How to shop like a professional

Love it or hate it, shopping is an essential part of helping you create a look that is current and stylish.

After many years combing the high street and internet guiding my clients towards the best purchases, I’ve discovered an essential secret to successful and stress free shopping…Go shopping when you don’t need something!

Have you ever gone out looking for a garment for a special occasion such as an interview or a wedding? Were you successful in finding exactly what you were looking for? My guess is that the answer is no.

When we shop with something in particular in mind we narrow our chances of finding it. We tend to design the perfect outfit in our head only to find that no one is stocking that design this season. Chances are, the longer you have to think about what you’re looking for, the more elaborate the detail and your pickiness will become. When you do hit the shops, at best you’ll find an adequate alternative, you won’t love it but it will have to do. At worst you’ll come away empty-handed and be left to the mercy of whatever you can find lurking at the back of your wardrobe. Sound familiar?

As strange as it may sound, the best piece of advice I can give you is to shop when you don’t need something. The pressure is taken away immediately, so instead of feeling like you’re searching for the holy grail, you’ll be able browse the rails in a curious state of mind, looking at garments and appreciating what you like about their cut, colour and fabric. Shopping in this state of calm, curiosity empowers you to see more possibilities and to be creative in your thinking. When your mind is uncluttered by the stress of looking for the perfect skirt or jacket, you can begin to imagine how certain garments or accessories might compliment and co-ordinate with other things in your wardrobe or allow your mind to wander and envisage what occasions you might wear the fabulous suit you just stumbled across.

It’s uncanny, but it works. When you shop with a curious mind-set, the right garments will find you! Visit a local image consultant download free shopping and style resources.