It’s November and we are inching closer to some of the biggest sales events of the season. Shopping, in theory, has never been easier. Not only can you buy anything from anywhere at the tip of your fingers, but you are told what you NEED by influencers, store recommendations, and advertisements on the side of every website. 

Black Friday (and the rest of the week that is now included in most sales) can be great for updating a winter wardrobe, but it is also the best time to remind yourself of all the things you have purchased that serve as nothing more than a closet-filler.

I am not a minimalist (by any means), and I am not saying to stop buying eclectic sweaters or flare jeans that aren’t practical for work. However, it is vital, especially right now, to approach shopping with your own sense of self, and not someone’s idea of what belongs in your closet. There is a fine line between taking recommendations from people about clothing, accessories, make-up, perfume, etc. and buying something just because someone said it’s great. 

I have found myself looking to other people for recommended jean brands and searching the internet for the ideal perfume. But where it becomes a bad habit is when you have a cabinet full of water bottles, but you purchase another because of a post you saw.

I am not passing judgement on people’s buying habits, because I have more blue sweaters than any person on earth could possibly need (although, I maintain that they are all different enough to be acceptable). The purpose of this article is to encourage you to look at what you have, and your habits, and determine what is worth purchasing versus what might just be a temporary dopamine rush.

I love to shop, and buying holiday gifts is something I look forward to year-round. While shopping for others, sometimes I get distracted by the shiny things in life (or in my case, the Chanel wrapping paper). But this year, instead of buying items that are amazing in theory but space-takers in practice, I am thinking through everything, and I believe you should too. 

How to Shop Smarter This Season

As you approach shopping this winter, as it starts to get much colder and you browse online for gifts, take a moment before hitting add to cart. Just because something is on sale does not mean you are getting a deal on it. If you would not have bought it when it was full price, or you never really considered it essential to you before, do you really think 15% off is incentive enough?

I would suggest making a broad list of things you wear or scouring Pinterest to curate a vision board. It makes it easier to know if you will put on that sweater more than once, or if that mug is truly life-changing. 

Don’t break what isn’t broken. For example, I have a couple pairs of go-to jeans that I can pair with almost anything in my closet. It would be unwise for me to buy a pair of skinny capri jeans I already know I hate, and yet I almost did when I saw them all over my phone a season or so ago. All that is to say is that while it is great to branch out, and new clothes can increase your confidence, don’t just listen to strangers on the internet. 

Another tip is that when you do find that grey turtleneck sweater you did not know you needed, or that scarf you cannot live without, it usually pays to buy the real thing over a lesser-known duplicate. Not to say that some ‘dupes’ cannot last, but the saying “buy it nice or buy it twice” is something to keep in mind when it applies.

I encourage you to take a look in your closet before braving the streets or the retail websites. If nothing else, it may lead to you getting rid of dozens of clothes you don’t like anymore before completely revamping your wardrobe. Or, it might prevent you from buying an adorable pair of low-rise dress pants you saw on someone’s Like to Know It or linked outfit that you know you would wear once( if you are being generous). 

Remember that a sale is only worth it if it is something you know you would use or would have wanted regardless, but now have the opportunity to buy it. Do not get trapped by intriguing sales pitches or the high you get when you know you have a package on the way.

Shopping is supposed to be fun, not something that guarantees a relapse of buyer’s remorse. It is a million times more satisfying to look at your closet and love everything than to feel like you have nothing to wear, even after a month’s worth of browsing and shopping.

Happy November!