Shopping and Fashion

Shopping seems easy. You just go into the store, find what you want, pay, and go. But when it comes to shopping for truly fashionable clothes and doing so in an affordable way, there is a lot more to it than the basic steps. It often involves stopping yourself from buying things you may think you want, and forcing yourself to buy things that are not exactly exciting. If you want to shop smart without sacrificing fashion, keep these tips in mind.

Stay within your means: This one goes without saying, but having a budget is a great way to stay on target with your fashion choices. When you’re not thinking about budget, there’s always a danger of buying items that don’t actually look great on you, which is a quick way to dilute the fashion quotient of your wardrobe. Before you go out shopping, make a list of what you need, and have a dollar figure that you cannot go over. If it helps, take out that amount of money in cash and leave your credit cards at home.

Wear clothes that can be worn in different ways: Invest in skirts and tops that can be layered in the cooler months and de-layered in the warmer months. Look for dresses that can be worn in versatile ways. Have plenty of simple t-shirts and trousers that can be mixed with other, more look-defining clothing items and accessories.

Rewear without shame: When you’re shopping, keep an eye out for items that are going to be fashionable for more than just one season. Instead, invest in pieces that have a classic stylishness that will allow them to stay in for season after season. Then, when you wear clothing you’ve had for a while, don’t feel bad about it. Instead, be proud of your thrift. Of course, it helps if you have plenty of items that you love to wear so much that you would never want to throw them away in any case.

Know what you have and what you need: In your bedroom or closet, make sure everything is perfectly organized so that you can instantly assess exactly what you have and what you need. This way, you’ll never buy items that are redundant, and you won’t see holes where you actually have plenty of items.

Approach trends with caution: We all want to be fashionable, but it’s important to remember that some trends are more fleeting than others. Try to stick with the ones that have a little more shelf-life, and stay away from those clothing items that are going to look silly in a couple of months. Also, when you do shop for trendy items, wait a little while for the sales to kick in.

Think about your bad buys: Any time you have buyer’s remorse over an item that you buy, think carefully about what was going through your mind when you made that choice, and avoid having the same thought process again.

Interrogate every item: Whenever you try on an item, ask yourself these questions before buying it: 1) Does it truly fit my current body? 2) Does it feel itchy? 3) When I wear this, are people going to say, “She looks great”? 4) Will I want to wear this beyond the current season?

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