Women in their thirties on the best fashion piece they’ve invested in during their twenties
IMAGE VIA @TARA_MITCH.STUDIO/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY CAT FORSYTH
“Outerwear is always a great investment.”
We all have those fashion pieces we covet. I’ve been drooling over weathered Balenciaga City Bags for as long as I can remember (thanks Mary-Kate and Ashley). I’ve dreamt of owning a Chopova Lowena Carabiner Skirt or having the cash to splurge on a pair of pink or red Repetto ballet flats.
Sometimes, I have to remind myself I’m only at the very beginning of my twenties, and I have a lifetime to build my dream wardrobe. I often feel like there’s a rush to own all my favourite garments, but I should be taking the time to carefully curate a collection of vintage and designer pieces.
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Although I just went halves on a vintage Miu Miu piece with my sister (utilise your siblings to indulge in your dream pieces), I’m not really in a place to be investing in clothing yet. Right now, between fuelling my iced oat latte addiction and buying actual fuel (which is so expensive at the moment I can’t quite believe it), money is already tight.
I still pop into the op shop for a look every week, which usually ends with a purchase. However, I’m slowly adjusting my approach to buying clothes. Rather than impulse bulk-buying lots of little pieces at the op shop, I think it would be much wiser (and better for my wallet) to save up for bigger pieces I put lots of thought into before buying. Call this ‘investing’, if you will – that’s how I think of it.
When I think about the pieces I want to invest in, as I’m sure many other people do, my main question is ‘Will I actually be able to wear this forever?’. If I can’t picture my 30-year-old self wearing something, I’m a lot less likely to buy it. When I’m looking to splurge, like I did with the Miu Miu or my black leather knee-highs, I need to be able to envision myself wearing the piece way into the future.
When I asked my 19-year-old sister Sarah about the clothing she is currently looking to invest in, she had a list prepped and ready to go (as any devoted fashion girlie would). Off the top of her head, she immediately came out with “square-toe ankle boots, loafers and a nice winter coat”.
I also asked Sarah about the pieces she could picture her 30-year-old self wearing. She told me she could picture herself still owning, wearing and loving two items: her black leather Marc Jacobs shoulder bag (that we found at Salvos for $60, and she wears every day) and her Katharina Lou Ollyrose – an item I ‘borrow’ on the reg, and a staple in both of our wardrobes.
I spoke to four women in their thirties (or just about), to see what they bought in their twenties that they consider to be their greatest fashion investment.
Jaimee Byron, 30, Area Manager and Visual Merchandiser
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Definitely my Acne leather jacket! I used to dream about it when I was a teenager, saved up all my McDonald’s money and bought it when I was in my twenties.
Lara Antonelli-Leorke, 40, Founder of Pen to Paper Media
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A pair of black leather, Italian-made, mid-heel knee-high boots. I actually bought them for my 18th birthday party and still wear them regularly – and I just turned 40.
Sarah Dennis, 29, Account Coordinator
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It’s very niche, but a vintage 1950s sundress from Hawaii. Think strappy. Low back, full skirt. I would have bought that around 10 years ago now.
Cait Emma Burke, 29, Fashion Journal’s Editor
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When I first started at Fashion Journal, a fellow editor friend implored me to get myself a pair of Marni Fussbett Sandals. According to her, they were the key to looking sleek and pulled together, and their flat, comfortable soles meant you could easily wear them both in the office and at fancy media events.
The price put me off (I don’t part with $1,000 easily), but after hearing so many friends in the fashion industry swear by these shoes, I caved and got myself a pair in black and gold.
While they’ve taken a while to wear in, they’ve been an absolute godsend for everything from weddings and dates to jam-packed fashion weeks. Alongside a Uniqlo x Jil Sander black cashmere-blend coat, they’re definitely one of the most worthwhile fashion investments I’ve made in my twenties.
Cyler Weinert, 32, Recruitment Consultant
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When I was about 26, I purchased an amazing orange wool Saks Potts coat off Facebook Marketplace. It was about $650 which is expensive, but I thought it was worth it for Saks Potts. It’s hands-down one of the best pieces in my closet. There hasn’t been a winter yet when it’s not my number-one worn coat. I’m still on the search for something better but I haven’t found anything yet. I’m in love.
Tali Zevi, 32, Owner of Whofish Boutique
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I thrift about 90 per cent of my clothes (and have done since I was in high school!) so I don’t have many expensive investment pieces. About a year ago I bought an incredible vintage brown leather jacket, which I adore and have worn to death. It wasn’t expensive ($40!) but has added so much value to my wardrobe.
Tara-Lee Mitchell, 35, Owner of Mitch Studio
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One of the best fashion investments in my twenties is this navy wool coat I bought from Cos about eight or nine years ago! It was about $350 if I remember correctly, and I have worn it every winter since. I have bought many other jackets but this is a coat that I always go back to. I get it dry cleaned every spring, and regularly repaired. Outerwear is always a great investment.
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