Did you join in on the most anxiety inducing shopping experience of the month?

I generally avoid shopping that causes more stress than joy. It tends to defeat the purpose for me, personally. If I stand in line, get stepped on, pushed into a clothing rack and have someone’s cup of undeterminable liquid spilled on me (and my bag), just to end up with an item, it tends to taint it for me. Even if I love what I got, I feel like the experience of getting it is going to be what I remember every time I look at it. I genuinely prefer having fewer items and paying more for them, just to avoid spending any unnecessary amount of my life on stress. Online is better, of course, but still often more than my easily stressed self bothers to sign up for. Especially limited edition releases that are so highly coveted. If I don’t check them out, I also don’t want anything and my day continues in peace, cortisol levels intact.

So, this release was an exception. This is actually the first H&M designer collection I have bought anything from. I won’t lie and say the experience was particularly pleasurable or relaxing (or fun). But I did get a few things that I do love and I am happy I did get them.

To refresh or not to refresh…?

As reiterated by countless twitter accounts, the actual launch was… flawed. It, of course, sold out before most could check out their cart. However, the main issue was in the website queueing people, saying you would automatically get through to the site when it was available. In fact, you had to keep refreshing the page, if you were to have any hope of getting through. Sadly, the message was so confusing, several people were waiting on the queue landing page for hours, and by the time they tried refreshing, the whole collection was gone.

I missed about 30 minutes to keep refreshing without reaching the site, and was so disappointed to see a couple of pieces I had my eye on be gone already. Both the deliciously couture-yet-wearable trench coat and the pink sunglasses I would have loved to get my hands on. But they were sold out. However, I did get my sticky little fingers on three other pieces, and I want to share them because they almost make up for missing those oversized pink candy like eye wear. Almost.

Pearl Neckline Cable Knit Sweater (Men’s)

First – the cable knit sweater with a pearl neckline. OK, I had the women’s one on my wishlist, but it was sold out way before I got onto the site. Ugh. But, I’ll give you a tip: check out the men’s collection! Not just for this, but in general. There are so many great items there that are either unisex or work differently, but just as well, in a woman’s wardrobe! So I snagged this gorgeous sweater from the men’s section! It actually ended up working better for my shape as well. The women’s one had balloon sleeves and a split hem on both sides. Pieces that have so much volume work in a lot fewer outfits on my frame. Instead I got the men’s sweater that actually works perfectly as either an oversized sweater or – my favorite – as a sweater dress. I added a belt and the end result is that I basically want to wear this every day for as long as I can! Because this didn’t seem to be the most popular item among men, I managed to get this while it was still available in most sizes (I got an S). Score!

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Pearl Collared Puff Sleeve Shirt

Second item – Oh my gosh. This is what my fantasy dreams are made of! I found that a lot of this collection was so beautiful and fantastical, but just too impractical for me to invest in. This, however. The structured sculptural sleeves are so beautiful, and I love that they’re not too long, so I can wear this without feeling overwhelmed by the volume. The pearl detail on the collar makes this shirt for me. It feels very true to the designer, while still being something I can wear for a lot of occasions. A beautiful take on a classic white shirt, what is not to love?! It’s fairly long, and I find that less flattering on me, but so far I am wearing this tucked into a leather legging and the combination of the crisp white, pearls and leather makes me feel ready to take on anything!

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Black Beaded Crystal Headband (of my dreams)

The third (and final *sob*) item I got was actually at the top of my wishlist. I have been drooling over Simone Rocha headbands for well over a year and a half. I have several of them on all sorts of wish- and watch lists on online retailers, but even on sale, they are hundreds. Which, for a headband, is way more than I can make a good case for to my bank account (however hard I have tried). And the top spot has been reserved for the black beaded headband that is more like a modern crown. I have been close. And then this releases. Whatever fashion god made this happen, I am thrilled my prayers have been answered! While this is just one strand (instead of two), the look and vibe is – naturally – there, and just what I wanted! Headbands are not something I tend to spend much on at. all. So even this felt like more than I wanted to pay, but I did not hesitate for even a second. It’s so beautiful. (And yet to be photographed!! I think I just found my weekend outfit).

The FOMO Collection..?

I’m really happy I managed to get the pieces I did, but the actual shopping experience itself was not really any better than I feared it would be. Perhaps a little worse, considering the technical mishaps. Of course, it does beg questioning why not larger stock is produced when time and again, these designer collections sell out in minutes, leaving a mass of customers frustrated, disappointed and with a spike in blood pressure. Several even voicing concerns that influencers are sent full collections, leaving the paying customers feeling even more agitated they could not get their hands on anything. Of course, sometimes these collections have pieces lingering for months, so could they be reserving themselves from as few unsold items as possible? There is no doubt the limited stock makes the collections more desired and that by itself would likely increase sales of even less functional and desirable items.

Yet even I, as a regular consumer, I find it fairly easy to make a (largely successful) guess on what will sell out first, based on the preview. So why wouldn’t the professionals, whose job it is to make purchase orders, have a better handle on necessary stock? An oversaturation would naturally limit the desirability of the items, but based on how quickly it sold out, they could double certain items and people would still complain they didn’t get what they wanted. In retail, can customer satisfaction take lower priority when the (perceived) value goes up..?

Either way, it’s of course up to HM how they prefer to market and sell their lines. And it really does take a special collection for me to consider such stressful shopping as the FOMO can’t be healthy for anyone. But this lured me out. Thankfully I’m happy I got the pieces I did. Did you buy anything from this collection? What was the shopping experience like for you?