Do you ever catch yourself in a position when you go shopping and have no idea where to start? Is your closet is filled with basics and you interchange the same few items every day and think that’s enough? Or maybe you have too many clothes because you’re a raging shopaholic and don’t know how to stop (this is where I fit in). Whichever category you fall into I have come up with these 5 rules to follow when going shopping. Every woman shops by their own rules and everyone has their own budget to follow. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to shop but I will share with you some of the rules I have recently adopted.
1. Buy what you love and not what you think you need.
If you love something you will always find an excuse to wear it. You will be more excited to style that item and incorporate it into different outfits. Whenever you find yourself in the dressing room debating with the should-I-or-shouldn’t-I conundrum, just ask yourself one question: Do I love this? It sounds simple, but I swear it works every time! If you don’t love a black blazer and can’t find any use of it in your lifestyle or wardrobe? Then don’t buy it! If you fall in love with a pink floral blazer and can find a million more ways to style it then go for it!
2. Visualize it.
Can you wear it with more than one outfit in your closet? Can you dress it up and dress it down? Can you wear it all year long or is it seasonal? These are all questions you should as yourself to help you determine if you want to purchase that item or not. There is no wrong answer, only what you feel is right, and trust me if you love something and can visualize yourself wearing it with only one outfit in your closet, sometimes you just need to go with your gut and splurge on that item! Go for it! Who knows you might get creative and end up creating more outfits as you go.
3. Always, always, always try things on!
Please follow this rule! I don’t care what the items looks like on the rack, it might look completely different on your body! As Stacey and Clinton always say from What Not To Wear “You never know until you try”. This is the number one rule I tell everyone! There’s a reason why they have dressing rooms in every store!
4. Shop throughout the year and not in bulk
Seriously I’m not kidding. How many of us shop once a year and then never hit the mall again? What? How? Why?… Stop! Don’t shop like this, you will constantly find yourself with nothing to wear and there is nothing worse than going shopping last minute under pressure for a wedding or an event and can’t find anything to wear! It’s brutal. Now I am not telling you to hit the mall every weekend and spend hundreds of dollars, but maybe go once a month and pick up a few items. Stores are always having sales so visit the sales rack! You might find a cute evening dress for a really good price that you could wear to your cousins wedding in a few months.
5. Dress for success.
Go to the mall knowing your going to try things on.
- Do not eat a big meal before a shopping trip, you will hate everything you try on.
- Do not go shopping in your sweats. You know how many times I’ve gone shopping with someone and they look like they just rolled out of bed and they say “Ugh, nothing looks good on me”… yeah because you don’t look good yourself (harsh, but this trick works). No one styles an evening gown with sweat socks and a messy bun!
- Always go shopping with an open mind
- Purchase clothing that makes you feel confident and beautiful
