When it comes to fashion, most people cannot afford to splurge on every purchase. So how do you know what you should splurge on, and what you should save on? I have a few guidelines that I use:

1. Save on trendy items. Most likely, you will only get one season out of a trendy piece. No one wants to blow $1,000 on a trend that they will wear once.  I like to purchase trendy items at stores like Target, H&M, Joe Fresh, and Express.

2. Save on t-shirts and tank tops. Generally, t-shirts and tank tops are worn so often that I have found whether you spend $5 on it, or $50 on it, they always need to be replaced after a few months. I like Old Navy, and Target for tanks and t-shirts.

3. Only spend a few dollars on costume jewelry. I think costume jewelry falls under the trendy category and should not cost a fortune. Stores like Forever 21 have great costume jewelry, and you can also scour flea markets and antique shops for great vintage pieces!

4. Generally speaking, I tend to save more on my summer wardrobe, and splurge more in winter. You can get great sundresses for low prices at many stores, but you can’t get cashmere cheap, so save your money in the summer to have more to spend in the winter. Winter weight fabrics show more flaws in the construction of the piece than summer cotton does, so you can’t get away with as much.

5. Splurge on a few key pieces. A little black dress will be worn multiple times, so you want it to hold up for you. A black blazer in a wool blend always looks more expensive than polyester. Splurge on a few pairs of shoes that are timeless, like black or nude pumps from Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo or Louboutin and black ballet flats from Tory Burch, Chanel, or Lanvin. Expensive shoes can be re-soled and re-heeled if necessary so it is worth the investment. Splurge on a great fitting pair of black pants, again these will be worn so many times that you will get your money’s worth in a few wears. Jeans are a matter of personal preference, I say find a pair at any price that make you feel great and buy them!

6. Splurge on a timeless handbag whose design and material will last you a lifetime, like a Louis Vuitton, a Celine, or a Goyard bag. Save on handbag trends, like fringe, metallics or seasonal colors, these bags will start aging as soon as you make the purchase.

7. Splurge on lingerie. A good foundation is important no matter what you have on over it.

8. Splurge on a timeless winter coat in a wool/cashmere blend in a dark color, but again save on any coats in seasonal colors or shapes.

9. Fine jewelry is tricky, I personally would rather have one pair of exquisite diamond earrings than a drawer full of hoops and posts. So, I tend to only buy a few nicer pieces, including watches and pearls.

10. Boots should be splurged on, because a good pair of boots can last you a lifetime. Expensive boots and their cheaper counterparts look very different, and most people will know a good boot when they see it.