Say Goodbye to Shopper’s Remorse

We’re going shopping, girls.

Article by Claudia Mata, Designs by Christine Kim, Media by Madison Trousdale

If we take a look inside our closets, we can all find that there’s at least one item that has never been worn, doesn’t fit right, or we simply regret buying. While this situation is slightly inevitable, there are shopping tips to help prevent closet accumulation.

1. Slow down on the sales spending

This one is simple! For example, if you find a pair of purple leather booties for $10, but don’t even like the color purple, make the conscious decision to leave them in the store for someone else to love. It’s difficult to leave a good sale, but vital to avoid buying pieces you won’t wear just because they’re a steal.

2. Embrace your comfort zone

“Buy something that makes you happy.”

It’s important to gravitate towards neutrals or colors you know you’ll wear a lot. However, this is not to say you shouldn’t experiment with your style! For example, if you’ve suddenly become interested in neon, make sure to hold back from buying three neon workout sets at a time. Buy one first and see if you love it enough to buy more.

3. Save the DIY stress

Try going for the clothes that won’t need altering! If you know you don’t have the time or intention to do so, make it easier on yourself and select the stuff you know you can wear as soon as you want.

4. The Little White Rule

When picking out white clothes, it can be a total nightmare to find out a top or a pair of shorts you bought was too sheer. First off, this little rule requires a brightly colored nail polish (if your latest mani was hot pink, you’re good to go) or any sort of colored object you can find lying around in your purse. Simply glide the colored object under the material and wrap one layer of the fabric around it. If you can see the color bright under the material, it’s probably too sheer to comfortably wear (unless that’s your jam). If the color is barely visible, add your item to the cart and rest easy knowing there will be no random wardrobe malfunctions.

5. My Fair Lady

This is a game that you can play by yourself or someone who you are browsing the store with to make better shopping choices for your wallet. Once you find an item that catches your eye, wait a second. It’s practically instinct to immediately look at the price, so before you do, give yourself a maximum reasonable price that you would pay for that item. Then, look at the tag. If the price is lower than your estimate, congrats! You just got yourself a new pair of comfy sweats. If the price is higher, put that cami back and keep browsing until you find something that will be easier on your bank account. This game is twice as fun with a friend who can also keep you in check.

Lastly, buy something that makes you happy. If it brings you joy, the rules can always be applied to your next shopping trip.