Many women I know love to shop in groups, but not me. Shopping is stressful enough without adding a bunch of people to the trip. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting together with my girlfriends. Maybe lunch or a nice frothy cappuccino. Anyone free this week?
It’s hard for me to find clothes that fit well. Sometimes I wonder if my size exists only in Never, Never Land. At any rate, special clothing sizes (like petite which I need), are mostly non-existent in Italy. So finding clothes that fit and look good can be an all-day affair. I cope best when my husband drops me off to shop alone.
Common shopping mistakes
I have identified 3 clothing mistakes I was making in my quest to live simply, find bargains, and still dress well. Perhaps you’re making them too and this could help.
1) Spending too little
I like saving money, and think it’s smart. But I’m learning that sometimes thriftiness can become too thrifty.
I also like Italy’s famous open-air markets. A stroll through town, a chance to meet friends, and maybe have a coffee together. Can’t beat that, right? (Preferably with me finishing my shopping alone!)
But most market stalls don’t have fitting rooms. This means climbing up into their truck — freezing cold in the winter and sweltering hot in the summer. And with no or inadequate mirrors, it’s hard to get a good fit.
Quality at the markets has also gone downhill. They used to carry good quality at great prices. But now it’s mostly junk made in China, overpriced and poorly sized. And often the prices are not much lower than in the stores.
The only way to get decent clothes was to shop elsewhere. Now I mostly buy only socks, underwear, and nightgowns at the market. Happily, we have two lingerie stands that still carry good, made-in-Italy quality at reasonable prices.
Real savings, I’ve learned, means getting your money’s worth. Things that don’t fit or that fall apart after a few washes aren’t worth it. No matter how much money we save at the time.
2) Oversimplifying
After making a real effort to simplify in recent years, I (unfortunately) realized that I had tried to go too simple with my wardrobe. Not that my core values have changed. I still don’t want a closet full of clothes I’ll never wear. I prefer to choose from a few well-fitting, coordinated outfits. Rather than the stress of sifting through lots of unsuitable clothes that I don’t really like and that don’t fit me or my lifestyle.
3) Settling for less
I’m a big fan of aging gracefully. And part of that for me is dressing my age. Stylish, age-appropriate clothing helps me feel comfortable and good about myself. I would feel silly if I dressed like a teenager. But I also don’t want to dress like an 80-year-old when in my 60s!
Again, the markets didn’t help. They mostly cater to very young or elderly women. But what about those of us in between? Slinky clothes made for super-thin figures don’t work for many of us. Neither do matronly dresses and sturdy oxfords.
So I ended up settling for stuff I didn’t really like and didn’t want to wear. And then I kept shopping, hoping to fill the void or correct the mistakes.
My 1-2-3 Strategy
1. Quality bargains
Clothing frugality boils down to buying only what you really like and need. Shop for bargains, but keep an eye on quality, choosing garments that will hold up well. I used to pat myself on the back for spending so little. But by making bad purchases, I ended up shopping more and spending more!
2. Simplify but not too much
When I first started simplifying my wardrobe, I concentrated on limiting my clothes to a certain number. And the basic idea was good. Who really needs 30 shirts? (Not that I had that many; I’m not sure how many there were.) But you get the picture.
Then I discovered the capsule wardrobe, which helped a lot. I’m not sure who invented this, but it’s great! By sticking to mostly basic colors (like navy, brown, black, and white) that we mix, match, and layer with a few favorite colors (lots of blues for me), we can keep our wardrobe to a manageable size. And have only things that we love to wear, instead of closets full of things that don’t fit, look bad, or that we’re reluctant to wear.
Making a capsule wardrobe helped me organize and better see how much I needed. And which things I didn’t really need or that weren’t working.
3. Don’t settle
Look for fit, quality, and things that work for you and your lifestyle. By buying and keeping only those items, you can build a comfortable wardrobe that helps you feel good and spend less in the long run. And you can shop and dress with less stress!
So smart clothes shopping? It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Simplify – Quality bargains – and No Settling! Happy shopping!
📷 Image credits: clothing; women shopping
Signora Sheila 