I started wondering if I'm one of these "now" people that she talks of... and it made me think about the wish lists I write, and whether they are a good idea.
I've written "wish lists" for a long long time, and not just in the traditional "blogger" way. When I was at secondary school I'd spend most evenings looking through catalogues lying around the house, circling products and writing lists of what I wanted. Obviously at that age there was zero chance of me being able to afford these products (usually stationary and home stuff, but sometimes clothes), so just looking at them and imagining they were mine was about as good as I could get!
Now though, I do have some money, so it's a bit more dangerous. Every day at work I spend a long lunch break scouring the entire website of ASOS/ Topshop/ H&M/ Boohoo... etc. I'm wasting my time but I always feel such a great sense of achievement when I find something I like, the "perfect" product I've imagined, or just a great bargain.
Most of the time, I don't buy these products. I just note them down. I copy the image, and the link, and I paste them in a huge document on my laptop- 'Jess's wish list'. Then, when I'm down, or bored, I open up that file and grin from ear to ear as I see the pretty dresses, cool shoes, stylish bags I've made a list of over the last few weeks or months. And then I want them all over again, and I click on the links and see if my size is still in stock/ it happens to have made the cut for a sale. This time, I do buy things. Many things. You see, I think I'm doing myself a favour by not buying instantly. I tell myself that writing things down, and seeing if I still want them days/weeks/months later, is mature, and sensible, and maybe even frugal.
Sometimes, that's true. Take the Juju jelly shoes that have been on trend this summer, for instance. I decided I wanted a mint green pair, and they made it onto the wish list. For days I'd check my wish list and hover over the jelly shoes, wondering if today was the day I should buy them. And then suddenly, a fortnight on, I viewed my list and looked at the jelly shoes in disgust- I finally agreed with Ted that they looked tacky and I'd never actually wear them. So they were deleted.
Most of the time though, it's not. A few months ago, there was a jacket I fell in love with while browsing some brand I'd discovered on some blog. It was perfect, and not too expensive. But, it was also the end of the work day, and I hadn't yet put it onto the wish list. It turned 5pm, and I logged off. I drove home, had a busy evening, returned to work the next day. The jacket was forgotten, never looked at again, never bought. And there are many other items like it. So is that money saved by not writing things down, and potentially forgetting about them?
I'm not sure. Writing lists/ recording things is all part of being organised, and with clothes is all part of feeling up to date with fashion. I don't think I'm ever going to stop, but I need to be careful. They need to be wish lists, not "lists of things I will buy in two weeks' time".
To demonstrate that I'm not stopping, here's one coming up! I absolutely love the River Island parka, and the Next monochrome dress. The shoes would be perfect for work... I currently live in some similar leopard print brogue-types. And as it gets colder (urghh, off work with chicken soup today as my voice has gone and I'm really fluey!) I turn to jeans rather than skirts/ dresses; this grey biker pair might actually get purchased as I love the detailing on the knee and think they'd look really edgy with florals/ a fluffy knit.
So sophisticated, love it
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