Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while knows that I publish monthly accountability updates. These posts (see the most recent one here) include what came into and left my closet in a given month -and why, as well as how I’m doing with my clothing budget and item limit for the year. It has been very helpful for me to do these updates, as they help me to stay honest and on track with my wardrobe and shopping goals. I will publish my February accountability update next week, but today I would like to introduce a new series that I will feature on the blog.
In past years, I have periodically reviewed my purchases to analyze which ones worked, which ones didn’t, and why (see examples here, here, and here). Although these posts were helpful, sometimes I did them too soon after the time period I was reviewing, so I was not yet sure whether certain buys were good or ill-advised. I can now look back at these purchase reviews and see that many of the assessments I made at the time were wrong.
How do you feel about the items you bought a year ago?
Fortunately, another blogger showed me how to do it better. Mette of “The Yogastic Shopping Planner” does monthly reviews of what she bought a year ago (most recent edition here) and I have decided to follow suit. My format will be somewhat different than hers, but I believe that by waiting a year to analyze past purchases, I’ll have a much better idea of how well they worked out for me.
In the future, I will review only one month (or sometimes two) at a time, but since the year is already well underway, I’ll start by reviewing my purchases from the first quarter of 2015. In today’s post, I’m going to look at the items I brought into my closet from January through March 2015 to see whether they have become wardrobe workhorses or closet benchwarmers.
The Basic Numbers – January through March 2015
Let’s start this analysis with a few basic numbers (undergarments and sleepwear are not included):
- Items Bought During January – March 2015: 19
- Items I Still Have: 12
- Items Returned: 3
- Items Purged: 4
The photo below shows all 19 of my January through March purchases.
I bought these 19 items during January through March 2015.
What I Still Own
Before I explore which purchases were good and which were less than ideal, let’s look at what I still have in my closet today. As I mentioned above, I still have 12 of the 19 items I bought during the first quarter of 2015, which is roughly two-thirds (63% to be more exact). Here’s a snapshot of those pieces that have stuck around:
I still have these 12 items that were purchased in January through March 2015.
What I Returned and Why
Three of the items that I bought during January through March 2015 were returned to the stores for refunds:
I returned these three items that I purchased in early 2015.
I don’t really consider any of these to be horrible purchases. Sometimes we need to see how new items work with our existing wardrobe before we can appropriately decide whether or not to keep them. Here are my reasons for returning the items pictured above:
- Denim jacket: While this was an item on my shopping priorities list, this particular denim jacket didn’t fit quite properly. It was on the boxy side and didn’t include enough stretch in order to “give” comfortably. Fortunately, I found a much better alternative last summer at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
- Metallic ballet flats: These shoes were comfortable and I liked the look of them, but they just didn’t work well with the length and silhouettes of my pants. I have yet to find a suitable replacement (I purged a well-loved pair of metallic flats last year), but I hope to do so soon.
- Silver stretch bracelet: I ultimately decided that this bracelet was too thick and heavy for my wrist. I probably should have realized this in the store, but I didn’t. I still would like to find a slimmer and lighter version of this bracelet, but it’s not a priority at this time.
If at all possible, I now try to make any necessary returns within the month of purchase. I believe that I returned the items above the following month, which is still fairly timely. Ideally, it’s a good idea to try things on again immediately after bringing them home (or when online orders arrive) so that we can make decisions about them as soon as possible and make returns safely within the return window. The longer that things stay in our closets, the less likely we are to return them, which can lead to wardrobe “benchwarmers” and lost money.
What I Purged and Why
I have purged four of the items that I purchased during the first three months of last year, all tops:
I no longer have these four tops that I bought in early 2015.
All four of these tops were workout/lounge wear and with the exception of the grey tee, the issue was poor fit. The grey tee was a bad color for me and washed me out, but the other three tops were all too big for me and should have been returned. I am not typically as much of a stickler about fit for lounge wear, but in the case of these tops, their loose fit made them fussy and annoying. The turquoise tee would constantly ride up and the black and green tees would often twist around such that I’d have to adjust them frequently.
I wish I could say that I just purged the ill-fitting tees, but I actually tried to rescue two of them through alterations. Yes, I can be a slow learner sometimes, especially since I had written about the “dark side of alterations” over a year earlier. It’s a bad idea to “throw good money after bad” and far better to just admit to a mistake and move on. The best scenario, however, would have been to not have bought the tees in the first place or to have returned them immediately after realizing the fit – or color – was off. I sincerely hope I have learned my lesson on this front!
The Good Purchases
Enough of the negativity; now let’s take a look at the good purchases I made a year ago. These eight items have all served me well over the past year and I’m still happy with them today:
I’m still happy with these eight early 2015 purchases.
Of my purchases from Q1 2015, 42% fit into the category of things I would still buy today. As you can see, almost all of the colors are in my defined palette: black, white, and jewel tones. My signature stripes are also well represented among my good purchases. The only outlier color-wise is the light green and grey striped tee. Although I would definitely choose a different color combination if I were buying this tee today, I wear it regularly at home, find it comfortable, and feel happy while wearing it. Almost all the items shown are worn both at home and “out and about.” The turquoise tee is worn for workouts only, but it works quite well for that purpose.
Here are some photos of outfits which incorporate my good purchases from early 2015. Most of these photos are from the past two months, so I am as happy with these January through March 2015 acquisitions as I was when I bought them.
On the Fence…
I’m on the fence about four of my purchases from a year ago in terms of whether they were good purchases or not:
I’m not sure if these 4 early 2015 purchases were good or bad.
You may be surprised to see the printed tunic in this category, but I have my reasons, as is also true for the other three items. Here’s why I am on the fence about the items pictured above:
- Black/white/yellow printed tunic: I bought this tunic because it was different than anything I had in my closet and I loved the print. I still love the look of this piece, but there are a few issues. For one, the three-quarter sleeves are more like two-thirds sleeves on me and I wish they were a bit longer. Also, the top is too loose on me. Because I basically like this tunic, I opted to have it taken in on the sides, as that’s an inexpensive and easy alteration. The final issue with the top is that the last time I wore it, I experienced a lot of static cling. It’s made from a synthetic fabric, so I need to be careful not to wear it during very dry weather. We usually have a fair amount of humidity where I live, so that won’t usually be a problem. Hopefully, I will be happier with this tunic after the alteration, as long as I don’t wear it when it’s inordinately dry outside.
- Blue/grey striped tee: I have worn this tee quite a few times, but it seems to have lost a lot of its elasticity. I still like the way it looks, but it doesn’t stay in place well anymore. This issue really shouldn’t have come about after only a dozen or so wears and even fewer washings, but that’s sadly the case. I think the material is just too thin and flimsy, which is something I need to watch out for in the future. I will continue to wear this tee, but I don’t know if it will last beyond this year and that’s just not I want the items I buy to last for at least three years, especially since I’m looking to buy fewer things overall.
- Grey boots: I haven’t worn these boots very often because they didn’t work well with most of my pants. The heel was too high for my boot-cuts and the boots didn’t look right with my slimmer jeans. The higher heel also made it difficult to walk in the boots for any length of time. I recently learned that it’s possible to have heels lowered, so I took these boots to a cobbler and had the heels shortened by half an inch. I know this seems like a minor amount, but it has made a difference both in how the boots work with my jeans and in my walking in them. They still seem a bit “heavy” compared to my other boots, but I believe I will wear them more regularly now.
- Black walking shoes: I ordered these shoes on eBay because they were listed as the same model as my previous walking shoes. However, they didn’t seem as roomy in the lace area and I probably should have returned them. Instead, I wore them for several months and they were never as comfortable as I wanted them to be. I ended up purchasing a replacement pair in June. At this point, the only reason I’m keeping these shoes is as a back-up for my main pair, as a sole split on a previous pair and I was left high and dry. Additionally, I have a back issue that’s causing pain in the top of my right foot, so it’s possible the shoes are not really as bad as I thought. I may try them again if and when I get my back issue resolved.
What I Learned
It was very helpful for me to look back at what I bought a year ago to see how those pieces have worked out for me. Peppered throughout this post are the various lessons I have learned through taking the time to analyze my purchases. I will summarize them here for the sake of clarity and because my findings might hold value for you:
- Aim to make returns during the month of purchase. That way, you’ll be less likely to end up with wardrobe “benchwarmers” or lose out on refunds.
- Try things on as soon as possible after you buy/receive them. Put together outfits using your new items to make sure they will work for the desired purpose and coordinate well with what you already own.
- Pay close attention to fit – for everything! Fit matters for all wardrobe items, including lounge wear, sleepwear, and undergarments. If something doesn’t fit well, it should almost always be returned.
- Beware of the “dark side of alterations”! Don’t throw good money after bad by trying to alter something that isn’t working out for you. Only pursue simple, tried and true alterations that you’ve done before and aren’t too costly.
- Know when to alter and when not to. As much as possible, try to find things that fit you well as is and don’t need any tailoring. If you need to do a simple hem or perhaps nip something in a bit at the sides, that’s okay, but try to avoid multiple alterations on a single item. The potential for error is greater that way and you will be out even more money if the item doesn’t work out for you.
- Be mindful of fabric composition and weight. Get clear on what fabrics work well for and which ones don’t. For example, I have learned through trial and error that wool and acrylic irritate my skin, so I read labels and avoid buying anything that contains either of these materials. I recently had to pass up an amazing purple cardigan after I learned that it was made of merino wool. The cardigan felt very soft, but it was too risky, as the potential was high that I would find it itchy as I wore it. Also, if a garment is made of very thin fabric, there’s a higher chance that it won’t hold its shape over the long term, as I learned with my striped tee.
- If in doubt, return the item, even if you have to pay shipping to do so. I have kept a number of questionable pieces because I didn’t want to pay shipping and ended up losing more money as a result. When I order things online, I always aim for free shipping and free returns, but it’s better to pay a nominal return fee than to keep an item that quite likely won’t work out for you.
- Don’t settle! It doesn’t matter how low-priced an item it. If the color, fit, or style is “off,” it’s likely you won’t wear it and it will have been a waste of money. Remember to rate anything you’re considering buying (or have already bought) on a scale of 1-10 and aim for “8”s or higher. Don’t allow yourself to be dazzled by a sale or a “good deal.” It’s only a good deal if you love it and will wear it regularly!
Conclusion
The type of analysis I did in this post took a decent chunk of time to complete, but I believe it was time well spent. Many of us often spend several hours or more trying to find the perfect item online or in a store. So why not invest the same amount of time to review how well we did with our shopping after a year or more has passed.
]As you can see, there are many lessons to be learned from engaging in this type of practice. Sure, analyzing your purchases isn’t as enjoyable as shopping, but it’s also not much fun to have a closet full of clothes you don’t wear or inflated credit card bills!
Your Thoughts?
I hope you found this post both interesting and helpful. Perhaps some of you are now motivated to do purchase analyses of your own. If you do, I’d love for you to share what you learn.
Now it’s your turn to offer your thoughts and insights.
- Have you ever done a purchase analysis? If so, what did you learn?
- Are you inspired to do your first purchase analysis as a result of this post?
- How do you feel about the clothes, shoes, and accessories you bought a year ago? How many have become wardrobe workhorses versus “benchwarmers”?
- How many of your early 2015 purchases would you buy again today?
- How do you ensure that you make fewer mistakes when you shop?
I invite you to share your practices and methods so we can all learn from each other. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend! I’ll be back next week with my February accountability update, as well as more posts on the topics of smart shopping, wardrobe management, personal style, and more.
Recovering Shopaholic 
Feeling a little proud here :-). Glad to hear that most of your purchases are still around and that many of them were excellent purchases.
You should feel proud, Mette. You’ve been giving me some good ideas lately 🙂 I’m happy to be making better choices these days and I found this analysis very helpful!
I was inspired to do this analysis. Turns out, that a year does change my perspective! What I learned:
-Defining my color palette has helped A LOT. I defined mine in May, and after that my shopping mistakes decreased dramatically and the amount of all-stars increased equally.
-Sometimes a well planned purchase is still a dud, sometimes an impulse buy turns out to be success. Last year, I bought three scarves on an impulse and they turned out to be just as perfect as they seemed. I also purchased a watch I had wanted to buy for at least two years. I have worn it and like it, but way less than I expected. Instead of all-star it has become just an ok item. I guess this means I shouldn’t aim at zero shopping mistakes, just at making as few mistakes as possible.
-If in doubt, return it right away. For me, thinking wishfully “maybe I can make this work” is really just a way to avoid the hassle of returning. I want to wear the contents of my wardrobe, not to collect things I could “work on”. I have enough work in my life already. The choice is not between returning and “coming around” and starting to like the item but between one-time annoyance and a long term annoyance.
-If I didn’t manage to return something right away, purging it when I notice my mistake is still much better than holding onto it and feeling a little bad every time I see it. If I want to be happy with my wardrobe, I must remove anything that makes me feel bad.
Needless to say, I found making this review very useful and will continue to use this tool in my future wardrobe management! Thanks so much for sharing the idea!
I’m glad you were inspired to do the year later review, Sara. It seems like it was very useful for you! I appreciate your sharing your lessons here. I found myself nodding as I was reading what you wrote. My favorite thing that you said was about one-time annoyance vs. long-term annoyance when it comes to returns and that you don’t need more things to “work on.” I call those types of wardrobe items “projects” and I now try to avoid them at all costs. And yes, we should remove anything in our closets that make us feel bad! Reading your comment made me realize that I have a handful of things I need to get rid of soon…
Hi Debbie.
Great post. I think what I have identified as a major factor in my compulsive shopping is the perfection element of needing the absolute correct colour, style, fabric etc. It’s a constant yearning & settling for second best leads to purging & further acquisatory behaviour. It’s like an insatiable need that must be met with endless shopping. In recent months I’ve refused to buy anything that doesn’t ‘spark joy’ & I’ve made some excellent purchases that I know will be much loved pieces. Making the right choices & buying well ‘once’ has allowed the love of clothes & happiness in dressing return. Also I find I’m coping better with all the challenges in my life better & can only attribute this calm to losing a lot of the guilt & frustration my compulsive shopping was causing. Ironically finding the perfect paint colour put an end to constant redecorating.
I resonated a lot with what you wrote, Sharon. I think a lot of us have a tendency to settle for second best, which can often lead us to keep shopping for an item we have already purchased. I wrote about this in 2014: https://recoveringshopaholic.com/a-simple-shopping-rule-buy-once/
I’m glad you are coping better with life challenges and congrats on finding the perfect paint color! I think we don’t realize how much pain and anguish our compulsive shopping can cause. It’s only when we get to a better place that we come to understand what it was costing us.
Hi Debbie
I found this a really interesting post. It seems so many people have issues with the durability of materials that garments are made from. Price is not always the issue. You end up purging the items after a few wear and washes no matter how careful you are.
Shoes for me are also an issue. They are comfortable in the shop and also when you try them indoors but after a few hours wearing them out , well that’s another issue. I end up purging them after only a few wears.
Does anyone have any ideas how to address this. This is the one area that I feel I waste money.
I really hate my feet to hurt!
Hi Linda,
I completely relate. I have a hard time finding shoes that work for me, too.
After a lot of trial and error, I have a list of what to look at when I shop. It might be helpful to come up with a list of your own criteria, based on what has and hasn’t worked in the past.
This is my list:
-thick sturdy soles, with cushioning
-excellent arch support (or fits my orthotics)
-reputable brand known for quality
-size and location of straps and seaming that might be irritating
-real, thick leather
-the shape of the footbed, particularly the curve near the big toe (ie, will this squash my toes?)
-built to last
-no heels, whatsoever
Like you, I test around my house, although I do it for several days. Usually, after that long, I can tell if there’s a problem. But I often will also do a low-impact real world test, something like, say, going to church, where they won’t be damaged or worn. Sometimes it is just feels impossible to know otherwise.
I also shoe shop almost exclusively from Zappos. They are one of few retailers, online or otherwise, that actually carry my size; and they also have a very generous returns policy.
One time I bought a pair of nice ballet flats from them, that after testing, seemed okay. I wore them for a week and realized they caused unbearable pain. I explained this situation to Zappos customer service, and they allowed me to send them back for a full refund.
Hope that this will help!
-cm
You’re right, Linda, that price is not necessarily a determinant of quality. I understand your frustration with shoes, as I have quite fussy feet myself. CM gave you some excellent advice that I know will be helpful to me and others as well. I didn’t know that Zappos allows for the return of worn shoes. I already have positive feelings about them and now I like them even more. Great idea to have a list of criteria for shoes. This makes me think of the post I did last year on “Do’s and Don’ts.” I think I will revisit that list this year and add more about shoes. https://recoveringshopaholic.com/what-are-your-wardrobe-dos-and-donts/
I have to clarify that technically Zappos’ return policy is that they only take returns in their original condition. I wasn’t sure they’d give me a refund in this particular instance, but I knew that they are very customer-centric and have been known to go out of they way for customers, so I tried. I felt bad about having to ask for a refund for worn shoes, but I was so upset and could not afford to eat the cost of those shoes not working out. Fortunately the customer service person I spoke with was really nice and made it happen. Over probably 10 years of shopping with them, I have had consistently excellent customer service.
One thing that helps me to decide if shoes are going to be comfortable is to wear them around the house at the end of the day, when my feet are already tired and sore. I can usually pick up on any uncomfortable point in the shoe right away when I do this, and I know if they are still comfy when my feet are sore, they will probably be OK.
Your comment kind of fell through the cracks, Jeanne, but it’s a good one. I have often worn shoes around the house to “test drive” them, but I didn’t think to do it at the end of the day. That’s actually very smart because not only do our feet tend to be sore and tired after walking throughout the day, I’ve also read that our feet swell, so we want our shoes to be comfortable when they are at their largest.
I agree with purging items that losing their shape or are otherwise broken. But I take issue with the notion that the binge/purge cycle is a quest for perfection. I see it as evolution and experimentation… good things when enjoyed in moderation. Fashion is about change, otherwise it’s just clothing. Do you purchase clothing or fashion?
You raise a good point, Misty, but I don’t see it as an either/or proposition. I think that the binge/purge cycles can be a quest for perfection or evolution and experimentation. All of us will evolve our wardrobes and our style over time based on changes in our bodies, lifestyles, and aesthetics, as well as the changes in trends, but that is usually something that is more gradual. I would ideally like to hold on to most of my clothes for 3-5 years, but I still have a lot of things that are being passed on within a year or less. Some of that is to be expected, but I am hoping to improve my track record and this type of analysis is helpful to me in that regard.
Thanks for the great review. I really like the idea of considering purchases a year later, after the “honeymoon” phase with the garment has worn off. Most of your findings hold true for me too. Being tall like you, I find fit is the most difficult “criteria” to get, so I usually only shop stores that has tall clothing or a few stores that I know cut their garments a bit longer than most, because even if I love a top/jacket/dress/etc., if the fit is off, I simply won’t wear it.
Yes, fit is SO important, Renee, and many of us have a tendency to “settle” in that regard. For me, that may mean that I discount the fact that sleeves are too short or the waist on a dress is a bit too high. But those details are the things that drive me nuts and lead me not to wear things. Like you, I do better with buying garments that are specifically sized for tall women. Sometimes I luck out in finding good items in regular sizes, but I’m not willing to settle anymore. If I had a dollar for every time a saleswoman said, “You can just push the sleeves up,” I could buy a designer handbag! But no, not going to do that anymore…
Hi Debbie, very interesting post! Inspiring.
Thanks, Dory! I appreciate your letting me know that this post inspired you.
Hello Debbie! Great post, I really appreciate the effort that you put into these type of posts,mthere’s so illuminating and help your readers identify their own kind of chaos. My stats are as follows:
January 2015 spend £60.00
Benetton navy cardigan———-tossed, seams fell apart
Benetton grey cardigan———-tossed, seams fell apart – won’t be buying this brand again!
February 2015 spend £94.00
Burgundy Sylvia s/s shirt ———-tossed. Hated the way the buttons looked with a cardigan. Won’t be buying a dark shirt with light buttons again!
Monsoon dress ———————-love this dress, alas I’ve not had many opportunities to wear it
March 2015 spend £178.00
Planet polka dot blouse————-this was an expensive purchase yet I would say I wear this weekly!
Navy linen trousers MCO———–worn a lot during last summer, will dig out again this year
grey linen trousers MCO————as above.
Joe Brown summer dress……………tossed, unflattering, fabric stretched.
Navy denim trousers MCO………….tossed, unflattering, picked up fluff
I really enjoyed sharing my stats, it helps me to see why I threw something out.
NB – For the recyclers, when I say ‘tossed’ I donate to charity or discard depending on the item.
Oh, and as for Team moderate I’m on 5/9 so far ?
Hi, Tracey! Good to see you commenting here. Thanks for sharing your stats from the first quarter of last year. I like how concise your format is, yet it includes all of the information you need. I think I am going to “copy” this format, at least for my personal notes and perhaps for the blog, too. It seems like you learned some good lessons about what not to buy again in the future. I think doing this type of analysis gives us “aha moments” that might escape our awareness otherwise. Congrats on how well you’re doing with “Team Moderate” this year!
I have done a similar analysis and I think it’s a very helpful exercise. In the first quarter of 2015 I bought six items: two tees, two dresses, a spring coat and a ring. The coat and ring are two of the best purchases I made all of last year and I’m excited to start wearing them once it warms up. Both tees wore out too quickly for my liking (haven’t shopped from that brand since) and one dress wore out (but I wore it so often that I still consider it a good value) and the other is still being worn my my mom. I would buy 5/6 styles again – and I guess all six if I was looking for something for my mom 🙂 So overall I’m pretty happy with my purchases from a year ago. But spring has always been my favorite season to shop for. I bet I would be far less impressed with my autumnal purchasing.
Thanks for sharing your analysis, Sara, and congrats on doing well with your shopping in the early months of last year. Tees can be very challenging, can’t they? I find that many of them just don’t hold up well anymore. It’s good to see which brands work well and which don’t. I have decided not to buy from certain brands, too, for the same reason. I hope you end up pleasantly surprised with your autumnal purchases. I will be interested to see if I notice a pattern in terms of which seasons I have a better track record with my shopping.
This is a really good practice for evaluating purchases, Debbie. Looking over what I bought last year, I can see that about half of my first-quarter purchases have proven to be good buys that are still in my closet. I have to admit I’m kind of hoping my track record will improve as we get later in the year!
On the other hand, there are a handful of items that I thrifted last year in the spirit of trying something new/different. Many of these will likely leave my wardrobe soon, but I don’t really consider them purchase “failures,” instead I feel that they did serve their purpose in my wardrobe. So I agree with what Misty says above about evolution and experimentation. That said, it’s a tough balance to strike between allowing for some of this evolution and simply having a lot of wardrobe churn due to a quest for either perfection or pursuit of endless novelty. I haven’t quite struck that balance yet for myself, if I’m being honest.
I hope my track record improves later in the year, too, Sarah. I think it will, but time will tell… I think you were wise to use thrifting as a low risk way of trying new things. You seem to have a good attitude about some of these items. Not everything will have longevity, especially when we are experimenting. I agree that it’s a tough balance between wardrobe evolution and “churn.” I’m still working on that myself…
I’ve been doing this over the past year. It’s been really useful to reference what I’ve learnt when tempted in the changing room. Last week I tried on a number of items. I loved the colour and pattern of one dress, but realized that the shape and fabric were ones I had felt uncomfortable with in the past. Another dress was really stylish,good quality and very reasonably priced, but it was a shape that doesn’t suit me , the color was harsh and was for a lifestyle that I no longer have. Sometimes we need reminders. What I really need to do next is consolidate it into a checklist/ aide memoir in my handbag. I will also add a sections reminding myself what I have enough of taking into account what I do what I wear what I have and what condition it is in. My list will focus primarily on what I don’t need rather than being the usual wish list of what to buy.
A list of what you don’t need is such a good idea. I like to treat shopping as an adventure, so find the concept of sticking to a ‘buy’ list a bit depressing as it it takes away the fun. But something to stop me repeating mistakes – now that could really help
And a great post, Debbie , I did a check and got about 60% success. Something to work on.
Alice
I like Lynn’s idea, too, Alice, and I’m going to incorporate it into my practices. I think 60% success is good – it’s more than half. Yes, it would be good to have a higher number, but I think if we do these types of analysis on an ongoing basis, our track records will improve.
It seems like you are learning a lot of useful things by revisiting past purchases, Lynn. I have had the same experience. I like your idea of an alternate type of list to carry in your handbag. We usually focus on what TO buy, but it’s just as important to look at what we should stay away from. I know I have a tendency to be drawn to pieces that are very similar to what I already have, so I can see the value of writing “No more… ” on my shopping priorities list. I think this will make the list that much more useful!