The Art of Shopping

This week's post is about every fashion obsessed individual's favorite word: shopping. Contrary to popular belief shopping is not always as fun as it sounds, that's why so many people have turned to online shopping or have simply given up on their wardrobe because going to the stores is hard. So being a veteran shopper myself I thought I'd put together a list of tips to get you through your shopping experience:


-Successful shopping means knowing what you need or want. This one is probably the toughest but it is so important if you want to have a pleasant and productive shopping trip. Before you embark on your journey go through your closet and evaluate the situation: what is your wardrobe lacking and what do you need to make it feel more complete? Make a list and when you're out shopping keep that list in mind, sure they'll be some great items you find that are not on your list and you can absolutely get them, as long as you are satisfying you wardrobe's needs at the same time.

-Don't go with people who drag you down. This is an important one, you need to have the right shopping companion(s) or your whole experience will be ruined. I usually like shopping by myself because I like to take my time and go to about a million stores while most people don't enjoy that. But if you insist on going with someone else then make sure they are on the same page as you with their goals for the day.

-Look cute but don't make it complicated. Of course you want to look good while your shopping but it's important to wear something that is easy to take on and off and also try things on with. I usually go for a simple top (plain or with minimal pattern), sweater (not pull-over), comfortable shorts or pants and easy flats or boots (this also includes undergarments of neutral color in case you decide to try on anything that is somewhat see-through). If you wear a crazy outfit it will take forever to try everything on and you won't be able to see what some items will look like, you want to think of yourself as kind of a blank canvas when shopping so you can test different items out.

-Make sure you are drinking water and eating throughout the day. Going shopping can be very tiring and your body needs to stay hydrated and nourished in order to keep on searching for that perfect pair of jeans.

-Go for it but also know when to say no. Grab stuff and see how it looks, it's good to go out of your comfort zone sometimes because you'll never really know until you try. However, if you're unsure if you should buy something think of three ways you can wear the item (with clothes in your closet, not some imaginable closet you wish you had) and if you can't think of three don't buy it, you won't wear it. Then if you're still thinking about it later you know you should definitely give it a second look.

-Get opinions but yours is the most important. This goes with choosing the right shopping companion, you want someone who will give you their honest opinion but will back off if you feel differently about something. Always remember: you are the one who is going to be wearing it, no one else, so it's important that you feel confident about your purchases.

-Know your shopping limits. It's okay if you're burnt out and you didn't get to every single store you wanted to and it's also okay if you go to a bunch of stores, as long as your shopping companion (and your budget) is okay with it.

-Reward yourself after all your hard work. Shopping IS tiring so eat some pizza, take a bubble bath and maybe even a nap because you just found yourself a new wardrobe, that was hard. (I'm only half joking.)