How do you approach your "wardrobe"?

[WipsGlitter]

I've been reading some blogs and chatting to friends who are 'into' clothes and they seem to have a very organised and planned approach to buying clothes, eg looking for a specific item - a yellow jumper, a grey coat, an oatmeal cardigan etc. I am a more random purchaser mainly along the lines of can I afford it, does it fit, do I need it, do I like it, when will I wear it.

Do you decide at the start of each season what you are looking for or do you just buy as and when.

[dexter73]

I just go 'ooh I like that' and buy it! I am not very organised in my buying.

[StayGoldPonyBoy]

I'm a list maker in all aspects of my life, I tend to go through all my old clothes twice a year, think what needs storing, donating or repairing etc then write a list with the bits I 'need' like basic black jeans, work tops x3, neutral tops x2 etc and these are what I will spend good money on so they last. Then, when I've got my basics, I will then buy random, seasonal stuff that I just like the look of. I quite like having a wardrobe full of basic stuff with seasonal extras. I have an open hanging rack instead of a wardrobe so it helps keep it looking neat and organised.

[yongnian]

I do a bit of both. I love random unexpected finds....but I do shop for ongoing gaps I might have ie at the mo I am on the look out for a navy cardigan. So I have a 'hitlist' in the back of mind. Now my wardrobe is super organised (marie Kondo!) it's easier to shop strategically. But being a life long lover of vintage and bargain hunting there'll always be room for some magical find I have no gap for!

[BlueEyedWonder]

In a bid to curb my spending, I'm keeping lists of what I have and making a list of what I need. Hoping this will help me stop buying duplicates of things I already have like striped tops and blue jeans.

[chopinbabe]

I do try to think, when I am in the shop, if I already have something similar but it doesn't always put me off.

[CointreauVersial]

It's a mixture for me too.

There is usually at least one "gap" in my wardrobe (currently a black poloneck and some new work shoes), but I am also very easily swayed by a picture in a blog or a shop display and will buy something just because I like it, as long as I can think of an occasion to wear it, and have the appropriate shoes/top/whatever to go with it.

I also love a charity shop!

[WipsGlitter]

I don't have a lot of clothes - one pair of blue jeans, one pair if black for example. I don't get having multiples of the same things.

[BallroomWithNoBalls]

Total impulse buyer here.

Sales bargains get me too.

I need to be more targeted really! But I have more than enough clothes, so if I did targeted shopping I'd never have an excuse to buy new stuff.

[dexter73]

Sales bargains get me too.

This is me! I have splurged recently on sale bargains from Whistles and Hobbs !!

[AtlanticDrift]

I will look at putting together outfits and spotting if I need a particular item that would work for a few outfits. Do bit of research online etc.
However I am still a lover of real life Saturday shopping. Nothing beats the falling head over heels for something feeling. I just don't get that with online shopping.

[Greengardenpixie]

Sadly i am very impulsive. However, it does annoy me if i buy something and have nothing to go with it. If this is the case, i look for something cheap to match it or send it back usually.

[frankietwospots]

@yongnian - I'm with you on the Marie Kondo book. It's transformed my wardrobe! I can actually see what I have now and have got rid of all the stuff that didn't 'spark joy'.

[southeastastra]

i buy when i see something i like, i grew up in the 70s and 80s when it was very hard to find affordable stuff, so i sort of over compensate for that now

[Blueblueblueblue]

I used to buy randomly and regularly had that lots of clothes but nothing to wear dilemma.

These days I'm buying less clothes but better quality and try to consider my wardrobe objectively in terms of what types of events I might be invited to and whether I have something to cover it.

Actually at the moment my gaps are all around basics so currently working out a list of what I need in that area.

I do still sale shop but do it with my list in mind.

[woodhill]

I try to not impulse buy but often I do see the occasional thing. I sometimes have an idea in mind when I shop but half the time it doesn't exist.

I always buy with offers or in sales.

[GeorginaWorsley]

I would love to say I am organised
However I succumb to random purchases too regularly.
I am now seriously trying to have a system and a 'look' in mind for spring /summer.
Looking at Pinterest , blogs, articles etc.
I want a simple but polished summer look of navy,white,silver and taupe with perhaps a tan bag and sandals.
Am searching Internet for inspiration and new lines
Over invested perhaps.

[LoveVintage]

Oh I am rubbish, I buy something because I like it, and it is the kind of thing I would like to wear, but in reality most things I buy are too dressy for my lifestyle so they sit in my wardrobe unworn.

I have actually just resolved to go through all my clothes and start wearing things, and to buy as few new clothes as possible this year. Wonder how long that will last?

[OttiliaVonBCup]

I hope it fits when I buy it and I hope it fits when when I decide to wear it.

That's about it.

[OttiliaVonBCup]

hope it's clean when I decide to wear it.

[amigababy]

random, but have key colours that I tend to stick with which makes it easier.

[Wellieswithaholein]

I think it's good to have a bit of a mix; needed items plus a few (considered) impulse buys.

I used to be very impulsive, but now I'm much more like you describe your friends- I already know what I want to add to my summer clothes.

But if I see something not on the list, that is gorgeous and fits me and my life then I will be buying that too.

[SingingSands]

I tend to get an idea of an outfit in my head then shop to find it, e.g. I'll think "striped skirt, denim shirt, leather heels" and try to source it. This runs parallel to "the striped skirt will match X, the denim shirt will go with Y and Z, and the shoes will go with lots of things".
It works for me.

[BlairWaldorfLovesShopping]

What I try to do:

• Identify gaps, always buy with a discount code or in the sale, plan in advance what I am going to buy (I buy >80% of stuff online), stick to my season's colours
  

What actually happens more often than I'd like:

• Get fixated on a particular item and spend ages trying to find the perfect one OR trying to copy a specific outfit. Case in point, a week or so ago I decided I needed statement mini skirts for when I'm going out and don't want to wear a dress. I have since bought 2!
  

I spend a LOT of time browsing online

[Silverjohnleggedit]

I usually have a few things in my head to buy - currently obsessing over white/cream shirts....hard to get the right cut. I'd like a slim fitting bomber jacket...to go with 50s midi skirt. A handbag for going out that isn't as dressed up as a clutch but looks a bit dressier than my everyday bag.
Navy wide leg slouchy trousers. Adidas superstars. A pair of pointy flat boots. And then a few impulse buys that I fall I love with - hopefully.

[MaybeDoctor]

I don't really have much time/opportunity for shopping and browsing, so only really shop online.

I always shop with a gap in my wardrobe in mind - I have just bought some Breton tunic tops as I am aware that I am constantly washing the ones that I have. I was previously looking for casual dresses.

Oh and life is simpler since I gave up wearing separates e.g. short tops or jumpers and skirts or trousers. Now I only buy dresses, cardigans, tunic tops and trousers. I am also very colour conscious (green, red, pink, purple and cream/beige as neutrals, with a tiny bit of dark denim in the mix) so that eliminates a lot of garments straight away!