or with leggings and boots for a winter date… A denim jacket that you can wear as outerwear for cool spring, summer, and fall nights or as a layer underneath an overcoat in the winter… Short-sleeve blouses that you can wear standalone or layered with sweaters… The more you buy that you can mix and match for each season, the more use you’ll get out of your clothes (and your wallet).

There are some pieces like outerwear or bathing suits that are pretty seasonal but try to aim for the bulk of your wardrobe to be year-round. 

Will I still want this item after I leave the store?

Only buy the items you can’t stop thinking about. Do you love it? Not just like it. Not just think it’s cute. Do you LOVE this item?

Here’s the shopping test to figure out if you truly love a piece of clothing or an accessory. When you’re almost finished shopping, take the pile of clothes and look away. Can you remember it all? Only buy those things you can remember from memory; you probably don’t like the other items as much as you think you do. Another test is to leave the store and go grab a cup of coffee. Now, go back to the store and only purchase those items that you remember and would be able to find again.

It's a great feeling knowing that you love everything in your closet. One example is my friend who is obsessed with a pair of sage green overalls she purchased. To most people, sage green overalls wouldn’t be top of mind in their closet. But my friend wears a lot of pale greens, whites, and beiges. So, she wears those overalls at least three times a week with different shirts and accessories, regardless of the season. Winter? She wears her overalls with a long-sleeve beige or white shirt with a matching scarf and brown boots. Summer? She pairs it with a white crop top or even a bikini top to hit the beach.

Find your version of sage green overalls. Invest in something you love that’s high-quality enough to wear a thousand ways. I bet you anything my friend would hunt down those sage green overalls a million times over!

Does it match other items in my closet?

There’s nothing worse than bringing home a cute new shirt only to find you have no bottoms or accessories to pair with it. In the case of my friend who owns a lot of white, green, and beige, it probably won’t make sense for her to buy a bright red shirt that she can’t match with anything else in her closet.

That’s why I love the idea of creating a personal uniform that has some foundational colors (like green and white) and styles (like summer-y clothes) that you wear often. It’s easy to shop for quality clothes that you know will match when you have a set uniform or “rules” for your wardrobe. Learn how to create your own uniform to look effortlessly chic here.

Do I have something similar in my closet already?

You want any new items you purchase to be able to match the rest of your wardrobe easily… but you also don’t want it to be exactly the same as something you already own. How many plain grey hoodies do you really need?

If you love an item but think you have something like it at home, it might be best to pass for now to avoid doubling up. Or, if you bring home a new purchase and you already have something like it—chances are, you won’t wear either because you didn’t even remember you had something like it to begin with!

However, if you love an item and have something similar that you wear all the time and you’ll get a lot of use out of having a second or similar one, then buy it! No one says you can’t have doubles in your closet if they’re practical, well-loved, and well-worn. This is particularly useful if you have a personal uniform that calls for the same style every day, like the black turtlenecks of Steve Jobs. (Did you know that black makes you appear more professional and authoritative according to fashion psychology?)

Would I still want this item if it was full price?

This rule applies to sale/clearance racks as well as consignment store pieces. The question is would you still want this item if it was full price, not necessarily would you buy it at full price. For example, would you still want that Burberry coat at $2,000 even though you’re getting it at a steal at Current Boutique for $650? The answer is probably a resounding “yes, gimme, gimme, gimme!”

The question becomes harder in the sale section, though. Are you buying this piece just because it’s on the sale rack? If you had to pay the original ticket price, would you still consider this purchase? If not, it’s probably not worth your money.

Is this a sustainable material?

If you’re buying something new, consider its impact on the environment. Is it made from an eco-friendly fabric with sustainable fashion practices? If not, maybe try to find a sustainable alternative or look for something similar on consignment so you can recycle the piece rather than buy it new. Check out some of our favorite sustainable fashion brands here.

More tips to avoid impulse buying

Change the way you make investment purchases.

A lot of us think of investment fashion as investing in special occasion wear, like saving for a cocktail dress for a friend’s wedding or buying high-end heels you’ll wear a few times. Forget that! Stop spending money on items you’re never going to wear or only wear once. Instead, start spending your “investment” cash on items you wear regularly. Buy high-quality jeans, blouses, outerwear, shoes—things that you practically use and wear every day. Investing in high-quality clothing is more sustainable for your wallet and the environment, and it will make your wardrobe chicer and more streamlined too!

Find brands and stores that align with your values.

Make shopping for sustainable, quality clothes by curating a list of your favorite brands, designers, and stores that you know are in alignment with your values. For example, Shein is known for having horrible social and environmental practices, so it’s best to skip a purchase from this fast fashion retailer.

But beyond just knowing which companies not to buy from, create a list of brands that you trust and love so you have a go-to shopping outlet without worrying about how one or two impulse buys might impact the environment. Current Boutique is a great place to indulge your love of impulse buying because you know you’re investing in quality, sustainable, designer clothes and always getting it for a steal! 

Buy secondhand clothes from consignment stores.

Consignment stores give a second chance to clothes and accessories. Purchasing on consignment means that you are saving items from going into the landfill, giving them a longer life, and doing your part to reduce waste in the fashion industry.

At the same time, you also know you’re buying high-quality clothes that can withstand the test of time (and the 30 wears test). When you’re buying secondhand clothes from a consigner like Current Boutique, you know that garment has already made it through extensive quality-checks and cleaning (plus the life it had with its previous owner). This garment or accessory has already proved that it can endure multiple washes, wears, and events, so it’s ready to become a sustainable part of your closet.

(Note that there’s a difference between consignment shops and thrift stores. Consignment shops work hard to put high-quality items on their shelves with thorough checks and cleaning. Thrift stores often will resell anything that comes their way, and they don’t usually clean the items. If you’re not looking to DIY and revamp your clothes yourself and you want to ensure the item has longevity, a consignment shop is the way to go.)

Moreover, consignment stores offer unique finds. You don’t have to worry about if what you’re seeing on the shelves is too timeless or trendy. The purpose is to find preloved items that you love and that speak to your unique style regardless of what’s “hot” at the time. At Current Boutique, we even have a Trends section on our website that lets you buy timeless clothes that are also trending and in-season. You can be both timeless and trendy!

Even better, buying secondhand designer clothes from consignment stores is good for your wallet long-term. You’re getting access to high-end investment pieces at a fraction of their original ticket price. Talk about an impulse buy you can actually feel good about! So go on, start browsing!