Thursday, August 30, 2018

5 Tips On How To Shop Smart This Fall


I recently read Hayley's post on why she has given up on sale shopping (if you haven't read it yet, check it out here), and it really spoke to me as I could relate to pretty much every reason she mentioned. I too was guilty of buying things in the sale that were either too small or too big for me, with the promise I made to myself that I would fit into it one day or get it tailored, only to see the item with its tags still attached a good couple of months later and deciding to send it to a charity. With this in mind, and with the new season steadily approaching, we're all going to want to do some shopping (I know I am considering the massive clearout I had before the seasons changed). But shopping for a new season wardrobe doesn't need to be spending big bucks on various items, I'd rather shop smarter. With these 5 tips I've put together on how to shop smart this autumn (which actually work for any season or any time you fancy shopping at all), I hope you and I can really drive our monthly credit card bills down and became a better shopper going forward. If you too are tired of buying things just for the sake of it and wanna learn a few fail-proof tips, then keep on reading!


SHOP FOR THE ONE
How many times have I bought a cheaper item (not just in terms of price but also quality) because it sorta looked like the more expensive item I actually wanted, only for me to be completely unsatisfied with my purchase and continue to shop around. I think we are all guilty of this; we acquire far too many sale or cheaper items that we don't love and actually end up spending more than we would have had we just splurged on that full-price item we really wanted. So this fall when my eyes land on my perfect quality coat, that is the item I will be saving my coins for, rather than buying a jacket from Primark, a coat from PLT, and a coat that sorta/kinda/not really looks like it just because the price is right. I want the items I buy to be loved and worn over and over again, as I certainly don't want to be shopping for another coat, for example, months later just because I made the wrong purchase or because it's doesn't look great after a few wears.

SEARCH & COMPARE MORE
We all have our favourite shops, and if you've followed me for a while you will know I have a special love for Matalan. But more often than not, pieces (despite being great quality for value) are very similar season after season, so I wound up purchasing alike items in a new colour and material almost every season meaning my wardrobe always sort of looked the same. That was until a few years ago, when I widened my search and introduced a few more brands to my horizon that didn't break the bank like ASOS, Zara, Marks and Spencer, Mango, H&M, Stradivarius and Topshop. With more places than ever to choose from, I am able to compare and shop around for new wardrobe additions, rather than just settling for a piece that is just okay (this goes back to my first point) and probably won't get as much wear as something I really love. 

GO TO A STORE
Shopping online is so convenient. I can do it from the comfort of my bed (or at work haha), pick out the items I want and have them delivered to my doorstep. Despite most shops being incredibly efficient at having an easy to comprehend return policy, I now prefer going to a physical store where I can try on items and think a lot harder about what I'm buying, like do I really need another pair of ankle boots? Proobs not! This way I can avoid impulsive web purchases that will simply have to be returned at a later date, and it saves me a trip to the post office to mail it back to the online store. That is if you don't miss the return date because you forget the item in the back of your wardrobe (like I've done many times), and end up having to keep it or at a later date giving it to charity, which really is money down the drain.

SHOP FOR STAPLES
As much as I love trying out new trends, I know some are just wacky and way too out there to last longer than one season. Shopping better includes minimising spending on such trends and instead investing in staple good quality pieces that you will turn to season after season, and will look just as good as when you first bought it. Take my trench coat as an example which I wore here; I invested in one that I loved and knew would last me a long time instead of buying a cheaper version from Primark which would have probably lost shape on the first wash. Also talked about this principle in my post about 5 tips on how to achieve a minimalist wardrobe, read here (ps. it's a good one!).

HAVE YOUR GO-TO ITEMS
Having your go-to items makes dressing in the morning so much easier. It also helps you when shopping for new pieces as you will know what works for your body type and what doesn't. I definitely don't restrict myself to silhouettes that are only meant to work for my body type and am all up for trying different things, but I'm not going to wear a crazy shaped type of pants to work for example, when I know wide-leg trousers are very flattering on me. So when shopping for new work wear, I know what to go for. Similarly, for the weekend, I'm more of a denim culotte (actually all denim) type of girl as you can see by the outfit I'm wearing, so that is the type of jeans I would invest in. Knowing what works for you and what doesn't means spending less money on pieces you think you will love but hardly ever wear!


Jacket*: Levi's @ MandM Direct (here) // Culottes: H&M (here) // Tee: Stradivarius (similar here) // Belt: H&M (similar here)
Bag: Gucci (here) // Sunglasses: Primark (similar here) // Shoes: Adidas Stan Smith (here)

Shop My Outfit:


Got any more tips for me? I'd love to hear from you so let me know below! 
Thanks for reading beauties!

xoxo
* Contains PR Samples. All opinions are my own (disclaimer here).
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47 comments

  1. Hey there gorgeous, what a wonderful post! These are some really good tips and some I can definitely relate to! I get caught up very easily buying from online boutiques and not actually knowing whether they're going to fit or not, which is a bummer, and, with the sales, it's true, I tend to just buy things because they're cheap and not because I actually want them! x
    Lots of love,
    Marina Rosie x
    https://marinawriteslife.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all do it, but I'm definitely trying to break the habit!

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  2. This is actually really good advice. I shop online a lot. And it's rare that I go in store to try something on. Although when I do do this, I find that I narrow down what I end up buying considerably, which I'm always proud of at the end of my purchase.

    Mich x
    https://michjosephblog.wordpress.com

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  3. You look amazing! Thanks for sharing your great tips

    Candice | Natalya Amour

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  4. These are all great tips, actually. And a plus is you dress very stylishly which is how I know your advice works. I may take a leaf out of your "smart shopping" book. Defo bookmarking this for future reference.😅 Thanks for sharing!😊

    #sweetreats xx www.bakingboutiquebirds.blogspot.co.uk/

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  5. Love this post Pam! (And thanks for the mention - I think we're singing from the same hymn sheet!) x

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  6. Great tips Pam , you look so cool in this styling :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mesmo minha linda :D E é que ficam bem com tudo :D

    Adoro, adoro! E gostei imenso das dicas!
    estás um máximo... e quero essa mala :o

    NEW YOUTUBE POST | WEEKEND VLOG: AVEIRO :o
    InstagramFacebook Official PageMiguel Gouveia / Blog Pieces Of Me :D

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  8. Very useful tips, I don't shop in the sale for that reason too!
    Have a lovely weekend :)
    Rosanna x
    Rose's Rooftop

    ReplyDelete
  9. those are the cutest pants! thanks for sharing these tips with us!

    kelseybang.com
    4allthingsdisney.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit Kelsey! Long time no see! :)

      Delete
  10. Hi, Pam! I seriously love how you set these list of tips. Thanks so much! Also, I love your outfit, looks casually fashionable.

    Love, Fads | The Ästron
    InstagramTwitter

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  11. I love your photos in this post! I'm someone who shops the sales frequently, so I end up over shopping sometimes... I try to buy things I need, rather than buying something cute just because it's on sale. Great tip!

    Reine | The Blush Luxe

    ReplyDelete
  12. Adorei o teu look bem casual & comfy , e também obrigada por partilhares essas dicas com gente :D

    https://missvanessapt.blogspot.com/

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  13. I definitely need to shop for staples! Love those sunnies and cool outfit as usual Pam!

    Di from Max The Unicorn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you do, it will make dressing a LOT easier! :)

      Delete
  14. When shopping, i always compare prices and do a lot of research.
    Love this tips from you Pam and you look so chic in this outfit.

    Much Love,
    Jane | The Bandwagon Chic

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great practical tips you have here dear. You really can't go wrong with staples. And yes, always have your go-to outfit, this comes in really handy when you're not sure what to wear.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I quit shopping during sales some time ago because I find myself buying stuff just for the sake of cheap prices and then I end up not using them. These days I shop for classic staples that I know I will wear for a long time.

    Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity

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  17. I love your handbag, so cute and you can wear it with anything x

    Laura
    https://pinkfrenzymissl.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have definitely been wearing it with anything lately :)

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  18. I always shop around for the best deals x

    www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk

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  19. I love your jeans! I'm kind of done with the whole skinny jean trend so I have looking for alternatives such as yours :)

    Sarah | What Sarah Writes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. these are fab fab fab! Definitely check them out :)

      Delete
  20. Adoro, adoro! As cullotes são lindas e ficam-te super bem :)
    gostei das dicas, acho que todos devíamos ser mais responsáveis no que toca a fazer comprar!

    Kiss, Mariana Dezolt
    Messy Hair, Don’t Care

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh wow, how gorgeous is this! You look absolutely beautiful as always but you're always upping your game! Beautiful! :)

    Hope you're having a lovely start to the week gorgeous!

    Layla x

    https://www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great post! I could relate so much to what you said, especially with the beginning. I got so many things, hoping that I`ll lose the weight and fit into them. On top of spending money that could have gone somewhere else, those purchases were a constant reminder of the fact that I am not happy with my weight. Thankfully, I learned my lesson, and I am a smarter shopper now.

    Beauty Nerd

    ReplyDelete

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