The Quest

 We have all had that item or outfit we must have but can’t quite find or afford. It might be something we found in an old magazine, on Instagram or Pinterest, maybe we’ve been inspired by a celebrity image that is decades old. So, we seek out a version of it.

My great quest was for a white linen suit for my 30^th birthday. I was determined to look like the stylistic rebirth of Bianca Jagger in her heyday. 

The hunt was on. I stalked the mall, I ordered things from eBay (the online options were far more limited when I hit that milestone), I scoured thrift and vintage stores. I made mistakes. My error was in purchasing things that were not what I wanted. Things that were close but were never going to give me the look I was after.

Luckily, fate took pity on me, and on a stop by the mall to return one of those desperation buys I stopped in a store and checked the sales rack. There I found a white linen suit, in my size (I was a very hard fit back then), and in my price range.

If you have ever been on this type of quest you can imagine my utter delight. The gods of fashion and those with a very specific aesthetic had looked down on me and smiled at last.

It was not my last quest. There have been successes and failures since, but it taught me a bit about looking for “just the right thing.” Asking these questions helps to have more success than failure.

1.      Are you looking for a specific item (an “it” piece, an item from a collection, etc.) or are you trying to achieve a look?

a.      The look is an easier search. You can find things that are close in style, cut, or material and still get there.

b.      If it is a more specific item, the range of online resale sites has made this much easier to get to your goal. But question 2 should be kept in mind.

2.      If you find it years after you began your search do you still really want it or do you want to win?

a.      It is easy to fall into the trap of spending money on something that no longer fits your style or needs. Don’t make a purchase just because you remember how you longed for it years ago.

3.      If it is for an occasion with a set date do you have more than one look that can work? Can you make the quest about looking your best for that event rather than wearing a specific look?

a.      Imagine yourself in two or three looks that will make you feel your best at the upcoming event. That way if you cannot find one item or look you have options and don’t feel desperate. Which leads to number 4.

4.      Why are you so tempted to buy the wrong thing?

a.      When on a quest it can be very tempting to grab things that almost fit the bill. This is usually a bad idea. You are left with things you must return (or worse cannot return) and have spent good money without having a good feeling about what you’ve done.  

5.      Does your golden fleece have more than one use?

a.         If you are after something that you will wear once; that you have to build a second wardrobe to match it to anything in your closet; or that you know is a two-minute trend keep the budget for it low. It is not wrong to go after these items, but it is never a good idea to spend too much of your clothing budget on them.