Making a decision on buying something new can always be difficult. Here are some things to think about.
- Will you wear it?
- Do you need it?
- What does the future look like for it?
Usage
Will you wear the thing you bought?
This is by far the most important question for me when I am looking for something new. If your answer to this question is something like, “I can wear this every now and then for some occasions,” you probably should not buy it. If you would not wear the item regularly enough, pass on the new item. I would suggest that you should be able to wear the new item at least half of the week as an option. You want to be able to mix and match it with a decent amount of the wardrobe you already have, to make sure you can wear it enough. This also means that you should not have to buy more new clothes just to accommodate the new item.
Necessity
Do you need this new item?
Do you already have very similar items to it? If you have an item that you would rather wear or favor more, then you should pass on the new item. Only get the new item when you are ready for the change. If you get something new before you are ready, you might never grow towards it and it will end up abandoned in your closet. A way to figure out if truly want something is to set the idea aside for a week. If you find yourself still thinking about it at the end of the week then you would know that you want it. I will point out that trying out new styles is always fun to do, but make sure you choose wisely.
Future
What does the future look like with the item?
I suggest that your aim should be to wear and keep the item for a long time, although it might be hard to foresee yourself doing that when you first purchase it. One example to visualize is selvedge denim. With brand new selvedge denim, the goal is to wear it out and get a quality unique to the wearer. This can take years to see results, but you end up with faded denim that is special to you. Your purchases might not be as extreme of a commitment as this, but you get the idea. Ideally, I try to keep all my clothing purchases long term. Cycling out your wardrobe is always an option if you outgrow certain things.
Overall, making decisions on buying new things is pretty straightforward. Trust your gut and be realistic. Still, do not be afraid to step outside your usual wardrobe, take some risks every once and a while because things get boring when you get too serious. Have fun!