I hate shopping
It’s probably not what you’d expect to hear, right? I mean, here I am, someone posing as a style blogger, trying to make you believe I hate shopping. Yet, it’s true: I really, really hate shopping.
Well, I’m not exactly your typical style blogger either: I’m not interested in the latest trends or obsessed with fashion.
Sure, I like nice clothes, but I’m happy with a small wardrobe of classic, high quality clothes that suit both my personality and lifestyle. Thus, I mainly wear comfortable, low-maintenance basics that travel well. To be honest, I could live in pyjamas… Especially if I could accessorise them with a nice handbag and a glam pair of sunglasses.
Most importantly, Everything I buy must earn its place in my wardrobe and last for several years. That’s because I hate fast fashion, and I hate wasting money.
My idea of the perfect wardrobe would be impeccably cut timeless classics in luxurious, natural fibres such as silk and cashmere (which miraculously would not require dry-cleaning… Hey, this is a fantasy wardrobe, cut me some slack, OK?). It probably goes without saying that I’m not quite there yet, for reasons that may or may not have something to do with the type of budget limitations we all have to struggle with…
Anyway…
Unfortunately, at times I need to go shopping. Yes, I tend to wear my skirts and trousers to bits before I go looking for replacements (with my hip-waist ration, finding a pair of trousers that fits is like finding the Holy Grail…). But every now and then I get the idea that I need something new. You know, update the basics, that sort of thing: new jeans, new slacks, new skirts… new shapes and new materials, too.
So, I should be smart about this, make a list of what I need, and stick with the plan. Isn’t that the style blogger approved formula for smart shopping? Well, guess what: it doesn’t work.
First of all, I never find what I’m looking for; I just end up getting frustrated and depressed.
Seriously, what’s wrong with fashion designers? It’s as if they’ve never seen a real woman before. And by ‘real‘ (in this context) I mean someone who is about 30 cm shorter and at least as much wider than the fantasy women most clothes are designed for. You know, someone with a a sizeable butt and thighs and arms thicker than a 10-year old’s.
And the jeans and trousers in shops… I always wonder who they’re designed for. There’s no shape whatsoever: the waistline is as wide as the hips (it seems the fantasy women they’re meant for have the shape of a 12-year old boy…). Which of course means that if I’m lucky enough to get the damn garment past my thighs and hips without ripping it, the waistline could easily house 3 or 4 of me… That’s what makes it so depressing.
So, now you understand why I hate looking for something and trying clothes on. And why going shopping with a list is pointless. I would just end up spending hours going from shop to shop, trying on one horrible outfit after another, getting more desperate by the minute, until my self-confidence is nothing but a distant memory of something I thought I once had…
OK, how I do my shopping, then?
Well, as it turns out, I do have a ‘list’. Sort of.
I don’t go shopping looking for a particular item, but I do keep a (mental) list of what I might like, should I happen to come across it.
What’s the difference, then? A list is a list, right?
Well, no. This way there’s no pressure. I don’t expect to find anything, and I don’t look for anything in particular. I just keep my eyes open, in case. As in, if I happen to see something I like, I should probably get it, even if it’s not something I need right now.
Perhaps it’s something I was looking for last summer. Perhaps it’s just something that catches my eye, for whatever reason. Or perhaps it’s something I never thought I might need.
Confusing? Not at all. I guess I could summarize my shopping philosophy like this: if you see something you like, buy it now. Even if you have no idea what to do with it. Because by the time you do decide what to do with it, it will be gone and then you’ll regret you didn’t get it. It works for me. Most of the time, anyway.
And of course, while it is important to keep my eyes open for something I might like, it’s even more important to keep track of what I already have. So, there’s a (mental) list of things I definitely do not need: trench coats, stripy tops, more handbags, anything blue or navy… That’s useful, to avoid buying multiples (that just clutter the wardrobe) and to encourage myself to try something new every now and then.
Right, about the photo at the beginning of this post… That’s everything I’ve bought this year, so far. Now, look at it.
Really look at it. What do you see?
I guess we can agree that I really, really suck at shopping… Right?
Tiina
Linking up with:
Not Dead Yet Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Garay Treasures, High Latitude Style, The Pleated Poppy, Style Elixir, A Labour of Life, Doused in Pink, Curly Crafty Mom, Fashion Should Be Fun, Rachel the Hat, Sincerely Jenna Marie, More Pieces of Me, Color and Grace, The Wardrobe Stylist, Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Nudge, Coco et La Vie en Rose, Living on Cloud Nine, A Well Styled Life, Elegance and Mommyhood. Posh Classy Mom, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Shelbee on the Edge Over 50 Feeling 40 A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style Splash, The Fashionista Momma, Tina’s Pink Friday, Fake Fabulous. Lazy daisy Jones, Vanity and Me, Sheela Writes, Jodie’s Touch of Style, Glass of Glam
I get your problems with shopping. You need brands like Marina Rinaldi by the Max Mara group. They design for curvy women. They might have the things you want. And if it is that hard to find something, you cannot buy much, so you can spend a bit more on what you do find. Right? And haven’t you found brands by this time, that cater to your needs? In any case, you always look the part. Whether it is casual or smart. (Still love that layer skirt (blue?) with the blue/white striped shirt and the silver belt.)I am one of those women with a large waist and no hips (or butt, and I love a good butt), so I fit these jeans. Which is why I have so many of them. Other trousers I often have to have altered by a seamstress. Is that a solution for you?Buying bags and shoes… many women do. Because they always “fit”. And striped shirts.. they are in fashion, you like stripes and you like blue and red and Marimekko. And so do I. So I bought a white shirt (do I need another one? No), a blue and white summer dress (as if it is ever warm enough in this country but like you said, if you find it now, buy it because when summer does come and you want it, it is gone). A pair of blue wide trousers (again blue, a colour I have been buyng for years now, but you would like it). So I am as bad as you are.Greetje
I would love Marina Rinaldi, but as they focus on bigger sizes, I'm too 'small' to fit the clothes… It's not so much a problem of finding the right size but a problem of proportions: my waist is always 1-2 sizes smaller than my hips, in just about any dress, skirt or trousers. In other words, I need skirts and trousers cut for an hourglass figure, and that's quite difficult to find these days. Some labels work better than others, but not always. I might for instance find a pencil skirt that fits perfectly, but a pair of trousers by the same label might be impossible. So, yes, maybe altering or having things made might be a solution. What I'd really like were those high-waisted trousers from the 80's.They were always a perfect fit…
I know exactly what you mean about shopping. I really don't deliberately shop for specific things , they are never about when I need them, instead if I find something I love and it fits home it goes. I have long given up trying to find jeans and pants that fit my hips and thighs, skirts and wide pants work so much better for me.I must be a bad fashionista as I have never made lists of what is the latest and a must for the new season and like you don't do fast fashion either. Accessories are always so much easier and ring the changes.
I know what you mean about skirts and wide pants… I collect those wide linen pants for summer! Finding summer clothes is always easier, there are so many wide-legged, narrow-waisted styles. Or full skirts with narrow waistbands… But finding straight-cut trousers or jeans, or anything suitable for winter is always such a hassle.
I'm with you on this one, I do try and shop this way, when I see something that might work for me I buy it! It's actually a really good way of shopping, trouble is once I buy, I'm itching to wear! lol. I'd love you to join my weekly linkup #chicandstylish – every Thursday I hope you'll stop by. x Jacqui Mummabstylish
Thanks, Jacqui. And thanks for the invite!
I know exactly what you mean – I rarely find what I want at the price I want to pay when I want it. I take a similar approach to you, especially with classic pieces because there is no worry that they will go out of fashion. I waited ages to find a camel coat but when I finally found a good quality one at a bargain price I was glad I'd been patient. I've worn it so much I don't know how I managed without it now! What you have bought so far looks very good quality, and versatile too – that's smart shopping!Emma xxxwww.style-splash.com
Classic, that's the way to go. Especially with big-ticket items such as coats or bags. They last forever and go with anything. Value for money…