Ever since this post about Clara’s clothes, I’ve actually gotten a surprising amount of requests for a post about how I save money on my own clothes, what my staples are, and how I generally get by without spending a ton of my momdrobe – er, I mean wardrobe. And although I’m hardly a fashion plate (that idea makes me snort-laugh) I do love a deal, so here’s a rundown on how I save money when I’m shopping for myself along with some sneaky sale tricks I’ve learned along the way and a few general dressing rules that seem to work for me (slash keep me from buying stuff I’ll regret/never wear/stare angrily at in my closet).
And I’d love to hear from you guys when it comes to how you score deals and try to resist buying things you don’t need/wear – so please drop in on the comments with all of your wardrobe words of wisdom!
Tip #1: Just ask. About a year ago I found a dress with no price on it at Old Navy. I asked them how much it was and they said it was an online-only return that ended up in their store, and they could sell it to me for 50% off. Just like that, a $30 dress was $15 – plus I could stack another mailer coupon I received on top of that. So worth just asking about it, right? Note: Please pardon this crazy face. I do that sometimes. Gathering all of the pics of myself for this post was beyond awkward.
Tip #2: Organize your clothing coupons. I use this method, which helps me know what I have and use them before they expire. Definitely helps me save some loot.
Tip #3: Know the rules. Many stores have special deals that run for cardholders. For example, you can get 10% off every Tuesday when you use an Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic card – on top of any markdowns from other coupons, discounts in the store, etc. I recently spent around $25 at Old Navy to get $65 worth of stuff. How? Well, first I used something they call Super Cash (it’s like Old Navy bucks that they give you after you buy stuff to put towards your next purchase, so I had a $20-off voucher to use if my total was over $50) but I also was shopping on a Tuesday so I got an additional 10% off, plus I was buying one item that was an online-only return, so that was 50% off plus 10% off on top of that! In the end I saved $40 just stacking discounts, shopping on the right day, and remembering to use my Super Cash voucher before it expired.
Tip #4: Figure out your favorite haunts. That’ll help you learn their store/sale policies, and it’ll also save you time since you’ll get to know:
- what sizes work for you in those stores (for faster shopping/fewer returns)
- which cut of jeans you love/wear most (and which ones you don’t so you can avoid them)
- when their end of season sales will be (and what they might have there, based on what you found the previous year, etc)
We’re also huge fans of outlet shopping, so when we go to the beach (usually around Memorial Day and Labor Day) we hit up the outlets where it’s not unusual to get things for 50-70% off. If I were forced at gunpoint to make a list of my favorite haunts, they’d be:
- Gap (great for staples like jeans)
- Old Navy (I usually love their tops)
- Banana Republic (I troll their sale rack for tops, skirts, and dresses)
- Banana Republic Outlet (this is where I grab long-term quality items, like a black trench coat)
- J Crew Outlet (I got a great pair of teal skinny jeans there for $35 thanks to tons of sales)
- DSW (nearly all of my shoes come from there)
- TJ Maxx (they’re awesome for discounted designer bags that last forever)
Tip #5: Don’t water down your wardrobe. I like to look at it as an “overall closet average.” Say I have ten outfits I love love love in my closet. I’d call them all favorites and on a scale of 1-10 I’d score them all a ten. That makes my overall closet average a ten. Then say that I see a sweater I kind of like (let’s say I’d give it a seven). And it’s on sale, so it’s tempting. The way I completely resist grabbing that sweater – which I’m guaranteed to like less than everything else in my closet – is to think of my closet average. Right now my overall closet average is a ten. If I get that sweater and it’s a seven, it’ll bring my entire closet average down, and I can just picture myself choosing other things on my hanging bar over and over again since it wasn’t something that I love love loved from the start. That helps me hold out for things I really truly love and stops me from grabbing anything I probably won’t wear or appreciate as much. Everyone loves a good closet GPA, haha – and it keeps that dreaded closet-clutter at bay (you know, when you have a bunch of stuff, but feel like you have nothing to wear).
Tip #6: Know what works. I’m a whopping 5’2″ – and I have the opposite of a long model-esque neck (it’s short like the rest of me) so I’ve learned that I look best in a v-neck. Somehow it makes me look like I have more of a neck and lengthens me in general, so I’ve learned what works for me.
Knowing that helps, because when I see some high-necked sweater or a boat necked t-shirts, I save myself the time of trying them on (and hating them) and I save myself from any temptation to buy something because it’s a pretty color/print/fabric or has a certain alluring designer name (or seductive sale price) since I know I’ll completely regret the purchase if it doesn’t actually flatter my body type. Heck, even my favorite swim suit has a deep V.
And we can’t forget my purchased-48-hours-before-the-big-day wedding dress.
Tip #7: Think about what you can pair things with. This is sort of like decorating. I try not to grab something that won’t go with anything in my closet, because much like buying something that matches nothing in my house, it would necessitate buying lots of other things to go with it. One great trick I have is to remember a few of my favorite outfits or pairings. For example: a denim pencil skirt + black t-shirt + leopard heels. If I see a pretty red pencil skirt when I’m out, immediately in my head I can think about the black shirt & those leopard shoes and know that it could be subbed in for the denim skirt for a different look with a similar silhouette (which I know I already love).
I try not to be as boring as buying the same things in a bunch of different colors, but I also go back to tip #3 (know what works) and remember that I tend to love a few silhouettes since they’re easy for me to wear and work well with my body type (ex: pencil skirts that aren’t too long for my short legs, skinny jeans, v-neck shirts, etc). Here’s another example of how I might grab something that can work with a variety of things in my closet. Take this coral tank top, that I have under this brown jacket…
Here it is under a black blazer at Haven (thanks for the pic Rhoda!). Little staples like colored tank tops seem to be inexpensive and easy to layer, so they might be less specific than a big patterned sweater or something.
Here’s another one in dark plum. For a girl who wears a ton of black, colorful tanks are a nice low-cost way to add some color in without breaking out in hives. Ooh plum, look at me. I’m a rebel.
Tip #8. Pick quality for things you’ll wear all the time. It adds up to longevity. For example, I’m extremely cheap. But in the purse category, I usually buy one and wear it for 2-3 years. Sometimes even longer. So I’m happy to splurge if it means something will be better made and will last that whole time without looking all murky and disheveled. When I say splurge, I don’t mean $500, I mean something in the $120-180 range. I know, it probably sounds super high to some folks, but I actually think if you figure out your cost per wear on a cheap purse, it might surprise you.
For example, say over three years you buy/wear four $30 purses from Target. That actually works out to the exact same cost as getting one great Michael Kors or Cole Haan bag from TJ Maxx for $120 and wearing that for three solid years (something I’ve done for over a decade now, without any issue of things getting worn out or me getting sick of them- you just have to hold out for something you’re truly obsessed with and that love goes on and on). So I guess it goes back to my whole “don’t water things down” theory (tip #5). I just like to buy one great purse that I’m enamored with and wear the heck outta it. It usually takes me about a year to find “the bag” though, so I don’t rush into anything (a few years is a long enough commitment that I take it super seriously and refuse to settle). And then I take a cell phone pic of it and text it to my BFFs to celebrate my purse victory. Dork for life.
Another example of how I try to go for quality would be with coats. I got this trench for $80 at the Banana Republic Outlet (marked down from $150+) a few years ago, and have worn it like crazy. Spring and fall for at least two years now, and it’s still going strong (no ripped lining, buttons popping off, etc). I used to try getting cheaper jackets at places like Target & Old Navy, but learned that they didn’t last as long, which ended up being more money in the long run, so for things like bags and coats I try to go for quality (but I look for that item in an outlet or discount store like TJ Maxx to try to keep costs down).
Tip #9: Spice things up with accessories. Most of my formative learning-my-style years were spent in NYC (I lived there for six years, through college and those first-job years afterwards) so I definitely have an affinity for the “New York look” (lots of black, a big handbag, long lean jeans, blazers, black sunglasses) but I also have always loved to spice things up in two areas: jewelry and shoes. One of my first pair of fancy pointy toed shoes were a pair of pink Nine West heels that I loved with all of my heart. And I’d pair them with a black blazer and jeans for a little dash of color without feeling too matchy-matchy (which might happen if I paired them with a pink sweater of the exact same color). I also had a pair of lime green Roberto Cavalli sandals that I scored for cheap at Century 21 (an awesome outlet-ish store in downtown Manhattan with a ton of clothes & shoes that are marked waaay down). Still to this day I love wearing a navy or black top with jeans and bright red peep toe heels…
I also love bright earrings, so it’s not unusual to see me in a black shirt, jeans, and some big coral or emerald colored earrings. John got me these guys for Christmas and I love them.
Here’s more dangly earring evidence (this shot is from back in NYC when we first started dating).
And here’s Exhibit C, with even more earring action going on. It’s just a quick way to add some “I’m-trying-a-little” to my usually questionable mom uniform. Haha.
It might not be a perfect equation for everyone (big bold earrings + basic black shirt + skinny jeans + some sort of shoe that works for being a momma but still doesn’t look too frumpy & is occasionally a bright color or print) but that seems to be the sweet spot for me.
Tip #10: Don’t try to make everything the star. I think this is sort of a sister tip to the one above, and it’s also one of those tips that rings true for how we decorate our house. Much like you don’t want every item of furniture and accessory competing for attention (you want some to fall back while others are free to be the focal point), you probably don’t want everything on your body to be vying for attention. It’s why I love slipping on my favorite pair of skinny jeans and a plain black top, just so my big crazy earrings or bright shoes can be the stars.
Another way to interpret this could be that if you have an awesome printed dress, a nude shoe could be a nice way to play it up. And we’ve all heard the “you shouldn’t wear a big statement necklace with big statement earrings” rule, which definitely seems to ring true for me. The way this tip saves me money is if I have an event in mind and I know what dress I’ll be wearing and I’m searching for shoes or jewelry, I can pin down whether the dress will be the star, and if it will I’ll get shoes and jewelry that won’t compete (instead of coming home and trying everything on together and hating the outcome).
Tip #11: Do your own thang. Don’t follow any of my tips word for word since goodness knows I’ve read tons and tons of clothing advice that might ring true for someone else, but is laughably terrible advice for someone like me with my body type. So while I know it’s incredibly clichéd to tell you to embrace who you are and just wear what you like, but at the end of the day, it’s kind of the best advice of all.
And now since someone will ask for it, here’s a pic of me with my hair down. I do it sometimes, but not often, just because I’m a ponytail girl. It helps me keep the paint and the peanut butter and jelly outta my hair. Haha.
Now it’s your turn. Shower me with your tips and tricks when it comes to stocking your closet on the cheap. Where do you save and splurge? I’m sure it’s different for everyone, so I’d love to hear what works for you guys!
Sara T. says
I love your rating system…definitely need to put that to use, as I always seem to buy things because they’re a great deal and then end up not loving them as much like a month later. I also saw a great idea on pinterest for helping to purge things that you never wear–turn all your hangers around and then when 6 months have gone by, get rid of anything that hasn’t been turned around, because if you haven’t worn it in 6 months, odds are you’re never going to wear it.
Amanda says
I really think the closet GPA thought just changed my life.
I appreciate this. I’m 25 which is a weird transition from college, hippy, fun wardrobe to professional, adult (but still want to be fun) wardrobe. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do that and this was a great post about that.
Thanks!
georgia says
I LOVE this post!!!!
I have to say sherry you have evolved over the last year or so… you seem to wear very different clothes to what you wore before. Its nice to see you in colour, it suits you :)
Unless i love something so much i cant live without it, (and then moan and whine to my husband about things i wish i had bought from tk maxx and didnt… ahhh the blue owl vase ;( )
then mainly i buy all my clothes in Sales, although i have learnt if you buy cheap, then you buy twice!!
It pays to invest with things like shoes, and bags, and Jeans!
Also in the UK we have carboot sales, these are good places to pick up cheap clothes and accessories, most people sell clothes from highstreet stores for so cheap about 95% less than what you would pay in store! craziness.
Thanks for this awesome post… Closet tour soon please – including nail polish, jewellery bags & Shoes! You should do a beauty blog stylee OOTD – (out fit of the day post!)
xx
Becky S. says
Am I losing it, or did you recently have a post about submitting questions for your next blogiversary video? I’ve searched back about 2 weeks and…no luck. Did you recently post about this topic, or am I really losing it?? (Well, if you ask my family they would have a quick answer for you!)
Thanks! And I love your blog…been a daily reader since back in the day when you only had a handful of commenters…in fact, you even suggested my kitchen paint color, which we still love…thank you! :)
YoungHouseLove says
We tossed up a little ditty on Facebook:)
xo,
s
Paige says
I’m big on sticking to solid colors. Patterns can be so in-the-moment trendy that the piece looks outdated by the next season (prairie florals, for example). Plus, solids generally make you look classic and not tied to a decade (I’m looking at you, plaid).
Katy says
Not sure if someone’s mentioned this already, but if you like GAP and J. Crew, you’ll like Land’s End Canvas – its a younger, hipper Land’s End, and the prices are way better than J. Crew, plus they have AMAZING sales! Most Sear’s stores have a Lands End section so you don’t have to do it all online!
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the tips everyone!
xo
s
dawn says
Great tips! I particularly love #5, 6, 7 and 8.
One thing I learned from my own maternity wardrobe is that it doesn’t have to be big to be versatile. And purchasing in capsules is my new shopping motto, along with one-in-one-out.
Still gotta work on increasing the GPA of my existing wardrobe though! The photos of your (well-edited) wardrobe in your old house were particularly inspiring for me.
Anna says
Great advice. The GPA thing was something I’d never thought about before – cool way to think about it.
I think the greatest piece of advice that has worked for me is to just by what I love-love. It’s amazing how this filters into style, color, silhouette, etc. I often find that by following that one little rule I have a fairly cohesive “look.” I’ll often find items to pair that are the exact same color, but purchased months (sometimes years) a part.
The other things that I do to help with cost (besides thrifting) is to shop at the end of the season sales. (I’m not a celebrity afterall, so having last season stuff really isn’t a big deal!) This keeps me from purchasing overly trendy things, because I have to think if it will still be cute in 12 months. I still get end of the season wear of newer items, but save a ton by not buying right when the season begins.
Cas says
The closet GPA is brilliant.
I recently started working in an office after a few years of working from home, so I had to nix the yoga pants and hoodies for some pencil skirts and such. I find I get a lot of mileage out of basic pencil skirts and dress pants, layering tank tops and a boatload of cardigans. (Boatload = maybe 7. It’s a small boat.) The best part is, most of these things also go so well with jeans, so my weekend style has gotten so much better by default. And I nabbed almost everything from outlet malls + additional sales, so… score? Score.
Kate says
I’m a huge fan of Target clearance, plus a little bit of outlet/other store clearance/gifts. I’ve found I almost never look good in things from Old Navy so I never go in; I like Gap outlet if I can find some things on clearance/a good sale; Macy’s and Kohl’s can have very good clearance if you happen to hit them at the right times. I’m insanely cheap about clothes – I definitely buy some things I shouldn’t bother buying, but something things I didn’t expect end up being my favorites, so I will take a risk if it’s really cheap. I wish I wore more jewelry (I have collected a lot of it over the years, oddly, though I tend to never wear much).
My current issue is maternity clothes. It’s like I have to instantly create a whole new wardrobe, but I’m still trying to be thrifty about it! I’ve gotten a lot of things on clearance from Target online since they will allow you to return free in the store. I got a couple things at a Motherhood Maternity outlet store, but even that was a bit above my budget. I’ve made a few things and plan to make a couple more (I refashioned shorts and two pairs of dressy pants, I made one shirt so far and plan to make a couple more). I’ve also had some very good luck at one of the thirft stores near me that actually has some maternity clothes sectioned off on a rack – I’ve hit them up a couple times now and got two pairs of jeans, dress pants, a sweater and a couple shirts. Hopefully I’ll be able to continue to cutely and cheaply cloth myself until this little one comes out in four(!) months!
Chris says
Ross has a small maternity section. Shirts are about $7 or $8 dollars. They aren’t the best quality (tend to pill after awhile), but were great last year when I just needed a cute wardrobe to get through those last few months of pregnancy. Good luck!
Tara H. says
Great tips, Sherry. Now that my little one is growing into a toddler, I am hoping to shed some of my “mom-iforms”. Great ideas on saving here and splurging there.
PS- how pretty are you with your hair down!!!!
PSS- does Clara look at you funny when you let the locks free? My little girl just stares at me when my hair is down. A half smile, half puzzled look. It cracks me up.
Tara H.
YoungHouseLove says
She loves when it’s down. She wants to play with it. Haha.
xo,
s
Lisa says
Thanx for the pic with the hair down. I was wondering why you never wear it down. You are such a beautiful girl and with the hair down, look out! I personally do go for the cheaper purses, simply because I get bored after a while so I don’t want to spend big bucks and then not want to use it. Good advice.
Courtney says
I go for classic, classic, classic. I need to spice up my wardrobe some! :<}
LOVED this post- you did an excellent job spelling out exactly what you mean. Lots of those things I've never even thought of but they make perfect sense and will be so helpful. The "water down your wardrobe" tip was my favorite I think- that was kind of an "ah-ha!" moment for me, so thanks!!
Andrea says
I have a total Michael Kors obsession and actually have the same purse as you in tan! I love his metallics though so if they would’ve had that gold instead of the tan I totally would’ve bought it! And they are SUCH an investment I used my first MK bag all year round for 3 years before moving on to my next!
Sarah says
I love a great pair of eye-catching shoes, but I just had to stop buying them because they weren’t versatile enough for me. Before I buy a pair of shoes, I think, “Can I wear these with black, brown, and navy? Will they look good with pants and a skirt? Can I wear them on the weekend and to the office? Are they comfortable enough for me to walk around in easily?” If the answer to any of those is no, then I can’t get them. That way I can spend a bit more money on shoes that will last, and I reduce the amount of time I stand in front of the mirror debating which shoes to wear in the morning!
Elisa says
I only buy clothing and accessories that I would be willing to wear with black shoes. It really simplifies everything by eliminating the need for the same shoes/belts/purses/coats in brown AND black. I only need the black version of all of them. However, it doesn’t mean I only have black shoes. My coral pumps will go with most of the clothes I bought to go with black shoes, as do my caramelish-colored moccasins and my nude sandals.
Heather says
I just read a good tip on-line the other day. Turn all of the hangers in your closet the opposit way so the open part of the hook at the top is facing you. When you wear something and put it back, hang it the right way. Do this for a year. At the end of the year get rid of everything still facing the wrong way. It’s a long process but will make cleaning your closet really easy and help you streamline what you really wear/need/like.
Meredith @ La Buena Vida says
I totally do the “splurge in some areas, save in others” method too. Since I’m almost 5′ 11″, sometimes I have a hard time buying clothes off the rack…so I try to make sure that I actually purchase clothing that comes in TALL length for things like jeans, basic t-shirts, jackets, etc. Even at places like Old Navy, I hate paying full price, but I will for those sorts of things because I think of them as “foundation” pieces.
For everything else, especially anything that I think might be more “trendy”, I try to hit up consignment shops. My sister is the manager at one, and it’s awesome. The other day I got a Simply Vera Wang shirt there for $5, which I am hoping I’ll like post-baby. And if not, for $5 I’m not out much (especially since I bought it with store credit from bringing in my stuff)…AND I could just always take it back and re-consign it if I don’t like it!
Chrissy Sparks (Brush Dance) says
I loved your tips on how to make shopping faster & easier… so many things to keep in mind…and since I usually have to bring my two little girls with me when I shop, saving time is a GREAT thing. After all… little ones can only handle so much in one afternoon :) Thanks for the great post!
Roxanne says
I am realy bad about buying most of my wardrobe in black because I am not very good at putting color combinations together. So I byu a black dress or a black top and then pair it with really bright shoes or a bright necklace.I honestly haven’t bought a new piece of clothing in probably over a year because we are on a pretty tight budget, but I really want to hit up my local thrift store and see what treasure I can find!
Christina says
I just have to tell you that you guys are so cool. I love how you think everything through like this. Thanks for sharing, I’m looking at my closet with a whole new perspective!
Marie says
Oooh, I’m really into the Closet Average thing. That could be a good way to cull your existing clothes, too–is this item bringing my Closet Average up or down?
Jen@The Decor Scene says
I love how you broke this down Sherry. I have been pairing down over the last few years of being married and I still need to do more. I really like your GPA tip. I will keep that in mind when I go through my closet when I switch over my clothes to Winter. And I totally sent my friend a picture of my MK when I bought own a few months ago. I completely agree with you when it comes to quality of bags and jackets. Thanks for sharing. :)
Maria says
Oh gosh. Closet GPA is genius. My closet is failing and she’s going to be asked to go to summer school.
That’s my homework this weekend!
Sarah says
Be sure to go and Like all your locally owned clothing stores on Facebook. You’ll be the first to know when they have a big sale and a lot of the stores in my town do weekly gift card giveaways to fans that like their page. Plus you’re supporting local businesses.
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the tips, guys!
xo,
s
Katie Rose says
I HAVE to share my story that coincides with your #8!
Just 2 weeks ago I went to Marshall’s and picked up a Michael Kors trench coat for $80. More than I usually spend on a coat? Yes. But I was obsessed with it (even sending pictures to my sister and boyfriend) & it is high quality so I know I will wear it for years to come.
Being the crazy that I am, I couldn’t help but to look up the true retail price when I got home. $220! SCORE! Just this past weekend I saw an ad for Carson’s selling my exact MK jacket for $150 and Nordstrom’s has it for $120. I felt good to validate my savvy shopper status :)
Laura@JourneyChic says
Excellent tips! I found a fabulous leather bag at Furla in Rome several years ago, and it was about $365 – a huge splurge, esp. at the time. I used it every single day for a year straight, so just $1 a day! I retired it for a Coach Outlet bag that I wore for another straight year, and this year decided to break out the Furla for another winter season. It definitely pays to invest in quality, in a classic style.
Etsy is a great place to get unique, colorful, and inexpensive jewelry – I always find something I want there! The Nordstrom Juniors dept. is great for cheap, fun jewelry too – even when you’re over 30!
Tracey says
I would love to start being smarter about my wardrobe so I can get good/quality new(er) items again. It’s primarily comprised of hand-me-downs, Goodwill finds and SO last season (like circa 2000) quality clothes like Gap, J. Crew, etc. Back then I had money and spent it! Now? Not so much. The majority of my new clothes come from our local grocery store. They get loads of Target rejects, so I buy shirts, pants and skirts there for $2-$4 a piece. Not too shabby given we don’t have money to spend on clothes, but I take what I can get, so it’s not always my style. And most of it’s Liz Lange maternity. LOL! (No, I’m not pregnant, but rockin’ maternity style anyway!) Maybe if I employ your tips and don’t get so excited at the thought of a $2 shirt, I can save all those dollars for some good stuff that’s my style! ;D
Tina Bland says
I need to clean out my closet. Pronto. And my 13 year old needs to do hers too, pronto!! LOL. Thanks for the tips!! It’s very “Happiness Project” worthy too! No more clutter!
Anna Sebok says
Yay!!! I was one of the people who suggested you do this..and I’m so glad you did!
Leigh says
I love the tips!!!! I am a reformed shopaholic and now I love a good bargain. Definitely know your style and what you typically gravitate towards and works on your body. Sometimes I see a really cute horizontally striped dess and *almost* get sucked in but I have to remember that I will never wear it. I will put it on, look in the mirror, realize it emphasizes the leftover baby belly and wider hips and then take if off. It’s just wasted money. I tend to buy tanks and cardigans because I can wear them to my traditional office and out with the little one. I also know I look best in jeans with a slight boot cut to balance my frame. I also love flats. I am attracted to heels but they aren’t practical for my life at this point.
I also cooridnate my closet by item and color. Grouping like items – cardigans, t-shirts, tanks, dresses, etc. then I sort by color – lightest to darkest. My husband thinks its a little OCD but hey, I know what I have!
Megan says
Thank you so much for this post! After a 30 pound weight loss I am having a really hard time finding clothes that fit right and determining what my “style” is. I really like your style b/c it is simple,classy, fun, and is very easily transferable into work for me (ie: cheaper!) because it is full of staples that suit any situation! (I would just swap the jeans for dress pants).
So thanks again for the help!!!
Natalie says
#1 – You are gorgeous!
#2 – I love the “overall closet average” tip – funny and true! :)
Sarah says
Love this!
I do fall prey to many “sale” items. I get all caught up in the “If I stack this coupon with this sale, I can get this $25 t-shirt for $3”
Which does take up valuable closet space.
But I do consider myself a savvy shopper like you and know where to shop and what to spend.
I feel like my biggest issue is loving something in store. Rating it a 10. Getting it home and washing it and having issues with it. Or jeans fit me perfectly in store and then I wear them a few hours and get that saggy diaper butt thing.
Any advice?
YoungHouseLove says
Anyone have any tips for Sarah? I try to stick with stores where I have success with their jeans (ex: Gap doesn’t give me saggy butt other than a little stretching between washes and then they snap back into shape) so I like to stick with them.
xo
s
Nikki says
I had a sales associate in Loft tell me that jeans I thought fit were actually too big because they were going to stretch slightly. The size down felt a little tight at first but in no time they fit perfectly and I was glad I listened. Maybe try a size smaller?
Kim says
Nikki makes a great point — ask a sales associate about how the item will be affected by wash and wear. Sometimes their answer can totally affect whether or not I buy something. A good sales associate should be able to tell you how the size will shrink/expand over time and repeated washings. (One time a dressing room attendant looked up this info for me in a notebook!)
Also, when I try stuff on, I like to envision what events/places I can wear the item to and what accessorizes I have and can pair with it. If I will have to buy new accessories to make the item work, I don’t buy it. If I can’t envision wearing the item regularly, I don’t buy it.
Kate Ediger says
I’d like to add to your post that clearance shopping takes work! I live 3 hours from any stores. I went shopping this weekend. I hit Ross, Old Navy, and Dillards. I have some great pics of what it takes to score deals at Ross, but I LOVE what I came home with! Email to follow.
Marie says
I have a Cynthia Steffe navy pinstripe trenchcoat that I got at Filene’s Basement over 10 years ago. I still wear it every spring and fall because I get compliments every season, it never fails. I figure why replace something that is in perfect condition and still gets noticed.
Renee says
I just gutted my closet this weekend after having a baby 6.5 months ago and thinking I need to freshen things up. This post couldn’t have come at a better time. I love the GPA for the closet and think I will use this as I fill it back up over time.
Also…too funny! I scrolled thru all the photos when I was looking at the earrings and thought “she never wears her hair down” and then you brought it up like you read my mind!
laurie says
Thanks for a lot of good tips, Sherry. I already follow many of them. Question: After wearing clothes and purses for 3-5 years, I never know if sending them to the thrift store is a good idea since they are that old and I have worn the heck out of them (yes, they still look presentable). what do you do with yours? Especially your purses after 3-5 years?
YoungHouseLove says
I try to do yard sales or thrift stores with them, just to see of someone might buy them for cheap and redye them or something…
xo,
s
Christina @ Homemade Ocean says
I have always LOVED your style….mainly because it seems so do-able!
You know, you see the girls with an endless wardrobe of gorgeous threads and just get jealous. I get inspired by your fashion…not jealous, because I feel like it’s something I could maybe accomplish. If I shower….this week :)
Rebecca says
Love these tips. I’m an outlet gal too, it’s the only way I can afford brands like Gap or Banana Republic. The clearance racks there are my favorite! My general rule of thumb is “do I have at least two outfits for this item?” Each time I pick a new top or skirt, I think about what’s already in my closet before I purchase.
My big splurge is shoes. I’m a teacher and I have wide feet, so comfortable, long-lasting shoes are super important and I’ll go the extra mile to find the perfect pair. I do love DSW, and I always seem to have a coupon.
annie says
when my husband was in grad school and i was the sole bread winner on a teacher’s salary i discovered consignment shops! that was 12 years ago and i still shop at them. oh baby…i score big & often…even finding brand-new-tags-on items for way cheaper. i love when i have brought items in that have sold because then i find myself with a credit and everyone wins! i am also a fan of thrift stores when i am in the mood to dig. i found a tags-on banana republic dress (orig $98) for only $9. as a stay-at-home-mom, it helps keep me within budget and mostly frump-free!
Jeannette says
My motto is quantity over quality. I know a lot of people would say no to that. But I love variety! So, I only shop at stores like Ross where I can buy 5 or 6 gorgeous print dresses every season for like $15 and be good to go. I find dresses are just so easy for work. I don’t have to pick out multiple pieces that all match, just throw on a dress and go.
Elaine K says
I like your closet GPA tip. I guess I do something similar. In the dressing room I tell myself if I don’t absolutely love it to put it back. I buy a lot of clothes from Kohl’s on clearance and Goodwill/thrift stores.
Julie (from Pocketful of Joules) says
I totally LOVE your GPA tip — I think you totally changed the way we all look at our closets now!
One thing that really helps me is that I pack away my off-season clothes. It makes my closet much more open and airy (so I can actually see my clothing choices), makes me appreciate them more when they reappear the next year AND gives me a chance to donate the clothes I don’t wear any more. =)
Monica says
Thrift stores, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and other discount stores almost never work for me due to my size challenges, so I find that I have to work really hard to avoid spending a fortune on clothes. I hate paying full price! I always buy my favorite brand of jeans when Nordstrom has their Anniversary Sale so they’re $40 instead of $70, shop end-of-season for classic pieces and and always keep my eyes peeled for great deals on items that need updated/replaced – you never know when you’ll find it!
Another tip I’d add to your list – don’t discount a brand because of it’s stereotype. For example, I’ve found some cute, stylish work clothes at Talbots that are very age-appropriate (I’m 30). Everyone is shocked when I say they’re from Talbots because the brand has a reputation for “matronly classics.”
Love your closet GPA idea! I’m pregnant and will definitely have to try that out after baby boy arrives and my wardrobe gets reevaluated!
jessica says
I feel like my theory is pretty similar to yours in a lot of ways (splurge on quality items you’ll use over and over, like purses and shoes, basic clothes with bright shoes), but since I still leave the house for work, I also try to buy clothes, especially shirts, that can do double duty – I can wear them to teach, but I can also wear them out with friends. It cuts down on money spent and space to store, since I really have to like it to buy it!
[email protected] says
Good basic bottoms (pants, jeans, skirts etc) but not many; Pair colorful tops in rotation, and no one will ever know you only own three bottoms! And for me, finding pants that fit is the challenge, so paying for quality and not having to re-shop often is a huge plus.
And I agree with the shoes: cute colorful shoes…yes!
Kalyn says
I seriously hope noone asks you to name *anything* at gunpoint, but at least you have your list of stores down :)
great tips!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo,
s
J says
Typo above your hair down pic. Muahahaha. Catching typos is my guilty pleasure.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks J! All fixed!
xo
s
tamara says
my tips! –> (1) set a clothing budget (either monthly or yearly, depending on how you shop) & be realistic about the fact that clothing is a necessity even if you don’t care about fashion. Things still come up & are needed: shoes, coats, belts, bras….I read that clothing costs most people anywhere between 2 to 8% of their income, so plan accordingly depending on how much you like to follow trends, etc. And best of all, this will remove guilt or anxiety about buying yourself something – if its IN your budget, you’re home free! (2) shop for outfits & multiples that relate – meaning, if you have an outfit that looks great with a white pencil skirt, get some white pants or white jeans too. it’ll work the same exact way and will give you more diversity for temperatures or occasions. (3) outlets aren’t always a great deal — the “Factory” stores (like – “Banana Republic Factory Store”, & Gap, Saks) don’t actually sell the same things at their outlets as they do in the stores. they have outlet-specific lines that are intentionally cheaper fabric & poorer construction, which is why it costs less. it may still be worth your money, but don’t think you’re buying the Guess jacket from the mall for less just because it’s at an outlet; if you want THAT jacket, wait till it goes on sale. outlets are, for the most part, a brilliant marketing scheme. (3) thrift stores and consignment shops are your FRIENDS. go when you’re in the mood to browse & be patient. i have several button-up silk blouses from top designers that i found at consignment/thrift stores for a few dollars vs. $80 new. If it’s stain free, just take it home, give it a wash, and good as new. and finally (4) if you’re truly a DIY-er, learn to sew!!! i have made myself several chic dresses and skirts at a fraction of the cost b/c i know my way around a sewing machine. a very-stylish-right-now yellow linen pencil skirt at J.Crew can run you $70….i bought a pattern, yellow linen fabric, static-resistant lining, and a zipper all for $17 at JoAnn Fabric’s. and it fits me perfectly :)