After all the excitement and hallabaloo created around luxury and designer fashion on traditional and social media in the last few years, your interest has finally peaked. You have decided you want to enter the space and see what all this fuss is about. As simple as you might take it to be at face value, the designer fashion shopping experience may not be as wholesome as many chalk it up to be. However, you can definitely have very enjoyable experiences and I want that for you. In this article, I share five things I believe you need to do before you start shopping for designer fashion. Feel free to extrapolate to shopping for non-designer fashion or even non-fashion items in general. To be honest, this could also double as life advice which makes me happier to share with you. Here they are:
Create a wishlist. Whatever means you choose to employ ( pen and paper, digital notes, saving clips in Pinterest, Instagram, taking photos and saving on your devices) you really should have a wishlist. It’s just the responsible thing to do. Creating a wishlist helps to ensure that you do not overspend and end up with a miserably, cluttered home or buyer’s remorse. Additionally, a wishlist is akin to a set out goals one would wish to achieve, and realizing goals is a great mood booster. This ties in quite well with shopping in general because we use shopping as a way to experience pleasure. Having a wishlist and being able to score your favorite items is one of the most enjoyable experiences of shopping for luxury designer fashion.
2. Have a spending plan. In addition to a list of items you desire to have in your collections, you should create a discretionary spending plan dedicated to designer fashion shopping. These designer items carry very high price tags and as with all things luxury, you don’t need them. Moreover, shopping in general can be very addictive and designer fashion shopping is no exception to this. Those high prices are not automatic hindrances to people who have a hard time controlling their spending. However, setting aside funds specifically assigned for fashion shopping gives you the flexibility to enjoy shopping without worrying about falling into crippling debt or regretting your purchases. When making your plans, institute maximum limits on how much you are willing to spend in a particular timeframe and on specific items. Also take into consideration the possibility of being offered exclusive, big-ticket, quota items like Hermes and Chanel classic bags at any time. Create a plan that will allow you to comfortably and confidently acquire and enjoy those wishlist items.
3. Decide what you want out of the experience. It is important to have a moment of honesty with yourself about what you wish to gain by shopping designer fashion. Do you want better quality clothing? Do you want items that will make you fit into a certain community? Do you want to add fun and novel pieces to your wardrobe? Do you want to explore the different brands? Do you want a unique shopping experience or unique pieces? Do you want to be able to show off through brand names and labels? Knowing what you want out of this will guide you as to which brands to look into and settings in which to shop. It also helps with creating your wishlists and spending plans. So take that moment and ask yourself “why am I really doing this?”
4. Familiarize yourself with the pieces.
As much as possible, before committing to forking over thousands of dollars for your designer fashion pieces, try to learn about them. Where accessible, go into stores, try on the items and take mod shots of yourself in them. If you cannot get into a store, ask friends or family who have what you want to allow you to see and feel the items. Ask for their reviews, look at other people’s reviews online. Watch videos and read articles. Take note of all the good, bad and in between. By doing these things you can have more confidence in making your purchases because you have a better idea of what to expect and how to enjoy your purchases.
5. Be flexible. My previous points may have seemed very formal and boring. I promise you,I am not a party pooper. I just want you to have as much fun as I do when shopping and practicing the actions that I mentioned above gives you the freedom to do so. However, I acknowledge that it is also worthwhile to be flexible. Your interests and overall outlook on life is subject to change. You can change your mind. You are free to add and subtract items from your wishlists at any time and for any reason. You are free to purchase something that makes your heart leap for joy at first sight, even though it never made it on the list. Have some flexibility in your discretionary spending plan; make sure you have some breathable wiggle room. You do not have to spend to the max limits of your plans but you also don’t have to deprive yourself of an item you really want because it is 50 bucks over the limit you set. Be flexible in where you shop, unless you are working your way up to an exclusive quota item. If you can cop an item on discount somewhere other than a boutique, do not limit yourself to paying full price for it just for the sake of saying you got it from the boutique. Have no shame in returning an item that is not to your liking or no longer serves you. Be ok wanting to have an eclectic collection or subscribing to one set aesthetic. Be comfortable wanting classic items when everyone is screaming TREND IS IN or wanting to enjoy trends when everyone is screaming CLASSIC IS THE WAY TO GO. Feel free to look and admire items without having to add to cart and check out.
All in all, enjoy the experience of shopping for fashion. We already have enough problems plaguing our world, we don’t need to add the negative outcomes of irresponsible shopping to that list. Let us continue to use this avenue of individual and artistic expression called fashion to ease our worried minds and anxious spirits. Let us live life to it’s fullest in every aspect.
Stay fashionably well,
TheFashionFindess
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