Occasionally I’ll try on an item of clothing in stores and love it. I purchase it immediately and can’t wait to try it on again at home. But when I do so, all of sudden I don’t love it quite as much. Even when the item works with other things in my wardrobe. Why is that? Why are we more critical when we look in the mirror at home?

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?

Here are this week’s bargains:

• Win a cool Big Buddha handbag over at The Budget Babe. Big Buddha makes eco- and animal-friendly bags inspired by all the latest designer looks and trends. This particular handbag style was inspired by a certain very much coveted Valentino handbag. Quite yummy. The deadline is 28 October.
• Get yourself to Banana Republic if you’re after zippered skinnies. They’re on sale for $59.99 and fit well. Read about how to wear them in this post.
• The Olian Maternity Knot Front Top gets my vote as cutest maternity top I’ve seen all season and its on sale for 40% off.
• This coming week is your last chance to win a $500 TJ Maxx shopping spree at The Budget Fashionista.

Happy shopping!

I’m a huge fan of micro fishnets, but I’m also into other types of patterns on black textured hose. Lace, checks, swirls, chevrons, polka dots, florals, stripes and diamond designs are among my favourites at the moment. Textured hose is versatile because you can dress it both up and down.

I know what you’re thinking – hose is dressy. The same way you might think that dresses are generally dressy. But these perceptions are not entirely true because dresses worn with hose can look relaxed if you add casual elements into the mix. The picture below shows gals in dressy ensembles matched with black textured hose and heeled pumps. The hose smartens up the outfits for sure. But wear the hose with a pair of flat, casual boots and a casual dress or skirt and you’ve dressed down the look.

For example, try one of my favorite looks for Autumn: a no-nonsense day dress with Frye boots and sheer black checked hose. This pairing is unexpected and more visually interesting than falling back on plain old black opaques.

Fashion unites us, but style sets us apart. It’s HOW you wear the item that makes the difference. Anyone can purchase black textured hose and wear it with pumps and a dressy frock, because that’s the combination that makes traditional sense. But wearing fashion items in unconventional ways can often be a lot more fun. This also helps you get the most out of a small wardrobe, which is a real cost saver. An all-round win.

Wearing black boots with black textured hose is flop proof because it gives you a long leg line. Mismatching the colour of the hose and the boots can be done, but you might find it harder to achieve the long lean line.

I promised to devote a separate post to each of the 10 casual Autumn formulas I wrote about earlier about this month. With formula #1 down, it’s on to formula #2:

Skinny jeans + long sleeved T + scarf + tall boots

Tucking jeans or pants into tall boots is extremely practical for winter weather. Really, there is no substitute for this footwear formula if you’re out braving the elements and commuting on foot. Living in rainy Seattle, I tuck jeans into boots frequently and it happens to be one of my very favourite looks of all time. I feel stylish, sleek, comfortable and pulled together for the rain, ice and snow. And above all my feet are warm and dry.

Here are the components of this formula in more detail:

• Jeans: You’ll need slim cut, casual pants or jeans that are super tapered on the lower leg to make tucking an easy operation. If jeans are not your thing, you’ll achieve the same look with Ponte de Roma knit pants, micro-check pants, or denim leggings. Choose any wash of jeans and don’t forget that black-black and grey jeans are good options too. Because extra-skinny jeans are ideal for this look, you might like to reserve certain pants and jeans solely for the purpose of tucking into boots.
• Long sleeved T: A good quality, solid layering T is a super backdrop for a patterned scarf. But you don’t need to stick to basic T styling either. Think banded tunic styles with dolman sleeves, empire cuts and wrap styles as more interesting alternatives. Button down shirts and cru, turtle and V-neck knitwear will also work. You can also switch the solid and pattern mix around by wearing a patterned top and solid scarf. Honestly, any type of top with a scarf that works is good. As an extra Autumn topper, think trench coat, cropped coat, leather, pleather, corduroy, plaid, military jacket, or one of the new look longer length cardigans.
• Scarf: Versatile pashmina wrap-style scarves are my top pick because they look great both indoors and outdoors. Silky scarves are just as fab, but not quite as casual. I’m not particularly fond of neckerchiefs because they cut your long lean line, but they can work if you have a long neck. Scarves are best when tied vertically (like this, this and this).
• Tall boots: Choose knee-high and mid-calf boots that are either flat, wedged or low heeled. The world is your oyster when it comes to the aesthetic of the boots. From riding boots and slouch styles, to biker boots, cowboy looks, fleece lined snow boots and anything else that tickles your fancy. Wellington boots and 20 eyelet Doc Martens are superb too.
• Handbag: A flat tote is the obvious choice, but if you need both hands free to attend to little ones, a cross body bag is the solution.
• Accessories: Attend to your specs first and your watch second, because they’re the most important accessories on your body. There’s no need to wear a necklace because this look is all about the statement scarf, but earrings add a nice touch. If you like hats, then newsboy caps, berets, slouchy beanies, riding caps and felt cloches are all super choices.

And now some examples. The first is a fun and bright interpretation, while the second is edgy and urban. No modern-classic interpretations today! Remember that this is a formula, so you can substitute the items in the visuals for those that that are more to your taste. Note that you can click on the pictures to find details about individual items in Polyvore.

Fun & Bright:

Edgy & Urban:

Forum member Tanya recently challenged herself to wear a different casual Autumn formula each day, covering eight of the formulas in one week. She looks KILLER in every outfit and I can’t possibly pick a favourite. Tanya’s chic, casual, everyday style is a true inspiration for us all so be sure to take a look.

Mums on the go and gals on the go, I’d love to hear your suggestions on how to improve this formula. Also, if you post your interpretation of this formula on your own blog, link to my post and we will list you below when we see the trackback.