Expert explains how to tell a real need for an item from an impulsive desire

The one-week rule and the wardrobe check

To avoid impulse spending, fashion expert and art director of the French brand Michel Kataná Natalya Semenova, in a conversation with Gazeta.Ru, suggested a simple technique: put off buying an item you like for a week. If after seven days the desire to buy it has not gone away, it is worth taking a closer look at the item. According to her, it is also useful to recall the circumstances under which the desire arose: if the item caught your attention only because of an eye-catching shop window or promotional display, you should consider how well it matches your personal style — sometimes the desire is caused not by the clothing itself, but by how it was presented in the store.

Versatility, real need, and discounts

The next criterion the expert named is compatibility with the clothes you already own. If you can immediately picture three or four complete outfits, the purchase is more likely to be a good one; but if you would have to buy shoes, tops, and accessories to go with a new skirt, the expenses may turn out to be unjustified. Semenova also advised looking at your wardrobe through the lens of your own lifestyle: a purchase makes sense if it fills a real gap — for example, when you lack clothes for work, sports, or leisure. She separately warned against buying things 'like a friend's' or items that are frequently shown on social media: this is a sign of the influence of those around you, not of your own desire. Speaking about sales, the expert noted that a discount of 70% or more does not in itself make an item necessary: if a shopper did not consider the item before the price drop, they should ask themselves whether they would buy that clothing at full price. The article comes against the backdrop of an earlier explanation of why when cold weather sets in, we feel like refreshing our wardrobe.