STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

shopaholic · Kenneth Cole

How do you decide what to buy?

kisa · Dooney & Bourke

I would try on different styles and see what flattered me the most! Also what I would get the most wear out of, I love the round toed ruffles thing, but I have no where to wear it.

exsupahero · Kate Spade

i'd buy what resembles my closet. it might be "boring" cause it seems like i'm always wearing the same thing but at least i know i'm gonna be wearing the items i bought (often). then if i have some extra cash left, i'd get the items i normally wouldn't get but really like b/c who knows if it'll become heavy rotation in my closet.

Meow · Coach

I am in the same situation because I am seeing all the pretty stuff come out and all the different styles, but the thing I have started to ask myself is "will I be comfortable in it?" --not comfortable in the sense it being physically comfortable because I don't mind suffering a little for fashion, but in the sense of "will I feel funny if someone sees me in it?" "Can I pull it off?" I guess is the question? If it is a new style I haven't tried, I have started searching for a cheaper alternative until I see if it is me. The thing I have learned about myself since I participated on fashionhag and on stylethread is that we all have our own style and it is all different.

I am learning that I am a blazer/jacket person. I really get a charge out of putting an outfit together that involves a great jacket (I am really getting into velvet for fall), a nice silky top, a great skirt/or pair of pants, and of course awesome shoes.

I do try to spice it up a little if I see a nice cardi or sweater I like, but it really has to be special. I really love that Octavia sweater from anthropologie and couldn't sleep for thinking about it, so my husband bought it for me for my birthday. I am also really liking the jamilla sweater from anthro, but I read a bad review on it so I am not so sure.

I am also liking the cropped pants for this season, but I know that as soon as that is over, I won't wear them anymore so I am definitely going to look for a cheap alternative there. Probably those Walmart ones that Claudia (I think it was Claudia) posted. However, blazers are always classic so I will spend more there.

I really made the decision this fall to wait on my spending and just look at all the mags and this website, and to let things gel in my head until I see what I keep coming back to and thinking about (hopefully it won't continue to be that $400 blaec.com jacket). I have slipped a couple of times, but it was nothing too expensive and I am more resolved now than ever to wait until I am sure of my purchases (easier said than done, but I have got to stay strong)

However, tomorrow is my b'day and my husband is taking me shopping, but I will only be spending b'day money. My goodness, I have to spend that--I can't offend anyone who gave it to me

atlgirl · Gucci

I ask myself three questions:

Will it go with other things already in my closet? (stylewise, colorwise, etc)

Does it say, "atlgirl" - meaning, I like to stick to clothes & accessories that I feel are timeless, elegant, a little quirky...so does the item(s) suit my personal style?

Does it fit into my lifestyle? I looooove clutches, small evening bags, fancy, dress-up heels...but I work from home and most of the time those aren't going to fit my life (sadly, few events festive enough come up). So I try not to buy if it will sit in my closet for long periods in between wearings.

This usually works out for me - occasionally I look back and wish I'd gotten something, but most of the time I am quite happy with leaving the "beautiful, but hard to work into my wardrobe" items in the stores.

NCshopper · Hermes

atlgirl wrote:

I ask myself three questions: Will it go with other things already in my closet? (stylewise, colorwise, etc) Does it say, "atlgirl" - meaning, I like to stick to clothes & accessories that I feel are timeless, elegant, a little quirky...so does the item(s) suit my personal style? Does it fit into my lifestyle? I looooove clutches, small evening bags, fancy, dress-up heels...but I work from home and most of the time those aren't going to fit my life (sadly, few events festive enough come up). So I try not to buy if it will sit in my closet for long periods in between wearings. This usually works out for me - occasionally I look back and wish I'd gotten something, but most of the time I am quite happy with leaving the "beautiful, but hard to work into my wardrobe" items in the stores.

That's really good advice and it's pretty much what I do as well, but you put it more succinctly than I would have.

There are a lot of cute things that are out there this fall, but so much of it just doesn't work for me or my lifestyle. I'm pretty unfussy and spend most of my time at my (casual) office or at home hanging out with my hubby. So, a lot of fall's trends will have no place in my wardrobe.

I'm also a BIG fan of making lists, as are a lot of other girls here, so if something stays on my list for awhile, then I'll get it, but if I come back to the list and find that the item isn't that appealing anymore, then I'll scratch it off the list.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

It is a good idea to try on all the looks before you start buying. A lot of time, I think some things look ho hum on the racks. But when I try it on, it looks fabulous! Then of course I have to think what I already have and what the items can work with.