How to avoid bad bargains & impulse buys
6 years into the journey, swearing off fast fashion has turned out to be a lot easier than I imagined. Constantly being mindful about what I purchase, however, is a whole different beast. On one hand, I can go months without buying anything related to beauty or fashion, and be completely at ease with that. On the other hand, I do still have moments when I get bored and just want to add some nice new stuff into my life.
Having strong principles in place can feel like an excuse to splurge from time to time (“It’s all sweatshop-free!”), but in order not to end up with a bunch of unloved items in some forgotten corner of your wardrobe, it’s sensible to stick to an action plan. Here are some tips, considerations and steps that I find helpful.
Prone to online impulse buys? Put it on ice.
If you’re somewhat in a rut with the way you dress (or your beauty regime, or anything that usually sparks joy for you for that matter), it might be tempting to take to the internet to find that Indefinite Thing that will make it all feel fresh and new. You see some items you like and you can already imagine how they will add value to your life, but the crux is in what you do next.
As a rule of thumb, I try not to put any items in my shopping cart after only just discovering their existence, or considering buying them for the first time. Save them to a “wishlist” Pinterest board, close each and every single tab and forget this board even exists for at least a couple of days. If one of these items keeps haunting your dreams, you’ll easily be able to find it again. However, chances are you’ll look back on everything you’ve pinned and will have forgotten about at least half of it.
Shopping brick-and-mortar? Do your homework.
Going to a real store has the advantage of you being able to try on garments before buying, but be aware of the pitfalls:
You don’t have a lot of time to decide whether the item is right for you. Standing in front of the mirror in a fitting room for 15 minutes feels awkward.
You might lose focus. Yes, you spotted some black trousers immediately, but why not have a good look around while you’re here?
You might not want to leave empty handed, either settling for something less than perfect, or taking home something completely different you just happened upon.
Write down beforehand which items you’re in the market for and be as specific as possible with regards to fit and details. A great example could be “black wide leg trousers, waist about bellybutton-high, flowy fabric, have to lightly brush the floor when standing, no elasticated waist, have to look good with shirt X and top Y”. If the item doesn’t have to fill that specific of a gap in your wardrobe, at least try to define the vibe you’re looking for (“floral dress, Stevie Nicks, has to go with boots Z”). This might be an open door, but try to take/wear the items you’re trying to find a match for to the store.
I also like to look at the store’s selection online before heading off. This way you’ll already know what you want to try on. Nothing like the items you need in stock? Then save yourself the trip.
Don’t buy on sale what you wouldn’t pay full price for.
This might make me sound like your primary school teacher, but consider this. If you purchase a €100 dress with a 30% discount, how much have you saved? The answer is nothing: you have spent €70.
Discounts evoke a sense of urgency that tends to cloud our judgement, so be very honest with yourself. If you see something on sale that you wouldn’t have paid full price for, why is that? Was it just not appealing enough at full price? Or was it that far out of your financial reach that saving up for it wouldn’t have been an option? If so, does this discount really make enough of a difference?
Move around.
Don’t just stand in front of the mirror to see how the garment looks. Really put it to the test! Sit down, squat, pick something off the floor, touch your elbows together, reach up, lift your knees as high as you can, slouch, do the choreography you’ve been practicing in your bathroom while getting ready for a night out. Does the item restrict or overly expose you during any of this?
Read the label.
Quick & simple: do you like the fibers used, and are you capable of taking proper care of them with regards to cleaning & maintenance? Are you willing to make the effort?
Consider alterations, but be realistic.
Looking into the possibilities of a tailor gives you a bit more wiggle space when faced with an item that's almost-but-not-quite what you're looking for. If it’s too long or requires just a little nip/tuck at the waist, having a garment altered can be a good solution. However, be realistic. Look into the prices of the alterations you consider and add them up to the retail price. Would you have been willing to pay this total amount for this item from the start?
Also, tailors aren’t magicians. A vintage trench coat that’s the perfect silhouette and colour but 4 sizes too large would require complete taking apart, at which point you’re basically providing just the fabric for a completely bespoke piece.
If tailoring still wouldn't leave you with your dream garment at a reasonable price point, please resort to the following step:
When in doubt, swipe left.
So you’re still not at least 90% sure you’ll look at this purchase in a year and think wow, this has really served me well? It ticks so many boxes, but not quite all, and you can’t promise it won’t leave a slight sour taste when you come across something even better out there? Then don't settle. You’ve lived this long without it, you can probably manage a little longer. After all, they're just clothes.
Need a reminder?
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