Before buying, name three exact outfits the piece will create with clothes you already own.
“Something navy” is not an outfit
Write the actual items: pale-blue Oxford, charcoal trouser, brown loafer. Specific combinations expose whether the purchase connects or merely feels familiar.
Cross two contexts
A strong purchase should usually work across at least two parts of life: work and weekend, travel and dinner, casual and smart.
Include care and fit
The rule fails if the item requires maintenance you will not do or an alteration you have not priced. The right category in the wrong reality remains a poor purchase.
When to leave it
If you cannot name three combinations without imagining future purchases, the item has not earned its place.