How To Shop

[I am no fashionista to any extent, so I always look to bloggers to get inspiration to dress up!  I live and breath t-shirts and cargo pants for work so seeing ladies like Clare and Gabriela always helps get me into my closet, or the nearest store, to get some better looking clothes and coordinate myself to look nice!  Enjoy! ]


Hi everyone! I’m Gabriela, and I blog over at Une Vie Saine. Melissa asked me to do a guest post on style, and while I definitely don’t consider myself a fashionista, I do love getting dressed up!

Though I love shopping, most of my pieces are items I’ve had for years. I like to buy classic, quality clothes that I know won’t go out of style. To me, this approach is twofold: one, it saves money and energy in the long-term, and two, in twenty years my outfits hopefully won’t seem that weird! So, here are my tips and tricks to shopping for the long term- with style!

1. Go shopping in your closet. Every year, I do an overhaul of my closet where I take everything out and try it on, then evaluate its outfit potential based on the rest of my wardrobe. For instance, I might have a skirt that I haven’t worn in ages because of a hard-to-match print, but a top I’ve purchased in the past few month will look awesome in it. When everything is all jammed together on hangers, it’s easy to forget about some items, so doing this reminds me of how many clothes I actually have, and discourages me from buying more! During this organization session, I also get rid of anything that really doesn’t fit, or that I haven’t worn in two years or more. Always donate old clothes instead of throwing them out!

2. Look for quality. Though they’re almost always more expensive, I look for clothes made with good fabrics, strong seams and flattering construction. It’s always hard to part with a big chunk of change, but I remind myself that it’s better to spend forty dollars on a top that will hold up for seasons, than ten dollars on one that will fall apart after two washings.

3. Focus on fit. I know that many women are guilty of “aspirational shopping”, or squeezing into the smallest size possible, but that generally only makes you look bigger than you are. Furthermore, you’re likely never going to wear something if it’s uncomfortable. Don’t let a numbers sway you- they vary ridiculously from store to store, and only you’re going to see it! Plus, it’s always easier to take clothes in eventually than let them out. Buy the size that fits right now and wear it with confidence.

4. Buy into trends with caution. Trendy items are adorable, and are absolutely worth buying if you really love them. But rather than spend you entire wardrobe budget on “it” pieces, consider which ones work best for you and shop wisely for them- discount stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s are my favorite places to look. If possible, you can also ask to borrow from friends, or even dig into your mom’s closet to see if she has any retro stuff! I like to focus on classic pieces, and add a single trendy item to freshen it up.

5. Wear what you feel the most comfortable in. I think it’s always apparent when someone is uncomfortable in their ensemble. The only way you’re going to keep clothes forever is if they make you feel great- I can’t tell you how many items I donated with the tags still on before I realized this. Don’t try to fit into anyone else’s definition of what “stylish” means. I’m a firm believer that even if your signature look is yoga pants and a sweatshirt (as mine always is all winter), it’s still a style all your own!