...doesn't mean it will look fab on me! I should learn my lesson!

I fall in love with outfits I see here on YLF or other blogs, but when I am tempted to copycat with the same exact item I tend to get burned. For example, the UWP Heed hi-low sweater that Una, Rae, MaryK, Andrea and others rocked. I ordered one in copper and as soon as I put it on, I felt silly. Sorry for not taking a picture, but all I could think about was how someone commented that the front panel looked like a "loincloth" so I couldn't stop thinking about that when I had the sweater on. So back it went right away. And I don't think I make a convincing Urban Warrior Princess anyways.

Then I fell in love with this look by an Anthro blogger:
http://anthroclosetchaos.blogs.....-back.html
Such lovely autumn colors! Eggplant dress, cinnamon cardigan and cool mustard and teal belt. These colors are right up my alley! I must wear this look! So I search eBay for the same dress and find it and the belt and win them both! Trouble is, I didn't realize it but the purple is lighter than I thought (I tend to do better with deeper/saturated color not pastels) and the belt is a little too tight. I learned my secondary lesson, don't buy clothes on eBay because they're not returnable! Here's the dress and belt (and cognac leather jacket since I don't have a cinnamon cardigan)...doesn't look so great on me, right? Now I don't know what to do with the dress...try eBay (I've never sold anything on there)? Consignment (never done that either)? Donate? Wear it anyways even though the color is a bit too light?

Also, I loved this Elizabeth and James herringbone sweater vest that hillview (and several of the other mommies on my mommy board) rocked so I ordered one, but didn't realize that it doesn't work so well on apples (the others were all tall slim rectangles). And I'm not used to having my arms bare...not so big on the vest look. This also doesn't look so hot on me, right? I think it's going back...
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ccessorize

Finally, I've been obsessing about finding a size 6 yellow raisin Halogen skirt since so many of you look so great in it and it seems like the perfect skirt to go with so many things. I keep checking the stock to see if there has been a return, with no luck. But I actually tried the skirt on a long time ago and never bought it...you guys didn't think I looked good in it and I'm not so sure the yellow shade is the right one for me...I tend to look better in deeper mustard rather than lemon yellow. I should give up on that one too, right?
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rth-buying

So how do you know whether something that looks so fab on everyone else is going to look good on you or not? I do so much trial and error ordering and returning. But I think from now on, I'm going to stick with Nordstrom or Anthro or other places with hassle-free returns. I don't think I'm savvy enough to shop confidently on eBay. And I need curb my lemming tendencies and stop trying to jump on the bandwagon!

1-5. Purple waffle weave dress and yellow belt from Anthropologie via eBay. With cognac leather jacket.
6. The inspiration look from Anthro Closet Chaos.
7-9. Elizabeth and James herringbone sweater vest.
10. Hillview rocking the original vest.
11-12. Yellow pencil skirt (never ended up buying).