As a professional shopper, I have learned the tricks of the trade early on regarding smart shopping. Here are some of the top mistakes that are commonly made when shopping. Many of my clients face the issue of not realizing why they make some of the purchases they do and continuously face the dilemma of not having anything to wear.

1. " But it was on sale!" - Although that blouse may be tempting to purchase because it is only $19.99, you must consider several things before making this purchase. Do I have something just like this in my closest? What else would this go with in my wardrobe? Does this add to my wardrobe? Would I buy it if it were regular price? Is this a quality piece? Ultimately you will save yourself money by not purchasing things merely for that reason, because you will still have a void in your wardrobe.

2. "This is the hottest look of the season." - Being trendy and stylish can mean two very different things. Especially when not all body types can wear the same trends. Many times clients that I shop with tend to pick up the same types of styles, not realizing that they have been shopping for things they would like to wear versus what looks best on their shapes. This is a sad day for us all to learn that we may not be able to sport that cropped jacket, but wearing what is cut for your body type is so much more stylish that wearing what will be in for one season.

3. "Why do I shop, yet I still have nothing to wear!" Taking inventory of your closet is something that surprisingly, many people do not do. Clients of mine may have hidden gems in their wardrobe that for a variety of reasons they may not even have in rotation. We do a "closet audit" and find out what you do not wear, what needs to be tossed and kept. By doing this, you remove clutter and open your mind to many clothing options you have as well as find out pieces you need to bring your wardrobe and overall look together. Also, by doing this, people realize how many of the same types of pieces they have whether it be a dozen creme tops or 15 pairs of jeans in the same wash! We tend to buy what we like, not realizing..."uh, I have this already."

To avoid having a closet full of pieces that are not cohesive follow this general rule of thumb: If it can not be worn with at least 3 other pieces in my closet, do not purchase it.