You open the doors. You scan the rails. You sigh.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most busy professional men and women don’t lack clothes - they lack clarity. They have pieces that almost work, outfits that worked once, and a few impulse buys that never quite earned their place. What they don’t have is a dependable system, which means the right basics.

I’m going to redefine what wardrobe basics really mean, and how to choose them with the least amount of stress, thought and time.

We live in a consumer-driven society where fashion trends change rapidly, and it's easy to fall into the trap of constantly buying new clothes. However, one way to make more sustainable and cost-effective choices is to consider the cost per wear (CPW) of the items in your wardrobe and how it will help you to stop wasting money.