“Shopping is really complicated if you are a girl” -Helen Salter

Shopping for clothes is a tricky mix of finding pieces that you like and staying within your budget. Unfortunately for me, and probably for many of you out there, our tastes tend to run a little to expensive. When shopping, you come across pieces that are not worth the high price tag and others that are worth the splurge. Paychecks have been known to disappear on items still hanging untouched in my closet. As I grow older and finally understand the value of a dollar, I have limited myself to three items that are worth a little excess spending.

Jeans

Nothing makes an outfit look more put together than pants that fit your body. Yves Saint Laurent once remarked, “I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes.”

Your outfits should show people how well you can dress, not have them wondering why you aren’t wearing pants that fit you. Jeans are a staple to any wardrobe and you wear them more than any shirt or jacket, so you want to make sure they can stand up to daily wear and tear. Cheap jeans never fit as well as expensive ones and they always end up ripping, which can have a negative effect on your self-esteem. I’m 22 years old and it’s taken me years to find my perfect jeans. Once I did, I hardly buy any other brand. American Eagle makes great jeans that fit me perfectly and for someone who is barely 5’3,” having a short length option is ideal. A long length option is available for those who find jeans can sometimes run short. My American Eagle jeans cost, on average, $50. You do not have to spend $200 to find a good pair, but anything less than $30 can be questionable. Buy your own pair of AE jeans here.

Right: AE Jeans, Left: Red Engine Skinny Jeans (Pinterest)

Blazers

As a senior in college my everyday clothes are leaning more toward blazers and pencil skirts than yoga pants and t-shirts, so I’ve been slowly building up my professional clothes. An ill-fitting blazer will not only ruin an outfit but it can skew your body shape. I went to H&M looking for an affordable beige or blue blazer and walked out a little disillusioned. The blazers made me look bulky and the fit was all wrong, completely different than the one black blazer I have had since my first co-op interview. Instead of trying another lower-end retailer I went to the department store, Lord & Taylor, and my experience completely changed. These blazers were made better and fit my body shape instead of hiding it. The way some items are made matters and there is no room to cut corners. Don’t try to save your money on blazers because, like jeans, they can be worn many times without people noticing you’ve been wearing it for a week. Stores like AnnTaylor Loft and Banana Republic are great stores to try for blazers and other professional clothes.

Right: Colorful blazers (Pinterest), Left: Topshop blazer (Pinterest)

Little Black Dress

The LBD has been a fashion must have for every woman in the world since Coco Chanel published a picture of one in the pages of Vogue in 1926. Like the other two items on this list, the LBD is a necessity. There isn’t an occasion in the world where this item wouldn’t come in handy. For that reason your LBD shouldn’t be poorly made, nor fit you improperly. You want the dress to flatter your shape and make you feel beautiful while wearing it. To achieve this look, you will have to spend some money. A woman only needs one little black dress so think of this purchase as an investment in your fashion future. You can find a LBD in any retail or department store of your choosing. The prices can range from as little as $20 to as much as $500. I would not say that there is a certain price that every woman must pay when buying an LBD, my advice is to find one you love and go from there. If you love the dress, then you’re ready to make the investment.

Right: Victoria Beckham in a LBD (Pinterest), Left: Olivia Palermo in a LBD and blazer (Pinterest)     

Use these items as a guideline to your own splurge list but try to keep it short. Make sure you are getting your money’s worth out of every garment that you purchase, otherwise what’s the point? Remember that a good shopper is a smart shopper.