7 Things a Fashion Stylist Would Never Buy

“Try to limit your consumption of fast fashion which is mostly made of synthetic materials which are extremely damaging to the environment,” says Frankel. Indeed, many inexpensive brands use a ton of chemicals and produce lots of harmful waste when constructing their cheap but trendy designs. It’s much better to invest in fewer, better-made pieces than to blow your fall shopping budget on a series of $25 dresses. You don’t even need to spend a ton in order to shop smarter. Brands like Madewell, American Eagle Outfitters and Outerknown all have sustainably made options, and Nordstrom now allows shoppers to limit their search to only sustainable brands. As for Frankel, she suggests checking out Mother of Pearl for more high-end eco-friendly designs.

“If there's a knockoff version of a designer item, I encourage myself and clients to save up for the real deal or find the vintage version” says Franklin. “I have so many designer friends and it is truly heartbreaking to see their emotional and artistic labor swiped and sold at a fraction of the cost in fast fashion stores.” Truth be told, I have been guilty of this in the past, but ultimately it just didn’t feel that satisfying purchasing a lower-quality item instead of the thing I actually wanted. You may also find in waiting that your need for the splurge piece was more of a fleeting fancy, saving you both money and closet space to spend on things you’ll love and use for longer than a few months.

Not every trend works for every person—not because of your body type or age, but because not every trend fits in with your lifestyle or personal vibes. I’ve never really felt like I’m pulling off bike shorts, and my sister has long balked at the rise of Crocs. But according to my experts that is absolutely a-OK. “I wouldn’t recommend buying anything that doesn’t align with or express who you are,” advises Dawn. “Trends are fun, but they don’t create your personal style.” If leopard print or bag charms don’t appeal to you, simply move on. Instead, invest your money and closet space in foundational pieces that can be dressed up with accessories or the occasional trendy top.

Dawn is personally not a fan of skinny jeans of any wash, noting they all too often “create an imbalance of my proportions and emphasize parts of my body I don’t want emphasized.” But for those who do like skinnies, Frankel still advises against buying white-wash skinny jeans.

“Don't get me wrong, I love a wide leg or slouchy white jean, especially an off white bone color, but as a skinny they just give me Real Housewives of New Jersey vibes,” says Frankel. And while I would never knock Teresa or Danielle and those with similar fashion sense for sporting skin-tight white denim, I agree that a looser silhouette is often much more flattering. (And less likely to require specific underwear.)

Have you ever purchased a dress you loved so much you considered going back and stocking up on one in every color or print the brand has to offer? It may be tempting, but Frankel thinks you’re better off trying something new. “You’ll most likely wear the original color the most,” she notes, suggesting there’s a reason you selected that particular dress over the other options in the first place. “It may be acceptable with things like T-shirts and tanks, but otherwise stay creative with your purchases.”

“Sunglasses are a great example of an item that I just won’t spend a ton of money on because I know they’re a pretty low-cost item to make, regardless of the brand, and I’m prone to losing or breaking them,” admits Franklin. “And if not me, my husband or my daughter will get to them!” There are tons of fantastic middle-of-the-road sunglass brands out there that are high quality but cost half as much as designer labels—like Quay, Le Specs and Goodr—so why not shop around for something unique instead of following the labels?

This should probably go without saying, but if your feet hurt after wearing your new shoes for a quick spin around your living room, there’s basically zero chance you’ll ever really leave the house in them. Frankel knows it’s hard to say no to a pretty pair of pumps, “but just because you love them so much, never give in to the little voice inside that tells you, I'll break them in,” because realistically you won’t. There’s also a strong chance not even breaking them in would improve you comfort level. “If they are uncomfortable from the start, there’s no reason to buy them.”

Both Dawn and Franklin mentioned using the idea of “cost per wear” to decide whether or not something is truly worth purchasing. As Dawn explains, “For every dollar I spend, that should be the amount of times I should wear something before it starts to break down on me.” In other words, if you can wear a pair of $100 shoes 100 times before you start to notice visible wear and tear, then you’ve effectively paid $1 for each time you wore them.

“I am a big advocate at looking at the materials before I buy something,” adds Dawn. “This gives me an estimate of life expectancy and helps me determine if the materials match the price point. Myself and my clients want to buy quality pieces, not just a brand name.” And Franklin wholeheartedly agrees. “Cost per wear is the longstanding fashion math I use to ensure there's logic in what can be an emotional boobytrap: shopping! In addition to the number on the tag, I think about the expense required to bring this item to life: working conditions, quality of fabric, the expected life cycle of the garment, and the mission of the brand. I recently partnered with Knix and a hero product of theirs, the SculptRib bodysuit, fits these calculations, plus it has endless styling versatility (layer under oversized or sharply tailored suiting, pair with jeans or high-waisted skirts).”