Does NAS Put You in “Shopping Mode”? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does NAS Put You in “Shopping Mode”?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I haven’t even ordered anything from NAS yet, but all of a sudden I feel like I’m in shopping high gear, finding things I want in all my go-to stores and catalogs.

Or maybe it’s just that fall lines are starting to trickle in, and I’m excited to see my colors return? Anyone else feel like their shopping motors are revved?

Shopping

46 replies

Latest reply was from Jenn

Joy

Veteran

Oh, Yes. Especially on-line shopping, although I went to several consignment shops today but did not buy anything..

KnittingGene

NAS definitely gets me going. I buy through that sale but, also, it makes me think of other purchases for Fall. This year, I’m really struggling with my desires around new pieces because of all the rust color! It’s one of my all time fave colors to wear and just not that commonly available. Until now!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Mine too, KnittingGene!

Joy, online is my weakness too. I think NAS gets me thinking about fall needs, so I start browsing.

Sal

Veteran

I enjoy watching what other people are getting - but online is not my weakness (and summer clothes are more tempting to me) so I find it easy to observe. I like seeing what works though and it does give me a heads-up for my next winter...

This is the time of the year I typically don't shop much (although I did just buy some jeans as a replacement - since I am trying to do one in-one out).

Yes there are some really gorgeous rusts around this time - I love them with denim. And for people who love fall clothing I can see the temptation.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I spent a tremendous amount of time shopping the last few months so I am really burned out. Still doing NAS but not much else.

rachylou

Veteran

NAS time IS a signal to me to start thinking seriously... and while I haven’t made it all the way out to Nordies yet, I WAS prompted to go to some stores in the next town over for a dog walk and see what’s what there... and kinda scarily, there were a lot of store fronts closed down. WHBM is gone! The only shop coming in is called ‘Shoe Palace’... have to say that does NOT sound promising. Very weird since the area is filled with luxury apartments...

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Gosh yes. Despite not ever living in a country with a Nordstrom (although I did visit the one in Seattle once).

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I’m with you, KnittingGene and Jenn- I bought unusual amounts this summer because I love the colors (rust, mustard) and they’ve been hard to find in the past. I will keep them and love them even if they go out of style.

anne

Veteran

Yes, but only for NAS stuff and it is not that helpful because with the exchange rate and shipping it isn't really viable. And I really just need to concentrate on getting some boring basics.

Anonymous

Emphatically yes.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It puts me in wardrobe hold finding mode at the very least. When I see something interesting I ask myself if I don't have something similar - usually, but not always, it is a yes.

Style Fan

Veteran

I enjoy looking at the NAS purchases that other fabbers are making and I like looking at Angie's picks. I love Fall clothing and this year the colours are ones that are favourites of mine (rust and other earth tones). But I have found online shopping does not work for me. The shopping options where I live are limited. Also, I am trying to keep my wardrobe small and to really think through my purchases.
So to answer your question I feel like shopping but I restrain myself. I have fun watching others.

LaPed

Veteran

Nope. I love fall colours and textures, but I don't do NAS -- we travel in late July/early August, which makes ordering and returning a hassle. It's fun to browse and follow along with others, but I never see anything that's a must-have, and I'm the kind of person who has to sit on an idea for weeks or even months before I buy. Plus, I want to see EVERYTHING that's going to be available before I make a decision -- I'm totally a maximizer, incapable of satisficing. I mean, it all goes on sale again after Thanksgiving...

I often do a bit of a late summer top-up around Labor Day when there's lots of clearance sales, and usually start adding urgent cold-weather replacements around the same time. Also, if I shop too heavily early in the season, then it's harder for me to justify the spontaneous/wild-card items that are good for breaking up seasonal doldrums (and winter is my long season, so I do try to make sure I give myself some leeway for a mid- to late-winter refresher).

kerry

Veteran

Yes, but I have a love/hate relationship with that fact!

NAS is super fun here. And I’ve had fun experiences shopping it online, through email/text with an SA and in-person.

Fall/winter is my dominant season so it makes sense to give it more dollars and time. But July feels too early. I have the time to enjoy the process as I’m on summer vacation. On the other hand, it mentally takes me out of summer (my favourite time of year). Also fall weather doesn’t really arrive until late September/early October around here so in that way July feels too early as well.

Last year I figured out that Blondo suede weather resistant boots were perfect for my climate. I came to this realization after NAS, of course! Often when it’s bootie weather, its also wet or at least unpredictable. I the NAS offerings this year didn’t suit but was able to find what I wanted on Amazon and ordered this week.

I’ve also been thinking far too much about cashmere which feels really weird when it’s 30+ degrees.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It does...but only for NAS. And then I stop shopping, usually until mid- to late October, when I will add whatever other fall items are needed. And then I stop again until...usually May or June.

I definitely shop in spurts and in between those spurts -- even though I'm an online shopper almost exclusively, and even though I'm always on YLF -- I barely register what is out there unless a basic or essential wears out or it turns out I have a genuine need that I hadn't been aware of -- most often for gear-type stuff or basics like long underwear.

ChrisM

Veteran

Yes. Yes. Yes.

And I need to consciously step back. It’s everywhere.

julesegr

Only for NAS, which I tend to overdo throughout the sale and then proceed to ruminate over for the months until the fall/winter clothes actually come out. I won't start shopping other stores/sites for another month or so, once this is in the rear-view mirror.

What NAS also does, however, is get me to clean out my closets and get ready for the upcoming season. I have to store off-season clothes in the attic but I will drag down my boxes, try everything on, and start consigning or donating what I won't be wearing. I guess that's the upside of overbuying at NAS right now: I can't keep it all and I need to justify the new pretties!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Nope. And if rust is big this fall, I shouldn’t buy at all.

LaPed spoke my mind so much it’s eerie: “ I want to see EVERYTHING that's going to be available before I make a decision -- I'm totally a maximizer, incapable of satisficing. I mean, it all goes on sale again after Thanksgiving.”. And I shop in spurts, which are definitely more emotional and not as thought-out as Suz’s.

bj1111

Veteran

yes. i'm stalking yoox and the barneys sales.

but, i'm ready to return all the stuff i bought at nordies and i haven't even received a single item ordered!

Anonymous

Despite my every effort not to get sucked in to the mania, and despite my own issues with this whole "buy more stuff" environment, I am a fashion and clothing lover at heart who can't help but get a little excited at the idea of new clothes I'm reading about here. I'm not buying though - it's way too early to even think about fall , and until I've done a thorough review of what I might need, it's not even on my radar. Plus - stores here are still in full-on summer sale mode.

Anonymous

What NAS does for me is to clearly look at my closet and make some choices. I do have several gaps and I want to wear less black so I'm adding more color on top. Typically, I send back way more than I buy in NAS. So it's rather explorative for me and I must be 100% on board for an item to be added to my closet. An item can't be categorized in the 'if I do this and this, then an item will work.' No, it has to be, "this works with my closet contents and is so versatile plus I love it.' I learned my lesson on the orphaned skirt which I'm in process for finding its mate. I am so over hard to work with pieces!

Bonnie

Veteran

NAS has definitely put me in a shopping mode and I"m camping, I have poor internet most of the time and no place to receive packages. I feel my wardrobe is too large and in a good place except for the size. The plus side of paying attention to the NAS conversations is that when I get back home, I will have benefited by the discussions members have participated in. I'm particularly interested in the trends that I can add to update my wardrobe.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

It made me look but I didn't find anything I haven't seen before. I am ready for Fall shopping though.

Gaylene

Veteran

Nope, for all the reasons La Ped outlined.

I was sucked into the NAS vortex the first few years I was on YLF because of Angie’s picks and the excitement, but the hassles and costs of cross border shopping and exchange rates made me realize I kept too many lackluster pieces which were rarely worn and for which I paid far too much. Now I view the NAS frenzy as a possible source of inspiration, but mostly as entertainment.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

A little bit, but I think I’ll be content with some refreshers from NAS and then chill on the shopping again for a few months. I did not see anything tempting in footwear for fall/winter, but I think I have enough already that I still love (and is hopefully still current!).

The Cat

Veteran

Not yet. Am experiencing a heat wave and enjoy wearing my summer clothes. Don't want to go shopping now. Fall seems far away, and that's okay by now.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Sal, I bet being in the opposite hemisphere helps a lot!

Barbara Diane, I get burned out after heavy shopping periods too, so I get it. I'm coming off a few months of hardly any shopping, so I'm in the opposite place as you.

rachylou, our local Gap closed! I feel like it's dire when you lose the Gap. (An aside, the other day I was typing some word that started with "ra..." and my phone tried to autocorrect to rachylou!)

londonkiwi, my nearest Nordstrom is more than an hour away (which I realize is close, comparatively). The one time I went into a store during the sale, though, it was disappointing. NAS is largely an online event for me!

Jessikams, I added three rust items to my wardrobe at the start of the summer. For me, that was a pretty heavy investment in color, and quite unusual! I don't regret it, though.

anne, despite wanting everything, I'll admit the only things I've actually ordered are some bras and a workout top (because I never did really update my workout capsule this past winter), so boring basics here, too.

Sterling, you're in a rebuild, so that makes total sense!

shevia, I feel like your closet is a treasure trove, with your thrifting superpowers.

StyleFan, I am trying to do the same, but oh, I feel the pull!

Sara L.

Veteran

No really. There's no Nordstrom in my state so I would have to order online and it's way too early to think about fall. It's in the mid to high 90's at this time of year and fall feels very far away. It won't even start cooling down at night until the end of September. We can usually keep our pool open until October.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

La Pedestrienne, you are very wise! The traveling/having your mind on other things probably helps a lot. I also try to leave room for mid-season pick-me-ups, but my birthday falls the week after NAS, which means that, for my whole life, this time of year has meant NEW CLOTHES. I don't usually get a lot (last year, it was two items), but I'm definitely in the mindset.

kerry, fall/winter is my dominant season, too, but our summers are HOT, and by mid-July, I'm over it! FWIW, though, last year I ended up returning and re-buying one of my NAS items, because it went on deeper sale before even a month had passed.

Suz, I really admire your shopping style, and would like to emulate it. When I look at my list of purchases, though, I notice I've bought at least one or two things every month this year. It feels great when I do manage to shut off the shopping brain for a few weeks, though. I think I need to be better about making ALL my purchases when I'm in that mode, instead of being hesitant and saving things for later, because my initial instincts have become a lot better over the years.

ChrisM, yes! I have to consciously step back on occasion, too.

julesgr, it seems so early to be going through the winter things, but smart to do it before adding anything new!

Fashintern, I used to drive myself crazy by trying to check every option out there. I've finally narrowed it down the handful of brands that generally work for me, and only venture outside when I have a specific need that can't be met by one of those places.

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