Save Your Money And Sanity By Asking Yourself These Questions Before Buying A New Piece Of Clothing
New seasons represent changing temperatures and shifting fashion trends. But do we all really need more garments hanging up in our closets?
Now that fall has officially arrived, you might feel a sudden urge to hit your favorite shop, either online or in-person, and stock up on the latest seasonal staples.
I’ve personally been eyeing a red leather trench coat myself. But a few important questions have been holding me back from pressing that “purchase” button.
Before you go out and buy something new, it’s important to ask yourself a couple of key things to save both your wallet and your sanity. Plus, in the spirit of sustainability, perhaps it’s about time we are all a bit more cognizant of what we don’t need “in our cart.”
And if you could use some help with nailing down a bit more shopping awareness, we’ve got you covered. Here are all the boxes you should check before hitting “add to cart” on another piece of clothing.
1. Is the fact that it’s on sale clouding my judgment?
We’ve all been there: walking through the aisles at T.J. Maxx or any other discount department store when we come across a garment on sale.
You might find a pair of kitten heels is 30% off, or that pack of bodysuits, perfect for pairing with jeans in summer, is half-price now that autumn is upon us.
At that moment, hold your horses. Don’t just swipe up an item if it’s discounted. Rather, think about whether you’d actually buy it if it were at full price.
LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
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This can help you determine what you truly value and cut down on overconsumption and wasted money in the name of a good clearance sale.
2. Does it fit, and do I feel confident wearing it?
In the age of online shopping, we’ve sacrificed the ability to “try before we buy” for the convenience of overnight delivery. And sometimes, it’s worth it.
However, if you aren’t in a time crunch, I’d recommend going to shop in person for items that you’re unsure about, whether those uncertainties lie in sizing or style.
For instance, if you’ve never gotten jeans from a specific brand before, your typical size 8 could be different. Or if you are completely new to a specific dress cut, you might not genuinely like the style on yourself or feel comfortable in it.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t step outside your own box and try new things. But if you want to save yourself some money and headaches, don’t get a piece of clothing unless you throw it on and feel like it fits you right.
Some people still prefer online shopping to browsing in-store, and if you can relate, that’s totally fine. Upon receiving your shipment in the mail, just try on whatever you ordered and genuinely ask yourself if you would’ve grabbed a bigger or smaller size had you put the piece on in a fitting room.
If the answer is yes, you should return it, get your money back, and avoid stuffing any more garments that’ll never see the light of day in your closet.
3. Will this garment mesh with pieces already in my wardrobe?
It’s hard to nail down a cohesive personal look, and it can be tempting to go all over the map, trying out new styles and aesthetics.
Sometimes, we also get a picture of one ideal outfit in our minds, and a specific garment or accessory might only be worn for that special occasion.
If that’s the case, I’d honestly remove it from your cart.
Sure, if you can afford to buy new items that you can only wear a couple of times, that’s fine. Most of us, though, should try to stretch our clothing investments out longer than that.
The goal is to style a new piece in more than one way. That’s the key to justifying a purchase in my mind.
4. Do I see this piece lasting in the long run, or am I only interested since it’s trendy?
This final question can be a doozy, but it’s also a real eye-opener. With shopping platforms literally built into social media apps nowadays, it’s almost too easy to spot a clothing trend and immediately hop on the bandwagon.
Yet, you must keep in mind that trends rise in popularity rapidly and fade even faster. There’s no point in trying to keep up, so you should only invest in a new item if you genuinely like it and would continue wearing it, even after the trend is long over.
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