You might be thinking, “Wait, people manage their wardrobes?” Well, yes, yes they do. You do too, you just don’t realize it. You may not think your spending habits reflect your country of origin, but it speaks more about your consumption patterns than you think. The two mindsets are quite different:

the European way vs. the American way      |     Quality vs. Quantity

It’s said that Europeans have the consumption habits of buying a few select high-ticket pieces per year to incorporate into their basic wardrobe, whereas Americans tend to buy numerous low-ticket items multiple times a year to have a plentiful wardrobe. Americans are known to adorn themselves with name brands, linking the concept to status-symbols; Europeans clothe themselves in well-designed pieces knowing the brands simply from the designs, no logos needed. Americans are very focused on self-expression and tapping into trends while Europeans are said to value the quality of a garment and the longevity that it can have in their wardrobe’s lifetime.

It’s sometimes horrifying better, to view it like this:

1 blouse ($300)     +     1 coat ($700)     +     1 pair of heels ($200+)      =      $1200+

3 t-shirts ($12 each), 2 pairs of jeans ($30 each), 2 flip flops ($5 each), 1 hoodie ($40)= $146

A few questions for you to ponder:

∞  Which do you think you follow: the European or American mindset?
∞  How do you view your closet? I.e. Curator or hoarder?
∞  What type of shopper are you? I.e. planner, impulsive, etc.?