It took me some time to put up this post as I didn't know how to write about the results from my shopping ban.
So I'll start simply with
a reminder of the list of purchases I had settled for:
As
you certainly gathered from outfits posts, I managed to get the DVN
scarf, the last one at the boutique, on sales and I'm still incredibly
happy about this addition to my collection.
coat/ manteau: Isabel Marant -
scarf/écharpe: Dries van Noten - pull/sweater: COS- jeans: H&M -
shoes/chaussures: Fratelli Rossetti - bag /sac: Céline
The
APC gloves on the other hand turned out to be a wild-goose chase: with
the mild winter and the fact that the gloves were available online, I
assumed finding them in store would be easy. Wrong. After calling and
popping by a few stores and corners, I finally found them at the rue
Madame boutique and was glad I had the opportunity to try them on there
because otherwise I would have lost more time and money had I ordered
them from the e-shop. The smallest size was too big for my hands and as
sorry as I was to give up on them I knew it was the right call.
Soon, very soon after this disappointing turn of event, I started to think of a "replacement" purchase for the gloves.
pull/sweater: Zara -pants/pantalon: H&M - shoes/chaussures: Dries van Noten - mittens/mitaines: C&A
Two down, only one to go and at that point, January was not even over...
As
it happens one of my eBay search made me stumble upon a long time
coveted item, the Uniqlo faux fur peacoat and the moment I saw it, I
knew there was no way I just could pass on this occasion.
faux-fur
coat/Manteau fausse fourrure: Uniqlo - pull/sweater: COS - jeans:
H&M - sneakers/baskets: Nike Blazer x Comptoir des Cotonniers -
bag/cabas: Céline
In all logic, this third buy should have marked the end of the shopping right?
Why,
there was still the matter of the black jeans of course which were
found at Uniqlo. My "excuse" to cave in relying on the fact that I
really needed them and wouldn't break my bank account even if I did
break my promise... Twisted.
coat/manteau +jeans : Uniqlo - top: Dries van Noten - scarf/écharpe: Isabel Marant - sneakers/baskets: Eden - bag /sac: Céline
For a complete disclosure, by
February, once the ban was officially broken, I felt no guilt getting
the Acne Canada scarf in camel which was neither on the list nor a
necessity...
leather jacket/Veste cuir: ASOS - scarf/écharpe + pull/sweater + boots: Acne Studios - jeans: Uniqlo - bag : Céline
voilà, this ban taught me or rather enhanced what I honestly had figured out:
Focusing
on a limit of purchases allowed made me realize that the vast majority
of my buys, though 95% of the time thoughtful because the permanent goal
in my mind is wearability, compatibility with the rest of my belongings
- were unnecessary impulsive ones
(i.e. a 4th blue shirt, another pair of black cropped pants, the
umpteenth grey sweater, etc.) justified by the fact that most are
"inexpensive" or at least affordable.
Controlling
these shopping habits were at times incredibly frustrating because
often related to stress, to an easy access to stores as a way-out, a
feel-better excuse.
Even
if I failed to completely enforce this ban, it has this lasting
positive effect -besides the money saved- to make me even more assertive
about my shopping choices. At the slightest doubt, I don't buy it. If
it's cute but feels like déjà-vu -as in, already featured in my wardrobe- I don't buy it.
So as a matter of fact, my fashion envies have soared - I want so so many things- especially since the bout of spring we had in Paris but my actual purchases are few not to say rare.
What's your status regarding shopping nowadays? Do you have a shopping philosophy/process to restrain your purchases?
