Has YLF led you to spend more money on clothes? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Has YLF led you to spend more money on clothes?

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Question prompted by one answer (ann's I believe) on the thread about how our SOs see our YLF life.

To answer: yes and no. Yes, because I buy higher quality stuff and true investment pieces, something I always wanted to do but wasn't confident in my choices (I didn't understand the logic and rules behind the style). Now I finally know how to choose and what I want.

But, overall - no. I know the cost will spread over the years and cost per wear is coming down to pennies for some items. I bought less number of things and have spent less money over the last year, because:
1. I narrowed down were I shop,
2. I'm picky where in the particular store I shop (certain colors and collections don't interest me, while before I used to go randomly through the racks hoping to stumble across something that'll tickle my fancy),
3. the ratio of returned vs. kept is very high (sometimes I shop quickly due to lack of time and only try things at home)
4. I generally learnt to Shop My Closet
5. ETA: While I'll not miss the good opportunity, my shopping is now mainly driven by knowing what it is that I really need or want.

You?

Shopping

50 replies

Latest reply was from Heather

AJ

Veteran

In the shoe department, yes. : )

Cilleena

Veteran

This is an easy one for me. Yes, YLF definitely has increased my spending on clothing. But, I wore nothing but T-shirts, hoodies and jeans before.

rute

Veteran

At first, yes, because I wanted to buy every trend, but now I know my style and I already know what will work for my style in the long run or not!

Lisalou

I think it will (still staring out here!), but by that I mean more money on individual pieces. I think in the long run, I'll probably spend less because I won't be buying mediocre (in fit and style) pieces over and over, or making panic purchases because I feel i have nothing to wear. So I welcome the increase in spending!!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Finding YLF was a direct result of my desire to overhaul my wardrobe and my image. I'm spending more money now than pre-YLF. I would have probably spent this money anyway but not looked as good without the blog entries and forum suggestions. Pre-YLF, I didn't understand how my style choices made me look dumpy, frumpy and short! I would occasionally have an accidental hit, but mostly my style was full of misses. Now I focus on looking my best every day. Knowing that I'm going to be posting my WIW's and be judged by a community of extremely stylish peers has made me more conscious of my style choices.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

It was a definite yes for this last year - my first on YLF. On the other hand I replaced least 90% of my fall/winter wardrobe including all basics - this shows in what bad state it was before!
I hope the next year is not as spendy as this one as I have the most of basic pieces in place. I also notice that now when I have working wardrobe I am not tempted that much in the stores and more likely to stick to my shopping list.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Hmm...well honestly for me i don't think it's specifically YLF but the internet in general. For me to really have a successful SYC it's best that i shut myself off from all shopping sites/blogs etc. Otherwise i'm horrible with willlpower...

Queen Mum

Veteran

Is the pope catholic?
LOL.... Yes, I have definitely spent more per item of clothing, and more in total over the past year and a half. 95% of my closet is less than 2 years old now. I can honestly only think of 3 items (other than shoes) that are pre-YLF purchases.
I do feel that I am making much more wise purchases now and my spending should stablize. I am putting the finishing touches on my spring/summer wardrobe and I already have a good fall/winter wardrobe base to start the fall with.
And like you Ornella, I am returning much more than I ever did before... most of this is due to the fact that I do alot more online shopping and I'd say 90% of that goes back.

Niki Lea

Veteran

Absolutely, I am spending more money. But my spending has also become very targeted, so now I shop with a purpose and an item or outfit in mind. This has also made it easier to find clothing in thrift shops. For example, like many others here, I've been searching for a pair of white jeans and recently found a pair second-hand for $6.50.

Prior to YLF, I never realized how unwisely I was shopping. And I have a closet full of plain, boring knit tees as proof that I didn't have a clue what I was doing before. My wardrobe it still very much a work in progress, but it's getting a bit better.

Scarlet

Veteran

Honest answer, no. Before finding YLF I had spent several years working on overhauling my wardrobe, so having most basics in place, there isn't much I NEED. If anything YLF has helped me to shop smarter and learn how to work better with the things I have instead of always thinking the answer is something new.

Kari

Veteran

Yes - but keep in mind that shortly before I found YLF I was a college student working part time, so around the time I found YLF I had a bigger budget to spend on clothes AND it was the right time to overhaul my student wardrobe and figure out what my "adult" style was going to be. So I would have spent more money on clothes anyway - it's just that YLF helped me figure out priorities for what would be wise purchases that I would love. Also, YLF has slowly helped orient my mindset to "quality over quantity" (even if you wouldn't always know it by the size of my closet.) I'd rather have a few killer pieces that I wear all the time that are reasonably priced but may not be all-out bargains necessarily, or maybe spend more at a store with spectacular customer service and a generous return policy (Nordstrom!), rather than have a wardrobe full of cheap pieces that I only somewhat love and that fall apart quickly.
Not that I *don't* still love a bargain, but I'm willing to pay a bit more for something that will suit my needs better if the bargain piece isn't quite what I am looking for.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I would guess it's about the same but I never tracked my clothing spending before. The difference is pre YLF I would nickel and dime my way through a $100 on half a dozen bargain items. Now I have devised a $250 every 2 months budget, and now I'm *allowing* myself to plunk down $100 or even $200 on one single item if I wish - but that means I have used up the budget and have to wait out the month. This is allowing me the 'luxury' items I'd always passed up without spending more total. For instance, I would search ebay with the price filter on always. Now I am training myself to not even look at cost at first but just judge the piece at first sight. Then, I will see what the price is. This is my little way of trying to retrain my ingrained bargain hunting. I still love and search for a deal, but I don't want price to overly influence what I buy to the point that I end up with stuff I would not have otherwise bought simply because it was such a deal. So that's a long way of saying I am spending wiser but not really more or less

Beth

Veteran

Unquestionably, yes. But my wardrobe was in serious need of overhauling and I'd have been spending nearly the same amount of money...with the exception of my lovely boot collection which I blame entirely on YLF!

The balance I'm trying to strike is to control spending on trendier items. It's always been very easy to be a classic dresser because it's less expensive overall. While I've always bought well-made pieces, the cost per wear was small over time.

I'm trying to retrain my brain into buying lower quality items for the trendier pieces since spending more might not make good sense. It's hard to do, though.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love to be blamed for wonderful things.

Beth

Veteran

You're just trouble, Angie. No two ways about it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fun trouble is good for the heart and soul. I take full responsibility.

SW Ann

Veteran

I may spend more on one individual piece, which I was leaning towards doing anyway (investment pieces), but less in general in an effort to find only "great" pieces to add. I'm making fewer mistakes due to encouragement I read on this forum.m Someday, I may even figure out how to post a few outfit pics! ha

FoolOfATook

Yes, I have spent more, but I really needed to overhaul my wardrobe anyway. For a number of years, due to having my kids and budget restraints, I hadn't bought much and had a lot of clothes that were left over from college (yikes!). YLF just helped me think more logically about what I needed to have a wardrobe that really worked together, if you know what I mean. But I waited for sales, etc., so I didn't go crazy.

Ginkgo

Veteran

Yes, I've been spending more since finding YLF a couple of months ago but I was in a desperate search to redo, rebuild, re-oomph my look. Last month I had zero self-control while out shopping but actually did very well with my purchases (shoes, jeans that fit, and jackets). I've returned a couple of Loft tops that I succumbed to while online, and am now able to leave the shops if the items aren't "almost 10s". My growing self-discipline is partly shock at what I've already spent, but then again, I haven't spend much for years and the cheap jeans that have bagged out have been a total waste of money. I'd like to now slow down on acquiring more jackets or cardi's; I can see the advantage that having a small wardrobe would allow for adding a few pieces each season and keeping with the current, on-trend look. Now that I know what to look for, shopping has been a LOT of fun! Thank you, Angie!

Barbara

Veteran

GOOD question, Ornela!

I have always been a very focused shopper; since YLF I am even MORE focused. I never buy anything on impulse. If I find something I love, I get it right away. Maybe even a duplicate. LOL.

Since YLF I have become more dedicated to keeping myself in great shape, through smart food choices (South Beach Lifestyle 'Diet') and regular, fun exercise.

To answer your question: Yes, I do spend more, especially on fashions that I would not have even considered before YLF. I am stepping outside my zone and loving it!

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Well, I'm here because I am trying to spend more of everything: more money, more time, more attention to detail, more "point of view" or overall purpose. I think that, like modgirl has found, I will ultimately spend less because I won't be making the same mistakes over and over again. But it will take me 6 or 8 seasons to dig myself out of the very sparse wardrobe hole I had put myself in through years and years of neglect. I've been thinking about budget... mine sounds close to your's Mo! I figured it at $500/season, and really since I live in Northern CA I shop for three seasons -- a regular spring, summer + an 'indian summer' that continues into early fall, and a combined fall/winter. I haven't actually spent that kind of money yet. I'm still building confidence and filling as many hangers as possible at lower price points for practice. I think I'll start with a few birthday pieces next month that are a little higher priced and take it from there... I think it is important in a group like this to just delight in everybody else's splurges and indulgences without losing sight of one's own goals, lifestyle and budget. And the very best part of this forum is seeing how everybody mixes and remixes. That makes what is aready in anybody's own closet look fresher and infinitely more interesting! L

rae

(website)

Veteran

Piece by piece - yes. I've learned to spend on true clothes love.

Overall - no. I've also learned to be strong in the face of mere infatuation. Actually, I've been passing up and tossing a lot from my closet as I feel super picky nowadays. But I think that, overall, this will translate to less money spent.

Vix

Veteran

Despite feeling "shopping/clothing deprived" some days I just did a visual inventory of my shopping over the last year and I actually bought a LOT. [A combo of basics wearing out, job situation changing, holes becoming apparent, and hmmmm, desire.]

Made me think I shouldn't want anything else ever...a feeling that lasted a regrettably short time!

Overall, I'd say the variety in YLF posts helps me spend my clothing money more wisely/less impulsively and in ways that work well for *my* needs, personality, style etc.

YLF (and as Nicole said, "the internet") certainly TEMPTS me to spend more money on clothes...there's such a large pool of women wearing things that make me think, "oooooh, *that* would be nice to have."

[It's especially hard when someone is more or less my body type and lookin' gooood in an in-the-stores-now item!]

Luckily, that's balanced out by so many YLFers doing "1 item 500 million ways" exercises, shopping their closet, reworking/refashioning an older item/thrift find etc.

I certainly enjoy the "Hey a New Thing!" posts and seeing how people wear their new finds.

But since I find being unable to buy every single thing I want the minute I see it a little...tedious...I really appreciate other types of posts, too.

So thanks to the YLFers who show me what's out there, and thanks to the ones that make me stop and think harder about how I can maximize the thrill of the new -- which I love -- by working with fewer new items and being (a tiny bit!) creative with older ones!

Lynne

Veteran

Like many of you, I have spent more on individual pieces, but about the same or less overall.....and the things I've bought post YLF have often been things I would never have tried before - skinny jeans, a denim jacket, a leather jacket.....DH loves these new parts of my style (after 21 years it's nice that he sees something different!)

I think it's good to be more focussed in my spending, and like Malina I find myself using my budget on one or two things rather than spreading it over lots of bits and pieces. My April and May budget is already used (jewellry repairs and cowboy boots) and I'm fine with that!

I don't blame you, Angie, I THANK you!!

elpgal

Veteran

Yes, but I am not complaining.

It is not that I buy more clothes and shoes but I have started shopping in relatively more expensive places, stopped wearing knits and do not buy any non 8-hr shoes anymore.

I do shop in less expensive places but it is to try out 'trends' I read about here.

Kappy

Veteran

Yes, but I'm with Cilleena. All this SAHM had were hoodies, tees, jeans, cargo pants/capris, sporty flats and flip flops. And most of those were purchased at Walmart or Target while I was shopping for groceries!!!! I'm still not buying expensive/investment pieces because I don't know yet what's best for me. I have noticed I have a bad tendency now to just buy things because I think that will fix my "not knowing what to wear" problem. But, as everyone here knows already, it really doesn't.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Firstly, let me apologize for one hundred and eighty five typos in my first post! I was red-faced when I read it again. In my defense, I had 5 minutes before leaving the house and could not unglue myself from the screen before I ask the question.

And I'm glad I did. You offer interesting perspectives and it is such a fun read too.

Lynne

Veteran

Ornela, I forgot to mention that I often hear your Dad's quote echo in my head when I look in the stores, and have decided that I cannot afford to buy poor quality, either!

MsMaven

Veteran

I slowed way down when the recession hit--watching the retirement funds shrink does make a person put off buying new things. I have spent more in the last couple of months because I have lost enough weight (thanks in part to YLF's Healthy Habits) to need new pants and skirts in a smaller size. I've done a lot more shoe shopping than normal because I decided that there have to be decent-looking shoes out there that can accommodate my problem feet.

So yes, I've spent more lately, but still it is in line with what I used to spend. I do need to spend less overall, but buy fewer and better quality items.

12