Many women I know love shopping in groups, but not me. Shopping is stressful enough without bringing a bunch of people along. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting together with my girlfriends. Maybe we could grab lunch or a frothy cappuccino. Is anyone free this week?
It’s hard for me to find clothes that fit well. Sometimes I wonder if my size exists only in Neverland. In any case, special clothing sizes (like petite which I need), are mostly non-existent in Italy. So finding clothes that fit well and look good can be an all-day affair. I cope best when my husband drops me off to shop alone.
Common shopping mistakes
In my quest to live simply, find bargains, and still dress well, I have identified 3 clothing mistakes I was making. Maybe you’re making them, too, and this could help you.
1) Spending too little
I like saving money, and think it’s smart. However, I’m learning that sometimes thriftiness can go too far.
I also enjoy Italy’s famous open-air markets. It’s a chance to stroll through town, meet friends, and maybe have a coffee together. You can’t beat that, right? (Preferably after I’ve finishing my shopping alone!)
However, most market stalls don’t have fitting rooms. This means climbing into their truck, which is freezing cold in the winter and sweltering hot in the summer. There are no mirrors or inadequate ones, so it’s hard to get a good fit.
The quality of items at the markets has also gone downhill. They used to offer high-quality items at great prices. Now it’s mostly low-quality goods made in China that are overpriced and poorly sized. Often, the prices are not much lower than those in stores.
The only way to find decent clothes is to shop elsewhere. Now I mostly buy only socks, underwear, and nightgowns at the market. Happily, we have two lingerie stands that still sell good quality Italian products at reasonable prices.
I’ve learned that real savings means getting your money’s worth. Clothes that don’t fit or 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 my life in recent years, I (unfortunately) realized that I had tried to simplify my wardrobe too much. Not that my core values have changed. I still don’t want a closet full of clothes I’ll never wear. I prefer choosing from a few well-fitting, coordinated outfits. I’d rather avoid 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. For me, that means dressing my age. Wearing stylish, age-appropriate clothing makes me feel comfortable and good about myself. I would feel silly if I dressing like a teenager. Yet, 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. What about those of us in between? Clothes designed for super-thin figures don’t work for many of us. Neither do matronly dresses and sturdy oxfords.
I ended up settling for things I didn’t like or want to wear. Then, I kept shopping, hoping to fill the void or correct my 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 and choose garments that will hold up well. I used to pat myself on the back for spending so little. However, by making poor purchases, I ended up shopping more and spending more!
2. Simplify but not too much
When I first started simplifying my wardrobe, I focused on reducing the number of clothes I owned. The basic idea was good. Who really needs 30 shirts? (Not that I had that many—I’m not sure how many I had.) But you get the picture.
Then I discovered the capsule wardrobe, which helped a lot. I’m not sure who invented it, but it’s great! By sticking to mostly basic colors, (like navy, brown, black, and white) which we can mix, match, and layer with a few favorite colors—lots of blues for me—we can keep our wardrobe manageable. We can have a closet full of clothes we love to wear instead of clothes that don’t fit, look bad, or that we’re reluctant to wear.
Creating a capsule wardrobe helped me organize and see more clearly what I needed. It also helped me identify things that I didn’t really need or that weren’t working.
3. Don’t settle
Look for garments that fit well, are of good quality, and work for your lifestyle. By buying and keeping only those items, you can build a comfortable wardrobe that makes you feel good and saves you money in the long run. You can also shop and dress with less stress!
So how do shop smart for clothing? It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Simplify, find quality bargains, and don’t settle! Happy shopping!
📷 Image credits: Clothing | Women shopping.