Know what you want

Don't just go shopping to 'buy something' or to pass time. Chances are you'll come back with something that doesn't fit in with the rest of your wardrobe. Think about what you need before you hit the shops. It doesn't have to be super precise, but you should know

• the kind of item you need,
• what colour it must be in,
• the fit and cut, and
• the material it should be made of.

Heading to the shops only knowing that you need a jumper, but not which one will make it more likely that you buy the wrong item.

Make a shopping list

It's all too easy to go into the shop and come out with at least three other things that you didn't intended to buy when you went in. Create a shopping list and stick to it; you have created it for a reason. These are the items that are needed to fill in the gaps of your wardrobe, anything else is just unnecessary clutter.

Take your time

When shopping for your wardrobe items, remember that everything you buy should be the perfect fit, not the next best available thing. Your garments should be high-quality, long-lasting items that perfectly fit into your wardrobe. Otherwise, you will have to replace them much more quickly. So take your time, do your research, and keep trying on clothes until you find that perfect item you've been looking for.

Look for quality

The most important advice I can give you is to look for high-quality items. Remember, price does not equal quality. You can find poor quality items in high-end shops just like you can find high-quality items in high-street shops. The trick is to know what good quality looks like. Really scrutinise a garment before you make a purchase.

If it doesn't look and feel like it will last long, don't bother with it. Spending a lot of time finding that right garment will make you see why you would want it to last for a long time.

Don't fall for trend items

Every item in your wardrobe has to pull its weight for you to get the most out of your clothing. So when you detect gaps, don't fill them with trend items. What I mean by that is that if your wardrobe doesn't already contain Safari look items, don't go and buy them now that they are in fashion. If a certain trend fits into your wardrobe, and you know you will wear these items for a long time, go get them, but don't buy incompatible garments that will end up at the back of your wardrobe, unworn.