No 'Over the Weekend' post today, it was cold and gloomy and I stayed inside and did indoor things: cleaned, read, sewed, baked, snuggled cats. Instead, I've been thinking that it would be great to gather up your comments and suggestions in a weekly advice-type post (not to replace my weekend posts, but this works for today). Whether I'm asking for advice on managing stress, shopping, or how to calm down, you- readers and fellow bloggers- always have inspiring and helpful things to share!
In this post, I asked what your shopping "rules" were, or if you had any at all. As I mentioned in that post, if I can't imagine three different ways of styling a piece with wardrobe items I already own, I typically don't purchase it. I don't always apply this to thrifting because I usually find my 'statement' pieces in a thrift store. Like many other avid thrifters, I also use second-hand shopping as a way to try out trends before buying into them (hello, midi skirts). My other shopping rules? I don't purchase basics second hand (they're usually gnarly), and when shopping new, I try to purchase the majority of my clothes second hand and
try to avoid H&M and F21. Now, I said
try- I don't always succeed- It is so easy to get sucked in! When I do find myself in those stores, before I purchase something I envision all of the items I have bought previously from those stores, and remind myself how few of them are actually still in my closet. So much of that stuff ends up being donated after only a few months, and in my book, that's just not worth it.
Here's what you had to say about shopping:
Kulter und Stil: "I normally have a list with things that I miss in my closet - but that
doesn't mean that I only allow myself to buy these things, it's just
something for me to have better in mind what I need. and then, yes, my
biggest rule is: before buying something I go through my closet and put
together at least 5 (different) outfits with the "new" item, and if I
don't have any things to combine with the new thing, I normally leave it
in the shop or I buy it and go once more through my closet at home and
then either keep it or bring it back. I really don't want things
"sleeping" in my closet, only because I have nothing to wear with
them...
Nautical Owl: "...Generally speaking, I like to go out with an outfit in mind, something I
might of seen on a blog, and then try to find a similar match. If I
don't really have a "list", then I end up spending way too much and
stuff just ends up sitting in my closet..."
Charmaine: "My rule is to only buy 1 item. I've bought 2 & 3 items at a time
before & I always end up liking the first one & then the other
ones are a waste of space & money. So, now I force myself to decide
on my favourite in the store...no more wasted money & wasted
clothes."
Sweet Harvest Moon: "Before buying an item, I must think of at least 4 outfits!"
A Stylized Hysteria: "I don't think I have any shopping rules except trying to avoid paying full-price for anything!"
Evolution of a Wallflower: "When I'm shopping in "real stores" (I mostly thrift), I tend to think
about the versatility of pieces, and whether or not I could find
something similar and cheaper at a thrift store. Most of the time, the
thrift store wins. When it comes to thrifting, though, I don't really
have any rules. Thrifting just makes it easier to try out trends for
super cheap."
Lady a la Mode: "I try to not be [swayed] by other opinions - if I love something, that's
all that matters. I also ask myself if I can see myself wearing the
piece with at least 5 things I already have... if I can't I do my best
to leave it behind, but on those certain occasions I just have to take
it home regardless"
Jasie Plays at Adulthood: "As far as my own rules of utility, my entire
aesthetic is based on uniform-building. Pretty much EVERYTHING in my
closet is utilitarian in nature. To some it may be boring, but for a fat
girl on a budget who wants to look amazing and who can't shop in most
stores, that basic uniform formula is a real life-saver.
It's funny, I have similar rules about purchasing full-price,
non-thrifted, particularly more expensive items.... it needs to be a
classic, or, I feel very unique without being too trendy. my other big
rule, which ties in with being classic, is if I can style it for the
office, as well as for play. Then it is a golden piece and I move
forward!"
2 or 3 Things: "I only have a few rules: unless something is hugely on sale, I try to
avoid places whose business models I have issue with, like UO or
Anthropologie or Free People (the CEO of the three companies contributes
loads of money to the Republican party), but I'm not so good at
following this rule since the brands are all marketed towards the exact
demographic the CEO probably finds abhorrent. One really important rule,
however, is bikeability: would I be able to bike in the outfit? This
sounds silly but since I bike to and from work/campus every day, I
wouldn't want to own that many clothes I'm not able to bike in.
Thankfully I bike in all kinds of clothes, even skirts and dresses, as
long as I can move my lefts comfortably!"
