Do I Need to Diversify My Wardrobe, or Should I Just Buy What I Like?

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(Image credit: Collage Vintage)

When it's literally your job to talk (and write) about new and under-the-radar brands, you'd think that your closet would be a reflection of that, right? That's the exact question I recently asked myself upon realizing how big a presence a handful of brands have in my closet. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life, but should the same be said for my wardrobe? Or should I just stick to the brands and styles that I know and love? More on that later.

Upon realizing my lack of wardrobe diversity, I also realized the cause. Despite being a fashion girl through and through, I don't love shopping in-store. Pretty much everything I wear is purchased online, and because returns can be such a hassle, I naturally gravitate toward brands and styles that I know will fit and look good on me and that consistently release pieces I love. Most of my brand diversity comes in the form of accessories, as there's a much smaller margin of error, size-wise. That said, when I do branch out and try a new brand or style that's outside my comfort zone and it works, it's oftentimes not the last piece I buy from that brand.

Curious as to where other fashion girls stand on the subject of wardrobe diversity, I tapped our insider Facebook group (have you joined yet?) for community input and was met with incredible insight about others' shopping habits, a few of which I've highlighted below. The general consensus seems to be that it's all about balance and that sticking to your go-to brands for basics while mixing in special pieces from a variety of other labels is key.

I have no desire to take a break from my Tibi, Ganni, Levi's, Reformation, Pixie Market, Re/Done, or Zara shopping tendencies anytime soon, but I have decided to make a conscious effort to also take a chance on other brands and styles a little more often—and I'm guessing more than a few of them could end up earning a spot on my list of favorites. I'd be happy to start with any of the pieces below.

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Shop Wardrobe Diversifiers:

The verdict: Wear what you love, but think outside the box from time to time. You only live once.

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.