We all have that friend that looks like she just walked off the pages of the latest magazine… no matter what the event, she is impeccably put together head to toe, wearing the latest styles, “in” colors and jewelry to match. As much as you want to hate her, you admire her, even envy her and above all wish you could either consult her before leaving your house or raid her closet.
I hate clothes shopping!! It is on my top five list of activities I despise the most. Just thinking about it causes me anxiety. I wander around clothing stores aimlessly, completely overwhelmed, purposely avoiding the overbearing sales staff, fingering through beautiful racks of clothing and getting more and more frustrated that I’m not a size two. I’m actually okay with my body and size, I’ve been every where from a size 6 to a 10 and back again. These days I’m somewhere in between, but shopping for and putting together outfits is not my forte no matter what size I am.
I always admire the flawlessly dressed, coiffed and accessorized mannequins in the windows, but as soon as I foolishly think for one second that I can replicate their look, I fall flat. Or the store is out of my size. Or (and this is more than likely the case) it NEVER looks as good on me as the display.
The other extremely annoying phenomena that occurs upon entering a clothing store is I get closet amnesia and can never seem to remember what I already have at home. Hence the reason I end up with more stripes or black shirts.
I never feel less put together, frumpy, clueless or out of my element than when trying to clothes shop.
And don’t even get me started on three way mirrors! They are seriously a cruel joke and because of them, I hardly ever try anything on in the store and therefore end up returning a lot of items. Last week alone, I’ve bought and returned four things. To four different stores! I ended up with nothing.
Once, I enlisted my fashionista friend (as described above) and owner of Inside Out, Wardrobe Rehab to help me overhaul my closet and I shared my experience here. I think it might be time for another session.
At least I’m not alone, according to a study I found online, only 29% of women actually admit to enjoying going out to buy something to wear.
However, I read another study that said, assuming a woman lives to be 63, she will spend 25,184 hours and 53 minutes of her life buying things. On a yearly basis, this adds up to just shy of 400 hours. 95 of which are dedicated to buying food, which makes sense as I know I’m at the super market at least twice a week! 170 hours are dedicated to buying clothes. 170 hours of clothes shopping?! I’d rather have a root canal every day for a week or have my friend dress me.
Do you like clothes shopping?
Greta says
I tend to do a lot more online shopping than regular shopping, which is both good and bad. Good because I don’t have to drag my kids to a store and try on things (or not), and bad because sometimes what I buy doesn’t fit or work for me and it ends up taking up space in my closet until I donate it, a million years later.
Lauri Chertok says
Hi Greta,
I just read your tale of woe regarding clothes shopping with your kids.
I want to introduce you to a fabulous way to eliminate the “chore” and really enjoy buying clothes again.
That’s why I created the Measuringupapp. I hated trying on clothes in a tiny dressing room ( if they had even that ) and trying to watch my kids at the same time. NOT FUN1
I promise you that even if you buy online you will at least get clothes that fit the first time.
Let me know if you agree that this is much easier and saves you money and time.
http://www.measuringupapp.com
Cheers!
Lauri
Doctor G says
I have closet amnesia too!! So I actually took pictures of the rack in my closet and leave them on my phone. Especially when I get frustrated that I have a skirt or top I like but nothing that looks good to match it, I take a picture. Hope it helps. Though nothing solves the “it looks better on the mannequin than on me” problem. Of course, our kids wouldn’t like cuddling with the mannequins.
Twingle Mommy says
I like buying new clothes if we have plenty of money in the budget and my kids aren’t around. I think of it as a morning to myself and enjoy the peace and quiet. But the putting together outfit part and trying on clothes is a pain.
Lauri Chertok says
Please email me!
I can help solve your dilemma!
measuringup@comcast.net
Leah says
I feel like I never have anything to wear and I typically am bored with all my clothes. #shitgirlssay
I also occasionally wish that my closet would somehow catch on fire.. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have someone go clothes shop for us??
Andrea says
I wear the same uniform for summer and another one for winter. I hate clothes shopping because I always end up buying the same things over and over again. I need a fashion intervention!
Sherri says
This cracks me up because I HATE shopping for clothes, too! But I see you as such a fashionable friend…so this is funny.
Laura says
I’m so with you on this! I’ve never been a fan of clothes shopping, but never more so than after having kids. Between not feeling 100% in my skin, not having time to go alone (what, dragging little kids to the mall to “help” you try on clothes doesn’t sound fun?), and having small panic attacks at items that cost more than $30 apiece, no — I’ll stick to my Target outings where no one judges me, thankyouverymuch.
Lauri Chertok says
You don’t have to feel this way when it’s time to treat yourself to new clothes.
You deserve to look and feel beautiful with a new outfit.
I can help you take the angst out of your experience.
Email me if you want help.
We can do this together.
Lauri
Stevie says
I don’t like clothes shopping either! My mom and aunt are professional shoppers and they think it’s odd I didn’t inherit their love for shopping. I get overwhelmed and can’t make up my mind and I hate trying things on. Every once in a while I just go on a binge and get what I need. Almost anything fashionable I own was a gift.
Leah Davidson says
I have never been a fan of shopping. I find it depressing, boring and tiring. So, I have a few stores that are my “go to stores” when I need something. I occasionally will go elsewhere to shake things up a bit, but gone are my days of walking aimlessly through racks of stuff…
Alison says
I used to love clothes shopping, because I was able to look nice in most things. Since having kid though, I’ve realized that regular clothes just don’t fit my non-regular body as well anymore 🙂
Bridgette says
Clothes shopping is fun, if I’m shopping for cute kids stuff. For me, not so much. I can’t afford the stuff I really like and I think too much about stuff like child-labor and unfair wages. Ugh.
Jessica says
I love clothes shopping as long as the kids aren’t around. And I have to be at the right store. I can’t stand shopping at places like Ross where I have to search through racks to find my size.
Leona says
especially for plus size women like me! i mean its a problem that youd have to go out to shop, its even more problematic when they dont have your size!
Kurtis says
Hello ladies,
I was wondering how can a lady deny having fun at shopping.
But yeah, according to the comments above, ladies may find it difficult with kids and other reasons.
Online shopping is for you, young women. I have some suggestions for you. Why don’t you ladies try Indian attires. They are comfortable. Believe me.
Visit online shopping store http://www.ashika.com. You will find sarees, salwar kameez catalog or Indian tunic tops catalogs.
Just have a look once!
Regards,
Ashika