The Discovery That Changed My Thinking About Wardrobe Budgets
Way back when I was a mom of littles, way before I had heard of generational theory, I quit the job I loved to stay home with the kids.
I wouldn’t have said it this way at the time, but one of my strategies to make life work on a single income was to keep my own needs small.
This sort of worked until I realized there was an art and a science to how to dress. Then I wanted to be able to express myself.
Back in those days, the reigning Christian personal finance guru was Larry Burkett. I went to figure out what he said about budgeting for clothes. He gave a reasonable percentage, along with a statement that in no circumstances should this be less than $10 per month per person—about $25 in today’s dollars.
That’s when I discovered that having an actual budget, with numbers, is a more empowering way to ensure I’m not over or under spending on clothes than just pretending I don’t need anything.
The Real Problem Isn’t What Most People Think
You know the stereotype. Most style advice assumes closets overflowing with clothes that still have tags on them, thousands of dollars of impulse purchases gathering dust.
But when I ran a poll on LinkedIn, 86% of respondents said they don’t buy enough clothes and they wear their clothes too long.
It was a small poll, but that number got my attention.
Then I started bringing this question up in casual networking conversations with other businesswomen. Easily half of them budget exactly zero dollars for their own clothes.
Zero.
Now, you can maybe do that for a year here and there. But it’s not a sustainable strategy.
I wonder if, when people think of buying clothes, they think of buying clothes they don’t need. And when they think of buying things they need—like replacing some staple item that has a hole in it—in their mind that comes out of a different bucket of money somehow.
Why?
I think generational theory helps explain this mental split.
What Is Generational Theory?
Generational theory—specifically the work of William Strauss (aff. link) and Neil Howe (aff. link) —proposes that history moves in cycles called saecula, each about 80-90 years long.
Within each saeculum, four generational archetypes emerge: Prophet, Nomad, Hero, and Artist.
Each generation has a different relationship with institutions, authority, and cultural expectations based on which turning they came of age in.
Right now, we’re clearly at the turn of a saeculum—in what Strauss and Howe call a Fourth Turning, or Crisis era. If you want to learn more about this framework, look up Strauss and Howe generational theory. It explains a lot about the cultural moment we’re living in.
For today, I want to focus on how each generation’s archetype shaped their relationship with wardrobe spending.
Generational Theory and Thinking About Wardrobe Budgets
The Artist Generations: Permission to Play
Let me start briefly with the Artist generations—the youngest Gen Z and the oldest Silent Generation.
Artist generations come of age during Crisis eras and in their youth during High eras. They tend to have more freedom to be playful and experimental.
For the youngest people navigating style right now, there’s permission to have fun with their wardrobes, to experiment, to play. That’s actually appropriate for this stage of life.
Baby Boomers: The Pendulum Swing Without Strategy
Baby Boomers are the Prophet generation, born between 1943 and 1960.
They’re the idealist generation that questioned everything. And when it came to spending, they rejected their Depression-era parents’ extreme thrift and went after post-war consumer abundance.
Here’s the pattern I’ve noticed: many Boomers spent on clothes, but without intentional strategy. They felt good about it as long as it was “a good deal”.
I had a conversation with a client recently about real numbers for a clothing budget. This is a regular person who can afford normal things—coffee with friends, manicures, vacations, but nothing extravagant. I asked her what her budget was for clothes and she guessed maybe $500?
That’s what I was spending twenty years ago, shopping strictly at thrift stores.
Generation X: Keep Your Needs Small
Generation X—that’s my generation—is the Nomad archetype, born between 1961 and 1981.
We’re the self-reliant, latchkey generation that learned not to ask for much.
We learned to keep our needs small.
And then Dave Ramsey came along and confirmed that message by literally erasing the clothing line item from his EveryDollar budget categories.
No wonder we’re confused.
That’s the Gen X blind spot—we were taught that keeping our needs small was a virtue. And we applied that to our wardrobes too.
Millennials: Inherited Underinvestment Plus New Layers
Millennials are the Hero generation, born between 1982 and 2004.
They’re facing economic instability previous generations didn’t: student loan debt, housing costs, gig economy challenges.
They inherited Gen X’s “keep your needs small” message. But they also added new layers: ethical consumption anxiety (is this fast fashion?) and social media comparison culture.
No wonder half the women I talk to budget zero for their wardrobes. We’ve been systematically taught, generation after generation, that investing in our appearance is inappropriate, indulgent, or just plain impossible.
Even though it is legally required for us to be dressed.
What Realistic Wardrobe Budgeting Actually Looks Like
So what are actual realistic numbers?
Here’s what I’ve found works: $100 per month is a reasonable low end.
That’s my budget. I keep a fairly small wardrobe. I’m skilled at finding good prices and I know exactly what works for me, so I don’t make expensive mistakes.
I know middle-income people who budget $200 per month. This is also reasonable. That doesn’t mean extravagance. It means they don’t have to spend as much time searching for good prices. It means they can buy something that fits well the first time instead of settling for close enough.
These are sustainable numbers that allow you to replace worn-out items, add pieces as your life changes, and build a wardrobe that actually serves you.
Zero for a year? Maybe you can pull that off once in a while. But it’s not a long-term strategy. Things wear out. Bodies change. Life circumstances shift.
Most people think budgeting for clothes is about controlling overspending, but actually generational theory reveals how we’ve been taught to underinvest.
It’s a Learnable Skill
Here’s something else I want you to know: understanding how to invest in your wardrobe strategically is a learnable skill.
When I first started training with Carla Mathis, she didn’t like almost anything I wore.
That was humbling.
But by the time I took my advanced training, I had it nailed. I learned the principles. I developed the eye. I understood what worked for me and why.
Now I view most outfits as an experiment. Some work better than others, but I’m not stressed about it because I understand the framework.
You can learn this too.
It’s not about having a natural fashion sense or being born with style. It’s about understanding the principles—artistic principles like color theory, line, proportion, scale. It’s about connecting those principles to your personality and your life. Start with this free download about Seasonal Energy & Personality Colors.
That’s what I teach. That’s what makes the difference between a closet full of random purchases and a wardrobe that actually works.
Breaking Free From Generational Theory Messages
So here’s what I want you to take away from this episode.
Your struggle with wardrobe budgeting isn’t a personal failing. It’s a generational pattern.
Baby Boomers were taught to spend without strategy. Gen X was taught to keep our needs small. Millennials inherited that underinvestment and added new layers of anxiety.
But you can break the pattern.
You can recognize the message your generation absorbed about “appropriate” spending on appearance. You can question whether that message is actually serving you.
And you can create a realistic budget, actual numbers, that allows you to invest in showing up as yourself.
Most people think budgeting for clothes is about controlling overspending, but actually generational theory reveals how we’ve been taught to underinvest.
A Simple Generational Theory and Budgeting Activity
This week, I want you to do some math.
Think through a typical year and write down what you’d likely need to buy for yourself. Maybe a pair of jeans, two tee shirts, a date night dress, a pair of boots—whatever makes sense for your life.
Then estimate what you’d want to spend on each item.
Multiply, then add it all up.
Does your current budget—or lack of one—match reality?
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about getting honest about what you actually need so you can plan accordingly.
Tired of Underinvesting in Your Wardrobe?
If you’ve been budgeting zero for your clothes—or feeling guilty every time you need to replace something—this is for you.
The Congruence Code helps you break free from generational messages and discover what YOU actually need. With personality profiling, seasonal energy alignment, and a framework for defining what truly matters in your style, you’ll finally understand how to invest in your appearance strategically.
Unlike generic style advice that assumes you’re overspending, The Congruence Code is designed specifically for women who’ve been underinvesting—who’ve been taught to keep their needs small, or who swing between spending without strategy and spending nothing at all.
Finally feel congruent: align your energy, personality, and style to show up authentically.
- DISCOVER the wiring of your mind, through our Personality Profiling conversation
- DEFINE what truly matters in your style, with your Personality Style Blueprint (pdf booklet)
- ALIGN your colors with your energy and receive a Seasonal Energy Digital Palette
Start building a wardrobe that actually serves you. Learn more about The Congruence Code.