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I have a core memory of my grandfather Archie sharing his philosophy on clothes with me. He was a World War II vet, not a wealthy man, but he always had really high quality clothing.
I was a young teenager arranging things in his closet for him when I discovered that his classic honey colored trench coat was actually Burberry! Even though he always dressed well, I never imagined my grandfather would own designer clothing. I asked him about it, and he told me that he’d bought it 30 years earlier in London.
And that’s when he told me, “Audrey, buy the right thing, take care of it, and wear it forever. That’s a great investment.”
His lesson has stayed with me ever since, and it’s become a cornerstone of how I teach clients to think about their own wardrobes. And you know what? My grandfather passed that Burberry trench coat down to me and I still have it to this day, decades later.
You can build a wardrobe that stands the test of time, too. I know it can be tempting to default to spending as little as possible when you’re shopping. But l want to challenge you to think differently: shop for clothes the way you’d shop for a car.
When you buy a car, you don’t just grab the cheapest one on the lot. You think about the make and whether you trust it. You look at the model and see if the style fits your needs. You test drive it to see how it feels. You consider the value of how much mileage you can get out of it. You think about what it says about you when you pull up somewhere. And once you make a purchase, you take care of your car so it serves you well for as long as possible. Because a good car isn’t just transportation - it’s part of your daily life.
Try thinking the same way about your clothing. When you shop for something new, look for brands or designers you trust to craft pieces that last. Choose styles that fit both your body and your lifestyle. Try things on. See how they move with you and how you feel wearing them.
Think about the long-term value of the item, not just the price tag. If a well-made piece earns a place in your regular rotation for years, the cost per wear is actually quite low.
And when you do invest in a great piece of clothing, take care of it so it stays with you and serves you well through many stages of life, just like that car in your driveway.
Simple Steps to Shop Smarter
So let’s boil this down to a handful of simple steps:
If any of that feels daunting, reach out to your Edith stylist to guide you through the whole process.
What you wear goes with you everywhere. Your clothes are tools - part of how you move through the world, show up with confidence, and make an impression that lasts.
It can feel hard to justify the price of quality clothing, but Grandpa Archie’s advice has never steered me wrong. That Burberry trench coat he bought 50 years ago is still wearable, still relevant, and still treasured. That’s what happens when you invest wisely and take care of what you own.
You’re not just buying clothes, you’re building a wardrobe that lasts, something that serves you year after year, and maybe even something worth passing down.
