- Does the piece feel heavy (not thin or see-through)?
- Is the material scratchy or seem like it would be uncomfortable to wear?
- Does the material seem likely to pill?
- How much wear does the item have? Is it something you can and want to fix up eventually?
- Do you recognize the brand as a quality brand name? If you don't, do you have time to do some research before purchasing?
- What is the item made out of? Avoid synthetic materials that shed microplastics (polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose/rayon, fleece, elastane/spandex, acetate).
- What are the wash instructions? Are they suitable to you?
- Do you have similar items to this piece?
- Is it in a color that suits you?
- Is the piece suitable to your lifestyle?
About to donate it? See if you can fix it up instead.
Did you know that you can dye both synthetic and natural materials? It is easier to dye lighter natural materials a darker color, but you may have some luck with synthetic as well. Rit Dye has versions for both synthetic and natural materials. Make sure you pick up the right one for the job! If you have a stained light colored t-shirt that you wouldn't mind dying a darker color, or some faded black jeans, you may have a chance to renew them. The great thing about this is if you know you love the fit, you don't have to buy new.
Of course, there's always sewing. Try your hand at fixing that hole with a needle and thread.
If your sweaters have holes, you can look into darning them. Darning is a way of patching holes with a similar color yarn. You weave in both directions. If you do it correctly, you can barely tell there was a hole to begin with.
Another option are patches. There are many different kind of patches you can get, from subtle to fun. This is a really easy option that doesn't require any knowlege of sewing.
If something you have is the wrong size for you, you can support a small business by getting them tailored.