The 70/30 Rule

I have been evaluating my closet a lot lately. In December, I cleaned out my closet and got rid of items that I no longer wore or that no longer fit. I had bags upon bags of clothes. In hindsight, I should have put some of those items up on Poshmark and made some cash, but I was happy to donate it all. It really got me thinking though...when I clean out my closet those couple of times per year, I shouldn't have bags upon bags of things to get rid of.  Even though I have gotten better at shopping for myself and focusing more on classic and timeless items, I guess I still have some work to do.

On Monday, I shared with you my price per wear tip (see post here) for when you're faced with the "should I buy this?" dilemma (this applies to both the splurge and the steal, by the way).  Another rule I am trying to apply to my own closet is the 70/30 rule: 70% of your closet should be classic pieces and 30% should be trendy pieces. Try to save on trendy pieces because they have a short closet lifespan. Purchase these items for less at H&M, Target, Forever 21, Old Navy, Asos and Etsy (for jewelry). Splurge a little or go designer on classic pieces such as handbags, coats/blazers, regular denim, timeless sweaters, certain shoes and certain pieces of jewelry. My favorite places to splurge on classic pieces are J.Crew, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Marc Jacobs. I also like to incorporate more affordable, yet still classic pieces from places like Loft, Banana Republic and Gap. Follow the sales, and you can most always get the classic investment pieces you want at a discount. And guess what? You will find that you wear those pieces the most and longer, bringing the price per wear down considerably and getting you the most bang for your buck!  I love how these rules interact!

Here are some of my favorite classic pieces worth the splurge:

 J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer / Banana Republic Fitted Shirt / J.Crew Tippi Sweater / J.Crew Pearl Necklace / J.Crew Pencil Skirt / Banana Republic Trench Coat / Tory Burch Boots / Kate Spade Gold Coast Meadow / Tory Burch Caroline Flats / Tory Burch Shelby Ballet Flat / Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch / Tory Burch Robinson Tote / J.Crew Pearl Studs

I still have some work to do to apply the 70/30 rule to my closet, but I think I am getting there. I try to be very conscious of this rule when shopping, while also applying the price per wear tactic. If only 30% of your closet consists of trendy items, then you're getting rid of less and saving money! Plus, you also have some great classic pieces that will stand the test of time. Pretty ideal for the girl on a budget, if you ask me.

What about you? Do you think your closet meets the 70/30 rule? Do you think you'll try to apply it? Let me know!