YouLookFab Forum » Topic: How I decide to keep or return

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: How I decide to keep or return https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:33:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Gigi on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619962 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 05:00:10 +0000 Gigi 1619962@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for the caveats, Angie. When I use these questions, I always use them as a group, so I don't let just a single question dictate my action. But if almost all of the questions are answered in a way that indicates that I am not all that happy with the item, then it helps me make a decision if I'm on the fence. I don't have a lot of extra wardrobe space, so I need to be brutal sometimes! Style Fan on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619868 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 01:07:56 +0000 Style Fan 1619868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great questions.  Thanks for sharing. LaPed on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619864 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 01:03:17 +0000 LaPed 1619864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, rabbit, I've done just what you did with your leather jacket with several coats and toppers! Coats/jackets are one of the few items I'll pay an "investment" price for, and once I have them in my hands I almost always have a cold-feet period where I'm just not sure if I should keep or return. Angie on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619849 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:42:24 +0000 Angie 1619849@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great questions, Gigi. In the same breath though, I'd like to caution you because you won't know the accurate answers to some of these questions right away - like the very first question. You have to put an item through its stylish paces to assess your true happiness factor.  And also, buying something you can only wear a little later because of the weather is a not a reason to pass on the item now.  This is the BEST question to ponder: Am I getting this just because it's on sale? On the whole, these are good things to think about. Nice to see you share them with us. Gigi on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619847 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:35:18 +0000 Gigi 1619847@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm glad you're finding the list helpful! Most of them I have in my head, but during my most recent K/R session, I was having such a hard time that I thought I should go check the list. Many of the questions I had forgotten, and those turned out to really shed light on my situation.  Rabbit, I try things on multiple times too. I liked your story about the leather jacket. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who can be like that! :) Barbara Diane, saving for more expensive items is something that kind of came later in the game for me, after I had gotten a basic wardrobe together. At first, there's such a focus on putting together core elements of a style that a person can't even really consider what to save money for. The same goes for the last question, about whether the item really adds something new to my wardrobe. That question works best after you have a basic wardrobe put together. Joy, you are so right about it being important to have items to wear with the new item. I'm reminded of unfrumped's post recently where she talked about trying an item on with jeans to see how it looks, as kind of a way to assess the bare bones of a garment's appearance. If all I can pair with an item is jeans, is the item so amazing that I want to keep it anyway, or does it need to go back because I can't pair it with anything else? Penny, that's an interesting take on why the garment hasn't been taken off yet. Generally, you're right, that if I haven't taken it off yet because I'm still trying to decide, it's probably going to end up going back. But I find that when I am trying on a new style of clothes (for instance, recently I started adding some seventies-type clothes to my closet), I am not acclimated enough to the new style to make a quick decision. I've bought a handful of items in this new style, and each time, it took me a while to decide. But I'm wearing the "keeps" a lot, so I think I made the right decisions. :) Barbara Diane on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619751 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:30:26 +0000 Barbara Diane 1619751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I use several of those. Because several of them are habits now, I am working on thinking about whether I would rather save for something better/more expensive. This has helped me to occasionally buy some "upgraded" items. rabbit on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619678 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:30:23 +0000 rabbit 1619678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great questions!   Also to Penny's question:    have I not taken it off yet because I'm still trying to decide about it, or have I not taken it off yet because I love it so much that I want to keep it on?  It takes me a long time to decide about things that are pricer, even if I love them - if I can return them to the store they go home with me and get tried on exhaustively, with everything I'm thinking of pairing them with.  With shoes I try them with different socks, different insoles, and different times of day. Sometimes it takes until the third try on that I notice something uncomfortable about a shoe.   I also keep scanning for the same kind of item online for a week or so to double-check that it is the best option at the best price.   Confession - with my leather jacket, I wore it out and about with the inside tags on at least 10 times before I took them off.   I was planning to keep it, but I couldn't make myself cut the tags, until my DH was finally like, stop being ridiculous, it's great, keep it.   Sara L. on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619572 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:25:06 +0000 Sara L. 1619572@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great set of questions!  I need to bookmark this for future use. Anonymous on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619571 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:20:08 +0000 Anonymous 1619571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I need to copy this list to Notes on my phone to have handy when shopping. Thank you for putting this list together. I still also ask myself what pieces I have that I would wear with the item to make outfits, especially if it is a separate. Anonymous on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619564 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:08:15 +0000 Anonymous 1619564@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very sensible. Thanks for sharing! Windchime on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619561 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:57:44 +0000 Windchime 1619561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I remember the discussion which generated these questions, Gigi. You have a great list here. Now that my wardrobe is about the size it needs to be, I can ask myself if a new item is worth getting rid of an older one. I find I'm adding at a slower pace these days. Alassë on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619555 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:44:40 +0000 Alassë 1619555@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, excellent questions. Thanks for listing them to share. Penny on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619548 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:42:59 +0000 Penny 1619548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love these questions! Sometimes if I'm trying on something at home, I have to ask: have I not taken it off yet because I'm still trying to decide about it, or have I not taken it off yet because I love it so much that I want to keep it on? If it's the former, probably need to send it back . . . unfrumped on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619543 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:20:08 +0000 unfrumped 1619543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Really good list for me to review right now while editing, because it's easy to add stuff for the wrong reasons. Summer on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619526 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:58:51 +0000 Summer 1619526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a sensible and comprehensive list, Gigi.  I doubt if I could remember all those points, but I do use some of them.  One that I am definitely going to borrow from you is the last:  "Does this item further my style, or is it more of the same stuff I have in my wardrobe".  That is going straight on my list. Joyce B on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619522 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:29:29 +0000 Joyce B 1619522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Well done! Those questions are very useful. My favorite are if I return it will I miss it and does the item further your style or is it more of the same. Your post is great! rachylou on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619509 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 07:28:11 +0000 rachylou 1619509@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, those are good! anne on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619507 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 06:59:04 +0000 anne 1619507@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great set of questions Gigi! Gigi on "How I decide to keep or return" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-decide-to-keep-or-return#post-1619504 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 06:41:29 +0000 Gigi 1619504@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The other day, I bought an item and wasn't sure whether I should keep or return it. I remembered that I had culled some questions from YLF that I could ask myself to help me decide in these types of situations, and the answers to the questions really showed me that I needed to return the item (which I did today). I thought I would post the questions in case they help anyone. <ul> <li>Does this item make me feel as happy as items I currently own?</li> <li>Can I close my eyes and picture myself wearing this in my life?</li> <li>Do I want to wear it right away?</li> <li>If I try this on with other wardrobe items, do I want to reach for THIS item, or would I prefer to wear something I already own?</li> <li>Am I getting this just because it's on sale?</li> <li>Would I be willing to let go of an equivalent item that I already own?</li> <li>Do I have to fuss with it to get it to look good?</li> <li>There are only so many items that I can wear during the year. If I wear this, something else won't get worn. Is that OK?</li> <li>If I don't keep this, will I miss it?</li> <li>Would I rather put this money toward a different item?</li> <li>Does this item further my style, or is it more of the same stuff I have in my wardrobe?</li> </ul>