SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES

This has been a weird week.  I have been recovering from the party, working on stuff for the Walk for the Orphan (more details to come!), and hanging with my ladies, mostly.Yesterday our internet and TV were down, and since I am so flexible, that was great for me.  (sarcasm font)  Moving on.

After about 11 months of not buying clothes, which you can read about here, I have started shopping again.  John and I have tried to be intentional as we have set new guidelines for how we will shop for ourselves from now on.  I think in many ways it is easier to buy nothing than to buy an appropriate amount of new clothing - whatever that is.

So, we have made one new rule that will be a bit revolutionary.  When I am shopping in person (as in, not online), then I have to try the clothing on.  I am one of those people that would just pick up a skirt or a shirt for $15, because it was cute and on sale.  I would hold it up to myself, because really, who has time to try stuff on and make sure it is right for their body type?  Most of the time, I can eyeball things pretty well, but inevitably, there was stuff that didn't fit the greatest.  This not trying on clothes habit also made it so easy to just grab stuff and buy it.

The moral of the story is that I need to be more purposeful about what I buy.  I feel like shopping online, at least for me, is more intentional.  I have to really want something, and it has to be discounted for me to purchase it.  I have to think more about it and see the total and know that it is just from clothing and not also from diapers that I also picked up at Target.

The other thing I have realized is that I need help expanding my wardrobe vision.  I am working on going through my closet and making new combinations from what I already have.  Through not buying clothes last year, I really did appreciate the clothes I had.  I was also constantly amazing (probably a strong word choice) my friends with clothes they had never seen me wear before, prompting them to ask if it was new.  It never was.

In this past year, it has come to my attention that John has a knack for dressing. He has a better eye for layering and creating fun combinations than I do.  All of that said, John and I hit the mall for some shopping today.  John was happy to oblige, though he did point out that he would not want to do it all day every day.  Neither would I.

I finally got some colored skinny pants, which I coveted slightly all of last year when they became so popular.  As I was drawn to stripes, John guided me away, reminding me of all the stripes I already own.  We found some really cute polka dots, though none were on sale and therefore not purchased.  As I was trying things on, he gave me pointers about getting different camis to wear under certain shirts, showing me where I was creating more bulk than necessary.

I felt like I was with Clinton on What Not to Wear.

And I loved it.  I love that my husband cares about what I wear enough to help me with it.  I love bouncing things off of someone else and getting different input.  Also, it should be noted that quick middle of the morning dates with no children are always welcome on a Thursday.

Be on the look out - cute outfits in my future - maybe from my own closet!