Method or plan when buying clothes?

[dexterhaven]

I'm curious how most of you, who are more experienced than me in dressing well, determine your next purchase. Do you follow any sort of method or pre-established plan? Do you just buy whatever happens to strike your fancy? Are you working towards a "complete wardrobe" and so consider everything you have bought already when determining to buy something new? Did you follow a plan upon starting out but once you got the basics abandoned it? Or did you do something else entirely?

 

[w.kevin]

Originally Posted by dexterhaven

Do you just buy whatever happens to strike your fancy?

Yes. It's not rocket science.

 

[Johnathan]

Maybe it's because I'm still in the midst of forming my wardrobe, but I have a list going of stuff that fits four categories:

Stuff I really need
Stuff I really want
Stuff I kinda need
Stuff I kinda want

I tend to buy out of the first two categories most of the time.

 

[Illuminate07]

Usually I have looks that I want to acheive already planned and just go out and buy the pieces I need

 

[imhotep]

this may help

 

[Tek_]

I buy what I need or if I find a great deal, i.e. I only have 1 pair of sneakers, so with summer coming up I bought a pair of Stan Smith Graph 1's, they're perforated to they should be perfect.

 

[chronoaug]

Usually the stuff i buy will fall under a certain category

fills hole in wardrobe
would work well to make a nice outfit with stuff i already own
a really nice piece at a good price i'm sure i could make work
practical and cheap where i know i could get some use out of it

 

[erbs]

Originally Posted by dexterhaven

Are you working towards a "complete wardrobe" and so consider everything you have bought already when determining to buy something new?

Yes. It is rocket science.

 

[AntiHero84]

I used to divide what I buy into two categories, "work clothes" and "not work clothes." More recently, I've been trying to combine the two by getting quality basics. Occasionally, I'll find something that I really like, for either work or more casual settings. I think the best method is to try and see how each new piece will work into your current wardrobe, and whether you actually need the new article of clothing.

 

[Marcus Brody]

I plan to buy black boots. Then buy whatever strikes my fancy while I look for them.

I still don't have black boots.

 

[dexterhaven]

Originally Posted by w.kevin

Yes. It's not rocket science.

Maybe not. But, at the risk of stating the obvious, people here take great care in how they dress. It stands to reason that they also take great care in selecting their clothes.

Chrono, well said. But what about buying things you don't know how to wear? Is that a way to waste your money or a way to extend your sartorial boundaries by forcing yourself out of your comfort zone?

 

[chronoaug]

Both. Then again, i rarely buy something at a price i don't think i'd be able to make back or close to it selling it online (ebay or forums) unless i really know it's gonna be perfect. I've bought a few items i was unsure of at the time but ended up working out and allowed me to expand my fashion comfort zone. There's still a ton of stuff i need to sell either because it doesn't fit me (happens when you buy online sometimes) or i just don't wear enough.

 

[bsyde82]

Make a wishlist for each season, and take care of each item one by one as my bank account allows. That's my strategy.

 

[whistler]

I'm still building my wardrobe, so I have a list of things I need to buy. I've been slowly buying each item over time.

I find it helps to take a pic of the item first then check it out later for look and feel. A pic really seems to give a more honest viewpoint than looking in the mirror.

 

[zissou]

I have 'enough' clothes to get by, so these days I pretty much only buy things I'm totally in love with.