9 Items You'll Always Regret Buying

Published Jul 2, 2024, 8:00 PM

7 items you won't regret buying, according to a stylist.

Do you have items in your wardrobe that never seem to make it out? You pick them up, but then think, "No, not today—too hard, too bright, just not right." 

You're not alone. Today, we're going to tackle those regret purchases and help you save your money and your sanity when getting dressed in the morning.

To guide us in finding the perfect pieces for our wardrobes, Leigh Campbell is joined by Emelia Morris, a personal stylist dedicated to helping her clients discover items they will actually wear - whether at work, at events, or at home.

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CREDITS:

      Host: Leigh Campbell

      Guest: Emelia Morris

      Producer: Grace Rouvray

      Audio Producer: Lu Hill

      Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

      You're listening to a Mama Mia podcast. Mama Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is recorded on. Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously disturbed laurels for spraying groundbreaking?

      Oh my god, you have to do it. You live for fashion.

      Hello, and welcome for Nothing to Wear, the podcast that solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Lee Campbell, and every week I talk to an expert who helps us work out how to get more out of the clothes we already own and tells us exactly what is and isn't worth adding to our wardrobe. Do you have a section of your wardrobe filled with items you never wear? Maybe you tried the coat hanger trick where you turn the hanger around after wearing something, and after twelve months, anything still facing the original way gets donated. Or perhaps you get caught up in trends buying a whole new wardrobe that doesn't really fit your personal style. Today, I'm joined by Amelia Morris, a personal stylist dedicated to helping you find the items you'll actually wear, whether at work or events, or just at home. In preparation for our conversation, I went through my own wardrobe to identify the pieces I've never worn, and it was quite an eye opening experience. Amelia, Welcome to the show. Before we get into the topic, I ask my guests the same few questions. Can you describe your style in three words? And what would those three words be?

      They would be relaxed, experimental, and comfortable.

      Oh I love experimental. I don't think we've ever had that. And I think it's going to lean into this topic because we're talking about shopping regrets and I feel like when I try to be experimental, that's what I regret. So you're going to teach me. But before that, the theory that we always talk about that most people wear ten percent of their wardrobe ninety percent of the time. So the reliable, the non regrets, what's in your ten percent.

      I am a sucker for wide lead pets, and specifically, I really love a great tailored wide lead trouser. I'm always a wide lead pant girly. It's because I feel like they suit my body shape. That's out of any trouser so cumpy. You can dress them up, you can dress them down. They're just so versatile.

      I've kept some of my skinny jeans, but I've got quite chunky calves and no ankles, and I just remember the days of getting home and wrecking off my skinny jeans and my ankle's being like thank you. It's like taking a bra off, but it was the skinny jean version, like my poor ankles were like I did not like that. So I'm with you with the wide leg pants. Today we are talking about the items you'll regret buying, So before we get into the specific regrets, I want to talk about the fashion industry and trends as a whole and how perhaps that's making us regret some things you buy. You've been a stylus for many years, do you get swept up in trends or are you immune to fleeting trends? And is it just me or a trends moving like a freight train faster than ever before.

      I mean, I'm not going to sit here and say I don't buy into trends, because I do love trying new things, hence my style category words being experimental. But I have never seen fashion move at this pace. It is so fast at the moment, it's no longer four seasons with a few collections. There's some brands that are bringing out over four to five hundred items of clothing every week. We don't need that many, and I think that is why we're making so many regretful purchases, because we're just so overwhelmed with choice, and then it leads to like, what is my style?

      Yes, totally. It's funny. I was looking at a few online shops yesterday and there's a tab that says new in today. Obviously that tabs updated every day, and I'm like, wow, wee, that's wild. Okay, so I agree with you. So I guess the takeaway from that is it's nice, if not overwhelming, to have the choice, but we have permission to ignore big trends, small trans fleeting trends. It's just gotta to block out the noise. And I guess that's what you're here for.

      Absolutely, And if you fee, we've had the mob wife aesthetic, we've had cottage core, we've had the clean girls. If you're jumping from trend to trend in such a short period of time and you've got all of those pieces that don't really feel like you, you're going to allow those trends to dictate your wardrobe rather than actually leaning into what feels authentic to you.

      So I read something last night about there's now like woman going to the opera trend or something, and I was like, do we have to pull everything a trend? Now? Listen, we're going to talk about shopping regrets and how to avoid them. But have you bought something recently that you have regretted?

      Yes, and I'm still a little bit on the fence, but I haven't worn it yet. So I've bought red stopping Yeah. I actually bought them last year because I saw all the scandy girls the.

      Christ Street style. Yeah, they're like a bright red opaque tight. We're wearing them with minis and with ballet flats, and when I say we, the people on the internet it looks amazing, but for me it's a bit advanced. So you loved the picks, you bought them, but you haven't warren them yet.

      Yes, they weren't overly expensive, but still they're sitting there in my wardrobe doing absolutely nothing, And I don't know if it doesn't feel like me or they're hard to style when I'm a stylist. So there's a few things why I haven't gravitated to them.

      So yeah, I think for me that's such a learning process is to see images on social media or on Pinterest and go, wow, I love that look, but then percolate and think I can just love that look on someone else, but I don't have to wear it. And that's hard because I'm ab our bird. I love new trends. I love following trends, but it doesn't mean every single trend is for every person. Now, speaking of fleeting trends or trends that are coming and going, do you have any predictions of trends that may come and then go now or soon?

      So there's a few trends that are simmering away at the moment. So something that's on the rise is the drop waist, but it's with a V so it's kind of like a bask waiste, so it comes in a little bit angular at the waist, so it's a bit more forgiving than just the drop waist.

      So when you say drop wiste, I'm thinking of those like Pooh Catcher jeans. What were they called. That's not the waist though, when you say drop waist, like a.

      Low rise, so you think about the Roaring twenties.

      You know, Yes, I'm with you. We're not talking pants, we're talking cresses. Yes, Okay, that's not very flattering on anyone unless you're a twiggy.

      No. So this one that's coming and it's really popular at the moment in America and Europe. So it still has a drop waste, but it comes in a little bit more angular like a corset.

      I've seen some rousing, like some almost a searsucker rousing.

      Yes, so that's something that is coming. But again I would definitely look at if it's going to suit your lifestyle, your body shape before you go to invest a lot of money into that trend.

      Agreed. And for me, that's something you try on in store because it's a tricky cut, tricky style that you don't want to be having to return things that are going to be maybe anything else.

      The bubble hem dress and skirt.

      I think when you get to a certain demographic and you were there the first time to see that come back, I'm like, have we learned nothing as a society.

      We have the gen zs to blame for all of these things coming back.

      And again, it can look great on some people, but it is not for me this time around. So you do you if you like a bubble skirt, but it's very just proofy.

      Although I think this time I am going to try a Maxi. When I used to wear them back in the day, it was like a psychedelic explosion of print and color, but a little bit more.

      Mine was always a mini. So you reckon, you can do it with a longer line. Yes, okay, I could do that. See this is why you're a diist. Now listen. In preparation for today's episode, I went through my wardrobe and had to look for some items I have regretted, And a lot of the time it's not that I've regretted the purchase at the time, it's just that I haven't got enough use out of it. Oh yes, sometimes the tags are still attached. I think you and I have some of the same ones on the list, so let's go into them. My first one was the impractical handbag. When all I learn.

      The micro handbag, you must remember that from a few seasons ago. Originally was the Jack and Wills bag that everybody had.

      To have, maybe the size of a Tic Tac or extra box, like in a little handle. I mean adorable for a year poodle maybe.

      But if you invested over a thousand dollars on that, are you going to be wearing it today? It's all about practical sizes of bags. Yes you're a mum, I'm a mom as well, and yeah that's not practical.

      For Honestly, it's not for me. I've got quite the handbag wardrobe, so I do have some for mum days and parenting days and something you know, office days or going out. But I learned this lesson recently and now my tip is if you really want to invest, and this was an investment for me, try and find it in stare So I bought a beautiful Victoria Beckham bag that i'd seen a girlfriend she had in the light blue. I bought it in the ruby red. But because I had to buy it online, Australia doesn't have the full range, particularly if we're talking designer. I just didn't understand the practicality. It's not quite a cross body, so it sits under the arm, but then it's got a big flap, so to get your wallet out you got to kind of get in there and open the flap. It doesn't matter if you're buying Mimco or Lavisa or Javonci go to the store with if you're going to carry you laptop, your laptop, your little makeup bag, if it's going to be your everyday bag, because I wouldn't have purchased that bag had I put everything in it in a store and walked around and realized how annoying it was to open. So don't let the sales assistance think you're insane. If you were going to be carrying laptop and a lunch box, take it with you to the store and see if it's practical.

      That is so genius.

      The pair of sunnies you don't need. I don't think we agree on this, and that's the point of this episode. Everyone's regrets will be different. I think you're quite a Sunny's fan. I'm a Sunny's fan in theory, but half the time I'm in an office and I was overseas last year, and I've brought a beautiful pair of designer sunglasses and I have not worn them yet because you know what, I'd always reach for my servo sunnies that have got comfortable arms I can wear all day long if my four year old accidentally smashes into my face. So for me, I need to realize I didn't need the twentieth pair of sunglasses. But you can probably defend sunglasses. Do you wear them enough?

      I do? I have got so many pairs of sunglasses. Some people may call me a sunglasses at it, but I do find I pad them for different outfits.

      So do you display them somewhere so you don't forget? Or is it just one of those things you love so you always remember to chuck a pair of Sonnies in your back.

      I've got a iic wardrobe that has been built with a sunglasses cabinet.

      So whoever, Yeah, what are your favorite ones? Do you have favorite brands? Favorite styles? I mean you're wearing a beautiful is that an Auntie knit?

      It is.

      Beautiful Melbourne brand Red. I've got the sleeveless so for listeners listening, we'll pop a link in the show notes. But what Sunny's would you wear with that? You know it's a beautiful red knit with gold hardware.

      I have got the Saline Dupe sunglasses. They're kind of like an oval sunglasses. I bought the dupe from Billini.

      Oh yes, Billini has some grape and so does Key Australia. I think they've got some really cool styles. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars long sunglasses.

      I've got a few pairs of designer sunglasses, but I sometimes break the arms.

      Mat Murphy's law, you break the good ones and not the twenty dollars ones.

      So I really have a higher rotation of Jupe sunglasses around one hundred dollar. Mark Rodent's a really great brand for sunglasses. I really love their styles. And yeah Bellini, I bought a couple of airs from there as well.

      Okay, the next one I could not agree more. The regret is the fancy evening dress. Let's talk about.

      That sometimes when we're looking at evening gowns that at a higher price point and you might only wear them once to whatever event you have. So I love an evening gown if I ever go out to an event, which is very rare these days. But something that I personally do instead of buying the dress directly from a brand is higher.

      So do you have any websites that you recommend or even just tips for finding hiring.

      There's so many higher businesses now, but two that I find a bit of a standout at the moment because they've got the stock levels and lots of sizes to choose from as well is lamb Corner And what I also love is that they also have a membership where you can hire a monthly selection of clothes, so you get three items of clothes. Wow. So if you're one of those people constantly buying clothes and you're just not satisfied with that and you're not wearing it, so this is another alternative where you can get new clothes that are dropping clever without spending all that money on clothes that you're not going to wear and then you send it back after a month.

      My tip for that too, because I will always endorse a beautiful black cocktail dress. It's quite classic. That's something good to happen in your wardrobe. But if you know you're talking a sparkly pink blah blah, you're never going to wear that again. And what about volt Hire? How do I say that?

      Yeah? The Vault So basically that's a rental marketplace, so you can hire through other people. There's lots of different brands on there, from Adult Ja to Age to Rebecca Balance and.

      Yeah, so people can basically post whatever they want. If there's a person out there that likes that item and likes that size.

      That is so clever.

      It's like airbn Beefer clothes. Yes, let's talk about uncomfortable shoes. This happens a lot. So we regret uncomfortable shoes because essentially, every morning we get dressed, we look at them. We love the look of them, but we think, I just don't want to be in pain today. So how can we avoid buying uncomfortable shoes or having shoes in our wardrobe we regret because we just don't wear them.

      I think we need to look at how does it fit into your lifestyle, How does it fit into your personal style? I know personally I don't love wearing heels. I only wear heels to really special events and I'm a sneaky girl. So how I've incorporated sneakers into my wardrobe is having a variety of different options that really work with my wardrobe, that make me feel really great and they're comfortable. And if you've got say bad back, bad knees, there's some really fashion forward per dietress to proove shoes as well, like bed I absolutely love them, or Frankie fours.

      So you say you don't love heels, me neither, just because I used to go to a lot more events and now maybe I go to one wedding a year, so I'll do a kitten heel. But I'm mostly a flat girl. So you say you're sneakers, I'm probably a semi fancy flat because then I could just check on jeans or a MAXI. What's your maximum budget for a sneaker?

      I probably would spend twelve hundred dollars max on a sneaker. I do have a pair of golden Goose sneakers, but you thrash them.

      I mean, I'm sure you look after them, but they cost per.

      Wear absolutely, and I equally have fashion forward sneakers that are a lot cheaper. So, like you said the added assamers, I have paid more for them though when I've missed out on sneakers through sneaker resellers, but least I got them.

      Yes, I did have mine redirected from foot locker US because I couldn't get my color in my size. So I get it. And can we re sell our sneakers? There's a whole market. Do people buy them and then sell them for more? Like I feel like they're a new basketball card.

      Oh? Absolutely, sneaker culture right now is so hot. I have a confession. I use a sneaker reseller. I don't sell my sneakers, but there's a great business in Melbourne called sneaker Mode and Antonio from there. He is amazing. So I missed out on two pairs of added US sambas and he sawced them for me within a week.

      Wow. Okay, So if you really want that pair that's going to pull your ordrobe together, it's worth it, Yeah.

      Because they have the connections to be able to get them.

      Can I ask you quickly? And I don't know if you've got any advice on comfortable shoes. Say you've brought a pair of loafers that you love the look of. They're the right size, but they're a bit auchay. I feel like in winter there is some breaking in of shoes. Do you ever think that's worth it? Do you have any tips? Do we just always carry band aids?

      Yeah, definitely always carry band aids. But there are some shoes, even sneakers, that because if they're made of certain fabrications and materials, they take a little bit to break in. But I'm thinking if it's taking more than a month, don't. It's not worth it. I have a pair of sneakers. I want to love them. They're made of recycled materials, but they hurt so much they're just not worth it, So I wouldn't recom.

      Maybe you display them, Yeah, I agree. I feel like there's something that needs breaking in, or then there's something that's just ill fitting. Yes, but I put big chunky socks on, yes, and then I've got that sort of leather soften if it's a leather shoe, of course, sprayed on and walk around the house and they kind of mold your feet a bit more. I like it always Man DAIDs, So talk to me about working with clients. Do you take clients physically shopping? How does your service work?

      Yes, so, my in person personal styling sessions, we always start with a style consultation and really that gives me the opportunity to connect with my client before we shop. We work out how to actually language and define what they're personal style is. We formulate a shopping list based on those conversations. What are your challenges are we shopping for? Your everyday wardrobe is in an event most of the time, it's your everyday.

      Wardrobe and is that where you have to be really realistic about what your day to day looks like like in and out of a car or are you on a train?

      Yes. I think a lot of the time why people are having these pieces in their wardrobe that they're not wearing is because it doesn't suit their lifestyle, it doesn't suit their personal style. So that's why it's really important to have that consultation. When we first go shopping.

      You take them shopping and you notice that they're drawn to something in particular that you think they might regret. How do you handle that? Is it a statement piece that you think will look great once but they won't get out of. How do you tactfully guide them to avoid these regrets.

      Yeah, so we go back to the style consultation. We'll already have the list, so I will communicate, obviously in a nice way, that we really need to focus on getting those foundation pieces that are going to work hard for your wardrobe. And what I see a lot of the time when women are shopping is that we are gravitating to those statement pieces, sometimes because they look beautiful on a manneq end or we've seen them on social media. But we have to think how are they going to fit back into our wardrobe? And a lot of the time that sequence blazer, which is absolutely gorgeous, How often are we going to wear that if it doesn't really suit our personal style and our lifestyle.

      Sure, it's kind of the building blocks of their wardrobe, but I get it because shopping for them doesn't feel as exciting or fun, but it will really help them put together their whole looks when they get home, right.

      Yeah, And once they get into the change room and see all of those pieces, those basic foundation pieces together as an outfit, They're like, Yes, that's what I was missing, And I feel so much better because I've got a.

      Full outfit, probably several full outfits. If we think we need statement pieces but we don't, what do we actually need in our ordrobe? Is there a gap that you most commonly see with your clients that they don't have enough of, or haven't purchased or just aren't drawn to.

      Yes, I think it's just those everyday essential pieces that women are often missing. Is you know a white tea or a ribbed long sleeve top, and you know a pair of genes. I know they're very hard to find, but it's those pieces that really pull your outfits together. And sometimes when we're shopping for those everyday essential pieces, when we're looking at the price tag of them, sometimes we might see, say a ribbed long sleeve top for sixty dollars, and I'm like, it's a bit boring. I don't see that it's really shiny or it's really attractive compared to that sheer trench code on the mannequin, for example. I want that. Actually I need that basic rib top to bring those other outfits together.

      Do you have any recommendations for brands that do good tops like teas tanks, long sleeve.

      Yes? Absolutely. I think Nil is right up there. Elk is another good one, and it has extended sizing, and that one is sustainable. I also really love Country Road.

      Yes, such a classic. It's very expensive.

      How wond.

      Okay onto boogie and budget. So we've talked about the regrets people might have and how to avoid them. So let's talk about things we don't regret. Let's go boogie. What have you got for me? Do you own this item or would you not regret it if you did.

      I don't own it. It's more of a I want.

      But you've thought it through enough. You know it'll never be regret.

      Yes. So it is winter at the moment and it's very cold in Victoria, so I have my cardigan on. But for a more elevated option, I have been looking at this cardigan from a brand called Levarn.

      It's funny you say that I've been getting ads. Is that how you got it? Yes?

      So the cardigan has got beautiful gold bows as the buttons, and it's made of an ow Packer blend, and it's got these beautiful shoulder pads that you can remove or you can leave them in if you want a little bit more structure. And that one comes in at three hundred and forty five dollars.

      Okay, I mean pricey, but if you look after it well, natural fibers, you know you're washing it? Well? Yeah, what color is the base?

      Did you say it comes in pink, black and red?

      Oh what are you thinking?

      Oh? Well, I've got the red ones, so maybe the pink.

      Well, look, my bougie is something I definitely have not regretted buying, and I'm onto my second pair. So since my ignancy with my son, I got something very sexy called Planta fasciitis, and it's basically the arch of your foot is incredibly painful because of ligaments getting loose and all the stuff that happens when you're pregnant. So I bought my first pair of Birkenstocks. I used to think Birkenstocks were for weird hippie people, and then I am in love with the comfort. I bought a regular pair to start with, and then I bought the Birkenstock Parensa Shuler collaboration a few years ago, because Birkenstock does a collab with a designer every year. But my recommendation is just the classic Birkenstock Arizona leather sandals because that kind of chunky dad sandal is slip in. Although there's buckles, you literally don't have to undo anything, unzip anything, and the comfort is just so amazing. So I chucked them on to take my son to the park. When then I wear them with jeans and a cool shirt and a trench and they look cool enough. They're about three hundred bucks though, so that's a lot for a sandal, But that's the leather version without the cork sole, because I feel like the cork sole is where you go stinky and weird. What's your budget?

      So I thought I would stay on brand with the cardigans and Target is absolutely killing it.

      Agreed.

      Agreed.

      Whatever they're doing, keep going.

      Yeah, And as part of their Lily Loves collection, there is a button front knit cardigan. It's kind of like a Chanelle tweed dupe.

      Right, Okay, I'm picking up a style from you.

      Yeah, and it's forty dollars well color, so it comes in red, cream and black forty bucks.

      That's amazing. Well, mine's also forty dollars and it's a nit I'm wearing it now. So this is technically cotton on body, so I think it's meant to be lounge where slash sleepwear. But this is my tip. It's the cotton on body, off shoulder relaxed n it jumper. So it's that kind of wide boat neck. I've worn it before with quite a purple full tank that looks a bit cool and street, but I've just got a little camming on underneath to try and be classy today. It comes in a gray mele cream mile that I've got on, a lielac and a pink great size inclusivity from extra small to to extra large. But what I love about it is, yes, you can wear around the house. I don't want to rip it off when I get home, but at the moment, because it's relatively new, I wear it with outfits outside of the house, and then when it gets a bit manky, I relegate it to home and to bed and to my tanning top. So I feel like cost for where the quality of a forty dollar nit might not last forever, But then it's so soft and comfy that it'll get worn at home until it literally falls apart. So how can you regret a forty dollar purchase like that?

      Running to cotton on.

      Well, merely, thank you so much for joining us. I think you've helped a lot of people purchase less things that they're gonna regret, and that means more money for things they love. So thank you so much for your help, Thanks for having me, Thank you for listening to Nothing to Air. Don't forget to sign up to our Nothing to Wear newsletter. We've put a link in the show notes, and of course it's free. If you loved this episode and need help finding an easy captural wardrobe for yourself, you can listen to our episode with Rawong. There's a link in the show notes. See you next week. This episode was produced by Grace Rouveray with audio production by Lou Hill. This podcast is powered by our subscribers. If you believe in independent women's media and want to support us, a subscription to Mumma Mia costs less than the price of a coffee each month. There's a link in the show notes and a huge thank you to all our current subscribers.

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