1. Not shopping with a list – do you shop in the supermarket without a list? Sometimes, but mostly not. There is no point in buying more of what you already have and forgetting that ingredient that really makes the dish work. Same principle applies to your wardrobe, you need to figure out what your holes are and then write a list and fill them.
2. Buying because it’s a bargain. A bargain is not a bargain if it’s not you, doesn’t fit properly, you don’t love it, or it doesn’t fill a wardrobe hole. Spending money on a $20 top that you either never wear or wear once is a complete waste of that $20. Only buy a bargain when it’s something that is on you list (see point 1).
3. Not checking the care label before you buy. If it’s a fabric that needs special care, yet you’re a wash and wear kind of person, then you won’t wear it, knowing that it means a trip to the dry cleaners or having to do some hand washing. It will sit in your wardrobe because you know that garment takes too much effort for you.
4. Buying fabrics that crush if you hate ironing. Linen is a gorgeous fabric, but if you hate looking crushed, or hate ironing, steer well clear of it as it won’t make you look or feel great.
5. Being talked into the garment by the sales person. Their job is to sell, they have to make targets, they want you to spend some money today in their shop. They are likely to tell you it looks great when it look atrocious and is not a garment that’s made for your body, colouring or personality style. If you’re unsure, take it off and walk away. If you can’t stop thinking about the garment after a couple of days, then go back and purchase it.
6. Buying multiples of the same garment. You may think it’s practical – and it can occasionally work, for things like t-shirts in a great style in a few flattering colours, but for most garments 1 is enough. If you’re bored with your wardrobe, and you have lots of multiples of the same garment – this is why – you’ve got no choice. Usually too, one of the colours will be way more flattering and you’ll only wear one of them, you don’t need it in every colour.
7. Going shopping when you’re feeling down. Looking for a pick-me-up or a shopping high is a sure way to credit card debt and financial woes (which won’t make you happier). Buying for the sake of buying is not a good move. If you’re feeling low call up a friends and have a chat, go for a long walk in the fresh air, hit the gym, curl up on the couch with a movie or a book, but stay away from the stores!
8. Coyping a someone elses style. We often look at friends and think – wow – they look great. Then, we go and copy their clothing style, only to discover that it doesn’t work on us. The reason it looks so great on our friend is that it suits their personality, body shape, and colouring, not ours. Spend some times discovering your unique style before you hit the shops. Then you’ll know what really is you and what is not.
9. Buying different, for the sake of different. Quite often we get stuck in a style rut. So we hit the shops and to shake off that rut we buy something that is completely different from anything else we own. And then we get it home and it sits in our wardrobe, we try it on occassionally, but take it off because it’s just not right. What we’ve done is buy someone elses style, often the opposite of ours, but it doesn’t work because it makes us feel uncomfortable.
10. Shopping with a friend. What? How can that be a shopping mistake? Unless your friend is trained as an image consultant (or has a really fabulous eye for style and understanding what does and doesn’t work) when they tell us what works on us they are only telling us what they personally like, or if they had our body, what they’d dress it in, not necessarily what is really a true and genuine reflection of who we are. The only time I suggest friends shop together, is whey they’ve done a style and colour consultation together and they truely understand what does and doesn’t work for each other and then can be a great advisor. Until then, shop alone or with an image consultant.
BONUS Tip. Wearing the wrong clothes when you go shopping. You want to be comfortable and have an easy time getting dressed and undressed when shopping. Any clothes and shoes you have to struggle to get into and out of will mean that you try on less, and are less likely to find the right garment, instead settling for almost rather than perfect.
And remember If you don’t love it, leave it on the rack!
Not sure what to shop for? Maybe it’s time you booked a wardrobe and shopping session with me to really get your style and wardrobe sorted.
