What rules do you follow when deciding when to keep something v send back

[Beachlovingirl]

Background : I’ve bought a few things from whistles and cos and they’re all a bit different from my usual style. Barrel leg jeans, cos chunky jumpers in off white and black, a fake fur aviator style jacket. Don’t get me wrong my style is in need of a shake up but the jeans for example feel very different from my mom jeans.

I like each item but I don’t know if I like them enough to keep them…. and it’s all quite £££ so I don’t want to keep items and not wear them. What’s also making me indecisive is I got it all at 20% off so I don’t want to return, regret and then re-purchase at full price!

I was just wondering if any of you have a list of guidelines / rules you follow to determine whether something should be kept v returned?

I think a good rule of thumb is that if I am at all unsure I send back. Anytime I have kept something that I didn’t love immediately I’ve ended up not wearing it. So I go with my gut reaction.

I try to buy seasonally as I know that if I don't wear something within a fortnight of purchase, I am never going to wear it.

I have a few pairs of Whistles barrel leg jeans. I bought my first pair in 2017. I find them really similar in fit to mom jeans. I thik it was around this time I bought a Whistles shearling oversized aviator jacket but it got sent back immediately as it was a bit try hard/on trend for my tastes and even though I quite liked it on, I knew I would never wear it.

@ASimpleLobsterHat yes I think that is a good rule I think I’ll try on again and see what the gut instinct tells me.

@sansucre the jeans are similar no doubt it’s just my mom jeans are slimmer on the leg and it’s that especially when I’m sitting down that I notice the extra fabric of the barrel.

To be honest with the jacket it’s the same for me. Also with the big collar I feel like that doesn’t work with long hair which I have.

With the barrel leg maybe a slimmer jacket?

If you don't love it now, you won't love it once it's "old". It goes back.

If I'm in doubt I send back. Often I've bought things that I wasn't sure about and end up never wearing them.

I like to make sure items will work with things I've already got too.

If there is any shred of doubt i send back. Your examples would definitely get sent back here.

I really like Marie Kondo's advice re clothes. If it doesn't fit perfect now and also spark joy, then its not right and has to go.

You don't love it, send it back.

If you change your mind, you can re-order.

I tend to agree with a PP - if I don't want to wear something almost immediately then it's probably not right for me. I do buy out of season so this is not a blanket rule but, if I'm not dying to wear it now then I shoukd usually return it.

The other clothes, the ones I love and keep for wearing 'another day', are for imaginary me. She has a very different lifestyle. One the rare ocassion when imaginary me comes out and dons one of 'her' items of clothing for an ocassion, normal me usually feels a bit awkward as it dawns on her (me?) that the beautiful thing she was hanging on to doesn't really suit her at all.

Thanks everyone and you’re all so right.

I have already packaged up the jacket ready to go back and the smaller jeans.

I am umming and aahing still over the larger size jeans and the jumpers. The thing is, the jumpers look great tucked into the jeans but they won’t look good with any of my other jeans because the jumpers are just far too bulky.

I do acknowledge the jumpers and jeans may be as you say @NotImpossible just not for me but for another me.

If you’re not delighted, send it back.

Sent back the jacket and also the blazer (I didn’t mention the blazer as had already realised it was totally unnecessary) and that felt brilliant.

I was thinking too the jumpers will be too chunky to go under my leather jackets but they will fit under my wool coat since I bought that a bit over-sized.

If Im not looking forward to wearing something straight away it goes back.

Well done OP. Un-shopping is the best!

Ive bought a few things from M&S which I've not sent back. They were disappointing but I just kept them because well I didnt get round to it. Nothing very expensive. But their clothes are so hit and miss.

I suppose my rules are
Does it fit me.
Does it suit me
Is it fashionable
Does it look like my nan would wear it ( if yes it goes back, whether it's on trend or not!)
If I'm still uncertain oll wear whatever it is with appropriate shoes and ask Dh what he thinks.
Hos opinion is usually pretty good and will say if he thinks something is great or not quite right.

I really like Marie Kondo's advice re clothes. If it doesn't fit perfect now and also spark joy, then its not right and has to go
I think this is stupid advice. If I listened to this I would have thrown away my favourite Karen Millen, All Saints, Paul Costello dresses
and £1000's I spent on clothes away when I put three stone on. I vac packed them, lost the weight and enjoy wearing them again.