SYC and new shopping strategies

I've collected your insightful comments on how to avoid over-shopping and make better and healthier choices when the stress level is sky high. I thought it could be helpful and a resource for others, too.

Stress release #1: Get fresh air and nurture body and soul in physical activities, because "any clothing will always LOOK better if I'm in better shape both physically and mentally!!" (Thanks, unfrumped!)

A SYC strategy will be my foundation and creative fashion outlet. Then I'll go with a "hiatus for now" as my main shopping rule.

SYC fun and creative outlet:

making capsules or setting rules for outfits to spur "outside of the box thinking"
cataloging clothes
tracking wears (I got a pretty notebook from a friend that has been waiting for an assignment. Now is the right time :-))
hair, make-up, nail polish

Shopping strategies:

"hiatus for now"
allow for replacements and basic necessities
extremely picky
shop in bursts, like S/S and F/W
don't shop for fun
create barriers and alternatives to the instant gratification

Thank you all for your moral support and constructive approach! Feel free to add to the list.

9 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

You could come up with a SYC challenge for yourself and share it with the members here when you are getting bored with your outfits.

harmonica

Great advice, chewyspaghetti!

Chris987

Love your lists! I don't quite need to put a stop to my purchases but I still find your lists to be excellent advice overall.

Your stress relief #1 is just perfect and so true!

This idea is so good because you are not setting yourself a goal of deprivation, you are setting fun, happy, and achievable goals. Especially love using the pretty notebook, and keeping hair, makeup, nails in good shape.

One thing you might add is a 6-weeks in assessment of how things are going (or 4 weeks or whatever works for you)

Sure, Chris987! Taking the time to pause and evaluate is a step on the way - especially to see if adjustments are needed. I think I need a 2 weeks plan, then evaluate - otherwise I'm afraid I'll loose sight of the track and fall back into the unwanted pattern.

Astrid

Great strategies! We could keep each other accountable if you want and check into this thread from time to time.

Here's what I plan to do:

+ Starting the end of my holiday, no more purchases besides the necessities (underwear, tights...) - that means starting September
+ Only exception is repurposed money from selling some things which is going to be spent either on a versatile fall/winter skirt which isn't wool or on building blocks for an interview outfit

Things I personally found helpful in the past:

+ Unsubscribing from newsletters and deleting bookmarks
+ Creating a few outfits you feel great in so that you have some looks to fall back on
+ Wearing an outfit you totally love when you do hit the stores - if most items look worse in comparison to what you already own you're less likely to settle

Sounds great, Astrid! I like your plan and I'm sure you'll stick to it.

Ha! I'll adopt your last point and tweak it to «only enter a store when wearing a FAB and highly loved outfit».

catgirl

Another of my strategies is to limit myself to spending what I've made consigning. Often just browsing the consignment or thrift store is enough to scratch the itch of wanting to look around.

carter

Active Member

I find that projects that demonstrate just how much I already have are quite the deterrent to shopping:-). You mentioned cataloging, which is great. Also rearranging the closet, removing everything for a closet deep-clean, photographing all the sweaters (or jeans, etc) together, putting together capsules (even if you don't use it as such), etc.

Good luck to you. I'll be pulling way back on the shopping for awhile myself.

Anonymous

This is very helpful.

texstyle

(website)

Counting wears helps me rationalize if I need more or simply am shopping out of boredom. If I have an item in my closet that I really like but haven't worn much, I like to pull it to the front and make a real commitment to wear it more often. I figure I need to wear an item at least 20 times in a year - if not more, to justify it to myself. Others may have a different number.

I agree with organizing the closet - I like to organize by color with tops on top and bottoms on bottom. I also like to sometimes spend a few hours organizing accessories and trying them on in new ways with some of my clothing and shoes to see if I can find new combinations.

Getting off the e-mail and catalog lists is a great way to keep new things out of mind. But sometimes I don't mind looking at them just for inspiration for how to use things I already own.

El Cee

These are wonderful strategies. I really love your ideas for SYC -- especially getting creative with building capsules. These strategies remind me a lot of a personal challenge that YLF member Lisa undertook a couple years ago. (You probably remember it.) She used a spare closet in another room to create her own SYC "boutique". I thought this was a clever idea.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....m-dh-rules

Cerinda

Cataloging, counting, and consignment (what Una said). I'm currently experiencing a real thrill as I analyze my piles of daily photos: getting a grip on what works now for this body (seeing silhouette and proportion work instead of just thinking it does) makes SYC lots more fun!

Thank you all for adding to the list! It is really encouraging and I'm taking notes.

Thanks for your lists. I've been thinking along the same lines. I can't really say I'm not going to buy anything at all because at some point things need to be replaced. Everything I have is in great shape right now, though, so I think I'm good for a while. I may need another sweater or 2 for winter, but that's about it. I do believe it's kind of like dieting. If I say no to something, it will become the thing I want the most. It's better not to say never. It's all mental.

BC - that's when the "hiatus for now" for now comes in I'm taking it step by step and see how far I reach. I only think 2 weeks ahead at a time and try to plan as much fun and positivity as I can into those two weeks.

unfrumped

I likd your 2- weeks plan. It is easier to be successful in that and then reevaluate/ tackle another 2 weeks.

Bijou

Participating in the YLF challenges can be a way of having fun with your existing closet. Last night I went out to dinner and thought I would like to try to make it a Gwen Stephani look. It was more out there than my usual style, but was a fun way to change up my look.

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