The ‘old-fashioned’ way I avoid impulse shopping

I’ve always been slow to take up technology. I didn’t start online shopping until well into my uni years, especially for clothes. In my head, there had to be a catch – whether it be ill-fitting, of poor quality, or the shipping was too expensive to justify buying it.

As a result, I made a habit of shopping in-store as much as possible. Over time, it’s helped me reduce unnecessary spending and giving in to impulse purchases.

By virtue of the sheer effort it takes to get to the shops – carving time out of your schedule, physically transporting yourself there, fighting for parking, going through every single shop to find something you like – I figure I might as well take the time to try an item on and make sure it fits, lest I take it home, only to realise there’s something wrong with it and have to repeat the process to return it. 

When I head to the fitting room, I have a strict list of criteria to fulfil before the clothes I try on end up in my cart. 

First and foremost is whether it fits the way I want. Often I have to experiment with different sizes and styles, switching between them and even taking photos of each to pinpoint what it is I like or dislike about a certain piece of clothing. 

I often try to pair the pieces with what I came into the store wearing, as it is a good indicator of whether they will fit seamlessly into my current wardrobe.

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Finally, I have a good think about whether the piece is worth the price. Many factors are considered in this decision.

Is the fabric good quality? Will this cause me discomfort in any way while I wear it? Is this for everyday wear or special occasions? Can I dress it up or down and re-wear it for a different occasion? How will I style it with the accessories I already have in my wardrobe? 

If I have gone through this entire process and have one iota of doubt, I put the piece back and deliberate more, or decide to forget about it unless it comes back into my life somehow. At the end of the day, it’s just a piece of clothing, and I can live without it. 

The expert verdict

Nina Gbor, the founder of Eco Styles and a circular economy and sustainable fashion educator, and Kim Crowley, a fashion designer-turned-personal stylist and founder of StyleSense, shared an appreciation for this thorough method. 

“There’s nothing like trying something on in person, checking the fabrication, how it fits your body, etc. but really checking how it feels on your body. The reason we wear certain items on rotation is generally because of how it makes us feel,” Crowley tells nine.com.au.

“It’s shifting your focus to be less about the purchasing moment and more about how you’ll wear the item.”

She agrees with the assessment criteria of whether the clothes fit into my wardrobe, and encouraged even more deliberation by thinking of at least three outfits that can include the potential new piece, and seven new outfits for higher-priced items.

“Calculate the cost per wear because it’s not about the price of the garment, it’s about the value to you,” she advised.

“It’s easy to buy more ‘stuff’, more items. It’s harder to buy full outfits that you enjoy wearing and represent your personality. 

“That takes more time, thought and experimentation and that’s because we have different facets to our personal style and lifestyle, so creating balanced outfits means mixing different brands and price points.”

Why do we fall for impulse purchases?

We are all familiar with the addictive nature of impulse buying. Gbor says the serotonin, dopamine hit, and short-lived emotional satisfaction retail therapy provides is unmatched, but Aussies seem to indulge far too much.

Australia is the second-worst country in the world for textile consumption per capita. On average per year, we buy 27 kilograms of textiles and dispose of 23 kilograms. 

Consumers are not all to blame. The internet has, of course, made shopping frighteningly convenient, causing people to follow trends like addictions, which leads to fashion waste. 

“Some companies use gamification and advanced psychological techniques to make people obsessed with buying,” Gbor notes.

“Strategic triggers from businesses using these tactics can trigger impulse buying. Additionally, marketing tactics like discounts and trendy displays trigger a fear of missing out, leading consumers to justify these unplanned buys.”

Crowley points out that following these trends and buying multiple statement pieces instead of items that can be mixed and matched can, oddly enough, add to more wardrobe clutter.

“We often buy hero items because that standalone piece catches our eye, but then we get at home and don’t know what to wear it with,” she says. 

Crowley introduces her clients to the idea of their wardrobe being 80 per cent “workhorses” – reliable, versatile staple pieces worn more frequently – and 20 per cent “one-trick ponies”, statement pieces.

“What I see in most wardrobes is that it’s around the opposite way and that’s why their clothes aren’t interchangeable as they only have standalone items or a few standalone outfits. They wear these on rotation, get bored and go out shopping again,” she explains.

“We believe buying something new is easier than outfitting what we already have because humans want a quick fix.”

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The secret to prevent impulse shopping

Each fashion expert has discovered their own methods to determine which clothes work for them or their clients, which in turn reduces impulse spending.

Gbor perfected her personal style formula over a decade ago, and uses it whether she is shopping or online: Personality + Lifestyle + Body Metrics = PERSONAL STYLE

She describes personality as your own personal preferences, that is, “styles, looks or vibes from any era or period that you like”. Add to that lifestyle, considering outfits that help you function in everyday life and achieve your goals.

Including body metrics, such as styles, colours, patterns and looks that you feel work for your body shape and skin tone, completes the trifecta for Gbor.

She also suggests “restyling”, which includes wearing or using one garment in several different ways for different occasions. 

Crowley agrees, advising, “Rather than continually looking outward at new clothes to create new outfits, look inwards at your current wardrobe and restyle what you already have, because I promise you, there’s so much untapped potential in your closet just waiting to be discovered!

“As I always say to my clients, you don’t need five new tops, you just need one top you can wear five different ways.”