Does this sound familiar? You spend years searching for a pair of jeans that fits properly, looks great, and doesn't make you feel like a burlap sack full of weasels.

Finally, you stumble across a magical pair that feels as amazing as it looks, and a choir of angels sings as you bring them to the checkout counter.

You proceed to wear them three times a week for four years, and they begin to look threadbare.

So you head back to the same shop ... and discover that the style you adore has long since been discontinued.

If this happens enough times, you may begin to buy multiples of items that you adore.

This is a practice that can prevent the crying-bitter-tears stage, but it can also backfire.

Sometimes purchasing multiples just leads to a dust-gathering stack of v-necked sweaters you thought you'd wear into the ground.

So, before you pony up for three of the same wardrobe item, ask yourself these questions:

How hard was it to find, and how much do you love it?

These two questions should go hand-in-hand: If it took you six months to track down a pencil skirt that fits well, you may be so frazzled that you buy three of them before you've really gauged if they're all 100% fabulous.

If you find a dress that you love beyond all reason, you may buy multiples even though this was a happenstance discovery and not the result of a targeted search.

Purchased multiples should be items that you've spent time pursuing, and adore upon discovery.

 
Is it a wardrobe staple ... in your closet?

You may not be tempted to buy three of the same ball gown, but how about classic heeled pumps or perfect white tees?

Both classics, versatile, and sometimes hard to find. But if you lead an active, casual life and only need heels once every six months, you can't truly justify multiples of the same pump, even if it is gorgeous and classic.

Are the multiples within your palette?

Sometimes you want to buy several identical blouses, and sometimes you want to buy one in each available color.

If the blouse is a style that was hard to find, and that you adore, and that has the potential to be a staple, you still need to make sure you're not buying outside your palette.

If your closet is full of gray and jewel tones, buy the navy and emerald versions of the blouse, but leave the chartreuse one behind. Even if the fit is phenomenal, think critically about whether or not the color will work for you.

Does your style change frequently?

Interestingly, purchasing multiples is a practice that works well for people who shop infrequently, tend toward minimalist style, or have a defined aesthetic that doesn't shift.

Think about it: If you find a pair of boots that rocks your world and buy a second pair to stash away, you probably won't need them until the first pair wears out a few years later.

If your style remains steady over those years, you could potentially haul out pair number two and incorporate them into daily wear