Fashion / Shopping Tips You Can Share

[italiandoll]

1. Invest on classic pieces.  I've always been a fan of understated elegance, simple but classic pieces that I'll wear forever so I invest on LBD's, black pumps, neutral-colored hand bags, white and black polo's, jeans, 3-piece suits, watches and proper pearls, etc.  Sulit the money spent!

2. Know what's good for your body type/ know your style so that you know you'll really use the items you buy.

3. Quality over quantity.

4. Buy pieces you can incorporate into your wardrobe.

5. When the item is on sale, think thrice if you really need it/want it or if you're just lured into buying because it's on sale.

6. NEVER buy knockoffs! - I'd rather don a pretty non-branded local bag from a bazaar than say buy a Longchamp knockoff that looks cheap.  Besides, no matter how authentic the knockoff item seems, most people can tell the difference.

[lonelymiss28]

before buying anything, check the reviews first on you tube.

[twgonzales]

Pile up on classic items (pencil skirts, white polo shirts etc) that way you can mix and match them.

Buy tops and bottoms. Dresses are nice but they add bulk to your closet and you cannot mix and match them.

Buy good cuts for bottoms and dresses. That way you can use them for a long time.

Do not buy a lot of "in" items. If you just buy those that are part of the fad, you will end up not using them in the longrun.

It is better to buy one or two good pieces that cost a bit more rather than a lot of cheap things that you will end up not using. Remember not to be penny wise, pound foolish

[airish_2]

Classic never go wrong. quality wise and canvas talaga, iniisip ko rin if i can wear it after hindi yung dahil nauso lang sya at tsaka mas maganda kung pwede maalter.

[luckyrenold]

Dont shop alone. So sad. And it's hard to pick.

[cldy_1981]

1.) Know your sense of style or what you want to project based on your clothes - think of clothes as a form of art and expression, what impression do you want to make and from there once you have defined this, it will be easier to identify what are the essentials and the nice to have's.

2.) Invest in key pieces or items and do not hesitate to spend a little bit more. These key items will be the at the core of your clothing pieces and can be used and re-used. Think of ROI everytime you use them. For example, a crisp white button down polo can be used countless ways and countless times, can be dressed up or down so even if you buy a more expensive shirt if you get to use it 15 times, you are better off as compared to buying a cheap ill fitting top which you will only be able to use once or twice.

3.) Do not hesitate to splurge a little and from time to time. Reward yourself, just make sure that you have set aside money for it so that its not something that you will have to worry about afterwards. My personal take is that if I cannot pay for a "luxury item" in full or in cash then I am not able to afford it. I do not rely on credit cards and installment plans. It just gives you a false sense of having more money that you can actually spend.

4.) Always be classy, never trashy.

5.) Style and Fashion are different. Your style is a personal thing, fashion on the other hand is ever changing.

6.) SM, Landmark, Market Market are goldmines! I love department stores!

[twelvth_goddess]

Know thy body type. What looks good on others may not always look good on you.

Don't sacrifice comfort for fashion. If your heels are making your feet hurt close to amputation or your top is ill-fitted that you can't breathe or your dress is so itchy it's giving you rashes, those feelings will definitely show on your face.

Expensive doesnt necessarily mean classy the same way that cheap doesnt always mean economical.

Don't be afraid of trying on different colors. At the same time, don't hide your skin color under 'safe colors'.

[komodojo]

Ang daming good tips here! Thanks so much

For fashion/style newbies (like me!), read fashion blogs, sites, etc.

When buying shoes, as much as possible buy late afternoon/evening because that's the time when our feet is at its "biggest" (due to swelling).

When wearing new shoes that haven't been "broken into" (and you're not wearing socks/stockings) put lots of lotion on your feet and petroleum jelly/vaseline/lubricant in the inner sides/back of the shoes. Less chances of sugat

[khriseeee]

Expensive does not equate to fashionable. I have bought numerous items from dept stores which I have received many compliments on, no one believes me when I say it's from SM/Landmark.

Like others have said - invest in key basics that fit well on you. If you need to have the item tailored, do it. It's not expensive.

Know your body type and dress for it. Don't force yourself into clothing just because it is on trend.

Edit your wardrobe yearly. If you have not worn the item in a year, get rid of it.

In conjunction to the above, rethink your style every few years. I was shopping at Forever 21 a few months back and tried on a babydoll dress with side cutouts. Cute but I realized that I am no longer at the age to wear something like that.

Sexy does not mean showing skin - for me one of the sexiest outfits is an immaculate white button down top, perfectly fitting pencil skit, and black pumps. (my peg is Brooke Shields in Lipstick Jungle where she wore the leather pencil skirt, TDF!)

Know what suits your skintone - reassess every year.

And lastly, walk with confidence. You may be in the most expensive outfit but if you can't "carry it" sayang lang.

[definedelirium]

If you're after good buys at the bi-annual high street sales (midyear July and year end Jan), avoid going to branches in the more popular malls. More foot traffic means more people looking for deals and you'll have a lower chance of finding something nice. Places like Glorietta, Megamall, SM North Edsa/Trinoma and MOA have the slimmest pickings, in my opinion. If you can, go to the malls that are a little out of the way or just simply attract less shoppers like Shangrila, BGC or Rockwell. You'll see a wider selection of items on sale, less people and have a more enjoyable shopping experience.

If you want to change your style, don't attempt to do it in one fell swoop. Ease your way into it. Buy inexpensive basics first and see if it suits you. Remember, Rome was not built in a day, and neither should wardrobes.

Learn to discern the difference between a legitimate need, investments and momentary object lust. That pair of silver sequined platform pumps might look very tempting on the shelf and at 50% off might seem like a great buy but it won't be when it goes with nothing in your closet and are literally a pain to walk in. The same goes for trends. Trends are fun, but not worth spending much for. Investment pieces should be purchased after much research and consideration. The it-bag of the season is, for most cases, not an investment piece.

Know your body type and proportions. This is probably the single most important piece of advice when it comes to dressing yourself. Your style and taste may change, but unless you lose or gain 50 lbs or grow an extra five inches the proportions that look best on you will be constant so it's best to start finding out what those are now. Do take note though, that most bodies don't fit into easily categorized types, despite what magazines try to tell you. It takes trial and error and an objective point of view to develop your eye.

[xiansmom]

don't shop when you're not in a good mood, may tendency kasing you'll buy whatever lang tapos you'll then realize hindi mo pala sya ganun ka gusto or hindi sya fit sa style mo. but then, i know some people who shop to make themselves feel good or better.

sis akong ako ito
lalo kapag stress mode ako,naiinis,naiirita,malungkot basta mga ganung mode!kelangan makalabas ako ng bahay at makabili ng kahit ano,taz pag uwe ng bahay ok na ako nun,ganun ako eh.ewan ko ba!at impulsive shopper ako as in OA na,dumating sa point maiinis na ako kasi minsan magustuhan ko lang yung kulay or cute lang sya sa tingin ko,taz pagdating sa bahay saka ko maisip na diko pala sya gusto.tapos ang mangyayari ipamimigay ko nalang dahil diko gusto.diko alam ano gamot dito,meron ba?! LOL;D

[Ireneeeeee]

^self control ang gamot dyan sis.

onT: when i have time, i go inside high- end fashion shops tapos tingin tingin lang. then examine ko mabuti yun mga on- trend fashion pieces para kapag nagtiangge naman ako, yun yung hahanapin ko. i mean, i would know if hindi mukhang cheap and good quality yun item kahit sa tiangge sya kasi macocompare ko sya sa nakita kong item sa high- end shop ;P

pagdating sa classic pieces naman, splurge talaga ako sa kanila but i also check factory outlet stores kasi madalas nakakahanap ng "gem" branded item. just be thorough in examining the item before purchase para maiwasan bumili nang may damages.

[pinkk]

Shopping Tip thought from this wear&tear consumer(im a minimalist)
if one could buy an original with tags made from China, Vietnam, bangkok,bangladesh,why spent more money from authentic shops who's selling their rejects around Asia??Fabric comfort would be the same I think.

[kikayako]

Fashion Tip: Never sacrifice comfort for style.

[KVsWahmmy]

1. Think think think about the 'value' of what you're buying. Do you need it? Do you REALLY want it? Is the price worth it?

2. It helps to have a friend shop with you.

3. Don't push aside local or unbranded items. 'Looking cheap' is not because the item a person is wearing is inexpensive or bought from a tiangge, or from Divisoria, it's because of the way the wearer carries himself. So if you find something that's really comfortable to wear, looks great on you, and comes with an awesome price tag (but is not branded), then go ahead and buy it. Remember that even the most expensive fashion items can 'look cheap' if the person wearing it is not comfortable with what she's wearing.

4. When stressed or in the mood for 'emotional shopping', visit a bookstore. I personally find the ambiance in bookstores comforting.

5. Accessorize. I'm a big earrings kind of person, but I usually go for the beaded, native-materials kind. I find them funkier, classier, and mas subtle.

6. Shop because you have the cash to spend. Kalaban ng credit card ang shopping eh. If you have only 1,000 peso CASH to spare, then go to places where your 1000 peso shopping budget can be used to the fullest.

7. For new shoes, rub alcohol inside the shoes and then slip your feet inside the shoes while it's still moist with the alcohol, and wear it at home muna for a couple of hours for at least two days, Ipanglakad sa loob ng bahay, igalaw-galaw ang paa. This will help the insole 'expand' (works best with leather). Do this before you actually use the shoes when you go out. Worked for me many times.

[angelzero]

Pag trendy pieces, buy cheap in tiangges (greenhills, 168 etc.)

Pag classic pieces pwede yung designer or boutique brands.

Pay your local ukay-ukay a visit. You just might find a treasure or two.

[bluegintonic]

1-Research online.It's actually cheaper to buy online than go to actual shops.Case in point for me- Abercrombie and Fitch.Naengganyo lang sa male topless models sa door

2-Memberships!Try availing of these, they actually email you on "members only" or " secret"sales, which can go 70% off. Old Navy, Gap, Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Esprit and for kids- Carter's and Oshkosh (only some of I know).You get to have a pick of everything before everybody else pa 

3-Shop off-season.The best time to buy summer clothes is pag-pa winter na,and vice versa.These are the times it's really CLEARANCE at rock bottom prices.

[candy_tone]

- Shop with a list. Buy only things that you will need and set a budget for it.

- Dont buy because the item is on sale be wary of sale items because these are usually the last piece. Check the merchandise for any rips or damage.... Buy it if it looks good on you and if you would actually wear it.

- Invest on classic pieces... Black dresses, white shirt, colored pants, jeggings,skirt, tops, and dresses dont forget to splurge on nice underwear and accessories

- Shop alone rather than with friends... the tendency is that you end up buying the same outfits or you might end up splurging on clothes. Shopping alone or with my hubby  works for me!

- Dont buy any designer knock-offs.

- For shoes, buy a pair that would easily match any outfit. and comfort is key make sure that your feet wont hurt

- Check online shops for clothes and compare the prices

- Buy only from quality brands that you trust.

[Juricks]

Nice topic. Sakto I'm planning on changing my wardrobe.

My share would be:

-- if it doesn't fit and you'll need to have it altered, don't buy it. Unless may kakilala kang magaling na mananahi, then go. Lesson learned sa akin ito.

-- scout for online sales. However, ang risk dito e yung sizing. So go for brands na consistent ang sizes.

-- last, yung quoted below. Kasi if you really want it kaso Mejo namamahalan ka tapos you settled for an alternative, chances are you will still go for your first choice if may budget na ulit. So double di ba?

- if you really want something but short on budget, don't buy an alternative item - you will eventually regret not having the item you've been planning to acquire

I have to work on:

--cleaning my closet. So I would know what to buy and what not to.

--buying an item just because its on sale. Guilty.

[sima]

Wear leggings when shopping lalo na sa mga lugar na puno ang dressing rooms or walangallotment for dressing rooms para you can easily put on and take off pants that you wish to buy.

Wear tank tops na rin so you could easily try on tops and blouses

Wear comfortable shoes para hindi naman kawawa ang paa at ang legs sa haba ng nilalakad or sa tagal ng ipipila para magbayad