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Thursday, February 7

Tips on Shopping Your Own Closet!

These days, there is so much temptation out there to shop, shop, SHOP! There is always a new trend to try, a new color of the year, a new wash of denim you just have to have. And while shopping can be so  fun (and oddly rewarding) it can also result in over stuffed closets, having things you don't even want, and over spending!

So I decided to challenge myself, and I took this month, February, to try and rein it in a little and not bring in any new clothing items! Thinking it would be easy, temptation is everywhere and I didnt realize how much of my life is spent around pining- and pinning- over items to add to my wardrobe. So for those of you who have taken on the same challenge, I compiled a list of tips to hopefully make it easier to resist and hopefully find new says to shop the items you already have!


- Delete those email that retailers flood you with! Don't even open them! A special 30% off isn't going to woo me in your store, mister!

- If you love fashion magazines but find them to be tempting, try storing them away for the new month, don't read them right away or the temptation to look for those items might be to strong!

- If you MUST go shopping, go money free! Window shopping can still be fun, and you wont have the urge to get anything because well, you cant! 

- Get a garment rack or hang some hooks outside of your closet. Pull out 10 or so pieces you want to try wearing or love to wear and work on making outfits from those.

- On the flip side, maybe pull out 10 or so items you haven't worn forever or that have been hiding in the back of your closet and wear those. If they are STILL on the rack after this month and you didnt wear them then, then you probably will never.

- Organize! Arrange your pants by color, print, wash and fancier pants. Arrange your tops by color, by style or by casual to dressy... make it easier to see what you have!

- Challenge yourself! Don't wear many dresses? Wear dresses for a whole week! 

- When you see something you just HAVE to get...WAIT! Go home and take a day to think about the item! Still on your mind? See if there is anything in your closet that could substitute for that item! More then likely... there is another striped shirt that could look kinda like that new striped shirt... (guilty!).

- This is a great time to sort as well. I always do Keep, Sell, Donate. I pick a section in my closet and try the items on. I look at the fit, the style, the feel and what I really think about it. If I love it, it stays. If the fit is off, I see if it is something I could sell. If I don't like it, and its a less expensive item, I donate it!  Often times I do this for an hour or so with some music playing and its fun! Don't try to do the whole closet at once, that is too overwhelming!

- Do a clothing swap with your friends! Your not shopping... and you are still getting rid of things you wont wear. Possibly swap out more then you bring in, and make sure it is things you really love before you take them!

If you have some other tips, leave them in the comments below! I would love to hear your ideas!!

32 comments:

  1. I should do this more because I own a lot of clothing but hardly wear any of it. I really need to stop buying things too cheer me up

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    1. Exactly! I am sure if you felt and looked good in what you already had you would feel the same rush you feel when shopping! I found it really helps to be able to see what you have and pull things out of your closet from the back often, keep it fresh when looking in there!

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  2. This is so cool and helpful

    Follow my blogs
    My Fashion blog: I'm A Love Addict
    My Giveaway blog: International Fashion Giveaways

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  3. I love the idea of no shopping in Feb! And your tips are so true, I am going to delete all the emails that I get-- that has to slow down the urge to online shop all the time!! Great tips!

    Love your blog! :)
    Sarah

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    1. Just dont even open them! Sometimes I find myself sitting there with online shopping carts full, and its things I had never even thought of buying until I got some discount code or something!

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  4. these are such great tips! I went on a shopping ban back in December to save $ for gift giving and it was the most freeing thing! plus I had to get creative with what I already owned. I might have to try another shopping ban again! thanks for sharing this! xo

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yes! Thats amazing! There are so many ways to try and avoid it... its hard (for me anyways) since I work in retail, im always tempted!

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  5. Hayley, what great tips! I especially love your "10 things" rules {I am in the process of de-cluttering everything at home, especially closets} and also the clothing swap. I do this with my sister in law and it is fun.
    Blessings, Jacy
    artbyjacy.com

    PS: Looking into your closet, I am secretly wanting to clothes swap with you :)

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    1. Aww haha sweet! I do have a few things for sale on my Instagram shop my closet and over on poshmark so keep your eyes on those places! I am trying to weed out the things I don't use anymore!

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  6. Hayley, I've been doing this for almost a year! I started a clothing "fast" last February 2012 and have only gotten things through random leftover gift cards and gifts from family and friends. After you do it long enough you get really creative styling things from way, way back in the day! I even started my blog about it. Good luck, you can do it! Plus you'll save a ton of money!
    xx. BK
    http://covertboutique.blogspot.com

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    1. Awesome!! I know, my problem is excess, I just cant resist since I work in retail and get SUCH an amazing discount on items... If I feel the urge to shop I need to remember the "quality over quantity" rule!

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  7. Great tips.... It is just so difficult to go to the mall without buying something new... I totally should try this for this month too!

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    1. Its difficult to WORK in a mall and not buy! Especially at Anthro!!!! I do much better the days I dont work. Sometimes I am styling customers and helping them and then I end up talking MYSELF into the same pieces I am showing them... its so bad!

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  8. Great ideas. Since I too am on a shopping diet, I have been weeding out the e-mails from retailers, or instantly deleting. I found walking through Target is also a bad idea because there is just so much temptation. I have been growing my donate pile, and am hosting a cardigan swap on my blog. Trying to get a local swap in the works too. I too am going to try to wear items that have seen no wear this season, and if I don't wear, then I am tossing it.

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    1. Love it! And yes Target... so tempting! Between buying laundry detergent and k cups I found myself in the fitting room... ugh! Such an addiction!

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  9. This is great! Thank you you for sharing! I think I'm going to take on the challenge.

    www.lbyrikki.com

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  10. I have put myself on a mini shopping ban this month too! No clothes, shoes or accessorises! I've managed fine for the first week! I'm selling stuff on eBay and making a wish list for when this month is over and then I can spend some of the money I made from eBay if I still love and want the pieces on my list!

    xoxo
    Stacey

    Five Minute Style 

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    1. I am thinking this is the way I need to do it, because shopping doesn't really quit for me.. ever! But If I can sort of "recycle" older items and make money and then use that, I could be okay with that system!

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  11. This is great! I definitely agree with deleting those emails. I did a no shopping months back in October and the biggest difference was made by not being tempted by my inbox!

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  12. great tips! i agree with every one. i also like to sell things online and use that money for new goodies. plus i stick to a strict $50 budget each month!

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    1. A Budget might be the next thing I think of for remaining months! I also like the idea of only using money from things I sell to shop with!

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  13. Thanks for all these wonderful tips! This can be a real challenge sometimes, but a good one. Why don't guys ever seem to have any of these kinds of problems??? #womennewfashion =) boys could care less, or at least most of them! I find that not stepping inside a store helps a ton. Then I'm not tempted!

    ~Maggie

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    1. Boys are tempted by real expensive things thats why! Like speakers and rims and stuff!

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  14. I'm going to challenge myself next month since I've already bought a couple of things. I'm definitely saving this post because these are great tips that will be very helpful in the future. Thanks and good luck with the rest of the month.

    Moody Girl In Style

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  15. Great post! I definitely banned shopping January and had to shop my own closet a lot. I love these tips!

    Tracy
    therightshoesblog.com

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    1. I am still trying to sell things on Poshmark but no luck yet, maybe WE should host a party! I need to get rid of this stuff!!

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  16. Great post! I love all of your tips!! I definitely suffer from over-stuffed closet(s) (yes, plural). You've inspired me to do the "Keep, Sell, Donate" piles!!! :)

    xo

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  17. Actually, last week, I had the urge to clean out my closet. Only to find out that I have a lot of clothes that I don’t even wear anymore. After taking out everything that I don't use, I had this huge empty space where new clothes can fit. So, I immediately shopped online and bought new things (I know this is bad ) and I spent over my month's shopping limit! I should've swapped clothes with my friends instead, I could've saved an awful amount of money. I should've seen your blog a little sooner and I could've had "new old" clothes for free!

    -Jamie Viggiano-

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  18. Thanks for the great tips! Here are two more:

    1. If you just can't bear to part with something you know you should, give it a "farewell wear." You will probably remember why you don't need it--too tight, scratchy, easily wrinkled, stained, etc.

    2. When cleaning out your closet, in addition to noticing what you do wear a lot, notice patterns in what you don't wear. Then, stop buying similar items! I have been much happier since I stopped buying green tops and sleeveless dresses!

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Thanks for taking time out to leave a comment! I love and read every single one! XO! -Hayley