Purchasing wardrobe items off-season, or early in the new season has its advantages. In the off season, stock is heavily discounted, which is kind to your pocket. At the start of the season, the new stock is rich in colour, silhouette and size assortments, so chances are high you’ll get what you need and want. But here’s the catch. You’ll probably have to wait to wear these items, which can be annoying when your’re excited to sport your brand new fab stuff.

I purchase items in the off-season, and at the start of the new season, because of the advantages above. Of course, I usually have to wait to wear the items. For example, I got the navy Rebecca Taylor lace dress because it’s a style goal to refresh my formal wear capsule. I got it for a song at the end of season sales, and now its debut is waiting on a dressy occasion. It’s a classic that I love and won’t tire of, so I’m delighted to have nabbed it at an excellent price. There will be plenty of times to wear it in future. But the wait can be a little frustrating. 

Another example: Seattle’s late Spring and Summers are hotter than they used to be, so I needed to embellish my hot weather capsule. I bought two dresses, two tops, and a pair of white gladiators to fill the wardrobe hole. I have yet to wear the items because we’re having the coldest Spring on record, and Summer isn’t quite here yet. Although I’m impatient to put the items through their paces, it’s okay. I’ll sport them soon, enjoy every moment, and wear them year after year.

Over to you. Do you have brand new wardrobe items waiting patiently in wings, ready to bust out for just the right occasion or weather?