When you go out and shop and are roaming through the clearance aisle or digging through racks upon racks of clothes, check yourself before pulling out that wallet.

Do you find yourself with a closet full of clothing you don't wear, don't absolutely love, and that is uncomfortable, itchy or cheap?

If so, this is unfortunately very common in today's world of fast fashion.

 We have become used to the idea that clothing is a disposable entity and we treat it as just that. This is a terribly hard habit to break but once you take steps away from this mentality it can make a huge difference in your confidence and the feeling you get being in your own space and own clothes. 

  When you go out and shop and are roaming through the clearance aisle or digging through racks upon racks of clothes, check yourself before pulling out that wallet. Changing the habit of impulse buying can be avoided by slowing down, being more mindful and asking yourself a few questions before running up to the counter.

“We have become used to the idea that clothing is a disposable entity and we treat it as just that. ”

#1

Would I buy this if it wasn't on sale or wasn't super cheap?

Be aware that our brains get excited and it makes us feel good to feel like we are getting any sort of deal.

Pay attention to why you like this item. Make sure it isn’t because the price being lower than your lunch costs today isn’t what makes it desirable.

This has gotten the best of us plenty of times. Slow yourself down when you are shopping and double check if you would actually purchase this if it was at a higher price point.

#2

Will this last?

Make sure you aren’t buying something that is superrrrr cute but is super itchy, cheap or turns into a rag after one wash (and not in a cool way).

Even an untrained eye can spot low quality if you look out for it. Pay attention to the hems, seams, and texture of the fabric. Does it feel good on your skin? Does the color or texture of the fabric look like it will easily get dingy? If so, put it down and move on to the next one.

#3

Is it versatile enough?

This can mean a lot of things and it is basically a way to ask yourself if this is something that matches your lifestyle.

Is this item something you can wear over and over again and you can mix and match it effortlessly with other pieces in your wardrobe or is it a huge pain in the butt and you gotta wear just the right bra, pants, underwear, shoes to wear it.

Can you wear it through multiple seasons or does it only have a short wearing life during the year and it mostly lives in your closet or storage bins?

#4

Is this timeless or a trend?

Trends are attractive and they draw you in and even when they won’t last more than a month or even if it doesn’t really work for your lifestyle or bod you still feel the desire to consume it.

Trends come from what is in and that is not a bad thing, but when you get too trendy and it feels trendy instead of feeling stylish. Then you start running into this disposable rat race of trendy fast fashion.

Sticking to timeless doesn’t mean you have to steer clear of what you feel is IN! Timeless just means it can live past its one month prime and be incorporated into your wardrobe for the rest of the year.

#5

Do I actually need this AND love this?

This can be harder than it seems but it is crucial in building a wardrobe you really want to live in.

We are accustomed to buying for the sake of buying and we end up owning things we don't love or serve well.

xoxo

Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping more than most people I know, so it was kinda necessary for me to use these practices to control my own shopping habits.

Try them the next time you go out shopping and see if the results make a difference for you!