What to buy & how to stay sane shopping the sales !
Shopping the sales can be overwhelming.
Where to start? How to go about it? How to go shopping so you come away with great buys that you love instead of buyer’s remorse and a depleted bank account?
Never fear FiFi is here!
Scroll down for my top tips to help you make the right decisions when shopping the sales.
Voila below my picks from the sales – in no particular order , just a mix of pieces that grabbed my eye as I shopped !
Checkout my shop pages, the shopwithfifi on LTK for my best picks at Netaporter and my sale edits here
1. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR WARDROBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE.
Work out what’s missing in your wardrobe.
Does your white tee need updating? Are you missing camel pants or an oversized blazer?
Make a list and stick to it.
2. KNOW YOUR STYLE AND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.
If florals or bright colours are not your thing (hint: they are not – never versatile!) they will not suddenly look fabulous just because they are half-price.
Scan the racks for your colours, then zero in on those pieces.
3. NEVER BUY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT FIT ONE DAY.
Buy for the size you are right now and what you feel good in. Today.
4. KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT’S COMING NEXT SEASON.
Hunt down trends early. Quite often those pieces are on sale because no one understand or gets the memo.
Scour magazines, Instagram, runway reviews and trend reports for what’s happening next winter.
You don’t know what’s coming? Don’t worry I do. Keep reading The FiFI Report and you’ll be ahead.
(Sharp shoulders, long skirts and pants, minimalism, slouchy silhouettes, white shoes, flat shoes and big bags!)
5. SHOP EARLY.
Throw down a strong latte and hit the stores before the crowds get pushy.
6. ALWAYS TRY EVERYTHING ON WITH SHOES.
They change everything, add height and polish. Hello: You are not going out in bare feet. So why try clothes on like that? Pull on shoes then make a decision.
I insist all my clients put on shoes with every single outfit before we decide if it’s right.
7. DON’T LOOK AT ITEMS AS A SINGLE THING.
Think context. Think outfits.
What pieces do you own already ? How can you wear it with from your current wardrobe? Can you think of three different ways to wear it?
If the answer is no…
8. WEAR DECENT UNDERWEAR.
There is nothing, and I mean nothing, more embarrassing than sad, saggy underwear.
9. BUY CHEAP, BUY TWICE.
Meaning?
It’s better to spend more on a quality piece and repeat wear than buy a cheaper version that you need to buy again because it falls apart and doesn’t stand the test of time.
10. WHATEVER THE PRICE, GO FOR ‘EXPENSIVE’ LOOKING COLOURS.
Colours such as chocolate brown, black, navy, grey, caramel, white and camel.
They always look expensive but don’t have to be.
11. STEER AWAY FROM HOT PINK, FLURO YELLOW AND LIME GREEN.
No, no, and no.
Tricky to wear. Hard to style. Never look expensive unless they are.
12. THINK TRANS-SEASONAL.
Can you wear it in summer and winter? That’s the question I ask myself every time I shop (excluding faux coats and bikinis – especially together!).
Choose fabrics that can go the distance: lightweight wool, cotton, chiffon and silk.
You will get more mileage out of your wardrobe if you can wear pieces from season to season.
13. CHECK OUT THE VIEW FROM BEHIND.
Throw a mirror in your handbag.
You need to know if the dress has sneaky cutouts (!), or if you have bulging bits or anything you may not be comfortable showing.
Maybe those pants are see-through at the back or there’s a visible panty line. Yikes.
14. REMEMBER, FRIENDS DON’T ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.
Take someone you trust for an honest opinion. Like FiFi! DM me on instagram if you need help! Or take a photo of yourself if you’re unsure.
Or just add to cart. Then go and get a coffee and look at it again in an hour to decide.
15. TRY NOT TO BE WHIPPED INTO A FRENZY.
No more impulse buying.
Buyer’s remorse is not a good thing. The wrinkles/injectables will cost more in the long run.
16. AVOID ANYTHING THAT SCREAMS OVER-THE-TOP FARSHUN. NO ONE BOUGHT IT, THAT’S WHY IT’S ON SALE.
I’m talking about a bright, floral, frilly maxi dress with cutouts or red pleather shorts with studs, fringing. You get the idea. They’re for Halloween.
17. REMEMBER WHEN YOU BUY 10 THINGS AT $30 THAT ADDS UP TO $300.
Which is a Prada shoe (ok, a single one!).
My advice: Keep a running tab on everything you want (if shopping online) and then add it up.
Buy one thing you love and delete the silly purchases.
18. DON’T EVER BUY ANYTHING BECAUSE IT’S CHEAP.
Who would ever do that?! Um, er…
This is an article I wrote for Mamamia
Checkout my shop wishlist pages and LTK page for my sale edits here
