|
Semi-Annual Clothing Inventory and Foray into After-Christmas Sales:
The successful man is busy, and only has time to shop twice a year. Before you consider hitting those after-Christmas bargain bins, I recommend you inventory your closet to assess immediate needs, and to avoid buying something again because it’s a good deal.
My recommendations for a thorough closet inventory:
- Remove those items you haven’t worn for a season. You have two options:
i. Donate to charity; this is good karma.
ii. If you need cash sell them on E-Bay and stay home from the sales- you can’t afford any new clothes.
- If it’s an item you’re really fond of, keep it, but make a note to wear it more next year.
- Remember; when you remove items from fall and winter to rotate in your spring and summer wardrobe, store them in a cedar lined closet. Cedar absorbs odors and keeps moths away from your clothes.
Shopping the Sales
According to the Wall Street Journal, men now purchase their clothing 70% of the time. Gentlemen, this is that time. Because everything is ON SALE, and the smart successful man wants to save money.
*But are you really saving money by buying on sale?
Here are some words of advice:
1. MAKE SURE YOU WILL WEAR WHAT YOU”RE BUYING!
i. I can’t tell you how many times I bought clothes on sale only to discover I didn’t wear them later.
ii. Thus I didn’t get the full value for my money even though I “got a great deal” on a sale item.
2. Buy Basic Shirts-
i. White and blue solids- conservative stripes or patterns.
ii. Many shirts, particularly from American makers are still full cut.
iii. If you’re looking for a trim fit look elsewhere.
iv. It’s also difficult to get sleeve lengths out of the norm on sale.
3. Conservative ties.
i. A good time to pick up a non-garish holiday tie.
ii. Avoid ties that are brightly colored and unseemly.
iii. Others have passed over these ties for a reason (see below).
- Tailored clothing
i. Don’t buy it unless it’s a perfect fit.
ii. You’d be surprised how annoying it is to spend $1000 on a $3000 suit and then have it not fit. Make sure it’s exchangeable!
iii. Alterations on Sale are usually extra.
- Overcoats.
i. Make sure they’re long enough.
ii. Otherwise overcoats don’t tend to fluctuate much in fit.
iii. Choose a color that doesn’t show dirt and a conservative style that will last for years and justify your investment. ,
Some of the drawbacks of buying on sale:
- Again, if something’s on sale it’s because it’s been passed over by lots of other people. Usually with good reason.
- Outlet stores are a particularly nasty place to buy clothes “on sale”.
i. You think you’re getting the best deal when you’re actually getting the worst deal.
a. Even more people have passed on these clothes.
b. One of retail’s dirty little secrets: most big-name labels and outlet stores make inferior quality merchandise just for their outlets.
8. Sales shopping crowds are huge, exhausting, and occasionally belligerent as people wrestle over the same items.
- Conclusion: For items you will use to build your wardrobe it’s best to buy custom or made-to-measure:
i. You choose what you want instead of someone else choosing for you by buying what’s on sale.
ii. You will wear these items more often.
iii. To illustrate:
a. If you buy something just because it’s on sale and don’t wear it even the reduced price doesn’t justify buying something you won’t wear.
b. If you pay 2 or even 3 times as much for the same type garment, but actually wear it, you’ll pay less in the long run.
I hope I’ve given you a useful primer for those anticipated post-Christmas buying frenzies. Now gentlemen start your sartorial engines!
| 
