Guide to Clothes Shopping: Smart Question #10

Posted by Chris at 8:20 pm

A continuation of Guide to Clothes Shopping: Smart Questions #1-3, #4-6 and #7-9

Smart Question #10:  Do you feel good and proud to be wearing it?
This is perhaps the single most important question you can ever ask yourself when you are browsing for clothes.  Never mind if you can't remember the other 9 - this is the one to sear into your brain.  If you are not proud to wear something, there's no point in owning it.  Even if you've considered questions 1 through 9 and reach the conclusion of a beaming YES, don't buy it if putting it on doesn't make you feel flippin' fantabulously.  An item can be:

1. affordable
2. a dream addition to your current wardrobe
3. great for mixing and matching
4. an absolute classic
5. worth its weight in gold
6. of top notch quality
7. a perfect fit
8. flattering to your body
9. so very unique to what you already own

BUT.. if you don't feel comfortable enough to wear it PROUDLY, it's a no cigar.  Simple as that.   We’ve all seen girls with tops too low and skirts too short trying to adjust themselves awkwardly every 5 seconds.  How about people who wear things to impress certain crowds of people or portray an image they are not even comfortable with?  Au contraire, something can be totally wrong for you in every imaginable and unimaginable way, but if wearing it makes you feel fierce, power to you!  Clothing is just an extension of who you are.  Be true to yourself.  You are too wonderful to sport anything that makes you feel less than that.

Now get out there, shop (or not), and ROCK your clothes!

My wallet rejoices!! :]

Guide to Clothes Shopping: Smart Questions #7-9

Posted by Chris at 10:55 pm

See Smart Questions #1 - 3 & #4 - 6

BCBG change room, probably one of my favourite places on earth (I was trying on the pants).  The blouse is from BCBG 3 years ago and the cardigan is GAP.

Smart Question #7:  Does it fit the way you want it to perfectly?
Depending on the look you want to achieve, you might need an item to fit skin tight, just right, a little baggy or downright oversized.  Think about this.  Don’t be restricted by the sizing on the item.  XXS and XL can work equally well for different reasons.

Smart Question #8:  Does it flatter your shape?
Great!  That pair of skinny jeans fits your thighs like a dream, but are you sporting a muffin top?  I know we all want to try our hand at must-have items of the season, but we have to be honest about our bodies too.  A good example of this is my search for a narrow-legged suit pant for work.  There were ones that fit me quite well, but I had to step away because they made me look emaciated.   Great for the runway, but not so hot for the work place.  Don’t pick up anything that gives you a bad “shape”.

Smart Question #9: Is it unique (to what you already own)?
Too often we gravitate towards clothing we already have.  Our eyes love what is familiar.  Honestly, you don’t need 5 pairs of black skinny jeans, no matter how “different” the “detailing” of each pair is.  This type of thing is what gets you stuck in a boring rut.  Stop buying cardigans if you already have on in every colour of the rainbow.  Try new things!  One of the best piece of fashion advice I’ve received from my very chic and dear friend Albert Chen is, don’t buy something that people won’t notice it's new.  Your friends are a good resource.

Guide to Clothes Shopping: Smart Questions #4-6

Posted by Chris at 2:45 pm

... a continuation of Guide to Clothes Shopping: Smart Questions #1-3

Smart Question #4: Will you wear this item after 3 months?  1 year?  5 years?
While you need some trendy items to spice up your wardrobe, you also want to pick up clothes that can weather the storms of evil fashion trends.  Try to picture yourself wearing it when you are 2 years older.  Give this question at least a passing thought, especially if you are about to purchase something pricy.

Smart Question #5:  Is the piece worth full price?
It’s only human nature that we love the word SALE.  We've all purchased things that seemed like a total steal at the time but ended up at the back of our closets collecting toll from dust bunnies.  Before you dig through the pile of clearance $5 items and pick out 13 things, carefully assess whether you would pay full price for an item.  No matter how great the discount is (try to distract yourself from that “75% off” tag), give yourself some space to think about how much the item is worth to you.  Do you like it enough to pay more for it?  If not, why would you even waste $5 on something that’s only going to take up precious closet space?  Just remember, it’s on sale for a reason.

Smart Question #6:  How is the quality of the fabric?
A lot of us shop only with our eyes.  It's time to engage your sense of touch!  Is the fabric prickly?  Are you suffocating in it?  Does it give you the itch?  Are you comfortable with the way the fabric feels to your skin?  You’re not going to wear something that gives you hives, no matter how hot it is.  Also consider how well the item will hold up after several washes or dry clean runs.  Other than your finger tips, the care label is your best friend. Make sure to check it for the fibre blend percentage and washing instructions then decide whether you are ready to commit to it.

more to come, of course..

Guide to Clothes Shopping: Smart Questions #1-3

Posted by Chris at 9:11 pm

The most powerful enemy of our wallets is the big "i" - impulse.  This strong urge from within is responsible for silly in-the-heat-of-the-moment decisions such as spending $300 on a white shredded tee or exceeding our budget by a landslide just to outbid our comrades on eBay for that DVF dress.  I started writing a guide to shopping for clothes wisely while I was on lent last year.  I did it mainly to curb my own impulses, but perhaps the rest of you can take something away from this information as well.

What this guide entails is a list of 10 questions to ask oneself before making a clothing purchase.  The objective of said guide is to empower the consumer to make an informed decision by keeping impulses in check and prompting him/her to think about the purchase in a multidimensional way.  Note the point of these questions is not to discourage you from buying something.  They simply address issues that we tend to miss when the glory of an attractive item blinds our eyes.

(from St. Regis Room at The Bay on Queen Street)

Smart Question #1: Can you afford it?
This is obviously the most important question you need to ask yourself. Can you afford it?  No, seriously, can you really?  I’m not talking about putting it on your credit card and shredding the statement when it comes in.  Do you have money in the bank that can pay for this item right now?  If not, forget about it.  Clothes are just clothes.  There’s nothing you can’t live without.  The last thing you want to do is rack up debt from clothing.  It’s not worth it.  Just walk away.

Smart Question #2:  Does it go with other items in your current wardrobe?
Do you have clothes in your wardrobe that can work with this item?  I know what you’re thinking, I’ll just pick up those shoes and that belt to make this outfit perfect!  Oh and this would be really hot with that cute little clutch that I’ve been eyeing too! Stop.  I understand if you’re shopping an entire new outfit, but this is rarely the case and we simply can’t afford to think this way all the time.  You’re more likely to wear an item if it mixes well with your wardrobe.

Smart Question #3:  Off the top of your head, can you think of at least 3 ways to wear / style the item?
So yes, it goes with other items in your wardrobe!  Before you let the associate ring it up, stop.  Think about specific things in your wardrobe.  You need to be able to have this conversation with yourself: This navy bandage skirt I am about to buy can go with nicely with my white ruffled blouse and blue cardigan.. Another great idea would be wearing it with my black turtle neck and my pearl necklace.. How about dressing it down with my forest green oversized tee and grey tights?.. ohohoh, also with that men’s blazer I got from the thrift store last week.

Stay tuned for more..