Here are a couple of how-to-go-shopping insights that I've been using more and more and so have helped me recently. I hope they are not so "doh" for everyone else.
We all know tips such as be well-rested, good frame of mind, have a plan or a list. That's all good.
I found 2 other things help me in my shopping goals. First, I'll say that I have a goal to be really critical of the fit and not settle for poor fit (excepting those areas I know can be tailored and I'm willing to have it done), and for better fabrics, and for flattering colors.
I always like to be comfortable when I shop, so in the past when I have gone out, I would wear things like sweats/sneakers, comfy fleece jacket and so on. The problem seemed to be that then anything I tried on looked better than what I was wearing, and I think it made me less critical. Or at least, I learned I was susceptible to that--other people may not be.
I made a change to start dressing up a bit more (no high heels though !) by wearing at least something that I really loved that was a more "fab" , sophisticated item. Perhaps I would wear a great jacket that I usually would not have worn for a "shopping trip". I try to wear some of my most flattering colors. Shoes are more problematic, 'cause feet have to be comfy, but at least I'll wear shoes that are "best in class", meaning, a nice flat or loafer. I might, heaven forfend, accessorize more than I used to.
I found this approach had 2 effects: first, I then had, right in the mirror, a kind of example of a style goal in my current outfit and could ask the question, does this new piece/outfit look more like me, the way I want to look, or does my current outfit? If I'm wearing my favorite blazer I can say, does this new jacket take me up a notch or is is just a duplicate, or worse? Wearing good colors or goal colors is helpful because I'm a sucker for color over fit and fashion and would tend to bring home things that looked good by my face but weren't right otherwise.
Second, nothing like shopping, where you're seeing yourself in various profiles, in mirrors, and in settings of new clothing, to actually road-test an outfit you thought you liked and so sometimes I can pinpoint the style flaws in it while I'm out, or what would go better with it. I don't care what the sales people think, so the road test helps me.
Of course you can do this somewhat generically, or fine-tune it to any degree, such as wearing a dress for dress shopping, favorite boots for boot shopping, if your trip is super-focused. While it's similar to wearing the ouotfit you want to get something to go with, it's different--it's about looking a bit more fab while you shop so you'll stay critical and focused.
I still have to try any new things on at home and really give them the evil eye, but this approach has helped reduce the times I bring home something and find I really have stuff as nice right in my closet. It makes me more likely to be able to compare new to existing outfit and whisper, walk away, walk away, and feel satisfied, not deprived, if I come home without "something".
