Steals, deals, and the mess in between
I am as nonathletic as a person can be, but even I possess my own version of the Olympic spirit: In the sense that I am aware that my sport of choice, shopping, requires skill, finesse, experience, and just a little bit of common sense.
I shall illustrate this fact by way of example: There’s a store in my old neighborhood that is something of a clothing bargain basement. Signs like “Tanks 3 for $5” or dresses for under $10 are commonplace, and it’s often tempting to stock up. Who wouldn’t want to have a fitted t-shirt in every color of the rainbow? (Quite possibly one who lives in a 350-square-foot NYC studio apartment, but I digress.)
I find myself constantly reminding myself that this sale is actually no great bargain, though.
The most important part of shopping is to understand that what seems like a deal may be anything but – and very often is a the result of an over-stocked store trying to pawn off excess that no one else wants…and still probably make a profit at it.
Whether it’s lower quality or damaged, many times the stores bring in sale clothing that is not up to the quality that of their non-sale items. We consulted an expert -- style expert Janet Wood, creator of the Fashion Fit Formula, which is a mathematical system designed to give every woman their unique measurements so they can create the most flattering fit on all of their existing clothes. Check out some of Janet's sale-survival guidelines:
How do you know if it’s a “true” bargain?
* Check the quality of the fabric. Is the weave tight or loose?
* Look at the zipper. Are there any puckers in the seams holding it in place?
* Does the bottom of the zipper area buckle?
* Also make sure to check any stress seams (areas where the clothing will have additional wear).
Janet says true bargains can be found as the seasons change and unsold items are reduced in cost. Evaluate the items you may choose to purchase carefully.
* Is it a basic staple of your wardrobe?
* Do you the necessary accessories to make this new blend of colors work?
* Is this color or style going to be “out” in a year?
“Unless your lifestyle revolves around dressing in evening clothing and going out frequently, only purchase dressy clothes when necessary. It’s important to think about cost per wearing. If you blow your budget on a “must-have outfit” that you only wear once – it was very expensive indeed,” Janet says. She suggests a far better choice would be to invest that money in an article of clothing that you will wear twenty times a season.
Easier said than done. Raise your hands if you have at least 3 "perfect" little black dresses in your closet - complete with matching shoes and accessories - and have worn none of them!
I shall illustrate this fact by way of example: There’s a store in my old neighborhood that is something of a clothing bargain basement. Signs like “Tanks 3 for $5” or dresses for under $10 are commonplace, and it’s often tempting to stock up. Who wouldn’t want to have a fitted t-shirt in every color of the rainbow? (Quite possibly one who lives in a 350-square-foot NYC studio apartment, but I digress.)
I find myself constantly reminding myself that this sale is actually no great bargain, though.
The most important part of shopping is to understand that what seems like a deal may be anything but – and very often is a the result of an over-stocked store trying to pawn off excess that no one else wants…and still probably make a profit at it.
Whether it’s lower quality or damaged, many times the stores bring in sale clothing that is not up to the quality that of their non-sale items. We consulted an expert -- style expert Janet Wood, creator of the Fashion Fit Formula, which is a mathematical system designed to give every woman their unique measurements so they can create the most flattering fit on all of their existing clothes. Check out some of Janet's sale-survival guidelines:
How do you know if it’s a “true” bargain?
* Check the quality of the fabric. Is the weave tight or loose?
* Look at the zipper. Are there any puckers in the seams holding it in place?
* Does the bottom of the zipper area buckle?
* Also make sure to check any stress seams (areas where the clothing will have additional wear).
Janet says true bargains can be found as the seasons change and unsold items are reduced in cost. Evaluate the items you may choose to purchase carefully.
* Is it a basic staple of your wardrobe?
* Do you the necessary accessories to make this new blend of colors work?
* Is this color or style going to be “out” in a year?
“Unless your lifestyle revolves around dressing in evening clothing and going out frequently, only purchase dressy clothes when necessary. It’s important to think about cost per wearing. If you blow your budget on a “must-have outfit” that you only wear once – it was very expensive indeed,” Janet says. She suggests a far better choice would be to invest that money in an article of clothing that you will wear twenty times a season.
Easier said than done. Raise your hands if you have at least 3 "perfect" little black dresses in your closet - complete with matching shoes and accessories - and have worn none of them!I feel your pain.
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I'm pretty good at sticking to the rule of only buying dressy clothes when I have an event to go to (a wedding, etc). That AWESOME dress may not be in style by the time you actually have an event to go to!!