Resist the Temptation

Something happens in the four days following Thanksgiving

After waking up from my post-Turkey coma and 13 hours of sleep, I check my phone to discover 50-plus e-mails in my inbox, each and every one carrying the equivalent of shoppers' crack. 30% off plus free shipping at that store I shopped at once. 45% off if you buy seven pieces of jewelry at BaubleBar, plus a free gift. 40% off plus free shipping plus 15% off $100 orders plus a free puppy at J.Crew Factory.

To top it off, every style blogger and their mom has been putting together a very tantalizing roundup of their top BlackFridayCyberMondayThanksgivingWeekendSaleNonsense picks. Peplums and pleats and polka dots and cozy cute knit things and every trend that has been barfing all over you all season, except now it's half price! Great news, right?

Certain offers are incredibly tempting. You mean that jacket at Forever 21 that matches my cute mini skirt is marked down to $13, meaning after the 50% off sale code is applied, I can get it for $7? And fake leather oxblood-colored wedge booties for $5? This is CRACK, I tell you.

Yes, the aforementioned items cost the equivalent of a lunchtime sandwich and a Starbucks latte, respectively. But I forced myself to resist. I'm not knocking Forever 21. I just like to put a little more thought and planning into even the least expensive of purchases, looking for reasons other than mega-awesome sales and discounts to buy them. Will they last? Can I wear them in dozens of outfit combinations across different seasons? Is the material even the least bit nice? Impulse-driving sales result in hasty purchases that take up valuable closet real estate. I hate parting with any piece of clothing, so throwing out an altogether too trendy item that was purchased with Black Friday Sales Goggles is no good.

I'm no saint, and I did buy some things this past weekend. My big mission was shoes. I'm coming around to the idea that something you walk in everyday should cost more than $23, so I picked out some timeless pairs of shoes I hope will last for years and work with all different outfits:

• A classic pair of black leather boots. I bought a non-leather pair at DSW last year in what felt like a good buy, but the heels are already worn out. Not such a 'deal' after all. 
• A pair of black smoking slipper-style flats that may be just a bit too trendy. But they may work.
• And a pair of metallic loafers with a cool turquoise blue sole. These may seem whacky and impulsey, but hear me out. Flats are a must for my sporty, casual workplace. Loafers are one of the most classic forms of flats, with the perfect hint of menswear. The metallic color and blue sole are the risky parts, but those details feel like a perfect injection of personality and fun into an otherwise very practical pair. 

Sure, I could have bought a sequined sweater for every day of the week from Forever 21 at that price. But these feel like the smarter buys. I'll let you know how they work out.

I'll leave you with this YouTube video.

What's your sale shopping philosophy? Are you an impulse shopper? Get anything good from it? Or are you more of the planning type?