I needed to read this today, Angie! I’m VERY impatient and get caught up with feeling the need to plan ahead.
There are several items I feel like I still need for summer though, but I’ve lost all interest in the current season. All I want are boots, jeans, and sweaters but it is not time for that.
I had my sights on those NAS OTK Sam Edelmans from the first moment I saw them in the catalog, and I’m still wallowing in misery that they didn’t work. And I feel so pressured to find a replacement like yesterday.
My closet is full of “so close” items. Things that I settled on instead of being patient to find the perfect thing. I’m slowly weeding those out, but it’s not easy.

Difficult. I´m torn between finding the perfect thing and getting maximum amount of fun and style out of my money and settling with a close to perfect item when sometimes there is no “perfect”.

It is mixed. If I need something, say for a photo shoot, then I have to settle or pay more money that I would have liked to get the ideal item. However, there are other cases where I have waited years. Such as getting a great red winter coat which I found at this year’s NAS.

I have a few things on my long term list too. I’m looking for the perfect trench coat, reddish brown equestrian boots, straight dark wash jeans. They’re such simple items you wouldn’t think they’d be hard to find, but the cut or style is never quite right. I’m pretty patient but sometimes I settle. I always regret it when I buy something that’s not quite right.

I could definitely stand to channel you a bit more in this scenario, Angie. I have never found the perfect boots, so I’ve settled on the grounds that boots are key in my climate. But I’m never really satisfied and know I should have waited.
Since finding YLF, though, I am willing to be a lot more discerning and I have a list of things I’m being more patient with. White tunic shirt, white moto jacket (probably in a woven), leather jacket in a fun colour, blazer in a pretty colour, sheath dress, animal print wedges, blue bag. My patience was rewarded last winter when I acquired my perfect red coat, and again this year with my new NAS pencil skirt, so I’ve experienced the wisdom of your approach first-hand.
Glad you lucked out so much at this year’s NAS!

I am often unclear as to whether an item is perfect or not. Some items that don’t seem perfect at first become perfect as I get used to a new look on me. And some items that seem perfect at first feel too safe and unfashionable later. So am I being patient or indecisive? And as we know, mistakes can be costly. That’s why I am so grateful to you all….

The only thing I think I have on my list right now is a pair of sleek sneakers, not heavy trainers. I tend to lose interest after a time for most items I think.

I love this post. I am not someone who has to rush out and buy the latest greatest fashion. I also wait, and watch for deals. Sometimes I get exactly what I want at consignment stores a year or 2 after everyone else has bought it, worn it, and moved on to the next latest greatest. I tend to like fashion that is more timeless so it’s not too hard to find what I want.

Its also like the law of attraction. Keep thinking about the item you want and when the time is right you will find it!!

From September to May I need a lot of different cocktail dresses so I am always on the lookout for those. Because I wear a difficult size (petite 0 or 2) I buy when I find a dress I both like and that fits. I do not buy for the occasion – I try to always have something in my closet that is appropriate and flattering. Last December I started the month with 6 dresses that had not ever been worn. From June to August I usually need dresses for weddings that I have worked on planning. Because I often end up taking care of last minute details I try to wear something comfortable and washable, but still pretty. Twelve months a year, year after year, I am on the lookout for perfect dresses.

You set such a good example, Angie. I have been very impatient and anxious to have a more interesting/on trend wardrobe and have made some impulsive imperfect choices afraid I will never find the “right” thing. But I’m realizing that flaw and am trying hard now to be more discerning. I’m in the process of cleaning out my closet and I’m excited to have only great articles of clothing easily found, instead of a bunch of clothes crammed in one space, some great, some blah or ill fitting making it harder to get fashionably dressed each day. Wish me luck!

I am in the middle of this right now! I need a pair of not flat, but not high heeled tall boots. I have wide calves which make it very hard. I also am only 4’10″, so tall boots are tricky because they come up to my knee, though not intended to do so!

What happens a lot with me is that when I don’t find what I want (and I don’t buy if it is not perfect: the fabric, the fit) I don’t buy and after some months I don’t what that item any more.. I change my mind a lot.
I don’t care if it’s trendy, if anyone has it.. if the fit is not perfect, if it’s not my style, I don’t buy.

Sometimes I loose interest before I find the elusive item, but then I figure that it wasn’t really meant to be.

Lots of great insight.

Cookie, I love your dress shopping philosophy. You are organized!

Francesca, those are excellent points.

Carole, I wish you luck! It’s definitely easier to pass things by when you have a relatively fully functioning wardrobe.

I absolutely hear you on the time sensitive thing. Sometimes you really need something and just have to make do with what you can get at the time (within your budget), even if it isn’t perfect.

Also, I am much more patient and particular with high ticket items and major statement pieces. Perhaps that’s a theme with you too?

I do tend to loose interest when things go on sale though. I can virtually NEVER find my size, and my passion for the item after seeing it so much is gone.

Thank you for validating my shopping practice, Angie! Because I don’t really need anything immediately, I often hold out until I find just the “perfect” item (based on style, price & perfect fit) on my wish list and more often than not, I’m rewarded when I’m least likely to be looking, and often at a great price too!

The other benefit to having patience (besides finding the perfect item that you absolutely love) is that sometimes what you think is a must-buy one season drops lower on your priority list as you get a chance to evaluate its value in your wardrobe. Sometimes I find it’s no longer as desired as I once thought, thereby saving me money and keeping me from acquiring what might become a closet orphan.

I use that “must be perfect” drive to push my sewing. So I don’t usually have to wait very long to get what I want and can usually justify the price of the fabric and notions with comparing the cost of them to the cost of the original. For instance, a Fendi Peekaboo bag would set me back $1500 to $2000 but the supplies will cost me less than $60. At that point, it pays for me to figure out how to make it and do it right. The same goes for clothes. I can fit stuff on me much better than anything I can buy in RTW. For those few pieces that I can’t get the fabric they use or that color, I feel fine waiting till it is on deep discount to buy it, knowing I am going to take apart that originally $300/now $80 dress anyway to fit it correctly.

I have no patience. Since reading YLF I want to overall my whole wardrobe, like yesterday! This often gets me into trouble, because I will buy a bunch of items, then end up overwhlemed with what to really keep. I hope in time, I can follow from your example and have a much smaller, streamlined list, as well as more patience to wait for the right item to come along. Unfortunately I’ve had this happen on more than one occasion where I see an item I really want, wait to buy it, then when I decide to commit, I can’t find it or a suitable replacement. So now I pounce on items, and still end up with a few misses in my wardrobe from impulse shopping.

Oh, and I also find that the best time to discover wardrobe gaps is when I’m packing for a trip and think, “if only I had a ________” to make this wardrobe capsule be more versatile/come to life/look more polished. That’s when I add it to my mental shopping list to pick up when I find just the perfect piece.

I’m very impatient and often think a style or trend will pass me by if I don’t get it now! Just last year I settled on a cheap not quite perfect fit military jacket which became an orphan, recently when not looking I found the perfect one in a sale. I’m getting better but still prone to rush purchases x

You are a good example of waiting for the right item rather than settling.

i tend to cycle between buying/not-buying moods so that governs how much patience i have. but i do have several items that i have been on the look out for several years now. a shorter (but not cropped) tuxedo jacket and/or a reinterpreted “le smoking” for evening when dress code calls for black tie. still waiting to find the perfect ones. the wait has been so long that i may have mythologized these items and may never find the right ones.

if you have any tips…

Would you believe I’m still looking for the RIGHT pair of yellow and green shoes. I have a laundry list of requirements and nothing has satisfied them all yet. And a mustard cardigan, and a white bead necklace, and a red jacket

This is very very hard. I am not too patient, I am afraid. I am willing to wait for pricierm longer lasting items such as coats, but very often settle for trendier pieces of the moment. This is a veru bad habit of mine and I am trying to work on it. Very often it happens that, after settling, I do find a perfect item but the first one is not returnable anymore, which leads to headaches over what to do. But the most annoying thing for me is when the perfect item exists, but is significantly out of my budget. Affordable options usually do not come even close so more often than not I end up with nothing.

I’m getting better but in the past I’ve felt rushed to buy something anything just to have something different. I don’t feel that way anymore and find that I can walk away from a shopping trip with nothing in I don’t find the right item.

This is my goal. To be able to be discerning enough and patient enough to wait for the right item. I think this is an easier strategy to implement when you have a fairly complete workable wardrobe. When you have obvious holes in your wardrobe it gets a bit trickier. For instance, I purposely got rid of my tall black boots at the end of last winter to force myself to replace them this year. Now I have no option but to find a pair. I want the perfect pair, but I know I don’t have the luxury of all season to shop for them.

I’ve gotten much better at this since hanging out here. Now that my wardrobe is above its former destitution state, I can pass up almost-right items without much obsessing.

Like many above, I am impatient but want to learn to shop more like you, Angie. I, too, have so many not quite perfect pieces in my closet, many of which were impulse buys.

Good point about patience being a virtue – I admire your ability to keep your most-wanted items top-of-mind Angie, even two years later!

But what caught my attention in this post is the fact that you said you want to wear your flat oxfords with everything. Really? This is amazing good news Do you think they actually can work with most outfits in your closet?

I think it is easier to hold out when you’ve got lots of great stuff in your closet already. Having discipline is something I struggle with too. But right now I don’t think there’s anything in my mind’s list at all. How do you know when it’s perfect or good enough? There’s also the other side of things– items that you come across that you love but weren’t on any list.

This is the hardest thing for me! I will put an item on my list and start the hunt. I will search and search and nothing will be just right. At that point, i will think that I have searched everywhere and the perfect one simply does not exist so I settle and get one that is ALMOST perfect. Then, after I have made my purchase and worn it several times, the PERFECT item appears in the stores….everywhere. So I end up buying the perfect item and now I have TWO in my closet.

I’m prone to bouts of obsession that fizzle out fairly quickly. What I’m feverishly hunting for today likely won’t even be in my closet in two years, so if I don’t find what I want quickly, I just lose interest and have likely moved on to something new. The exception to this are basics like jeans and shoes.

Sometimes practicality forces me to compromise. Right now, as I posted on the forum, I have no ballet flats that work. I need to get at least one pair fast because the weather is already cooling down and sandals won’t work much longer. I can’t wait for the perfect pair to come alone. C’est la vie. Hopefully I’ll grow love whatever I find.

I think I’m the patient type in waiting until I find the exact item! And Angie, I would love to see you model your flat oxford shoes in some of your outstanding outfits and the Theory tuxedo jacket. I’d love to get the flat oxford shoes but I can’t begin to imagine how on earth I would wear them!

Oh, booties and heeled oxfords. I think this is the 3rd or 4th season I will be looking for walkable pairs. (I have sitting versions). I haven’t lost interest but I guess I don’t really believe I’ll ever find them.

I actually think this ties in nicely with your blog post on needs and wants, I will be far more patient with regards to the things I want, I will save, stalk and do whatever is necessary to bring that perfect purchase home.

My needs are a different matter entirely, if I don’t find layering pieces in the next couple of months Autumn could be a little too chilly for comfort.

I’m like you Angie in that I will not settle even if it means taking a long time to find something. You are definitely giving the best possible advice.

I truly believe that buying clothes that are just “Okay” leads to a closet full of clothes that you’re dissatisfied with and may not wear. We deserve to be picky!

I do however make a physical list and put it in my handbag. It helps. The list doesn’t always make the purse transfer, but when I find the list, I’ve often found several things on it, and if I never find the item, I’m convinced it just wasn’t meant to be.

Angie, I have thin calves, too. My shoe guy at Nordstrom told me they can be altered (I guess taken in). Good to know in case we ever find boots we can’t live without that “stick out weird.”

Vani, yellow shoes and green shoes are both on my list too! I’ve found that keeping a list and being diligent about looking for these items helps me to stay patient and wait for the perfect item. I’ve also had times where I find something that is close enough (like going for teal clarks sandals instead of tel closed toe flats) and cheap enough that I feel ok buying it now to tide me over until I finally find that perfect item! Sometimes I do wonder if I’ll ever find what I’m looking for, or if once I do find it I’ll have been searching for so long that I’ll think it’s imperfect too and miss out!

Patience is a virtue my mother used to tell me – well, I guess I’m less virtuous than you, Angie – impatience is my middle name! I want it, and I want it now! As I’m older though, I have become a bit more patient and willing to wait for those things I cannot make myself. I’m inspired by people like Lisette – Sewn Magazine – to make more of my own wardrobe, but frustrated by not finding the fabrics I have in mind. Also, being a little fuller figured, it’s extremely frustrating to not find RTW that has any idea of fashionable or interesting – so it’s a make-do situation. And a snap it up right now if it fits and works!
So, I guess I’m impatient for patience.

I have changed my habits in this regard.

I used to buy stuff that was just ok if the price was right. I had terrible sales goggles.

I still by most of my items on sale, but I don’t compromise anymore. It has to fit, period, or be easily altered. My grandmother used to say, “It’s no bargain if it hangs in the closet.” She was right.

I am very hard to fit, so by insisting that everything is flattering, I have already singificantly narrowed the universe of what is possible for me to buy.

One area in which I have pushed the envelope a bit is color. My skintone has changed a bit as I have aged and I’m pushing myself to try some of the corals and cool browns. With the right makeup and accessories, they are flattering when on their own they would not be.

And I’m still searching for a tuxedo jacket!

I’m so impressed with everyones organized -or at least thoughtful – approach to shopping! I honestly can’t think of one thing I really want right now. I’ve been on a shopping leave of absence for awhile now, and it’s pretty much squelched (is that a word?) my interest in shopping. I still enjoy reading fashion mags, checking out the runways, and reading ylf, but I don’t really care to run out and buy anything. It’s really rather sad, now that I think about it! Or maybe it’s good that I’m satisfied with my wardrobe finally!

It’s interesting that you posted this today. I was just thinking that I was going to post something along these lines of the forum. I am very patient about finding the right thing but this frustrates me at times. I really like many of the trends but often don’t find x items that fits well and is in my price range so the trend pass me by. And that makes me sad. Some of this has to do with the amount of time I commit to shopping. It really isn’t much so the more elusive something is (slouchy pants that work for an hourglass), the more time it takes to find them, the less likely I am to get them into my wardrobe.

I’m learning to be more patient and to wait for the right piece after finding that when I settle for something that’s just ok, I’m still on the lookout for what I really want. Because of this thinking, I have 6 LBDs from Talbots, AT, BR, Express, Calvin Klein and one I don’t remember instead of one fabulous dress. I’m still looking for the one I really want.
My current list also includes grey leather (not suede) classic riding boots for small calves, black narrow calved flat boots, a true red or tomato red all season fabric suit, leopard 2″ heels, a turquoise bag and a red clutch. Oh, and the perfect grey straight legged jeans. Thank you for encouraging patience. I’d save a lot of money if I practiced waiting for the right one.

I don’t have a list of specific items that I need. Rather, I’ll have a general list, like “pants that I can wear in the fall or spring and cool, airy summer dresses.” I can find those items, no problem, but I have an issue with then being patient enough to only buy those things that fit me well, are flattering, have decent quality and work with other items in my closet. I tire quickly of shopping so tend to just give up and say, “this is good enough” when it’s really not.

I’m the impatient type and if I wait too long for something, I might just forget about it entirely. So sometimes I settle with varying results. I did search for the perfect flat, riding boots for a long time and my persistence did eventually pay off! But of course, in the meantime, I had purchased two pairs of so-so heeled boots that are sitting in my closet collecting dust. Right now, my long-term quest is for the perfect leather jacket and I’ve come close to compromising a couple of times (like at last year’s NAS) but I am staying strong….

I think I am patient enough to wait for the perfect item. I am still working on getting all my basics updated so it is easier to wait as they tend to be less trendy items.
When my wardrobe is functioning then I do not know what happen. I do not like to have too many clothing items so I think I will patiently wait unless this is a fleeting trend I fall in love with – then I can compromise.

I am far too inpatient to the deteriment of my budget.

I’m slowly learning to be more patient & discerning & methodical in my clothes/shoe shopping, instead of wandering stores ’til I buy something that catches my eye. My local shopping sources are now VERY limited, so I’m doing more of my shopping online; return shipping fees can eat up a lot of $ in a year’s time, if the site doesn’t allow free returns. And the time lag between buying & receiving (I very rarely pay for next-day delivery) has helped some in getting over the instant fix addiction.

I’m schizophrenic about this. Some things I see, love and buy instantly…even though I know I don’t need it or it’s not exactly what I want.

Other HIGH priced items I just wait until the right item comes along. I am waiting to find the right tuxedo jacket and the right pale butter color shoes…I am convinced they don’t make the color i have in my head.

This SYC project just might take the urgency to buy out of me completely….well, maybe not”)

I can be pretty patient. I finally found my perfect trench after years of searching. On the flip side, I have yet to find the perfect moto jacket and I’ve also been searching for that for several years. I’ll wait until I find just the right one. Same goes for flat or very low-heeled ankle boots. I’m not interested in so-so pieces, especially when they’re strong statements or key wardrobe items.

I finally am learning patience with wardrobe shopping! I used to buy things that were just good enough, but not The One. Then I’d buy another almost good enough item, add it to the stash, and keep searching for The Perfect Piece.

In a perfect alignment of the stars and karma, I finally bought the perfect denim jacket, the perfect leather scuba-style jacket, black dress slacks that (as DH says) really flatter my tush, and a black jacket that fits perfectly.

My cravings and purchases of marginal pieces has ceased! It’s worth the wait!

I am extremely patient, to my detriment, I think! I only bought a handful of items this past year, because I just didn’t have a good handle on my style, and didn’t want to stuff my closets full of “what was I thinking?” pieces. The end result was that I went through a New England winter with no knee high boots, and only three turtlenecks. lol I survived, and I’m now searching out items on Angie’s fall MOTG outfit list.

I think I am more patient now, mainly because I feel my wardrobe can cope with mosst eventualities, and I really don’t mind not having a massively wide variety, as long as I like what I have within there. Having said that, there are several items that I think I do need to weed out.

Patience can be frustrating though. I am longing to find green and pointy toed purple flats as well as a summery red dress and of course black OTK. These searches feel like they have gone on forever!!!

My shopping style is inconsistent. Sometimes super patient, other times not. Still trying to find peep toe booties with a reasonable heel and the perfect red pump, as well as a black blazer. For these items, I’m holding out. So, Angie, when will we see how you style your perfect items?!

Oh, yes–I will sometimes hold out for years waiting for the Right One! I don’t really take an interest in trends that quickly though, so I don’t feel the pressure of time in that particular case.

Heartbreakingly, I think I’ve found two pairs of the perfect boots for me–but at a time when my cat is having medical problems and her health care needs are my top spending priority. I can only hope to have good post-season sales & size luck with these boots after the holidays.

I’m patient, I think. But this can have a downside as well because there have been times I held out too long and missed something completely.

I will generally wait as long as possible for a higher end expensive item like a leather jacket, warm coat, awesome pumps. I could wait years. But it also depends on what’s available in retail at the moment. For example I’m more likely to actively look for a leather jacket when I know it’s been a popular item and there are lots of options to choose from (I finally pounced on one last year). Right now I’m keeping an eye out for a perfect military jacket (I’ve kept missing them in all the previous years).

I really dislike searching for a specific item when desperate and/or on a deadline. Yikes. You settle for less, spend too much, and end up with mediocrity. I wish I could avoid this as much as possible.

Angie I LOVE this post!!

My recent wardrobe editing frenzy highlighted to me that about 98% of the things I was getting rid of were things I had “settled on”.

Even a few of the things in my wardrobe now that I’m reluctant to wear but do purely because I need to wear clothes, are things I have settled on.

So, having this insight, I believe I’ve now reached the stage where only the things I’m truly happy with will get to stay in my wardrobe.

I passed on a lovely white button through the other day because whilst it was lovely, fit me well and was a really nice design, it was just way too sheer for my liking… so to me, that means I have finally learnt the art of “waiting”!!

I’m pretty chuffed about that because I’m known as one of the most impatient people around LOL

My natural tendancy is to be more like you and only buy things that I feel are ‘perfect’. In the past this has also often meant that I had big gaps in parts of my wardrobe. I tended to spend a lot of money on my work wardrobe and neglected other areas.

I’ve taken the advice on your site though and spent much more time analysing what I have and what I need – which is completely essential now that I have 2 small kids and so limited time to shop. This year when the sales started I had a total of 2 hours shopping time with 5 year old daughter in tow and was very successful with all my purchases as I was so focused on key items rather than being distracted with the sheer abundance of it all!!

I am very patient when it comes to getting the perfect item, be it fit, colour, etc. With trends, I am also very patient to see whether a particular trend that I like will have staying power. If I still like it down the track, minimum 6 months, I will invest in it.

What an excellent post!

I think I’m fairly patient and willing to hold out for something that ticks all the boxes instead of just most of them. However I’m at a bit of a crossroads at the moment, since I have so many things I need to clear out, but do I wait until I’ve found some alternatives before I get rid of them, just so I’ve got something to wear? It’s a difficult one.

I have just recently come out of my jeans/sweats and t-shirt mode. My closet was full of things that were picked soley for comfort or cost. I put very little thought into dressing each day other than being covered. Now after lurking here for the past several months it has gotten a complete overhall. My wardrobe is now very small but I will only buy things that I love and that fit well. Sometimes that will take me a while to find, but that’s ok with me.

I usually want what I want, when I want it. I have been more patient over the years, but still pick up mediocre items which then are replaced if and when I find better ones. Good post though!

I am naturally like a lot of the persons who have replied above. I am impatient, and learning to say no to impulse buys.

But here is my dilemma now: posted abroad in a third world country (diplomatic posting), I get one trip back a year during which I am supposed to find all missing ‘essentials” for the year to come. For all occasions. From hiking in wild mountains, weaving my way in crowded dirty markets, cut across dirt roads, looking presentable at parent-teacher meetings, working as a language instructor, to going to evening formal functions with hubbie and meeting officials.

So. In a short three weeks, I must find the best this, the best that, all that I have needed in the past year, that I might miss during the coming year, maybe… it’s overwhelming! Not to mention psychologically nerve racking to be spending so much on me for such a period of time… I am going crazy. And what about the inevitable ”mistakes”? Sometimes I can’t sleep at night thinking about how much money was spent (but it was necessary, right? prescription glasses and contacts, solid, comfortable gym shoes, antihistamines and band-aids…) (oh, and that wonderful, wonderful camel decollete cocktail dress… Consignment… D&G… needs a few stitches… but so beautiful!).

YLF has been a guide and an inspiration to me! I read it from my remote country, even though I can’t participate in the buying-selling clothes and I donate a lot there. But now that I am back in the developed world, I am amazed at so much that there is available for women living here.

Do you have any shopping advice for me and my trailing spouses sisters ?

Thank you!

Hi atrailingspouse,

First, I recommend reposting this as a new topic on the forum. It’d allow others to see and respond much quicker.

Also, what’s your budget? Don’t feel bad when it comes to costs in the US – I’ve had my fair share of living in other countries, and it’s wild how much a single item can be varied in price across different countries.

When it comes to clothes (except for outdoors) – I love going to TJ Maxx/Marshalls, because not only is it usually half price or less for clothing goods, it has sections in everything possible, from casual wear to suits to formalwear. It’s a good alternative to the wide expanse of a department store, but I find that most department stores are lacking in selection to a well-stocked TJ Maxx/Marshalls.

Black medium heeled boots are my quest. Thick calves have made it tough, and my requirements for no center seam, no ankle seam (eek), no sky high heels, and wide enough for my generous calves seem to make this impossible. Must have heels as I am vertically challenged and horizontally blessed.

Oh, and I will wait for them until I find them…no time limit!

After reading this post and mulling over the needs vs wants one as well, I realized that I don’t really have enough work-appropriate, colorful blouses that look good underneath a suit jacket, as well as colorful, comfortable flats/low heels. My smart casual wardrobe is well-taken care of, but I haven’t really found any blouses or shoes that suited my fancy in the past few years. It’s frustrating to not be able to compromise, especially since everything seems to come in the shade of ‘neutral’ nowadays, but hopefully I can find something wonderful in the near future.

Oh, it is much easier to wait when you have a workable wardrobe, but when you are in the middle of a wardrobe upheaval, trying to finally buy clothing that fits and flatters, rather than squeezing into the old-2 sizes too small size, it is mush harder to wait for the perfect items to come along…

Also, a girl’s gotta have more than one outfit, so sometimes I impulsively buy more and cheaper, so I can have some variety, while waiting to find the perfect pieces that will make up the basics…

Once or twice per year, I have somebody babysit my kids for a whole day, and I go shopping with a very specific item in mind. I do my research online beforehand to save time, then go out to try on every possible version of it. Sometimes I’m not successful, but last year I got the perfect pencil skirt and perfect black pants this way. This year I want to find skinny jeans, tunic tops and boots that work together on my curvy plus-size frame. This will likely take several mini trips with the kids (nightmare!) and hopefully only one day trip… we’ll see…

Sometimes an item catches my eye, and I know I need to get it right then and there before it runs out of stock. I do have a few items in my closet with the tags still on, but I plan on wearing them soon, since these items are bought with a specific purpose in mind (like a beautiful embellished purple satin tank with a coordinating cardigan that I plan on wearing on date night and at an upcoming wedding).

I think I rarely wait for the perfect version of something. If there is something I really want, I will search high and low and then get the best compromise available at that time. Sometimes later on I will trade up, but I have always gotten a lot of use out of the compromise item first. Perfect things I usually find when I am not looking for them. I would like some of your discipline, though! Congrats on your fab finds!

I guess it depends on what it is. When we’re talking about “needs”, no I’m not too patient. I usually can’t stand being short on whatever it is and go on an intense search until I have at least met the need enough to get me through. “Wants”, though… I’ll wait anywhere from months to a couple of years often enough. Then, of course, once I have the item in question I want to kick myself for having waited so long!

Great post, Angie. I am SO patient when stalking the perfect fashion item. I’ve been searching for a black leather biker jacket for a couple of years now. It can’t be too tough looking, because I’m decidedly NOT tough-looking. But no ruffles. It must be classic. This jacket is one of those “I’ll know it when I see it” items, but I’m not willing to take out a loan to buy it, either!

I typically spend minimal bucks on super trendy items after I decide that the trend is indeed right for me.

It’s been interesting hearing your wardrobe shopping strategies. I also fully understand when wardrobe compromises are inevitable. I hope everyone finds what they are looking for

Angie,this is precisely what I have been thinking about lately.The post hits the mark.
Hi atrailingspouse,I would like to add my two cents.I moved from a India to US a few years back.I tell you from experience that its all about learning to shop where you live ‘coz it is impossible to shop for the entire year in just a few weeks.I am sure that there are places to shop for things that u need where you are posted.Once you find out about the stores where u can shop for ur needs and visit those shops regularly,u will come to know about the sale cycle.