I hate shopping if I don’t have any idea what’s out there, so I try to do research online before I look for any garment or accessory. This keeps impulse purchases to a minimum and saves time in the store.
If I am adding to my wardrobe I usually have a specific idea in mind — I may need a classic black skirt to replace the one that has worn out, or I want a beautiful silk blouse for an upcoming ordination, say. Or I want to find summer camisoles that come in dark, vibrant colors, are 100% cotton, and are cut long enough to cover my butt and high enough that I don’t get cleavage (TELL me where such a garment can be found, I beg of thee!).
I always start with Google. I type in something like, “Plus size cotton maxi skirt” and see what comes up. What often comes up nowadays is a few aggregator sites that do the shopping around for you and provide you lots of options in one place. Then you can quickly scroll through pages of recommendations to check for quality, style, price, and manufacturer. Handy dandy!
Recently I was “unintentionally divested” of a favorite signature fedora hat and after a period of anger (I bought the hat in Athens while on sabbatical, so it has a lot of sentimental value for me), I determined to replace it and move on. I plugged “women’s fedora” into Google and was directed to ShopStyle.com.
I found the exact style I wanted and the price point I needed ($22). I purchased the hat online at Nordstrom.com and picked it up at a local mall the next day. I was able to zip in and out of the store (again, avoiding impulse buys) go directly to Customer Service and try on my hat. If I hadn’t liked it, I could have gotten a refund right there.
So, kitties, make technology work for you! Let your fingers do the walking (raise your hand if you remember that old slogan), let your computer do the research, and don’t waste your time browsing with a frowny face through racks of junk looking for a simple black blazer or red Pentecost necktie or whatever it is you need. You have better things to do.
The hat is PERFECT! Even better than the one you lost.
The hat is adorbs.
But shopping on line is just not my thing. I need to “feel up” clothes and I’m too cheap to pay for return postage if they don’t fit. [Sorry if I was unclear. The point is to virtually “shop” the stores before you go out. Then you know what store to hit, where you want to head in terms of garments, and get in and out fast. – PB]
Mixed feelings here. Alas, for me, it sort of encourages my shopping impulse, and is all to easy to impulse-buy with the credit card. I am also notoriously bad at returning stuff that I don’t like up-close, or that doesn’t fit. OTH, it has saved me lots of time when there is something I do need, and I already have a good idea of what’s available, and where to find it. My fave example was my wedding dress. I found the basic style online, went with my ‘best woman’ to a local store (not a chain, yay!) and got both of our dresses in less than 2 hours. Then we were free to giggle at the tiaras. When the clerk came over and asked if we were interested in trying one on, I was shaking helplessly with suppressed laughter, and she gave one of her most brilliant lines ever: “No thank you. We were just… enjoying them.”
Gidget, you did exactly what I recommend — you “shopped” online before you got to the store, saving time, energy and giggling over hideous frocks. P.S. I LOVE TIARAS on brides!
Virtual shopping is a wonderful stress reducer. Knowing that 3 stores carry what you’re interested in, and 4 don’t, (or perhaps that none of them do) before you hit the road takes a lot of the anxiety out of shopping trips.
I’ve had good luck with fuller coverage camis by purchasing 2 sizes up, carefully cutting out the shelf bra, and shortening the straps quite a bit. For the sewing challenged, 2 little gold safety pins work almost as well as tacking. For the sewing expert, the shelf bra fabric can be recut as wider straps, or a wide satin ribbon used, instead. Target carries 95% cotton camis which are inexpensive enough to warrant experimentation.
Great hat!
+P