Personal Question for Angie - YouLookFab Forum

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Personal Question for Angie

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm curious about something Angie - with all of your experience in the fashion industry and your personal KILLER sense of style, do YOU ever make clothing purchase mistakes? Hope you don't mind me asking...

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from Keix

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sure! That's a great question. And I'm blushing at the compliment. Thank you.

In my line of work, I get LOTS and LOTS of practice so my style goals are very focused, which leads to few purchasing mistakes. But *of course* I've made purchase mistakes! I had to live and learn just like everyone else. As recent as two years ago - I purchased a stunning pair of animal print flats for my 40th that kill my feet. I also have a fab pair of booties that are higher than 2 and quarter inches and my feet are not happy wearing them. I also know better NOT to ever purchase knitted tops and cardigans because I never wear them. And I also no longer look at jewelry because I also don't wear it. I have my few pieces that I love and that's that.

Interestingly, I have to this day never regretted an expensive purchase. It's the less expensive ones that I could probably have lived without.

I also have to constantly REMIND MYSELF THAT I FEEL COLD FAST. I love blouses, sleeveless tops and soft dresses, and stores are full of them. But the reality is that I only wear them when it really warms up, which means that I can't wear them that often, unless they are layered under a pullover - and I don't like to look layered all the time. I was at Barneys today and I saw a stunning ink blue and black blouse by Derek Lam. I really wanted it - but put it back. I saw a killer boxy citron tunic at BCBG too - but hung it back because it will be 4 months before I can wear it!!! I am patient, picky and practical.

Sooooo, I hope that satisfies your curiosity.

Lantana

Veteran

Glad you asked this question,Shannon because as ever Angie's response drills to the core: patient picky and practical. PPP, I think a new YLF acronym has been born.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

It does satisfy my curiosity Angie and I thank you for your response. Somehow it's comforting to know that even someone as skilled and stylish as yourself has to remember what works for you and make sure your brain overrules your heart!

I totally agree Lantana - PPP has been born!

Jonesy

Veteran

Ooh, what a great question, Shannon, and such a great response from Angie! Yes, "patient, picky, and practical" are certainly words of wisdom :).

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Oh thank you Shannon and Angie! Great question and great answer! interestingly, recently i've made some purchases of pieces much more refined, mainstream, and femme than what i've tended towards the last few years and i am happy to report they have been bang-on! my husband was pretty skeptical at the time of purchase, i'm glad it worked out

Angie re: cold - that's a part of menopause that i enjoy! i no longer have to drown myself in gobs of woolies to stay tolerable in winter. What a treat to wear a cami, blouse, coat - & that's it! i am with you on the 'Three Ps', in fact to such an extent that it drives my friends and family nuts at times.

But if you need to be talked out of buying something, i'm your gal.

Mochi

Veteran

Shopping so represents (or is capable of representing) our idealized versions of ourselves. All you need is a credit card, and no one is stopping you from buying anything. The discipline and self-knowledge necessary to make the right choices is incredible, if you think about it--at least during the learning stage.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh I'm so with you on the menopause furnace Steph! In fact, if it weren't for layers some days I'm sure I'd melt. Cami, blouse and blazer - and many days, the blazer ends up coming off!!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Happy sigh.

This is why I love YLF!!!

Thanks for asking, Shannon, and thanks for answering, Angie.

PPP, PPL, BBQ, UWP, RATE, B(usiness) B(ombshell), D(emure) B(ombshell), and ART (arty/retro/tailored). What a place!

I was thinking, Angie, that I'd be in exactly the same position as you if I lived in your climate. When I lived on the west coast for three years I was shocked at how little my regular summer wardrobe worked in the climate. It was June and I still wanted a jacket...say what? Sleeveless was almost impossible except in mid-August! Once again your wisdom comes into play: buy (primarily) for one's dominant season!

Wardrobe mistakes that still tempt me:

Buying for a life I don't lead. (Get thee behind me, sparkly party dress!)
Buying the inexpensive item simply because it is inexpensive and it fits and seems practical, with no regard to whether it looks and feels FAB and moves me toward my style aspiration.
NOT buying the expensive, much loved item, because I am afraid I won't wear it enough to justify the cost. Like Angie, I have never regretted an expensive purchase yet. I HAVE regretted plenty of cheaper ones.

MsMary

Veteran

Amen, Suz and Angie! It's the "bargains" that end up as orphans in my closet, too!

cheryl

Veteran

What a great question Shannon. Angie, i love your three P's but i'm sure they dont normally apply to me. Practicality is not my strong suit, neither is patience lol.

catgirl

Veteran

Great question and great answer.

I went thrifting today and had to stop myself from reaching for certain things I'm in the "habit" of buying somehow, despite knowing they make no sense. Some are items that have triggers (like, remember when I wore something like this to that amazing concert?) and others are wishful (wouldn't this be great if I ever travel to Bali?). The thrift stores are good for me in building up restraint!

Anonymous

*repeating to self* patient, picky and practical, patient, picky and practical, patient, picky and practical. Try typing that three times fast after a glass of wine! Add to the 3Ps a laser focus and an eye for quality that Angie has.

MNsara

Veteran

PPP, plus "make sure your brain overrules your heart!"

I need these emblazoned on my wallet - impeding me from getting at my credit card

Thanks, Shannon, for asking. Thanks, Angie, for your insightful answer.

catgirl

Veteran

Can I add a couple more Ps - "personally perfect"? Because that's an additional factor with Angie to me!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think when I buy something expensive, I have considered it a lot! Or, it is so fab that I don't mind paying the price. That is why I am with you Angie and Una -- my bigger mistakes are the collection of low-priced or sale impulse buys.

DragonflyJane

A great question & reply, thanks.

I've been falling into the same trap as a few others - it's the on sale or really cheap items that I've bought that end up un-worn, un-loved & given away.

My husband commented on this about a month ago & really I've just been throwing money away. PPP is going to be my new shopping mantra!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

So in follow-up to this question yesterday and the insightful replies (particularly Angie's), I went through my closet and thought about all the purchases I've made in the last year. As it turns out, only about 1/3 of those purchases are still with me as the other items turned out not to work at all. Most of my purchases were thrifted and some of them have been excellent but many have not. I think regardless of price point, the PPP needs to apply. And the thrifted items that have turned out to be great purchases are the ones that are higher end brands and would have been expensive had I purchased them new.

I also loosely added up what I spent in thrifted/consigned items in the last year and I actually could have purchased 2-3 more pricey items off of Angie's lists.

So what's the lesson here:

1. Maybe I'm not saving as much money as I thought if I end up not liking much of what I've purchased "on the cheap".
2. I'm better to not buy anything and save my dollars for a bigger but much better purchase.
3. For the more pricey items, I can still wait to see if they go on sale or if there are available through any other means (i.e. Amazon).
3. Thrifted and consigned items can be fantastic (and have been) BUT they still need to fit, flatter, be what I've been looking for, work with my current wardrobe and lifestyle. Even if its $1, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

DeniseP

Shannon,

Love this thread...making me think!

Your lessons learned summed it up in a nutshell for me...I couldn't have said it better!

Actually, I'm headed now to write them down and put in my purse.
(Oh, and on my desktop screen, too.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, that's an excellent summary. I'm learning to be MUCH more picky in consignment and thrift stores, too. I ask myself:

1. Would I pay full price for this?

2. If not, why not?

3. Is that a deal breaker or is it even relevant in this case?

4. Do I want to wear this tomorrow (or right now!)

#3 may seem like a stupid question but really, it's not, at least not at my stage of wardrobe building. Here's why: I am still in need of quite a few "basics" in my key neutrals, and that is what I'm mainly looking for in my shopping expeditions. But, as we all know, a wardrobe of nothing BUT basics is not much fun to wear, It may not even be fully functional!

SO...there are quite a few items that I wouldn't pay full price for right this minute, simply because of my priorities. But some might be excellent purchases for me. If the QUALITY is there, and I can think of at least 2 or 3 different outfits (or it is an evening piece that is needed) then I might still buy it at the consignment/ thrift price, even if I wouldn't or couldn't pay full price.

My tweedy jacket is an example. I wore it out of the store, and subsequently have worn it about 25 times or more. The price was $35. Cost per wear is already very low.

I wouldn't have paid full price for the jacket because frankly, I couldn't have afforded it! If I could have afforded it, I might have wiffle-waffled because I might have been afraid it wouldn't work. Buying on consignment has allowed me to try out some items that might have frightened me a bit if I paid the full investment price.

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Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Suz - you have made fantastic points! I know I will never stop buying via thrift or consignment - just part of who I am. But I need to make sure I focus on quality and fit (other than hemming and shortening sleeves, etc.) regardless of price.

I also agree that I have been fortunate to buy a thrifted item that I would not have been able to afford full price for but it allows me to try something out that's different. I recently bought at my new favourite consignment shop a green tweed, large collared Club Monaco jacket. It was $25 plus I paid an additional $22 to my tailor to remove the cuff on the sleeves and shorten them. The total is still significantly less than I would have paid for brand new. But since I'm not sure I'm going to like green (new colour for me) or the shorter riding style of the jacket, it's a good way for me to try out a new silhouette and colour without any substantial investment.

And you are so right with "would I wear this tomorrow". I have many, many times bought an item that I wasn't 100% sure of even in the store and then got it home and it sat in my closet for weeks, maybe even months. Given the time frame, obviously I neither needed nor wanted it.

Isabel

Veteran

This was a great question..I am so glad that you put it forth.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Great question and great answers.

I need to cultivate the three P's. While I'm picky and somewhat patient, I'm often not as practical about things as I should be. I often get carried away by the concept behind a garment, i.e. the romanticism of it or the interesting details, and forget to consider if it would work for my lifestyle and/or my body. I'm cold most of the time too, so need to keep that in mind.

Aida

Veteran

This was such a great read! My #1 goal this year is to be patient and picky (patient is the really hard one). I spent some time at Nordstrom Rack yesterday and had a couple pieces I was thinking of getting... until I tried a fabulous wrap dress on. It made me do a little dance in the dressing room, and I knew I couldn't get any of those other items. The other pieces looked good, but they didn't make me dance!

Lisa

Veteran

What a great question and responses. I have found my impulse purchases sometimes pay off but more often than not, do not. They end up as wardrobe orphans and then make me feel guilty because they go unworn. This leaves me hating my clothes more and more until I go out and impulse shop yet again. Having a list, sticking to it, tracking my CPW (a recent new habit) and deciding on a color palette have really helped me a lot. It's not as easy for me to impulse shop when I have a set list of criteria the potential new item has to meet.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Wonderful post, Shannon, and excellent response, Angie. Just reading and rereading this keeps me on track. Can you explain what a knitted top or cardigan is, Angie, and what another fabrication of the same you prefer? I'm not sure I understand. Thanks.

Keix

Veteran

It's interesting to think about which P's are easier and harder. I am all about practicality--and I'm not afraid to look a little overdressed, which helps--and I'm relatively picky, but I have a hard time being patient! Once I've decided that there's a given hole in my wardrobe, I'm driven to actively shop until I can fill it. Sometimes that means I end up settling for the best option available at the time, which may not be the best option available in two months.