Have you ever opened up your closet and uttered the words, “I have nothing to wear”? Trying on outfit after outfit, but none of them seem to quite hit the mark. Well, it’s possible that you’ve experience the snowball effect of shopping mistake after shopping mistake. Speaking from experience, I’ve literally been there, done that, let’s chat through eight shopping mistakes you might be making, and how to fix them.
This post is in partnership with Carted; an app where you can curate, moodboard, and perfect your wishlist.
Basically think of it as your shopping sidekick, that’ll help you build a better wardrobe. When you see an item you like, you can either copy the link into the Carted app or share it directly from your browser, assign it to a wishlist, and then you can come back to it over time, reviewing and comparing options or… removing it from your list if it’s no longer living rent free in your mind.
As someone who typically has more than 100 tabs open, this has been a bit of a lifechanging way to shop (and removed a little bit of chaos from my screen time).
Perhaps my favourite feature of the Carted app, is that it tracks whether an item is in or out of stock, and if there’s been a price change. If an item goes on sale, Carted will let you know about it. It’s a bit of a win-win. Shopping smarter, not harder. And, you can tag when you’ve added an item to your wardrobe – just mark it as purchased – so you can see new season buys at a glance!
CLICK HERE to download the app and try it out for yourself!
Shopping without a list
The number one shopping mistake to avoid? Buying without purpose. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when you’re trying something on in the changing room, without thinking through how it’s actually going to serve your closet. Is it something you actually need? Will it fill a gap in your wardrobe?
An easy fix? Track everything you’re thinking about buying on the Carted app. What I like is that not only does this serve as your visual moodboard for the season, with items categorised into specific lists, but you can also keep track of when you first started to covet an item. This gives you time to marinate over the potential purchase, and see how it might work with your existing wardrobe. As well as compare against other alternatives. Research is good.
The “it’s on sale” trap
Probably my favourite feature about the Carted app, is that it alerts you when items you’ve wishlisted are on sale. This is fantastic, and I’ll always champion stretching your wardrobe budget a little further when it’s an item you’ve already been thinking about buying.
Not so cute is falling into the trap of buying something just because it’s on sale. By this I mean, the brand emails which flood your email inbox during sale season, flirting with you to take a browse through pages and pages of discounted items. And while the prices might be great, if it wasn’t already on your list (aka Carted), then it’s not a good buy.
Buying something for the label
If you’re an avid thrifter, chances are you’ve come across designer pieces which have been beyond tempting to say no to. The price is fair, and its ‘insert designer name here’, it’s obviously great. Right..?
The answer isn’t quite as clear cut, and my personal advice is not to get dazzled by the label. While sometimes these can turn out to be remarkably good finds, if it’s not an item you were seeking out, doesn’t fill a gap, isn’t something you would consider if it weren’t for the label… just don’t do it.
I’ve said this so many times but more expensive doesn’t always mean better, and sometimes what we are actually seeking out is a mood. A feeling. Can you achieve that essence with something less expensive?
Using an example from my own closet, years ago I decided to splurge on the Acne Studios Mini Musubi Bag. I’d been sitting on this for a good 2 years or so before I took the plunge, and it’s gone on to become one of my most loved bags. I spied that Arket were selling a similar style; very much inspired but not a “copy”, and I was curious to see how to compared. I ended up loving the inspired version just as much as the original, as what it offered to my outfits was essentially the same.
Items you don’t know how to care for
This is a common trap that you can fall into when you’re upgrading items in your wardrobe. The reality is, no matter the price on the tag, if you want something to look good (for a long time), you need to know how to care for it. This might be something as simple as replacing a button, mending a small hole (an art for knitwear!), or tidying up any pilling as a result of friction on your (knitted) piece. It could also mean how you launder it; handwash only? What temperature setting is ideal? Or is it dry-clean only?
Gaining knowledge on all of these things is a very small time commitment and those principles will stick with you for life – meaning you’ll understand the ins and outs of caring for any new garment you add to your closet.
You haven’t shopped around
Finding the right piece for your closet usually takes a little bit of research. Seeking out the fabrications you like, the right shade (warm, cool, neutral), the perfect fit. It’s one of the reasons why I like to let potential purchases sit for a while. I can see what other options are out there, save, and compare them all in one place. It’s one of the benefits of the Carted app. Personally, I like to create lists for specific items where I can see all the different options at a glance. It allows you to review all the different price points in an instant, as well as see if any of the options you’re considering are on sale.
Buying specific outfits
Shopping for outfits rather than an extension of your existing wardrobe. Where we don’t consider the look beyond the scenario we’re buying it for. This could look like the expensive special occasion dress you only wear once, the suit you bought for an interview, or the cute beachy two piece sets you bought for a tropical holiday.
Shopping for someone else’s “essentials”
You’re probably well familiar with the itemised lists of “essentials” every woman should have in her closet. While the concept is great in theory, often they tend to focus in on very specific pieces. A white button down; blue jeans; a black blazer. All these pieces are classics, and have a place in many wardrobes, but not all.
These lists generally aren’t reflective of your lifestyle or what you like to wear. Just because it’s a high rotation piece for one person, doesn’t mean it will be for you, too. Reframe how you’re shopping to consider how you intend to wear that item, and the role it serves in your closet. The white button down might just been a collared or more dressed up shirt. The jeans might signify a pair of casual pants. And the black blazer could be a light-medium weight jacket.
Too many trend-led items
Given how quickly the trend cycle seems to be moving, what’s in today, is out tomorrow. And when you let trends dictate where your wardrobe is headed, you’ll end up with that dreaded closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear scenario.
Instead, hone in on 1 or 2 trends that you think are in sync with your personal style, and own them. For the rest, think about ways that you can participate without buying anything new. For example, for the butter yellow trend, maybe you can try a butter yellow nail polish. For the coquette trend, utilise some ribbons you already own to add that little bit of playful whimsy to a button closure or pinned to the shoulder.
Thanks again to Carted for partnering with me on this post. If you haven’t already, you can download the app for free HERE.
