Anatomy of a Splurge

The thought process behind a Big Buy.

Courtesy of Prada.

When fashion is an integral part of your career, it becomes all too easy to speak casually about clothes you could simply never afford — and often, wouldn’t buy even if you could afford them. Whether we’re turning up our noses at Maria Grazia Chiuri’s latest for Dior, debating the need for a $1200 T-shirt from The Row, or breaking down the details from Phoebe Philo’s second edit, we tend to talk about luxury goods the way most office-goers might chat around the water cooler about their big plans to hit Chipotle for lunch.

With so much fashion swirling around in our brains, shopping becomes both easier and more challenging than it might be for the average consumer. On one hand, knowing it all makes it easier feel confident in our purchases, as we’re able to compare our picks to other potential options and go with whichever ends up on top. On the other hand, we carry the sartorial burden of Knowing Too Much, and therefore, we are rarely satisfied. There will always be another expensive bag, a better overpriced T-shirt, an un-dupeable earring to lust over.

My closet, my bank account and I all agree on one thing: I’m pretty good at getting it right when it comes to a Big Buy — an expensive purchase that requires careful consideration. I’m not one to impulse-shop, but I have a good gut instinct when it comes to determining which pieces are worth the splurge, and which simply inspire a momentary yearning.

Given that March is my birthday month (Over-emotional Pisces peers, rise up!), I’ve been tasked with one of the year’s most daunting Big Buys: the birthday gift. I want to get myself something special and fun, something I might not purchase without an occasion, without losing sight of my ability to shop with the future in mind. Striking that perfect balance between a special treat and a carefully-considered purchase is far from easy, but I’m usually able to deduce whether or not an item is worth buying by asking myself the eight questions below.

Anatomy Of A Splurge

• Do I like this item for life, or for now? Trends are tempting, and while I’m not above an It Bag (see: my Loewe Squeeze, my Nano Fendigraphy bag) I think long and hard about whether I’ll still be using an item in six months, one year, five years. If it feels fleeting, it’s a no. That isn’t to say an It piece can’t become a long-term favorite, though, and the aforementioned bags are proof. My Squeeze is my go-to tote when I need my laptop, and my Nano Fendigraphy is perfect when I need to go hands-free or spice up an all-black evening look.

• Does it make sense for me, specifically? Sometimes, I fall I love with something that’s absolutely perfect for someone else. There are just some things that don’t make sense for me and my lifestyle! I don’t like short skirts, high heels, or purses that won’t fit a tripod and lip liner. I don’t need luxury sportswear, and I also don’t need a ton of evening wear. Cute is not enough; I need real-world wearability to justify a purchase.

• Do I already have something like it? This is a big one, folks. I’m a fan of buying multiples of the pieces you love, but overspending in one area instead of building a balanced wardrobe isn’t wise. Think about what you have at home already before buying something new. I don’t need ten glitzy evening bags (but I do need one in gold, and one in silver). I don’t need flats in every colorway (but I do need black, tan, and red).

• Does everybody already have it? Not to be an “I’m not like the other girls” kind of girl (because I am exactly like other girls, thank you very much), but a piece that’s too popular can definitely give me the ick. I want everything I buy to reflect my personal style, not just show that I can afford the hottest new thing. Seeing these pieces out and about never impresses me. Usually, it makes me feel like the wearer may not have a good grip on their unique personal style just yet.

• Is it versatile? And if not, is it special enough? I’m typically on the hunt for one of two things: pieces that serve multiple functions, or statement pieces. Blazers I can dress up or down, bags that can be styled with different straps, and shoes I can walk in forever are all safe, versatile buys — but I still hold space for those extra-special standouts that aren’t so practical. They just need to be exactly right. The perfect statement earrings. The ultimate beach hat. The head-turning faux fur coat. They’re worth the space they take up, even if they aren’t for everyday delight.

• If it’s designer, does it speak to the brand’s history? Another big one for me, especially because we’re often paying a lot solely because of a brand name. I’m happy to invest in Prada pieces because I think Miuccia Prada is a fashion genius. I typically like the pieces that align with the house codes. That said, it’s easy for me not be tempted by the Prada pieces clearly designed as a cash grab for younger or more impressionable audiences, who just want something with the logo on it (like $700 bucket hats and $2K raffia totes).

• Do I have the money to afford this item? Not just in my bank account at this current moment, but in general. Is this a wise purchase when I consider my other expenses for the month, as well as what I’m hoping to save (freelancers, please save more than you spend!)? If I don’t have the funds, it won’t be fun later. Frankly, this should be the first question you ask yourself, before any of the others on this list. Before you enter the store, even! Trying to shop above your means is like attempting to date an emotionally unavailable man. It’s more stress than it’s worth.

• Lastly: Could I do better? If you’re not one hundred percent convinced that this particular piece is the best version of this thing you will ever come across, then skip it. Something better will come along, and you’ll regret having this version when you should have waited.

Allow me to wrap up with a timely example of how this list of questions has helped me avoid and indulge in a number of Big Buy birthday treats. While strolling Worth Avenue in Palm Beach with my boyfriend last week, I popped into the Pucci store because I remembered seeing some gorgeous summer things the last time I visited a Pucci shop in Miami during Swim Week. At the time, I was fixated on the bizarre-but-oddly-practical Cut-Out Bucket Hat ($570). Great for reading my book poolside in the sun, I told myself, but deeply embarrassing to be perceived in. I couldn’t pull the trigger.

This time around, it. was a Silk-Twill Cap ($595) that caught my eye.

Courtesy of Pucci.

To some, a silk scarf with a brim might seem like an unnecessary purchase. But for me, it felt just right. I like it for now and for life, as it isn’t particularly trendy. It makes sense for me, specifically, because I always wear a hat in the sun thanks to some pesky melasma, and I’ve never been able to effortlessly style a scarf in my hair (the built-in brim allows this scarf to function more like a hat, in addition to offering more sun protection). I have nothing like it, no one else I know has it, and although it’s special, it is quite versatile, as the colorful pattern goes with most, if not all, of my beachwear. It definitely speaks to Pucci’s history, as it features archival prints the brand is known for, and I can afford it (hooray!). I don’t think I could do better, as it’s unlikely to see similar iterations of a brimmed scarf like this anywhere else.

After breaking down my Big Buy, I was ready to commit — until I found two more enticing options. Over at The Royal Poinciana Plaza, Staud had two of the handbags I’d been eyeing for summer: the Beaded Staudines Tommy Bag ($295) and the Cleo Fish Basket Tote ($395).

Courtesy of Staud.

Immediately, I was able to ask myself my usual questions and come to the conclusion that these two bags together were a better birthday Big Buy than the Pucci scarf. I already have and love multiple Tommy bags, and the Staudines design (now sold out online) feels kitschy and unique, while remaining versatile in terms of its correlation to my summer wardrobe’s color palette. As for the Cleo Tote, I’d been on the hunt for a big tote to carry poolside, as well as to farmer’s markets and the beach, and immediately knew this was one of those special statement pieces that trumped all other logic. Sold.

I’m not saying I won’t end up back at the Pucci store when I return to Palm Beach — that scarf fit all my criteria for a Big Buy, after all — but I hope this approach to analyzing larger purchases helps you determine what is or isn’t a good fit for your wardrobe.

If you’ve got any questions I should add to my list (or potential Big Buys you want someone else’s opinion on), do let me know.

x BG