The benefits of a (wish)list
According to Italian semiotician, literary critic and philosopher Umberto Eco the list is the origin of culture. In his book The Infinity of Lists Eco describes how culture strives to make infinity comprehensible and how it wants to create order. So how do we face infinity and attempt to grasp the incomprehensible? By creating lists. It could be the collection of a museum, a dictionary but also something as simple as a grocery list, a menu in a restaurant or when we’re talking about fashion blogs, the wishlist.
For me, the wishlist is the perfect way to keep my purchases to a minimum and to keep things in perspective. Although it might sound a bit tedious, I love to arrange images of things I’m interested in, creating collages as the one above and thinking about the ways I would wear them. Next, I always take my time to evaluate and reconsider every possible purchase before I finally settle for an item. Do I really need it? Will I still like it in 6 months? Is there anything else on my list that would be a better investment? It took me years to decide on my Balenciaga bag as I wanted to be sure it wasn’t just a temporary obsession.
Clearly, this way of shopping isn’t for everyone but even the simplest of lists can help you decide what it is that you really need and/or want. By placing items next to each other, it’s easier to compare them. Would you rather spend your money on 10 cheaper H&M items you just laid your eyes on or that gorgeous leather bag that costs just as much as those things combined and has been on your list for weeks, maybe even months? Trust me, you will be thrilled with every carefully considered purchase and it will become so much easier to refrain from impulse shopping.
If you were to compile a wishlist, what would take the #1 spot?
I have been meaning to create a post like this too! So that once I decided that I can buy something for myself, I can just go to my blog and see what do I want to check off of the list. At the moment, my number one thing in my wishlist is a new bag. It might sound crazy since I just purchased a Mulberry Bayswater bag a few months ago but I want to have a cross body bag that looks good for work but can hold my giant agenda. The Bayswater is a really good size but sometimes I wish it comes with a cross body option. I have been contemplating on bringing it to the cobbler and ask them to DIY my bag so that I can attach a strap. That sounds crazy too, I know. Since the bag is really pricey. But there’s fun too behind it in my head. A designer bag that got tweaked sounds really personal 🙂
I love your Bayswater but I get wanting a cross body bag as well. I’ve been carrying my Mansur Gavriel bag nonstop for weeks now because it’s so great to have your hands free. Unfortunately I just found out that the colour rubs off on my grey coat :s I’m sure a cobbler could add a strap but check this out: http://bryologue.com/diy-leather-coloring/. Might be an option without damaging the bag.
Ah thanks for the link! I will now look online on where to buy the leather strap since I don’t think Mulberry sells one separately. Thank you once again 🙂
Op nr 1: de perfecte everyday tas waar ook mijn laptop (15″ Macbook Pro) in past, die er niet uitziet als een moeke-tas, ook niet te delicate hengseltjed heeft (snijdt als een gek!) en gewoon super awesome is. In tegenstelling tot mijn Nike rugtas die ik nu naar werk meeneem 😂 Die is btw heel leuk.. Voor naar de sportschool of op mn snowboard.
Zo lastig!
Ik ga eind van deze maand de helft van mn kledingkast verkopen in samenwerking met Glamour, en ga daarna een heeel weloverwogen wish list maken. Nu al zin in!
X
Haha, je bent verder ook helemaal niet veeleisend. Ik weet niet wat je precies zoekt maar ik las dat de Everlane Petra tote heel stevig is en laptop proof. Die vind ik persoonlijk heel mooi. Ga je je kleding online verkopen? Ben benieuwd wat je allemaal weg doet, hoewel ik je schoenen sowieso niet pas 🙁
Oeh, goeie tip! Die ga ik eens even in de gaten houden. Het liefst zou ik ook nog willen dat hij afsluitbaar is, maa rik heb al zoveel eisen, haha!
En die kleding gaan offline verkocht worden op een soort indoor marktje in Amsterdam Noord. Er komen meer bloggers, stylisten, etc etc. Zo’n zin om eens flink op te ruimen!
x
If there’s something I really want I use a photo of it as the background for my phone and laptop to see if I don’t get sick of it after seeing it so much (an investment piece is something that’s going to be worn a lot so I need to not get tired of it!) Doing that also reminds me when I’m shopping that I want to save for it, I look at the photo and ask myself what I want more – the thing I’m saving for or the thing I’m about to buy. But if I were to make a list a decent crossbody bag would take the top spot! Probably something by Mulberry to complete my collection x
Josie | Sick Chick Chic
Seriously, that is a great idea! Now I’m curious about your bag collection by the way. Sounds like you already own a Mulberry or two. If I ever were to buy a Mulberry bag, it would be a cognac Bayswater. Such as classic.
That’s a bit of a tough one. Right now, I’d say the #1 item on my wishlist would be a spring/fall weight coat that hits just above my knees. I have a number of coats that are waist high, and a couple longer coats that hit below the knee, but nothing that hits in between. I’d like a coat that covers my longer sweaters, but doesn’t frumpy or out of place if I wear it with flat shoes. After that it would probably be brown footwear. My purse is brown, but my main footwear is black, and the combo looks a little odd to me.
Haha, could it be that I have finally found someone that likes coats even more than I do? I think the combination of black shoes and a brown bag could work if you keep the rest of your outfit simple. I like these combo’s for instance:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f9/34/df/f934df2d948efa2a6e1b12e23f160223.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/40/05/82/400582fed9cc05bc610eebc701903298.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ba/43/9a/ba439a0eed3ea41891da2273784b303d.jpg
Oh ik hou ook van lijstjes, dus ik kan er wel in meekomen dat het goed werkt voor jou!
Op mijn nummer één staat nu een nieuwe bril. Ik heb er nog niet één op het oog, maar mijn opticien heeft altijd wel wat moois dus ik wil er pas heen gaan als ik ook daadwerkelijk een bril kan kopen 🙂 Ik vind lak, oxford achtige schoenen ook heel mooi trouwens (dacht eraan vanwege jouw plaatje), maar die moeten nog even wachten tot de nieuwe capsule wardrobe.
Ah, een bril stond ook zo lang op mijn lijstje. Dat heeft echt even geduurd voordat ik een mooie vond. Misschien was ik ook wel heel kieskeurig maar een bril is zo bepalend voor je gezicht. Hij moest wel echt perfect zijn.
I always have a mental wishlist of things, and I only buy something if it’s on my wishlist! I managed to buy the two things on there (black trousers and a black and white striped top) while travelling, so there’s actually nothing on it right now… so technically that should mean no more shopping for me, haha.
I like how you said ‘should’, haha. Do post an outfit with you new purchases if you get the chance 🙂 Are you still travelling? If so, enjoy and stay safe!
Just discovered your blog and loving it! Reading back through all your archives now 🙂 Sophie xxx
http://www.fashionnomads.com
Thanks Sophie! Much appreciated 🙂
Love your wishlist!
What an interesting way to look at a wishlist! I am not very good at putting together one, but I am not an impulse buyer either. I always carefully weight the pros and cons of my wardrobe, before each purchase. Maybe I should give this a try ?
I tend to save everything I like to my bookmarks and regularly go through and edit – it’s a way of saving what I like and think I might want to buy, without any of he actual action (I’ve had a couple pieces in there over 6 months already…).
Top of my wish list currently is a way too expensive dress from Zimmermann and a cute off the shoulder red number from Nicholas. Probably not the most practical of buys but I’ve been dying to have a little bit more fun with my wardrobe!
Just found your blog! So inspiring – I can’t stop reading through the archives. Great job! 🙂
I really like the sunglasses in the post, where are they from?
Thanks Amanda! I appreciate it. The sunglasses are by Ace & Tate.
Mooie wishlist, vind die blouse erg mooi! Waar is die van en hebben ze hem nog in andere kleuren (zwart)? Black Saffron is echt mijn lievelings, het is ondertussen echt mijn signature parfum geworden haha
Die blouse is van Equipment. Te duur en te kwetsbaar voor mij helaas (vooral dat laatste, ik zie me zo ergens achter blijven haken. Doei €275). Ja, ik vind ‘m zo heerlijk, die Black Saffron! Staat echt op mijn verlanglijstje.
Die oorbellen heb ik in het goud, ik draag ze elke dag. Ik vind ze zo mooi
Hello there! May I ask what brand the glasses are? Thanks!
Hi Lize! They’re by Ace & Tate 🙂
i can definitely agree with a wish list. it helps me curate my current collection of items and plan for new purchases while minimizing my carbon footprint. since i currently have nothing on my wish list, if i were to “want” something, it would be an out-of-reach item, such as a chanel boucle jacket or a hermes kelly handbag (this really goes to show that i am particularly found of outerwear and handbags, which i hadn’t realized before complaining this list).
http://pourtouslesjours.blogspot.com
Haha, nothing wrong with reaching for the stars 😉 Outerwear and handbags are also the things I love to buy. At the moment my wish list is extremely small and I’m sure I’ll cross a few things off the list along the way. So chances are I’ll only replace a few items that are worn out the next couple of months.