How To Update Your Wardrobe With Online Shopping Bargains

Are you ready for some bargains?!

I will help you align your wardrobe with your new vision for your life.

Stores may be closed, but online shopping is where it’s at! This social distance/quarantine time has given me time to reflect on my life and my goals.

I realized that this moment in time could be a huge reboot on my life. This includes my wardrobe!

Pre-Shopping Questions

First, let’s examine the reason why you want to update your wardrobe. Are you trying to impress someone, or your finally doing something special for yourself? Determining the reasons behind investing in a wardrobe update is key.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you start shopping.

• What message or energy are you trying to project through your wardrobe?
• Who is your style icon?
• Why does their style inspire you?
• How much am I willing to spend on outfits?
• Are you buying outfits for work, personal time, or church?

Fashion Icon & Shopping Motivation

Personally, I need a wardrobe update to stand out and be seen. For the past two years, I’ve been doing everything in my power consciously and subconsciously to hide. I  wanted to prevent any unwanted attention from men and to cover my body until I reached my fitness goals. Over the past month in relative isolation, I realized that I was done hiding from the world. I needed to show up and participate in life and allow myself to be seen by men.

Years ago, I used to wear dresses all the time because I thought it was easier. However, as I got older and my weight fluctuated, I didn’t want anyone to see the extra weight I was carrying.

My style icon right now is Serwaa Amihere. She is an award-winning broadcaster and business owner from Ghana. I happened to come across some Pinterest pins of her, and I fell in love with her style.

Sewaree fashion represents what I want to be in life. Successful, confident, beautiful, sexy, and down to earth. When I look at her, I can finally see myself. It’s so hard to find African-American women who look similar to me. I put one picture of Sewaree in particular on my vision board. She is wearing a beautiful olive green dress with a huge smile on her face. She is standing in a corporate office-like setting with nude heels. To me, this is what I want to become over the next year. Powerful and successful woman with my own online business. This is the vision, and my fashion needs to reflect that.

My budget for clothes was conservative. I wanted to keep my spending under $200 for dresses and heels. Like most of the United States, I’m unemployment due to COVID-19, so I want to save as much money as possible.

My outfits will mostly be worn on Sunday for church and social events (as soon as they start back up).

Look for Bargains

Right now is the best time to get amazing deals. With summer only a few weeks away, Spring inventory is currently online sale and clearance. Stores are putting out added savings due to COVID-19. With stores being shut down until further notice, stores are looking for ways to get their merchandise to their customers.

The three companies that I purchased clothing and shoes from are Amazon, Rotita, and New York & Company. I kept seeing ads on Pinterest for these companies, so I started there. Most companies are offering savings to sign up and get 15% off your order or free shipping.

Always Check Clearance & Final Sales First

Always start online shopping by checking the clearance section first. This is where you’ll find the most savings, and the clothes are just as fashionable as the regular-priced clothes. To access available clothing in your size, filter the clothing by size or by style. This will list all the available clothing in your size. Nothing is worse than finding a dress you love and finding out that it doesn’t come in your size.

Final sales are another great way to get additional savings, but you need to make sure that you really love the outfit and that the clothing will fit you when it arrives.

For example: if you’re short, make sure to order the outfit in petite. If you order the outfit in tall, it won’t fit you, and you can’t return it.

Sign up for the store’s email list if they offer you a percentage of your order. You can always unsubscribe to the mailing list at any time.

Measure Yourself & Check Size Chart

This may not be the most pleasant experience for you, but it will ensure that you get the best fit.

Take a simple tape measure and measure your waist, hips, and bust. I usually measure after I eat since my stomach tends to bloat. This will ensure that you have plenty of room to breathe when your strutting around town.

A critical step is to check the size chart on each website. The size charts list sizes in average, petite, plus, and tall. Double-check this before you click buy!

I almost made a mistake by purchasing an average size dress instead of a petite one. The average size wouldn’t fit right on my petite and curvy body. Thankfully I caught myself before I added it to my cart.

Check The Fabric & Color

Read the product description about the type of fabric used to make the clothing and how to take care of your item. I like an outfit that doesn’t require dry cleaning, so I always check the label before I buy.

Knowing the type of fabric that looks best on your body will also aid in your decision.

I bought 5 dresses from Rotita.com, and 4 out of 5 dresses were made out of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. When I tried on the dress, it showed every lump and bumped on my body and my shapewear! I was horrified and so glad that I tried it on before wearing it out in public.  The only way I can salvage those dresses is to line the inside of the dresses with another fabric and wear a slip over my shapewear. This defeats the purpose of buying a dress. If a dress is well-made, it will have quality fabric and have a little weight to it.

The most well-made dresses that I’ve worn have all been made by Ralph Lauren. When I wear a Ralph Lauren dress, I feel like a woman.

The cut is flattering, and the inside of the dress is lined. I never have to worry about shapewear malfunctions when wearing a Ralph Lauren dress. Learn from my mistake and check the product description for fabric type and cleaning instructions.

Stick To Your Budget

Set a budget and stick with it!

Right now is the best time to buy, but it’s not time to overspend. The fun in online shopping is finding amazing bargains to get more bang for your buck! My goal was to spend no more than $200 on new dresses.

My total clothing haul came out to $273.42. I was $73.42 over budget, which wasn’t what I planned at all.

I spent an additional $82.42 on two pairs of Naturalizer women’s shoes that I purchased on Amazon. These shoes live up to the hype that I read online. They are the most comfortable heels I’ve ever worn!

Find Clothes That Make You Feel Good

Find clothes that bring out the best in you!

Your clothes should highlight your feminine curves and be form-fitted to your body. Pick clothes that look best on your skin tone and make you feel sexy. Wearing the right clothes makes you look and feel confident.

For example, this handsome guy at church showed up in a beautiful blue suit. It fit perfectly to his body. When he walked, I could tell that he was feeling himself! He had his head held high, and he walked with a confident swagger. I saw him from the parking lot, and I could pick up his confidence from there.

That is the power of fashion!