[4 Tips] Learn to Buy Clothing You Love

The Shopping Process That Changed My Wardrobe

Use The Purposeful Shopping Process to ensure you go home with pieces you’ll crave to wear instead of collecting dust. 

🛑 If you don’t know your personal style yet, I recommend you not buy a thing and start instead by defining your personal style here. 🛑

WATCH: Maddison uses The Purposeful Shopping Process a recent thrifting trip.

If you have pieces in your closet that still have tags on them, this process was made for you!

“It still has the tags on it!”

Cue Horror Music

The Purposeful Shopping Process was created because women I know have bemoaned about pieces they’ve purchased that have wound up collecting dust instead of being worn.

Sound like you?

• Do you have pieces in your closet with tags on them?

• Do you have pieces you’ve worn only once (not counting formal attire)?

• Do you look at certain pieces in your closet and feel regretful?

If so, I empathize because I’ve donated pieces from my closet countless times that I only wore once, if at all.

By creating and using The Purposeful Shopping Process , I end up buying less, spending less, and loving what I buy so much that I crave to wear it.

This article is going to walk through the 4 steps to The Purposeful Shopping Process, and then do a deep dive into additional clothing shopping tips and tricks.

wondering If you’re a “shopping expert?

ask yourself:

Do you have a piece in your closet you regret buying? If you could get a full refund on it, you’d take it?

If yes, then this process will help you go from regretting your purchases to craving to wear them frequently.

Purposeful shopping process: a mental checklist

The Purposeful Shopping Process sets 4 ground rules to prevent ever feeling regretful about a piece of clothing again.

Have a plan

Create a running list of pieces you’re looking for and have it on hand when shopping (iPhone notes app🔥). Notes keep us focused!

PRO TIP: Take screenshots of pieces you love and put them in a separate photos folder that you can reference while shopping.

4C’s

While trying pieces on, ask yourself curious questions using the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Cloth, and Comfort (see more info on this below!⬇️).

Think about your wardrobe

While pursuing and trying on pieces, consider how the piece will go with other items you own.

Consider cost last

Don’t let cost be the primary reason to buy a piece (e.g. “It was on sale - I had to!”).

If you love it, it’s comfortable, and it will go with other pieces in your closet, it may be worth an investment.

How do you feel?

While trying pieces on, ask yourself curious questions using the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Cloth, and Comfort

Cut

Is the cut flattering the areas you want to show off and the areas you don’t want to show off?

Cloth

Is the fabric right for you? Is it clingy? Too thick, too thin? If you don’t like the feel as soon as you touch it while you’re scanning the racks, leave it.

Color

Is the color washing you out or making you feel great? Read this resource if you need help figuring out which colors will look best on your skin complexion.

Comfort

Is it comfortable to sit in? Is it giving you space to walk? Does it make you feel comfortable in your own skin?

Above All…

If you don’t ♥️ love it, don’t get it. 

Once you’ve found something you like, ask yourself:

• “Will I want a refund on this within a week?” 

• “How often do I see myself wearing this in a month?”

• “Can I picture it in an outfit with other items I own?”

• “Is it in good condition?”

• “Will I need to dry clean it?”

PRO TIPS: 

• Spend time looking at one type of clothing before moving onto the next one.

• Be realistic. If a piece is damaged, commit to fixing it ASAP. If it needs to be dry cleaned, recognize that commitment and drop it off at the cleaners immediately.

• Only get the things you love, and the things you can see yourself wearing more than once a month.

Supplemental Shopping Tips & Tricks

Pre-Shopping Trip: It’s all about the context

The purpose of this prep step is to surround the pieces you try on with context so that you can see them in their most likely surroundings. This context will help you make an informed purchase decision.

• Makeup [skip if make up isn’t your jam]: Wear the makeup you’d normally wear for the piece you’re shopping for. For example, if you’re shopping for work clothes, wear the make up you would wear to work.

• Outer Clothing: Style basics together that will go with what you’re going to be trying on. I typically wear all black–tight workout pants, boots, a simple t-shirt, and small earrings.

• Inner Clothing: Wear flattering underwear and a well-fitting bra. If you don’t have the latter, I recommend investing in one on your next shopping trip from a store that specializes in bra fittings.

Regret-Free Shopping

The Purposeful Shopping Process, combined with these tips, will make it nearly impossible to buy a piece you soon feel regretful over.

Purposeful Shopping in Practice

Katie, a recent Seeking Inspirato feature, is a master at purposefully shopping. She hunts and stalks until she finds the piece she loves.

“I won’t buy anything that’s not returnable. Online shopping, or in the store, I always need to try it on.

I give myself time to think about it. I’ll put it in my online shopping cart and will revisit it.

If I think about it multiple times, then I’ll get it.

But if I get it and it doesn’t fit, then I return it.

I don’t want to be someone who has a whole closet of clothing with tags on it.”

Read Katie’s Seeking Inspirato story now