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Shopping strategies?

Anonymous

Hey everyone,
I was just thinking about how I did all of my fall/winter shopping in one chunk and how I would like to repeat it for spring/summer. I was just wondering who shops seasonally versus shopping any time the mood strikes or monthly? How does each strategy work out for you?

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Laurinda

Elly

Veteran

I do a combo--- I usually try to do 90% of my shopping at the very beginning of the retail season while there are lots of good things in stores and sources that sell Tall sizes in items I take a tall in won't be sold out of all the good colors, etc. I want to be able to wear my items during the whole season, and because I work with a minimal wardrobe I often NEED to shop to have something to wear for the season. Currently I'm starting on my Fall/Winter list-- the hunt is on.

That said, F/W is my dominant season and we do have mini-seasons within the larger one when it will be colder, snowier, etc. I usually try to save some of my budget, or allocate spending money (buy putting away a chunk) to do a refresh later in the season either because I'm finding I need something to make other pieces work, I need something for warmth, comfort, or practicality, or simply to keep my wardrobe from feeling as dreary as our weather. Plus, I typically take a trip to the city and can actually do a little B&M for my refresh.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I look forward to reading the responses on this, because I've been wanting to move to a more deliberate, once or twice a season kind of shopping schedule rather than what I've always done, which is catch-as-catch-can when I have time or find something on sale. I need to get better about making lists of what I need ahead of time and sticking to them, though, if I want that strategy to work.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Have you seen this article from Into Mind?
http://into-mind.com/2014/08/1.....-the-year/

I am trying to do as Elly does. But then, shopping is agony for me.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I've historically cobbled stuff together a bit at a time, spreading the cost out month by month. I want to try and get on the seasonal bandwagon and make a majority of purchases the first month, allow myself one or two over the middle months, and then a refresher (maybe 3 items?) the last month of each season. I know myself well enough to know I can't just shop 2 times a year and turn it off the rest of the time. Hoping this way will work out for me.

Susie

Veteran

I usually find myself thinking ahead to the next season and buying things early because I'm excited about the new. But I also like to add some things mid season for the reasons that Elly states. But, in reality, that translates into buying almost constantly and I really do want to reduce the number of purchases I make as well as my overall wardrobe size.

I think Mo's approach makes a lot of sense.

Style Fan

Veteran

I use to shop a lot when I lived in a major city and had access to lots of retail. I did not have a plan. Now I live far from a city and I make few trips to Toronto or Montreal. I have worked out a plan and do a major shop. It is so much better. I try and go at the beginning of the season. It feels a bit strange to buy so much all at once but everything in my wardrobe works together.

Sharon

Veteran

I am trying to buy the majority of my wardrobe now, at the beginning of the season, but I will leave room for for things that I fall in love with and maybe a few refreshers towards the end of the season.

This is the first year I have done this, and it is only possible because
1.I have no huge gaping wardrobe holes because
2.I bought a lot last year, and now have a reasonable idea of what got worn and what didn't and
3.because of that I have a clear direction for how I want to dress this Spring/Summer.

This is also the first time I have consciously identified styles, silhouettes and colours as a guide for my shopping and I have already bought most of what is on my list. I am keen to see how it turns out.

viva

Veteran

I am still at the point of entering a pre-YLF season -- that is, I I have been with YLF for less than a year so I feel like my fall wardrobe needs overhauling. I've done a fair amount of fall purchasing over the last two months because (1) I like to purchase early, and (2) I am not a fan of summer fashion -- also, I have to do a lot of online shopping and I find that I am successful only about 30% of the time, so I have to order a lot to find anything that really works.

My hope is that I will soon settle into a pattern of general refresh at the start of the season and then just get a few pieces that speak to me within the season. This has been a pretty big year of buying, which I attribute to lots of YLF learning. I hope that is true, and that the number of purchases will settle down a bit next year. However, I am one of those who will always refresh.

Thistle

Veteran

I WANT to do what Elly does, or follow Mo's suggestion. I just lack the focus.

I usually can't figure out what I want/need until the season is upon me. And usually a bit into the season so I have had a chance to actually wear what I have and figure out what I need. I know, I know, but there is the truth.

So, I tend to want to update later in the season. I want to get better about this, but have yet to formulate a strategy that works for me.

Also, fall/winter is my dominate season. Spring is usually 4 weeks or less. Summer comes in mid June and is usually gone by early September. Because of how long winter is for me, I usually do a winter refresh while everyone else is buying for my all but non-existent spring.

Gigi

Veteran

I'm not able to complete all my shopping at once because I have a terrible time finding stuff that fits or is the right fabrication (e.g., not too lightweight for the cooler months). So I'm always checking store websites throughout the season to see if anything has come in that looks promising. I also don't have a lot of money and can't afford to pay full price at some stores, so I stalk. It's exhausting, but at least I find something that works! And I've discovered that it's kind of nice to still have holes in my closet, because then there is room for improvement next year.

DonnaF

Veteran

Since I need to buy mostly Petites, if I were to buy only a couple of times a year, I think I would find myself settling instead of waiting patiently to see if what I really want/like comes out since Petite sizes don't have quite the variety of Regular sizes. I also prefer to pay a discounted price which generally coincides more closely to the time I will actually wear an item. Finally, I've started to shop mostly at Nordstrom, so I plan my shopping around NAS and their double and triple point days and when items on my Wish List go on sale.

bj1111

Veteran

Binge and purge.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOL, BJ --- me, too.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I do the same thing as Gigi - Sleeves are pretty elusive for me, as well as a nice fabrication.

Anonymous

I need a new shopping strategy; my old one isn't working for me anymore. I'm keeping an eye on this thread!

Sal

Veteran

I am with Claire!! I am going through my S/S wardrobe now and feeling a sense of disappointment.

I normally will buy a couple of things at the start of the season, and then update as I find others...but I have problems that my wardrobe is a bit haphazard now.

Either strategy can work, I think it depends on how organised you like to be, whether you shop online, your budget, your time constraints, and how versatile you need your pieces to be.

Cory

I usually do something close to that post from Into Mind - I do the bulk of my seasonal shopping at the start of Fall and Spring, then update a couple of months in when things start to go on sale/I've been wearing my wardrobe for the current season for a few weeks and have a better idea of where there are holes.

I feel like this strategy works well for the most part, but I still find that I end up buying things I don't end up wearing. I'm trying to get better about this - really consider how something will fit in with my existing wardrobe before purchasing it.

Laurinda

Veteran

I am in a winnowing phase with my wardrobe (I am a slow but steady winnower). I've been following an Ur-Mo strategy "cobbl[ing] stuff together a bit at a time, spreading the cost out month by month" for the past three years, sending a greater number of items out than come in. At this point I use a monthly budget to fill holes as they come up, try out new trends, and pick up random treats. I observe the current season but am mostly sales-driven. At the start of a season I put a few things in on-line shopping carts, then wait for sales. Since I am covered for all my basics there are no pressing needs therefore anything that sells out before it goes on sale was not destined for me.

This summer I had a wonderful realization of reaching Angie's Style Zen: I had everything I needed to cover all situations for a two-week trip abroad, and it all fit into a carry-on sized suitcase.