Flexibility in your shopping adventures?

A new pair of jeans has been on my shopping list for weeks. I've been out shopping and I went out today to shop but really had no luck in finding what I was looking for (my jeans hunt resembles Angie's, just for context). As I was walking around the mall, I found this dress (see photo) that is similar to the Bailey 44 dress that many of you have.

I tried it on and not only did it fit, but it also fit my criteria for dresses that have been on my list for a while. So I bought it and I've already got plans to wear it tonight - I am clearly on Team Wear!

It got me thinking though - it works for me to have this flexible approach to shopping. I may have plans to buy one thing but if I can't find it and I find something else that's been on my list and fits my criteria, then it's okay for me to snap it up. But maybe this is not everyone's approach - what is yours?

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13 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

If there are gaps in your wardrobe I think this is the perfect approach.

The trouble for me comes when I'm really looking for something to fill a real need, can't find it & buy something I don't need.

So my answer is - it depends on where you are with your wardrobe.

Great dress!

Parsley

Cute dress! And I totally agree: sometimes you have to be ready to snap something up if when it comes along!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

I am definitely think it is advantageous to keep my list in mind at all times as the opportunities don;t always work out the way I plan.. If I stuck to the plan, I would walk away frustrated. This results in more of oh, well, didn' t have luck today with this, but did find that other thing I wanted. This feels better to me... Flexibility is key to success and has always worked. Note this is very different from impulse buying in my book...

Debora

I say let's put this in Angie's category of "unexpected delights" - and it is delightful. My daughter has the Bailey 44 version of this dress and it is so versatile. She wore it the last time she was home with a cropped tuxedo jacket and it looked fab. Enjoy your find!

qfbrenda

I love that dress! Where did you find it?

lyn*

Is it the Cleo one that Transcona Shannon pointed out earlier?

Suz

Fab!! I am all for unexpected delights --- especially if they fit your needs!!

This must be the Cleo dress Shannon noticed!

abc

I think as long as you are getting something on your list you are doing fine. For me, in the not so distant past, I would go into a shopping trip trying to find one thing and walk out with another, which I did not need, didn't fill any category like wardrobe hole, unexpected delight, etc. At least you still have the discipline to get something from your list, even if it comes up at an unexpected time.

Krista

Nice to hear all of these replies - I think we're mostly on the same page.

Yes to Suz and Lyn - it's the Cleo dress. I wore it tonight and it's quite comfortable. I will post pics tomorrow!

jayne

I think just having a list is a good strategy and no matter what I am looking for that day, being able to switch to another thing on the list is super. My problem is the things that grab my eye. Although Angie says we should allow for that, I have tended to make those the 80% instead of the 20%...which leads to nothing matching. I firmly beleive, after my year here, that a list is essential to keeping me on the right track. But boy, sometimes it is hard to pass by those temptations, so another part of my strategy now is to leave the temptation in the store and if I think about it the next day or so, and can figure out other things to wear with it, I will let myself go back for it. I find that most of the time I cannot remember what tempted me in the first place!

Freckles

Same thoughts here. Might be shopping for pants but find a blazer.

There is always a spot for oh my gosh that is so perfect and I didn't know it existed though.

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