10 Steps Toward a Successful Shopping Trip

Hope you are ready to begin a great week! Today I am sharing 10 Steps Toward A Successful Shopping Trip.  In my life I made too many unsuccessful trips which have resulted in wasted time and money and led frustration.  It took me awhile to learn how to have success, but I finally learned it.  So, let’s begin.

  1. Before going anywhere, have a plan.  Know your wardrobe.  Where are the places you would like to made additions and know why?  What is your reason for the trip.  Shopping therapy is one thing, but a plan keeps it under control.
  2. Then clear your schedule.  Successful shopping takes time and really cannot be done in a quick trip.  With me, the quick trips usually lead to quick returns.

4. Then phone a friend!  This is my friend, Iris, and she was game to go to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with me.  I like shopping with someone and bouncing questions and ideas off of them.  Also, when I am with a friend, I often will be more willing to take a bold step and do something new.

5. Start with food and good conversation.  Share your plan or vision for the trip…then your friend can help you locate what you are looking for.  We started this trip at the Bistro in Nordstrom.

6. Be purposeful about what you are wearing, and begin by dressing light.  No matter the time of year, shopping is work and you can get easily overheated. So be prepared to be warm.  On this day, I wore one of my favorite toppers from Soft Surroundings.

7. I like to layer and were a topper with a tank or top underneath.  That way if I try on jackets or cardigans then I have a top underneath;  in case I do not want to try on a top. It works best for me than wearing a tunic or just a blouse.

8. I like shoes that are comfortable and easy on/ easy off.  I do not like to wear shoes that are high maintenance when I am trying on clothing.

9.  The best places to shop are the ones with three-way-mirrors.  I cannot tell you how many pieces I have left at the store because of the way they looked from behind. Always take time in the mirror looking at all angles.

10.  Finally, I ask myself if the garment communicates the five adjectives that I want to say with my clothing.  When I stay consistent to my adjectives, then I am staying within Pam-style.

These steps will help me to have a successful shopping trip.  I do not like to have to make a lot of returns because of the time factor….and I want to come home successful and not deflated.  Does anyone want to add to this plan?  Something you do for a successful shopping trip?  Please share…..and….

KEEP SMILING!!

Remember, if you have a Nordstrom card, you can shop the Anniversary Sale until Thursday, July 18.  On Friday, it opens to everyone.  There are great selections in the sale this year.  Enjoy the slide show below.

7 Comments

  1. Good Morning Pamela,
    My daughter and I shopped the Nordstrom sale night. We had dinner at a new Taiwanese restaurant at the mall. We started there as I met her when she got off of work. Yes, always a great idea to shop with a full stomach. My lovely daughter is the perfect companion while shopping as she encourages me to purchase things for myself and not just splurge on her. This sale has become a tradition for us andI always feel blessed to have this time with my 35 year old baby.
    I so enjoy your blog and think of your words of wisdom of always looking our best even when running out to do a quick errand. Your weight loss looks great on you and gives me incentive to keep on keeping!
    Thank you.

  2. That was so useful. Thank you. I’d love to know how you chose your 5 adjectives.
    Love the new hairstyle!

  3. A couple of other tips: comb through hairstyle. You do not want to have to redo a bun from yanking things over your head. No earrings: I have lost them this way. I also avoid bracelets because they tear at clothing, especially clothing that is too small. And I always go with a liquid lipstick. When trying a lot on, it’s too easy to transfer your glossy lip product and ruin the garment for someone else. Finally, I try not to do serious, replace-a-cherished-basic shopping when I have a limited amount of time. I try very hard to be discriminating on those items, and being rushed is a subtle encouragement to settle just because something fits and is on sale. This is usually my biggest buyer’s remorse, and I’m trying to figure out all the reasons why I do it so as to avoid it in future (one of my style words is Aware).

  4. Very good tips, and Linda had some good ones too. My sister is my shopping buddy. Many times she’ll pull something off the rack that I hadn’t even looked at and say, “this is you, you have to try this”, and I end up buying it because she’s right. And we are very honest with each other which has prevented some mistakes. Just have to say, I only get to Nordstrom once a year due to distance, but we always eat at Cafe Bistro!! Isn’t it just a grand place? That restaurant is one of the reasons I go in that store!

  5. I think prep is everything when doing some serious shopping. I don’t want to return items and I’m with you in that I don’t want to feel deflated and waste my time!

  6. I agree with most of your suggestions, Pam, but where is #3? While I enjoy shopping with friends and having someone to bounce ideas off, one of my shopping goals for this year is to resist the pressure of friends to buy pieces that they like, but that aren’t right for me.

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