Now, the upcoming complaint may come across as what we 21rst century-ers may refer to as a #whitegirlproblem, but it's definitely true shopping can be hard sometimes. To avoid the pain and suffering, impulse purchases, and general discontent that comes along with a misguided shopping trip, check out my 6 tips to getting the most out of YOUR shopping experience!

1) Have clear goals in mind: Window shopping, or shopping for a certain outfit with no clear pieces in mind often leads to impulse purchases that end up being worn once and being tossed into the back of the closet. Believe me, if anyone is guilty of committing this serious fashion faux-pas, it's me. With that being said, have some sort of game plan in mind before you hit the stores. Attending a New Years Eve fête and don't know what to wear? Make a mental note of some colours, fabrics, or details you want to incorporate (sequins? a bold purple? silk?) to set some guidelines. If you're unclear of whether you want a dress or a top/trousers or top/skirt combination, think of some ideal silhouettes. Do you want something flow-y? Or something tight? These will help you narrow out those unseemly bold buys.

2) Come prepared: How are you going to know what a pair of wide-leg trousers will look like if the only footwear you took along with you is a pair of winter boots. Footwear tends to be the most important aspect of arriving prepared. The best way to plan for this is to consider what type of footwear you'd wear with whatever you're looking for (i.e. boots with skinny jeans, pumps with wide-leg trousers, stilettos with a mini skirt) and bring them into the change room with you. If you're planning for a special occasion, bring an evening bag and some accessories with you so that you're not disappointed later on.

3) Map out your territory: Divide sections of the store as if they were a grid. Eliminate areas that aren't worth your time (i.e. trendy, cheap impulse buys if you're looking for something for the office) to save time. Comb through the worthwhile areas. You never know when you're going to skip over the perfect piece!



4) Ask for help: Sometimes when shopping, we are unsure of what we want or cannot find what we are looking for. Rather than asking for assistance, we usually walk out defeated and grumbling about the poor stock of a store. Shake off some of your pride and ask an associate for help with finding sizes or colours, a piece of a specific occasion, etc.

Now, there are certainly stores with excellent customer service and stores with rude, unhelpful salespeople. Here's a little list of my go-to's and avoidances in terms of staffing:

GO-TO

Mendocino (Canada): This was a store that I had never even considered going to until recently. When I first started shopping there, I thought that the associates were a little pushy (in terms of always taking your stuff to a fitting room, asking you for your size, etc.), but in time, I learned that they were really only trying to help. I love how they'll constantly observe what sort of things you'll try on and go and find you similar pieces. Almost everything that I have bought from there has been something that has been recommended to me by a staff member. Best of all, they're pieces that I never would have picked up and ended up fitting me better than any of my own choices.

Aritzia (US & Canada): The salespeople at Aritzia work similar to those at Mendocino - prepping your fitting room so you don't have to haul pieces across the store, finding your size, recommending pieces, etc. One thing they lack is finding things that you're looking for. Sometimes, they'll just pull a $300 pair of jeans off the rack for you because they know that they'll get a hefty commission cheque if you buy them. They are still friendly and helpful nevertheless.

Sephora (Various Countries): Some of the friendliest salespeople in the biz. You name it, they'll pick a beauty product for you (with honest recommendations of what will and will not work for you), and let you test it out. I've never left unhappy here.

Net-a-Porter (International): The best site for online shopping. All pieces arrive in a prompt 48 hours, included with some snazzy gift-wrapping and free returns. If you're unsure of the look/fit/quality of a product or are unsure of what to buy, their phone hotline and online associates are incredibly helpful.

Other than that, and I hate to say it, anywhere expensive. If the associates know you're spending a lot of money and have made sales their career (rather than associates working as an after school job), they'll be that much more helpful. I also find that owners/associates at independent boutiques are great as they really work towards building that solid associate/customer relationship.

AVOID IT

Large chain stores such as Zara, H&M, etc. (International): Now I'm not saying that every associate here is unfriendly or unhelpful, but a lot of them are. Most of them look bored and tired and are counting down the minutes until they can leave. A lot of these associates are also not on commission, and therefore, don't really care if you walk away with a purchase or not.

Urban Outfitters (Us, Canada, UK): The sales associates usually just stand and talk to each other about how hung over/drunk/high they are. Extremely unfriendly and none too enthused to help.

American Apparel (International): See above.

Target (US): Both in stores and online. Remember the scramble to get Missoni for Target pieces? Those who paid for their pieces and didn't recieve them walked away with a $20 gift card (even if they spent more money than this) and no apology or explaination for lack of stock.

5) Befriend salespeople: Now that you've shopped around and know whose service is top and whose doesn't make the cut, befriend the good ones. They'll be familiar with your sense of style and will take more time to help you find that killer outfit. They'll also probably put things on hold for you and call you when they get new shipments in!

6) Know when to buy, when to think about it, and when to pass: This is another way to eliminate the dreaded impulse buy and walk out with something you truly love. Be sure to ask yourself these questions before making a purchase:

-Do I really love it or am I just settling?
-Is the fit/silhouette, detailing, and colour flattering on me?
-Will I have to have it altered? Dry cleaned?
-Is this piece trendy or can I wear it into the upcoming seasons?
-Can I find something similar elsewhere for less?
-Is the quality of the fabric going to withstand the test of time?
-Can I afford it?

If you've answered yes to at least three of the above questions (I wouldn't say that all seven are prerequisites, I can't be too stuck up!), then go for it. If you've answered no or unsure, it's best to either take some time to think about it and return to the store if necessary, or look elsewhere. If money is an issue, inquire about layaway or any upcoming sales.