Girl Scout Shopping

Image courtesy of accidentalmommies.com

Were you a Girl Scout?  I was, way back in the mists of time.  Do you remember the motto of the Girl Scouts?

Be Prepared.

What a great piece of advice, and not just for shopping!  Do you stop into shops only when something catches your eye?  Are you in a panic because you need something to wear to your event, and have no idea what will suit you?  Do you find yourself wondering what you can find in two days (or less) that won’t need to be tailored?

It’s always a good idea to keep your eyes open for items that will be useful or lovely additions to your wardrobe; however, it’s challenging if you wait for these inspirations to strike.  Part of the problem is that what looks good on the hanger may not look so good on you, and (happily) vice versa:  things you wouldn’t look twice at often look terrific on your body.

You’ll be able to judge an article of clothing better if you’re wearing the proper foundation garments, shoes, and the items you already own that you want to wear with it.  You don’t have to wear any of these (except maybe proper foundations!):  you can bring them along.  This makes a huge difference.  If you’re out and about in your sports bra (because you just came from the gym, right?), then chances are good that the beautiful dress you think may be perfect for your cousin’s wedding isn’t going to look so great when you try it on.  If you have your eye on a maxi dress, wouldn’t it be nice to have the shoes with you to see if you need to have it hemmed or not?  And the only way to know if that cute pencil skirt will go with your blouse is to have said blouse with you.

I can hear the resistance already.  “I can’t bring my whole wardrobe with me!”  Of course you can’t.  But when shopping for a wedding, business trip, or other special occasion, you’ll be much more successful in less time if you plan ahead and tote along the proper accoutrement.

Most of us have a pair or two of shoes that we wear only to special events.  Bring those with you, along with a foundation garment.  If you’re wearing a bra that fits properly (and you should be), you can really assess whether the dress fits and flatters you, and if those shoes with go along with it.  If you’re planning a wardrobe for a trip and are looking for a missing piece or two, consider bringing along the jacket or skirt you want to “match”  This way you can buy with confidence, and save yourself a return trip or worse:  another garment with the tags still on in your closet!

Being prepared also means knowing what you’re looking for, and that is predicated upon knowing what you already own.  Do you have multiples of the same garment on purpose, or do you just keep buying the same thing because you can’t really see what’s going on in your closet?  If you’ve assessed your wardrobe and made a list of what it is you really need, then you’ll be able to take advantage when you find that missing piece of the puzzle.  If you buy indiscriminately, you’ll accumulate more mistakes, no matter how much of a “bargain” it seemed like at the time.

Girl Scout Shopping.  Scout’s honor, it’s the only way!