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Get Dressed Easier with Closet “Cheat Sheets”

Sometimes we need to get dressed quickly and get out the door.  We often don’t have much time to put together new ensembles, so we tend to stick with the same “tried and true” outfits we’ve worn countless times.  The fact that many of us are perpetually short of time goes a long way toward explaining why most women wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time.

Creative Solutions to Closet Conundrums

Wardrobe Management Tips

Do you reach for the same combinations over and over?

I have more time than a lot of people, but I still find myself reaching for the same combinations time and again.  However, since I’m working toward cultivating a smaller and more workable wardrobe, I really want to make sure all of my closet items are earning their keep.  If things aren’t getting worn, I either need to find ways to make it easier to wear them or pass the neglected pieces on for donation or consignment. Continue reading →

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2014 Purchase Analysis – January though April

This post launches a new feature on “Recovering Shopaholic.”  As most of you know, I’ve been sharing what I’ve bought and what I’ve purged from my wardrobe since the genesis of this blog.   In recent months, I’ve also started sharing my reasons for both my purchases and the closet pieces I’ve let go.  However, there has been one missing link from the equation…  I haven’t taken the time to analyze my purchases after the fact to see if they ended up being good buys – or buying mistakes.

January - April 2014 Purchases

I’ve purchased these 20 pieces since the beginning of 2014.

We Think Our Purchases are Good When We Make Them

I believe that most of us think we’re making good purchases at the time when we buy something new.  However, for a variety of reasons, that doesn’t always end up being the case. Sometimes our emotions get in the way of our rational thought, or we may be pressured into buying something by a salesperson or the friends or family members with whom we shop.  We may also inadvertently purchase something that’s very similar to pieces we already have in our closet, or we might rationalize buying a particular item because it’s on sale or is in line with a current “hot” trend. Continue reading →

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April 2014 Accountability Update

A new month has begun, so it’s time for another accountability update, this time for April 2014.  If you’re new to “Recovering Shopaholic,” here’s the deal…  I’ve committed to posting monthly accountability updates to keep myself honest and on track with my wardrobe and shopping goals.  These posts include what came into and left my closet during a given month, what I wore, and how I did with my shopping budget and rules.

Honesty and Accountability Continue reading →

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On Social Exclusion and Compulsive Buying

The following is a guest post from Dagmar Verheij, a recent graduate of the Rotterdam School of Management.  Back in January, some readers of “Recovering Shopaholic” assisted Dagmar with her master’s thesis in Marketing Management by completing an online survey on their compulsive shopping thoughts and behaviors.  Although Dagmar’s hypothesis was not originally revealed, her research explored the relationship between social exclusion and compulsive buying. In today’s post, Dagmar shares her findings, which are quite interesting and thought-provoking!  I know I could see myself in a lot of what Dagmar reports, and I’m sure many of you will, too…

Social Exclusion and Compulsive Buying

How does social exclusion affect compulsive buying? Read on…

A few months ago, some of you helped me by filling out a questionnaire for my master thesis on the impact of social exclusion on compulsive buying. I would like to thank you for your help by sharing my findings.

It is ironic that for many people, compulsive buying seems to be strongly tied to their need for affection and support from others, but it also often results in distancing important others. Alienating other people could lead to a life of social exclusion. Continue reading →

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Shopping and Wardrobe Goals Update – April 2014

Back in January, I created a series of goals for the year regarding my shopping, my wardrobe, and my life at large.  At that time, I also provided a recap on how I did with my 2013 goals.  This year, I decided not to wait until the year was over to share how I’m doing with my various goals.  Instead, I’m going to do three updates:  one a third of the way through the year (this post!), another at the two-thirds point, and a final update at the end of the year.

Shopping and wardrobe statistics

In today’s post, I share how I’m doing with the shopping and wardrobe goals I’ve set for the year. Later this week, I will update you on my progress with what I’ve termed the 2014 “Full Life Project.”  We all get busy with life and our lengthy to-do lists, and goals can sometimes fall by the wayside as a result.  My goals updates will help keep me on track and moving powerfully toward the objectives I outlined for myself as 2014 began. Continue reading →