And 8 Tips To Make Finding the Right Clothes a More Fulfilling and Easier Experience
As women, we are often told by the media, TV and movies that we all love shopping. That we could shop for our country, our lives, and love every single minute of it.
I know for a fact this is not true for many, many women.
Here is a comment in from one of my 7 Steppers and I think it sums up how many feel:
“I find clothes shopping knackering. Though 7 Steps to Style I know what suits me. I just get fed up trying to find it.”
As a professional shopper I also get “knackered” with shopping (though fortunately I have a great ability to scan quickly and keep moving rather than getting stuck in a store where nothing is worth looking at). I will find out what my client wants, but have no control over:
- The colours
- The shapes
- The sizes
- The details
- The patterns
- The current fashions
that is in stores.
Even if we find something that may work, if my client is petite, or tall or has a body variation that doesn’t fit exactly into the manufacturing standards, shopping can be a lesson in frustration to the point of wanting to scream.
The more you know about what suits, the better chance you have of being able to ignore all the stuff out there (the overwhelm, which is the other problem many women suffer from when shopping).
Large department stores stock so many clothes, yet I know from my experience from shopping, from the thousands and thousands of garments, most clients, on a personal shopping trip, will only try on between 5 and 30 garments from that huge array, as the rest don’t suit:
- their lifestyle
- their body
- their colouring
- their personality
- their budget
And then, you have no control over the fit and proportions of the garment. If they are cut for a shape that is related to yours or something completely different. Remember, it’s not your body, it’s the clothes that aren’t right.
This all culminates in shopping being incredibly frustrating for so many of us. We wish there was one store that had everything we loved in it, the shapes, styles, colours, details and it fit us perfectly….. sadly I must dream on.
How to make clothes shopping an easier or more fulfilling process?
1. Know what suits you
Your colouring, your body shape, proportions, variations, scale, texture, sheen …. the list goes on – find out all of what you need to know here. And if you would like professional assistance that’s what my 7 Steps to Style program is about. It will save you hours and hours of time and thousands and thousands of dollar/pound/euro/pesos.
2. Do research first
Before you head to the stores, jump online and look at what stores are currently selling. You may be able to narrow down your selection of stores to try. Also go into your wardrobe and take notice of the labels on the clothes that you love the best and that fit you best. Go back to these stores and brands first!
3. Create a shopping list
Know what you’re after before you go shopping so you don’t get so overwhelmed by all the “choice” and potentially push sales people who have targets to hit and may try and convince you to buy items you don’t need, want or like.
4. Start with colour
When scanning a store, start with color first. If the color isn’t flattering, then it doesn’t matter how otherwise lovely the garment it’s never going to make you look as great as you could.
Find colours that flatter your complexion then check the detail on the garment flatters your figure. For me I like to have detail near my face and keep it plain and boring around my mid-section.
5. Look at the detail
Know what suits your body shape (not sure? Then do my body-shape-calculator quiz and discover what you should be looking for to flatter your figure). Know where you’re after horizontals, verticals and where there should be detail, and where you want to keep plain and boring, free of details.
6. Take someone to help
A trusted adviser, whether a personal stylist like me, or a friend or family member you can count on. Someone who will tell you the truth (you sadly can’t trust the sales assistant as it’s their job to sell you clothes), be able to run out and grab you other sizes so you can rest in the change room.
7. Take a change room selfie
These can be really useful to analyze the garment and see more objectively if it’s working for you or not. If you’re by yourself you can also text it to a friend (or if you’re part of 7 Steps then post it to the private forum and ask opinions on the spot!).
This zebra kimono was designed and made for me by my trusty dressmaker extraordinaire (and brilliant illustrator) Alfia Galimova.
8. Find a great dressmaker (or learn to sew)
If shopping is something that you don’t enjoy, or you have a body that doesn’t fit any manufacturing standard, or you want something that isn’t available or in your colour, why not either make it yourself or have someone make it for you. It can be much cheaper than you’d think and you are going to get clothes made for your body, that fit you, in colours you choose, in fabrics and patterns you like, that express your personality with detail in all the right places. This is a particularly great option if you want a smaller capsule style wardrobe as you can work with your dressmaker to create a fabulous set of garments that mix and match and work together.
More Helpful Tips
How to Shop – tips and techniques
How to have a successful shopping trip
How your upbringing may influence how you shop
Shopping Strategies – are you better shopping alone or with someone?
Introversion, Extraversion and Shopping
Linking this post to: Top of the World, My Refined Style, iwillwearwhatilike, Visible Monday, Let It Shine, Monday Mingle, Style Sessions, Turning Heads Tuesday, Trend Spin Link-Up, What I Wore Wednesday, Brilliant Blog Posts, Throwback Thursday, Passion for Fashion Friday, Friday’s Fab Favourites, Style Stories,FlatbumMum, The FABulous Journey, Sydney Fashion Hunter
