Personal guidelines for shopping part I

While I try to maintain a high standard when it comes to clothes and accessories and I am annoyingly picky, regrettable purchases are always lurking around the corner. Over the years I have come to rely on a few rules of thumb that have proven themselves very helpful. Now, I am by no means an expert but I figured I would share them and hopefully they can be of use to you too. So here are my self-imposed guidelines for shopping part I:

Try different sizes

I own clothing ranging from size XS to XL. Size is only a number or a few letters and doesn’t matter to me as long as the garment fits perfectly. Brands aren’t reliable at all when it comes to sizing. I’m sure we are all familiar with the concept of vanity sizing, right? So please don’t let the size of a piece of clothing bring you down or dictate your purchases. No one will be able to see the label anyway.

Stay away from items that are too trendy

Once in awhile a trend comes along that I’m eager to try such as those checkered blazers or coats that are seen all over the place right now. But fortunately for my wallet, most of the time the result is not at all what I expected or I know I won’t wear it after that particular season. Nevertheless, I believe you can be on trend while still remaining true to your own aesthetic. Take flared jeans for example. Those were very trendy last year of maybe even the year before (I can’t keep track of time anymore, I’m too old). But ultimately, the design, in the right color, is a classic and can be worn at any time.

When in doubt, size up

It’s always better to size up when you’re not completely sure about a piece of clothing or shoes. Clothes can be adjusted and/or taken in by a tailor and you can place an extra insole in your shoes to get a better fit. Although to be honest, I don’t recommend buying your shoes too large either. However, when something is too small, chances are you are never going to wear it because it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Check the men’s section

You can find some really nice pieces of clothing in the men’s section, that’s exactly where I found my favorite men’s ultra soft flowy tee. And from my own experiences, the quality is sometimes even better than women’s clothing. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that men don’t buy as many clothes as women and therefore need garments that last a lot longer. I could be wrong though. Things I especially like from the men’s section are cashmere or merino wool sweaters. I’m sure for some of you the button downs can work as well but those are generally too tight on my hips.

What are your personal shopping guidelines?