Shopping for value- 4 rules before purchase

Shopping for Value in your Wardrobe



Here are a few things to think about before you purchase an item.

1. The second opinion test

dressing room selfies

Everyone shops with a buddy. You need someone to look at you in a different perspective.

Whether it is to comfort your insecurities.

Or maybe to bring you down to earth- to let you know maybe that style makes you chunkier than you really are.

Even if you don’t have someone to come with you today- people have even taken to the internet with the “dressing room selfies” to get that needed second opinion.

Make sure your shopping buddy can be honest though- or you might go home with something that makes your waist look bigger, your butt fatter, or legs stubbier. Whatever the body phenonomen you deal with is!

2. Three outfit rule

love blind

Nobody knows your wardrobe like you do- so if you can’t think of 3 outfits with the new item it could be a sign that:

you’re a little love blind.

You’ll take that piece home and it’ll sit in your closet with the tags on.

When I buy something I can not wait to wear it the next chance i get- and that’s because I already have outfits in mind before I leave the store!

3. Am I buying a trend or good style?

pleather leggings

I don’t buy trends- and when I have…I often regretted it.

After a while that trend fades and I’m stuck with a pair of pleather leggings that gather dust in my closet.

It’s not that pleather leggings are a bad trend- I mean there is a reason I bought them…Look at those amazing outfits above!

They just don’t fit well with my specific style and the rest of my wardrobe.

Fashion fades- good style is forever.

Sometimes I get asked where I got items that I bought over 5 years ago

That’s because (1) I try and take care of my clothing, and (2) good style is always worth buying

does it make sense yet?

You want a piece forever…not until a new season trend comes along.

Exclaimer: If a trend fits your style- Go crazy!

If it goes with the rest of your wardrobe:

It will no longer make your outfit look dated when the trend is gone- instead it will look like that is just your style eternally.

4. How much would you pay for this item?

Ok… it’s passed the second opinion test.

You’re excited about three new outfits you have to wear.

And… you know you’ll love this piece for a long time.

Now is the moment of truth- How much would you pay for this article of clothing?

fill in the blank

Fill in the blank…

Don’t look at the tags- just be honest.

I often do this game with my man when I’m not quite sure about an item…I ask him:

“How much would you pay for this?”

If the price is on or under his answer- this article definitely adds value to my wardrobe.

If it’s over- maybe I should hold out for something better or an upcoming sale.

What’s interesting is… I never regret leaving these items behind- I never have that dreaded “I wish I just took it home”

You know why? Because that piece wasn’t worth it!

Only get pieces that pass these four tests because then you know you’re buying value!

Great style is melded through a long process of accumulating great pieces that all go together.

Using these four rules before buying will help your wallet stay fuller and your closet more cohesive.

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Thrift Finds : Month of May

 

 

This Saturday was a pretty good day for thrifting. I found a lot of cute items for $50.

Well it is just after “spring cleaning” so people are cleaning out their closets…while I’m adding to mine! haha

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1. Jones New York purse in great condition

2. Aldo black heels – I also found a pair of just fab booties that unfortunately weren’t in my size.

3. Polka dot top

4. Necklace…the photo does not do it justice. It is a very cute, shiny, costume , pearly-chocker.

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5. Urban Behaviour Hounds tooth dress in great condition

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6. Blue Reitmans blazer

7. Dynamite tee …in a peachy orange colour i had to have.

8. Polka dot skirt

… All three make a pretty cute outfit!

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9. Four scarves …it may not be scarf season but I will thank myself later for not leaving these cute items behind

10. I love this style of painting. So I just had to have that cute yet dark picture, which seems to go very well with the colour of the scarves i picked up coincidentally.

That is my 10 Month of May Thrift Finds.

Stay Tuned for “How to: Thrift”

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You Should Thrift.

After my last post I realized most of my outfit was thrifted items. Neat!

But …I actually used to be a thrifting snob. But one day I figured out it that it is great for shopping on a budget. A guilt free way to subdue a shopping craving. You can walk in with under $50 dollars and walk out with bags full.

Have you ever considered thrifting? Cause you should!

Check out some of my thrifted outfits:

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After one of my first trips to “Goodwill” – I came back with such a haul that i could make a couple outfits with them.

And there they are!

Thrifted items: Sheer blouse, flare skirt, peak toe heels, striped button shirt, black purse, and fitted skirt.

Not too shabby eh?!

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This outfit has two of my favourite thrifted pieces:You have an adorable checkered sweater, with this royal blue hounds tooth skirt.

LOVE!

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When you enter the business world, you feel the need to have a business wardrobe. Well a budget friendly way to get one is to check out your local thrift store.

This outfit has two thrifted items: the finely checkered pant, and the bold blue top.

Not only can you find some great outfits through thrifting but you can also find some great statement pieces!

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This gold and black purse is thrifted. When i found it, my jaw literally dropped. It was beautiful and i clutched at it while i continued to shop. No one was taking this beautiful baby from me.

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This wool skirt is one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe, and it was thrifted!

I hate hanging up skirts and dresses for the winter, but this wool skirt keeps me fashionably warm even in a skirt through the coldest winters.

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Lastly this pink scarf and leather jacket are thrifted items. And they are some of my “most-worn” items in my wardrobe.

I love leather jackets, and this thrifted one is my warmest and therefore worn a great deal.

And this scarf is so pretty it always adds a lot to any outfit i pair it with.

There are treasures hiding in thrift stores. All you got to do is find them!

Stay tuned soon for a “how to: thrift” post.

I’ve been told by my local thrift store cashier that: “I always find the best items! Every time she looks, she never finds anything”

Well I’ll pass my secrets on to you!

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