How To Successfully Fail A Shopping Ban In Under Thirty Minutes

Saturday, 7 March 2026.

Yep. The title basically says it all.

Friends, if you were looking for a shining example of Lenten discipline and willpower… you might want to look away.

I officially crashed the car, and not only crashed but in a spectacular fashion. And by crashed I mean I walked into a store for “just a look” and walked out with a shopping bag that definitely wasn’t on the approved list.

It started innocently enough (doesn’t it always?). I was merely walking through Westfield on my way to an appointment when I saw it: a perfectly curated window display filled with the kind of dresses whose styles and colours were quite literally made for me. Before I knew what had happened I was best friends with the saleslady and was walking out with a dress for that upcoming occasion that I was trying to not buy an outfit for.

Then came the designer heels to go with the dress, and let’s just leave it there because honestly, the less said about them the better.

Why Do I Love A Splurge?

Why do we do it? Is it that, after weeks of being so “good” and wearing the same handful of dresses, I hit a wall? Was I bored? Or do I simply have poor impulse control? As perfect as the dress is I know I didn’t really need it; I was yet again buying a version of myself that only exists in my imagination: fancy, polished, and event-ready.

So, does this mean the shopping ban is dead? Does this mean I’ve failed Lent?

No. Perfection doesn’t exist any more than my ability to resist the perfect dress, and sometimes you have to fall off the wagon to remember why you wanted to be on it in the first place. I’m going to wear the shoes (they’re gorgeous, let’s be real), I’m going to enjoy the outfit, and I’m going to be grateful that the dress I ended up buying was on sale and not the other one that I really loved which was double the price.

Because Lent, like life, isn’t about being perfect; it’s about realising that we have to really work to stay on the path. And apparently my path is just became a little bit more stylish than I intended it to be.

😉