by blanket » Wed Feb 01, 2017 8:05 am
i feel one falls in love with "random" items of clothing for reasons, even if those reasons may not be conscious or obviously logical. i find developing cohesive style in a very planned and considered way has never really worked for me. this is because what i think i ought to like is often completely different from what i actually like or need. if there is any sort of cohesive style, it came about as a result of engaging repeatedly with things i enjoyed wearing. the things i enjoy wearing often share common characteristics, characteristics that i may or may not have been consciously looking for.
a caveat: if you don't have much space, or you travel a lot, or you have a job that requires you to present yourself in certain ways, perhaps you might not have the luxury of letting a cohesive style develop organically from buying things you enjoy.
when you are putting together outfits and you feel like you are Missing something, whether it be an extra jumper because it is a bit colder than you expected or a bright fun jacket because your outfit feels a bit dull, write a note. eventually you will get a clearer idea of your needs and wants. you can use the notes to look for items that fulfil missing parts of outfits instead of trying things on at random.
take photos of things you fall in love with when you try them on but you don't want to buy so you can in a way keep them. this will lessen the pain of parting. you can enjoy and appreciate an item without having to own it. it also means you can come back to the photos in your own time and decide if you really want to get the item of clothing.
imagine yourself in all the outfits you will wear with the new clothing, doing all the things you usually do. does this make you feel a thrill of anticipation? even if you can only think of a couple of outfits, if you really really enjoy those couple of outfits you will return to them time and time again, so being unable to imagine lots and lots of ways to wear the item isn't always something that should stop you from buying. i think the important thing is thinking about how the item fits into your life.
compare this item of clothing to something you already own that fulfils a similar function (e.g. the Cool Hoodie, the Warm Winter Jacket). when you are getting dressed, will there be times you'll choose to put this item on instead of choosing what you already have?
check the care tag and see if you have to dry clean or hand wash or bless with holy water while walking three times widdershins in a circle or do anything bovversome to maintain the item.
if you can return to a store, make a habit of not buying the first time you try something on. the clothes will stick around for a while (unless they have a little red logo with the word supreme on them. and even then). if it sells out before you've come back then you didn't want it that badly. anyway, there will always be another item of clothing you will meet in the future that is just as lovely to you.
if you find you forget about an item of clothing after you find the next new interesting item, the first item of clothing was really not that interesting.
if you found an item that is usually $200 but is currently on 50% off, you are not saving $100. you are spending $100.
avoid shopping when you're feeling hungry or feeling empty or feeling the need to fill up a hole in your life.