Retail therapy! If you’re anything like me you’ll be tempted to ‘window shop’ online, especially when you’re housebound. For me, it provides some creative stimulus and a little window to the outside world that’s so welcome while I’m in lockdown.

But window shopping can so easily turn into actual shopping, the kind where you part with real cash, especially now we can request staggered payment arrangements and deliveries direct to our door! What could be nicer or easier than breaking up the week by having a little treat delivered? The whole experience gives us that lovely feeling as we activate the dopamine system.

As we know from addiction research, dopamine is associated with striving for more, better and novel (and fashion is all about novelty, right?). And interestingly, it is the motivation to seek that increases dopamine levels, not having the thing itself.

So that’s all very nice but the danger comes if you’re tempted to treat yourself too often and that hard earned cash you thought you were saving is spent on things you don’t need or that don’t work for you the way you hoped they would.

Imagine (or recall!) the disappointment you feel when you realise your new piece looked better online than on you and you haven’t got anything to wear with it anyway! Then perhaps some guilt sets in, and you begin feeling bad about yourself… Hmmm... time for a treat?! What a vicious circle! What to do??

I won’t say stop buying. But I will say; buy better.

Even if you’re buying locally and ethically instead of from exploitative fast fashion giants, it doesn’t mean you’re purchasing wisely for YOU. How do you ensure you’re not throwing away good money after bad in your pursuit of little treats to brighten your day? How do you nail your fashion purchases every time?

I’ve created a system called ‘7 Secrets to Fool-proof Fashion Purchasing’ to help you make better choices around the clothes you buy. It includes many of the principles I use when I work with clients one on one.

If you’re more than tempted by a little retail therapy, this could be exactly what you need to ensure you nail your fashion purchases next time, whether you’re shopping online or in-store. It’s a simple but effective system you can put to use immediately.

I’ve developed both a booklet that outlines and a checklist that simply summarises the system, and they’re both available here. For free.