There’s a hint of a new season showing up in NYC, and one of my favorite things to do when it’s nice outside is to browse around and go shopping!
Have you felt motivated to shop for new clothes lately? If yes, keep reading because I share 3 things NOT to buy. Because if you do, they’ll end up in your closet untouched. And the reason I know this is because I did it.
Click play to watch the video where I go through the top 3 things to NEVER buy under any circumstance. I share my own shopping mistakes to help you see what NOT to do.
And keep reading to see which shopping mistakes I made.
When You Go Shopping, Don’t Buy This
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make (myself included) is to buy items that don’t fit. We see something that we need to have, and we get it…even when it’s not the right size.
I used to do this with shoes — what a mistake! There’s nothing more uncomfortable than wearing shoes that don’t fit. But I did it with another item not that long ago — a belt.
The way my brain works when I go shopping is that I imagine how to make the item “mine”. And the way I do this is with customizations. So when I see something that’s a little off, I’ll buy it and fix it.
I’m a big fan of alterations. I also dye my clothes when the color could be better. The problem — it doesn’t always work. My belt is an example of this. Sure, I can “rig it” with my “on-set” stylist techniques. But it’s not a perfect fit which impacts how I feel when wearing it. You want your clothes to be a perfect fit.
Your Outdated Clothes
There’s a couple ways your clothes grow outdated. One is when you’ve moved on, and the style of a particular garment no longer serves you. The reason we buy pieces in this category is because they remind us of who we once were, and that’s comforting.
For example, there was a time — when I was younger and fun-ner — that I wore bold graphic tees. Specifically there was a shirt of mine that said “Baby Milo.” My son’s name is Milo. Back then, I thought “how cute to wear a shirt with his name.” It reminded of those sweet moments when Milo was a baby.
Our clothes can inspire nostalgia. But it’s the era in time we miss, not the garment or style.
I had a client who continued buying slinky tops because she wanted to feel sexy, and those were the styles she wore before becoming a mom and business owner. They weren’t current to who she was. It’s easy to fall into this trap when shopping because the item touches our emotions. Then our longing sets in. I always advise my clients to separate fact from fiction to make smarter purchases.
The Biggest Shopping Pitfall
I can’t think of anyone who has not made this shopping mistake at least once because who doesn’t love getting a deal?!? We buy things just because they’re cheap. The issue is that we’re not really getting a deal if the item doesn’t serve. In fact, it’s actually a waste of money.
Back when I used to do barre fitness there was a thrift shop right across the street. After class, I’d pop into the store and see what I could find. Everything was always so cheap! I remember one shirt in particular that I thought I liked, but when I got it home I had no interest in wearing it. There’s something about the way an item looks when it’s in the store and cheap — it’s hard to resist!
I love how my client put it when she said, “If you never wear it, it wasn’t a good deal!“
It’s much better to save that money and invest in something that serves your style.
The Silver Lining Of Your Shopping Mistakes
Everybody makes shopping mistakes. It happens because temptation can be tough to resist. We see an item we love. We think we need it. So we buy it.
But there is something to gain from your shopping mistakes. When you notice you’ve made the mistake, determine exactly what’s not working with the item. There’s a reason those items don’t work, and this is your data to use in future purchases. This way you won’t make the same mistake twice.
This information is a gift. Start gathering your data for future purchases. But for now, I’m sharing the lessons from my mistakes. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t fit, or isn’t current to your style. And most importantly, don’t buy it just because it was cheap.
What’s something that used to be SO YOU, but now you wouldn’t wear it anymore? Comment below and let me know!
One thing I have noticed, for myself, is the bolder pieces I often don’t touch. These that I have bought. I love how they look, even on the hanger. But I think I finally don’t want to STAND OUT that much. I am pretty sure that’s why I so rarely wear them. But I don’t think that way until I get into the day-to-day.
I tend towards cute “going out/date night” clothes. Young, a little sexy. The thing is I am 61 and married and I don’t have reason to wear them very often. In fact, I have some I have never worn. So I don’t need more. Then there are the items I buy on vacation that seem so “in” or cool at the time, but when I get home they sit in my closet. Lastly, I spend lots of time at the barn with horses, and I tend to wear castoffs or things I don’t love because they are”just for the barn” and no one will see me”. The thing is, it affects me and my mood- Elysha has taught me that I deserve to wear what I love all the time. I am working on this.
Great post, Elysha! I have more shopping mistakes than I care to admit. And…. thank you for the permission to release them! I love your admission that you too occasionally make a mistake…. 💗😉👍🏻👏🏻☀️
This is such valuable information, Elysha! I am 61 years old and finally have a wardrobe that works for me, is a creative outlet for self-expression, and gives me an added element of confidence. As you pointed out, some of the best lessons I’ve learned about personal style come from shopping mistakes. I hate wardobe orphans that don’t play well with other items and wasting money! 80% of my wardrobe is second-hand. I also took ownership of my personal style and asked some well-intentioned family members to not purchase clothing for me. Shopping is a highly personal activity that I approach with clinical precision. When I get dressed each day, I don’t want to think about my clothing until my day ends. I have more important things to accomplish.