What do you wear shopping? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you wear shopping?

Meow

Veteran

Went to try on clothes today and realized I wore all the wrong things! I wore skinny jeans with a belt, zip off booties, pull over sweater layered over a button up shirt, necklace, bracelets, earrings, glasses and coat. I wanted to wear all my "cute" clothes for a day of shopping. I went to 4 dressing rooms in 4 different stores. Taking all that off, trying on clothes and putting it all back on made me exhausted! I had to go back home and take a nap! What do you wear for a day of trying on clothes?

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Easy! Slip on shoes with socks if possible, definitely a cami, top without buttons, bottoms without fussy closures! No daringly jewelry but I don't wear that anyway.

Diana

Veteran

Shoes that are easy to take on and off. Minimal jewelry.

And pants. Seriously. Or a skirt or shorts works too, but bottoms of some sort. I always think it'll be a good idea to wear a dress because it's easy on and off, and then inevitably I go to try on a top and I realize... whoops. No pants. Particularly awkward if you are shopping with a friend (or want to post a quick buy/leave on YLF)...

Echo

Veteran

It depends on what I am shopping for. When I am shopping for a dress, I like to wear a dress so that I already have on tights. If I am shopping for pants, I like to wear a top that is neutral. As much as I'd like to say that I can look past styling for an item, I often cannot, and so wearing something that really doesn't go with what I am trying on reduces the chances I will buy it. But easy on and off shoes and a top that doesn't muss up my hair is essential!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I'm laughing along with you at the amount of dressing and undressing entailed in your outing. I'm with you, I like to wear good clothes to go shopping, or to look stylish. I think it helps with being taken more seriously by salespeople if I look like I've taken some care with my dressing. Sometimes I'll wear something I'm trying to match or find something to go with--saves me carrying it. I do try to wear easy-off-easy-on clothes, though. So, for me that would be slip-on booties, jeans, camisole, and pullover. Maybe a scarf. I can leave the camisole on as I try on most things. Oh, and earrings that are secured pretty well, so I don't lose one.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I'm laughing too - but from the too few clothes side of the weather. I went shopping for tops the other day & wore a dress - duh. Funnily enough I looked somewhat unfinished on my lower half I like to feel stylish when shopping too I agree with Firecracker about getting better service.

Neel

Veteran

Don't wear converse hi tops ...lol! The number of times I tied and untied my laces on one particularly smart day was ridiculous! I lost all interest in shopping!

Now I make sure to wear slip on shoes .... And yes .. Pants! If you are wearing a dress, make sure to grab a pant whilst shopping for tops, so that you don't have that awkward *staring at yourself in the mirror with just the top on* moment!

bj1111

Veteran

I wear pjs...I haven't shopped in a bm store in ages. Ssif was an aberration.

Gigi

Veteran

Oh boy, have I been in your shoes more than once! I hate that. It really is exhausting.

If I have my wits about me and can remember I'll be trying clothes on, I like to wear an elastic-waist maxi skirt, slip-on shoes, and a pull-on top. If the weather is cold, I wear leggings under the maxi skirt, which is kind of a pain, so I might "upgrade" to pants instead. And if you don't tuck your top, you don't even have to wear a belt.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am usually careful to not have layers when shopping but was reminded of why recently when I shopped wearing a cami, top, and cardi over jeans with a belt and boots. I was tempted to leave the middle shirt layer in a bag after a few stores. Comfort and ease is important when shopping and as long as you have on a good bra and underwear that works with most clothes, that is what counts.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Most of the time I don't think about it ahead of time, and have often ended up dealing with the annoying things that all of y'all are listing - having a dress on when I'm wanting to try on separates, having shoes that lace time consumingly, etc. The big things that make a difference for me are no specialized bras, and supportive but easy to take on and off shoes.

When I used to seriously thrift shop I'd try to wear layers including a camisole and tights/leggings so in a pinch I can try things on without having to wait for a fitting room, and/or at places that don't have one.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I am a slow learner when it comes to this exact thing and wear the wrong things quite often....

Aubergine

Veteran

My god -- having to take off a pullover, then a button-down shirt, every time I wanted to try something on would drive me crazy.

I definitely find that what I wear affects the types of things I end up trying on when shopping. I'll look at more shoes if I'm wearing an easy on-off pair. And I keep wearing dresses to shop because that's mostly what I have and they're so easy/comfy, then wondering why I only try on dresses and toppers rather than separates. Hmmmm, this explains so much about my wardrobe.

It's a little better in cold weather, though, because at least I'll have leggings under the dress so I can try on tops without needing to drag a bottom in with them.

fathenry

Veteran

This is funny! A best case scenario is an easy pullover top, light non bulky jacket, loose jeans, slip on shoes. No jewelry. Cross body bag for hands free browsing. A bottle of water in the car and a protein bar. A good nude bra.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

Easy on, easy off. I avoid layers and jewelry. Slip-on shoes (even if they have laces; I adjust so that I don't have to untie/retie). Definitely no belt, LOL! If I'm shopping for something to go with a specific item, I wear that item if possible. When I shop, it's not unusual for me to try on 40+ items, so I wear whatever helps speed things up!

Astrid

Veteran

Most of the time I'm just going into the stores on a whim on my way somewhere so I'm often wearing whatever I put on in the morning. When I go shopping to look for something specific I try to wear pieces that make it easy to try on what I'm looking for and give me an idea how it will later look in my outfits.

crutcher

Veteran

I usually wear pj's and slippers as I shop online...smile..If I happen to grace a B&M store with my shopping presence, I try to dress nicely...important but in clothes that are easy to get in and out of...I walked through a shop at the outdoor mall today and wore a sweater easy to slip over head...boots with socks for ease in slip off and jeans...

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

LOL, bj1111! You could have fooled me. SSIF must have been extra fun for you.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Like Firecracker and Caro, I find I get taken more seriously as a shopper if I walk in the store wearing something stylish. I may not be right about this, but I believe the issue is exaserbated in my own case because of my blindness. It would be easy to have sales associates downplay aesthetic descriptions for a blind customer, but by arriving in an outfit that shows me to be a discerning shopper, I've found I've had much better results over the years. Like many others, though, I *try* to tailor my shopping outfit to my shopping need. Yesterday, for instance, I was due to go browse some pants at a local store. As a result I was sure to wear a favourite tunic top, shoes I could get in and out of easily, and socks. Because bear feet on a changing room floor is just not on for so many reasons.
Your reply

Windchime

Veteran

What Astrid said...ideally.
But I'm smiling with recognition as I read your post. I, too, have found myself having to deal with a ridiculous amount of layers in the dressing room. All those signs about the rooms being monitored by store personnel? They must be amused watching what some of us go through in the dressing rooms.

DonnaF

Veteran

After coming across a white shirt that looked promising, I've learned always to wear a nude bra when there's any chance I might be trying on tops or dresses. Basically, I'd wear the type of thing I'll be wearing to my doctor's appointment and mammogram tomorrow: Non-fussy, including no small buttons, easy on & off, slip-on footwear, jewelry that won't catch or get lost. Ummm, but tomorrow my clothing will probably be lighter weight because I'll probably be weighed, and I just broke into the Halloween candy a couple of hours ago.

Meow

Veteran

These are such great responses and suggestions! I knew I could count on this forum of experienced shoppers to relate to my experience and have a solution!

reshet

Leggings! When trying on skirts and dresses you don't even really need to take them off. And I pretty much only own ballet flats, so slip-on shoes are never a problem.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I am seriously borderline spectrum disorder with this. After years of hating shopping a lightbulb went on over my head and I realized: doh! It's getting dressed and undressed 20 kajillion times in an enclosed space surrounded by freakshow mirrors with an utter stranger asking at varying intervals 'everything okay?' that I don't like... whoddathunk?
So, I shop online & try at home when practical. And when I need to store shop I wear very easy on, easy off clothing, preferably nothing tight over my head repeatedly (I'm like an angry baby!) and slip on shoes.
This really is a 'thing' for me. I still don't understand women who shop in social groups & make a day of it. Maybe someday I'll make it to a YLF meet up & find religion on this.

jackiec

Veteran

I'm usually in gear! I don't usually plan to shop. I often end up popping into shops after getting groceries and after working out...if I haven't had a chance to shower yet...or making a return....SO often I'm looking at an un-made up mess in the dressing room...yet I've made some of my best purchases that way. Go figure

Otherwise, if I'm PLANNING to shop, I make sure to wear easy-off shoes, and a white or black cami under my sweater.

shemarie

What a great question/post and good suggestions! I'm so impressed you endured and managed to do that all four times...that would've been enough to make me give up and go home to shop online in loungewear for sure! It IS such a dilemma, though, between wanting to appear pulled-together and yet wear easy-on/easy-off things. Truly, I really need to be in just the right mood to feel like spending time in a dressing room at all. And have enough time to not feel rushed. Maybe the ideas above and some forethought would help me too!

Staysfit

Veteran

If I'm not shopping online in my pjs, I wear slip on shoes, easy to take on and pull off pants, a loose pull over top and a good fitting convertible bra. I like the option of being able to play with the straps or removing them of needed. If the weather allows, I leave my coat in my car. I carry a reusable cloth shopping bag, and a protein bar, or even better shelled salted pistachios and raisins. (That's a great snack that keeps me from getting grumpy during a shopping day.) No jewelry, makeup, although I do wear my Timex exercise watch.