Recent purchase mistake(s)? How long 'til you knew?

I have to admit my most recent purchase just a few days ago of a bra was a mistake. I tried to make it work, I wanted to make it work. I had a black CK bra in 30D that some of you may remember I busted the center gore of a few months back (hulk moment lol). I decided to try the exact bra in a 32D, since the cups of the 30D were ever so small on me. Well, no surprise, the cups of the 32D are ever so big on me lol. I wore it around the house, under a clingy knit layer shirt for half a day trying to convince myself. The thing is, it *was* returnable but I tricked myself into thinking it fit and removed the tags. $20 mistake I won't wear unless I shove those 'cutlet' thingies in there lol.
It took me less than 24 hours to realize it was a mistake.

My other most recent mistakes would be the $17 white sateen blazer most of you told me to return. I kept it, thinking adding a button would negate the boxiness, and it would 'do' until I find a proper light colored dressy blazer. I'm kind of doubting it will get worn. That took about a whole month for me to realize it was a mistake.

I think both of these mistakes were made in the effort to fill wardrobe holes. I had the items on a list and was hell bent on searching out the things I could check off that list. Also, both were ordered online (as most of my stuff is) and I know I would not have grabbed either one, had I tried them on in person in a store.

What are your recent mistakes? Were they fit errors? Quality? Orphans in the making? Did it take you a wear or two to realize it, or did the fact that you did not wear it all make you realize your mistake?

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

The cobalt blue jacket with the puffed sleeves was my mistake. Loved the colour. The fit was perfect. It had a retro charm about it Angie approved it. BUT - it was harder than heck to style and could only be worn one or two ways, plus it did NOT fit under outwear easily. Ended up giving it to local thrift store. I think I knew early on it was a mistake but it took me a couple of months to get it out of the closet.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Oh, this is timely. I was just trying on 2 recent purchases last night that I haven't worn yet and THOUGHT they worked when I first got them. One is an ASOS skater dress that I saw on a blog. It is mustard yellow with adorable little black horses on it. I planned on wearing it with leggings, but when it arrived it was still too hot so I tried it on bare legged and it looked good (knowing that I wouldn't wear it bare legged). I tried it on with leggings last night - and the back of it is just not flattering with something underneath. So I have this cute little dress that is probably a bit too juvenile for me (I'm 45) and it's too late to return it. It was pretty inexpensive, but still. I'm thinking maybe my 12 year old niece can wear it. Seriously I should have bought a blouse with little horses on it, those are out there somewhere.

The second thing is a long color blocked tank top, that I also bought to wear over skinny jeans or leggings. I tried it on over white skinny jeans when it first arrived and I liked it. I tried it on last night and meh. It's really not that great. And when would I wear it - I'm thinking anywhere I go I'm going to need something on top of it because I run cold. That would cover up the color blocking, which is what I loved about it. If it's a hot sunny day and I'm going to be outside I really wouldn't wear this material, it's kind of dressy and delicate. It is from Nordstroms, though, so I may be able to return.

I think these mistakes are both the result of loving a color/pattern/material and being blinded to how they look on me/work for my lifestyle. I used to do this a lot more often but seem to have had a relapse.

deb

My mistakes are usually with shoes. I will purchase a pair because i love the color or they are very different. I will were them once, which makes them unreturnable, then never again. I am stubborn, and will keep them for years before I finally purge them.

Oh yeah, I've done this too Deb. Again, it's a great color or pattern that attracts me and I ignore the uncomfortable fit but am reluctant to put those shoes on again.

Anonymous

*groan* Do we really have to go there Mo? Ugh!

Okay I usually discover it right after I clip the tags! I have a new rule that I'm not allowed to cut tags off while the purchasing endorphins are still coursing through my veins. I get really exciting when I first get home that I think the new item goes with EVERYTHING in my closet. It can do no wrong. And don't even question me; I know what I'm doing (that was for DH).

Recent mistakes include a black tank from Chicos that was a size 1 which I found at Savers. It was actually a sweater, and I thought it be great for layering or as a stand alone top. I've never been in a Chicos, but their sizing is wacked. It gives vanity sizing a whole new meaning. We get their stuff in the boutique sometimes and as close as we can figure, a 1 is a 1X, a 2 is really a 2X, etc. For some reason I thought I could wear this as a "slouchy" oversized tank. But like Angie talked about this morning, something that is meant to be bodycon looks funny when you size up (like, 5 sizes). And do I really want to wear a sweater under another sweater? Yeah, no.

Also I tend to buy winter items during the summer (who can resist when they're only a dollar). I end up with a lot of "fun" or funky things(capes, caplets, bulky velvet blazers that I could wear like ONE day of the whole year) that no one else wants. I mistakenly think I can rock them when it cools off. But no, I just end up staring at them all summer and then realizing how ridiculous they are on me when it's finally cool enough to style them properly. When will I learn?

catgirl

Don't get me started.

For instance, I actually think the Ted Baker dress I wore yesterday was a mistake, even though I ADORE it - the neckline always looks bad to me, even though you all say it's fine. I overlooked it at the time I bought it because I was so head-over-heels. And I still wear it enough to justify it. But would I buy it again? No.

The problem for me has been buying things I love whether they work for me or not, just because I love them. While I'm SYC I'm really trying to hone my eye to look not just at whether I love something, but whether it is going to fit into MY wardrobe, lifestyle, style rubric, needs, budget, etc. SO HARD. And that's why mistakes are made.

Sylvie

Well I didn't need another pair of black closed toe shoes but I was seduced by the fact that they were Fluevogs and on deep sale since they were used.

Also, I bought two short sleeved summer cardigans and now that I look at them, the fit isn't all that great. They were cheap and if they'd been full price, there is no way I would have kept them.

I never learn, do I?

unfrumped

Sooner, now, than a year ago, is the most I can say.

Like clearlyclaire, I'm learning, no cut tags until you actually are walking out of the house in it. (Which can be bad, since I went to church a few Sundays ago with a tiny size S label still glued on the front of my sweater).

I'm also finally beginning to train myself to buy at the beginning of the season, more, at least. That's partly because I don't trust "classics" as much. I struggle with this because it does mean I may pay full price in May and everyone else gets it for 40% off not too long after. Angie has had good writeups on how to be so over that. It seems things are a bit more likely to get orphaned if you don't really need and want to wear them right away or can't, due to season/weather. I don't think that needs to be taken to extreme--still good to buy a wool coat at sale time--but off-season buying I think leads me to more over-buying or imaginary lifestyle buying, and a higher percentage of those turn out to be mistakes. I'm still working to get the right balance between great sale-feelings and great "this is too divine to pass up " feelings.

Jonesy

Two recent things from late spring that I knew were mistakes once I had cut the tags and contemplated wearing maybe 1-2 weeks later: A citron sweater from Anthro (on deep discount, bought online) and a silk top from the Rack (also bought online). With both, they were on sale and I loved the color/print and the *idea* of them. Once I had tried them on several times and then taken them off, I realized that there was something icky about the fit on both.

Just like Claire, I now let things *simmer* for a few days before I take off the tags, get rid of the boxes, etc. BTW, Claire, here is the Chico's sizing http://www.chicos.com/store/page.jsp?id=45. They cover a wide range of sizes (going up to 24, I think) and their sizes are bigger than usual (e.g., a traditional size 10 is a S for them or a 1.5--I have a pair of pants from them that fit TTS in that 1.5/size 10, though it wouldn't be considered TTS based on its S designation, if that makes sense).

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