STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I also make lists of what I want each season.  And in the past few years, I've streamlined my wardrobe to what really works for me.  I stick to colors that I like and I know work and most of my wardrobe is mix and match.  For me, the colors that are my favorites are pinks, brown (duh!!!), aquas/teals/turquoise and purple. I have so much of these colors in my closet.  I have a few things in other colors that I rotate in on a occassion, but those are my base colors.  I also work my accessories around these colors. 

Everything in my closet (for the most part) just works together and I add and subtract (take to consignment shops or donate) each season as I see fit.  Also, I don't really go by trends, I go by what I like and what works for me.  I've really developed my own personal style and I stick to it.  For each season, I add a few things that adapt my wardrobe to the trends that I like (for example, I added coral this summer as an extension to my pink collection and it looks great with all of my brown clothes).  This fall, I'll be adding a darker teal to my wardrobe. 

As far as where I shop, I shop wherever I see something I like, whether it's online, a little boutique, a mall store or Target.  I firmly believe that style isn't wrapped up in how much money you spend, but how creative you are with what you have.   I do, however, prefer brick and mortar stores to online b/c you actually get to the item in real life.

 

-- Edited by NylaBelle at 12:46, 2005-07-22

I am a total cheapo, I wish that I could spend alot of money and not feel guilty but I always do I just cant justify spending alot. And I think that thrift shopping is one of the raddest thing in the world I have found all my best peices thrifting. If I but some thing expensive its usualy online, like urban or delias, ha. I never buy outfits, most of my stuff meshes together. I have tryed to make lists but never stick to them once I shop, I feel like is I am sapostto have a clothing item it will find me.

i have a crazy system (if you can call it that) but it works for me, and i'm happy with my wardrobe. but it's taken me awhile to reach that point. as far as specifics this is what i do

*i try to look at everything at least twice before i buy it and avoid impulse buys as much as possible. i'll only make an impulse buy at sample sales and even then i try to look at something twice (i.e. spot something at lunch and grab it after work). this has really helped me a lot b/c a lot of impulse purchases have ended up sitting in my closet.

*i avoid certain stores, not b/c there's anything wrong with them, but b/c i tend to make impulse purchases there. i used to shop at forever21 a lot (actually i still do but i've gotten better) and i ended up with lots of cute stuff, but cute stuff that doesn't get worn ends up being junk. and in stores like f21/old navy/h&m,  i tend to get carried away b/c the prices are so low.  

*save your receipts (and buy things from stores with good return policies). i tend to do my spending in spurts (see my weekend shopping thread) and sometimes, if i don't wear something after a certain amount of time i just take it back.

*research! i know this sounds crazy, but i do a lot of researching (i.e. window shopping) b/f i make purchases. if there's a specific item i want, especially a pricey item, i will try to find all the places (online & b&m) that sell it and see if i can find it somewhere cheaper.

*ebay is your friend, especially when it comes to pricey items. for me there are certain brands that i love and/or can't afford or can't find. (i.e. miguelina, kors shoes) i have them saved into my favorite searches on ebay and then just periodically search for them.

*while i don't really keep a list of specific things, there are items i want and try to keep an eye out for, usually they are areas in which my wardrobe is lacking. currently on that list are a new black coat (black is key), casual tees for bumming around on the weekends, a leather bag. i try to keep these things in mind when shopping.

*on the other hand, there are things that i don't need, but keep buying anyway (denim skirts, tanks) whenever i feel myself gravitating towards those things, i think twice and put them back.

*while i wouldn't call myself trendy per se, i do like to incorporate new things into my wardrobe to freshen things up. i try to think thematically, instead of looking for specific items. for example right now i'm looking to pick up one or two more slouchy cardigans, and items with interesting textures (velvet/satin) and more prints (almost everything i own is solid, and the few prints are all stripes.)

*i shop everywhere, mall, chain store, boutiques, online. again it's a matter of finding places that carry stuff i want/need. there are certain stores that i love though. most of them are either local boutiques or discount chains. nationally i love last call and loehmann's b/c i can always find good stuff there. also if there's a store in your area that you frequent a lot make friends with the sa's, they'll hook you up, and it doesn't have to be a boutique. if you shop at the gap a lot, try and pick a specific gap to always go to. sa's that recognize you can be very helpful. to go back to f21, there's one by my house, and the manager kind of knows me, so she'll let me rummage through the boxes of just shipped merch and pick out stuff, which technically you're not supposed to do.

*take note of sales. it varies from region to region, but in general most sales begin in late oct./nov. for fall stuff and in may for spring stuff. the major clearance sales tend to happen in the middle of january (not right after christmas) and in july (usually around the 4th). this is helpful if you're looking at big ticket items. i just hit up a bunch of clearance sales, and i'm going to curb my spending until later on in the year, so i can be ready for them.

*but don't always say i'm going to wait for the sale, b/c you will get burned. this may sound like contradictory advice but it's not. depending on where you live certain things sell out faster, so waiting can bite you in the butt. i live in the northeast, so winter things tend to go faster. while i'm not necessarily going to buy fall merch as soon as it's put out, i won't wait too long to pick up something i like b/c i know it will sell out.

*finally if you can travel to shop. not that you should book your vacation around shopping, but if there are places you regularly go, try and check out the stores there, even if it's just to look at chain stores. my mom lives in atlanta, and everytime i visit i make her take me to the mall. which isn't really that exciting, but i've gotten a lot of good deals, just b/c tastes vary from region to region. generally i don't even bother with the regular price merch. and just rummage through the sales racks b/c there's always stuff that isn't available where i live still on sale there.

hth!

You guys are awesome!  Thanks for all of the advice, honey!  I never think to check out Ebay, although I've usually had pretty good luck whenever I look there.  I need to check it out more often!

NylaBelle wrote:

---

 Right now, like honey, I am trying to incorporate more prints into my wardrobe b/c I tend to gravitate toward solid items and I feel the need to branch out. 

---

I am definitely trying to steer myself away from solid items as well.  On one hand, they're great because they work with almost everything, but on the other hand, I feel like all of my outfits are rather bland.  I did just get the cutest print top from Anthropologie though, so I'm hoping that will help me break my rut. 

I feel like I'm trying to do several things at once with my closet, and I feel like I'm not getting very far with anything.  I'd like to incorporate more prints, and more unusual pieces, but there are a few more basics I still need to buy like a nice pair of black pants.  I think I'm going to make a big list for fall and start picking up the pieces I need when I can.

I don't really get into trends that much either because I think most of the time they're a waste of money, but I do like to get new pieces every season to keep my wardrobe from becoming too stale and I'm constantly purging my closet of things that no longer work.

I guess it'll always be a work in progress, but its cool to hear how everyone else gets through the madness! 

ILoveChoo wrote:

---

laken1 wrote:
 I made my first "fall wish list" & i must say it is long & scary. I imagine I'd buy that many pieces over a season without thinking about it, but it's scary to see on one list. I am afraid I won't stick to my list, I just have a weakness for really on sale items.
I just did the same thing- my list os so long and scary and EXPENSIVE! But I think since I know the things on it are things I *really* want (and some of it is pretty vage, like "grey plaid pants"), I will be able to stick to it becasue I'll be afraid of running out of money if I buy anything else. Also I've noticed that in the month that I've been working on the list, there are already some things I was able to take off-- guess i didn't really want them that badly after all. So I am making a rule for myself that something needs to be on the list for a solid 2 weeks before I can buy it, unless I happen to find it super cheap within that time- but if that happens the tags need to stay on until that two weeks runs up.

---

I was just at anthro and I noticed some cute gray plaid pants on sale. They're pretty light gray, with really thin stripes making up the plaid.

I make a list, too -- I keep it in a Word document along with photos and prices. I usually don't buy anything unless it's been on my list for at least a couple of weeks, b/c I often end up deleting stuff I don't want, after all.

ETA: I forgot about the second part of the question. I usually browse online, and then buy in-store if I can. Most of the great stores are about 45 minutes from my house, so I have to really make an effort to buy things. I have bigger trouble at the mall stores near me (Gap, Express, F21) because I somehow always end up browsing there.

I also do a lot of shopping at places like Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann's, etc., but I don't believe you have to spend a lot of money to look good. It's more about fabric, construction and fit for me.

-- Edited by halleybird at 16:51, 2005-07-25

I shop totally randomly.  I scour the internet daily to browse clothing websites just to get an idea of what's out there, but I rarely buy online.  I usually just buy things I like (although it seems the lower the amount of money I have, the more clothes I see that I like ).  Then again, sometimes I will be on the lookout for a piece I really need (like one time I was looking for a kelly green skirt to wear with a turquoise striped tank.  Also, usually I can walk into a store and know within 5 minutes if it has the sort of thing I want at that particular time. 

Umm...what honey said. *s*

Okay, I'm probably not as detailed as she is, but I do similar. I have an ongoing list, and sometimes I go back to it and think, "what was I thinking?" and an item(s) gets removed. I also browse online and then try to go find it it in a store - I'm 5'-5" and curvy on a large frame (I might not be tall, but my shoulders are broad, I wear a size 10 shoe and a 7 ring on my ring finger, and I've got curves), so fit is critical for me, and it's hard sometimes to just order online. I really have to try on first to see what's flattering.

I also don't buy a lot of trendy items, and I don't get caught up in the "hot" item (like Bulga bags, for example) so I don't worry about those. I like classics, with a little zing - I'm a fiend for embellishment, for example - so I look for those things, and that's what I'll spend more on, because I like to keep my clothes and shoes around, and not have to purge my closet every season.

That said, I do purge - an item in, an item out - and sometimes I just get tired of stuff and so it goes out too. I try to keep the incoming volume lower than the outgo, because we never seem to have enough closet space around here.

Also, I used to shop like laken1, but I found the same problem - I had lots of pretty things, but no outfits. Then I met my husband, and I was blown away by how so many of his clothes are interchangeable. We were packing for a trip, and it took me three hours to get some workable stuff, and he was done in 15 minutes - he favores browns / creams / olive greens, with burgundy or brown accents (shoes & belt), and everything he owns *always* matches a lot of other stuff.

So I learned from that (we've been together 7 years now) and when I shop, and LOVE something that doesn't go with a lot in my wardrobe, I ask myself if it's worth having to start scouting out new stuff to go with that purchase...and usually I put it back, because it's not. I know what colors work for me (skin tone) and what works for my closet.

I also try to catch the sales - many times things are sold out in my size, but I can occasionally score some bargains. But I'm also not opposed to paying full price and buying more than one of something in diff. colors, if I know I will really wear it or it fits me without having to go to the tailor. Then (IMO) the cost per wearing is very justified.

I still love to shop - my stress release is to go wander the malls on, say, a Wednesday afternoon when I'm nearly alone in them, even if it's just window shopping - but being more choosy about my items has made shopping (and getting dressed) a lot more fun overall.

NCshopper, I assume that means you are in N. Carolina? What part? I'll be in the Raleigh-Durham area this fall on a couple of diff. weekends teaching classes, maybe we can meet up? My DH might be with me, but he won't mind...maybe we can do lunch or something, if you live close to where I'll be teaching...

I am terrible about wanting to get *value* out of my items. And most of the time I don't care if something is "out" or "in"; I wear what I like because I like it. For example, embellished shoes are really in right now, but that doesn't mean I'll stop wearing mine when the trend passes. I'm sure you can relate. *s*