https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:35:48 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1038348 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:13:50 +0000 Anonymous 1038348@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, how I wish I could shop at B&amp;M stores! The B&amp;M petite departments are 1 of 3 things: non-existent, pitifully small, or full of frumpy &amp; shapeless&nbsp;"old woman tourist from Florida" outfits.&nbsp;Finding shoes is impossible, too. No wide (D) width shoes at most stores. On the plus side, some of the local B&amp;M stores do have rather decent petite selections online, making returns easier. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1038337 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:03:38 +0000 Anonymous 1038337@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I totally get what you're saying, unfrumped.</p> <p>Once I realized that online shopping had its own time-consuming challenges, I stopped doing it as much. Now, I tend to reserve online ordering for stalking duplicates of favorite items or for ordering brands whose fit I understand very well. The downside, of course, is potentially missing out. Early on, online shopping introduced me to brands I would've missed in person.</p> <p>Yesterday, I was reminded why brick-and-mortar shopping must be part of my wardrobe strategy. I found an awesome pair of shooties at a local shoe boutique&nbsp;that fit perfectly and look divine. After I bought them (kind of a whim, but I rarely pass up a perfect shoe), I looked for them online. Well ... I guarantee that if I'd looked there first, I would've passed them by. In the picture, they were nothing special at all. Even frumpy looking. But in person, the cool detailing was apparent.</p> <p>Sometimes having too many choices (like we have online) can make the shopping experience LESS satisfying. It's a tough balance for sure.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1038179 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 03:44:17 +0000 Beth Ann 1038179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am ordering online some these days, when the policies are good and the prices reasonable.&nbsp; Nordies, Amazon and Zappos have worked for me.&nbsp; Still, I'm mostly a B&amp;M shopper.&nbsp; I almost always try on two sizes of everything, and fabrication and construction are subject to scrutiny before I hand over the money.&nbsp; I'm limited on time, but I live within 25 minutes of 2 large outlet malls, the closest a mere 5 miles a way.&nbsp; The budget stores, like Kohls, Old Navy, T.J. Maxx, DSW, etc., are even closer.&nbsp; I'm trying to stop at a single store, say, on my way to Walmart, or on my trip home from work.&nbsp; This fits in my lifestyle than trying to shop a whole afternoon.&nbsp; Nordies?&nbsp; An hour away.&nbsp; Probably a good thing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1038026 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:17:38 +0000 Caro in Oz 1038026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do both because not everything is available nearby. If I had my choice it would always be B &amp; M. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037987 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 22:38:10 +0000 unfrumped 1037987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Noting measurements does help and sometimes is very surprising--may not have suspected from the photo. Or the opposite--whoeve measure may have been lacking some skills. </p> <p>I love the sites that have that few second movie clip of the model.<br />Shopbop and so on. From the 3-D and motion, I can tell right away whether it's too short, going to stick out funny, can tell more about the fabric. Or at least&nbsp; much&nbsp; more so. The still photos may not be as bad as the stores that clip the tops&nbsp;and waistbands in back, but still you don't get the full effect.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037911 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:41:15 +0000 Glory 1037911@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I find the online ordering way too exhausting and for us in Canada it can be pretty pricey. I usually do it when I have tried the B&amp;M and they don't have the right size.<br />But it doesn't stop me from trolling and pining. I pine and pine, but am trying hard to stay true to my rule of no cross border shopping. I think if I knew an item would work I would be less strict but my return rate is around 90%.<br />I want to reduce that because that is also loads of work and makes me feel bad because I am so indecisive. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037904 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:33:42 +0000 Sarah A 1037904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I set a shopping goal for the year to only shop online where there was free shipping and free returns. I have mostly met it and while it is time consuming to research, order and return we just dont have many local options for new clothes (strangely, thrift shops abound!) and driving an hour or more each way to shop just isnt going to work for me. I have had terrible luck on ebay withthe items not being as expected so I am steering clear of there. All the things ordered never work out so I dont worry about potential redundancies anymore... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037896 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:19:34 +0000 annagybe 1037896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's why I'm team store. Too much work. I already work enough, have limited free time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037890 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:10:36 +0000 Kristin L 1037890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's a big challenge. I'm still kicking myself for not splurging on a brown and hot pink clutch I saw on sale several months ago. I usually have to remind myself that it just wasn't meant to be. And I also scour ebay, liketwice or thredup for things.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037860 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 19:19:38 +0000 texstyle 1037860@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree it is a challenge - Just recently I felt "lucky" that I snagged the pair of Munro flats in animal print in the W size I wanted. Then immediately second guessed myself and wanted to order the M version but within the two hours it took to consider this, the M's were gone. I lucked out on that one and the W's were great, but it often (usually)&nbsp;doesn't work out that way. </p> <p>I've ordered about 6 or more pair of various patterned or flocked&nbsp;jeans to try and out of all of them I've kept 0. I guess this trend wasn't in the cards for me. I didn't even add up the cost of returns for those. </p> <p>I'm trying to get more satisfied with what's in my closet at this point because really I do get tired of the whole order/return process. Says the woman with 3 TBR (to be returned) items currently in her office. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037852 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 19:09:15 +0000 Anonymous 1037852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm doing more and more research on line and order only if it can be returned locally. I think my strategy is going to change because the new stuff comes out way before I have even thought about that season. I want to develop a good list of wardrobe holes and a list of what I have plenty of to avoid duplicating and identify my needs to look for in the new season. Too often I forget what I have, especially if it was purchased late in a season.<br /> The problem is that I'll want to update in style and may not know yet what that style will be or how to wear it. Angie's posts of trends and must haves are tremendously valuable in figuring this out.<br /> Because next spring and summer will be dress heavy, I bought a couple of extra summer dresses now to use then. Because of these lists, I've been avoiding getting any more round-toed shoes, no matter how comfortable or perfect otherwise.<br /> Bottom line. I'm still trying to figure it out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037839 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:42:30 +0000 Susie 1037839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I currently have 4 pairs of navy booties at home awaiting decisions! This is after already ordering and returning 2 other pairs. Two are definitely going back (to Amazon, so free shipping and returns.) And those are 2 of the same. After I bought one, there was a good discount so I ordered again.&nbsp;</p> <p>I ordered the navy leather from Zara based on Angie's recommendation. Then while shopping at Nordstrom last weekend, I bought a pair of navy suede since I hadn't yet received the Zara ones and wasn't sure that they would work for me (which they did, I really like them.) So now I have to decide if I am keeping 2 pairs of navy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037837 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:34:07 +0000 rachylou 1037837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Eh... I just suffer. I got this Stella tank (copycatting annagybe in pink) from Net-A-Porter in small. It was too small. So I returned it. Then went and got a large from Zappos, because Net-A-Porter said they only had smalls. Well, then the large was too large, but my credit came through on Net-A-Porter and lo and behold, they had mediums. Soooo, I ordered the medium, returned the large, and got finally this week my Chinese Laundry shiny black D'Orsay flats with the Zappos credit. This whole process for ONE item has taken MONTHS.</p> <p>At this point, the shoes are still in the unopened box because I'm EXHAUSTED.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037832 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:27:10 +0000 Mo 1037832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's a balance for me. &nbsp;I do almost all shopping online and it costs after a while with postage and returns. &nbsp;And there are the items that just don't work out, or worse, you can't decide, return it, and then wish you hadn't. &nbsp;Done that more than once.&nbsp;<br />I have also missed out on an item to have it come back around a year or more later at half price (my blush moto). &nbsp;It's kind of a crap shoot. &nbsp;I gamble on what I think will work out -&nbsp;most recently a mixed media button front a YLFer kindly bought for me that was sold out online. It may or may not fit well. &nbsp;<br />I admit to having several items in my closet that I would not have purchased had I been in person in store to try it on for fit or to feel the fabric. &nbsp;That is the downside to the online gamble for me. &nbsp;Calculated risk, I guess. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037830 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:23:17 +0000 Elly 1037830@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have this issue all the time. I will search forever for the right thing online, finally see it after I've almost given up, then have it sell out while I am dealing with real life or budget or whatever. It is the pits. I often have to order lots of options and try on, just like I would if I was comparison shopping for something specific all over town. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037826 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:19:45 +0000 Suz 1037826@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the clearer we become on our style goals and the more defined our wardrobe holes are, the easier this becomes. We recognize what we need to make great outfits, and usually buy it at full price early in the season without waffling. Either that, or we stumble upon it fortuitously and snap it up immediately. The second happens more often for those items that are hard to find and that we may have been seeking for some time. Like Angie's coat last year.&nbsp;</p> <p>I am not yet at that stage of nirvana for many closet items, but I am getting closer in some key areas.&nbsp;</p> <p>I do think a certain amount of research at&nbsp;bricks and mortar stores is key. You need to try on different brands, see their fits and how they work for your body, and then take that information back home with you for the online order. You need to do what Denise said in another thread: Compare your size and shape to the model's and imagine how the item will look on your body, with its size and shape. Read the descriptions very carefully -- does it say fluid or loose fit, or does it say semi-tailored, or what? Maybe you will need to size up or down. And so on.&nbsp;</p> <p>I do consider a lot of my online shopping to be "research." I can't afford to do a whole lot of that, what with shipping and duties and taxes, etc. But if I am lucky enough to be able to order from a store that accepts returns here, I often order in a couple of sizes right up front, in the full knowledge that some of those items will by necessity be returns, and maybe all of them will.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-resilience#post-1037816 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:11:58 +0000 unfrumped 1037816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Do you have an on-line purchasing strategy that includes “research” ?</p> <p>I’ve ordered several items from a couple of establishments and will see how it goes; some, like a sweater here or there, could be too similar to each other, but I can’t tell how each one will fit, or if will be itchy, or what. When they arrive, it might be a bad thing if they and the other items are all are “10’s,” because probably there would be some redundancy. So I’m counting on the combination of my complete inability to pick things out well on-line, plus the fact that most don’t fit, while at the same time hoping some will. Or that when you see things side by side, it’s easier to choose the best (if any).</p> <p>I started trying this because things have been selling out in my size while I’m still noodling. Of course, selling out &nbsp;has budget benefits. I looked over the AT tops last week (on their always-going-on “sale price”) and ordered an AT collared merino sweater in a great color ; &nbsp;then could not believe it was too small (for fluid fit!) , so returned it to store, &nbsp;then went to re-order in the next size and poof! Not available. So much for the energy, the plan of how it would fit in. That used up my time for that. Foiled, like Sveta and her coat! Although, the other size may not even have worked. Maybe I could find it returned to a store, as I did mine!</p> <p>So, that’s shopping. Not exactly an issue for world peace. But, it’s funny because I used to be more random, so just came across things randomly, fine. Then as I became more focused, choosing this style, in this color, in this fit, there’s the chance of success vs. the chance of, how dare they not have that! The point is, it seems as though a lot of times there’s not really the one “perfect” item that you can just decide on, but maybe a range of possibles. &nbsp;So I’m trying more possibles.</p> <p>How do you balance the aha! just-the-ticket item with the fact that it may evaporate? Flexible fashion fickleness? The grass will be greener tomorrow?</p>