Would you like to build a stylish and sustainable wardrobe that will hold up for the years to come with the wardrobe essentials you truly love? Do you want to maximise your closet space and fill it only with clothes that you'll wear for a long time? Or perhaps, you're looking to shop for new items which will complement your existing pieces? In this post, I'll discuss ways how to shop mindfully.

Before we begin, let me tell you that the first step in creating a sustainable wardrobe is not just being honest with yourself but also going in the direction of shopping with a clear intention or mindful shopping. It is to say that you need to learn how to shop mindfully and buy with purpose.

1. Make an assessment of your wardrobe. 

Take a good look at everything in your wardrobe. Are you putting everything in there to good use? Examine your essentials and think of ways to wear what you have creatively to create different looks. 

Would buying a new scarf or accessories enhance a certain outfit you already have? Would buying certain pieces help you create some outfit combinations from what you already have in your wardrobe? 

2. Prepare and stick with a shopping list

Before heading out to the store or mindlessly browsing for new clothes online, pause for a while and make a list, which is a great mindful shopping practice. This will help you shop with a clear intention. Then, you must stick to this shopping plan. 

Consider essential and optional items. Only buy the items that you need right away. Remember those you add to your optional items list are those that you can consider buying when they are on sale.

3. Look for sustainable brands

When shopping, find and buy from sustainable brands that think about the environment when producing their clothes. They manufacture their clothes mindfully with nature in their mind, from the design to the manufacturing process.

Sustainable brands focus on quality. They are also mindful of their manufacturing processes and use materials that are friendly to the environment. By choosing sustainable brands that provide quality, you can reduce your waste and the amount of clothing you buy, which will result in saving money in the long term.

4. Be selective

Before buying your clothes, decide if you really like and need them. This is also a way of creating an earth-friendly wardrobe containing only the pieces you use. For example, you might want to try an outfit and think about how you could pair it with pieces you already own. Decide if they fit into your wardrobe and could seamlessly be worn with other items to support your lifestyle.

Do you think you’ll wear it often and maximise its use? If the answer is no, don’t buy it. Avoid falling into the trap of impulse buying, wherein you buy clothes you will never wear. Nevertheless, consider your need for a clothing piece before shopping mindlessly. Assess if you need it before buying it.

5. Don’t be tempted to buy items on sale

Think of this. A retailer opens a shop to make a profit from its sales. Don’t be tempted by their sales trick. Only buy what you need, and don’t just look into the savings you might get when you buy certain items on sale. You deserve the best, so don’t settle for anything less just because it’s affordable. Otherwise, you’re more likely to waste your money and add clutter to your wardrobe.

6. Prioritise quality over quantity

Think quality when shopping for clothes, bags, accessories, or any other items you wish to buy. Quality items will last longer than mass-produced and cheap items. In this case, you don’t need to buy more of these items in the near future, saving you both time and money in the process. And aside from quality, consider maintenance and storage, too, in order to maintain the integrity of your clothes. 

When shopping, look for shops offering quality fashion and style pieces. After all, it might be better to buy only a few quality items than buy in bulk and on things you hardly use.

7. Beware of deals like Buy 1 Take 1!

This is a marketing trick that tempts us to buy more than what we need. In this case, we end up with clutters because we have a lot of things that we don’t or rarely use. So if you only need a pair of stilettos, why buy two pairs when you know for yourself that just one pair will make it? And how often would you wear it anyway?

8. Know your motivation

Shopping is enjoyable and fun and can be tempting when you see something you like. However, not being careful will lead to impulse buying. Unplanned shopping without a clear motive or intent can quickly ruin your budget, which you might regret later.

Many of us may have been sold the idea that shopping can directly influence our happiness, but it’s not true. In fact, impulse buys can lead to regrets later.

While what they call retail therapy can have its temporary feel-good factor due to its emotional aspects, it does little to make us happy. So, while shopping for something when you have a bad day can lift your mood and dampen any unhappy thoughts, know that this will not last.

Instead of being motivated by your mood, make your shopping trips worth your time. 

Think of buying new clothes as investing. Invest only in items that will give you good returns.

Final Thoughts

Mindless shopping can negatively impact our lives – including increased stress and unhappiness, ruined financial priorities and buyer’s regret. That’s why it’s important to start shopping mindfully. It will help you address any emotions that cause reckless spending and prevent you from developing hoarding tendencies. Follow these tips on how to shop mindfully and have a rewarding shopping experience.

Buy less, own fewer, and have more (happiness!) in your life.

I hope you find these shopping strategies useful. More importantly, implement these strategies and start making good investments making your every purchase worthwhile.

With love,