One at a time? or an outfit? - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

One at a time? or an outfit?

Summer

Veteran

Hi Ladies,

When you're shopping for clothes, do you prefer to buy one item at a time or a complete outfit/capsule? I usually buy one at a time because it suits my budget and allows my wardrobe to evolve over time. It also give me the opportunity to shop more frequently, rather than having to save for a bigger shopping spree. I can see the advantage of buying several pieces together, though - one ready-to-go outfit, for instance, or maximum wear during the season.

So, how do you prefer to shop? Please feel free to add any other variables, such as frequency of shopping, buying ahead of season and so on. Over to you.

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from Summer

AM

Veteran

My pattern seems to be:
Casual at Home: Load up on basics (leggings, cardigans, tees, etc.)
Out of the Home: Looks that I want to achieve (have fun, maybe spend a little extra money); I tend to want to purchase these in full outfits.

...But I'm still working through this question myself.

Staysfit

Veteran

Well...:-) Usually I buy one at a time and add to previous capsules, however I have completely been redoing my wardrobe this year, so I have been buying lots. This is definitely a different buying pattern for me. The only exception would be with shoes. I purchase shoes in multiples, always. I just love them. It must be because of my sensitive, fussy, runners feet.

I didnt' think this post showed up so I retyped and posted again! sorry!

Staysfit

Veteran

Well........ This year is the exception. I have been replacing my entire wardrobe in one giant shopping spree. It means lots of shopping. I don't recommend this to anyone.

Typically, I purchase one item at a time to add to existing capsules. However, I buy shoes in multiples, whenever I see pairs that I like. I am a shoe person. It must be my fussy runner's feet.

Anonymous

Great question, Summer--and like AM, it's one I've been pondering myself. I used to be a random, haphazard shopper. I have some body image issues, so was always more worried about the fit of an item I was considering than whether it fit with the rest of my wardrobe, so my style and colour schemes were a real hodgepodge. Then I met a talented Nordstrom stylist and started shopping for outfits. This is absolutely the way to go for me, but the stylist moved on a few months ago and here I am on YLF, trying to find my groove. I want to be an infrequent, full outfit buyer, but it requires more planning than I'm good at. I'm hoping to pick up some tips but admit the time and thought involved overwhelms me.

SandyG

Veteran

I tend to buy one item at a time because I'm hard to fit and it takes a lot of my shopping brain dealing with changing rooms and different sizes, missing sizes, lots of frustration in BM stores. The petite world is filled with bad sizing.

My GF only buys outfits -- but she is easy to fit, a standard size 8, and shopping is pretty entertaining for her. The whole experience is vastly different for us as individuals but it's a good reason to get together and we really enjoy it at least once a season.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I buy pieces. I make the outfits when I get home.

But I have clients who prefer to shop outfits, and it works well for them.

Tanya

Veteran

I tend to buy pieces that speak to me as I have a fairly large wardrobe and usually there are at least a couple of possible combos to be made with my old stuff. I love to play with the new piece when I get home. But I will take it back if it turns out it is difficult to style with my existing clothes, and requires a bunch more of new items to make it work.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES. Like Tanya, I take back the pieces if I can't make them work with my stuff - like these orange flats that went back yesterday. SO comfy and gorgeous, but jarring in my wardrobe:

DOGMA Ballet flats

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Top Pick

6

Tanya

Veteran

Sorry the orange flats did not work out, Angie. They are gorgeous and I know that you love that color.

Summer

Veteran

Thanks, AM - You have good strategies in place for the various sections of your wardrobe.

Thanks, Staysfit - It's understandable that you are buying in quantity since you have been giving your wardrobe a major overhaul. Sometimes that's the only way to go.

Thanks, Aliona - I think if I decided to buy in outfits I would go down that route, too. I'm fairly confident about putting things together, but having a stylist/personal shopper on hand would save the leg-work and stamina! I understand what you say about being overwhelmed.

Thanks, SandyG - I can quite understand your frustration with finding things that fit. I can see that it makes more sense for you to concentrate on one item at a time.

Thanks, Angie - I prefer to do that, too, although I'm nowhere near as accomplished as you, of course. I can see the attraction of buying in outfits, though: I like the idea of one complete, ready to go outfit which can then be deconstructed to mix with other things.

always trying

Veteran

One at a time unless it is something like 100% cotton t's or such. then I get them in different colors, depending on the selection and price.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Summer, many of my clients are hard working professionals with kids and no time to shop. We often have to get outfits on our shopping days because they need to be sorted fast, with no time to shop again or rummage around in their closets. It can make a lot of sense to shop in outfits a few times a season and leave it at that.

Tanya, if the flats were tomato red instead of orange - I'd have kept them.

Summer

Veteran

Thanks, Tanya - Yes, that's exactly what I like to do. You make an excellent point about the new item needing to work effortlessly with your existing wardrobe. I've become much better at not getting side-tracked, but I used to fall into that trap all too often - yes, "if I just buy this and add that, it will be perfect". No more of that - back it goes!

Thanks again, Angie - As with Tanya, wise words, indeed. Sorry the shoes didn't work out.

Summer

Veteran

Thanks, always trying - That makes perfect sense.

Angie, of course, that's completely understandable for busy professionals. Horses for courses, I suppose.

old chic

Too bad about those gorgeous flats, Angie. I, stupidly, have been known to buy shoes I absolutely adore and then have to acquire a new wardrobe capsule to go with the shoes.

Anonymous

If I find sonething that fits and suits me I tend to buy it in the hope it will come in useful and actually these pieces are more successful than when I'm trying to shop for a particular item. 2 items that fit and look nice at the same time are very hard to find, for me anyway.

rabbit

Veteran

I do what Tanya says and buy one at a time. I generally rarely repeat exact outfits, I just enjoy discovering new combos too much, and usually repeat only when I'm in a hurry and know an outfit works well. But when I buy something new I expect to be able to wear it at least five different ways.

Actually for 'wildcard' rather than 'workhorse' purchases, I like to test or think out wearing it as many ways as the cost per wear I'm aiming for.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

One at a time, unless it's a basic tee and I'm buying multiple colours.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I do both. Though more often I buy individual pieces.

Gigi

Veteran

I generally buy individual pieces, but that is usually because I am hard to fit and have a hard time procuring all pieces to an outfit at the same time. I wish I could do more outfit shopping!

Lyn D.

Veteran

I like to buy individual pieces, as long as I feel they will go with what I already have.
It might be the reason I don't own many dresses- I feel I can only wear them one way and on more formal occasions only!

Summer

Veteran

Thanks, glisters - I do know what you mean. Often those serendipitous finds prove to be wardrobe gems.

Thanks, rabbit - That's an interesting point about maximising wear from a wildcard item
.
Thanks, gradfashionista - It looks like the majority are taking this approach.

Thanks, annagybe - I guessed that might be the case.

Thanks, Gigi - I agree that outfit buying would be time and energy - consuming if you have fit issues. It seems much easier to buy one at a time.

Summer

Veteran

Thanks Lyn D - I feel much the same about dresses, although I would like to add a few more to my wardrobe.

Anonymous

I generally purchase things one at a time, particularly those things that I wear casually. The one item that I have the most trouble fitting with other items are blazers and fitted jackets. And it's the one item that on occasion I have purchased other pieces with to create an outfit.

Dimity

I usually buy several pieces at a time when the thrift store has a 'fill a bag for $5' sale or things are $1 a piece. Then I'll take them home, wash them and see if they work well for me. If they don't, I either use the fabric for something else or re-donate it. I'm getting much more discerning at this, so now I have fewer items that aren't great. If I'm at regular shops, then I buy one piece at a time. Shoes I stalk, determining which is the pair I most want, then I might buy a couple of pairs at a time.

Summer

Veteran

Gwennie - It seems most of us are opting for one at a time.

Dimity - That's an interesting twist.