Shopping for a need vs. exploring the possibilities - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Shopping for a need vs. exploring the possibilities

Janet

(website)

Veteran

IK's thread about spending made me think about this. I know a lot of us here, simply out of necessity, go shopping with a list (either in hand or in head) of specific items they're looking for. I do this sometimes, mostly when it comes to basics.

But more often than not, my shopping excursions are exploratory -- I'm seeing what's out there, checking out what is new, and enjoying the idea of finding something I hadn't even thought of adding to my wardrobe before.

Granted, this results in a full (over-full?) closet, and more than my share of wardrobe "mistakes." But it also leads to just as many, if not more, wonderful discoveries I never would have expected. Witness the crazy turquoise booties I bought last year, or the green wool asymmetric jacket Anna posted that I ordered on a whim.

It's funny to me, because in most of my life I am a planner -- analytical, organized, careful. But I suppose my approach to fashion/style is more like my approach to art: exploratory and spontaneous. This has been an interesting realization for me.

Anyone else have thoughts or experiences with this?

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

ramya

Veteran

I agree with you Janet... I too shop for basics like that in an organised way.. But more often than not for clothes I buy when something catches my eye

Orphans are few in my case as I donot normally buy outside my comfort zone... Toppers and trousers
Recently I got a skirt here in Norway a tulip shaped one.. Lovely it is.. But its ending as an orphan to date(2 months after purchase) because of the weather and I find it more dressy and we have not been out to any trendy place yet :D. Vegetarian options are really minimum here

anne

Veteran

At this point in my life I am a planner and do very little exploratory shopping, although I often look around shops for a good proportion of a day spent shopping before I actually buy something.
I used however, to have a city job with a 1 hr lunchbreak, and enjoyed spending some of that time wondering around the shops seeing what was there (not that I bought much as I was even more cautious then).

I have had the odd buy that was unplanned and useful - last summer I was holidaying, taking DD6 to a cafe while the rest of the family bought her birthday present, and across from the cafe was a shop with a bargain rack outside - and I tried on and bought for $10 a cobalt midi dress that got lots of YLF praise and I wore a great deal til the weather and my waistline changed.

Scarlet

Veteran

I shop a lot the way you describe yourself. I just like to go out and see what's there. If I think I want something in particular, I am so particular about the details that I never find it, or I just veer wildly off course because something else catches my eye, and then I have spent my money. For my work I have to be hyper-analytical, logical, and organized, but I don't like to use that kind of thinking in all aspects of my life. Curating my wardrobe in an intuitive spontaneous way is a big release from that for me.

ETA: I think this works for me because I have a good basis of a functioning wardrobe, so no real holes in the sense that an occasion would arise where I had nothing appropriate, and also I don't actually feel I make a lot of mistakes in the sense that I wear everything I buy a lot. I used to make more mistakes, but now I know myself well enough that my first instincts are pretty trustworthy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

For you Janet, style is a creative outlet and form of self expression. It's more than just a way to cover your body. Your explorations are a hobby and relaxing past time, from which you benefit greatly. Keep it up!

Do keep the closet review in the back of the mind though. A new item has got to be worn to be fully appreciated in my book.

Anonymous

When I go thrifting, it's mostly about exploring, since it's pretty hard to check items off a list in a thrift store (although I do try!). Ines De La Fressange said something about that in Parisian Chic, to save half of your budget for fun impulse buys and to spend the other half on basics.

Diana

Veteran

I pretty much ONLY shop exploratorily, especially in B&M stores. Sometimes I'll have an idea in my head (like, I'd really like to try some trousers or something) but I'll look at lots of things and not necessarily find the trousers, and that's OK. I hate shopping to a list - it stresses me out and takes all the fun out of shopping (this is why I was dreading the wedding dress shopping). I am pretty discerning and do consider things like cost per wear, practicality, etc when I'm shopping so I don't go out of control anyway. ONCE I find something I like, then I might get obsessed and start stalking it online or something, but I hardly ever initially go shopping with a particular item in mind.

Plus, at this point my closet is pretty big. There's almost nothing that I *need*.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think this varies depending on if I can shop in person or I am stuck with online choices. Lately, it's all been online, and that leads to specific searches. When I am in store in person, I am much more likely to just browse and see what catches my eye. Of course, Angie is right in that you have to keep the closet review in the back of your mind, even when stumbling upon surprise treasures.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Angie, you are totally right on all counts!

Here's an interesting thing. I actually found myself at one point thinking about my work in terms that we use here on YLF -- "polished" vs. RATE, minimal vs. ALGO, etc. I had to laugh at myself a little, but I was also struck by how useful certain sets of terms can be to describe approaches toward creative pursuits of any kind!

ramya

Veteran

Well Janet help me out here... What does RATE always mean? I have always wondered.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

rmya, not Janet but RATE means rough around the edges I think.

I don't get out to shop in person much so my shopping is not as spontaneous as it used to be. But I do buy based more on want than need in most cases.

bj1111

Veteran

my best buys AND my worst mistakes are impulse buys. now, i don't buy final sale, precisely for this reason.

i've gone the opposite direction from you, janet. since april, i have ruthlessly culled my closet and overbought some impulse stuff that i couldn't return (i know, i know) and that looks best in la, not the midwest. so i've been doing so much k/r, but shopping with three specific items in mind...a white jacket, a bootie (preferably with a cap toe) and jacquard pants. i finally found the white jacket and the pants. all of a sudden, the urge to shop just washed out of me. so so weird. like a switch flipped.

i guess the jacket and pants were a "need" that after fulfilling satiated me. i have some other impulse things coming, but i've already mentally committed to returning them. i've already eaten!

ironkurtin

Veteran

I love browsing. Maybe too much!

Anonymous

I love to browse, too. It doesn't cost anything to look.

Carole

Veteran

That's one of the best ways to "Have Fun With Fashion"!

qfbrenda

Veteran

I'm much more likely to browse online. I don't have a lot of alone time for brick and mortar shopping due to my family size (5 boys) and proximity to stores (35-45+ min. away). I browse online stores and Pinterest and make lists. If I get the chance to shop in a store, I'm often trying to cross things off my list. The exception to that is when I look at sales racks. I'm usually checking them to see what they have, but I still keep my list in the back of my mind.

missvee

Veteran

I love this post! Like you I enjoy going shopping just to see what's new in the stores and how they style the clothes. I admire the creativity in the window displays and often take back an idea or two to try with my own things. Once in a while I buy on impulse, and it doesn't always work out, but I think it would be a dull old world if we always bought/ did/ said the perfect things.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

This has been on my mind a lot over the last couple of years. I retired & moved to a smaller apartment & did a massive clothes cull. I realised I wanted a really well edited wardrobe & that meant changing my shopping habits.
I need controlled browsing i.e. in balance for me. Too much browsing means I bring home things that I shouldn't & not enough means I get bored or out of touch with what is available.
I've found that having a budget (& pretty much sticking to it) really helps me to focus on what I need to make my wardrobe work. Within that budget I now leave around 10 to 20% for "surprises". This works for me.

MsLuna

Veteran

From my experience (and it may not apply to most critical/analytical types as I'm more of the weird combination of analytical and feeler), I find that you do need that exploratory period where you make all these purchasing mistakes. You try different styles and you know what works for you.... or you know what DOESN'T work for you. You may do this in many ways - like purchasing the product, wearing it for a while and then tossing it - or simply going into the mall and trying stuff.

In my case, I've had to go through years and years of impulse-shopping (I am a recovering stress-shopper with a strict budget) to discover what my personal style is like. I've gone from classic (because I read a lot of style books that highly recommend the classic style), whimsy, feminine/bombshell, edgy/tomboy... I've done it all - but if it wasn't for the seven years of experimentation, I wouldn't have narrowed down my styles today.

Now, I'm trying to improve my financial situation so I've created a strict clothing budget. but at least every piece counts now because I am a lot more self-aware - thanks for those 7 years of crazy experimentation.

moira

Veteran

I have found that the thrift and consignment stores are where I buy the most interesting (and impulsive) purchases. I did not go looking for a zebra print sweater or a faux fur collar vest.
I did go to Target specifically looking for T shirts and tights and that is what I bought there. No impulse purchases at all.

Deborah

Veteran

Janet, I think my approach is a little like yours. I love shopping and enjoy browsing on line and in stores. I like to try things on that are out of my comfort zone, or don't necessarily fit my definition of what is "me". Sometimes I prove myself right (not for me) and sometimes I am pleasantly surprised. Fashion and dressing is a recreational outlet and a way to express some creativity.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I do a mix of both too. I do need two or three pairs of pants that mix easily, a few dresses, and a few jackets/cardis for my work wardrobe. I like to have some color and pattern and fun too though. I like to browse to get ideas and put together pieces that aren't together in the store. I am also inspired by window displays and sometimes recreate the outfits.

I do browse online a lot too because the selection of some items is not great where I live. I find boots to be one of those items. I can hit the two large malls and a few extra shops and still not find much worth trying on.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Great observations!

I'm a recreational and emotional shopper too. If I'm procrastinating on a project or I'm having some sort of emotional turmoil and I have a little extra time on my hands, the stores are a dangerous place. Many times I leave with nothing but ideas (and a sense of pride in my intact wallet), but other times, well...you've seen what happens!

I am becoming more aware of these habits and the overall state of my closet since joining YLF. To Angie's point, I am more acutely aware of the items I've bought that I have yet to wear. I have a cute jacket from Nordstrom last year that still has tags on it -- I think I bought it while shopping for my niece for Christmas. I tried putting it with a tee and jeans yesterday and just wasn't feeling it, so I'm thinking of returning it even though it's, what, 10 months later? If I'm not enjoying an item, and it's not a wardrobe necessity, why keep it? And how do I avoid those purchases in the future? I *thought* a light neutral dressier jacket would come in handy in my wardrobe, but it hasn't turned out that way.

And then there are wild card items I impulse-bought that I love and that have helped elevate and evolve my style. Sometimes it's just hard to tell at the time of purchase which things will stick.

I've made more mistakes in the last year or so than I have in the past, but I've also been happier with my style in the last year. I guess the mistakes are part of growth. Which is really fitting, since I just gave a presentation to a group of photographers last week in which I talked about that very same idea as applied to creating art.