How not to shop! (A *long* tale of woe) - YouLookFab Forum

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How not to shop! (A long tale of woe)

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I have been wanting to go shopping and see if I could pick up a few items to freshen my autumn wardrobe but time is somewhat limited at the moment. Yesterday (Saturday) I had an afternoon free, and a husband at home to hang out with the kids and I thought that the best way to spend the afternoon was at the shops. What I really wanted to be doing was lying on the couch. I wasn't feeling great, I hadn't done my hair, I am overdue for my colour, my eyebrows were in need of a groom, my nail polish was chipped and I had no make up on. Did I mention I wasn't feeling great? But I was determined... I forced myself into a pair of jeans and sneakers and drove to the mall.

I went to shop after shop and into fitting room after fitting room and each time, I left empty handed. At one stage I caught sight of myself in a mirror with my washed out hair colour and pale, wan face and actually thought I looked so pathetic that I didn't deserve nice clothes. When I did find some potentials, I took one look at the queue (which in retrospect actually wasn't a queue) and dumped the stuff. The only positive thing I achieved was going past the brow bar where there was an empty spot and getting my brows thread before going into the hardware store, buying a light globe (as requested by DH) and going home.

We had a supper club date with friends last night and I seriously relied on a FFBO to get me out the door. I almost fainted when we got to our friends - a combination of low BP and being a bit hypoglycemic I think - which probably accounted for how lousy I felt when I was at the mall.

Today I am kicking myself for not buying a couple of the things I saw yesterday because there were actually some beautiful cardi's and a high-low dress that I liked.

Moral of the story:

Don't go shopping when you're not feeling well.
Do make an effort to do your hair or make up if that is your norm - those fitting room lights mean you need all the help you can get.

Over to you... what are your shopping do's and don'ts?

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

ironkurtin

Veteran

Definitely eat. Low blood sugar will kill shopping.

Be kind to yourself. It's easy to pick apart details about your body, but try not to.

Don't shop when you don't have money. That is sick depressing.

Sometimes it is more fun to go with a friend and shop only for them.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Along the lines of what IK said, I usually plan that my shopping will include taking some time to treat myself to a gigantic Starbucks coffee and a cakepop.

(ETA: If I am at a place that sells magazines, I will buy a magazine and leaf through it while I sip my coffee)

I usually have a ponytail holder and lip gloss in my purse, so if I am feeling unkempt or kind of low, I can put my hair up and put on some lip color. It does help those low moments.

Kim

Veteran

Don't try on clothes when you have to pee!! LOL

That was my motto yesterday. I got some nice things but it's all because I made a pit stop *before* the fitting room so that I wouldn't be distracted by anything and could really access the fit and flattery of the pants I was trying on.

I think feeling unwell warrants a nice hot tea and a lazy day on the sofa at home with a good book. I need energy when I shop, feeling low makes for a miserable time, just like you had.

Lesson learned, right? Next time will be much better.

Marmee

Veteran

I agree with IK! I've had that experience before and I always wonder why I bothered! I do like La Belle's idea about the ponytail holder and lipgloss…for those times that you have to go out!

At least you got your brows done! That always perks me up.

rabbit

Veteran

All good ideas, and I've definitely been there. I keep power bars in my purse and glove compartment now. It's so easy to lose track of time in mall-land and feeling faint (or standing in line for 20 minutes at the jamba juice when your blood sugar is crashing) isn't worth it.

Also:

Don't try shopping during a time crunch - Not always possible, but I don't make the best decisions unless I have time to really think something through. I also try to avoid busy times if I can. Saturday morning usually isn't that busy if I need to go on a weekend.

Wear the clothes you want to match/create outfits with. I wanted a top to make a column of color with olive pants, and tights which matched a particular ink blue/navy top. So I wore the pants and top out shopping so I could try on contenders with them. I also sometimes step out of the dressing room into the main body of the store wearing my try-ons (after a check in with the SA) so I can look in the store mirrors under brighter lighting.

I also check colors in as close to daylight as I can get - usually by looking for a mirror or just holding up an item as close to a door or window as possible.

adorkable

Veteran

I have definitely found that low blood sugar makes it much more likely that I will get overwhelmed by pushy SAs and have a hard time saying no to things that I know I'm not interested in.

Shopping while feeling bloated is both a yes and a no for me - on the one hand, I only buy things that are flattering even when I'm at my worst ... but on the other, I'm much more likely to feel bad about myself when I hate how most things look on me!

JulieJohn

Veteran

Oh, Hil, so sorry you had that icky experience, what a pain! But now you can return and swoop in to buy those things you are pining for.

I second the advice to buy a treat to eat. It makes my hubby willing to come shopping with me, which is always helpful because he has terrific taste.

I also do more targeted shopping runs, not the day-long slog which leaves me exhausted and cranky. Now I'll go to one or two stores and then home. I can always return.

Pet shopping peeve: when you can hear music bleed-over from two departments and they don't compliment each other!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Hil, you are not alone in feeling (or looking) this way going out shopping and I can really relate to your experience.

I'm glad you had that slice of time between family commitments and while your head was geared with great determination, your tired self really needed some nourishment and rest. I once did a similar thing at a department store with my inner voice saying, "what am I doing here?", because I didn't feel up to the task. Then, I plopped my gathered load down and left.

Those clothes you liked will still be there. When you feel better, go out and enjoy and take a little health bar or treat with you in the car, too.

One of my shopping do's is to always wear makeup, look as presentable as I can and wear comfortable shoes. If I'm tired or have too many other things going, it can wait for another day. Yes, be kind to yourself.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I am sorry you are feeling unwell ATM!
I try to dress well but have found that belts are pesky when continually dressing and undressing.
I hope you can return and pick-up the items you found yesterday, it is not a bad thing to have time to consider whether something you liked will be a good buy or not.

Greyscale

Veteran

Oh, yes, I've been there. Ugh. I hope your next shopping expedition is more fun. I'll second the comment about needing to pee, too. I suppose an advantage of malls over little boutiques is the bathroom!

There's a great frozen yogurt place across from my favorite thrift store on Fillmore St (where all the upscale boutiques are). Now I always get a small treat before shopping so I don't crash.

Kristin L

Veteran

I'm so sorry Hil. I've had those days like yours. I'm sending you big hugs!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I often fit it in where/when I can - which has meant on a bike ride or after a swim at the community pool. Both of which can mean being sweaty and/or wet. Not a comfortable way to try clothing on :/

Anonymous

Oh Hil, that's too bad. I have had many shopping days like that. At least it only took one time for you to figure it out! The pressure of knowing you've got some free time and someone to watch the kids can really make you feel like you've got to take advantage of it, even when your body is sending you signals that it needs rest.

After many (many!) times of dragging myself around stores, trying to tell myself that "this is fun" and then coming home defeated and exhausted, I finally figured out that if I didn't feel like shopping, I shouldn't even try to go shopping. Even if all the stars were aligned and I would have another chance to go for X number of weeks. Nothing good ever came of one of those trips. I usually came home empty handed because it seemed like so much effort to even try something on. Or if I did buy something, it ended up being wrong (because I wasn't in full possession of all my reasoning capabilities) and then it had to be returned.

So now I have to fell great emotionally and physically, like I could take on the world. I have to be well fed first, and I always carry lots of water in the car. Dehydration can sneak up on you. Oh, and my other rule is no shopping when I'm cranky and PMSing. That's not a good combination!

DonnaF

Veteran

Congratulations for not purchasing orphans or other stuff that should be returned! Seriously, look at the empty results of that trip as a victory as it could have been way worse.

I hate shopping under pressure or feeling that I really need to pick up something on my list (other than supermarket stuff). This never results in buying *10*s. I can shop while hungry, but the thing I really need to watch for and is far more elusive is the dehydration thing. I find it's harder to detect, and dehydration can really interfere with judgment.

And yeah, gotta really be in the mood or maybe I should say in the zone. Unfortunately, I seem to be able to engage in online shopping no matter what! Better luck next time! I have no doubt that even more fab stuff is waiting for you on your next venture out.

Beth Ann

Veteran

What about calling the shops and asking them to pull the garments you liked and have them waiting for you to purchase? Then you can pop in with styled hair and nails and a bit of bright lippy, smile sweetly, and, in your best celebrity voice say, "I'm feeling ever so much better today! Thank you so very much." Then, sashay out the door.

Lisa

Veteran

Nodding my head here, proper grooming really does make a difference when shopping. I also always leave time to shop, the smaller my wardrobe gets, the more selective I become, the more time I need to make my decision. My rush purchases have never worked out.