accounting
I found myself at Front Row, a shop which carries a range of labels including A.P.C., this morning. I've never bought anything from A.P.C. before, because it's not easy to find their things in Singapore.
This dress I bought was marked down to S$110 from S$370, which was great, and I was pleased because the cotton felt like a dream, the cut was a perfect fit, and unlike most white dresses, it was well-lined and the layers of fabric felt luxurious.
I was bemused to see that a shift dress in printed cotton was priced the same and marked down for less, and the thin material could only be described as nonsense, given the price.
I wondered if it was a price distortion by the distributor. Because how could two things from the same label so different in quality be priced the same? Am I naive to expect the price to reflect quality, even within the same label?
I also bought a blouse at Zara, adding to my Zara sale haul. Is is any wonder that I rarely buy clothes from Zara at full price anymore, when I know certain items will definitely be marked down?
Total haul since the sales began in December:
- Two blouses
- One pair of trousers
- One cardigan
- One jacket
- One pullover
- One dress
- One bag
This is in itself, a very adequate wardrobe, which the begs the question of whether I should from now resist further purchases unless necessary. I have flirted with the idea of a shopping ban before (inspired by bloggers like enc and editor), but simply lack the courage to do it because I hate to fail. Moreover, I am reluctant to admit that I lack the necesary self-control to resist indulging and I comfort myself often buy saying that it's not like I don't make regular savings or am in debt.
But I am uncomfortable with the fact that I am buying new clothing when I have a whole closet full of clothing I love - it doesn't seem rational to me. As someone who prides herself on being more reasonable than most, I think it's time to face facts and simply stop buying new things for at least six months, unless it's underwear, socks, or shoes.
By now, I have built up a wardrobe with a good foundation, so I have no reason to shop. Since reason has failed to rein me in, I have to make a moral commitment to not break a promise to myself.
Comments
I wonder if you took your ban one day at a time, instead of six months at a time, if you'd have success?
I bet you would.
A 6 month ban seems pretty drastic! I tend to do shorter 'seasonal' bans, so say if I have my spring wardrobe sorted then I won't buy anything until summer. Good luck!
Doing it one day at a time is a an interesting idea, I hadn't thought of it...I settled on six months because it fits in with my "buying cycle" of shopping in bursts, haha.
-h: I love the design of Zara blouses, though sometimes I find them lacking in quality, but there are definitely wonderful buys for the right price.
I think my wardrobe isn't austere by any standards, which is why it feels like a good time to set some limits...it also coincides with a desire to be more fiscally responsible, and clothing is a good place to start. But yes, I know I shouldn't beat myself up over one of the more pleasurable things in life (fashion).
Ammu: Three months sounds good to me, especially if you are living in a country with seasonal changes and there are far more urges for new things :) Have you done so again since?
Victoria: Does six months sound really long? Maybe I need to rethink this, haha. But I settled on it because I do tend to shop more every six months, and the buying I do in between is usually more impulse-driven and usually unnecessary.
Seasonal bans sound very sensible to me, though does a change in season become an excuse to buy?