Shopaholic vs Shopaphobic!!

officegirl

...fear of shopping; my shopping experiences always start great but end in frustration and zero purchases. I am really quite desparate to build a new wardrobe and have no idea where to begin. I need everything from outerwear to skirts, dresses, blouses, accessories. I do work in an office and need to look professional but not necessarily formal. I like fun but classy clothes, but somehow my closet is so minimal and boring! Is there a strategy to this??

17 years ago

General

7 replies

Latest reply was from thinkdina

Antje

Veteran

Well, you've come to the right place Have you already checked out previous entries from Angie's blog? These might be specifically helpful (I'm assuming that "smart casual" fits your office dress code, based on your description, but let us know if not.)
http://youlookfab.com/2006/09/.....or-ladies/
http://youlookfab.com/2007/02/.....of-outfit/
http://youlookfab.com/2008/01/.....nd-beyond/

For us to give you more specific recommendations, it would be good to know more about your body shape, age, what you like/dislike about your current/past wardrobe etc.

17 years ago

LaurenNK

Active Member

Hey officegirl~

I'm recently starting at square one since finding this awesome site.
I woke up one day, looked in my closet, and realized I hated everything in there.
So here I am, trying to figure out the basics of style and what I need to start out with so I can squeeze by.
I don't know how much of the site you've read... there are several threads that I'm trying to use as starting points:
http://youlookfab.com/2008/02/.....ssentials/
http://youlookfab.com/2008/01/.....nd-beyond/

I'm barely launced in my efforts. What I'm trying to do is gather the basics like dark wash jeans in the right length, semi-dressy black flats, basic tops in black, white, and a couple fun colors for summer. I already have black and grey slacks for the office, so what I'm really looking for is nice camis and cardigans and shoes that aren't too boring to go with my slacks.

I suppose my personal stragegy is focusing on the upcoming season so I don't get overwhelmed by all of the things that I need. So for spring/summer I'm looking for sleeveless and short-sleeved tops, walking shorts, cute flats and sandals, and cropped cardigans to go over tops when there's AC blasting. For work I'm going to stick to my 2 pairs of slacks for now and look for dressier tops in fun colors so they aren't so boring.

Come August I'll begin hunting for long-sleeved cardigans and some sweaters (black, white, plus a couple fun colors again). I don't want to end up overwhelmed with clothes that I'll never wear, so I'm learning to really be honest with myself when something catches my eye. Will I really love it, or am I just excited that I found something that fits in my price range?

On top of this, I'm trying to use eBay as much as is reasonable since my monthly budget for this is only about $50, but I literally have maybe 7 tops that I'll wear outside the house right now. I can't wait until I start adding things and can join in the "what I wore today" forum.

I'm sure some of the site veterans will have better ideas for how to get rolling with your wardrobe makeover.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

The flop-proof outfit is the best advice. It transformed my wardrobe!

Here's a helpful tip: when you are just starting out following this guideline, I have found it really helps - initially - to think "outfits" when you buy.

For example, let's say you already have the perfect dark-wash jeans. When you hit the mall, don't just buy a top. Buy a top AND a jacket AND shoes that go with it. (Unless you already know you have a certain item in your closet).

And get creative. If you shop at places like Ann Taylor or Banana Republic or similar chain, don't just stick to the outfit they show on their web site or on the mannequins (although yeah - that's often a good place to start!). Try different things together. Experiment. This is what makes you unique instead of looking like you stepped out of a catalog.

After reading through the links Antje provided above, my next question for you would be: what do you already have in your closet? I know you think you need everything... but you must have something to build from. Perhaps you already have the jeans or the perfect black pants? Or a pair or two of fabulous shoes that you love. Or maybe a few pieces of jewelry that have sentimental value and you love to wear. Those are places to start, and clues to your personal style.

17 years ago

officegirl

Member

Wow, thank you, I did come to the right place. So many great tips. I used to love to buy full priced items, without a thought, somehow that changed over the years. How true that some full priced items are real bargains if you love them and wear them often. This is going to be therapeutic! Thanks girls!

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think shiny's question is great: What are you building from? If you let us know this information, as well what Antje suggested: more about your body shape, age, what you like/dislike about your current/past wardrobe etc, we may be able to make specific suggestions. If you don't know your body shape, you could post your measurements (if you feel comfortable) and we could help you figure it out. I already knew my basic shape when I first came here, but everyone has been so helpful with their advice and suggestions. They come up with things I never would have thought of!

My formula for figuring out whether something is a bargain (and I read this in a book so I can't take credit) is:

Price of Item divided by the number of wears.

This will tell you how much it costs per wear, which has been so helpful to me in deciding whether or not to fork over the cash for something. I used to just buy whatever without really thinking about it, and I ended up wasting a bunch of money because I'd pay a lot for an item but then never wear it (I figured out later that it just wasn't flattering). Now I really think about things and what I could wear it with and try to calculate the price per wear before I buy. I recently spent $68 on a scarf (which seems to me like a lot for a scarf), but I LOVE it and wear it every chance I get, so it ends up being a good investment in the end because my price per wear is low, and gets lower every time I wear it.

17 years ago