5 Savvy Shopping Strategies

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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5 Savvy Shopping Strategies

— by Angie

on April 3, 2009

Shopping is overwhelming at the best of times, but these five strategies can help you to make excellent wardrobe choices:

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.

Shopping Strategy

28 comments · Add a comment

Tanya

Thank you for this useful info Angie! I was happy to see that I am already doing pretty much everything you mention. I am particularly fond of the last one, I almost never buy anything unless it’s some version of the sale+coupon combo.

The only thing I am not good about is investing in handbags I have oodles of fun, trendy, inexpensive bags. The ‘nice’ bags that I like ( such as those by Kooba) are so out of my price range that I would have to spend my whole yearly clothing budget on two bags, and that’s very unrealistic ( and not to mention boring). Even on sale they are still way out of my budget. But, once I get a real job, I plan to start working on this too, very slowly though.

April 3, 2009 at 7:30 am

Sarah

Fabulous reminders, Angie. I have saved a lot of money and time by applying these “rules” to my shopping. I love a good bargain and many times I would purchase something because it was a good deal, and then I’d never wear it! I took bags of clothing to a resale shop recently and quite a few things still had tags on them. One thing I tell myself is even if an item is free, it’s not a good deal if it isn’t perfect for me.
Thanks!!

April 3, 2009 at 7:35 am

jwomack

I totally agree with these guidelines. My big downfall was always the great deal that just wasn’t quite fabulous, but I bought it anyways because the price was so good. I am proud that I am improving on this shopping hazard. I recently tried on a few clearance items (unbelievably cheap prices) but didn’t buy because I realized the fit wasn’t quite right and I would probably never actually wear it once I got it home.

April 3, 2009 at 7:39 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Tanya, YOU are the queen of applying this shopping strategy. You could have written this post in your sleep! My reminder about the handbags is not necessarily to invest in designer pieces. It’s more a point about remembering that handbags are part of the style equation. And you have that completely sorted.

Well done Sarah and jwomack. You are not the only ones seduced by cheap items that don’t work. It’s the number one item that I pass on when I clean out closets. People’s wardrobes are full of bargain pieces that are ill fitting, unflattering and orphaned. A true waste of time, money and space.

April 3, 2009 at 7:53 am

Debbie

thanks for this post Angie!

April 3, 2009 at 7:58 am

Violet

Thanks for the great tips! I always spend a lot of time at home trying on my clothes. I’ve gone shopping a few times this week, so I’ve got several items to sort through this weekend. I like being able to see how my new purchases work with other items in my wardrobe.

I have a tendency to be swayed by low prices, so that’s something I am trying to change. I like getting a good deal, but I am definitely trying to be more discerning.

Other basic items I spend money on are pants and skirts. Being petite, there are a couple of brands that fit me well so I will buy those even if they are regular price.

April 3, 2009 at 8:05 am

Aurora

Thank you for the reminders, sometimes we all get sucked in to price or size issues. I always have good shoes, bags and glasses, clothes you can purchase anywhere. It doesn’t matter where you buy your clothes it is how you wear them. With your help we are all very grateful for the tips.

April 3, 2009 at 8:09 am

Shana

Angie, wonderful advice as usual. I have to be particularly careful with number three since as a bargain hunter, I am easily swayed by a good deal! But like you said, this has resulted in a closet overflowing with orphans. I am trying to be much more conscious when I see a good deal to to make sure the item is first and foremost a good fit and then I try to think of at least 3 outfit combinations I can work the piece into before I invest.

I do have one comment about the trying on at home suggestion – I totally agree with the idea in general and I think it’s good to be able to try on an item at home with your pieces and see if you can put outfits together etc. I remember being in Asia on business and not even being allowed to try the item on in the store before purchase! But I have to admit – I am a little disturbed by the idea that people take these clothes home, wear them HOURS (e.g. to see if jeans stretch) and then return them to the store which turns around and sells it to some unsuspecting person as “new”.

April 3, 2009 at 8:22 am

KristenKP

I’ve had to do a lot of shopping over the last few months while I’ve been losing weight, and this is all excellent advice! I am a stickler about keeping the tags on the items — and the receipt on my dresser — until I have actually worn it in an outfit outside. Because I am changing sizes so fast, I have actually had to return several pieces because they were too big by the time I was ready to wear them. In fact, I may have to do that for several of the dresses I picked up recently.

I’m hoping to get them in a smaller size for even cheaper when I return them!

April 3, 2009 at 8:24 am

LisaP

I totally agree that it is unwise to purchase an item primarily because of its low price; we should not settle for improper fit, low quality, etc. That said, though, I want to point-out that a super-low price on something can serve the useful purpose of encouraging us to try a style or color we might not have thought to try. (In such a case, Angie’s great suggestion of making the final decision at home is imperative.) There have been times that I’ve given a new style a chance because the cost-risk was so low–and it happened to work out for me.

April 3, 2009 at 8:28 am

Cricket

My biggest problem allowing salespeople to talk me into items I am unsure of, and then I get home and decide against the item. I hate returning. For some reason, I am embarrassed to go back and say “I changed my mind.”

April 3, 2009 at 8:34 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Aurora, you hit the nail on the head: “style is in the wearer”.

Shana! You and I are on the same wavelength. (Thanks for the chuckle this morning). Many shops in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore do NOT allow the trying on of clothes prior to purchase – and you can’t return them either. It’s absurd and makes sense at the same time. I try not think about the fact that clothes and shoes have been tried on by someone else before. Washing clothes before you wear them helps, but then you can’t return. A double edged sword. Anyway, if you have never shopped abroad, believe me when I say that we are VERY lucky with the return policies in America. Retail in the US is unique in this respect. And if we can get ourselves around the hygiene factor, savvy shopping decisions are very achievable.

I hear you, Cricket. I really had to get used to the fact that returning items in the US is fine. It’s actually absolutely necessary when you order online. Now I don’t flinch at returning anything. It’s frightening how quickly I changed my way of thinking.

April 3, 2009 at 8:49 am

san

I hope those of you who are shy to make returns will look at the way stores do their marketing in a way to encourage us to take items home and try them out. I’m a Nordstrom shopper for the most part because of their great return policy. They encourage people to take things home to see if it works for them. I do try very much to be kind to the merchandise and future purchaser by not over doing it with the wearing around the house. I also have received an item or two through internet shopping that I think should not have been resent. I remember Tanya receiving a pair of jeans that had actually been hemmed several inches. I would hope that the stores would have a staff to do quality control.
Thanks Angie for the valuable shopping advice. I am starting to get an itching for some spring shopping. (Hope it warms up in western WA soon)

April 3, 2009 at 9:26 am

Vani (niva)

I learnt the hard way, the consequences of buying clothes because they happened to be a great bargain. Sometimes, I try shirts, blouses etc with several different outfits several times and that shirt still will not look as good as it did at that moment in the store before I bought it. Instead, I could buy one quality garment that will make me feel good every single time I put it on. Darn Marshalls and TJMaxx!

April 3, 2009 at 9:43 am

CaramelBlondie

Excellent post Angie!
I have always “invested” wisely in handbags (my lifetime fetish), shoes, and spectacles. A proper investment may be costly in the begining, but the return profit is well worth the initial investment.
Areas where I want to improve:
-investing in quality bras that compliment me no matter what the style of the top is that I am wearing.
-not buying pieces because they are practically free
-returning an item once I get home and truly realize I cannot comfortably wear this piece because of size/shape/fit/etc

Also, like Tanya I almost NEVER buy things frull price!

April 3, 2009 at 10:19 am

Budget Babe

(website)

The perfect post!

Question: At what age would you suggest a woman begin to invest in things like handbags? Shoes are always important, I think, for comfort and style, but what about bags?

April 3, 2009 at 10:30 am

Joy

This post is a great shopping guide. Good brands at low prices have been my downfall in the past, but I’m getting better by focusing on what I need for my wardrobe. For example this week I went to DSW with coupons to try to find pewter ballet shoes. I got distracted by the sale shoes and almost bought some shoes I don’t need that were 70% off + coupons. I’m glad I came to my senses and got very comfy Dr. Scholls pewter flats that were full price but what I really needed.
I still need to work on getting better purses. I’ve tended to use summer bags for a season, then get rid of them.

April 3, 2009 at 11:00 am

Sarah

Thanks for the reminders, Angie. The first one is something I’ve learned the hard way, especially with shoes. With clothes in general though I’m learning not to cut off the tags and wash too soon. Number two is fairly easy for me for two reasons: 1) I’m small, and 2) I had no idea what size I really was when I came to YLF wearing baggy clothes in sizes 4-8. I had to focus on trying things on and looking for proper fit. Even now I grab several sizes and go to the dressing rooms. Three is hard for me, being on a low budget, but I’m learning to shop with a list instead of my old method of shopping: “Oooh that’s cute, and it’s under $20!” Number 4 isn’t really something I do. The expensive bras do not fit me as well as the cheaper ones do, I buy the cheapest shoes my feet will allow, handbags are throw-away fashion in my closet, I’ve stopped wearing watches, and I wear contacts. Number 5 is one I don’t really do much either, because I hate returning things when I have to pay for shipping. The only things I will buy online are things I’ve already tried on or XS/0s from Express. Their sizing seems fairly consistent for me. I do get lots of coupons and online shopping codes through e-mail though; I just rarely use them.

April 3, 2009 at 1:03 pm

Joelle

No. 3 is my worst fault. I am a bargain shopper and have compromised on color, fit, or style because I found something similar to what I was looking for that was on sale. Then I end up not wearing it much because it was not exactly what I wanted and it ends up in the donation bag. It’s a great way to fill your closet up really fast with junk.

Another shopping pitfall Angie did not include in her list is buying clothes for the body you want rather than the body you have. When I was at my heaviest I did this a lot. I’m slowly getting to the point where I can actually wear some of those clothes, so they won’t go entirely to waste, but when you always buy for the future and never for the present you walk around looking drab and boring wearing the same few worn out things over and over again.

April 3, 2009 at 8:57 pm

Imogen

(website)

Some other tips I’d include to make shopping easier would be:

Know the colours that suit you, you can easily scan a department store for the colors that pop on you, and that stops you even looking at the 3000 other garments. Less choice makes it easier.

Know the shapes that suit you, then you won’t be tempted by that designer bargain that doesn’t suit your body shape or proportions.

Understand the principles of line and design so that when you look at the detail on a garment, such as where the pockets are placed, you can think, but will it look good on me, and only try on what has a chance of looking great.

April 4, 2009 at 4:41 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Joelle, that’s an interesting point. We ALWAYS dress for the body we have now. I don’t want to discourage anyone from their weight goals, but our goal is to above all dress our bodies the best that we can at the present moment. So that means purchasing the size that fits.

Indispensible dressing tips from Imogen. Her suggestions are without question where good style starts: knowing what works for you and what doesn’t. My tips come AFTER you have a good handle on that side of things.

Well done, Joy!

April 4, 2009 at 9:24 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Budget Babe, a great question. There is investing, and there is investing. Purchasing a great handbag does not necessarily mean buying designer brands that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. You can get a perfectly fabulous handbag for $80 that’s stylish at any age. If that’s the most that you can ever afford – that will work! Once you reach your early 30’s, start thinking about your bag and shoe purchases more carefully.

April 4, 2009 at 9:30 am

Sarah

Angie, thanks for answering Budget Babes question. Now I don’t feel too bad about my cheapo bags, since I’m only 23. In a few years, I will consider investing in nicer bags, but for now I’ll have fun with the one or two season bags.

April 5, 2009 at 5:40 am

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[…] tempting as these deals may be, remember that you shouldn’t be swayed by low prices. Don’t compromise your standards. And if your budget doesn’t permit sale shopping right […]

April 7, 2009 at 8:19 am

Wanda

This is great advice indeed. I’ve just done a spring closet cull, and most of the items in the recycle bag were bought on sale, despite the ill fit. My tailor is fine but can’t do the impossible, and so the tailoring dollars go out the door too!

April 7, 2009 at 4:59 pm

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June 26, 2010 at 2:46 pm

moira

Veteran

I don’t agree with the eye wear part. Since I began using low cost glasses websites, I can purchase them in any color.
I was never able to do that when they are $300 each.

February 8, 2013 at 10:27 am

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