10 Dumbest Things I've Bought (Fashion-wise)
10. Anything that just barely fit but I figured I could lose weight for
Seriously, this is a terrible idea. Unless you currently employ a personal trainer and are regularly losing, don't do it. Even if you are losing, you don't know how your shape might shift as you do so. Really, a terrible idea.
9. Anything I intend to "fix" once I learn to use (read: turn on) my sewing machine
Yeah.
8. Really cute, cheap shoes that kill my feet
I learned my lesson. What's the point of shoes I can't wear unless I want to be in pain?
7. Pricey, poorly made costume jewelry
I love costume jewelry, but I'm not shelling out some of the prices I've seen lately. $50 for a necklace? No. If I'm going to spend a lot of money of costume jewelry I'm going to find interesting vintage piece or buy from a designer on Etsy. I'm staying away from department and big box brands that aren't worth the cash.
6. Designer for designer sake
This is something I did when I was younger. I wanted brand and designer names, but I couldn't afford them so any time something came into my price range, even if it was awful, I would consider it. This is an easy trap to fall into at outlet stores, thrift stores, garage sales and T.J.Maxx. If you wouldn't buy it with a Target tag, don't buy it with a Gucci tag.
5. Clearance for clearance sake
I was either unemployed and dangerously under-employed for five years. I needed to replace clothes. I ran out of things that didn't have holes in them. I frequently bought cheap stuff that I wouldn't normally want just for the sake of getting some new things. Sometimes the clothes surprised me, but most of the time I would have been better off buying a single more expensive item than the five cheap, unwearable ones I bought.
4. Most of the purses I own (Or anything I've settled for)
I'm super picky about the structure of my purse. I actually need one badly, but I'm through buying "close-enough" bags. I'm never happy. I'm waiting for something that is actually perfect. Until then, I'm using all the bags I don't like but already have.
3. Event-based clothing
This is often required. I don't regret any of my bridesmaid dresses because I was honored to be there for friends on their big days. I do, however, hate most of the clothes I bought because I didn't have anything to wear to (fill in the blank). I try to keep standbys on hand such as little black dresses and classy basics so I can avoid these sorts of purchases.
2. Souvenir Clothing
Some of my favorite fashions have been purchased on trips. I'm glad I bought all that I did in Italy. And I'm super happy I stocked up on socks in Japan. On the flip side "I've always wanted to shop here" or "This band is awesome" aren't exclamations that mean I need to buy clothes. It doesn't usually result in something I frequently wear.
1. Anything that came with a free gift in a free tote bag
Comedienne Rita Rudner has a bit about "the free gift." It goes something like "We buy something we don't want to get a free gift we don't need in a tote bag we won't use." It's true, and if you've done it, not so funny. I love free stuff so I'm very susceptible to this. Thanks to being unemployed for five years, I've broken the habit. However, I watch women fall prey every time I walk past a cosmetics event at Macy's.
What are your worst purchases? Do you have any frequent poor purchasing habits?
Comments
Other than that and free with purchase, I'd done all of these. If you'll excuse me, I need to go figure out which of today's purchases I'm returning.