Buying undies when the dress is screaming my name: How to prioritize shopping needs and goals? - YouLookFab Forum

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Buying undies when the dress is screaming my name: How to prioritize shopping needs and goals?

Ket

Veteran

I have some basic needs or small holes in my wardrobe. Yet somehow, I find myself going for the easy wins such as sale gems. For some reason, buying new accessories or undergarments feels like changing a lightbulb that's been burned out for months.

I'm always soooo glad when I buy the necessary things. The pay-off is huge. I know this and yet... somehow it's hard to say yes to the undies when I could say yes to fab new dress or blouse.

Currently I need

new undies
1-2 new bras
new belts -- I've been using the same single belt for 3-4 years now and it's time to expand
new scarves -- see belt issue, I've been using one scarf for a while

Belts and scarves feel a bit challenging. I know what I want when I see it. Also, sizing can be tricky with belts right now, as I need larger sizes. I Thrifting in my town is now very limited. (The local thrift store that used to sell amazing things has downsized and now only sells hiking and skiing apparel.) I haven't dug through Postmark or eBay yet, but considering it.

I didn't search the forum yet; wasn't sure which terms to use. (This subject has probably been discussed extensively but my brain isn't remembering specific people or posts.) So, feel free to point me to other posts where this has been discussed. Hit me with your best thoughts and strategies <3

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from Suntiger

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh! This makes perfect sense, Ket! You are not alone in feeling this way

It's soooo much more fun and exciting to buy items that you can visually SEE in your outfit. And that most of the world can see too.

Wardrobe Basics like bras and knickers are workhorses that need our attention at least once a year, but it can be hard to spend the money. Undies are pricey. Especially bras! I empathize.

My 2 cents:

Try the dress that is screaming your name - (and I want to see the dress!) You need to get that out of your system. Then prioritize the other items. Get one bra, perhaps. A few pairs of knickers. See how you go.

Sal

Veteran

Bras are so expensive. It can be off putting. But it does make getting dressed so much easier. Right now I have one nude no show bra and I need a second and it is limiting my daily choices.

I actually like buying underwear but I do need a refresh and have been putting it off as the retailer I want to go to is on the other side of the city.

I agree with Angie’s thoughts.

Ket

Veteran

It is so much more fun! And way more visual payoff too. So those are good insights.

Bras truly are expensive! I will say I still haven't invested in good, proper bras. My weight has shifted again. Until my health fully heals, I just don't have the desire to spend $50-100+ on a single bra. It just pains me to buy a bra that might only fit for 2-3 months. So I am making do with inexpensive bras for now. Undies though-- I do need some better undies. I'm over cheap undies!! So that might be worth the investment. They have more wiggle room with sizing compared to bras, I feel.

The dress and sort-of dress screaming my name. Tell me what you think! I actually already ordered them. The dress is final sale, but for $10 it feels worth the gamble. The split body sweater top is something I just love. I have a long knit cardigan I've worn to pills and tatters over two years. I have a feeling I will likely love this sweater to bits even if we get an early spring.

https://www.citychiconline.com.....ilter=eyJp

https://www.citychiconline.com.....ter-copper

Ket

Veteran

Sal, hopefully you can buy a second bra soon! Bras do make getting dressed so much better. I am going to try an inexpensive minimizer bra soon that has very high reviews; we'll see how it goes! My size has been shifting enough that I don't dare go for the higher end stuff I usually purchase. However, I also don't want to live in seamless nylon sports bras anymore, either. Do you mind sharing which brand of knickers you purchase?

Runcarla

Veteran

A good bra can make a world of difference with how an outfit looks!

I found some undies I really, really liked over 2 years ago, and stocked up. Like 18 pair. And, 5 new bras that set me back almost $500 this past summer. I’ve got to say the bras are doing their job - and in comfort! 2 black, 2 beige, and for funsies - one red!

Ket

Veteran

Oh, I so agree, Carla! My bust tends to be a bit low and a good bra makes all the difference. I'm going to try an inexpensive minimizer bra soon. It has high reviews, so we'll see. My weight has fluctuated some as I heal. So still not ready to spend the big bucks on bras until my body fluctuates less. Undies though! I am over cheap undies!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Wow the dress looks amazing! Fancy getting that for $10!
My longest lasting undies were bought from a supermarket and I was sad when you could no longer get them. I have found another sort from our easy department store called Farmers. A bit more costly but often on sale. An Aussie brand called “Sloggi”, of all strange names.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Actually maybe it’s a global brand? Made by Triumph. I only thought it was Australian perhaps.

Ket

Veteran

Jenni, I'm hoping the dress fits and flatters! Definitely good deal for $10! Such a bummer when a brand goes out of business or discontinues a product! I'm glad you found another brand. I've never heard of Sloggi, but have heard of Triumph! I'll have to look at them. Thank you

Val

ohh, I have exactly opposit problem, I love buying underwear and have realistically much more then I need. Buying clothes is ok, buying shoes and acessories is very difficult.

Maybe you could set some time apart just to look up what lingerie market has to offer now, gather the inbformation, get inspired, without commitement to buying.

like for exemple, this one is from Curvy Kate

https://www.curvykate.com/prod.....9825126555

this is from Playful Promises

https://us.playfulpromises.com.....sheer-plun

these two are from Maison Close, just for the fun, to see what is in - prices are crazy, sizes also, and most of their stuff is not very flattering when worn under the actual clothes (they are kind of not ment to). But the quality is great and I just like to see the styles

https://en.maison-close.com/pr.....blue-angel

https://en.maison-close.com/co.....rench-kiss

I will not go further about expensive undies for I fear I will be tempted

Val

We get Sloggi in Europe (France and Portugal at least), I like them a lot.

DIM is similar

https://www.dim.com › en-us

The Cat

Veteran

Jenni, Val, and others,
Triumph and Sloggi are international. More info here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik.....ernational

Ket

Veteran

Val, it's so lovely hearing from someone with an opposite problem! I used to love lots of undergarments and bought quite a bit. But went through a lot of health challenges for 4 years, and kind of lost my verve for nice under things. Anyway. I love these suggestions you gave me. So thank you! Off to look at the links

Val

Ket, sorry, I got carried away by a favorite subject and missed your point about health issues and weight fluctuations. I would not be excited to buy a bra that only fits for 2-3 month…
Did you look into unwired bralettes? They may handle a little more size change. I think Curvy Kate has some too

Ket

Veteran

Val, No apologies necessary, truly <3 I am a verbose writer at times and pack a lot into a post ha! So no worries at all That is a good point about unwired having more give for fluctuations. I have been wearing unwired sports bras the last 3-4 years. But I'm ready to upgrade to a bralette or bra as I heal. Curvy Kate has a lot of lovely things! Thank you again for the link. I've already been looking at their site and bookmarking several styles to consider trying.

Sal

Veteran

I can see you in both these pieces - and the prices are good!

I do have quite a few bras just to clarify - but down to one nude, no seams, etc that I can wear under white tops.

I like Jockey underwear (for knickers) but I also have Bendon, Triumph, Naran (my friend designs this) as well as Lululemon and some from KMart (equivalent of Target I think). With bras again a range from Naran, Berlei, Triumph, Bendon, Pleasure State.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

The Cat, thank you about Triumph. Wow, 1886! I had no idea…

Ket

Veteran

Sal thank you! I’m on pins and needles until both pieces arrive. I’m never sure how something will fit until I can try it on and see how it shakes out. It’s so helpful hearing the breakdown of underthing brands that you own! Some of these brand names are new to me. And it’s so cool your friend ensigns undergarments! I will have to peek (no pun intended) at the website!

Side note. We used to have KMart in America. In fact, the store was founded here. (Coincidentally, the founder of KMart’s mansion just went up for sale.) The chain didn’t fare well in the 2000s. The last store in the US mainland just closed last year. They have a few remaining stores in the US Virgin Islands. I used to visit Kmart a lot asa child and teen. I’m a bit sad it’s no longer around. Anyway, fun to see the name and know someone has a KMart to visit in another country!.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am going to answer this from the perspective of second hand shopping, because that is the only extra insight I have to offer. In terms of bras, and I agree they are the most annoying thing to shop but so worth it, you can often find new with tag bras at a considerable discount on ebay. Just in case you find something you really like but don't want to spend the retail price. Belts I would look at the men's dept. for longer lengths. Belts are often overlooked in the thrift store. Scarves similarly - it take patience to look through a basket of ugly scarves but in the end I have found a few treasures.

VioletMyra

Dear Ket, I feel your pain when it comes to belt in my size . . . men's belts fit BUT they aren't what I want. Are you interested in wearing obis? I made two out of silk ties purchased from thrift stores - each obi took two ties. They are perfect for me. If you're interested, search youtube for tutorials; there are many ideas for placing the ties to get different shaped obis. Best wishes to all.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I've had a tad bit more disposable income this year, which makes your problem less of one for me--I can get the undies, but also snatch the occasional sale dress.

One thing that works for me has been realizing I don't need a lot of stuff. I went almost a year without jeans recently, which is unfathomable to a lot of people. But what are jeans other than a type of pants? And I had pants.

Other than that, getting over impulse spending is really just a slow, painful practice. For me, anyway. Just as you might slowly cut down on coffee, you slowly get better at avoiding the fun purchases. Slowly.

Lisa

Veteran

I set aside twice a year to replenish my basics like bras, undies, and socks. The first is during NAS where I can usually snatch up Hanky Panky thongs, Bombas socks, and True & Co bras on sale. The second time of year I shop for these items is around Black Friday, this is when I can usually get my favorite Jockey bras, undies, and sleepwear on sale, along with Smartwool socks because both companies usually do a sale for the upcoming Christmas season at this time of year.

Having designated times of year that I shop helps me keep my basics replenished at a sale price, which I appreciate because indeed they are not as much fun to shop for as the clothing items that you see.

SarahD8

Veteran

Ket a thing that I did last year that worked well for me was to set an annual clothing budget and then divide it into categories. One of the categories was "wardrobe basics" (sensu Angie: undies, sleepwear, socks, gear) and I also made a list of what I needed that I could check off as I went. I found that putting these less-fun things to shop for on a list of priorities (I actually put them at the top of the list!) directed my focus to them, and it worked in terms of getting me to actually address an area of my wardrobe in which I often under-buy.

I really like Lisa's idea of stocking up on preferred brands at designated times of year to go along with sales. Smart!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those pieces really are screaming your name. I hope you try them!

As to bra and undie shopping...sigh. Yes. It's not fun.

I take a size that is not widely available at retail here. And if I do find it, the cost is exorbitant.

I have been saved by the NAS sale -- I found a few bras that fit me and I like that are almost always available at the sale and every year I stock up. Most years I only need to buy one and the others are still rotating (I try to have a dark and a light in one of my styles, and two darks and two lights in the other style, at various ages/ stages but none worn out) It is still an expensive proposition, but far less than it would be at the sale price, and if I look into it once a year I can forget about it the rest of the year.

DonnaF

Veteran

FWIW, I have a number of bras in a style that comes with hooks to convert them into racer backs. Not sure if I lost weight after I bought them or if my breasts simply lost volume, but I discovered that if I made the bras racer back it solved the problem of extra room in the cups. There’s also plastic thingies one can buy to function as converters.

Suntiger

I used to do that. I'd hunt for the harder things with no success, then buy an "easy win" to make me feel better.
My solution now is that I don't let myself buy-or even look for- the easy things until I've bought the less fun or more difficult ones.
Dresses in particular are problematic when size and shape fluctuate, in my experience. Even 10 pounds can make a huge difference whether a dress works well or not, so they end up getting much fewer wears. Bras are something worn daily, so though more expensive, the CPW goes to basically nothing quickly.

Big yay to trying the bra converters and checking thrift shops for belts. I think I paid $5 for 3 of the converters and have found nice leather belts at charity shops for a dollar or two.