How Do You Wishlist?

Plus, get a sneak peek into my Spring wishlist!

This newsletter is free to all subscribers, thanks to our friends at Carted.

Carted is a female founded wishlist app that's free and available in the US and Australia. I shared it in last month’s High-Five newsletter as my favorite new way to curate and track my wishlists. It’s an app I discovered on my own and have loved using so far so I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with them!

---

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Week 1 of our ‘Intentional Shopping’ month! I’ll be sharing tips and tricks to help you get more intentional with your purchases so you can wear more, buy less, and wear a wardrobe you love!

In my work with 1:1 styling clients, the main difference I see between someone who loves their wardrobe and just needs help maximizing it and someone who is frustrated with their wardrobe is intention.

I’ve found from my own experiences and that of my clients that feeling frustrated with our wardrobes can cause us to action with a consumer mindset.

What’s the difference between an intentional mindset vs a consumer mindset when it comes to our purchases?

Consumer mindset = Shopping and buying without a clear strategy. It’s last minute panic shopping, impulsive buys, purchases that were influenced because it looked good or cool on someone else but doesn’t feel like us, items left unworn or with tags still on them hanging in the closets. It can feel like we are grasping at straws because we are desperate to “fix” our frustrating wardrobe. It’s a mindset of “I like this” or “I want that” without a moment of pause. A lot of times it can even look like “I guess this will do.”

An intentional shopper buys with deliberation. Yes, they may still buy on impulse. Yes, they may still at times feel frustrated with their wardrobes and turn to shopping — but they have an awareness of what they want the outcome to be. There is a level of discernment. Of curation. It’s a mindset of “Why do I like this?” or “Does this support my style goals, lifestyle, gaps?” And there’s some “I want that” too, but more from a place of immediate resonance.

So how do you shift from being a consumer to a more intentional shopper?

START A WISHLIST!

Here’s why I love a wishlist:

• They help you get all your thoughts (ie: links) out of your head so you can gain some clarity. It’s like a to-do list for shoppers. Add personal thoughts and notes and it’s like journaling for shoppers :)

• They hold the space so you can sit with your feelings, so to speak. You can revisit as often as you need, you can re-prioritize, you can weigh the pros and cons, you can do more thorough research if the item is outside your budget or not exactly what you want.

• They give your perspective (when done right!). If you leave the items in your wishlist long enough for the dopamine rush to go away, you can usually find yourself realizing you don’t really need it, you don’t actually love it, or you have other items that are more priority for you. I have items on my wishlists that go months or years without ever getting purchased!

Here’s where Carted¹ comes in handy:

• You can quickly add all your wishlist items and saves into one app….SSENSE, Net-A-Porter, J. Crew, Sephora, TRR, Ebay, Etsy, 1st Dibs…if there’s a shopping link, you can add it.

My previous wishlist-ing was a chaotic mix of open tabs, IG saves, iPhone Notes, brand/retailer-specific wishlists. Not helpful when I’m trying to be intentional.

And now…

With Carted, I now have everything in one place. You can keep your list as broad or as narrowed as you’d like. My current wishlists are broken out by: Love List/Nice To Haves (priority list), Category Lists (items where I am not sure what I want so I’ve just been adding anything I initially like so I can further refine…currently it’s leather jackets), Home (for my one bougie coffee maker that I don’t need), Staples (items I consistently test or replace like my favorite white tees). I also think “Beauty” or “Gifts” would be great to add - the items you don’t need right away but that you may like to stock up on when there’s a sale.

I’ve also recently started to add a list for my 1:1 styling clients for any items that are out of stock or investment pieces that I can help keep an eye out on should there be any promotions that they can take advantage of. It streamlines on my end so that I don’t need to sign up for different waitlists and I can just get notified via the app of any changes.

• You can easily (and with some elusive items - desperately) track your items but this time, let Carted do all the work - Have an item that got away and need a notification ASAP once it’s back in stock? Waiting until sales season so you can stock up on your favorite basic tees or dry shampoo? Don’t worry about signing up for every email, IG alert, or text notification from the brands — just throw it in your Carted list and get one notification!

Some of my recent Carted activity…stock notifications, sales and promos, and my favorite feature - the price beat. If your item is being sold on multiple sites, you can link them all and the app will let you know if an item is available for less on one of the sites.

And because I know you all are visual people, I’m going to give you a sneak peek into my own Spring wishlist -

Before I show you, a bit of context to share how I go about my own wishlists:

• I try to compile my wishlists at the start of the season so I can choose items based on my initial reaction, before I see it being pushed by marketers and influencers. This is also a great tip if you tend to be someone who is easily influenced to buy based on the price. Add items at full price so that come sales season, you know which ones you would buy regardless of the markdown.

• I add impulsive items but wait 2-3 weeks and revisit. I usually find that I don’t need it or love it enough so these eventually get removed. The simple act of putting it on a wishlist can help you realize what you truly love vs just like.

• Just because I put the item on my wishlist, doesn’t mean I’m actually going to buy it. There’s usually a mix of splurges, dream items, interesting ideas or brands I just want to have my pulse on.

• Some items stay on my lists for months to years on end (looking at you Balenciaga Rodeo bag).

  • One thing to note re: items that go out of stock and come back in: Absence makes the heart grow fonder! I can usually tell in an instant if I actually love something based on how I feel when I realize it’s sold out or just out of my reach. A lot of my most beloved pieces from my wardrobe fall into this category - that have become elusive over time and I’ve chased down after many years on my wishlist.

My most elusive wishlist purchase: I fell in love with this old Cèline silk canvas jacket from the 2010 Resort collection but there was no way I could afford it. I had it on my wishlist for years and finally found it 5 years later secondhand. Those are the ones you know are “you” - even after all the years and trends go by, you still love it as much as when you first saw it.

Now for some examples using my own wardrobe!

(Note that its currently 16 degrees where I am so I haven’t fully curated a true Spring wishlist just yet so this list is more focused on existing saves. I will continue to evolve and expand in the coming weeks as I shift my focus to warmer weather!)

A lot of you enjoyed my newsletter around depth vs breadth so I thought it would be fun to share the thought process around where my wardrobe gaps are and where I feel I have room to expand.

This isn’t everything on my wishlist but here are some examples of when I might hit “purchase” on a wishlist item -

1. IT BECOMES AN ACTUAL NEED

My snapshot: Shoes I actually currently wear when it’s snowing and/or slushy out. Two snow boots I’ve owned for years purchased for a trip to Iceland and weekend trips to the mountains in California so I’ve never worn them outside of vacations. One old pair of rain boots I can get away with under wider leg jeans - they have great grip but not ideal for everyday. My nicer black leather boots have no grip so I can only wear if I’m walking short distances and in/out of cars. I also have suede boots and slides but I don’t wear them in this weather outside my Birkenstock clogs.

Context: I moved upstate last May and we plan to stay here for the near future. It’s really cold. And snowy. After being in California for 20 years, my shoe options aren’t practical for the winters here.

Wishlist Item: Ideally, I would get the Freda Salvador Brooke Boot in the Olive but they are sold out so Black is the next choice. I also ordered the Sezane Lena boot in Olive as a back up. I actually love the Sezane Lena but ultimately feel like the Freda version is the safer choice as the material is waterproof vs the Sezane one isn’t. (It probably would be fine if I treated it but will most likely show wear faster).

Thought Process: I need casual boots that aren’t snow boots that I can wear when there’s still snow and sludge on the ground. They need to be non-brown based on my current options. These are one of those purchases I really don’t want to buy because to me, they are a practical choice - not a stylistic one- in the sense that if I wasn’t dealing with snow, I wouldn’t look at these types of styles (just personal preference!!). I researched and looked at La Canadienne, Sorel, The North Face, Hunter. Loved the idea of this but still felt too clunky for what I needed. (If you are looking for a winter snow boot, they look great though!)

Purchase Probability: 10/10 (already purchased and wearing right now…no way around it…)

2. WHEN IT’S A WARDROBE GAP

My snapshot: I should caveat by saying I own a lot of sweaters. I just love them and used to design them so they hold a special place in my style. These are just my everyday sweaters but I own some novelty ones and cardigans as well. The top row are my lightweight cotton sweaters (slimmer fit, slouchy fit, tunic length), middle row are my cashmere crews (light, mid, chunky yarns), bottom row are my winter weights (cable and turtlenecks).

Context: I LOVE a crewneck and love all my sweaters but have been craving additional layering options in the colder months, which can only really execute with a v-neck.

Wishlist Item: This Róhe sweater. It’s so chunky and structured and I couldn’t find anything else like it, including secondhand. I actually just purchased this but after trying it on, I’m a bit hesitant to keep as it’s almost too thick. I wouldn’t really be able to layer over it so it would need to be worn as the top layer. I could probably get my trench coat over it but not any of my other coats. Not a bad thing but something to think about. I’m now ordering this Reformation slouchy sweater as another option. Very different fit intent so it will be good for me to try them both on and style in different ways before I decide. If anyone has recs, let me know!!

Thought Process: I knew I wanted charcoal as I don’t have any charcoal sweaters aside from a cashmere one I steal from my husband all the time, but it’s a crew. I also like that the style is a shorter length where all my other sweaters are regular to longer lengths. I prefer deeper v-necklines so that’s a requirement for any styles I look at.

Purchase Probability: was 10/10 but now looking like 7/10

(Already purchased but TBD now that I’ve tried on and I may need to still find the right one. That’s another thing with prioritizing your wishlists. This was at the top of my list so I actioned on it quicker than other items but it actually might not work out so I have time to pivot, de-prioritize, or drop from my list entirely if I can’t find anything, which leaves space for the other items on my list.)

3. WHEN IT CAN EXPAND YOUR STYLING

My snapshot: All my trousers are wide leg. The Tibi foldover trousers look straighter but they are actually very slouchy. They range from cottons and linens for Spring and wool and heavy twill for Fall.

Context: This is an area where I definitely have depth, not breadth. I actually wear my current pairs all pretty consistently as some lean more for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter but I’ve been craving a different silhouette that’s a bit more feminine and tailored.

Wishlist Item: I have a few on my list right now. This Kallmeyer Phoeobe Twill Trouser are a favorite - I love the soft pleating and how they taper in but they are sold out in my size at the moment. Next up are these Aaron Levine Single Pleat Pants - they are currently on backorder so Carted will notify me when they are back in stock but I like that they are a bit more casual. I wish I saved the image I saw that he shared of these on one of his friends. The fit was just perfect and I trust him implicitly with trousers. Lastly is the Róhe Round leg trouser - again, these taper in at the ankle but I’m thinking the waistband area is too similar to my wide leg shapes so this may be a try and see option.

Thought Process: I am looking for a more tapered pant, not quite cigarette. Almost like a tuxedo trouser but that I can wear a bit casual. A new shape that can expand and evolve my style by unlocking new styling when paired with button downs and slouchy silk shirts. Or a simple rib tank and heels. It’s subtle but to me, it shifts the vibe and how I feel in my outfits.

Purchase Probability: 8/10 (Note this is where I would look to edit out 1-2 of my current trousers in order to add these into the mix.)

4. WHEN IT CAN DO MORE WITH LESS

My snapshot: These aren’t the only bags I own but they are the dressier “evenings out” options I have. I also like to use my cosmetic pouches as evening bags while traveling.

See how my current options are very structured and boxy vs my wishlist item that creates a really soft, rounded feel?

Context: I probably don’t need more bags, especially for evenings out (drinks, dinner, social activities, vacation/travel). I usually prefer not to even bring bags when I go out at night, opting to put things in my pockets or use my everyday Cèline wristlet. However, lately whenever I am getting dressed for evenings, I find myself wishing I had a small delicate bag that looks chic but is simple and easy to carry.

Wishlist Item: This Sophie Buhai teardrop pouch. It originally came out in Black which I didn’t feel looked special enough but she introduced a few new colors and I fell in love with this dusty beige when I saw it - the design, the versatile color, the shape. It’s kind of basic but also game changing?

Thought Process: What I like about this item is that I could wear it with any of my regular outfits and instantly change up the vibe. It’s like my Juju Vera shell pendant. Rather than buying a bunch of new additional clothing options, I invested in one necklace to create the feeling I was craving. This bag is an investment so if I were to pull the trigger on this, I would look to de-prioritize some of the clothing purchases.

Purchase Probability: 8/10 (I thought this would be a great style to look for on Etsy or vintage but based on initial searches, nothing is quite right. One of those “if you love it, don’t settle” moments for me….Although, these finds from Ginny are so fun!)

My Jujuvera pendant in action since getting it in November…it’s carried me through Fall/Winter by breathing new life into my existing go-to outfits. This is what I call a low effort, high impact accessory.

5. WHEN YOU CAN FIND IT SECONDHAND

My snapshot: Like all my other categories, I like a mix of high-low in my jewelry. Bracelets are one that I spend less in so I can have a bit of fun and switch up the vibe season to season. And I tend to wear them less than my earrings and necklaces. My last purchase were these resin bracelets from the Summer that I’ve already gotten so much wear out of.

Context: Per the previous example, I pretty much have all of Juju Vera items on my mind all the time, including this cuff.

Wishlist Item: A vintage Etsy find that I added to my Carted list and then purchased the next day as there was only one and it was like 1/4 of the price. I love it.

Thought Process: I love the Elena cuff but I also know there are a lot of high quality vintage options out there. It’s one that I wanted in the mix but know I would be just as happy finding an alternate.

Purchase Probability: 10/10

**Side note - I had a reader reach out and ask how I approach secondhand shopping so I may try to expand on this in one of the newsletters this month!

6. When You Just Fall In Love With It

My snapshot: my black heel rotation, including a pair of heeled sandals that are mixed material/colors but I treat the same as a black heel when styling

Context: My oldest pair of shoes are these black suede BCBG Max Azria pumps I got during my college internship at the Herve Leger studio (remember that brand?!). They have always been so chic and comfortable that I’ve never felt the need to replace them…until now.

Wishlist Item: The Row Liisa Pump. At first, it doesn’t look like much but they have the most beautiful glove-like fit. I also like the more wearable kitten heel which makes it more versatile. There’s also a ballet flat version that’s gorgeous if that’s your vibe. And if you happen to be a size 37, I love these which are as equally gorgeous, found secondhand and never worn.

Thought Process: In the last year or so, whenever I wear my black pumps, I find that I don’t love how scooped out the vamp is (I know, I’m nitpicking at this point!). I love these but it’s not a need and the only way I would probably get them is if I found them on major sale, or secondhand, or my lifestyle changed where I would need a beautiful black pump to wear consistently.

Purchase Probability: 5/10 (If my lifestyle supported it, my probability would be higher even if it wasn’t a need because the “Love” factor is higher)

I hope this helps as you start to think about and build and refine your own wishlists.

Remember, progress not perfection here! I don’t actually “need” anything on my wishlist but the goal is to improve your intention and the “why” behind your purchases — not to rationalize each wishlist item to the point that it becomes stressful! As you can see from my examples, I’m a continuing work-in-progress too!

Let me know in the comments if you have tried Carted and what your thoughts are, or if you want to share any current loves from your own wishlists!

For those interested in testing the app, you can download it here.

See you next Sunday!

xx,

Angie

1. I want you to know that I don’t take sponsored content lightly! I’ve been reached out with partnership opportunities before and have declined as they didn’t feel quite aligned with The Found Journal. Carted felt like such a natural partnership as I was already using and sharing the app so I knew immediately I wanted to collaborate. This partnership enables this newsletter to be free to all subscribers but all content and opinions are my own!