Five things this personal shopper needs you to do before buying a single piece of clothing in 2025
Millions of Australians will be going into 2025 looking to shake up their wardrobes or embrace a new fashion trend but personal shopper Kim Crowley is urging everyone to think twice before heading to the shops.
Not only do Aussies generate about 300,000 tonnes of fashion waste annually, many of us waste hard-earned cash online or in-store on impulse purchases we never end up wearing.
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Kim Crowley is a personal shopper and spent 15 years in the fashion industry. Supplied
Kim Crowley is a personal shopper helping Australian women buy clothes that are actually worth the money. Supplied
But Crowley, who spent 15 years in the fashion industry and now runs StyleSense, says a few small changes to our shopping habits in 2025 could help save the planet and our hip pockets.
Keep reading for the five things she's encouraging everyone to do before buying a single piece of clothing in 2025.
Shop your own wardrobe
Before you go shopping for news clothes, actually take stock of everything you already own. And Crowley means everything.
"What do you wear, what don't you wear? What have you been enjoying and why?" she says.
"Put them all on the bed and look because they'll have a common denominator; they might be loose and flowy, they might be really structured."
You can then look for those same features in future purchases to make sure you actually get plenty of wear out of them.
As for the stuff you never wear, that can be donated or sold for extra cash.
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Kim suggests taking photos of all the outfits in your wardrobe to keep track of what you already have. Instagram/@style.sense
Identify your gaps and only shop for those pieces
Once you know what's in your wardrobe, identify any key pieces that are missing (e.g. a versatile winter coat) and make a list so you can invest in those staples next.
"I've got some amazing clients who would look good in lots of things but they can't get dressed in the morning because they're missing certain key pieces," Crowley says.
Once you've identified your gaps, shop specifically for those items and avoid wasting money on impulse purchases you don't need or won't wear.
Don't settle for what's available at your local stores
Many Australian women have been complaining on social media that it's hard to find unique clothes these days, which is why Crowley encourages Aussies to diversify their shopping habits in 2025.
If you can't find something you love at your local Westfield, start exploring pre-loved and second hand options. They're more sustainable too!
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Crowley has found so many gems while personal shopping at op-shops and online marketplaces like Depop or Facebook Marketplace and you can too.
"It is about shopping around and being aware that you if you don't like what you see in store, there's loads of options out there," she says.
Invest in staple pieces
With millions of Aussies struggling in a cost of living crisis, Crowley's best advice is to avoid wasting cash on pieces that won't last.
Instead, invest in staples you'll wear at least once a week and that will last more than one season like a versatile pair of pants, a blazer, everyday shoes and accessories that can be worn daily, like a nice pair of sunglasses and a handbag.
"Whatever you're going to feel fantastic in, that's what you should spend the money on," she says, but make sure to take 24 hours to consider before making a big fashion purchase.
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Kim encourages everyone to focus on investing in staples you can wear at least once a week. Instagram/@style.sense
Stop buying everything in black
For decades, we've been led to believe black is the most universally flattering colour. Crowley disagrees.
"Working in the fashion industry, you hear 'black goes with everything. Black suits everybody.' That's not actually strictly true," she says.
Crowley offers colour analysis for her clients and reveals black can be too harsh on many people, so encourages Aussies to invest in whatever colours they look and feel good in even if they're a little out of the box.
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