Fashion notes: Don’t be a one-trick pony with your big-ticket spends

Yuwei Zhangzou poses wearing Gucci before the Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017/18 on February 22, 2017 in Milan, Italy. Vanni Bassetti / Getty Images

If you can afford a little fashion splurge here and there, I suggest that you think about diversifying your spending across various brands, rather than dedicating yourself to a single one. Case in point: Gucci. From the logo-­flaunting T-shirt and leather belt to the appliqué-adorned trainers, the brand has attracted a very mainstream following. So much that the label, in my opinion, has lost some of its luxury exclusivity. Though price tags remain high, its products appear to be too readily available to make the designs worth actually lusting over – as opposed to, for instance, the new Chloé bracelet bag, which is just as much coveted by fashion "influencers," but is selling out fast through online retailers.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anything negative about Gucci. My own fashion splurges mostly come from this brand, from the Princetown loafers sitting at home to the Soho Disco bag I wear 80 per cent of the time. But I have started thinking that, in the long run, when I’m older and look back on my collection of designer buys, wouldn’t I want to have a mix of labels that’s as broad as possible? Do I really want to be that woman whose outfit isn’t complete without an obnoxious Gucci bag? Wouldn’t I rather be admired for my overall sense of style and knack for mixing high-end pieces with high-street garments? Personally, I think a classy look is one that doesn’t repeat the same luxury brand twice in a single outfit.

The moral of my little rant is this: whether you treat yourself to a few small designer items a year or have a budget that affords you more regular brand-name fashion habits, expand your reach and pick from the ever-growing pool of great luxury labels out there. If you spend all your money solely on Dior, Prada or Dolce & Gabbana, you will likely wind up regretting it later. Instead, opt for a well-balanced mix of brands.