I mentioned this on a Pinterest board recently ...
When I see something in a store or in a catalog / magazine (on-line or paper), I ask myself ...
"If I saw this in Goodwill (or any thrift store), would I still like it?"
With some stuff, the photography, lighting and setting really makes some products very appealing when in reality they aren't as soon as you take the item home. A good case in point is all those souvenirs we get while traveling. When in Hawaii a floral print mu-mu might seem like a good idea. Of course, when we get it home, that's the last thing we want to wear to the pool (at least, for me it is).
Of course, the opposite is true. I have a girlfriend who is a genius at seeing things at the grocery store or in low-cost store that are gorgeous even though they are very inexpensive.
