Mums have a really hard time finding a minute for themselves| never mind trying to plan a shopping trip to update their wardrobe.
We all have those visions of screaming kids hiding behind fixtures| needing the toilet| wanting snacks and of course wanting that two dollar ride on those mall merry go rounds.
Well| after years of being a stylist and having to shop for models| celebrities and makeover candidates| I learned some key tricks.
Have a list
Have a budget
Know your sizes
Know ALL return policies
Know that if all else fails| choose classics
After I had my gorgeous son Oliver| shopping trips became harder| so I used some of my styling tricks to make my life easier. I also came up with some new ones like leave my son at home and use my shopping time for a mental recharge as well as a personal fashion show!
Know what you need and how much you want to spend. A week before you go on your shopping excursion| clean out your closet and drawers. Flick through some fashion magazines and decide what you need and how much you want to spend. Do you need shoes or other accessories? Sometimes that's all you need to update your closet.
Look good for an extra boost of confidence when trying things on. Be hair and make-up ready| wear good underwear and take heels. All of these aspects complete a look and| let's face it| fluorescent lighting and store mirrors never tell the truth. So be prepared!
Leave the kids at home. If you need to plan the time and make a day of it| ask your significant other| a relative or a friend to plan a day of fun with your child. I always think that a shopping excursion for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day is a thoughtful gift!
Bring a trusted friend. Not the friend who is your biggest fan and so flattering all the time. Bring the friend who isn't afraid to tell you that you've got a fat arse in that outfit.
Know your measurements and your body type.
Are you a pear| an apple| a rectangle or an hour glass. Be sure to measure yourself correctly and write the measurements down.
Don't be put off by marked sizing. No one knows your size. If it fits properly| it will look good. You can always cut out the tag if it makes you feel better.
Reflect on what you have seen before you purchase. Once you have been around all your favourite stores and tried on a number of things| sit down and have a coffee. Make mental notes of what you liked| where it came from and if it fits your budget. Go back and try it again before you purchase it. Do you love it or will it live in your closet with the tag on forever?
When you get your swag home| leave the tags on and ignore it for a couple of days.
Then try it on with existing garments and accessories after a huge Sunday dinner. If you still love it| you are free to remove the tags! What does your significant other think? Give them a little fashion show!
If you love the fit| style and price then purchase a couple in different colours.
Or use the original as a template and have them made from the fabric of your choice. After all| if it looks that fabulous| then why not have more than one. You deserve it!
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