When is it wise to spend a little extra money, and when can you get away with spending little to nothing on clothing and accessories? That question was recently asked of me, and I thought it would be great to use this weekly email message to address that question. Most of us just don’t know or aren’t sure. Spending a little extra money in some cases is a good idea. Those times are usually when we refer to something as an investment. And when exactly is it worth it to invest our money? Listed below are some times when putting a few extra dollars will wind up in the long run saving you money.

#1- It’s a classic. How many of you have classic things in your closet that you can’t even remember when you bought them. It could be a great basic suit that never goes out of style and you wear at least once a week or a good handbag that you use constantly. Why spend on classic? Items that are classic get a lot of wear, they are so classic that they just don’t have an expiration date on them. One day take one of your classic pieces that you have had forever and do the math. Take the price that you spent on it add any cost for alterations and divide it by the amount of times you wore or will wear it in one year. You may start to find that the particular item owes you absolutely nothing. So for example, if you invest $500 in a suit and do $75 in alterations but wear the suit at least once a week, $575 divided by 52 the suit actually costs you $11.06 per wearing, suddenly that $500 suit doesn’t seem like a waste of money. Conversely if you were to buy a $500 trendy skirt that you wear once or twice before it looks dated that skirt winds up costing you at least $250 per wear. Big difference! Good clothes last longer, so if you plan on making a particular item a classic staple in your wardrobe, making it an investment piece and spending the extra money is the way to go. Use the above equation in your shopping trips and you may start to notice that your shopping habits may change.

#2 They’re your feet remember. Many women think that it’s ok to skimp on shoes. Wrong! This is an area that requires some investing. I am not saying that your wardrobe needs to be filled with all Jimmy Choo’s, but your feet will thank you if you put them in a pair of shoes that will support them. Sure 9 West is a nice place to shop, but the shoes are meant to be disposable. If you are in New York or if you put a lot of mileage in walking, 9 West may not be the way to go. If you are on a budget, look out for sample sales or shop outlets for some better brands on sale.

#3 Hair. Even the less discerning can spot a horrible haircut a million miles away. And hair dye that you do yourself will eventually wreak havoc on your hair shaft. What happens is when you are older you may have a problem with thinning hair. The stuff at the drugstore in the box is not the same as the stuff the pros use. Treat your hair right by getting a haircut at least every 6-8 weeks, and if you color it and are on a budget, try to get your hair professionally colored at least once every few months. Also, just because shampoo is on sale doesn’t mean it is good for you. Consult with your hairdresser as to the best shampoo for you.

#4 Undergarments. Ladies, these are your breasts we are talking about! We complain and complain about our fears of sagging boobs but rarely do we give them enough support. Victoria’s Secret is pretty but if you are a well-endowed woman, you may want to rethink where you purchase your bras. And don’t let your bras get stretched out before you replace them. Bras should never be put in the dryer and when possible hand wash them.

There is nothing like the thrill of a good bargain. When we get something on sale we get a rush like somehow we beat the fashion system. We can’t help but share with other’s our victory. I grew up with a mother who was labeled a bargain hunter, we would be shocked at how she rarely paid full price for anything. Interestingly though what she bought was never cheap, she just had the incredible ability to spend next to nothing on good quality items. Getting a good deal is when you can beat the system and get something of value on sale. But when it is just inexpensive to begin with you may actually wind up wasting money having to replace it again and again because it isn’t made as well. A place that you can shop cheaply is on trendy items unless you have disposable income. And for expensive trendy things find those expensive trendy items on sale and you will never live with the guilt that you threw money away again. H&M and Old Navy are great stores for what they are, but never consider them the place to shop when you are trying to make a smart investment for your wardrobe with the expectation that it will last.

Bridgette Raes Style Group a New York based image and style consulting company was founded to provide results driven image and personal style instruction at reasonable rates. Started by Bridgette Raes in 2002, Bridgette Raes Style Group helps women create their ultimate image and personal style to guarantee their success through one-on-one services, seminars, and speaking events. Since its inception Bridgette Raes Style Group has helped many women with a message that has spread internationally.