5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying New Clothes
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A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to a two story Anthropologie and I ooed and aahed over the beautiful displays and clothes. Everything felt new to me! I recently gained some weight thanks to pandemic stress snacking and my accident recovery so I wanted to find some pieces that fit and felt fresh. After browsing the store and choosing clothes I wanted to try on, I headed to the dressing room. When I walked in, it occurred to me that this was only my second time in a dressing room since March 2020! After trying on all five pieces I felt confused. I had forgotten how to decide what to purchase and what to put back! I figured a lot of you are probably in the same boat after 18 months of avoiding crowded shopping areas and wearing sweats, so I drafted this blog post around this topic!
1. Does it fit and flatter my body as it is now?
I know this can be a loaded question! Our bodies go through all kinds of changes in life whether we like it or not. Sometimes these fluctuations in our bodies are temporary (e.g. menstrual cycle, pregnancy, chronic illness flare-ups). Having different pieces that accommodate these changes makes perfect sense. But if your body hasn’t changed in a while and you’re buying that dress hoping you’ll lose an extra 10 pounds, it probably will end up collecting dust in the closet. So look at yourself in the mirror and honestly answer this question. You are your best judge! If you love everything about it but it needs a simple hem, it might be worth it.
2. Is it comfortable?
Does it itch? Show more skin than you want? Ride up in weird places? Hard to get out of? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you might want to reconsider. I too have bought the latest chunky sweater only to realize after the first time wearing it, it’s giving me a rash and there are strands of wool scratching my eyeballs. But this question isn’t just for sweaters, it’s especially important for anything that requires undoing to go to the bathroom. I know this seems silly, but if you’ve ever had to go to the bathroom urgently, you know how important this is. Pants with tricky buttons/clasps and hard-to-get-into-and-out-of jumpsuits are at the top of this list.
During my visit I tried on this pink and white floral jumpsuit from Anthropologie. While I loved the print, I had to pass on it because it pinched my waist and was difficult to get out of.
3. Do I already have something similar?
We all have tendencies to gravitate towards styles we love, but when does having too much of something become too much? It’s all subjective! If you already have 10 black blouses, you probably don’t need another one. On the other hand if your job requires you to dress exclusively in black, it might be reasonable to have more options. If you honestly can’t recall what’s in your closet because you’ve been wearing the same 5 outfits on repeat, bring it home with you and see. Be sure to check the store policy and save your receipts for easy returns.
4. Is it worth it?
These days I’m trying to be more intentional about my purchases. I’ve been leaning towards finding fewer, higher quality items that will last vs. tons of fast fashion. Sometimes a deal sounds too good to pass up, but if you only end up wearing it a couple of times before it starts to fall apart or goes out of style, it truly isn’t worth it. It’s more sustainable to pay more for an item you can wear over and over for years to come. This brings down the cost per wear and is better for the environment. Another bonus is that when you are ready to move on, those higher quality items will tend to have higher resale values on websites like Poshmark and ThredUp.
5. Does it suit me and my lifestyle?
Everyone has different wardrobe needs and preferences. Outfits for lounging might look like a t-shirt and leggings, a flowy caftan or a silk pajamas depending who you ask. When you try on a piece of clothing, try to picture how it will integrate with your current wardrobe and lifestyle. Think about what you would wear it with, when/where you would wear it, and how often. You probably don’t need a ton of party dresses if you seldom go out. Likewise, you probably don’t need a business suit if you’re working from home (a lot of us these days!). Also consider how you will have to care for the item. If it’s dry clean only and you don’t do dry cleaning, don’t buy it.
Another thing to consider is if the design, color and print suits you. Does the color complement your hair, skin and eyes? Does this piece feel like YOU? I find that when I purchase things that are “in fashion” but don’t feel like me, I don’t end up wearing them. Style should be a reflection of your personality and you know YOU best!
“The secret of great style is to feel good in what you wear” -Ines de La Fressange
Hope you found these questions useful as you venture back out into the world of in-person shopping! If you’re wondering, I ended up getting a leopard rainbow graphic sweater-tee (so CUTE!) and a pair of neon embroidered pants in the sale section. I brought them home to try on with other pieces in my closet and decided they were indeed keepers! Luckily Anthropologie has a pretty generous return policy in case I change my mind.
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