Have you ever looked inside your closet and drawers and felt an overwhelmed feeling? Also, do you find that you can’t find that one piece of clothing you know you bought earlier in the season? For many of us, we collect so much clothing over time that it consumes our closets and drawers to the point where we don’t know what we have anymore.
It’s easy to fall into because of fast fashion, online shopping, and social media influence. Fortunately, there is a method to obtain the style and pieces that we love yet not have to live in a cluttered sea of clothing and accessories. The key is to shop smarter, know what you need, and understand why you’re buying pieces that aren’t working for you initially.
1. Go Through Your Entire Wardrobe.
Before your next shopping trip to the store or online, the first step to regaining control of your wardrobe is to go through your closet and drawers.
It’s a good idea to set a time for yourself to thoroughly take the time and take an inventory of every fashion piece you have. This could take hours if you have many pieces, so it’s best to set a time for a wardrobe declutter.
Take everything out of the closet and drawers and place it on your bed. Inspect everything you have.
If there are pieces that look worn out, have stains or holes, put them in a forget it pile. Also, don’t donate clothes in this condition. These pieces should go in the trash.
After you have gone through all of your closets and drawers, and you know what clothes you want to keep, discard, or donate, organize your pieces neatly so that you can find them easier.
2. Make A List Before You Shop For New Fashion trends.
This is my number one tip for good reason. Many people overspend or buy things they don’t want, don’t need, and never end up using because they haven’t prepared properly. This is the hard-earned cash and precious time you are spending – it’s worth a few minutes of preparation.
For example, Will that green blouse that you have had your eye on work with other clothes and accessories in your wardrobe? Also, Can you build at least five outfits with a green blouse? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and look for a green blouse to add to your wardrobe.
3. Set a budget Into Your Fashion Wardrobe
Many people overspend on things they don’t want, need or use because they had no parameters around their spending – they just went ‘hell for leather. Not a smart way to shop. You need to set a ballpark figure on what you are going to spend on this trip, what is comfortable for you to spend, and what makes sense for you to spend on this shopping trip.
4. Set a perfect timeframe
Slow fashion is a term around in the fashion industry that means you buy better quality yet less rather than fast fashion, in which you buy clothes rapidly and frequently, Don’t allow yourself to meander around a shopping center in an aimless fashion. Many people use shopping in all about fashion, whiling away an afternoon in their favorite mall. Not a strategy I would promote or advocate. If you want to shop smart, this isn’t the way to go – no meandering shopping! Set a specific timeframe that you will complete your shopping in, and once that time is over,
5. Don’t shop when you are tired, hungry, lonely, bored, or upset
This is not an exhaustive list of the emotional states that lead some people to overshop and end up buying things they don’t want or need. But they are some of the most common emotional triggers that prompt people to shop unconsciously and therefore not smartly. If you are feeling any of those emotions – you are tired, hungry, lonely, bored, and upset – don’t go shopping.
Shopping smarter and using these tips in this article will take much clutter and disorganization away from your closet. It can help you be more mindful of what you are buying and save your money for pieces that will enhance your style and create a wardrobe that will make you feel confident.
Photo credit Getty Images
By: Khan Sara
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