One of the biggest challenges for a serial shopper is to channel all that energy into buying the right clothing pieces – garments that are suited to them; their body, their personality and their lifestyle. If you’ve wanted to bring a change to how build your wardrobe, start by eliminating these common mistakes you’re making while shopping for clothes. Let’s take a look:

1. Impulsive Shopping

Unplanned clothes shopping is exciting, right? But they are also counterproductive if you want to avoid cramming your wardrobe with undesirable pieces. If you’re hoping to make smart sartorial choices, say ‘no’ to impulsive shopping expeditions. If an opportunity presents itself (a bored friend wants to take you along to check out a sale, or you’re at the mall to pick up groceries at the supermarket and your favourite clothing store calls out to you), make it an opportunity to window shop. Take a look at what a store has to offer, perhaps add a couple of interesting pieces to your wish list, check out the prices and walk away. 

One of the best ways to build a wardrobe that means something to you is to buy versatile, classic pieces. Such pieces don’t usually materialise on unplanned shopping trips. You need to invest time and effort to find them, and impulsive shopping is all about no-thinking, just-buying. 

2. Buying Without Trying

“this looks fine; I’m sure it’ll fit.” Guilty of not trying on clothes at the store before buying because you’re in skinny jeans or wearing lace-up sneakers? Don’t! A brand’s standardised sizing may differ from another. So, it’s important that you try, say you’re picking a dress, in 2-3 sizes – the one you think is your size, the smaller size and the bigger one. This will give you a good idea of how the dress fits at different parts of your body, like arms, chest and hips.  

It’s also a good idea to wear something that you want to pair a new garment with. For instance, if you’ve a pair of wide leg jeans and need a top wear for it, wear the jeans to the store to get a better idea of what kind of shirts, tees or blouses would go well with it. 

3. Choosing Styles That Don’t Complement Your Personal Style

If you love fashion, you probably know all the latest trends and what styles are in vogue. Good for you! However, before you translate those styles for yourself, remember that your wardrobe must consist of pieces that complement your personal style. Going for trends over your unique identity might fill your closet with good looking clothing, but will you actually be wearing them? May be not. 

There are a couple of things to consider before you add a trending item to your shopping cart – your body type, your social life, your work environment and your personal preferences, among others. Ask yourself how this fashionable clothing pieces will add to your present life, where you would be wearing them and how often they can be worn.

4. Not Getting a Second Person Perspective

This is an underrated tip. Taking someone along with you, especially whose personal style you admire, will give you a fresh perspective on the clothing items you select for trials. Shopping alone could be a problem when you need a quick opinion on something – does the fit look good at the back, is the zip going up without stretching out, do the trousers look too loose at the ankles – a companion can help make smarter decisions. 

However, if you like shopping alone or trust only your own sense of style, try this – click a selfie in the changing room with the new clothes on. Looking at a photo would give you a better idea of how you look, compared to a mirror in an enclosed space. 

5. Not Starting Broad

Taking just 1-2 pieces to the fitting room is going to be pretty frustrating, especially when you’re on a well-planned shopping mission. Instead, take as many pieces as possible, even in different sizes, so you can try them on one after the other and make quicker, better decisions on what to edit.

6. Shopping Without a Budget

Intentional shopping comes with a thumb rule – know your budget. When you’re aware of what you’re willing to spend on new clothes, you’ll shop responsibly and not be disappointed. To make this easier on you, try putting aside a part of your monthly income toward fashion spends and dip only into this when you shop. 

7. Going For Trends Over Quality

We can never say this enough, but invest in timeless pieces over trending ones. Classic and basic pieces act as a solid foundation to your style. With the right pieces, you can mix and match and create endless outfits and style them in different ways. A few examples are a classic white shirt, a well-fitting pair of jeans, a black dress and a white Lucknowi Chikankari kurta. The quality of the fabric and its tailoring make a huge difference to your overall appearance, so do not compromise on quality when it comes to these timeless pieces. 

If you’ve always followed your heart while shopping but haven’t seen the right results, these tips will help you focus on the details and provide you a productive shopping experience. Over time, you’ll build a wardrobe of clothes that is uniquely you and will be worn more often and with enhanced confidence. 

Have any questions related to building a customized wardrobe, styling or improving communication skills? Write to email or drop us a comment below. 

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