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5 Of The Biggest Shopping Mistakes Everyone Has Made And How To Avoid Them

12.13.2019 by Catherine Jane //

We’ve all made mistakes shopping for clothing. Everyone from mavens of fashion to personal shoppers to your next door neighbor have been guilty of purchasing items and never wearing them. Even worse—we have been guilty of wearing clothing we had no business buying in the first place.

The adrenalin rush every time we spy a “flash sale” or “final markdown” announcement distracts us to the point of delirium and that is when we make bad choices. But the other factor that can lead us down the dark path of buying something that we have no business buying is the want of the latest trend or the want of something new.

As unfun as it might seem, it is important to have a strategy when you shop for clothing. Here are a list of common shopping mistakes and how you can avoid them the next time you shop online or on foot.

~Not having a budget

Trust me, I understand the want of something fabulous but if that fabulous thing is going to put you in debt up to your eyeballs don’t buy it! Instead keep your eyeballs peeled and watch for future markdowns. There is an abundance of inventory available at incredible prices. Remember if you miss one opportunity there will be another at a better price.

~Not considering fit

Is it too long or too short, too big or too small? Can it even be altered? Here is a golden rule—if it is too small do not buy it, ever! If it is too big make sure you have a fabulous tailor and if you don’t, don’t buy it!

~Buying something just because it’s cheaply priced

A cheap price tag should never be the motivation for buying anything—food, airline tickets, or clothing. It’s not to say you shouldn’t purchase things because they are priced at a bargain. But rather ask yourself if the cheap price is your motivation for buying said item. Cheap products are produced to attract your attention. If food is produced cheaply and you eat it you will feel sick. If the price of an airline ticket is too good to be true then your seat will not recline, you will have to pay extra for your carryon and you will be the last to board. Sometimes it’s better to pay a little more and feel better in your seat and in your clothing.

~Buying random pieces without reflecting on what you have to pair it with

Here’s the thing—you might love the asymmetrical plaid high waisted skirt you found at a steal-of-a-deal sale but if you have nothing to wear with this fabulous new skirt then it will simply sit in your closet. Before you purchase anything ask yourself what you can pair it with.

~Buying something you have not tried on that is non-returnable

That dress looks stunning on the 5′ 10″ and 112 pound model. However, without trying it on you can’t be sure of how it will look on you. If you are unsure of the fit and feel of an item do not buy it unless it is returnable, regardless of how magical it appears.

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic!

A Case For Buying Less Clothing That Is Made Well

12.09.2019 by Catherine Jane //

The secret to a well curated wardrobe is buying less clothing that is well made. But embracing this philosophy has an added bonus—it is better for the world we live in.

I was listening to an interesting Fresh Air interview on the subject of what happens to all that stuff we donate. Author Adam Minter discusses his research for his book Secondhand where he follows all that stuff we donate from the moment we drop it off. He walks us through the processing of all items from the moment it arrives at a center. He begins with how items gets sorted and what happens to them afterwards. There was a lot to take in so I would encourage everyone to listen in.

When we buy something whether it’s furniture, books or clothing we never think about what happens after we are done with said objects because somewhere in the back of our brains we rationalize that we can simply donate it. What we don’t do is consider wether the quality of these items is worthy of reselling.

Furniture, books, and clothing are all items we purchase because they sparked joy when we bought them. This is the kind of joy Marie Kondo preaches in her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Marie tells us that falling out of love out with our stuff but keeping it in closets, boxes or shoved in some corner only adds chaos to our lives. Marie encourages us to get rid of all the clutter we have accumulated throughout the years and only keep the stuff that sparks joy. We did just that. Marie’s book gave even the most ardent of packrats a reason to take endless bags of unwanted articles to the donation centers that Adam discusses in his interview with Terry Gross.

Adam takes us to Goodwill where, he reports, the sorting centers are quite sophisticated. The sorters inspect each garment checking for fabric quality and resale probability. According to Newsweek 84% of all clothing ends up in landfill. In others words 84% of all clothing is not worth reselling. Granted some of these items are threadbare or stained making them unsaleable. But most of them have no resale value because they were made cheaply.

It’s important to keep in mind that the amount of garbage being produced, bought, donated, and then shipped to some forsaken landfill has increased exponentially since the birth of fast fashion.

There is pleasure in wearing clothing that is made well and feels wonderful against the skin. There is clarity when scouting for an outfit when you have less to choose from. And there is immense pleasure in giving a good friend an article of clothing that no longer sparks joy for you but sparks joy for them. Clothing should have a second, third and even forth life. It should be made to last and made well.

On a final note, now that Marie Kondo has successfully convinced us to jettison all the stuff that no longer sparks joy we have more room. We’ve cleared out our spaces so that we can buy more new stuff to replace the old stuff we threw out. And Marie can help with that too because she has an online store where you can buy tchotchkes like a tuning fork and crystal for $75. According to Marie, “Striking the fork against a crystal creates pure tones that are believed to help restore a sense of balance.” For some it might emit the sound of joy. She has one too only hers make a different sound —cha-ching!

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic!

Holiday Shopping Guide For All Of Your Friends

11.22.2019 by Catherine Jane //

So much holiday shopping to do, so little time. At least that’s how it feels right now. The idea of shopping leisurely during the holidays is a fantasy of mine that I cannot shake. I imagine myself wrapped in a plush oversized coat moving thoughtfully through a neighborhood boutique on a crisp fall day. Wandering around I walk into a small boutique and notice a candle accented by a raffia bow. Ever so gently I reach for it and inhale. The scent fills my nostrils with light aromas of rose and ginger. This would be perfect for my mother, I tell myself.

The reality of holiday shopping is more hectic than leisurely. I wait until I have a few moments to spare a few days before Christmas. I pull my hair back because it should have been washed days ago. On my way out the door I grab the coat that will best camouflage my otherwise unsightly ensemble and drive to a nearby neighborhood that provides an eclectic selection of boutiques and hope for the best.

Despite my best efforts to shop locally most of my holiday shopping is done at home wearing loosely fitting clothing while sitting on my couch with my computer on my lap. Since I am on my computer most days searching for interesting products to feature on my blog I compile a list of gifts throughout the year that are worth giving that won’t put the hurt on my credit card or yours.

My list is long but here are my favorite 10 gifts for all of your friends . . .

who works their hands.