PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 02: A passerby wears a white and brown dress with printed geometric patterns, an orange Celine large bag, a blue protective face mask, on September 02, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

This time of the year, the word “shopping” is, more often than not, laid alongside terms like “frenzy” and “haul” and “megadeal”. With so many retailers beguiling us by way of slashed prices and free shipping during Black Friday its easy to fall victim to the more is more capacity of bottomless consumption.

Such over-gathering, however, is less than conducive to the general state of things when it comes to landfill and mass-production. And Black Friday’s template being laden with temptation is, just that, tempting. So, realising the need from the want can be murky.

To counter, a few brand owners are going renegade. Kit Willow, for example, is becoming known for not adhering to the up-the-ante nature of Black Friday. The Australian designer of label Kitx is running her second year promoting no reductions in price. Instead, she is reminding people to “shop less” and, in place of a discount, promising to “plant a tree with every purchase”.

For me, shopping (and fashion) is a now a balance between form and function. And all about simplicity. Where once it was all about new and exciting and extra, adopting a new piece for my already overcrowded wardrobe means any purchased item must have a deserved place. Will I wear it? Do I really love it, or just love the idea of it? Is it actually comfortable to wear on my actual body? Will it last season after season? And if at the end of such mental grilling I’m still guiltlessly interested I allow myself to proceed “to cart”.

This conscious style of shopping is aligned with the slow fashion movement. A quiet revolution that is both anti-season and anti-trend. It aims to provide garments that suit a lifestyle need and offer them as they’re dreamed up, rather than to suit a rash turnover deadline. And really, such idealism makes complete sense, both environmentally and financially. Knowing you’re purchasing a piece that will see you through any kind of weather and, in turn, is not stamped with a date and time also suggests you can spend a little more a little less often. Investment shopping, as they say.

It’s the idea that if you spend $50 on a new top every week for a year it doesn’t seem like much, but in the end you’ll likely do an annual closet purge with all these cheap as chips things relegated to the “done” pile. If, however you spend an equivalent on just a few items a year you’re not only probably purchasing better quality but you’re greatly slowing the consumption machine.

So, as you peruse through the blinding lights of percentage discounts this weekend, remember to put your money where your future is. It’s worth it on so many levels.

Here’s a sample of staple investment frockery more likely to be worn and passed down, than stashed and binned. In winter layer with turtle necks and chunky cardi’s, in summer sport with chunky sandals and not much else. They’ll be worth your hard-earned, the good wooden hanger and a selfie or ten.

Kitx ‘Localised’ dress, $595
Zimmermann ‘Lovestruck’ day dress, $795
Acne Studios satin dress, $640 
Matteau asymmetric long tiered dress, $770
Marle ‘Patricia’ dress, $320, from The Undone Store
Innika Choo scallop frill dress, $364