STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

honey · Gucci

how has your shopping strategy changed in the past few months

Escrime · Kate Spade

I have done a lot of "closet" shopping. I went through my closet and drawers and things I had placed and storage and really went through every piece of clothing that I had. I cleaned out a lot of stuff, but then I found stuff that I had forgotten I had purchased and that I actually wanted to wear.

It also helped me pinpoint the fact that I was buy a lot of the same items, I would have just forgotten that I had them, e.g., long sleeve thin layering shirts from the Gap. I have like 2 in every color imaginable and about 6 in black. I would just forget and buy them when I saw them at the store, so now, I try to go in with somewhat of a clear idea of what I am buying when I need a basic.

I also have started keeping my receipts very carefully instead of losing them. If I buy something, and I haven't worn it by the time the return date has come up, I return it. If I haven't worn it in 30 days, I probably won't wear it.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

I have really tried to add just a few items and shop my closet instead. For example , this year I purchased several pairs of colored textured tights on clearence at marshalls. I then wore them with some of my girly dresses, added a boyfriend sweater and belted it to give old clothes new life.

Also, I look for items that are really designer on major sale. If it isnt at least 70% off , I dont even consider it anymore.

Also if I dont LOVE something I dont consider it. All those little random purchases I used to make add up - so I try to skip those now.

The other thing I do is read a ton of fashion blogs and realize that I own most of those looks, so it gives me tons of inspiration.

I am also getting into "vintage" shopping alot. I have a friend in LA and she is the queen of hitting up stores that are consignment/ thrift/resale shops and I have found some awesome jewelry and one of kind dresses for super cheap!!

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I am training myself to try to think about shopping in a different way. I don't want to have to purchase something at full price. What I used to do was walk around looking only at sale items. My new strategy will be to continue looking at sale racks, but establish a list of items that I really want and will watch until they go on sale. I never do the latter of the two. By looking only at sale racks first, you are automatically compromising. In the long run, it's about slowing down and being organized so that you can get ready for that wedding this weekend or the holiday party tomorrow and not have to rush out and buy something you may not really want but need for the event.

cahabo · Kate Spade

I definitely do find myself shopping differently lately. Recently I kept buying things that were deeply discounted then later return most of it realizing I wouldn't be satisfied in the long run. I've decided that if I spend more on something I really like then I won't be replacing it so soon with another cheap item. Also I haven't done hardly any spending in the last few weeks since I'm saving my money for a trip where I can do some good shopping. I also think that not spending for so long will make me even more of a conscience shopper when I do go shopping.

Kitty · Hermes

I still shop quite a lot. Ironically, I started making more money than ever before right around the time the economy tanked. I am trying to save pretty aggressively, though. The biggest thing for me is that I've stopped buying crap. I used to be bored and I'd go to Target and just wander around buying a bunch of stuff, or I'd be bored at work and order random stuff from F21. That really adds up, causes me to have a bunch of crap I never wear, clutters my closet, etc.

lynnie · Chanel

Hmm not much has changed. I have a clothing budget that remains the same size, and I've always been a fairly specific person in what I want (which is true for all aspects of my life and can be annoying at times.)

At the beginning of the season I usually have a few ideas of what I want/"need" and what I don't need. This year I'd like a comfortable yet cute pair of sandals that I can wear to the park that have a slight heel and don't have an ankle strap. So if I find these, I'll pay up to the max value I have set in my head. I'll try for less but some things are worth retail to me if I worry that it will sell out or will have to wait months.

I've also stopped going to H & M/ Target/Forever 21 etc. I may go to get some cool shorts for spring, but I don't like the experience of shopping there and don't like the fabrics they use. I'll still buy some basics from Gap/J Crew/American Apparel- t shirts mainly.

I also have been lucky enough to go on a cool vacation for the past couple of years- last year was Buenoes Aires and this year is Paris. Since I save all year for it, I kind of let myself spend whatever while I'm there and end up with some cool finds. I don't want to buy anything this year til I go to Paris in April and see what I come back with.

atlgirl · Gucci

This has been going on for some time - well before the economy became an issue. About two years ago, I started buying only what I love. And I started the "quality over quantity" mindset. It's been immensely helpful to my own budget and since I stopped worrying about what's in/out / trendy, I've actually enjoyed shopping more. I tend to have a long-term mindset anyway, but I used to shop out of boredom or as kind of a stress reliever, and I don't do that anymore.

I also don't have as much time to go to the stores - work has gotten increasingly busy over the last year or so and I just don't have the chance to get out of the house (office). I browse a lot online, but purchase less. I have also become addicted, especially with shoes and bags, to checking things out in person when I have a chance, and then going home and Googling things to see if I can find a better price, or checking on eBay. It often means waiting longer to purchase, but I have found some great deals by waiting. Last year I bought a couple of bags I LOVED in-store, but didn't want to spend the $$ for. I found one on eBay for $99 (from $350) and another for $150 (from $600). It took me a year or so of stalking to find the right ones listed, but I didn't mind waiting.

I've spent more time playing in my closet than I used to, which has been great fun. I used to have two wardrobes - one corporate and one weekend. Now I work for myself and can pretty much wear what I want, so I have a ton of options for both week and weekend.

Like pollyjean, I don't really shop sale racks much. Most of the time I don't have the time / patience to look through them. As long as I know I love something and will wear it often, I'd rather pay full price and just bring it home. Or, if time permits, I can wait and search for it online or on eBay.

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

I've notice I make a lot more lists of things we need and things we want. I actually carry a notebook in my purse with those list in it...
And rather than shopping for independent items, I've switched to mostly looking only for items that compliment something I already own.

Hermes

my current shopping strategy is to put things in my cart, justify the purchase, remind myself I need nothing, then close the browser window...

Sandy · Kate Spade

Like Kitty, I'm making more money now than before this whole economic mess. I am, however, adjusting my spending. I'm trying to save for my future (house, wedding), but I still am spending-- I'm just being more thoughful of what I spend my money on. The biggest thing that I do is to stay home on weekends. I always used to wake up on Saturday mornings and head to Target, buy things I had no need for, and regret it later. Now I just sleep in and catch up on the shows I DVR during the week. If I go to the mall "just to browse," I leave my wallet behind. I'm such an impulse buyer, and I honestly can't trust myself to walk out empty-handed. I've been doing alot of closet shopping, too.

Elle · Hermes

I realized that I've been buying too many 'special' items, and not enough versatile items that can be worked in different ways. It's been making me feel like I'm slapping a top and a bottom on and not being able to do anything creative with it to make it different, which is a bummer!

So, I'm switching my strategy to buying things that may seem unspectacular on their own, but can be awesome in the context of a cohesive 'look'. Instead of just picking up 'pieces' that catch my eye, I'm going to try to shop more with an overall style in mind. Try.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I'm similar to a few other posters. I am in a lagging area of the country so we haven't been fully hit with the economic mess. With oil dropping though things around here are starting to contract a little - more companies have a freeze on hiring but no major layoffs. We just got a warning email yesterday morning from the head office saying that salaries are going to stay flat this year so I'm going to have to start being a little more cautious with my spending so that I can help save for a house.

I've been trying to stay out of the malls for a while. Mike and I have been in "recession" mode for a few years now so we've been cutting back here and there for a while when it comes to non-necessities like dvds, cds, books, etc. Same thing with eating out and going to the grocery store - shop the outer edges and avoid the inner rows at all costs. I buy a lot of entertainment items used but will soon switch to borrowing from the library. As far as shopping goes, I have switched to mainly outlet/discount shopping and then Forever21 for everyday clothes and work clothes. I tend to wear pieces out and then replace them. For special occasions, I try and either wear something I already have or if I've worn the item too much I'll go shopping for something new but discounted/on sale.

This wedding has been killing my budget even with all of our price comparisons and limiting what we have and I will be so happy when it's over.

I think I will be revisiting that trading down thread to see what else I can swap or cut back on.

sydney · Kate Spade

D wrote:
my current shopping strategy is to put things in my cart, justify the purchase, remind myself I need nothing, then close the browser window...

Great strategy - me too. I dont really need anything, so better to just mix up what I already own.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I also still shop quite a bit, but NOT like I use to. I try to buy things I KNOW I'll wear, versus I may wear it once or twice. I also try to make sure it works with SOMETHING I ALREADY HAVE IN MY CLOSET!!!! Grr. I also went thru my clothes/dresser drawers this past weekend, and got rid of some things I. Just. Didn't. Love., or haven't worn in some YEARS! I had an outfit in there I hadn't worn since 1998, and I KNOW I've gained weight since that time, so away it went. LOL

Boots · Gucci

Last year I deceided that I would try the "only buy what I really love" strategy. When I try something on, I ask myself if I really love it and if the answer is no, then I don't get it, no matter how great a sale it is. I tell myslef the $$ I save by not buying that item is all the more money I can put towards getting something I do love. I ended up with less items overall, but more things that I truely love and wear.

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

Boots wrote:

Last year I deceided that I would try the "only buy what I really love" strategy. When I try something on, I ask myself if I really love it and if the answer is no, then I don't get it, no matter how great a sale it is. I tell myslef the $$ I save by not buying that item is all the more money I can put towards getting something I do love. I ended up with less items overall, but more things that I truely love and wear.

this is my strategy, also, and it's been this way for years and years. we are lucky to have not been affected by the economy so far, but i'm still trying to really watch what i spend because we are trying to save up for a house. it's really hard to scrimp and save when it seems there's nothing left to cut back.
i have noticed that i spend less money on clothing for the girls and other things i don't neccesarily need and using that money to pay off bills, so that's good.

jj · Kate Spade

I have eliminated impulse buying. It's helped a lot - now I think about what I want/need decide what I can get to fill that need, try it on then think about it for awhile before buying. I can also spend more money on something quality, since I am not making several small purchases at Target and F21.

For the first time in along time, i don't have 30 versions of a grey tshirt.

And I haven't even been in the mood to go shopping. Crazy! I tried to go on Sunday, but I didn't feel like combing through the racks, dragging a bunch of things into the dressing room and going through the hassle of trying them on. I have a newer appreciation for boutiques with well-edited stock and creative displays.

Kelly · Hermes

With the economy in the shitter, things are on sale all. of. the. time.

Pretty much, the biggest change is that if something isn't on sale, I almost never buy it. I know I can wait for it to go on sale, or find a coupon code, or find it (or a similar item) somewhere else.

Vanessa · Kate Spade

I didn't read all of the posts so forgive if this is repetitive.

The #1 thing that happened for me is I started to focus elsewhere. I used to occupy a lot of my free time on fashion (shopping, browsing, reading blogs/magazines/catalogs/this forum) and I pretty much replaced that with house hunting, training my puppies, reading more, cooking, etc. As a result, I don't think about shopping much, if at all these days (though now that I've come back on the forum it's on my mind more!).

I've definitely become more utilitarian and probably not as fashionable. I started to shop out of actual necessity, (i.e. I needed good walking winter boots). What a concept! I've come to appreciate that I have a pretty darn good closet already; for the first time ever I feel I'm taking full advantage of it.

My buying strategy has always been "quality over quantity, at a discount", so that hasn't changed much. What's changed is that now I actually require a good reason to buy something rather than the sheer fact something is cute, new, or a great deal. Whereas before I could never resist a half-off DVF frock, now I'd only get it if I had an occasion for it where nothing else in my closet would work for whatever reason. I am giving myself a little "shopping bonus" in the next couple of weeks so I will hopefully have some new stuff to post.