What are your shopping weaknesses? And what do you never fall for?

[HolidayAtNight]

Hot on the heels of the gripes about buying clothes thread, where we are all highly discerning shoppers, what marketing techniques, styling, etc., will you admit to falling for every time?

My weakness is pretentious colour names. If it's blue, orange or pink, then I'm not bothered, but if it's marine, gingerbread or cyclamen then it suddenly seems more alluring. Ditto named garments to a lesser extent (not when they give them random women's names, but interesting, glamorous-sounding ones like Pelerine or Masquerade).

My "never fall for" is the trend of pop-up messages saying things like "Trending item - 18 bought over the past day!" "32 others are looking at this right now!" It's either meaningless (if it's something boring like a mattress protector) or a bit desperate.

My weaknesses are so much easier to list! 'Slouchy sweater' always reels me in. Especially if the adjective 'perfect' is attached! Only to find when I have it that it is impossible to wash because of its sheer bulk! The exception are Celtic's pure wool which never seem to need washing. They kind of self clean! But yeah, need to stop buying them!

My weakness is jeans. I don't know why. I wear jeans and I'm perfectly happy with the ones I've got. But, idk, I like ordering them. Often they're no better than what I have so go back. Or I keep them when I don't really need them.

Also shower gel. Although they're not clothes....

Never fall for? Hopefully, crappy items that pop up in adverts when I'm scrolling. They tend to be nasty quality.

I will always fall for the next, new perfect slouchy, soft, roomy black leather bag. At least they last forever and get better with age!

Or a breton top in different colour stripes.

Or a spring jacket for the exact weather conditions I'm experiencing at that moment or a fresh white t shirt.

However, I'll never fall for acrylic clothes at cotton prices, shoes that won't go with anything or any type of slogan or wording.

Or all the shiny fabrics and sequins at Christmas!

My weaknesses are:
Bras
Hair products that promise miracles
Nightwear
Bargains - I love a sale bargain.

I never fall for whatever the latest must have trend is. Happy to admit I'm quite a boring dresser. I know what I like and what suits my colouring and my body. I won't buy something just because it's "in".

In terms of product types, my weakness is lipstick! I am really bad at judging whether a lipstick will look nice on me, even in person, AND YET I am so easily tempted and buy them online and then am disappointed when they look different from the pictures and also look terrible against my skin.

Magenta. Any shade of deep pink that isn’t too fluorescent or cold, and I’m in.
I also find it challenging to walk away from a stripy top.
I have learned not to randomly buy Converse, but it was tricky.
(And yes, I own both a magenta and white breton, and bright pink All Stars)

On the other hand, I never fall for dry clean only.

Skincare, dresses and trainers are my weaknesses.
I avoid buying jeans and bras until it’s a necessity, they are my worst things to buy!!
I also rarely buy bags (preferring to use pockets and just travelling light) and never buy pyjamas or nightwear as I don’t wear it so that’s easy to swerve.

It was believing that social media influencers actually use the stuff they're shilling.
Not any more!

Beautiful dresses that will only get worn to weddings and the like. I haven't been to a wedding in more than 5 years and only go out out once or twice a year at most. I am about to send back one such beautiful offending item. It saddens me to part with it as it it lovely but the money needs to go on clothes that can be worn at least weekly, and I spend most of my time doing housework, gardening or running around outside!

Stuff to make my curly hair more beautiful. Turns out I only like my hair curly on holiday when the sun and the sea do all the work for me.

@Brieandbeetroot I definitely know what you mean! I am making a real effort to actually wear my nicer clothes day to day instead of putting them away and eventually selling or donating them.

Haha @Brieandbeetroot I am a serial offender of buying beautiful dresses for a one off occasion! It’s only really been in the last year or so that I just wear them regardless of the occasion. They’re always quite classic dresses, nothing trending that dates badly, so I can get away with wearing them to things like the office or out for dinner and look smart and like I’ve made an effort but not OTT as I dress them down with my hair a bit messy and trainers.

And I too get suckered into buying things to improve my wayward waves and only really succumb to it’s fully natural state when on holiday, agree that the sea and the sun really makes it look great but other than that it’s scraped up or straightened and tamed.

You've both inspired me to consider keeping the dress! I still have three weeks to return if needed but have tried it on again this morning with a pair of slouchy suede knee boots and a jumper and it looks like a lovely swishy autumnal coloured skirt. I also do actually have a wedding to wear it to in the summer. And it can be my Christmas day dress. I've been looking at it longingly for months and it finally went 50 per cent off so I really don't want to send it back!

It sounds great and versatile! And 50% off something you wanted for ages is a genuine bargain, rather than when you buy something just because it's on sale and then regret it later. I say keep the dress!

My weaknesses are buying pretty, brightly coloured or patterned tops I will never ever wear.

And conversely buying black tops with a range of necklines to the point that my drawer is bursting with them.

I have to check over and over I don't already own something just like it!

My weaknesses are lipsticks because I can't get it right in shop lights, or I think that a bold lipstick will work miracles when in daily life I'm not that person and feel self conscious. I've tried dozens over the years.

I used to have a nail varnish weakness until I realised that owning dozens of colours was never going to make the the sort of glamorous woman who will paint my nails and keep them unchipped. Clean and neat is better for me.

Evening wear. I love getting dressed up, but almost never go anywhere that calls for it. Everywhere is so casual these days, it's a bit of a shame.

I'm drawn to sequins like a magpie though.

Something basic with the dreaded ‘added twist’ - a basic shirt dress I can look at and go ‘hmmm’ nice and pass on but if it’s got something an exaggerated collar, split up the side with buttons to make the split bigger or if it’s got a line of a different colour I tend to launch it at the counter / into the online basket. On a similar note if it’s titled
as ‘deconstructed’.

These are all examples of recent purchases and I’m a huge sucker for it.

I also absolutely hate soft fabrics so if it’s reviewed ‘thick and too heavy’ I’m rubbing my thighs with glee.

Pretty summer dresses. Especially floral. Can’t help myself. If I had the sort of lifestyle where I wafted through poppy fields looking like a Laura Ashley advert that would be fine, but… no…

Also coats. I own too many. But I always tell myself I haven’t got one in that particular weight, or length, or dressiness, or that degree of waterproofing etc etc.

My Achilles heel is the stuff Facebook helpfully suggests. Oh look! LKBennet - scroll scroll. Anthropologie! Scroll scroll. Wolf & Badger! Scroll scroll. Click. In the basket. Apple Pay. Your parcel is on the way. And I haven’t even finished my cup of tea. Lethal.

Oh and stuff I never fall for - handbags. I rarely see any I like, and even when I do, I find myself pulling a cats bum face at the cost.

buying black tops with a range of necklines to the point that my drawer is bursting with them.

Are you me??

Sadly I am prone to a sweaty armpit, so most of my tops and t-shirts are black. I have so many it’s ridiculous.

I’m also a sucker for a lovely fabric, even if I don’t particularly like the item itself.

I never fall for poor quality anymore. I used to love H&M, New Look etc, but now whenever I go in I’m struck by how poor quality and lot of the fabrics are. I don’t have loads to spend on clothes but I buy a lot more from Uniqlo, Cos etc now.

Bags. They’re never unflattering, too tight or pinch when you sit down.

I love a good handbag and even a not so good one.

What I fall for every time: seasonal clothes when the weather's just changed. There they are in the shop windows, looking a bit odd and unappealing until... the first actual warm day of Spring, when suddenly I MUST have a colourful floaty thing. Or the first chilly day of Autumn, when I NEED a soft wool sweater immediately.

I'm 50 years old. At this point in my life, I already own clothes for every season. They are literally sitting there waiting in my wardrobe. But no, the outdoor temperature has changed and it's time to open my wallet!

What I never fall for: price reductions. If I didn't want it at full price then I don't want it now. The Sale Rail of Sadness, full of manky things that have been rejected by every single shopper for months? No thank you.

What I fall for: anything described as 'classic' or 'capsule wardrobe staple'; I'm an absolute sucker for crewneck jumpers in merino or cashmere, all in the same black/navy/grey/beige. Thankfully I don't have the funds to buy them, but given the chance my wardrobe would be a sea of identikit knits.

White t-shirts - I keep buying them in the hope that this one will be the one that won't immediately lose shape/look dingy but every time they end up consigned to the gym/pyjama drawer within a couple of washes.

Sheer lipstick/tinted lipbalm because I don't like the feel of most lipsticks and I feel faintly ridiculous wearing it, but I also look quite pale without it. I've bought so many that promise to be a cheaper dupe of Black Honey, that I could've just spent the ££ on the real deal.

What I don't fall for: I feel silly in things that are too on-trend, so no mob wife aesthetic for me. Convinced that Shein/Temu are just a front for getting spyware on your phone so no £2 slave labour bargain outfits.

You've reminded me of another phase MotherWol. For a few years I seemed to fall into the trap of buying several crisp white shirts because it was everywhere as an essential basic. Same for a little black dress. I must have wasted so much money chasing a look I felt I should have rather than what I felt great in.

Mine is lipsticks too
They never look the same colour on my( mauve) lips and most shades look orange
I'd like a brown nude but they've all made me look like a corpse
Hair products which promise volume and shine.. Nope
Relaxed fit... looks like a tent