Preparing for Clothes Shopping

I began exploring minimalism to curb clothes shopping. Of course, I still shop. Actually, this weekend I added five items to my wardrobe, and I feel GREAT about them. These purchases did take quite a bit of planning though, including the following steps.

I honed my style and color palette

As I’ve paired down my wardrobe, I’ve developed my personal style. I’ve only kept clothes that make me feel my best and most like myself. Additionally, I’ve learned what colors look best on me based on my seasonal color palette. Now, my wardrobe only has 5 or 6 colors in it. When I shop, it’s only for clothes that fit my style and color palette.

I considered what to purchase…for a while

I keep an ongoing list of what I’m thinking of buying. For the past few months I’ve refrained from buying (most of) these things, knowing I’d shop in the beginning of April. I only purchased what remained on my list for months so I didn’t buy anything impulsively.

Also, I didn’t purchase anything that I wouldn’t wear this spring. I’m often wrong about predicting what I’ll want to wear for future seasons, so I only shop for the season I’m in. In my opinion, when it comes to shopping, there is no girl for all seasons.

I took the path of some resistance

When I regularly purchased fast fashion, it made mindfully shopping and finding my style harder. The cheapness and trendiness of clothes incentivized me to buy things I really had no chance of liking for more than a year.

Now I try to shop my values, which can be difficult. For example, this weekend I went thrift shopping, which doesn’t leave a carbon footprint and is inexpensive, but takes some digging. It’s not as easy as looking for cute, cheap clothes at Zara or Old Navy, so I’m not buying anything and everything like fast fashion allows. That’s good for the earth, my wallet, and my style.

When I am buying new, I create other rules, like only shopping from ethical and sustainable brands. Yes, these clothes are more expensive, but the reality is you likely can’t sell a good quality, new shirt for $5 and pay your workers fairly. This means I have to limit what I buy, and I’m ok with that.

I tracked my purchases

When I finished shopping, I made sure to note both the date of purchase and how much I spent. I like to keep track of an item’s cost per wear and how long it stays in my closet. This habit allows me to be more mindful for future purchases. For example, if I notice I hardly get any wear out of a pair of earrings, I won’t be as tempted to buy another one.

In conclusion

This routine is important for when I inevitably shop, and ensures I’m curating a wardrobe that suits me and aligns with my values.

I hope this helps! Please let me know what other topics you’d like to read about or questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s post!