Mastering Style on a Budget: Investing in Pieces You’ll Love Forever
You’ve got ten minutes to get dressed, a closet full of clothes, and nothing to wear. Sound familiar?
At Unfoldid, we see this scenario all the time, and it’s not because your wardrobe is full. It’s because what’s in your closet just might not be doing its job to make you feel like yourself.
For so many people, shopping becomes a cycle of trial and error. You buy what looks good on someone else, what’s trending, or what’s on sale, hoping it will work. But without a clear sense of what actually suits you, those well-intentioned pieces often end up unworn and pushed to the back of the closet.
The good news is you don’t need to overhaul your wardrobe. You just need a clearer sense of what works for you. In her book, The Style Formula: The Art and Science of What to Wear, Unfoldid founder Aricia Symes offers readers a framework for making style choices and how to shop with purpose, invest wisely, and build a wardrobe filled with pieces you’ll love wearing, again and again.
Style Isn’t Magic — It’s Science (And You Can Learn It)
If you’ve ever put on something and felt instantly like yourself (comfortable, confident, and effortlessly pulled together), you know how powerful clothing can be. But that feeling doesn’t come from luck or trends. It comes from understanding what works with your proportions, your palette, and your day-to-day life. It’s what turns getting dressed from a daily frustration into something simple, expressive, and even fun!
Aricia calls this discovering your Style ID. She defines it as your personal blueprint or a combination of your body’s architecture, natural coloring, lifestyle, and even your likes and dislikes. When you understand your Style ID, you have a clear lens for shopping smarter, editing your closet with confidence, and making decisions that feel right for you.
Plus, this can even be more economical. The $90 pair of pants you reach for every week becomes a better investment than three $30 pairs that never quite work. When every item in your closet feels aligned with your Style ID, it naturally earns its place and helps you start each day with ease.
The Math That Matters: Cost Per Wear
It’s easy to believe that style requires more — more clothes, more money, more shopping. But often, more just means a pile of pieces left unworn.
Aricia encourages looking through a different lens: “cost per wear” (CPW). The formula is simple:
CPW = Total Cost / Number of Wears
Say you buy a $120 jacket and wear it once a week for two years (about 100 times). That breaks down to just $1.20 per wear. Compare that to a $40 top that gets worn twice and forgotten, and the cost spikes to $20 per wear.
Before jumping on a “good deal,” try pausing to ask: Can I see myself actually wearing this? Does it feel aligned with how I want to appear? Will it work with pieces I already love?
These kinds of questions are just the beginning. In The Style Formula, Aricia shares tools to help guide clients through a more complete framework (like our Rule of 4) to help make purchasing decisions with clarity and confidence. When you start to approach style with intention, you’ll find it’s easier to make the most of your wardrobe without overspending or second-guessing your choices.
What Makes a Piece Worth the Investment?
A full closet doesn’t always mean more outfit options. Having too much can sometimes lead to decision fatigue and “nothing to wear” moments. That’s why Aricia emphasizes the value of a well-edited wardrobe — one that’s grounded in function, personal expressions, and a deeper understanding of what truly works for you.
So what makes a piece worth the investment? Here are a few things to consider:
Does the color, shape, and texture complement your unique features and preferences?
Can you wear it in multiple ways or across different seasons?
Does it reflect your lifestyle and how you want to show up in the world?
If you’re not sure where to begin, you can also consider taking a look at what you already own. Often, your best clues are already hanging in your closet. Pull out one item you love and one item you never wear. Then ask yourself why. Is it the color? The length? The neckline? These details can help you start recognizing the patterns that work for you.
Also, look at your go-to pieces. Maybe it’s a dress that always earns compliments, a cardigan that works with everything, or a pair of jeans that feel right every time. They’re the pieces that just work. Noticing what you wear on repeat can reveal a lot about your personal style and help you make better choices when adding something new.
Smart Style, Not Fast Fashion
Fashion moves fast, and it’s easy to feel like you have to keep up. But true style isn’t about chasing every trend. It’s about making intentional choices that reflect you. While it might seem budget-friendly to stock up on lower-cost items, quantity doesn’t always equal value. A closet full of “meh” ends up costing more — emotionally and financially — than a few things you truly love and wear often.
Instead of chasing trends, Aricia encourages making choices that feel right for you. Trends can be fun to play with, but they’re most effective when they support your Style ID. It’s not about needing more clothes but needing the right clothes.
Here are a few quick tips to keep your style intentional and your budget in check:
Shop your closet first. You might already own more than you think! Rediscovering what works (whether it’s a forgotten favorite or one of your go-tos styled in a new way) can spark new outfit ideas without spending any money.
Be mindful of “almost right” pieces. These are the items that nearly check all the boxes, but not quite. Maybe you love the silhouette, but the color washes you out, or the fit is great, but the neckline doesn’t feel right. These types of items add clutter without adding real value because they rarely make it into the regular rotation.
Avoid high-maintenance pieces. If something only works with a specific belt, shoe, or mood, it may take more effort than it’s worth. Great wardrobe pieces should make it easier to get dressed, not more complicated.
Build a functional mix. Focus on curating and pairing reliable essentials you can count on, and sprinkle in a few standout pieces that feel special. Prioritize comfort, ease, and items that reflect your actual day-to-day life.
Stick to a color story. Choosing a cohesive palette makes it easier to mix and match. When most pieces work together, you can create more outfits with fewer items. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it speeds up the time to get dressed!
When you understand what flatters your unique features and supports your lifestyle, getting dressed becomes easier, more enjoyable, and more aligned with who you are.
Ready to feel confident every time you get dressed?
Get tips to help define your personal style, make confident choices, and build a wardrobe you love in The Style Formula: The Art and Science of What to Wear, available now at all major retailers.