7 tips for Finding a Great Outfit Quick

shopping-311924_640 (1)Most women make shopping an experience. We enjoy going with our girlfriends and try on lots of potential pieces for our wardrobe. Even if we have no need for clothes. The dressing room halls become our runway as we model for each other’s opinions before we make our decision: to spend or not to spend–this is the question. Whether we walk away with the accomplishment of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman or we leave the store empty handed, every true “shopping experience” includes a Starbucks, Red Robbin or something of the like to celebrate the victories or console the defeats.

Men shop like they hunt.

Men, on the other hand, go shopping with one mission on their mind: bag it and drag it home. No party, no opinions, no turmoil over the price tag.

No fun.

Yes, I am generalizing.

But I’m not criticizing.

In fact, I think there is a lot of wisdom in the male approach to shopping and women who want to build a Confident Closet would do well to learn from them. While I completely condone any girlfriend time that involves mixing fun and fashion, I also realize many of my readers are Naturals, Gamines and Classics who struggle in this area, so I want to encourage you: Keep reading, you are going to love these tips!

To everything there is a season and for every season there is a need for shopping. There are seasons, however, (like Spring, when there are many ceremonial celebrations of school activities, sports, arts, weddings–and in our family: lots of birthdays!) when there is hardly time to get to all that is going on, let alone finding the time to shop for a new outfit to wear to them. It is in these seasons that we would do best to shop like a man. 

Let me explain what I mean by this. If you need to shop quick, you need to “hunt” therefore:

Know What You Want. Are you going to a formal, semi-formal or casual event? Are you an honored guest or are you there to honor someone else? Do you have a “statement piece” that you want to wear but need the right accessories? The simple solution: Don’t trust your memory, besides the store lighting could be different than your closet. take a picture of that item or bring it along to match up with what you need to purchase.

Know Where to Shop. Where have you found great outfits before? What store best represents your personal image identity? Go there! Don’t waist time in Forever 21 if you are not an Ingénue; instead go strait to the store that feels “like you.”

Know Who You Are. Yes, this is the title of my image assessment book of guidelines, but I gave it that title for a reason: when you know your physical attributes, seasonal coloring and personal preferences you are equipped to make quick and effective decisions with confidence.

When you, know what you want, where to shop and who you are you are equipped to shop–or hunt–like a man. It may not be as much fun, but during the busy seasons the “conquer and kill it” method of finding a great outfit can be more efficient.

Here are my tips for having a quick shopping experience:

  1. Go alone.
  2. Find your size range. (If you are a size 10, look thorough all clothing sizes 8-12).
  3. Scan the options for any color within your seasonal palette.
  4. Pull out those items only and look over style, cut, fabric and patterns to determine if this item would represent your authentic style well.
  5. Take to the changing room only items that meet the above criteria.
  6. Purchase only items that you feel confident wearing.
  7. Stay in “hunting mode” until you complete your outfit head to toe.

Trust me, once you have done this successfully once–whether you enjoy shopping or not–you will have a sense of satisfaction and yon’t be ashamed to tell your husband, because you did it like he would have. In fact, if you could get him to talk about his feelings you might even find out that he would actually like shopping with you now that you know how to hunt.

If wish to understand your personal image identity so that you can shop like a man when necessary, please visit my site or contact me about my services.

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