Most Americans only wear one third of their closet. So remove three crisp dollar bills from your pocketbook, and fling two of them into the nearest mall fountain.  Or cease wishing and minimize your closet to an exclusive collection of 9’s and 10’s.  Rather than settling for a plethora of underworn 5’s and 6’s, aim for less clothing and more wear.  Make your closet contents work harder so getting dressed is easy.

You can justify spending more on an individual item if you’ll be able to spread the cost across a large number of wears.  Conversely even a bargain bin salvage can be a waste of money if it is only worn once, twice, or not at all.

This single philosophy guides the acquisition of the following items, delineating the line between pinching pennies or investing dollars:

You can also identify whether an item is worth the cost, by reviewing it from the following angles:

Cloth:  Synthetic fibers (polyester, rayon, viscose, nylon, etc) cost less but the fabric tends to go flabby rapidly. Higher quality, natural fabrics like cotton, silk, wool and linen hold their shape longer, fit better, and cost more.  Check the tag and don’t pay premium prices for sloppy fabrics which won’t serve as loyally as their natural counterparts.  The same principle applies in accessories.  Opt for real leather in your shoes, belts, and handbags.  Faux pleather and its counterfeit cousins will leave you sweaty, stinky, and shabby.

Color: Save on white.  Even with fastidious care, it’s going to expire before you can extract an extensive number of wears.  Black is also a safe haven for saving.  Dark hues not only hide flaws in the figure, but flaws in fabric and construction.

Composition: It’s easier to buy a bargain solid that transcends it’s price tag, than a print.  Not only because the overall motif can lack sophistication, but also because no one took the time to match up the scene across seams.  Some argue that you should invest exclusively in neutrals and basics.  Others (myself included) counter than basics are easy to find and replace as needed, while truly special pieces are difficult to duplicate on a cheap level.  In reality it depends on your signature style.  If you’re a traditional loyalist, invest in your basics.  If you’re romantic or dramatic, you may want to save your budget for speciality.  Either way, invest in what you will wear and love the most.

Cut: Circle skirts and pullover tunic tops can be constructed in sewing 101, so you don’t stand a high risk of fashion malfunction by acquiring them cheaply.  But start adding buttons, zippers, and seams and an item can quickly spiral into shoddy.   This is especially true when dressing your most dramatic body area.  If you are a lower figure or hourglass, you need to be willing to invest in pants which drape rather than cling and offer enough substance to cloak cellulite and saddlebags.  If you’re an upper or middle figure, allocate dollars in favor of a quality jacket.  It will bring your top half into balance and streamline your bust, center, and love handles simultaneously.

Once you’ve identified your a “ten” scoring item, employ these additional saving strategies to get at the lowest price possible: Price Adjust, wait for Markdowns, shop end of season

Crest 3D White Intensive Professional Effects Whitestrips ($59.99) are most definitely a great savings value.  Each day you are not actively whitening your smile, you are yellowing your teeth.   Maintain your dental stars with Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips which remove over 10 years of set-in stains and whiten 25X better than a leading whitening toothpaste, when toothpaste is used for 4 weeks.

It uses the highest concentration of Crest’s whitening ingredient available at retail yet is enamel safe, just like what your dentist uses.  An Advanced Seal no-slip technology helps Whitestrips conform to teeth for noticeable whitening results without the mess.  Wear strips for one week to enjoy the full transformation that would cost $500 in professional office treatments.