Tips for Successful Clothes Shopping

I’ve never found shopping for clothing easy. In fact, it just feels like hard work, and at the end of the day, I’m seldom happy with what I’ve bought. I put it down to genetics – I’ve simply missed out on the design-sense gene! Fortunately, I’ve been lucky enough, over the years, to have had a stylish friend who dresses effortlessly, always looks a million dollars, and who is willing to take me on shopping expeditions when required. Not wishing to depend on her forever, I asked her to tell me, in a nutshell, why what she does, works – and this is what she said:

Look before you leave

Before you even think of heading down town, go to the library, and grab some dress-sense essentials such as good-old ‘Trinny and Susannah – the Body Shape Bible’ and ‘What Not to Wear.’ Figure out your body shape, and the clothing styles that will best suit you.

Check out the op-shop for some fashion magazines featuring people your own age (don’t be put off by the fact that the magazines may not be current – fashion is timeless). Grab a clear file while you’re there. At home, when you have plenty of time to spare, browse the magazines, and snip out ‘looks’ that you like and which suit your body type (colour is less important because, believe it or not, most people can look great in almost any colour!). Pop your cuttings into your clear file.

Take stock of what you already have in your wardrobe that fits, and matches up with the look you want to achieve (don’t forget to include shoes.) Pop these items into your bag because, along with your clear file, they’ll be going shopping with you! Note down the items you still need to buy.

If you’re not a natural shopper, do your shopping in town, not on the net. This way, you’ll have the help of an assistant, and you’ll actually see how the clothing looks on you before you buy.

Get your haircut, and do your makeup! Looking dowdy while trying on clothes is a recipe for disaster (you won’t like anything you try on, and shop assistants may be less likely to take an interest in helping you).

The night before you go shopping, check the net for sales, and head to those shops first.

Shopping day

Shopping is all about focus and determination. Ban all other chores from your ‘to do’ list.

Look for one item at a time. Trying to look for several items at once will simply bamboozle you.

Have a quick browse of a shop’s racks, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, engage a shop assistant to help – they know their stock and where to find it, and very often you’ve missed the very piece you were after.

Don’t be afraid to show a shop assistant your clear file. It will help them understand to use their initiative to achieve the look you’re trying to create.

When trying on clothes, take 3 sizes of each item into the changing room with you. Try the pieces on with the clothes you’ve brought from home. If you like anything, snap a photo, and ask the assistant to keep the piece aside for you for an hour or two.

Take a coffee-break, and use the time to check out your favourite pieces with a trusted friend by sending them a photo. When they see what you have in mind, they may even have an item of their own they can lend, or give you, to go with what you’re planning to buy.

Extras!

Clothes are only the start. Once you have your outfit, wear it to inexpensive jewellery and handbag shops and make purchases to dress it up.

Book yourself a free makeup consult (available at most department stores). Wear your new outfit, and take along the make-up you already have. Don’t be afraid to buy a new item to help you achieve the look you like.

Shopping for clothes may never be your idea of a fun day out, but by using these tips, you can learn to look great without having to rely on others to dress you!