Shop With: Five expert-level shoppers
Each of them divulge their true shopping personalities.
I’m shaking things up a little for this week’s Shop With interview. Oh the drama!
Instead of a 20 question deep dive with one shopper, I’ve asked a handful of my (our) favorite shoppers:
What’s your shopping persona?
I’ve loved all of the conversations that have taken place with the launch of Carted’s Shoppers campaign, and am thoroughly enjoying the exploration of how we define our true shopping selves. And all the memories and stories that have surfaced along the way. Oh the joy of it all!
And to quote
“The secret to life is, simply, liking stuff. Really liking it. Getting joy out of it, collecting it, researching it, becoming a connoisseur of it.” (Please read the whole letter here, you won’t be disappointed).So, I’m diving deeper into the psyche of five incredible women. I’ve asked them all the same three Q’s:
According to Carted's Shopper personas, what shopper are you?
Why have you defined yourself this way?
Can you share a shopping memory that aligns with this personality type/s?
I literally shed little tears of joy each time one of their responses hit my inbox. There is something so vulnerable and uplifting about each story that’s been shared.
I have been reading them out loud to people near me (and not so near me—my voice carries). I freakin’ love them and now I’m addicted and I just want more stories, please and thank you. Feel free to add to my (our) collection below in the comments ;)
Ok—time for me to hand it over to the experts. Arranged in alphabetical order by first name because please dear lord do not accuse me of preferential treatment.
Did you know? The collective noun for shoppers is a crush of shoppers.
Yours,
Shop Girl.
Stylist, Editor of
, and genius at writing practical, long-form deep-dives into personal style.1. What shopper are you?
I'm 80% Collector, 20% Hunter.
2. Why have you defined yourself this way?
I have always shopped based on my own intuition and I'm drawn to things based on an internal resonance vs any external factors. The things I usually shop for are tied to specific wardrobe gaps, specific imagery from my memories or travels, or speak to my style language. While I'm a bit free flowing as a collector, I'm a very deliberate and focused hunter for elusive pieces I can't get out of my head, or things I have a very specific vision for but can't seem to find in the marketplace.
3. Can you share a shopping memory that aligns with this personality?
My most elusive hunter purchase was a beautiful Phoebe Philo-era Celine silk canvas jacket from the Resort 2010 collection. I gasped when I first saw it on the runway but I could never in a million years afford it. I patiently waited and searched and finally found it on TRR five years later. In perfect condition, in my size, and within my budget. I still feel like the luckiest person every time I wear it because it holds such emotional resonance for me.
Co-founder of Refinery29, Editor of
and life-long thrifter (only she can find the things she finds).1. What shopper are you?
Definitely a hybrid of the Collector and the Curator (100% NOT the Analyst:)).
2. Why have you defined yourself this way?
I think because I shop almost purely based on physical response...how something makes me feel as opposed to what it makes me think about. To me, shopping is cathartic and more about discovery and learning than it is acquisition, so finding unusual colors, textures, shapes, designers from a certain period and how those inspirations make me see other spaces or stuff in my life is a big theme for me.
3. Can you share a shopping memory that aligns with this personality?
Oh dear, I'm sure it's buying something that is totally out of left field that I just couldn't live without that I have absolutely no rational reason for acquiring.
Great example: just yesterday I was perusing a big barn-style antiques market with my friend Hallie in Rhinebeck, NY when I found this custom silk georgette gown hiding behind a giant military coat. I spotted the hem peeking out from underneath the coat and had to investigate. It has only one tiny label inside, Beverly Sealy, which I believe was whom this dress was made for.
The best part though, and why I bought it, is that while the dress is very simple, just a basic long column cut, the neckline is draped in these silk strips of huge heavy rhinestones, with a few long strands of rhinestones, each the size of pea, hanging down the back. I didn't try it on, it probably doesn't fit me, but my head nearly exploded when I saw the rhinestone details. Sans hesitation, I bought it for $100.
Who knows if I'll ever wear it or sell it, but I needed to know it would have a good home and end up with someone who loves those rhinestones as much as I do.
Beauty Editor at RUSSH, Editor of The Rich Creme and my hands-down, go-to for all things hair (because I dream of short hair).
1. What shopper are you?
I'm 80% Curator, 20% Collector
2. Why have you defined yourself this way?
I wouldn't say my shopping habits are impulsive, but I don't spend hours tracking purchases or waiting for sales. I buy what I like, and mostly avoid anything trending. I find my sense of style (minimal, classic, refined) extends beyond my wardrobe into my beauty look and home, as well. I'm not naturally "stylish" so spend a lot of time curating mood boards and references to help guide me when I'm shopping or getting dressed.
I've claimed 20% Collector because I love holding onto anything with a story or point of interest—perfume, vintage blazers, vintage jewellery. I am also quite sentimental about some pieces in my wardrobe. For instance, I told myself before I got married I'd sell my wedding dress to justify what I spent on it, but now I can't bear the thought of not having it.
3. Can you share a shopping memory that aligns with this personality?
My collection of blazers is a good example of curation. I have about 20 and love them all to death. I've got secondhand The Row I bought at The Real Real in LA (I had half an hour before I needed to leave for the airport and managed to snag that and a Burberry trench for less than $1000 combined). I have vintage Prada that my tailor totally transformed. I think I paid $300 for it from The Real Real in New York. My favourite day to day black blazer was an investment from Toteme. But then I also have Acne Studios, Cos, Zara, Harris Tapper, Friends with Frank... all of them have been in my wardrobe for at least five years.
I also bought a vintage black Saint Laurent dress in Paris on a bit of a whim that ended up being the dress I changed into on my wedding day. I've actually worn it three times since!
Editor of
, every shopping-lovers bestest of best friends and an expert in studying what items make it in—and out—of our closets.1. What shopper are you?
I really love The Shoppers campaign and I've likened it in my mind to Ennegram so I am a Hunter with a Analyst wing or maybe an Analyst with a Hunter wing, depending on the day.
2. Why have you defined yourself this way?
My main habits when shopping are (1) thoughtfully considering a purchase as it relates to the rest of my closet, lifestyle, etc. Hence the Analyst side of me.
But the second habit I have is that if I decide I want something (let's say a button up shirt) I will track down the most recommended version of the product, I'll stalk it resale and I'll patiently wait for sale alerts on Carted. The two habits go hand in hand but set me up REALLY well to be super happy with the purchases I do make.
3. Can you share a shopping memory that aligns with this personality?
My most regretted purchases are ALWAYS items I bought when I went against my shopper personality. I would really love to be a Collector but I find I'm too easily Label Dickmatized (not my word,
introduced this to my lexicon) and I'll buy items because they are XYZ brand from XYZ era. There was the time I found a pair of (very cool) Loewe sneakers (similar to the pic below) in a resale store near me but every time I wore them I felt totally goofy and not at all like myself.
Editor of
, ex Vogue, ex Mecca and the owner of a wardrobe most of us would kill for.1. What shopper are you?
The Curator.
2. Why have you defined yourself this way?
I’m constantly editing, culling and adding to my collection and seeking out really special archival pieces amongst modern, contemporary items.
3. Can you share a shopping memory that aligns with this personality?
I’m always on the hunt. I actually just found an old Céline knit online. I’d loved it since it came out in stores, but frankly I just couldn’t justify the cost of that for myself. After patiently searching and saving on Carted, I’ve finally got my hands on it. It’s in the mail on the way to me right now!
What a read! I loved everyone's shopper persona stories and was clapping my hands for Angie tracking down her Celine jacket in perfect condition on TRR - fashion dreams coming true right there.
I’m 95% analyst, 5% curator but I’m not very good at adhering to analyst. I would be more of a curator if budget weren’t such a constraint. But I also don’t want to amass too much stuff so I cycle back to analyst 😂