Progress Report on Purchasing Fast (Day 70) - YouLookFab Forum

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Progress Report on Purchasing Fast (Day 70)

Anonymous

The math: 31 days in January + 28 days in February + 10 days in March = 69 days.

My purchasing fast ended today (Day 70). I splurged on Eileen Fisher Silk Georgette Crepe Pleated Trousers. I have wanted a pair of these pants for a long time. I anticipate wearing them at least once a week during the Spring/Summer months. We have a long summer so I anticipate getting a lot of wear out of them. Because they are slouchy, I am going to coordinate them with more streamlined tops. My goal is to pair them with tops I already have in my wardrobe.

Questions I asked myself before making the purchase:
Can I wear them tomorrow? YES.
Do I need to purchase coordinated pieces to make the trousers work for me. NO.
Can a reasonable cost per wear be achieved? YES.
Do they make me happy? YES.
Will they amp up my style quotient for work? YES.

I'm really happy with them. They look better in real life than in the stock photo.

Eileen Fisher Silk Georgette Crepe Straight Ankle Pants

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26 replies

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Irina

Veteran

Congratulations to you first purchase. Coincidentally I was trying Eileen Fisher clothes today at Nordstrom. Out of curiosity as it's out of my reach at full prices.
I have a question - why it's important to wear a bought item tomorrow? I have list of things I need and I'd buy a sleeveless silk top in a middle of a winter or a sweater at the end of a season sales.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations, and what a fabulous purchase for you. Elegant, relaxed, perfect for your climate, and an essential!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

A well considered end to one of the most successful and interesting shopping fasts I have read about here or anywhere.

Joy

Veteran

Congratulations! You did it! A well deserved and well thought out purchase. I think that you will really enjoy these pants. I have an older version that I need to have shortened to cropped length. This is a great reminder.
I am still on my Lenten shopping fast but looking forward to getting some new things. Maybe having my EF silk slouchy pants shortened will scratch that itch.
To keep this honest, I did a little shopping at the Rack today, but it was not for me. DGS is getting potty trained this weekend and will need some easy pull down bottoms. I need to look for some toddler boy undies too. The best would have trains or "diggers" on them.

Joyce B

Veteran

Enjoy your fab new pants. They are definitely a very useful purchase for you.

Anonymous

Hi Irina -- Thanks for asking. I once read a blogger who posed that question to herself because she felt it cut down on impulsive and frivolous purchases.

If I can wear it tomorrow, that means it is appropriate for my everyday life style (either work, casual, athletic) and seasonal. It is not a fantasy item that I dream I will wear someday when the stars align exactly right (I have had those items in my wardrobe). It is not something I will store away for months on end until I forget I even own it.

It also means I already have the coordinating pieces in my wardrobe and don't have to shop for additional items to make the first work for me (another problem I have had in the past). This is actually a pet peeve for me. I hate coming home and finding that I found the perfect clothing item but can't wear it because it needs new shoes/new tops/new everything.

Finally, to me, it means I like it and am excited to wear it. I have been guilty of "saving" precious pieces in the past. I buy them. I place them in my wardrobe and "save" them for the perfect event. I wear them a handful of times because those perfect events are never defined. This is the worse wardrobe mistake I personally make.

So by posing a series of questions to myself before I make a purchase, I hope to circumvent at least some of the buying mistakes I have made in the past.

Bonnie

Veteran

Great job with your shopping fast, 70 days!! I like the questions you ask yourself before purchasing. I've recently found out that I will be campground hosting for 4 months in a NP immediately after our three week trip to Great Britain. Good thing I haven't been shopping for spring wardrobe items because I wouldn't get a chance to wear them. Last week, I bought three jackets, on sale, at three different levels of warmth to wear in snow, rain, and cold. I will probably not be purchasing anything else for 5 months because I'm well supplied with gear.

Irina

Veteran

Thank you, Sterling, for your detailed answer. I'm very interested in others' buying decisions. It helps me to process my own impulses and habits. One of my mistakes is settling. I need something and buy "good enough " or "kind of" what is need. Sometimes I end up with an item that is either not good quality or not functional. And I have to buy again. Mostly it happens when I feel I need it now. So, I try to exercise patience. But sticking to a list is hard. I'm looking at this idea "buy and wear now" which would make me to unlearn all the years of previous habits. And I will have to overcome some issues from my past.

kkards

Veteran

glad you find something that is perfect for you! its all about knowing what you need and what you want.

Anonymous

Irina -- the reason I implemented my purchasing fast was because I had many buying habits that did not serve me well. I hoped taking a break would allow me to teach myself some new behaviors that would serve me better.

I too bought a lot of items that I settled on. In addition to my impulse buys, the "settled" items were almost always failures. They were never quite right. I almost always returned to buy the item I really wanted. So I bought it twice ... in a manner of speaking.

Good luck in unlearning previous buying habits. I am here to tell you it can be done. I am also here to help you any way I can. Reach out to us. We'll support you.

And Bonnie. YAY for you. Your summer sounds so exciting. I will want to hear all about it ... especially in terms of the wardrobe you will assemble to meet your traveling/camping needs.

JAileen

Veteran

The new pants look really nice. I especially like that you don't have to dry clean them.

Bonnie, that sounds so interesting! Which national park?

shedev

Veteran

I like your questions Sterling. I bought a couple things at thrift, but haven't really started for spring yet. I'm trying to pick between two sweaters right now.

Sheila

Veteran

Yes... I can see these pants being so flattering to you !

Yes... I must say your 2017 fast has intrigued me to say the least.

As you know... I am off the wagon... BUT I know what my issues are.

Deals and boots ( footwear ).

These are difficult.

My husband is exasperated... "Not ANOTHER pair of boots !"

But awareness is key...

I am wearing my boots with the exception of one pair. All are leather or suede and comfortable - one is a bit odd with a sandal toe and coral suede- but in the summer it will be OK- hopefully - but thinking I pulled the trigger too soon on this one.

I also bought a Navy puffer - a great DEAL - yes DEAL - on Amazon. I am happy with it- so warm, versatile, long length, fitted ( belted ), although I traditionally stay far far away from belts - this does work. So happy with this... I have worn it almost every day since purchasing it.

So the few items I have purchased... I have been getting use of.

I also have my first pair of Fryes in the mail... The reviews are good and hopefully I will love them.

I am looking for a couple of items-not actively but if they showed up and they fit I would probably jump.

1. Straight pants ( not flares- or skinnies ) but cropped - cream ( I believe a silhouette change may be in the works )

2.. Straight skirt - cream

So - I am following you with admiration and some day .....

Anonymous

I like your list of questions to ask yourself first. I could make good use of that little system too. I agree that an EF pant like this is a good investment, and a solid way to end a shopping fast. You will no doubt be "fulfilled" by this purchase and will enjoy such a gorgeous investment in your wardrobe.

Joy

Veteran

Irina, the shopping question that helps me most when trying to fill a wardrobe hole is, 'if I buy this, will I still be looking for this type of item?'
A couple of years ago, I was desperate for a red jacket. I realized that I had bought 3, and none of them was what I really wanted so I was still looking. I felt like I could not buy the one I wanted if I found it because I had already spent quite a bit and had those 3 jackets in my closet. Lesson learned..
Bonnie, your next few months do sound exciting and fulfilling. Will you have a cabin to stay in at the NP?

Irina

Veteran

Thank you, Sterling and Joy. I certainly question now my decisions more. And your advice helps.

Anonymous

Joy -- I really like your question. I am going to add it my tiny list of questions to ask myself before I make a purchase. I am mortified to think I will never stop looking to buy bottoms for the rest of my life.

Sheila -- I agree, awareness key. My problem was that I was self-unaware. My purchasing fast helped me crystallize a few of the buying habits that served me poorly. I could not have listed them prior to starting the fast.

Congratulations on your navy puffer. It sounds perfect for you. And I gotta say, Amazon does have some great deals. Hopefully, the suede and coral boots will be worn during the upcoming season. I find that I literally switch out nearly my entire wardrobe as the season changes. This means things I don't get worn at all during the Winter become workhorses during the Summer. Fryes are my dream boot. I love their aesthetic, but they would be too hot in my climate. I hope the work for you.

Thank you everyone that supported me. Without a doubt I would not have been so successful without all of you.

minimalist

Veteran

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us in such detail!

Anonymous

These pants are so good-looking. I know you have been thinking about them for a while. Did you get them in the black you originally intended IIRC or the navy shown in the picture? Either is a splendid choice. Office appropriate pants for a hot climate are one of the hardest items to find, and these really do seem to fill the bill!
It seems like your fast has yielded the results you were looking for!
How goes the search for hiking pants?

Anonymous

Navy!! I'm wearing them right now!!

AND they brought a previous-orphan into the mix.

Win-Win-Win.

Anonymous

Oh, good! I was silently rooting for navy - it just seems so summery to me. But of course I had no idea if it would work with your existing tops.

Don't you just love the irony that, despite the fact you and I were just commiserating about how much time and effort each of us has wasted on EF pieces, here you go and find one that is perfect for you?!?

Anonymous

It is funny! I am convinced that Eileen Fisher designs for a shorter person. I can find very rare pieces that I adore. I own a four pieces (three bottoms and one top). All were very carefully selected to suit my height. My pieces are less billowy and more streamlined.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi again from beautiful Noosa Heads in Queensland Australia, where I have flown on holiday. My poor home city Auckland NZ has just had terrible flooding which we have escaped, it was not in our suburb.
Thank you Sterling for all your musings on your fast. They and Rachy-Lou's post on purging got me to join YLF.
I have also broken mine yesterday replacing one pair of dead sandals and also buying some dressy black sandals which I have not owned since I think 2009 when I gave my last pair to my daughter. She still wears those so they still have life. These will be great as they are totally my style. Both items were on a list

kerry

Veteran

Wow Sterling, you fasted for almost 1/5 or 20% of a year - woohoo!

Great to break the fast with a workhorse for your dominant season and I love the questions you asked yourself.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Sterling, what a wonderful, well thought out choice.

First I broke my fast with a lipstick purchase. I used a new to me beauty stylist at Nordstrom. I told her what I was looking for and showed her what I had. The first one she picked was perfect. I mean perfect. I've never before had someone pick a color for me that I knew instantly was right.

Then at the Talbots outlet I picked up a pair of long, lightweight navy pants to wear this spring and summer, and two midweight tops. I'm so bored with my winter wardrobe, it really is wonderful to have the new lipstick and clothes. The weather here is cooler in the morning and night and warm the rest of the day. Glorious! But we're not out of the woods yet, if prior years are any indication.

Anonymous

New lipstick always makes me feel happy.