Me and my friend Jake--after a day of shopping
I am not a leisure shopper.
First of all, I don't live where there is a mall, so leisure shopping doesn't happen. Secondly, most of the time when I go to the city, I have my kids with me. They're behavior has much improved since
this last mall post, but it's not a leisurely experience to cram a shopping cart into the dressing room and change clothes. That leaves the only other day to go shopping as Saturday. And we all know what Saturday malls are like-UGH!
So when I do go shopping, I am serious about it and I follow these rules:
1. Know Yourself: I don't shop around big crowds. It effects my decision-making skills. Not sure why, but I feel this pressure to 'hurry up, buy something and get out of here' before the mob runs you over. Know what you can handle.
2. Do It Up: Ladies, there are no ponytails allowed on a day like this. Do your makeup and hair, splash on a light perfume and get ready to look your best. Don't go shopping looking like a slob and hoping that when you close the door to the change room you'll have a Superman-telephone-booth transforming experience. It won't happen. And let me tell you why: Change room lighting!
Most department stores have fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting not only adds ten years, emphasizes dark circles and enlarges your pores it also has the innate ability to make you look like a sickly Sig*urney Weav*r in a sci-fi film. Do yourself a favor and do your 'do and face.
3. Wear Good Shoes: Now it goes without saying that that is all we should own: good shoes. However, I will clarify this statement by saying: wear a slip on pair of shoes. Easy on, easy off and a pair that will look good with most things that you are buying (ie. black, brown or that wild red ballet slipper!)
You will send yourself the subconscious message of "I'm not having fun shopping" if you have to fiddle too much with your annoying shoes and this will effect your over all judgement of what to buy. Good shoes = good shopping experience.
4. Easy to remove clothes: This goes hand in hand with number 3 and the good shoes theory. As an added bonus, you want something you can put on quickly if you have an over-hostile commission hunting sales lady. The last thing you want is to be trapped doing up layers of buttons while the sales lady starts burying you under clothes you must have.
5. Only take off the sales rack: In my opinion, there are only 3 times I pay full price.
a. I'm on vacation and I've come across something I could not find at home. Live lavish and splurge, it is your vacation.
b. You have a function that evening and what you planned on wearing is severely stained or there is nothing on the sales rack that will suffice.
c. Makeup-I buy quality makeup that will last so I have no qualms about full price. (For skin care, I only put on my face what I would put in my mouth to eat, so I don't go over the top with skin care. If you want me to blog about that, indicate in the comments. Yes, even heavy moisturizing eye cream!)
6. Don't buy anything that doesn't say "WOW!" In my language that means, if it's not in your shopping book then don't buy it. My shopping book has all the colors that look great on me and all the clothes and accessories that are best for my body shape. (Again, if you want me to teach you how to make one for yourself and how to figure out what clothes are best for you, indicate in comments)
7. Bring a Friend: My girl Jacquie and I had lots of women stopping us in the dressing rooms saying, "What about this one? Does it make my bum look flat" It's because they overheard us giggling and laughing and talking about our body shapes. I'm a small pear, Jacquie's a goblet. So we know what looks good on us and what to avoid at all costs. But take a friend who has the same shopping philosophy as you and will say "No, absolutely not. I won't let you wear that in public unless you are actually going for the camel look."

8. Accesorize: A girl's best friend! Not only can accessories revive stale clothing but they can give you a good shot in the arm for confidence. My favorites are: big chunky ring, chunky bracelets, chunky necklaces (WARNING: You have to have the right kind of top half of body and neck to pull off chunky jewelry otherwise it makes you look...chunky! As the black ring on my fore finger indicates. I only wear my rings on middle and ring finger for chicness) And of course...
9.
Power to the Pashmina! I love pashminas. Ohlala! If you need to learn how to work the pashmina, go
here. And if you need to learn how to work a scarf, go
here. There are so many ways to work a scarf. But don't do it on your head as I once foolishly did. Oh, yes I did (I'm sorry about the embarrassment I put you through Inez). Can anyone say "Hi Captain Jack! When's the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie?"
10. Finish Strong: If you are not inclined towards shopping, as I once was (as in a year ago before I honed my skills) then I suggest this: Leave yourself in a place of success! After you have bought one successful item, and got a great deal: Leave. Get in the car and go home. It's important to cultivate a level of fun that happens when you shop...rather than three failed stops and the attitude of "I can never buy anything" or "I don't have any style". Alernatively, for us seasoned shoppers, I always save a successful buy for last. Jewelry! I'm always going to get some to go with an outfit and it's a no-brainer buy. Leave the mall with some purchasing power!
That's it, ladies. Please tell me what you use to achieve diva-style. And please let me know if you want me to blog about natural skin care or how to put together a shopping book!
Muah!