ZARA Sale: As excitement (and disappointment) builds, I’m discovering an old friend in MANGO

Two days ago, I like so many others, began to strategically plan my list of potential purchases for the long-awaited Zara sale. There had definitely been some buzz—there always is— around which pieces were the most coveted, a beautiful sequin skirt here, a Khaite-esque blue ruffled slip dress there. I can say I definitely had my eye on a few pieces, but when the time came to start itemizing, budgeting and screen-shotting for the 9pm start time (hah), I couldn’t pull the trigger. And I’m not quite sure why.

In mulling over my apparent lack of interest in an activity that used to raise my adrenaline, I’ve realized the shift in my thinking. What started out of necessity, (brought on by my stepping away from my full time job in the fashion industry late last year) slowly but surely became a more ingrained and thoughtful practice where consuming is concerned.

Is this piece congruent with my style philosophy? Can it be worn multiple ways and styled with much of what I already own? What is the longevity of this piece look like? Could I wear it 7 years from now and not look dated? Can it be styled across seasons?

My excitement slowly turned into deflation. Things weren’t panning out with my selection so I took a step back and examined some other options. After a lengthy perusal on a few other websites proved both tiring and unfruitful, I found myself on Mango’s site where they were also having a sale. The last time I was into really Mango was way back in my early 20s, (and my last purchase from them was probably 5 years ago), I remember last spring, strolling along the avenues in Madrid’s stylish Salamanca neighborhood and being really impressed by a shop window in particular— low and behold it was Mango. I know this isn’t a revelation for many of you— but I’ve just felt a disconnect with the brand for sometime, so don’t come for me :)!

So I started make a new list— between Mango and Mango’s Outlet site— the pieces, although not less trendy than ZARA, felt a bit more approachable to me and in line with my personal taste. Like many, my process starts with unabashedly adding to cart, whatever felt right, and then after a bit of thought and wheedling down, I walked away with 5 pieces which met my criteria. Most importantly, I’m not left feeling a mixture of dread and regret over spending an unholy amount of money on fast fashion. I’m not sure I’ll keep everything, but if I do, I feel happy to make a little room for these finds…

(1. Strapless knit dress 2. Tie Front Skirt 3. Linen button down dress 4. Short sleeve button down 5. Button front ribbed tee )

How did you guys fare?