After spending many hours perusing sales and building gift guides I feel like I need a little palate cleanser. A shopping reset if you will. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping (and I use “shopping” to encompass many activities such as window shopping, not just the act of spending money). I could literally spend hours popping in and out of shops, scrolling pages online, or strolling the floors of a department store (once a merchandiser always a merchandiser), but sometimes I like to remind myself that I’m building a functional wardrobe and not a little department store of my own.
Below are 5 questions that I like to run through before hitting checkout, especially during sale season. Depending on your personality they can be used as a gospel. Personally I like to use them as a way to help me to prioritize what I spend my money on and avoid making impulse purchases.
Is it on my wishlist?
I like to keep a running wishlist of pieces that I would like to add to my closet. (I use my Notes app, but I also have a “Things I Saw and ❤️” Pinterest board that I use. Locker is also a great app for this, I just keep forgetting about it). This could be something specific like a specific pair of Saint Laurent slingbacks or broad like simple cashmere crewneck sweaters.
If I find something I like that isn’t on my wishlist, I’ll use it as an opportunity to reconsider if I really “need” it. (Obviously we don’t need any more clothes, I’m sure we have plenty, but hopefully you catch my drift.) Additionally, if I peruse my wishlist and there’s something else that I would rather spend my money on, that usually means I can pass on whatever I’m eyeing. Which is the perfect segway to my next question…
Is there something else that I would rather spend this money on?
Last summer, when we were in Paris, I bought a Celine bucket bag that has been on my wishlist for years and returned it the next day. Not because I didn’t want it (it’s still on my wishlist atm), but because I realized that I would have rather spent that money on a different splurge bag (hello Jackie). Since then, when I make a purchase or am debating about keeping or returning something, I will often ask myself - is there something else that I would rather spend this money on? It doesn’t matter how much that something else is, if the answer is yes, then it usually means it’s a no for right now.
Is this a one night stand or long-term relationship?
The older I get the less interested I am in pieces that only serve one purpose, those “one night stand” pieces if you will. I’m much more interested in those long-term relationship kind of pieces. The ones that I can reach for time and time again for many years. This doesn’t mean that ever piece has to be a “core piece”, but if I can’t see myself mixing it in on a regular basis I will reconsider if it is the best use of my money. Obviously there will be exceptions - the unique handbag that teeters on the cusp of ‘piece of art’ and ‘functional object’, the sequin shoes that aren’t really meant for walking, the incredible suede boots that only get worn a few times a year because #rain - but generally speaking, I like to make my closet work for the money I spend on it.
How many ways can I wear it?
Speaking of mixing things in on a regular basis, I always like to have multiple ways of wearing something lined up when I buy it. A great example is a pair of Sezane shoes that I recently bought. I had seen several people style them so well and loved the vibe of the looks that they had put together, but when push came to shove I only loved the shoes with two types of outfits that I was semi thrilled about. I don’t need every item in my closet to be something that can be “dressed up, or dressed down’, but it can be helpful to think about when evaluating purchases. At the very least, I want whatever I bring into my closet to be something that I love.
Is it final sale?
I can’t begin to tell you how many times a “screaming deal” has seduced me into ignoring the big red ‘Final Sale’ at checkout. As we enter the marathon that is sale season this is one that is even more relevant. Unless something is on my wishlist, I have tried it on before, and/or I am confident will fit and I will love it, I will not buy final sale. The only exception to this rule is if I know that I can re-sell something for the same price if not more. My biggest advice when shopping the sale section is to proceed with caution. Sometimes I will ask myself “would I buy this full-price”, or one of the above, to see if I’m buying it “just because it’s on sale”.
Happy shopping! xx, Sarah
I heard this rule once and it sticks with me 3 places to wear, 3 ways to style it, and 3 times you could wear it
Such good advice to keep in mind during this bf frenzy!!