Why 50% Off May Fail to Be a Good Deal

It’s good to browse the sales. However, they can be a trap. Building on impusle buying because it’s on sale, it’s often how retailers get inexpensive, low quality pieces of the shelves. Using a real world fashion shopping example this post demonstrates why 50% is rarely a great deal.

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Winter and Summer Sales: A Real Story as an Example

When I was a graduate student I wanted to shop for a new pair of pants. A girl friend joined me to go shopping and we hit the mall. In a department store, a great looking, high quality pair of pants from a famous brand was 50% off because it was the end of winter sale. At that time, they only had big sales twice a year in Germany: End of winter and end of summer sale.

I was lucky, they had the pants in my size and I went to the fitting room and tried them on. The fit was perfect like they were custom made for me. Nevertheless, I did not like what I saw in the mirror. I went out and addressed my girl friend “What do you think?” She said “They are awesome. You should get them and they are half the price! And they are even stylish designer pants!”

How to Recognize When a Sale Is Not at Your Advantage

Recognize when a sale is not a bargain. #budgetfashion Click To Tweet
I went back in, redressed and hang them back on the rack. In Germany, you had to do that yourself. As a result, in contrast to the huge American fitting rooms the tiny German fitting rooms are not crowded with clothing. Nevertheless, finding your size is easier with a measure tape than checking it out in the fitting room.

My girl friend looked puzzled at me and said “they are still expensive even so they are 50% off.” “Yes” I said “they are way too expensive.” We went on browsing clothes and looking for pants. After a while, we went to the underground station without having bought anything. Her line 12 tram arrived, she went on the tram. I boarded my tram in the other direction shortly after that.

Cheap Clothes Is Wasted Money When They Fail to be the Best for Your Shape, Style

The next morning at the office, my girl friend came in, smiling all over her face and happy. She had this victory look on her face and was wearing these pants I had rejected for a reason! In the store, I had thought that the side pockets on the upper tights made me – I am straight up and down or boyish – look like a diamond! She was naturally pear shaped, about half a foot shorter than I am and probably needed a size larger than I did. These pants made her look like the plus of google! If only, I had explained her at the store, why I had rejected that pair of pants! Even though they were 50% off, they were not a good deal for anybody. I had to hold on me to not say

Please dont make the same mistake. Know when to splurge or bargain, and yes, please tell your girl friends:

Don’t know your body shape? Use this free online quiz to determine your body shape to never buy something that’s not right for your features.

Have you ever regretted to not have explained your action? It turned out that my girl friend’s “bargain” became a closet monster. She only wore it once. The first and the last time.

Ever wondered why you never wear some of your beautiful clothes and what to do about it?

Illustration How Cargo Pants Pockets Should Look Like

Now here some photos of today’s look for you. They are self explaining and unrelated to the above story. Or may be not? They show how a pair of cargo pants should look like in my opinion. 🙂 It’s so important to know the truths about pants when shopping.

In this look, I went for the tough, bag gal vibe. You know the saying “Good girls get into heaven, bad gals get everywhere”? That kind of look, you know what I mean. Tomboy style.

Camouflage Is an Often Overlooked Neutral

These cargo trousers and camouflage in general are pretty versatile. I styled these cargo pants previously with a pink top. However, like floral, geometric and polka dot prints you can mix the camo print with other prints like stripes. In the post at this link you can find an example of an outfit with camouflage and tartan. How do you style your cargo or camouflage pants?

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Photos of me: G. Kramm

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