3 tips to help you never buy something you regret.

I like to joke with friends and family that I shop for a living, and while that’s only partially true (there’s a lot more that goes into this business, believe it or not) I do think that I have become a more effective and efficient buyer over the years, partly because doing this business has given me a lot of practice ;-) and partly because it was just something that I wanted to get better at.

I know we’ve all been there, you buy clothes, you might even shop more often than you probably “should,” and yet, you’ll go to the closet to get dressed and feel like you have nothing to wear.  Sometimes it’s because we haven’t really honed in on our own style, and sometimes it’s because we haven’t approached our closet in an organized way.  Mostly thought, I think it’s because we haven’t taken the time to carefully curate pieces that work for us.  In other words, we have a lot of impulse buys, which do not a solid wardrobe foundation make.

I thought today I would share 3 tips that I use when I shop, and I promise they will help you never buy something you regret again.  And then I’m sharing some of my fitting room favorites/flops from the last couple weeks at the end.

1.Never shop on a bad outfit day.  I always dress in an outfit I love on days when I’m going to shop, either in store or online.  Shopping while you’re wearing an outfit you don’t love is like going to the grocery store when you’re starving.  It does not encourage good purchasing decisions and you’ll probably end up with some bad impulse buys and nothing to wear.  If I’m shopping, in store or online and I’m already wearing something I really like, I’m a lot less desperate to find something new.  I’m also pickier, if the piece I find doesn’t dazzle me at least as well as what I’m already wearing, I pass.

2.Clean out your closet before you shop.  I’m not saying you have to to a major overhaul every time you buy something, but just do a quick inventory before you buy, and pull out older pieces you might not want anymore.  Nothing keeps me from making purchase mistakes better than seeing that big old pile of impulse clothes that I never wore on the floor.  It will also help to remind you of what you already have to wear.  Also, I recommend not shopping until your closet is clean and organized.  You’ve got to know what you have before you can know what you want/need.  If you need to do a major closet clean out I highly recommend reading this book first.  Life changing.

3.Mentally style it before you buy.  99% of the time I don’t buy anything unless I can think of at least 5 ways I can style it with things I already have in my closet.  I have a working wardrobe and every piece needs to earn it’s place.  If I can’t mix and remix it, it doesn’t belong in my closet.

I hope these tips help you curate a closet you love, and if you have any you use when shopping make sure and share in the comments below!

Now here are a few dressing room finds over the last few weeks:

I love that J.Crew is going back to their roots on a few pieces.  I’m obsessed with this pretty roll-neck sweater. It comes in navy and cream too, and I love the fit.  It’s so good.

I love this blush faux leather jacket I found at Loft, I’m just so sad I didn’t snatch it up when they still had it in petites.  I’ve been wanting a soft pink leather jacket for like 2 years, and this one is great, it’s just too big for me in regular sizes.

This low-key military jacket I did bring home with me and it’s perfect.  I got it in Petite and the fit is insanely good.  I also love that it’s on trend but not over the top, so I can wear it for years to come.  The fabric is warm but not too hot.

I wanted to love this herringbone skirt from j.crew factory but it wasn’t as flattering on me as I would have liked.  Dang it, because it’s the kind of piece that goes with everything and is perfect for fall/winter.  I think if I didn’t have such a straight frame it would have been cuter, and so if you have more curves it would definitely be worth a try.

Love this basic fall dress, but the fit was all wrong.  Definitely would need it in petites for the darts alone, but sadly it doesn’t come in petites.

I love this plaid skirt so much.  The fit was perfect and it’s super cute for fall/winter.  The only reason it didn’t come home with me is that I have an almost identical one from last year.

Also, I bought this buffalo check skirt.  This is my favorite print to wear in the fall/winter.  (Like give me alllllll the buffalo check print).  The fit on this one is so good, love where it hits, looks so cute with tights and a pair of boots.  I’ve already got like 10 ways to wear it.

I love this city coat, and I love the camel color so much.  I just need to order it in a petite size because it was a little big for me.

How gorgeous is this fall dress from J.Crew Factory??  I love, love, love a good fall floral and the fit and fabric are so pretty on this one. I’m honestly not sure why I didn’t bring it home with me??  You can’t tell in the picture but it has a pretty tulip hem on it.

Yes, please to allllll the tartan tops this fall (every fall).  This one has the cutest little ruffle on the front buttons.  I just need to order it in a smaller size. (I’m wearing a small and the sleeves were a little long.)

I thought this sweater was cute on the table, but I found the bow a little random when it was on.  So pass.

Cutest pom beanie ever and I love the giant pom so much.

I literally cannot say enough good things about this tweed coat.  The fit is really really good, even though it doesn’t come in petites (I’m wearing a 00)  And I just love how classic the cut is.  It’s not a heavy coat.  It’s definitely better for fall or if you really layered in the winter.

(Sorry about the dirty mirror in these pics, yuck.)  I’m loving the fit on this striped sweater, and black and white stripes are such a classic.  Never regret adding them to my closet.

Okay, I have to talk about this quilted vest for a minute because it’s perfect.  I actually didn’t end up buying this cause I looked it up in store and it comes in petites so I went home and ordered it, and HOLY CRAP, the petite one fit amazing!  So glad I was patient and ordered the right size.  It’s nice and lightweight, perfect for layering.

As I said earlier, I love a good buffalo check anything, and it’s a really good versatile print for fall/winter.

This blush vest is another piece I went home and ordered because it comes in petites too, and it got to me on Friday.  The fit is so good on this one too!  I’m already having fun styling it for the crisp fall weather we’ve been having.

Love a good cozy hoodie, and this one is super soft.  I love the cream color and the little stripes on the arms.

In theory I love a good cape, but when I tried this one on, I knew I would probably never wear it.  I don’t even know why, cause it’s actually really cute and I love the print, but I just know it would sit in my closet and never get worn.  Not sure why…  So I didn’t get it.

Isn’t this sweater the cutest?  I love the unique sleeves, and the burnt orange color is so perfect for fall.  Wearing an XS.

Love this tunic turtleneck.  It’s really lightweight and the color is like the perfect neutral. Wearing an XSP.

boots.

Okay, Abercrombie has some CUTE coats right now, but I kind of want to cry into my pillow because they’re all huge on me.  Like not going to work at all.  Exhibit A: This perfect blush coat.  I’m wearing an XS and there’s just no way to make this work.

Exhibit B: This pea-coat.  Way too big. :-(  Coats are always such a struggle when you’re petite.

I am however, very happy with this cute striped sweater tunic, and the pockets are perfect.  I’m wearing an XS.

Last, I love this cable knit sweater.  They only had it in a small, but that turned out to be the perfect loose fit I was looking for, so win, win.

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