Rationalizing your purchases

Rationalizing your purchases

Part of The Shopping Diet is only buying what you absolutely need, want, or occasionally, both.
Since you're on a "diet," you shouldn't be giving into every craving. Here's how to tell which cravings are OK to give into.
When thinking about purchasing an item, here are some questions that should not only cross your mind, but you should be able to answer. When you answer them, you'll know if the item fits into your diet.

1. Although it seems pretty obvious, you still have to answer it: Do I need this? You're looking at purchasing a pair of capri black leggings. How many do you already own? Of the ones you already own, are they in good shape? I recently purchased some new leggings because I wear them a lot during the spring (under tunics and whatnot), and the reasons I allowed myself to buy them were because 1. I hadn't purchased leggings in about 4 years, and 2) all my other pairs either had multiple holes in them or were so faded they looked grey. For me, that legging purchase was justified.
So when asking yourself if you need something, you have to consider, first and foremost, how many others like it you already own, and of those that you already own, what condition are they in? Those questions, to me, are the forefront of figuring out if you need something.

2. Will I wear it? Another obvious question, but sometimes this escapes many people when they come across something that makes them a little crazy with desire, like a pair of bright yellow floral wedges. There is absolutely nothing wrong with brightly-colored yello printed shoes, nothing at all, if your closet consists of many, many yellow tops. It's OK, every once in a while, to make a purchase you might not wear very much, such as the aforementioned shoes. How many items will your shoes match? One shirt? Two shirts? Maybe a dress in the right light?
The shoes I mentioned above, and others like it, have the power to make rational shoppers become unrational, especially for color lovers like me. You like them so much you don't consider if you'll wear them or not, or what they match. You just love the look, the feel, the pattern, and how they boost your confidence and mood.
But will you wear those shoes? I am guilty of this situation. Last winter I fell in love with a pair of Charlotte Russe shoes on sale. Yellow floral peep-toe wedges with a bow at the toe. I loved them so much I didn't care what I would wear them with. They were beautiful. They were stylish. And I couldn't wait until spring to wear them. How many times have I worn them, you ask? As ashamed as I am, I will answer in order to help those on The Shopping Diet. I have not worn them once. Not once. They match literally nothing I own.
While I do not completely regret the purchase, I am describing my personal experience to help others avoid the same mistake.
When you come across an item: a shirt, dress, skirt, shoes, whatever, please ask yourself: will I wear it? If the answer is yes, then ask yourself what you will wear it with? Does it match anything you already own?
I usually justify buying shirts or skirts I can wear to work because my time at work makes up five out of the seven days of the week. Therefore, if I know I can wear something to the office, I know there is a chance I will wear it over and over again.
Usually both printed and solid shirts are safe because a solid shirt can go with a printed skirt, and vice versa, and just about anything goes with jeans. So really ask yourself: Will I wear it? If not, it probably isn't a craving you want to get into.

3. Along the same lines as question #2, the next question you should ask yourself is: How much will I wear it/How long will I wear it/Will I like it next season?
Now, I wholeheartedly approve of buying new items each season, as part of my most favorite fashion and shopping-related hobby is keeping up with today's trends, so when I tell you to ask yourself if you'll like it next season, I mean: is it so out there that maybe even you, the person who is thinking about buying it, will think it's terrible a few months from now? This applies to extremely trendy things. (things that are considered risky)
I bought a pair of pink kitten-toe heels when they were in fashion a few summers ago. Hated them the next summer. And that's just one example. Fashions that tend to stay in style (at least now) are capris, wedges, flip flops, some form of the gladiator sandal, printed and solid tops, polos, jeans (of course) - but with more of a focus on darker shades, skinny jeans and boyfriend jeans, and chunky, exxagerated jewelry. There are styles that stay for a few seasons, and even a few years. These are good items to buy. But some things are so daring and out there and maybe you won't like it next season.
Also along those lines, ask yourself if you'll wear the item for just this year (for a $3 scarf, that's probably OK), but for something more invested, like a shirtdress or green gauze skirt, you may want to think a little bit more.

*Just as a side note, I am always 100 percent in favor of taking risks in fashion and buying things you haven't tried before. So when I say: think about if you'll like it next season or year, I really mean, will YOU like it next season or year? (not if someone else will)

4. And lastly, the gut feeling. Do I need this? Will I wear it? How many months will I get out of it? Will I like it next year? Now that those questions are answered, it's time for the gut response. (Notice how I encourage real, rational questions before we get to this one.)
Even if you've completely rationalized purchasing that pair of brown leather boots because you don't have any like them, they go with 92 percent of your wardrobe, and you can still see yourself wearing them for years down the road, if you don't have that gut feeling you should buy them, don't. If there's something holding you back, listen to it. If you can't make yourself love them enough to buy them at the store, I doubt you can convince yourself to love them after they've taken a permanent place in your closet.

With my advice hopefully you will be able to only purchase what is absolutely necessary.