Your Guide To Buying More For Less, Shopping Better And Transforming Your Look In The Process
Valentine’s has come and gone, and now only the true romantics are still in that vibe. Whether you got through the love holiday, living in your loungewear or went online shopping to treat yourself, there are bound to be huge fashion changes as we go through the year.
There’s nothing like a Valentine’s hangover and ‘not-so-fresh’ New Year’s resolutions to help you figure out what should stay, and what should go.
We’re all guilty of it. A wedding, a birthday party, a Friday night reunion dinner with your friends. Heading somewhere exciting means we inevitably feel like we need something special – and therefore something new – to wear. However, more often than not, as much as we like the piece that we buy, it rarely gets more than one outing.
Instead of purchasing something specific for certain events, try to have a few dressier pieces in your wardrobe that are more versatile. If you go for something simple and more classic, rather than trend- led, you’ll be able to wear it again and again.
It’s not uncommon to hold on to items that no longer fit you in the hope that they will again one day. It’s also not uncommon to buy something in a size too small as an incentive to lose weight or because it’s in the sale and they don’t have your usual size. However, holding on to these items – that you can’t physically wear – is one of the worst things you can do if you’re trying to reduce the size of your wardrobe. Be realistic and honest with yourself. If it doesn’t fit you, it's time to thrift it or pay it forward.
As well as holding onto things that don’t fit, many of us keep pieces that we know don’t suit us. Often we’ve bought something on a whim because it’s a big trend or because we saw someone else wearing it and thought they looked amazing – but because it just doesn't suit us, we've never actually taken it out of the cupboard. If a piece of clothing doesn’t make you feel confident and comfortable, it has no place in your life.
It’s easy to be won over by a big discount, and you should make the most of huge markdowns – especially when it comes to investment, signature pieces – but only if that piece is something that you really need to add to your arsenal. Never buy something just because it’s a great deal. No matter how affordable it was, if you never wear it, it’s a complete waste of money.
A big reason we get stuck into style ruts is because we only focus on month-end to get our fashion faves. It’s great to look out for those month-end specials, but remember you are not the only one. By applying for and keeping a clothing account in good standing, you get access to new, amazing fashion hitting the store at any time of the month…or year. From cutting edge fashion to more affordable wardrobe must- haves, a clothing account will keep you exploring (and buying) all year round. You’ll end up with some truly special, stylish finds (that – bonus – nobody else has).