What's your purchase criteria?

yellowgirl

I really enjoyed the thread about things we won't even consider. I've done something similar to help me (hopefully) bring home mostly winners. I have developed a list of questions that I keep on my phone to refer to when I'm shopping. If I can't answer 'yes' to most of these questions, I pass. This list keeps me honest and prevents mistakes from making their way into my closet. Here's my list as it stands right now:

• Does it fit my body well?
• Is it in my preferred color palette?
• Does it pass the picture test?
• Do I need it?
• Is it good quality?
• Does it go with things I already own?
• Do I love it & feel great in it?
• Is it effortlessly modest?
• Does this convey the message I want to send?
If not, I can do better!

Anybody else do something like this?

14 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

(website)

Veteran

question number 4 would negate half my wardrobe hee hee! But I do try and think:
where will I wear it
how (with what else) will I wear it

These 2 simple questions, and my mental imagery that follows, has been helpful. Before I just had to really like it and have it be in my price range, which was not the best 'strategy'

14 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

1) Can I wear it at work and be my cute fab self? (if yes; then I generally buy it)
2) If I cannot wear it at work, is it spectacular enough to wear on my days off?

14 years ago

annette

Active Member

What is the picture test??

14 years ago

Refugee

Veteran

This is a great list and a great idea. I think I need to have a list like this. Being someone who likes variety in my wardrobe, one of the questions I would add is 'Do I already have something similar enough that it really wouldn't add anything new to my wardrobe?
I would also second Mo's question of 'where would I wear it?'

14 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Impulse shopper here...although my eye/mind scan the item and in a split second I have determined if I love it or not:)

14 years ago

maraxcee

(website)

Active Member

Basically everything you said, but I also ask myself if the item is worth its price.(:

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Does it pull at my heart strings?

What am I going to give up in my closet so that there is space for this item?

14 years ago

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

Do I love it?
How would I look in it?
Does it come in anything close to my size?
Am I comfortable with the price?

14 years ago

Aunty

Veteran

Do I love / need it.
Will it make at least 3 other outfits.
Is the fit perfect.

14 years ago

yellowgirl

Active Member

annette - the picture test is taking a picture of myself in the mirror with my cell phone. I am amazed at how different my perspective is when I see myself in a picture! Since YLF, I take a quick picture of everything I'm about to buy, and new outfits I'm trying to put together.

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I start with the 3F's... does it fit, flatter, and does it serve a function in my wardrobe? If it passes those 3 questions, I do some hemming and hawing to make sure that this is really THE ONE.

Your list of question's is really good. Do you have them written on a little card that you keep in your wallet?

I had a little mini-revelation the other day. I was wearing a dress that I bought on a total whim.. it fit, flattered, but I really didn't need it, as I had already declared that I had purchased my quota of summer dresses. I LOVE this dress though, and so does my husband. I took a quick look in my closet and realized that many of my favorite items were bought under similar circumstances. Hmmmm... maybe I'm more picky when I know I have no business buying something than when I'm actually out on the hunt. I think that is true for myself. When I'm on the hunt, I feel a pressure to fill a wardrobe need, and perhaps I settle for something that fits and flatters, but I'm not necessarily IN LOVE. I need to work on that. Perhaps I need to do away with planned shopping trips and just see what happens to float across my path.

14 years ago

yellowgirl

Active Member

Queen Mum - I keep my list on my phone, which is always with me, so easily accessible. I agree with you - finding am item that you absolutely LOVE trumps the whole "do I need it" question entirely!

14 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Kim, your revelation hits home for me! I had this same revelation a couple months ago: when I have a list and am looking for particular items, I tend to settle just so I can tick it off my list. I end up with "just OK" items, but not "makes me do a happy dance" items. Since my wardrobe is (mostly) functioning right now, I'm keeping vague mental lists and just looking for those items that really tickle my fancy. I haven't shopped much since then, but my few outings have been much more fun and I got some really great pieces I love that I wouldn't have even looked at if I'd had my list of "I need this".

EDIT: So to answer the initial question Is the cost is reasonable? Does it fit and flatter (cut, colors, all that jazz)? Do I love it? Does it need special care that I know I won't do (I'm lazy!)? Does it further my style aspirations?

14 years ago

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