March 30, 2011

Shhh...Secrets from a Personal Shopper - Part 1


Challenge

Go to your closet and pull out everything that…
  1. You haven’t worn in the past 12 months
  2. That doesn’t fit
  3. That you don’t like and can’t understand why it’s in your closet
Now, add up how much you spent on that pile of clothes you’re not wearing. Shocking, isn’t it?

 

What to Buy

Women tend to shop out of habit. We shop for the same kinds of things we’ve always shopped for. I have numerous clients at retirement age who are still shopping for suits. When I ask them why they are investing in something they will rarely wear, the answer is always the same: “Because I don’t know how to buy casual clothes.” I am sure your story is similar.
There are many choices in the marketplace: where to shop, what to buy, how much to spend. I understand why people don’t like to shop; it can be confusing and overwhelming, not to mention the crowds. That’s why we shop out of habit. We look for the things we’ve always looked for. Many times, smart shopping is as simple as breaking an old habit.

Shop Smarter

Smart shopping comes down to lifestyle and one’s personal fashion. The first step is to think about your lifestyle. Are you a mom on the go? Career woman? Somewhere in between? Make a list of the three most frequent “events” you have on your calendar. My list looks like this:
  1. Client appointments / fashion shows (work)
  2. In-office work
  3. Family time (daughter activities / church)
Now, think about what kinds of outfits you need for those three activities. Where do you see the gaps?

The Style File

Next comes your personal fashion style. This comes down to your taste in clothes. Believe it or not, your style changes over time.  Start a Style File. This is a file of pages from magazines you’ve torn out that display items you like. These might not be actual outfits you would wear, but represent things your eye is drawn to. It won’t take too long before you see a theme coming from all the magazine and catalog clippings. 
Let’s go back to your closet. Ask yourself, “Do I have outfits for the activities in my life? Do I see my style in this closet?” 

Now you know what to look for when you shop.

[be on the lookout for Part 2 of this article in coming days!]
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