Who’s getting your shopping dollars?

Runcarla

At the start of 2024 I decided to try a ‘low buy’ year and adopt the practice of shopping ‘second hand first’ and ‘bricks and mortar’ stores second. Online shopping seems to work for me only when I know the product and am shopping for replacements.

Due to a size change I’ve had more churn in my wardrobe than I like, so this is not turning out to be a ‘low buy’ year. For the most part I’ve shopped local and not made any trips to the Big City or malls for shopping. I have shopped thrift stores in other locations whilst on trips to visit family near and far. Here’s who’s getting my shopping $’s:

Winners - 7 garments
Thrift - 6 garments
Marks Work Warehouse - 5 items (including 3x footwear)
Joe Fresh - 2 garments
Hart - 1 garment

I did order 2 bras directly from the Wacoal.ca website that are exact replacements for ones I already own, and bought new specs from two different independent optician stores.

Other than the specs, which cost a fortune, and the bras, everything has been quite inexpensive - but that’s what is generally available to me locally. There are a few independent women’s clothing stores in my small town, and the town 10km east, however their merch tends to be dressier with a lot of Michael Kors, Olsen (which I like), Joseph Ribcoff (a Canadian designer who manufactures some items in Canada), Tribal, and a smattering of European brands. Also, sized to fit shorter/petite build women.

I’m planning a trip to the Big City for some museum hopping and shopping - sometime in the fall. In the interim, if there’s anything I need, I’ll be checking out the thrift shops followed by the usuals - Winners or MWWH.

So, who’s getting your shopping dollars in 2024?

4 months ago

General

35 replies

Latest reply was from Ginger

Dee

Veteran

I was on a bit of a shopping frenzy in early spring, I like to shop in person mostly and rarely shop online, although I’ll source ideas and in-store inventory that way. I wanted to get a better handle on my shopping needs and so I decided like you, to shop second hand first and then regular retail when necessary.

So far for 2024 my shopping dollars have been spent as follows;

8 Thrifted/consignment
4 Uniqlo
3 LL Bean
2 Winners
2 Simons
1 Old Navy
1 Reitmans

I’m on a shopping hiatus for the next month or two because I have everything I really need in my wardrobe.

4 months ago

Jenny H

Veteran

Ooh, I love this question! I don't have an exact tally of what I've bought this year. But off the top of my head:

Thrifted: maybe 10 clothing
Neighborhood free pile: maybe 4
Poshmark: 3 clothing

Sierra: 2 clothing, 3 socks

Target: 2 clothing
Quince: 2 clothing
Neiwei: 2 bras
Nordstrom: 1 clothing, 1 jewelry
Local boutique: 3 jewelry

This seems like a lot, but i also didn't buy much clothing at all for the previous several years combined.

4 months ago

Roberta

Veteran

Carla poses the BEST questions. This is the first year I've tracked my purchases by store. Like Dee, I'm pretty much done for the year. Summer and Fall are usually dry seasons for me, although there is a pair of barrel chinos at Everlane that is supposed to be restocked next month . . .

Anthropologie: 2
Athleta/Title 9: 1
Banana Republic: 3
Macy's: 3
Loft: 5 (this was a surprise!)
Nordstrom/Rack: 4
eBay/Poshmark: 6
L L Bean: 2
Gap/Old Navy: 2
Other: 6 (a Quince top, the Lole coat, a museum shop scarf, etc.)

4 months ago

Runcarla

Veteran

@ Roberta - I like to see where folks are getting their finds, which labels or stores are ‘getting it right’, if there are any new discoveries - in order to approach shopping with a ‘no stone unturned’ approach. I’d like to have access to ‘better’ shops and know I’ll have to travel specifically to have access to more choices.

I’ve become somewhat closed minded to actually making purchases online - though, like Dee, I ‘shop’ online to get a brand’s vibe or get outfit ideas from how they present their styling. Otherwise, I try to be open minded

4 months ago

cat2

Veteran

Almost all of my purchases have been one offs from a bunch of different brands. I was trying to fill very specific wardrobe gaps. NAS is the exception, 3 Vince pieces.

4 months ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Basically no-one this year! One pair Skechers near-exact replacements (found $30 cheaper than the 2019 originals, from an NZ shoe chain) and one cardigan, made from traceable merino wool, from a NZ fashion chain called Max that seems to have been working towards greater sustainability these past few years. Full price but I felt it was reasonable not over-the-top.
Overall so happy with my wardrobe.

4 months ago

Sal

Veteran

Of the non gear/active wear purchases to date in 2024 my split is as follows:

Instore boutique 7 (range of brands, local and Australian)
instore chain/mall 3
Online chain/mall store 2
Online second hand 1
online specialist 1 (shoes - podiatrist recommended brand)
discounter 1 (The Warehouse)

By chain/mall store I mean a store that I could find online or in most/many malls around, equivalent in the USA would be Banana Republic or similar.

My spend per item is probably higher than usual, but my wear is pretty good. I would like to be finding more second hand.

Like you Carla I like online for replacements. Shoes are also quite good for me online.

I prefer a boutique; for me it makes shopping a pleasurable experience. Two of the boutiques were when I was on vacation, one where I purchased four pieces was a lunch time outing when I wanted a good wardrobe update, and one is very close to my house. I also like to support local retailers. The downside is that it becomes more expensive and often the size range is more limited.

And look - no black! The turtleneck and suit are navy!! The dress does have black in the print.

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