How often do you make bad clothing purchases?

[TheOGCCL]

How do you know?
How long does it take you to realise?
How do you avoid it happening again?

I'm trying to reduce my miss rate and ideally want to try and eliminate bad buys altogether! Some things just seem to slot right in and get worn endlessly and others, even though they seem good, fit, right colour, go with other things, end up unworn.

Not often. I've spent a lot of time over the past decade learning about my body shape, what suits me, so I know whether or not something will work.

Do you know your measurements, InsertSomethingMotivationalHere? And check them against the item measurements on the website? And do you always check the fabric details and understand how each fabric will look and feel?

Also - don’t hate me, and I realise I know nothing about your budget - but you can’t get much decent fabric for £40. I wouldn’t be able to buy enough to make a simple dress. And I wouldn’t expect a top bought new for that amount to be anything other than relatively throw away. So you probably will get much better quality things pre-loved than new.

Since Suzanne and Trinny days, I knew I was a pear. However, had an analysis a few years ago, which confirmed this and assessed me as an Autumn.

Since then, my hit rate has been far higher, and I get a lot more compliments in what I wear (even though I’m heavier now than I used to be!).

Far too often but I take them to a lady who owns a ship that sells high end Pre worn clothes and she sells them for me. She either gives me the money or store credit so I can buy things I will wear or something for DD.

@Hoppinggreen I know that's a typo but I love the idea of a ship sailing round the world selling people's cast off clothes

I've been experimenting with different styles lately and so have made more mistakes than usual. Sometimes it's the size I need in that brand/store isn't my usual size. I've come to realize large patterns generally aren't right for me (although I've found a few exceptions). Most colours suit my skin but I've realized the ones I look best in also suit my eyes colour. Occasionally I've bought something online that's turned out to feel scratchy in the fabric.

The main mistakes I've made are when I've mentally styled an outfit before I've bought the item and here's the thing - just because it's practical for your lifestyle, just because it fits well and suits your body type, just because you've styled it well and it looks good and people complement you...if it doesn't suit your personality it's never going to feel right.

Same as @bodie1890 about 1 in 3 items, either I realise it's unflattering, too big, shapeless, or I just feel weird in it.

For years I'd ignored black, I thought women over forty shouldn't wear black. Now I'm in my early 50s and staring to buy a few black things again and they have all been successful purchases, don't know why I rule out black for so long. My hair is still auburn and I wear makeup so I'm not fading in to the background totally, or if I am, so what. Just bought a river island jumper earlier this evening as I watched netflix. I have high hopes!

These days, almost never. A few years ago constantly.

I try things on with various other bits of clothing I already own to be sure it'll get use, always make sure to keep the receipt safe and note the date. If i've not worn it or reached for it it goes back.

Red flags for me are ANY kind of hesitation when I put it on, if any part of it doesn't feel/look right or is in any way uncomfortable and I notice, I know I will notice next time and when I wear it so I won't keep it/buy it, ditto just any slight hesitation in general even if I can't name a reason.

Another is when I've already bought something and haven't felt compelled to use or wear it very soon after buying it and it's a big red flag for me if I've put it on, looked in the mirror and then switched it out for something else. I always make sure to return if I do this.

I don't buy much these days and operate a capsule wardrobe that I'm quite brutal with culling at the end of a season if things are on it I've not reached for. I take a lot longer and make much more considered purchases and am more mindful about it. When I used to buy things and not wear them years ago the biggest culprit was them seeming good value or being on sale, being nice in theory but not suitable for what my lifestyle realistically is or when I made snap decisions on things when out and about. These days I leave things in online baskets forever, or not down item codes for things I like when i see them in person and look again online. Very rarely do I go on to buy those things after the event.

I'm.shoppong online way more these days.
Out of, let's say, 10 things I buy because they look so nice on the website etc. I might keep 1 or 2. I don't have much spare cash for clothes so I'm forever returning parcels.. 😂

When I’m looking for something in particular often get it wrong- I need a new jacket but find it so hard getting the right fit, settle on something then sits in the cupboard

Less since I realised ASD means there are certain things I just can’t tolerate even if I feel I “should” as felt ridiculous - almost all wool, most man made fibres, lace. Now don’t try to get used to it - I never do.

I try to do what @dontgobaconmyheart does re if I’m not immediately reaching for it it’s a major red flag since surely you should be excited about wearing something new you’ve bought.

I find this time of year particularly bad as the shops have winter stuff in but it’s not yet that cold so I might end up buying something but it’s just not weather appropriate and it’s only when it is that I realise it’s going to be a dud. On the other hand I’ll find something which I would never have thought would work and suddenly I’m wearing it every day. My bad buys are almost cancelled out by the cost per wear of the things I do take to, which I’ll often sew up or repair.

My problem is that I’m still learning, even at 46, what suits me best and like to keep up with fashion a bit so although I have some tried and tested favourites I am always on the look out for things to add a new spin. My style and preferences seem to evolve all the time.