Fashion Terms — the Apparel Search fashion terminology directory
Investment dressing refers to purchasing less clothing, but selecting higher quality items that can be worn for years. The term describes recession-conscious consumers who buy a few items of clothing that can effortlessly move from season to season, maximizing their wardrobes by accessorizing and creatively mixing and matching. Rather than fast fashion — inexpensive trendy items — this trend is about slow fashion: items that are well tailored, made from better fabrics, and tend to be more classic in style. Apparel Search equates the trend with the key words “value,” “quality” and “green.” Color matters too: neutral colors such as black, brown, beige, navy and gray can be worn over and over and mix easily with other pieces and colors.
Investment Dressing Term by Apparel Search - Terms of Interest to the Fashion Industry
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The fashion term "investment dressing" refers to a
new wave of recession-conscious consumers who opt to purchase a few
items of clothing that can effortlessly move from season-to-season. By
accessorizing and creatively mixing-and-matching, budget-conscious
fashionistas can maximize their
wardrobes.
Rather than "fast fashion," which
refers to inexpensive trendy items at H&M, Target, and beyond, this
trend is about "slow fashion." Investment dressing refers to purchasing
less clothing, but selecting higher quality items that can be worn for
years. These items are well tailored, made from better fabrics, and tend
to be more classic in style. Apparel Search equates the trend with a few
other key words such as "value," "quality," and "green." Another factor
to consider when evaluating an "investment" piece is color. Neutral
colors such as black, brown, beige, navy, and gray can be worn over and
over and easily mix with other pieces and colors.
Written by Regina Cooper for Apparel Search 2010
Fashion Terms: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The economics of investment dressing are measured per wearing rather than per purchase. A well-made coat or tailored dress costs more at the register than a fast fashion equivalent, but if it is worn for years across many seasons and combinations, its cost per wearing falls below the cheap item that is discarded after a season. That is why craftsmanship is the screening test: tailoring, finishing and fabric quality decide whether a piece can actually deliver the years of wear the strategy requires.
An investment wardrobe is developed deliberately: a color palette first, so new pieces coordinate with existing ones; classic styles second, so pieces do not date quickly; and compatible fabrics third, so outfits layer and combine without effort. Accessories do the variety work — the same core pieces present differently with different accessories, which is what allows a small wardrobe to cover both the office and an evening out.
Strategically selecting high-quality apparel items that complement what is already in the wardrobe: fewer purchases, but well-tailored, well-finished pieces, developed around a coordinating color palette, compatible styles and fabrics that mix and match with minimal effort.
The trend typically emerges during times of economic recession, when spending is curtailed and budget-conscious shoppers want each purchase to work harder and last longer.
Classic, versatile pieces in neutral colors — black, brown, beige, navy and gray — such as the little black dress, which can be worn during the day to the office or accessorized for a night on the town.