My shopping tips (in-store)
I am an old soul. My parents say it, my friends say it, and my ex-girlfriends have said it. It probably will not surprise you when I say I prefer shopping for clothes in a brick and mortar store versus online. I enjoy the shopping experience, being able to try a piece on, and getting a sense of not just its fit and feel but emotionally how I feel wearing it. This is obviously not possible when shopping online without paying first. Personally, I treat clothes as investments and I look for quality items that will provide utility, are timeless in style, and will age well with time. I am incredibly stingy with what I buy, and I encourage my clients to be as well. Shopping in a store I find is more thoughtful (having to physically go there, browse, try the pieces on, hand over a credit card, etc.) and leads to less frivolous spending than shopping online. This is especially true with online retail features such as quick checkout and systems that remember your credit card information.
However, like anything, there are pros and cons and things to be mindful of when shopping for clothes in-store versus online. I will talk about my tips for online shopping in a follow-up piece. For now, here are my tips for shopping in a brick and mortar store.
Do not buy anything you were not already planning on buying
I will lead with what I believe to be the most important shopping tip for creating an intentional and well-thought out wardrobe. Abiding by this rule will save you from frivolous spending, getting caught up in trends, and buying something and then realizing it does not work with your existing wardrobe. If you see something you like, take a picture and go home to see how it will fit with what you already own. Role play how you would wear it as well. Do not be surprised, however, if you realize you were caught up in “love at first sight” and upon getting home and thinking about it you realize you do not actually need that piece. The only exception to this tip is if you are traveling and you will not be back at that store. I would caution you to think long and hard though about how it will fit into your existing wardrobe and if you will be hard pressed to find anything like it elsewhere.
Decline help from anyone who works at the store
One of my biggest pet peeves clothes shopping in-store is pushy employees who follow you around the entire time you are in the store. Helpful employees are exactly that…employees. The pushy ones who follow you around, say you look good in everything, and keep throwing clothes at you that you did not ask for devolve into salespeople. Do not be afraid to decline their help. If they keep following you around and you feel pressured or uncomfortable, as I sometimes do, politely ask them to give you space and that you will ask for their help should you require it. Or, as I often do because I love shopping to music, wear headphones and you probably will not be bothered.
If you need help, ask for it from the employee who you think has the best style
If I am in a store and need assistance, before I ask for it I will scope out which employee has the best style. It may not necessarily be the same way I would dress because they may have different features than I do. However, you want help from someone who demonstrates that they put thought and personality into their outfit. If they cannot dress themself, do you really want them dressing you?
When trying on clothes, it is “hell yes” or “no”
If you do not say “hell yes” within 20 seconds of trying on a piece of clothing, it is a “no.” If you have to talk yourself into buying it, it is a “no.” If you have to ask a store employee whether they like it or not, it is a “no.” With dating, it may not always be love at first sight. With clothes, it should be. Over the years, I realized a lot of my clothes that ended up in giveaway bags were ones I talked myself into or were simply “fine.” Be stingy with what you buy. It is okay. There are so many brands, fits, and styles out there to the point where it can be overwhelming at times. If you find a piece that you like but do not love (whether it is the fit or the fabric), more often than not a comparable piece that causes you to say, “Hell yes,” exists somewhere. Take the time to find it, or hire a stylist such as myself to find it. It will be worth it in the end when you still own it years later.
Only shop for shoes in the afternoon or evening
Your feet swell as the day goes on with more time spent standing and walking around. Therefore, wait to shop for shoes until at least mid-afternoon. You do not want to be wearing dress shoes in the evening at a wedding when you are trying to dance that are too small because you tried them on and bought them in the late morning or early afternoon.
If you are shopping for pants, sit down in them and fill your pockets
The first time I have a personal shopping session with a client I usually get a perplexed look when they are trying on pants and I tell them to sit down. “Why?” they ask. “Well are these your standing pants? Or do you eventually plan to sit down in them?” I reply. When they sit, pants that seemed to have fit standing may suddenly be uncomfortable when seated. If they fit, I’ll then say to fill their pockets with the usual items they put in (phone, wallet, keys, AirPods, lucky rabbit’s foot, etc.)...and then sit down too. A common phrase in sports is, “You play how you practice and practice how you play.” The same rules apply when trying on clothes. Try them on how you plan to wear them.
If you buy something, keep the tags on until you wear it
This one may be pretty obvious. If you go two weeks without wearing something you just bought (unless it is out of season or for a special occasion), is it actually an item you really need and will you get a lot of use out of it? Do not take the tags off until you are damn sure you it is a keeper. Perhaps even keep the tags on for a few wears, but tread carefully and maybe do not go to a rock concert or a rave in it. You were dating the item in the store. You had butterflies in your stomach and goosebumps on your arms, but maybe you got caught up in the moment. You will have a much clearer head at home a day or two later. Be sure to also hold it up against your current wardrobe and create different outfit combinations to determine its versatility and how it fits in with what you already own.