My Best Shopping Tip: The deal breaker question that can save you money

 

I always know I’ve made good shopping choices when I come home from a shopping trip, hang up the pieces I purchased, get up the next morning and wear one or two of the items in my outfit du jour. It’s a quick turnaround from “brand new” to “gently worn”: 24 hours or less.

I think wearing something soon after purchasing it is a good goal to set for yourself. When I’m in the dressing room with a client I’ll say, “Where do you see yourself wearing this? How soon could you wear it?” I always want my clients investing the bulk of their dollars in clothes they can use right away. Haven’t we all at one time or another purchased outfits that were perfect for an alternate lifestyle? One we didn’t live in? And regretted it?

 

 The question to ask yourself to stay on your shopping track

It’s simple. In the privacy of your dressing room ask yourself this one question: “Can I wear this tomorrow?”

If you can’t see it working into your life within a few weeks, best to consider leaving it behind.

Note: You don’t literally have to wear it tomorrow but how about in the very near future?

 

Erin adopted this mantra

One day Erin, my trusty assistant and eldest daughter said, “Mom, I need your help! I have so many clothes but I don’t know how to put anything together. Can you come over?” She added, “Oh, and I’ll make you dinner.” She knew the dinner invitation would make it happen.

On our scheduled afternoon I set up my rolling rack in her apartment and she pulled things from her closet. She’d picked up great pieces (many of them at bargain prices) that weren’t serving her lifestyle needs at all. They were pretty, gorgeous, fabulous, and wonderful…for someone else.

I told her, “Honey, you can’t continue to buy things without a plan. You’d probably have twice as much room in your closet if you’d go shopping and before you purchase anything, ask yourself, ‘Can I wear this tomorrow?'”

It worked. That one sentence turned her shopping habits around.

Here are some of the things she asks herself now.

 

Am I buying a piece that I’ll need to tweak in order to make it work?

Will I need to buy other things to go with it?

Am I buying special event clothes and not having a special event life?

Can I wear it tomorrow? Or soon?

 

 

Following my own advice

This weekend I did what several people in Sonoma were doing on Saturday: racing out to find some cooler clothes to wear. The temperatures were in the high 90s.

I went to the Sonoma Square and walked into Chico’s and made a few purchases.

I was heading out at 8 a.m. the next morning to meet my friend and colleague, Helena Chenn. I put my “Can I wear it tomorrow?” mantra to the test. I left the house wearing three of my purchases:

 

The So-Slimming Girlfriend white ankle jean

White cotton sleeveless V-neck tank

White linen shirt with low front tie

 

I added some favorite jewels: a light-colored necklace, earrings, rings and a bangle.

I slipped into my light-colored Prada sandals (in their fourth season) and headed out the door.

 

 

I was comfortable and happy all day. It was a perfect hot weather outfit for Sonoma.

To answer my own question “Can I wear it tomorrow?” the answer is yes. In fact I may wear it tomorrow, the next day and maybe the next day after that.

 

Is this a shopping tip you could adopt?

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