Monday, March 15, 2010

The Versatility Justification

Dress: Kieu's, $40 // Jacket: Target kids' section, $25 // Necklace: Forever 21, $9 // Shoes: alice + olivia for Payless

As someone who loves to go shopping but is also frugal to a fault, I have become a master at justifying purchases. One of the easiest excuses to buy something new is a special event or occasion (wedding to attend, job interview, holiday), but when that fails, I usually play the versatility card. Such was the case with this polka dot frock. As soon as I saw its retro silhouette and classic black & white print, I knew it would be mine. Then came the guilt-minimizing spiel about how I could wear it with a cardi for work, dress it up for evening, dress it down for weekend... blah blah blah. Well, in an attempt to follow through with my promise to myself, I'm going to make a conscious effort to style this dress in many different ways.

Here's the first: I gave it some edge for a girls' night out in Kansas City with three of my best friends. If I look a little rough, it's because this shot was taken at the very end of the night. More variations on this dress to come!

And, out of curiosity, do you guys play these ridiculous mind games like me, or do you just buy what you want and get on with your life?

32 comments:

Ashley said...

First time commenter!

I totally play mind games with myself when shopping...it usually goes
"Hm, I like this dress. Do I really like it? Does it make my butt/hips/boobs look big? Too big? Where could I wear this? Okay, work, weekends...would I really wear this during the weekend? What cardigans/shoes/necklaces can I wear this with? Oooh, I'd buy a cardigan to go with this! I like this cardigan! Yeah, it's so versitle. Since the cardigan is cheaper, I'll get that!"

And low and behold, I usually walk out with a cardigan and without a dress and end up returing the cardigan two weeks later because I have nothing to wear it with...or worse, going back to buy the dress....

Unknown said...

I'm ashamed too say that I make excuses for some of my purchases...I do it when something costs more than I would normally pay.

Lindsay Jean said...

oh man, those shoes! and you're right, when CANT you wear a polka dotted dress?

i never buy anything at full price, so i use the excuse that i'm getting a deal.

sometimes when my fiance calls me on it, i just say "its just money" and/or "i work really hard! i can spend my money on whatever i want!"

haha, just go for it. you're a fashion blogger. it's "work-related"

www.mysolitaryconsignment.com

Jilliebeanie said...

Typically all about the mind games, but in the case of this dress, I would've bought it, no questions asked, no games played. Polka Dots are ALWAYS justified.

Leah Brunner said...

wooo I love ks city! how fun! great outfit!

Desiree said...

I totally agonize over purchases. I'm always afraid that I'll find something better. But this dress, it is awesome!

Clara Marinelli said...

Wow! Love these shoes !!! ♥

TheCollegeCouture said...

Haha I do the same thing, I actually stand there holding whatever it is I'm wanting to buy and I go through all the senarios of when and where I will wear it; people probably think I'm crazy for just standing there staring at a piece of clothing...but anyways. I love this outfit, its is so cute! I adore the pop of red from the wedges, it looks great mixed with the polka dot dress.

Sweets and Hearts said...

lol, the title of your post reminds of the titles for "the big bang theory" episodes!

ugh, yeah i know what you mean about justifying purchases. i turn almost every purchase into a high involvement one ("where will i wear this? what will i wear it with? will i wear it more than once?").

except i more or less end up lying to myself and figure if i love it enough, i might as well get it. :P

i really do like your polka-dot dress though! totally worth it. promise. :)

<3

Lovers, Saints & Sailors said...

I do this to other people when we're shopping. They'll look at a piece and go "it's great but I probably shouldn't". I then list all of the different things they could do with it and how it's an investment and really if you break it down it works out to be $2 per wear and really, it's not about need it's about want and you deserve it and so on and so forth.

I'm an enabler.

Hehe, and my friends love it.

Francine said...

I usually have something specific in mind when I make purchases, otherwise I'd just walk into a store and buy everything, haha.

FRUIT SKELETONS said...

I LOVE THOSE SHOES.

alltumbledown said...

I totally justify while shopping. I like the idea of planning 3 outfits with items I already own before buying something- does seem to make an item "worth it." And omg, those shoes are to die for. Love love love them.

Kellie said...

I try to justify things too! Usually it starts out with me making a mental list of thinks that I do or don't like about the dress, because sometimes I'll buy something and initially think it's cute, but then wear it one time and never again because the sleeves are weird or something like that.
And then I move on to visualizing at least three different ways to style it. If it passes those tests, I buy it! :d

And I like how you styled the dress here, it looks really fun and cute! :D

http://playingdressupwithkellie.blogspot.com/

Lexie said...

i do 99% of my shopping with my best friend, and she always knows the right things to say to convince me to buy something! we're a horrible team, lol!

i love your hair here! i want to see the back!

Dedicated Follower of Fashion said...

I definitely do that guilt-alleviation thing. Sometimes I have to show my friends the thing I want to buy and have them tell me that it's great and I need it so I feel justified.

Ana said...

That dress is amazing, I would have bought it too. I definitely justify my purchases, even if the justification is poor. I am especially bad when stores I like go on sale.

Grace M said...

I was chuckling while reading your post because I totally go through this same mind game when I shop. I'm also "frugal to a fault," so when I see something I absolutely love, I put myself through this odd mental justification cycle and check-list of needs v. wants. *Sigh*

Glad you convinced yourself the dress was necessary . . . I usually find it's totally worth it. Looking forward to seeing the other ways you style it! Love the shoes, too.

Maria Irene said...

your shoes are to die for!

Anonymous said...

We all run those ideas through our heads... but I've learned that joy is rare and fleeting in life so, if it presents itself, seize it! Don't feel guilt and savor every opportunity for happiness.

E said...

SHOES! No WAY those are Payless!

Julia said...

My Inner Monologue

Me: If I take the cost, and divide it by the number of wears I'll get out of it, then, ha! those jeans only cost pennies, really.
Me: That's some good math.

akdjf said...

YES! I play the mind games too!

Kimberellie said...

I like to get really good deals so I often play the: "It's only three dollars, that's the price of a cheeseburger; I wouldn't even consider not buying a cheeseburger. I best buy it" game. This game has led to me having so many clothes that I think they may reproduce and become a sentient clothes monster and attack me in my sleep one night.

Oh, and I LOVE the dress. Can't wait to see the many ways you are going to style it!! And those shoes!!

heart:

purplestinkindogtoy.blogspot.com

patty said...

I just buy what I want! On hindsight though, I think I should employ that mind game thing, as I always end up buying something and only wearing it once. No fun at all.

Mich said...

TOtally!! I'm not so sure its a bad thing though. not always at least. for me - i always have to have at least three reasons to buy something it seems. I bought a vintage dress on Saturday and my reasons were these - 1. I've been looking for a cute vintage dress, esp. one with sleeves. 2. Its marked down from $26 to $6.50. 3. Every person who worked at the store AND the guy friends I was with said they liked it/it looked great/my survival depended on this dress. :) so i obviously bought it.

cocojones said...

I know this feeling well...! Looking forward to seeing how you style this lovely dress for different occassions x

Anonymous said...

definitely depends...if im with a girlfriend my rules go out the door, but when im by myself i do play mind games. ive told myself umpteen times that im grounded from shopping until my bday (end of june) and ive broken that promise about 5 times in the past 3 months. bad girl.

xoxo,
F

lekisskiss.blogspot.com <-- Texas gal bloggin fashion from NYC!

bellefantaisie said...

I tend to buy stuff when i haven't in a while, then i don't feel so bad! but those shoes are awesome! x

Fabulocity in Amish Country said...

Love this look! :)

C said...

Edgy, rocker-chic, and totally awesome!

[SMASH] said...

I think we all do! Love that dress!!! Who went to SMU and Baylor? Those are here in Texas with meeeeee!