I have a good friend that hates shopping. Imagine! Hates to shop! Obviously not something in my vocabulary. As research for my post, I asked her ‘why’ she hates shopping because I had an idea to write a series on this topic to help others who do not like to shop as I realize she is not the only one that feels this way.
To start, I will keep it high level. And maybe later on add to this topic on how to shop for specific items. For example, how to shop for a blazer or jeans or shoes etc.
So let’s get started.
Now that I think about it, here is a thought…Maybe those of you who hate to shop would hate shopping less if you were to get better at it. And one way to get better at it, is by ‘practicing’. That sounds crazy doesn’t it. I thought so too as the words came flying out out of my head as I write this. Practice shopping?? Really?? Hear me out though. I can’t help but wonder, we practice putting on makeup, or practice filling in our eyebrows, or practice styling our hair, so why wouldn’t it be that we need to practice how to shop to get better? I think I have just convinced myself this could be the case. Maybe people that do not like to shop just need more practice, however, because they don’t like it, they don’t do it enough, therefore, never get enough practice?
Maybe?
If I think about myself as an example for instance, I ‘practice’ quite a bit 🙂 I enjoy shopping. I find it relaxing, enjoyable, fun and creative. I can walk into a large store (like Zara), and can pretty quickly size up what is on the racks by sauntering past all the clothes slowly. I don’t even necessarily have to move the hangers or merchandise to know what’s there, I can tell or see what I need to see to determine if I am interested by glancing at the clothes, even if they are hanging sideways. That could be your goal, to get to a place where, in a store like Zara, you simply glance while walking by and be able to determine ‘yay’ or ‘nay’.
First before you shop, have a strategy.
Shopping Strategies
There are different strategies to shopping, and one strategy may work better for some people and another for others. To start, a couple of basic strategies are:
- Know the specific item(s) you are looking for before you go to the store, rather than go in blindly because you ‘need some new clothes’. Then, once you know the item(s) you need, get more specific, for example: if you need a skirt, do you want a short skirt or a long skirt, and for what purpose (i.e. work, casual, going out etc). If you are looking for jeans, do you like or want a dark wash, light wash, distressed or non distressed, fun and casual or dressier. If you are not sure, it is not impossible to find a pair, but it does make it more difficult when you are at the store when there are many choices.
- Know colours you want, need or like. This is where you can scan the racks without spending a lot of time. Look for the colour(s) you want, do not look at the clothing in other colours.
- Learn to recognize good fabrics. ‘Practicing’ will help you to get to know what fabrics are good and are not good, this is an important strategy and eliminates wasted time and unhappy purchases. For example, I avoid fabrics that wrinkle incredibly bad (to test, scrunch the item with your hand, you’ll see right away how bad it wrinkles). I also avoid fabrics that do not breathe well e.g: that thin, meshy, stretchy see-through fabric or fabrics that snags super easy.
- Shop with your budget. Visit the stores within your budget. Although it doesn’t hurt to try other stores just in case they have a sale, or you find exactly what you were looking for and can justify spending a little more if it’s exactly what you want.
Helping you Shop
I have below some of the reasons my friend dislikes shopping and I added a few others to come up with the Part I list of this series (so it is not too long). Part II will be forthcoming.
So here we go, in no particular order, reasons you may dislike shopping and tips to help you through those reasons. Do any of these sound familiar?
| Reasons you hate to shop | Tips |
| 1. You do not follow trends so do not know what to buy | There are 3 different options to help: 1) what is in the stores is the current trend, therefore, you can just purchase, you do not have to know or try to figure out what the trends are 2) ignore the trends and purchase only classic basics so you know they will not quickly go out of style or 3) mix a bit of both. Best approach is to stick to classics and add a few trendy pieces for fun. |
| 2. There are too many choices and you get confused and overwhelmed | Refer to the shopping strategies above. In addition 1) break down the store in segments, focus on the clothes in sections, do not think about how many clothes there are and get overwhelmed 2) shop with the strategy of process of elimination, e.g. ; jeans, grab 5 or 6 and keeping looking, when you find another pair you like, it may be better than what you grabbed before, so swap it out 3) shop in stores with sales people that can help and tell them what you want and have them pull items for you. It may be worth spending a little more on clothes to have assistance. |
| 3. Nothing seems to fit right | Clothes are cut in general terms, and not always in the right way, or for all body types, so do not get discouraged. If you struggle with clothes not fitting, you may have to make peace with the fact that you will need to purchase the closest size and take items to a seamstress for tweaks. Or avoid certain cuts that do not typically work. For example, I struggle with button down blouses fitting properly, it is remarkable when I find one that does. |
| 4. You do not like pushy, annoying sales people | Do not let this deter you, not all of them are but if they are, my advice, is to be friendly yet firm and they will take a step back, they are used to it. Look the salesperson in the eye and say nicely but firmly that you are just looking to start and you will find them when you need help. If they over compliment you at the change rooms, even if you know you don’t like it or it doesn’t look great, my advice is to say, ‘yes the item is nice but it’s not what I’m looking for’. |
| 5. You end of buying items you do not wear | If you go shopping rushed and on a time constraint, that is too much pressure to find what you need. Whether you need it that day or the next day, you will end up buying items you don’t want or wear (again) because you did not spend the time to make wise choices. Or it could be that you were not rushed but you didn’t find what you wanted and decided to buy something else because it was ‘close enough’. This rarely ends as a satisfied purchase and you will not wear it. I know this has happened to you. If you hear your inner voice saying ‘it’s close enough’ do not buy it as it will end up sitting in your closet. |
| 6. You do not know how to buy pieces that work together | Stores typically put pieces together on hangers or displays or they merchandise similar styles and looks in sections. You can use this as inspiration while you look around. This is definitely a skill you can get better at with practice. They say that if you buy items you like and that are classic, you will have other pieces in your wardrobe to wear with it. Or if you are really not sure, ask the salesperson to assist. I sometimes ask ‘what is your most popular __?’. Best tip I can give is to buy dresses. I love dresses because you don’t have to think about what goes with what, all you have to do is put on shoes and you’ve got your look. Plus dresses are never a wrong choice, from casual to dressy, they look good on everyone and are my favourite item to buy due to the simplicity, ease and it always look good. |
| 7. You do not have the time | Wouldn’t you agree that rushed shopping rarely has a successful outcome? It would be like rushing your hairstylist to cut your hair…not something you probably want to pursue. So you kind of need to prioritize and find the time. Rushing and the pressure to find something at that moment is too stressful and makes me anxious thinking about someone shopping that way. You will likely end up not liking what you bought (see #5). Go shopping when you have time to make it successful. If you have a busy life ie: work, kids, responsibilities, think of shopping as ‘me’ time and find time for yourself. |
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, the above provided at least one or two tips to help you the next time you shop. I would recommend to remove any pressure or expectations when you go to the store, that way, you may have a different experience. Definitely make sure you are fed and watered beforehand. And consider, if possible, to allow extra time to go for a coffee or glass of wine after shopping to end the experience on a treat note, nothing wrong with that. It may help you enjoy shopping a little more 🙂
All the best and until next time…
