confessions of a shopaholic
i LOVE shopping. to me, shopping feels like going to an art museum, but more personal and practical. you wear clothing every day, so why not make it fun and reflect your personality?
contrary to popular belief, shopping is not really about tapping your credit card and spending money. in fact, i usually don't buy anything. don't get me wrong, i obviously believe in retail therapy. (i do it at least twice a month 😇.) ok, then what is shopping liz? well, shopping is actually about seeking inspiration and learning more about yourself.
if you're scared of shopping (which i know many of you are), don't fret. i have a bunch of tips for you:
- NEVER and i actually mean never go shopping with a mission. if you're on the search for something specific, you'll almost never find it sorry 😕.
- decide if you value curation or treasure hunting. for example, second-hand stores like james veloria curate a collection of clothing for a daring high fashion audience at a higher price whereas beacons closet (a chain in nyc) requires you to spend hours and hours digging for a gem.
- if you love a little treasure hunt, learn to browse fabrics. browsing fabric is like skimming a book. i never pull out an item of clothing unless the fabric feels good or has a beautiful color/print. i've gotten pretty good at finding random designer clothing in second-hand stores because of this!
- embrace window shopping and get inspired! visit stores like dover street market and look at clothing like you're at an art museum. dsm is 8 floors of designer clothing curated by the one and only rei kawakubo.
- go shopping in person. oftentimes, a dress on the rack has a glow up when you put it on. personally, i find that online shopping is more advanced.
- try things you would never dare to buy, but are intrigued by! worst case is that you'll be like "ew" and best case you'll be like, "wait a second, i love it!"
- if you love a garment and you're on the fence, think about (1) how often would i be able to wear this? and (2) ask an employee to put it on hold for you. if the answer is at least twice a month and if you're still thinking about it 4 hours later, just get it!
- learn your silhouette. what types of garments do you constantly wear in your closet? analyze those items. are your tops fitted or boxy? are your pants wide or narrow? knowing your silhouette is like a shortcut because you can ignore 80% of the other clothing out there.
btw whenever a friend asks me: "can you help me revamp my wardrobe?" the answer is always a "yes, please!"