Finding Investment Pieces & Keeping them Safe

I really liked this article which popped up in my email the other week and I just had to share it with you all! x

Recent research at Big Yellow Self Storage reveals that despite spending so much money on clothes, two-thirds (63%) of us view our purchases as purely functional and ultimately, disposable. Of course, anyone who knows how quickly "limited edition" pieces can go up in value understands the savvier we are with our purchases, the greater the potential value of our wardrobes. Not only can we look great today, but if we a clever with the pieces we buy and how we store them, we could look even better in the future.

Here are our top tips:

1.Seek items that are only available for a short length of time. H&M collaborations with high end designers such as Matthew Williamson, Versace and Marni have already increased in value.

2.Look at pieces from the emerging breed of new designers. Examples include Olivia Rubin, Louise Gray and Holly Fulton. They will grow into fashion icons of the future and the cost of items from these type of collections will rise rapidly.

3.Classic pieces always stand the test of time but won't necessarily become sought after in the future - wacky, quirky, fun and controversial pieces are more likely to command interest (especially if they have a designer name attached such as Vivienne Westwood or Alexander McQueen).

4.Art, colour and embellishments reign supreme with fabulous prints and/or sparkles always attracting attention with collectors.

When storing your investment pieces:

1.Keep your clothing in an environment with a standard temperature (such as a self storage unit) to avoid damp, mould and mildew getting onto the clothes. Never store in the attic or cellar as these are prone to extreme heat in the summer & a freezing cold atmosphere in the winter which will ruin the clothes instantly.

2.One of the best ways to store handbags is to put them in plastic boxes to allow air to circulate. Just make sure the boxes are big enough so that you don't fold over the bag handles.

3.Placing shoes that you don’t wear frequently under your bed is a good idea (especially if your wardrobe is already crowded). Specially made storage containers have individual shoe compartments and wheel out.

Some items that are already getting attention from collectors include: River Island 'I Love London' Dress Original price - £30 Current value - £150 (on eBay)

Topshop's Louise Gray collection Original price – £130 Current value - £200

Mary Katrantzou limited edition for Topshop Original price – £80 Current value - £150 (on eBay)

Pepe Jeans 'Andy Warhol' collection Original price – £70 Current value - £150

Drew writes for Big Yellow. Their large wardrobe-sized locker storage is perfect for storing high quality fabrics. For more tips, see their blog.