Buying Less, Choosing Better

I've lost count of the number of times I've stood in front of a wardrobe full of clothes and thought I had absolutely nothing to wear.

Which is ridiculous when you think about it.

There are things hanging in there that I've worn once, things I bought because they were on sale and things that seemed like a good idea at the time but never quite felt right when I got them home.

And then there are the same few pieces I reach for week after week.

The comfortable sweatshirt that goes with pretty much everything. A favourite T-shirt that's been washed more times than I can remember. A pair of jeans that actually fit properly.

It's funny how we can own so much and still find ourselves wearing so little of it.

Lately, I've been thinking more about what makes something worth buying in the first place.

When did shopping become a hobby?

I remember when buying something new felt like a bit of an occasion. You might have been looking for a particular item for weeks, saved up for it or waited until you had a reason to treat yourself.

Now, you can order an entire new wardrobe from your phone while sitting on the sofa.

And there's always something else to tempt you. A new collection, a different colour, a trend that seems to appear out of nowhere and suddenly everyone is wearing it.

I'm not against shopping. I love clothes, and I still get excited about finding something I really like.

But I do think it's become incredibly easy to buy things without giving them much thought.

I've certainly done it myself. Something catches your eye, it's reasonably priced and before you know it, you've convinced yourself you need it. A few weeks later, it's sitting in the wardrobe with the tags still attached.

The clothes you actually live in

When I think about the clothes I love most, they're not necessarily the most expensive or the most fashionable.

They're the ones I feel comfortable in. And by comfortable, I don't just mean soft fabrics or a relaxed fit. I mean clothes that feel like me. The sort of thing you can put on in the morning without having to think too much about it.

A good sweatshirt, for example, is something I'll wear with jeans and trainers for a coffee, throw on after a walk or take away with me for a weekend.

I like clothes that can be worn in different ways, rather than pieces that only work with one particular outfit.

There's something quite nice about having a wardrobe where everything feels familiar and you know what works.

It doesn't mean wearing the same thing every day, although there's nothing wrong with that either.

It just means getting more enjoyment out of what you already own.

Does expensive always mean better?

Not necessarily. I've bought expensive clothes that haven't lasted particularly well and inexpensive pieces that I've worn for years. A higher price tag doesn't automatically mean better quality, just as a familiar brand name doesn't guarantee something has been made well.

I think it's worth paying attention to the things we sometimes overlook when shopping.

How does the fabric feel? Does it hold its shape? Are the seams neatly finished? Will you still want to wear it a year from now?

And perhaps most importantly, do you actually like it, or do you just like the idea of owning it? That's a question I wish I'd asked myself a few more times over the years. Of course, buying better doesn't always mean spending more money. Sometimes it simply means being a little more selective.

Waiting until you find the right thing instead of buying something that's almost right.

Or deciding that what you already have is perfectly good enough.

Finding your own style

I've never been particularly interested in the idea that you have to dress a certain way because of your age.

I think personal style becomes much more interesting when you stop worrying about what you're supposed to wear.

Some people love colour and bold prints. Others feel happiest in neutrals and simple shapes. Most of us probably fall somewhere in between, depending on the day. And our tastes change.

What you loved ten years ago might not be what you want to wear now. That's perfectly normal.

I find myself increasingly drawn to pieces that are simple without being boring. Clothes that feel relaxed but still look considered.

I like the idea of being able to wear something for years without it looking particularly dated. Not because I want a perfectly curated wardrobe, but because I'd rather have fewer things I genuinely enjoy wearing than lots of things I feel indifferent about.

A thought behind Maison Kasbah

When we started developing the clothing for Maison Kasbah, this was something I kept coming back to.

I didn't want to create clothes that people would buy simply because they had a logo on them. I wanted pieces that could become part of someone's everyday wardrobe. Something you'd reach for on a Sunday morning, pack for a weekend away or wear so often that it eventually becomes an old favourite. That's also why I've spent so much time thinking about the designs.

There's a fine line between something feeling understated and something feeling a little too plain. And just because a design looks good on a screen doesn't necessarily mean it's going to look right on a sweatshirt. It's been a learning process, and I imagine it will continue to be. But I'd much rather take the time to get things right than rush to put something out simply for the sake of having a collection.

Making room for what matters

I don't think everyone needs a capsule wardrobe or a strict rule about how many clothes they should own.

And I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with treating yourself to something new just because you love it.

For me, it's more about being a little more conscious of what I bring into my life.

Will I wear it? Does it work with what I already own? Is it something I genuinely like, or am I buying it because I've seen it everywhere lately? Sometimes the answer will still be yes, and that's fine. Other times, I might realise I don't really need it after all.

I'm not about to claim I've mastered the art of shopping thoughtfully. There will probably always be the occasional purchase I look back on and wonder what I was thinking. But I do like the idea of opening my wardrobe and seeing clothes I actually want to wear. Not necessarily more clothes. Just better choices.

And perhaps a little more space between the hangers wouldn't be such a bad thing either.