One obvious explanation is that the conditions in the store are different to those at home. It could start with the mirror itself, which might be “skinny” in the store. Or maybe the music in the store put us in a buying mood. As I mentioned on the Today show, retail stores go to great lengths to get us into this state of mind.

But maybe the real reasons are less about the store, and more about us.

Perhaps we’re subconsciously looking for a reason to get back the money we just spent. Perhaps we weren’t discerning enough in the first place. Perhaps a second opinion from someone at home causes us to doubt our initial perceptions. Perhaps it’s just in our nature to have second thoughts about the items that we purchase.

I do believe that the most important dressing room is the one we have at home. We should re-evaluate our purchases with a critical eye, and with input from someone else at home. That said, it isn’t practical to be constantly bringing items home only to return them the next day. We need to strike the right balance. If you understand the factors that make you return items after trying them at home, then maybe it will help you to make better decisions in the store.

Having spent so much time in the retail environment, I’m usually confident about my shopping decisions. Even so, I too have my moments of doubt when I look in the mirror at home. Does this sound familiar? Are there any recurring factors that make you return an item after seeing it at home?

“They should put expiration dates on clothes so we men know when they go out of style” – Garry Shandling

Imagine if all clothes, not just those for men, had an expiration date sewn into the label. Who would decide when clothing had gone off? Who would actually adhere to the dates provided? It is fun to think about.

At one extreme you’d have some people scouring the shelves for dates as far into the future as possible. That way they would get the biggest bang for their fashion buck. Would there be some way that that people could “freeze” their clothes to make them last even longer?

On the other hand there would be people who would prefer to keep it fresh, only purchasing items with expiration dates of up to a few months. That way, they’d have a completely new wardrobe every season.

In reality a lot of people would probably love to have the guidance. Stick to the recommended expiration dates and you’ll stay in style. Wear something past the date and it’s a fashion faux pas. Easy! It’s there in black and white on the label.

I bet retailers would be ecstatic. More shopping all round. But what would happen to the expired clothing? It would have to be magically recycled into the next batch of fresh items.

Would this mean no thrifting? No passing down of clothes? No vintage fashion? Or would some items be like fine wines that last for decades and get even better with age.

Any more Friday thoughts on clothing expiration dates? Let your imagination run wild.

• Make the final decision at home: If you don’t like something in your own mirror, you probably won’t wear it. Be disciplined about returning items that don’t make the grade.
• Focus on fit, not size: Style is beyond size. Achieve perfect fit instead of fixating on the size tag. Don’t be afraid to have clothing altered if the fit off the rack isn’t perfect.
• Don’t be swayed by low prices: If you compromise your fit and style standards just because something is inexpensive, you’ll end up with a closet orphan – a waste of money at any price.
• Spend money on bras, shoes, handbags, watches and spectacles: These are the items that increase your style quotient no matter what. Purchase the best that you can afford and watch their cost-per-wear whittle down to nothing.
• Find better bargains online where sales are more frequent: Stalk the items that you love, wait for them to go on random one-day sales, punch in a discount coupon code and enjoy your new purchase for much, much less.

On the topic of online bargains, one thing to check out is Boden’s clearance sale. They are marking down last season’s merchandise by up to 70% and this includes some good options for Spring.

• Replace neglected wardrobe items: Socks, underwear, loungewear, sleepwear, workout wear and camisoles are items we use regularly but aren’t fun to purchase. It’s hard to spend a limited budget on items that aren’t always visible to the public eye. Solve the problem by having Santa pick up the tab for these basics.
• Introduce a new beauty product: Items like mascara, nail polish, lipstick, gloss, crème blush, eye-brow kit and moisturizer are inexpensive and can make a huge difference. Jojoba oil is my new skincare jackpot and I highly recommend it for dry facial skin ($7 for 4 oz).
• Evangelize the power of accessories: Hats, scarves, belts, bags, specs, watches, umbrellas, gloves, wallets, hosiery and jewelry make for effective statement pieces. It’s wise to invest in these while sales are going strong.
• Recommend a professional bra fitting: Style starts with the best bra. Suggest a fitting to a friend or family member if you suspect that their size and style isn’t correct. Make it a date over lunch and contribute to the purchase of a fabulous bra. (This one’s a little more personal but I’m sure you’ll use your discretion).
• Treat a loved one to a haircut: A good haircut is therapeutic and often a quick, effective style fix.
• Offer to clean out a closet: Set someone free of their wardrobe shackles by helping to edit their closet. Make it a fun event with lots of dress-up as they go down memory lane.
• Propose a great pair of jeans and contribute to its purchase: There is loads of information on our forum about the best jeans for different body types. Help someone find killer jeans and pave the way to flop proof smart casual dressing.
• Share the secrets to happy feet: Introduce the inexpensive joys of foot comfort through insoles, shoe stretching and moleskin.
• Stock up on style books: “The Pocket Stylist” by Kendal Farr is still my top recommendation.
• Create a boot care kit: Rescue boots from sad wardrobe situations one Christmas present at a time.

Of course, style is a very personal matter and some of the options above are quite intimate. Most of them imply that there is room for improvement. This is sensitive territory so make sure you have the right relationship to give the gift of style.

I’m sure we could all  use a creative boost in this department and I’d love to hear more about your gift giving plan.  Let the brainstorm begin.

I’m sure that the skinny mirror phenomenon is fueling the return rut. No doubt retailers that employ this tactic have done a calculation showing that the additional sales generated by the skinny mirror compensate for the extra costs associated with the returns. This means that some of us are not returning the items we purchased under “false reflection”. Instead, they are probably becoming wardrobe orphans because we’re never quite satisfied with them when we put them on.

I would like to magically fold up our full length mirror and pull it out when I need it in stores. That’s not going to happen, but the next best thing is to try on your purchases when you get home. Look at them with a critical eye in the mirror you use every day. If you’re in doubt, return the item immediately.

You’ll score if you approach the sale with a plan. It’s an ideal time to purchase high ticket statement pieces for less. Make a beeline for the following:

• Premium denim: Get to the T.B.D. department and look for brands like Seven for all Mankind, Paige Premium, Hudson, Citizens of Humanity, Lucky and L.A.M.B.. You’ll find loads of styles at 40% off.
• Designer pieces: Look for unusual investment pieces in the Individualist, Savvy and Via C departments. I like to look at brands like Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Nanette Lepore, ISSA London, DVB, Chloe and Theory.
• Coats: The Narrative department stocks a fabulous assortment of coats, both casual and dressy. But coats are scattered throughout the store so be sure to look at all departments. Don’t come home with a black wool coat. The look is tired and impractical.
• Jackets: You’ll find a variety of sensational jackets in every department. They’re the perfect Autumn layering piece over Summer knitted tops and blouses.
• Shoes and Boots: Stuart Weitzman, Donald J Pliner, Frye, Cole Haan, Max Studio and Kate Spade suddenly became a little more affordable. Take a look at those brands first and then move onto the rest.
• Handbags: Most handbags at Nordstrom are designer. If you covet a particular brand, now is the time to get a good deal. Don’t ignore the cheaper in-house “Nordstrom” brand either. I’ve got a cracked cream patent flat tote by “Nordstrom” that’s a favourite.
• Scarves: I’ve learned to spend time in this accessory area. Airy, lightweight cashmere wraps that I use as scarves are usually quite expensive. There’s always a good assortment at Anniversary Sale time.

Each Nordstrom department will have a selection of sale items. From cosmetics and lingerie, to active wear, home wear, watches and petites. Basics and bridging pieces are on sale in each clothing department too, but you’ll find those everywhere throughout the season. It’s not a train smash if you bypass basics and stick to statement pieces.

The first few days of the sale are chaotic and Nordstrom stores will hold special Anniversary Sale hours on 18, 19 and 20 July. Doors open at 7am at the downtown Seattle flagship. You know where I’ll be tomorrow morning.

Anna came to the realization that…

“I have enough clothing in my wardrobe to keep me clothed for a decade. And I only wear a fraction of what I own. If I spent time organizing my clothes and trying out different combinations, I rationalized, I’d be less tempted to make a beeline for the shops every time an invitation landed in the letterbox”.

Anna stayed clear of the shops for six months, but she was allowed to have clothes swapping parties and make trips to the seamstress to breathe life back into a tired wardrobe. On the odd occasion, Anna was also allowed to get items from charity shops because those clothes weren’t new but already in circulation. We don’t know how the story ends because Anna hasn’t completed the year yet, but she seems to be holding up.

“I’m not saying that I won’t be hitting the shops when my year is up, but I’d like to think that I’ll be a more discerning consumer” .

The shopping ban is less of a challenge if you start out with an organized, efficient and effective wardrobe. Flexing those creative muscles to come up with fresh ways of combining items and accessories becomes the new challenge. On the other hand, it’s difficult to ban shopping for a full year if your wardrobe is in desperate need of an update, or if your body changed to the extent that you can’t wear the clothes you have.

I have an effective wardrobe and my body has not changed, but I would find this challenge extremely hard. I thoroughly enjoy the excitement that new seasonal items bring to a landscape of monotonous clothing. I’ve been in the rag trade for 16 years and it’s my bread and butter. Fashion is a passion and I’m therefore always tempted. But it’s a very interesting challenge and I’d love to know what you think: could you do it?

But the ease with which we can return items has its drawbacks. I have met people who get into a cycle of continually buying and returning items without keeping anything. They don’t wear their purchases because they might need to return them. And the option of making the return sparks doubt and buyer’s remorse. More often than not, the item goes back because there might be something slightly better. This is what I call “the return rut” and it’s a frustrating shopping strategy. More trips to the store and fewer successful purchases are the result.

Returning items because they don’t fit or match is perfectly acceptable, but constant returns because we can’t commit to our purchases is quite another thing. Are you in the return rut? How often do you return items? Do you frequently experience buyer’s remorse?

For the love of your wardrobe, treat yourself (or be treated to) at least one of these everyday essentials. Treat someone else that you love to one of their hidden wardrobe needs. I am definitely treating myself to a sweet pair of pajamas for Valentine’s Day. My wardrobe deserves it.

This season I found a finely knitted fitted black Edwardian style turtleneck with a back zip in a soft wool blend that does not pill. It goes with absolutely everything in my wardrobe, from jeans to wool skirts and suits to slacks. It’s the perfect layering piece and bridging piece that can be dressed up or down. So I bought two and have been living in them all season. Instead of having loads of different tops to wear with a handful of bottoms; I’ve changed the ratio around and worn loads of different bottoms with the same top and mixed it up with plenty of accessories.

In the past, I’ve bought two of the exact same pairs of jeans, white button down shirts, cardigans, knitted tops and fashion sneakers. And when I’ve done this, I have both items in use simultaneously, which is precisely the point. I’ve also purchased the same item in different colours, but this strategy does not work as well for me – I always seem to wear one colour a lot more than the other (the exception is Converse sneakers). Do either of these purchasing strategies work for you?