Duplication Quandry - YouLookFab Forum

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Duplication Quandry

Marlene

Veteran

Yesterday I was at the mall making some returns and I wandered into Gap, as I am prone to do. I found some new spring stock there...darling knit skirts. There were 3 color choices (black, black/white stripe and gray). I tried it on and it was perfect...snug without butt-cupping, perfect length, nice texture. I bought the gray one. I went home and it went with everything I own. It was super easy to make into 30 outfits. This morning I woke up thinking about the other 2 colors. The item is so new its not even on the Gap website yet. Now I am rearranging my day so I can go get the other 2 colors. Full price.

Does anyone else go through this sort of obsession? I hardly wear my skirts because none of them are "perfect" like these ones so maybe the universe is telling me to go get them. Am I crazy? Is anyone able to talk me out if it?

Its only 6:30 in the morning so I am not going to take pictures. I figure you must see how awesome then are! Maybe later after my workout...

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Laura (rhubarbgirl)

El Cee

Veteran

Yes… I did this with the Vince Camuto tube skirts last spring. So, who am I to talk you out of it??? If you have a place for them in your wardrobe, duplicate away! Anyway -- I found that knit skirts are very easy to wear, versatile and a great alternative to my usual jeans look. I wore those VC skirts to death and will pull them out again as soon as the weather warms up. Have fun with your skirts!!!

Isabel

Veteran

I go through this sometimes. It is somewhat rare, but I will do it. Last summer I found the PERFECT summer dress. Really versatile, machine washable, great for travel, for hiking and yet looks great in an urban area...blah, blah, blah. I bought FIVE ! ( 3 at full price ) I went away on a 3 week vacation and wore all 3 dresses to death...so I came back and bought two more. LOL

I say, get them...and see how often you actually wear them before the return period ( or least how often you wear one ). Then consider, if you get 30 outfits out of one, could you get as many out of 2 skirts. And do you need that many outfits ?

Please post later...

Glory

Veteran

Oh yes guilty as charged. Can you post the link for a look at the top.

viva

Veteran

Definitely have this problem at times too, when something is just that right. And now you have me obsessing over a skirt I have never seen, Marlene!!! Please post a pic!

Marlene

Veteran

I think you guys are enablers! I am in the middle of getting the kiddos off to school at the moment and I will post some pics once they are all safely tucked into their classrooms for the day. One down...one to go! I'm just enjoying my morning cuppa tea before Kid #2 needs to get up...oh, and fixating on these skirts...

Sara L.

Veteran

The only downside to buying duplicates in different colors is that sometimes one color gets worn much more than the others. So I would just consider if you would wear them equally or would one languish while others get worn more.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I think when you find the perfect item, the question isn't just if you should duplicate it, but what color you should duplicate it in.

I once owned 3 pairs of the perfect Daryl K pants. Down to 2 pairs. I regret nothing.

Anonymous

Yes, I want to see a pic!

And Isabel, what dress did you find? I want a summer dress for when it is so hot and yours sounds perfect.

unfrumped

Veteran

What IK said.

I dupe'd some AT sweaters and don't regret it (yet) but it does result in each one getting worn less, as opposed to the minimalistic approach. Also I vowed to try to wear them with different type bottoms so I'd not just get different colored results, but different silhouettes.

Even though the gray goes with everything, if you do wear black as one of your colors, it may be that the black is also makes many outfits but gives a much different vibe, so you would do 10 best black outfits and 10 best gray rather than so-so with either. That's kind of what is going on with my sweaters--I like how one of the colors or neutral really complements a certain skirt or pants even though the others "go," and I decided to enjoy that.
But, if gray is really your best color and black is just because, well, it's black and you think you ought to have one, you might re-think it.

Then the stripes--oh my. If you've wanted a stripe and this one fits great and is the gateway to striped outfits, then you need that!

gryffin

Veteran

Marlene - I am a huge duplicator. Since I would ration what I love, have a duplicate gives me security to wear and enjoy it. I do agree that you need to consider if you would wear all the colors or if you are better duplicating a favorite and either wearing it in tandem to extend the life or having a back up. If they are cheap enough and perfect enough you might want to stock up. But then that's my give, I'd rather several of what I love than variety of what I don't. Big thumbs up from me!!

Parsley

Veteran

If they're just what you've been looking for I think duplicating makes total sense. Can't wait to see them!

Anonymous

I duplicate when an item is perfect, so I'm enabling you. My one piece of advice is that if you think you won't get nearly as much wear out of the other color(s) as you will with the one you already bought, you might just want to buy another one of the exact same color. I'm saying that because I just went through that with 2 identical pairs of boots I've owned for the past 6 years. The brown pair got worn a lot more than the black pair, and wore out quicker. Now I'm stuck with the black pair, which I do wear but am not as enthused about as I was with the brown pair. If I had it to do over again, I'd buy 2 brown pairs and be done with it.

Liz

Veteran

Since you have plenty of enablers : ) , I'll speak for the other side. If you know you have a pattern of going into a first-obsession mode that then cools, I'd say do not go and buy anything today. Find something else fun to do. Gap is not going out of business this weekend. The skirts are not going anywhere. Let the obsession cool, and then make a decision.

And, remember all the discussions we've had about varying quality on knits. This skirt might bag, pill, shrink, fade, or not stand up to wear. No need to find that out after you've bought three, four, or five of them.

There. How's that for the anti-enabler crowd? : )

Emily

Veteran

I'm totally in favour of duplication, but Gap coupon codes are annoyingly frequent. Are you sure it's not worth waiting for it to show up online with a promo?

DonnaF

Veteran

If this were on deep discount, I would say buy all three. But I agree with Liz that you don't know how this knit will wear or if the black will fade quickly into an unpleasant color. Since this is a new item, it should be around long enough for a coupon code or other discount. Maybe this is just me, but I would be more inclined to get the stripe as it is more different from the gray than black is.

Oh, and I am trying to wean myself off duplicating. . .but I am waiting for a blouse to be marked down in a S/S color after buying a F/W one that I really like. I am resisting the urge to buy another F/W color, but, but. .

Alassë

Veteran

How many (great) outfits can you make with the other 2 colors? If they're your perfect item, yes, go grab. If the gray is the truly versatile color, just duplicate it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am in the same position with a certain pair of jeans....just about to pull the trigger. So I am hardly one to disenable you.

Catnip

Veteran

I often do the same thing. It's so difficult for me to find things I like that fit well that I 'm very tempted to duplicate when it happens.

Suggestion: If the skirt is washable and you plan to wash it, try washing it before buying the other two. If it doesn't shrink or fall apart, you will know it's a good investment.

Isabel

Veteran

Hi Ceit, it is the prAna Quinn dress. It is a "sport" dress. But they work anywhere. I use button down shirts over them, sweaters, when it is chilly I layer tights. You can ball it up and the wrinkles shake out. Here are the exact dresses that I got. I got them a size bigger than my normal because I am a triangle shape. My mom took in the top a little. I wear them with everything from pumps to hiking boots and as a cover up at the beach to kayaking with a bathing suit bottom underneath. I will also pop a t shirt over one sometimes. The top is doubled, so no bra for me.

My God, I think I may have talked myself into another one ! hahahahaaaaa.

Seriously, I can do a 3 week vacation with all kinds of activities with 4 of these dresses and a pair of shorts and leggings ( for warmth ) and a few tops. They are all available on Amazon right now ( though I got most of mine at Backcountry.com ) Pic of the back too. Mine hit me at the knee, I am 5' 5.5"

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cciele

Veteran

Totally understand the need to duplicate! But I'm with Liz on this one. Wait and see how it wears, see if you can wait til there's a sale if you still want it.

I've only duplicated items I know I might wear for a long time, like layering tees. If it's a trendy item, I might get sick of it before getting the most wear out of it, especially if I duplicate the color as well as style!

Anonymous

Thanks Isabel -- I will definitely check them out.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Another enabler here....I did it in Ponte knit jackets...I refuse to feel bad as long as I don't overdo the duplicates. ..

Marlene

Veteran

Hi everyone. I was sidetracked from my duplication issue when I got a call from the school....sick kid. So no photos for the moment since I will be playing nurse for the afternoon. And still no link on the Gap site to tide us over.

MsMary

Veteran

I'm the girl with the Halogen pencil skirt in about 10 colors, many of which were bought at full price. And Madden Girl patent pumps in about 7 colors. I say go for it!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I am neither enabling nor un-enabling (?), just reflecting. I have had mixed luck with duplicating in different colors - sometimes it works out great, and sometimes I have only used one and not the other. As I try to think about why, I think it depends on what role the item will play in your wardrobe. For example, I've got some knit tops from Lucky in different colors, and I wear them all about equally. They are of equivalent formality level and they all look good with blue jeans and under a casual topper so I reach for them all.

On the other hand, I bought blazers made out of sweatshirt knit from Target this fall in navy, heathered gray, and a black and white stripe, and I wear the solids a lot more than the stripe. Because they are casual fabric, I tend to wear them over jeans and a knit top outfits, not anything dressier. And I tend to wear knit tops with a print or some kind of detail to them, which just clashes with the stripe, which looks best with a very simple top, either a bright color with black jeans, or black with blue jeans. This isn't a 'throw it on and go' equation, this is a 'build your whole outfit around your jacket' equation.

On the other hand, I've had some black and white print jackets that I wear like crazy, but they were a tad bit dressier so I could wear them with 'business casual' stuff to spice them up a little. Maybe that's the difference.

Aside from any practical and economic issues, like waiting to wear and launder a couple times before you invest in more, or waiting until they're marked down and you can save a few bucks, I would think about this and see whether each color/print will be interchangeable, or whether they will be used slightly differently.