Going shopping can sometimes be a little like participating in a triathlon; you have to swim through a sea of people and products, pedal your way around shoddy merchandise and rude people, and if you’re not careful, you end up running up a huge credit card bill. So it’s important to have a game plan and a budget firmly in mind BEFORE you step foot in your favorite store. Know what you can afford to spend and stick to it. I often look at the price tag before looking too closely at the item I’m considering trying on. There is no point in falling in love with a blouse if you can’t actually find room for it in the budget.
Once you have a game plan and price point in mind, it’s time to step inside the store. It’s good to know what kind of shopping mission you are on. If you have something specific in mind, try your best to stick to only the part of the store that has the item that fits your needs. If this is a browsing for pleasure trip or a trend reconnaissance mission, you’ll probably be covering more of the area. If this is retail therapy, be particularly careful. Remember that while new shoes cure the blues, it will only be temporary if you get back to your office or house and realize you’ll be eating Top Ramen for the next three months to pay for them. This also means do NOT walk into stores you know are out of your price range. Window shopping is one thing. Dreaming is wonderful. Sadomasochistically rubbing your own face in things you aren’t at a place to buy just yet is another.
Okay, we know what we can spend and we know why we are there. Now, the hard part. In the throes of retail mania, it’s sometimes hard to keep our heads what with all the baubles and sparkle and shiny new things. So once you find something you love, there are some questions to keep in mind before you pull the trigger and make the purchase.
- Is this a want or need purchase? And if it’s a need purchase, does it satisfy all the requirements of the need?
- Does this fit my budget parameters?
- How versatile will this item be with the rest of my wardrobe?
- Is this a wardrobe basic or a special occasion piece?
- How often will I have an occasion to wear this?
- Does the quality of the merchandise match the price?
- Is this a classic piece or a trend?
- Am I just buying this to buy something or do I really love it?
- Am I buying this because of the brand name or because I really like the style?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but they will pull your head into the purchase process, instead of just your heart. Obviously if this is need, it’s much easier to decide to buy. Also, most of us are willing to spend more on the special occasion pieces, but often I think it’s the wardrobe basics that really deserve the splurge prices. After all, these are the items we wear every day, week after week, so they need to last.
And there is nothing wrong with buying a trendy piece; I do it all the time. It’s fun to look current and on top of things, but I do try to envision how I would wear the same piece once the trend passes. Also, if you already own several things that encompass the same trend and your budget is tight, maybe it’s not the right purchase right then. Your money would probably be better spent on items you don’t already own. If I know I’m going to be shopping ahead of time, then I try to take a wardrobe inventory. This way I have in the back of my mind what I already own and I don’t duplicate it. This is especially important if you are a fashionista and have an extensive wardrobe already.
Another thing to keep in mind is that with the advent of the internet and eBay, nothing is really gone forever. It’s hard to leave special pieces in the store, but unless it’s particularly unique, you’ll find it again. You’ll be twice as pleased with your purchase if you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay your other bills to get it.
Now with all that said, every now and then you find that one thing that makes your heart pitter patter and your pulse race and you can’t imagine leaving the store without it. So sometimes you have to throw the rules out and just go with your heart. But only if it really makes your heart speed up and even then, only if it actually fits you. That pair of amazing leather pants that is going to fit just perfect in 20 lbs. does not fit you right now, therefore it is NOT the right purchase. I know we all tell ourselves that it will inspire us to lose the weight, but we can use a photo of the item to inspire us just as easily and more affordably than the actual item. Imagine how good it will feel to purchase those pants and then go home and put them right on when they actually fit. Same with shoes, I have a hard time with this one. But a dynamite pair of pumps that requires me to stick in two insoles to keep on or is so tight, I can only stand to wear them for 15 minute increments is not really a dream shoe, is it?
Another trap we all fall into is the “but it’s such a good deal, I really can’t pass it up” situation. If you can’t afford it, it’s not a good deal. If you don’t actually have a single use for it and the only attractive thing about it is the price, it is not a good deal. If it does not match one other thing in your wardrobe, it is not a good deal. If you have to buy another $150 worth of clothes you weren’t already buying to get the discount, it is not a good deal. You get my drift. Just because you have a coupon does not mean you need to use it. It’s not saving you money if you weren’t planning to buy it in the first place.
And just because everyone is wearing it does not mean you have to, too. If you genuinely don’t like a trend or it does not flatter your body type, there is no need to try it on. Same with brands…so everyone is swooning over Juicy Couture track suits, but you just found the same exact style at Macy’s by another brand for a fraction of the cost? Do you really need the Juicy version? And vice versa: if you will only be satisfied with the couture version, then don’t buy the other one to “tide you over”. Wait until you can get the one you REALLY want.
Remember in the end, these are just things. While looking good helps us to feel good, it isn’t the most important thing in life. So be happy. A smile is always your best accessory.
Have something to add? Trying to decide whether to buy something and want my input? Feel free to comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Also, I’m always looking for new topics and guest bloggers.
Future blog topics include:
• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion
• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own
• How to Get Down in Black and Brown
• The Bra : On the Frontlines of Fashion
• Colored Jeans, A Rainbow of Possibilities
• Shoes to Wear If You Don’t Wear High Heels (Reader suggested!)
• The Trends To Wear Right Now
Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.
XOXO
H
