personal style | how to shop

1. if you ever want to come to grips with the amount of stuff you have - blog about it.

2. when tempted to buy new stuff - see #1!

here's the good part about it though: rarely do i ever go out and buy something for a specific event. you won't find me running around a store at the last minute saying, "i'm going to a _____ and i need something to wear!"

photo credit: Emerald2810

in a nutshell, this is how i approach shopping:

• buy individual pieces instead of complete outfits. look for things that can be mixed and matched with other pieces you already have. 
• take inventory of what you don't have. for example, most of my costume cocktail rings are made of metals...only a couple have color. next time i'm in Forever 21, i'll look for a red ring to add to my collection.
• buy transitional garments. you can't really distinguish one season from another here in central Texas, so it's important for me to have things that can be worn in July and January. a strapless dress and lightweight cardigan/jacket can make an appearance in both months.
• experiment with trends conservatively. if you aren't into neon skinny jeans or color blocked pumps - don't buy them. you can opt for a timeless bright colored top or a figure-flattering color blocked dress. neither will go out of style.
• purge often. some people clean out their closets annually. i go through mine a few times a year. i think it's better to have fewer pieces that you wear often instead of tons of stuff just taking up space.
• avoid high maintenance duds. i found three "on trend" things in my to-be-dry-cleaned-hopefully-soon basket. i no longer needed to be on the lookout for something polk-a-dot. buy things that can go in the wash. throwing them in the dry clean pile means "out of sight out of mind".
• make a wish list. just like you shouldn't head to the grocery store hungry without a list - the same rule applies when shopping for clothes. i make a list of three new things i want, how much i'm willing to spend for each, and then i look for those things. wedges, a floppy hat, and colored skinny jeans are on my spring/summer list. i'm happy to report i already found the wedges and floppy hat!
• always carry a calculator (i prefer my old fashioned one vs. the one on my Android). math has never been my strongest subject and i want to track every penny i'm spending - after tax and including discounts! give yourself a predetermined CASH spending limit and stick to it. 

what's your strategy for shopping?