I’ve wasted money on clothing that I didn’t wear or thought at the time that it was a good buy when, in reality, it was a terrible decision. I have a list of items you should never waste your money on.
- Expensive white t-shirts. Do not spend a lot of money on white t-shirts. They’ll always get pit stains, no matter what. Also, high-end t-shirt fabric wears out after four washes and will get old looking quickly. My expensive All Saints t-shirt was toast quickly, but my J-Crew Outlet t-shirt still fits, looks great, and was only $15.
- Designer sneakers. They may be cool or on trend at the time, but they’re overpriced, and quality isn’t the greatest. They’ll be ugly in no time, as well. In other words, they might be on trend right now, but in 6 months, you’ve wasted hundreds of dollars.
- Fake leather. Never buy fake leather, as it wears out quickly and looks cheap. It’s a total waste of money.
- Cheap suits. If you’re buying off the rack like Joseph A. Banks, it won’t fit all that great; it’s a bit boxy and cheap-looking. Fast fashion is also a waste of money. Spend a bit more at Suit Supply and get yourself a proper suit. Investing extra money into buying a higher-quality suit that’s tailored for you is worth the investment. It’ll look cheap if you’re buying cheap and it doesn’t fit. It’s a waste of money. Spend an extra $100 for a good suit with non-plastic buttons, functioning buttonholes, and higher-quality construction.
- Fake luxury watches. Never buy a counterfeit. The watch is one of the greatest investments you can make for your style, and the cost per wear is insane. You could spend a few hundred or even a few thousand on a piece you love and wear daily. The cost per wear becomes super affordable, and many affordable badass watches are on the market. I love Aura watches with their sapphire crystal and stainless steel. They’re super premium watches with insane prices.
- Expensive premium jeans. They’re a waste of money. I’ve bought super expensive and cheap jeans from American Eagle, The Gap, and Levi’s. Honestly, they’ve been better jeans and my favorites. I’ve also purchased expensive ones that I had to eliminate because they weren’t in style.
- Super trendy. Trends change, which is inevitable, and that’s the danger of buying trendy items. Ensure you don’t buy trendy fit, color, or overly distressed jeans. Extremes such as super skinny, super tight, oversized, super boxy, and super baggy are a waste of money.
- Super premium sunglasses. I used to love Retrospecs. But after starting my company ENEMY and doing all the research that went into it, I uncovered that premium brand stores like Soltice or Sunglass Hut bend you over. It’s a racket. Each pair costs them around $15 to produce, and then they’re priced at $300- $500. However, you can never go wrong with a good pair of Ray-Bans; the styling is also great. You don’t have to spend a ton of cash on good shades.
- Expensive cologne. This is also a huge waste of money. I developed my own colognes and, in the process, discovered these expensive brands create the fragrances for $5 and then charge up to $600. So many incredible fragrances are available that smell insanely sexy and are $50 to $70. Nautica Voyage is one of the cheapest colognes, at around $20, and it smells good. Montblanc Legend is another incredible-smelling fragrance that won’t break the bank.
- Expensive bags. Expensive duffel bags are a waste of money because they’re costly but not functional. If you’re going on a trip, you don’t want to be lugging around a 50 to 70-lb duffle bag on your shoulder. Get a solid and functional suitcase with roller wheels instead.
- Large logos. Whether it’s a sweatshirt, t-shirt, pants, or jacket, if it has a brand name blasted across it, don’t waste money. It’s not as versatile, and branded shirts are a bit tacky.
- Purchases you don’t wear. Be honest with yourself when you’re shopping. Make sure you know you’ll wear it because having it in your wardrobe and not wearing it wastes money and space. Further, operating a wardrobe effectively and efficiently is virtually impossible with chaos and clutter. Men tend to collect and hold onto wardrobe items, so purge what you’re not using. I go through my wardrobe at least once a year and donate items that I haven’t worn or know I won’t wear in the next 6 months to a year. Have a lean and mean wardrobe you love and look amazing in.
