Time and time again, I’ve lamented how, even though my day job is to tell people what to shop for, I’m not a great shopper. I spend a lot of my own time (too much of my own time) clicking through pages upon pages of online sales, digging up deeply discounted treasures in my size. Then I get overwhelmed by the thought of dropping so much money (yes, that plain black designer dress is 70 percent off, but it’s still $200) and immediately close out of all the tabs at once.
The thrill of the hunt is enough for me. I wear the same high-waisted Levi’s jeans and black turtlenecks from Marshall’s every day, anyway. It’s not like I’m immune to “it” pieces—you spend enough hours looking at incredibly stylish people online, you inevitably get an itch for a multi-colored, animal-print sweater that can’t ever be described as sensible. But I tend to dwell on these things. I’ll think about buying something for weeks that turns into months, that by the time I psych myself up to make a purchase it’s sold out.
Instead, most of my money—spent impulsively or otherwise—goes to food and experiences, like going to the movies with my boyfriend or flying home to Puerto Rico to visit my family. Then, there’s my dog, Beanie, a nine-plus year-old rescue that has senior-dog vet bills and more sweaters than days of the week. (She gets cold! And looks so darn cute in them!)
When I was tasked with documenting my impulse spending habits for a month, though, something weird happened. For the first time in a very long time, I had an itch to shop. After Christmas sales? A casual browse turned into two separate deliveries. A rare blowout sale from that Scandinavian brand everyone’s been wearing? My defenses were low, I couldn’t resist. My closet is full, but my checking account took a hit.
Behold, everything I impulsively bought over the past month.
The DIY Pet Ornament My Dog Absolutely Needed and Wasn’t at All Ambivalent About: $3.99
I go to a Marshall’s near my apartment about once a month, just to look. (I’ve found that it’s best to go in without a plan of what to buy and simply keep an open mind—I’ve found some great kitchen stuff that way.) When I dropped by in early December, they had just unloaded all of their holiday gift merchandise, which means every section was stocked. Of course, I decided to use this as an opportunity to buy something for myself. I found this adorable DIY tree ornament that creates an impression of your pet’s paw. It’s our first holiday season with Beanie—we adopted her over the summer—and are just so darn excited about it that I added it to my basket. We didn’t even put up a tree this year.
The Sale I Was Obliged to Shop As a Fashion Girl™: $278.47
It was Thursday, the last before our office closed for the holiday. At 9:18 A.M., right as I was walking in, I got a message from my boss: “Insane Ganni sale on its website.” She wasn’t joking: The Scandi label fashion people can’t get enough of—seriously, look at any street-style gallery from 2018 and you’ll spot at least three pieces from it—was offering a rare 60 percent off its signature floral skirts and poufy-sleeved blouses. I was a fan, but managed to resist its Instagrammable allure both because it was so pervasive in my circles and because I felt the price point (around $300 for a midi-length dress) was a bit higher than I’m comfortable spending on trend pieces. But now, most of them were under $100. And with free shipping.
After about an hour of deliberating, I landed on three pieces: a shapeless, blue leopard-print cotton dress ($118); a floral mesh wrap skirt ($82); and a floral blouse ($68). With tax, my total was $278.47.
Jack & Coke Slurpees, $16
The Jack & Coke Slurpees That Make Going to the Movies As An Adult So Much More Fun: $16
I spent Christmas with my boyfriend’s family in Ohio. Whenever I visit, I take advantage of the lower movie ticket prices (well, compared to New York at least) and see as many films as possible. First up was Vice. The big surprise, though, was learning the local theater had added alcohol to its concession stand menu. Right then and there, we decide that we needed two Jack & Coke slurpees. They were $8 each and absolutely worth it.
The Most Perfect Flats Ever: $45.21
Another thing I like to do when I’m in Ohio: Hit up Nordstrom Rack. This being during the lull between Christmas and New Year’s, the store was kicking off its holiday clearance sale, so I went directly to the red-sticker items. I struck out when it came to apparel, but was much luckier in the shoe section, where I found a pair of Vince’s minimalist “Maxwell” flats. I’d been eyeing those shoes for a long time—the cream supple leather and rounded shape reminds me of Phoebe Philo-era Céline—but I kept holding out until the original $225 price was reduced. That lead me to this moment: $60.28, with an additional 25 percent off. Of course I got them.
Vince “Maxwell” Flats, $45.21
The Petite-Friendly Trousers I Bought Because I Was Already On a Roll, Dammit: $59.99
At this point, I was pretty set on not buying any more clothes, but I had been in need of new trousers. I’m petite with a curvy waist, so this is a particularly tricky category to shop for. I need a cropped leg, prefer an elastic high waist, and like a wide-leg. I saw these Lou & Grey ones on sale, and they fit the bill (plus, were on sale). I had a gift card, so I went for it. Okay, now I’m done.
Ana Colón is a fashion editor at Glamour
