Tea Time: 5 questions to ask when you see a dream outfit online
In honor of Thursday (starts with T), let’s get our favorite cup of tea and have a tea time talk. Today, I wanted to take you through five questions to ask when you see the perfect dream outfit online. This happens to me almost every day!
WHEN A LOOK CATCHES YOUR EYE
Recently, this outfit from Misook hit my email and I sighed out loud…Oh you would be so perfect in my closet…. or would it? These are the questions to ask to find out if that is true….
- I always make myself ask if the outfit fits my style messaging. Does it speak the messages I want to say to the world if they were to only see me dressed and walking down the street? I want my clothing to send a consistent, confident message about who I am. So, I always ask myself…does this piece do that? For me, I am looking for it to say that I am intelligent, strong, approachable, current, and creative. I also ask myself here if I would feel confident or shy wearing the garment. I am going for confidence. If I would feel shy wearing it, then it hangs in the closet and is a waste in many ways.
- Is it already in my closet? I think many women make this mistake when they really love a particular style or fabric. We love it so much, we forget it is already hanging there.
- Does the fit of this look flatter my body shape? This is a tough online call, and where reading other comments on the brand website can really help. As I said the other day, some women and even brands will tell you if it fits small or large. Some will say how it looked when they put it on. Reading those comments and reviews can be so helpful. I am sizing down more lately with over sized garments and it has really helped.
- Does this fit my lifestyle? I do not know how long I will be out of the office and working at home. The answer to that really matters when it comes to purchases and I will probably hold off with professional wear for now. But, I am also a wife, mother, grandmother, Website editor, and a professional woman. My outfits need to wear many hats and these casual chic styles do that for me.
- Finally, (and this is a big one) is it in the budget? All three of the outfits here are ones I am attracted to, but they also are high end garments. If my work life truly does transition to more at home life, then the cost per wear is higher and no longer makes sense. All three of these outfits meet my test, except in this one area.
So is the decision done…ended…over.
Not necessarily, I have always used garments I discovered and loved that out of my price range as inspiration to find something similar at a lower price point. I have started a Pinterest Inspiration Board that is not open to anyone but me. These styles will go there, and I will begin to look for options…sometimes my best options are at thrift shops or consignment. Sometimes the garment might go on sale and eventually experience a deep cut. We may see more of the ones we drool over in the deep cut categories if this pandemic goes on much longer. Most of my Eileen Fisher garments I purchased at deep cuts.
There are always ways to take your inspiration and find an outlet for it! Never, breeze by an expensive look you love without considering alternatives.
Would anyone like to add anything? Please do…then go enjoy the Fabulous Find Slideshow and pass the macarons!
Thank you so much for being here… stay home…stay safe…stay hopeful, (be cozy) and…………
Remember, in our social distancing world, your smile is the way you send hugs!
KEEP SMILING….and HUGGING!
By Pamela Lutrell
Thanks Pam. I do this a lot. I look at all the ideas, then will take those ideas and images with me when I go thrifting ( I really miss thrifting ) and many times actually have found close to the item I am looking for. It has to fit the criteria laid out as well, not just because it is less expensive. Any one of those toppers would look fantastic on you.
Thanks Diane! You are right about thrifting. It is easy to get carried away, so it has to meet all of the criteria!
I must say that the slideshow is drool worthy. The gray jacket with those gray jeans is right up my alley. I did swoon. Then I realized I have something very similar from Lafayette148 that I got on discount at Neimans. It is too big now, but I think worth altering. I loved that thing and sort of forgot about it.
But, I am in weight loss mode. So, how to shop for clothing like this or similar that I can wear for a just a while is key. It has to be low priced because it is not investment dressing. Problematic for sure. But, I adore the hints about online shopping. That’s all we will be doing for a while.
Lafayette NYC has such great quality that it definitely is worthy of tailoring! I also have a couple of fun items from Neiman sales. It is worth it to get their emails and sales catalogs! Thanks for mentioning it!
Thanks, Pam. I have my eye on ( and its in my basket)an outfit from Chico’s right now. Your flowy jackets have inspired me and I have found one I love. I am short, though, and heavy, but I really love the look of the jacket over a shell and pants. I am asking myself these questions too. I have retired and am home full time. But I do dress for church. The price is right, on sale and an additional 20% off. (Yay!) Budget is always a consideration. How much I will wear it is now a consideration as I’m not getting out at all because of the ban. Even on sale I have to think twice. Thanks for your posts. I love your clothing and inspiration.
I do love to browse the internet and “window shop.” I love the criteria you set for judging outfits…I will definitely use that. I love the term “shy” when describing certain outfits we think were perfect but never feel comfortable actually wearing. Perfect and spot on!! I have found during my current quarantine/purge that I do tend to but the same types of items over and over again. I really need to be more mindful of that and start trying to spread my fashion wings with style and color!
Thanks again for another post that makes me think!
Have a great day and stay safe!
Those are beautiful jackets and I can see why you are drawn to them. I really, really like the blue one with the large leaves…. It’s interesting how we are so drawn to things we already have, or have something very similar, and I guess that’s a good thing because it means we made a good choice with what is in the closet. Sometimes I’ll see something on a very tall, willowy model and have to bring myself back to reality….it wouldn’t look like that on my shorter, more average frame! I’m sitting her beside three boxes of items going to Goodwill, so kind of going through a wardrobe (not style) change. You are so right about the reviews…it’s especially helpful when someone includes height, weight and body type. What looks good on a long-legged model in a studio won’t necessarily look the same on me in front of my unforgiving mirror! The items you show here would look wonderful on you and really look like your style. I’m going toward fewer and higher quality things than a closet full of things that I don’t need. Hopefully, you will back in your work attire before long. We really need to get back to our normal lives. While this might be a more laid back day-to-day, it’s also very disruptive and stressful at the same time. I know that’s why sleep is more difficult now too. One thing I’ve noticed about myself, with all the amazing sales going on right now, it’s very easy to get caught up in buying to get a good deal. This is when I really have to put on the brakes and question if I really need it, or just want it. I have a list of wardrobe gaps from the purging I’ve been doing, and right now if it’s not on the list, I take myself right out of the website/temptation and do something else!
Lisa, thank you for your sweet words. Chico’s does have some garments in petite sizes. Make sure you check. Hope it all works out.
You are so welcome, Linda. It took me awhile to learn these things!
I hear you, Karen. Sales can be so enticing. Always good to pull back and ask questions.
I find sizing recommendations helpful when I’ve bought things from that company before and am familiar with how their clothes usually fit. I recently ordered a dress for an evening wedding from Macy’s. I was surprised when I saw a “your recommended size” was a size bigger than I usually buy. I’d tried on some dresses in-store and there were a couple that definitely ran small, so I ordered the size they recommended. It was too big under the arms! The stores were still open to I’ve already taken it back. I’m still not sure why the site recommended that size! I have ordered two dresses, in my normal size, since then and one fits great and the other doesn’t! Same size but different companies. I love the jackets you showed today but I know they aren’t something I need in my post-retirement wardrobe. I would be tempted if I found them in a resale or thrift shop and if the price was right, I might indulge myself! I bought my first duster style sweater at a thrift store and liked the look so much that I’ve since bought more. I’m a big fan of sales and seldom pay full price for anything. The dress I ordered that fits wasn’t on sale but it’s perfect for my granddaughter’s wedding and fortunately it was affordable! I almost ordered some ankle-length pants from Chico’s the other day. They were on sale and I know I like the style but in the end, I decided I really don’t need them! I really need some new tunic length tops to wear with ankle-length leggings so I’m keeping an eye out for styles I like at prices I can afford. Thanks for the continued inspiration!
One of my criteria is, could I wear it with jeans? If not, it will just hang in the closet. I try to look for inspirations more than purchases. Not always successfully.
I like your advice on would I feel shy wearing it. I have made several purchases over the years that I have rarely worn for this very reason. I love them, but for whatever reason, don’t seem to be just right. Mostly because I feel overdressed in them. Don’t get me wrong, I feel like I look fantastic! But feel I would really stand out in this very casual community. Around here, one could wear nothing different than jeans and sweatshirts and I refuse to dress that way!