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YLF & impact on shopping

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

I've been pondering a bit lately the effects YLF has had on my shopping habits, what the longer term impacts will be (inspired by Laura's challenge) and I'm curious about your experiences.

Initially I went a bit wild and bought anything and everything (mostly thrifted thank goodness), but I've noticed the past month or so (think I've been here just over 6 months now), I've been really really selective and actually buying less now than ever because I'm just not satisfied with anything I can find - I've developed a much more discerning eye and tastes. I also have developed a list of what I want for the coming season and am really happy with the things on my list so not really prepared to deviate much.

And, I've even been looking at other purchases in the same light as cost per wear - my new sandwich press at $40 has already got a much lower cost per use than my old $8 one that broke after just 10 days of use LOL

Interestingly, despite having more days when I come home with nothing compared to before, I am enjoying shopping more - the thrill of finding the perfect version of something on my list is giving me more joy than just buying so-so stuff.

So, over to you - how has YLF impacted on your shopping habits?

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Katja

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Well, my weight has fluctuated ever since joining YLF so I have not yet gotten to the point of only needing a few pieces here and there. I still do a tremendous amount of shopping!

Things that have changed:
-more willing to try trendy pieces and silhouettes
-much better understanding of my body type so I buy more flattering pieces (thought I was an hourglass but I am a pear)
-less afraid to buy items that aren't as popular on the forum if they are right for me (in the land of fussy feet, it is sometimes hard to wear heels without having to justify it)
-more metallic and neutrals, which I never really gave much thought before
-I buy for seasons now. I used to just buy whatever was in the store when I needed it and not give it more thought than that. So I would look for winter coats in January when they were long gone, instead of getting them in the beginning of the season.

Mostly, though, I like shopping a lot more than I used to, and I look at a lot of different factors when I buy: how it fits, how it flatters, if it goes with other items in my closet, if it is in style, if I already own a similar item in the same color family, etc. Before YLF, if I could button it, I bought it.

rute

Veteran

The same happened to me...
I was stuck in a style that was flattering, but a little "old lady", not risking at all!

When I met YLF I went crazy and start experimenting all sorts of styles.. and made some mistakes..

Now I'm more venturous but have learned to stick to what I know it's flattering and suits my lifestyle!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I like what you said about the sandwich press. Your example is what I would call "the high price of low quality." In other words, your $8 was wasted and you would have been better just spending the $40 right off the bat.

Applies to the wardrobe as well!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Ooo, Angie's going to love this thread Theresa.

YLF and Angie's guidance has but the fun back into shopping for me. Since the birth of Emmy and the recession my disposable income has taken a serious hit BUT I'm building a fab wardrobe in spite of this little irritation.

I have some months were I have just £10.00 to spend but instead of being defeatist I have been using the £10.00 to buy a pair of interesting hose or a new lipstick to add a little punch to what I have.

I'm also taking more risks, not all of my wardrobe has to be made of workhorse pieces, I do have room for my purple jeans or pretty satin dress.

The blog post which resonated the most with me was about wardrobe capsules. I'm building a holiday capsule for a week in the sun at the beginning of September, prior to YLF I would have bought only very summery items but this time I'm buying pieces like this which will be versatile through Autumn/ Winter if layered correctly
http://www.bubbleroom.com/prod.....unica.aspx
http://www.asos.com/Gap/Gap-Wo.....8;clr=Grey

I guess we are all savvier shoppers who think through our purchasing rationale. Thank You Angie.

stringy

Veteran

I was all prepared to chime in, but really: exactly what you said, Theresa

shana

Veteran

LOL, Kristen, you are hilarious - I love the "if I could button it, I bought it." Well, I have to admit that YLF has led me to shop ALOT more than I used to, partially because I am seeing all sorts of exciting possibilities and getting lots of ideas from Angie and the ladies on the forum. Have items modeled and reviewed by irl people is such a help! I have definitely expanded my horizons and stepped out of my comfort zone alot more. I am doing much better about breaking my clearance shopping habit - buying items simply because it is such a bargain. Now I am more discerning about fit, body type and versatility/trendiness and not so focused on the red sticker or the percentage off.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My heart is happy

Louise

Veteran

" Before YLF, if I could button it, I bought it. "
That was me too and as a result I had a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear. I think I spend more than before as but now I have things I can wear. I'm much more daring now, the old me would never in a million years have worn skinnies, skirts, dresses, harem pants , clogs......

Just this morning I was thinking what a 180 deg change I've had. Had to get up and dressed at 6.30 this morning an hour which I haven't seen for at least 2 years!!!! Previously I would have thrown on jeans and a t, without any thought i grabbed a tunic, leggings and shoes, popped on a scarf and jacket and was out the door in 10 mins and still felt fab.

All hail Angie and YLF x

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My shopping habits have changed so much recently. Up until the last month or so, I was still shopping for a body that was rapidly losing weight- low price point/quality since I had a high turnover rate, and experimental, rather than planning out a wardrobe that worked together. Before YLF, I just bought the bare minimum in quality and quantity- with lots of misses. Since I am no longer losing weight (rapidly or otherwise, despite my desire), I have completely changed my philosophies. For summer I was able to put together a small capsule of cotton day dresses. I am fine with just having 5 dresses, because each one is perfect for the task. I much prefer one perfect piece than a bunch of just ok ones. I am trying to build the rest of my wardrobe on this same principle. I really like having a small, functioning wardrobe of higher quality pieces. I have stopped shopping locally almost entirely, and prefer to go once a month or so to a larger mall with higher quality and buy a single piece. I think that in the long run, this will actually save me money, and I know that it will build a better wardrobe.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I have just finished a full year with YLF so I have done ALOT of shopping and had too much fun (read.. spent too much $$) But have learned a ton so we'll just consider it tuition for the school of life lessons

- before YLF I owned 3 dresses... now I own 16. It's not that I didn't like dresses either... I just didn't know I could wear them casually

- I have probably more than doubled my maximum limit to spend on a single item. I would have NEVER spent over $25 on any kind of top, but now have a $58 blouse in my closet awaiting it's verdict.

- I am much more ruthless about returns. I have begun to recognize the difference between loving something and wanting to love it. If it's not 100% fantastic on me, back it goes.

- I probably spend more time at the mall, but am learning to just enjoy the process rather than feel like I *have* to come home with something great.

- I am learning to spend more time in the accessories departments. In fact really, I should some day just doing an accessory shopping day, rather than it being an afterthought.

bj1111

Veteran

the one piece of shopping advice that i did follow since joining ylf is to use deep discount sales like nas to purchase a current higher end item that i love and would get lots of use out of before the end of the season sales. previously, i would have stocked up on slightly better quality basics that would not have lasted any longer than the cheaper ones. may have gone overboard this time, but i love each thing that i kept.

i also used the exercise to look at things in my closet that i love, why i loved it then replicate that in the items that i eventually bought.

i've also been building a shoe wardrobe. not that i needed more shoes, but i needed shoes in a specific style and color that i can see working with several outfits and situations. previously, i had a sea of black shoes (different textures/styles, but all black). now i have islands of burgundy and silver and gray.

anne

Veteran

I to think my attitude to shoes has been one of my biggest changes, though this is hard to implement on the ground ( I still mostly have black shoes, but have added nude heeled sandals, black boots, brown riding boots and red sandals)

Prior to YLF I was so perfectionistic I frequently returned home from shopping trips empty handed. Now I buy more (especially if I can get YLF approval before return - not by any means always possible in Aus)

Also it took me ages to get used to trends; while that is still the case I get to have my warm up period with the norrthern hemisphere so I am not quite so dated!

Lisa

Veteran

I'm in the beginning stage with my shopping from reading YLF. I am shopping often, trying items I would never have looked at previously, bringing items home, trying to make outfits out of them BEFORE I cut off tags and decide to keep them. I also now return with no mercy whereas before I would avoid returning like the plague.

I’ve also shifted my thinking. I previously would shy away from a pricey, not on sale item, even if I loved it because of the higher price. I would buy sale items even if it was not the current season with the mindset that I can save it for later. Well when the season does roll around, I usually want something new-er anyway.

Now I look at in season items and if I truly love it, I’ll buy it even if it is more than I would previously consider spending on an item. I’ve also started buying items I never would have tried before: blazers have become a favorite layering piece whereas previously I would have only purchased one for an interview. I’ve started buying more dresses, another item I used to pass up. And I look at accessories now too.

I've also started thinking more about fit, color and lifestyle. It's been a lot of work, but I expect a year from now I will have a very streamlined process and be able to make more educated decisions without so much trial and error or returning.

Carole

Veteran

I relate completely to your thoughts, Theresa. I Have been thinking about this lately and have followed the same sort of path. At first I couldn't stop buying "this and that" just to add some life to my seemingly boring wardrobe and to feel like I was putting into action the things I was learning here, but like you, I have replaced that mentality with a more selective and thoughtful approach to creating a more organized wardrobe to meet the needs of my life and lifestyle. Thank you Angie and all the YLF gals who provide such excellent coaching!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Teresa, it sounds like you and I are joined at the brain when it comes to YLF shopping impact. I've had the *exact* same experience. I've become much more selective about the things I purchase and far less willing to compromise. I too have developed concrete lists of wardrobe gaps I need to fill and rarely deviate from that. And I now take much more pleasure in my wardrobe as a result.
One other effect has been my increased willingness to embrace certain trends. I never would have purchased a cascading cardigan prior to YLF, b ut the ombre purple one I found last fall became one of my favourite casual pieces.
Ditto for blue bags, which I never would have considered before. Still looking for the perfect one.

Anonymous

Does anyone else ever feel as though they're part of "Angie's Army" when they're out shopping?

I've only been reading YLF since early May, I believe. Combined with a 25-lb. weight loss, I've had A LOT of catching up to do on a limited budget. I had to start with my summer wardrobe and summer is my least favorite season (and less intuitive for me from a style perspective), so it's been challenging on many levels.

So far, my shopping/fashion habits have changed in the following ways:

1. I shop more often.
2. I return clothing more often.
3. I try trends I never would've attempted before. Skinny jeans, for example. It's so nice having a resource to turn to in order to find out exactly how to wear and style a piece of clothing successfully.
4. I've discovered the awesomeness that is Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. If I weren't already plugged into a religion, I'd consider Nordstrom as a strong alternative.
5. I'm still learning the "cost per wear" lesson. I've been a premium jean convert for several years, but am slowly figuring out what other areas I should invest in more based on my lifestyle.
6. I've loved seeing women of all shapes and sizes embrace looking their best on this website. I know there is some body-shape commiseration that occurs, but for the most part, this site isn't about being tall and thin in order to look great. I love that!

Kate

Veteran

Things that have changed:

1. I'm much more selective about color. I used to want tops in a rainbow of colors, which made it difficult to coordinate them with layers on top. Now my palette is much more focused.
2. I'm much more selective about cut. I no longer buy crew neck shirts, and realize that my neck isn't really that short, I just need a v or scoop neck top to make it look normal. I was ok with choosing items that fit before, but I didn't know what cuts were most flattering on my body.
3. I don't buy gear unless it's for an activity that requires gear. Growing up in Seattle and my love for REI led me astray, but I no longer buy fleece jackets for everyday wear.
4. I'm buying a lot more and giving away a lot more (and selling some). Hopefully this stage won't last too much longer.
5. I accessorize more, and focus on buying accessories that are versatile with my wardrobe.

Things that have stayed the same:
1. I continue to think about cost per wear. I made some investments before YLF that I am still happy with, but I'm making more now that I can predict better which items are worth it.
2. I continue to spend much more time shopping online than in person. Even though I prefer to buy clothes in a store and try them on before purchasing, I still scour the selection online before looking in person. Even though limiting my colors has helped tremendously, I still get overwhelmed in large stores if I don't already have an idea of what's in stock from looking online.

tarzy

Veteran

I definitely shop with more awareness. I haven't always done the right thing, even since reading YLF (overly casual tops, I'm looking at you) and I have definitely wasted money, but at least I'm more and more aware. I feel I'm in another mini-transition at the moment, and we'll see if I can break through to the other side this time!

April

Veteran

I definitely shop more, but for me that's a good thing since as SO says, "You were at ground zero."

I know better what to look for in terms of fit, and I'm becoming wiser about what things are worth buying even if they need alteration and what things are better passed by.

I am now at the point where I can identify the gaps in my wardrobe and shop with an eye toward filling them, as opposed to wandering in stores waiting for something to catch my eye.

For me, these are all major steps forward!

Kristine

Veteran

I'm like April, YLF has encouraged me to shop more but that's a good thing. I don't feel guilty anymore about spending a reasonable amount on clothing each month.

Like other people mentioned, I'm more selective especially if I go thrift store shopping. It really has to be just right and in great shape. In the past I would buy things just to have something to wear, now I'm willing to wait. For new things I'm willing to spend more but I buy less.

I've discovered the start of my own style and I stay more current. I notice trends a lot more, whether I decide to wear them or not.

I've learned that style doesn't have to be expensive but sometimes it's worth spending on too.

Refugee

Veteran

Oh my goodness the journey I am on, thanks to YLF, is A-MA-ZING! Do I try new things? Yes. Am I afraid of making mistakes? Not so much. Does my level of discernment continue to increase? Absolutely! Do I still feel that if an item is not for me that it is a personal judgment against me? Absolutely not. Do I rush out at the last minute to try to find something for an event? Nope. Am I intimidated about returning items? Not so much. I continue to learn things here every single day. I enjoy shopping more all the time. And, most importantly, I feel more fab every day.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I am just so grateful to YLF for helping to give me the opportunity to purchase clothes with a greater capacity that they will flatter my shape, size, style preferences and colouring.

Sadly, I don't get a lot of time to shop for clothes, so I powershop infrequently every few months. The best thing is that I now powershop with a purpose, before it was far more hit and miss. Like Theresa, I identify those gaps in my wardrobe and plan to fill them accordingly. I won't end up with three shirts if I need trousers or a skirt and I'm not afraid to go home (albeit a little sadly given the infrequency) if a shopping trip just "wasn't meant to be" in a style/fit sense.

YLF gives me the added advantage of observing what the Northern Hemisphere members have "style tested" over a particular season (and usually are yet to come out in the shops in Australia). I do a little mental note of the styles I would love to try and as a result have a pretty good idea of what I should pursue and what I should avoid when I do get one of those rare times out and about.

Thanks Angie and to all of YOU!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Well, if all of these stories aren't a testament to how much Angie has influenced us and done a fabulous job educating us, and permeating our brains, I don't know what is!

So, THANK YOU ANGIE!!!

Its remarkable that so many of us have had similar journeys.

I giggled at the "Angies Army" comment because I often find myself looking at things in stores and thinking they look like something Angie or a fellow YLF member has worn, or talked about, and I do sometimes stand there imagining the comments you guys would make!

Some other things I thought about today that I feel have really impacted on the way I shop are that I feel like I've learned how things are *supposed* to fit - every comment someone makes about fit seems to make its way in, and I'm now aware of WHY something isn't right, rather than just knowing its not quite right.

I also no longer screw my nose up at things I see as "trendy" with an instant dislike because, like the other southern hemisphere gals, I'm adjusting to them and prepared - that's a really good thing for someone who doesn't adapt to change incredibly quickly LOL

And I too, am no longer afraid of returns - it seems like returns are a whole lot easier and you have a longer grace period in the US, but I'm now stopping and thinking about returns policy and if I'll be able to get back to the store in time if its not right. I also LOVE that I can come and get an opinion here to either back up my own, or make me see the light!

And on that note... I need to go take a photo of the shirt I bought today for your opinions!

lynne

Veteran

Like Queenie said, I have learned and internalized the difference between loving something and wanting to love it. I'll also add that loving something and loving something -on me- are different beasts. I've realized that I can love an item and it still might not work for me, but that's OK. I've learned to walk away.

Mac

Veteran

Every time I see a dress with a fabric belt, I wonder how I could swap it out for something more fabulous.

And speaking of belts: pre-YLF, I'd totally given up on belts since I hadn't been able to find any that would fit my girth. Now, I always keep my eyes peeled and have found a few fabulous belts that fit beautifully.

Katja

(website)

I'm still in the eye re-adjustment period. Between YLF and weight loss, it seems that suddenly everything in my closet doesn't fit right - either I used to think it fit ("if I could button it, I bought it") or it really doesn't because I've lost weight.

I've shopped a bunch (too much, money-wise), and I think I've gotten stuff that fits and is flattering, but I'm not sure. I know that to find the answer to that I need to take pictures and post them and get feedback.