I know this time of year most folks are typically buying for others, but I usually treat myself to a few Christmas gifts. If you do too, check out a few of my top shopping tips or file them away for the future.

Lust vs. Must It’s OK to splurge on wardrobe staples. You’ll rotate them in and out of your wardrobe frequently, so it’s perfectly fine to spend a little more to ensure quality. Everyone should have the following items in their closet: a crisp white button down, black slacks, a little black dress and a tailored suit. Many of these items can be mixed and matched, layered over (think a belted cardigan over the LBD for daytime) or jazzed up with accessories (add a pop of color to a neutral suit with brightly colored heels). To save money elsewhere, don’t overspend on trendy items. You never know how long things will be in style for and you don’t want to regret spending $100+ for a pair of designer boyfriend jeans only to find them on the “out” list come spring. Speaking of, I bought a pair half off on Black Friday. I feel confident that I’ll have gotten my money’s worth even if they’re no longer trendy in a few months. I like Forever 21 for inexpensive versions for “of the moment” pieces.

Give Piece a Chance A mistake I’ve made in the past is disregarding a piece of clothing because of how it looks on the hanger. Recently, I was doing some shopping and spotted a sweater. I loved the color but it looked shapeless and blah on the hanger. Because I really needed a few new sweaters, I decided to try it on anyway. To my pleasant surprise, it looked totally different on than on the hanger. On the flip side, it might look great on the rack or mannequin but not so much on you. Thus, don’t purchase anything without a trip to the fitting room first!

Discount Dismay Many people (including me) are suckers for a sale. Who hasn’t bought something because it was marked way down only to realize you don’t even really like it and will probably never wear it? I have done this countless times. Most recently, I purchased a top that was marked down to $10 only to wear it for the first time and discover I hated it. So before you snatch something off the sale rack, ask yourself, “Would I buy this if it were full price?”

What are your top shopping tips or items on your “must” list?

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