how to shop intentionally for a new season
Maybe it’s spring where you are, maybe it’s not, but I wanted to share an example of how I think about my wardrobe for a new season. You certainly don’t always need to buy new things each season, but having a plan ensures that you don’t end up with stuff you don’t actually need. I see many people making one of these three mistakes:
Buying the new stuff that catches your eye, without pausing to consider where the new items fit in with what you already have.
Buying the thing the influencer recommends without considering how her lifestyle might differ from yours.
Buying the thing that’s discounted even though it’s ultimately money wasted when you don’t ever wear it.
If you take a few minutes to go through this exercise, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what you need and want.
Step 1. Collect inspiration. Create a spring inspiration board on Pinterest. Grab any images that appeal to you, without censoring yourself based on your body or your lifestyle, just stuff that looks cool. If you like to save images on Instagram, don’t forget to pin some of your saved IG images to Pinterest as well. Here's mine on Pinterest and a snapshot below:
This season I’m also heavily influenced by
from :
Step 2: Analyze. What do your inspiration looks have in common?
Immediately, I see lots of blue. Denim, chambray, and cobalt blue. I also see small bits of a tomato-y red, a couple of graphic tees, long shirt dresses, pants legs with volume of some kind, lots of stripes and as always, there are still lots of neutrals.
What outfit combos do you see repeated in your inspiration images? (ex: Wide leg pants+cropped top+sneakers or skinny jeans+tunic+birks)
I see oversized button downs with wide pants, simple dresses with volume on their own, and blazers with graphic tees and wide leg pants.
What colors or neutrals are most represented?
Oops, I answered my own question above. Blue, red, white, off-white, and a small amount of black.
Step 3: Make a list of items you’ll need to recreate some of the outfits on your inspiration board (ex. wide leg linen pants, light wash denim, cropped white tee, etc)
I needed (need is a strong word, wanted is probably more accurate here) a graphic tee, accessories in blue or red, blue pants, off white pants with an interesting leg shape, white and blue striped button-downs, a shirt dress, a chambray shirt, slightly baggier jeans…
Step 4: STOP! Don’t buy anything yet until you've done this step. Take your spring clothes out of storage and take inventory of what you already have. Check off any of the items in Step 3 you already have.
a graphic tee, accessories in blue or red, blue pants, off white pants with an interesting leg shape, white and blue striped button-downs, a shirt dress, a chambray shirt, slightly baggier jeans…
Step 5: Reflect. What worked and didn’t work last spring? What’s worn out or doesn’t fit? What do you need to replace? What will be different about your wardrobe needs this spring? What might you need or not need that will be different from last year?
For the first time in years, my body is not a different size than it was the year before (or maybe I’ve just been wearing enough oversized clothing that it’s not apparent 🤔). The major difference this season is this really weird (for me) deep draw to these bright primary colors.
Step 6: Finalize your shopping list.
a graphic tee
red or blue birkenstocks
cobalt blue wide leg pants
off white pants with an interesting leg shape
a bag in red or blue
Step 7. Set a budget. Depending on your habits, you may need to set a budget to limit your shopping (overbuyers) or to give yourself permission to spend anything at all (underbuyers).
NOW, AND ONLY NOW, CAN YOU GO SHOPPING!
For paid subscribers, continue reading to see what I bought and how much I spent, a workbook version of this post, and for a big discount on my ecourses.
I bought this graphic tee, these birks (secondhand), these pants and these pants, this bag and also thrifted a red round straw bag. AKA everything on my list, for a total of around $215, not including shipping. And also a dress that wasn’t on the list from ebay for $8 😬. And now I don’t have to think about shopping for a while!
If you’d like to have a physical version of this post to write your own notes, download the workbook version here.
P.S. If you feel too overwhelmed to shop, I have ecourses on how to edit your closet, define your style, and learn to shop mindfully. Use code SUBSTACK for 30% off, just for paid subscribers!
I am putting this out here in defense of what I'm about to say. The last two months have been wretched in terms on my health. So sick, so limited, so overwhelmed, so anxious that tears were spilled many days. The only relief I received were from Xanax, French food, and shopping for children's books and clothes. Out went the self imposed restriction of five new items over the course of a year. So did attention to my Pinterest board. I went for comfort in the food I ate, the things I read, and the clothes I bought.
So here goes.
Three pair of mules, black, brown, and tan. I'd sworn off shoes some years ago because of discomfort. My feet simply were not made for most shoe styles. Or rather, the shoe industry refused to acknowledge that an 11 wide was within the parameters of what a woman might need. So the mules. Fit like a gloves, cute as heck, and deemed a must have.
Two purses. One cobalt blue, which is really a fantastic bag for carrying laptop for working in cafes and files to schlep to clinical trial. One red just because it was, again, cute as heck and actually did fall under the Pinterest category of accessories to punch up a neutral wardrobe although, of course, that's coincidental.
A simple cotton, sleeveless, midi peach dress because summers in Washington, DC are sweltering and light weight and light color clothes are imperative.
A white t-shirt dress for the same reason as above.
A maxi brown and beige, sleeveless linen dress because, no reason.
Cocoa colored, wide leg linen slacks. A random, impulse buy made in-store. Perfect fit (which is unusual for slacks for a woman 5'10").
Pink maxi linen skirt because masterfully tailored and stunning. Blew the budget.
White cotton A-line skirt because simple and beautiful and influenced by Vogue magazine, which touted it as an "essential" buy for the capsule spring wardrobe. Another budget buster.
Three white summer sweaters because unusual, on sale, and absolutely no excuse except happened upon them on a day tears were flowing.
None of these items fall under the "need" category except that at the time of purchase I didn't know how to get through the day without treating myself in the knee jerk way that I've learned to treat myself. Do I have buyers remorse? Not yet. Did I consult my Pinterest board? No. Did I take inventory of existing spring/summer wardrobe? Uh uh. Did I stop crying? Yes, but only because my cardiologist saw slight improvement. Surgery averted. For now.
Sometimes shopping is the only tool I can grab in my toolbox. And sometimes leaning on the familiar is the only thing I know how to do.
This is so so helpful!!