how to avoid impulse purchases no.4
the how to guides
photo credit: Cam Morin
looking good on a shopping trip
You will have seen the shopping advice about not going to do the weekly food shop if you are hungry or stressed. Apparently if we’re full and relaxed we are less likely to be tempted by sweet treats and alcohol. On this theme I have some similar thoughts for sartorial guidance for when you are going clothes shopping. While it may seem odd, I advise my clients to dress up when they are looking for new clothes and accessories. It is also a good idea not to shop for clothes when you are under pressure either emotionally or time constrained.
When I say dress up, I don’t mean wear some overly fancy clothes. I do mean try to match the rest of your image to the item or items you are looking for. Wear some well-chosen things, do your hair, and perhaps add some makeup to reflect your intended style choices. Try to replicate the silhouette and basis of the finished look, but don’t worry about the actual details. You are aiming to create a general feel at this point, the overall vision needs a strong base.
A good example of this concept is when you are looking for a wedding outfit. Wear some shoes like the ones you might be wearing on the day, rather than expect your new dress to wow you when you are wearing socks, trainers, or ankle boots. Perhaps you want to find a softly tailored jacket to wear in a smart casual way? The success of the look you want to create may be far easier to identify if you wear jeans on your trip, rather than a pair of joggers.
I know I speak for everyone when I say that we have all been in a changing room feeling totally despondent with the image staring back at us in the mirror. It absolutely is not you…it is them! But you can help yourself in this situation. If your image is that of someone rushing to get things done, then everything you try on, however suitable, will not look right. If you take a bit of care before you go shopping, and approach your trip with some forward planning, you automatically cut out the “I wonder what if…” aspect the sale, and will finish the day with an added dose of well-deserved confidence.
If you have bought things on-line then the same principle applies, but hopefully without the dreadful mirrors. Wear suitable clothes with your new purchase so you can get a clearer idea of whether it works. This way you can be far more aware of what you keep and what you return.
Consider that if you intend to wear lots of makeup with a particular formal outfit, you might be able to wear stronger tones than look good with a clean fresh face, so try the items on when you are made up. You know the difference your grooming, makeup and hair, can make to your appearance, so you are doing yourself a disservice by skipping this simple way of making sure your purchases will really suit you.
Get into the habit of buying intentionally, when you have taken the time to look good, and you will be rewarded with fewer dubious purchases and hopefully a more cohesive collection of clothes that will work hard for you.
Continuing in No.5…
All rights reserved. Milly Churchill asserts the right to be identified as the author of this work.