Ladies, SHOP SMART!

In this day and age, the recession, the cost of living rising and the salaries remaining stagnant, we need to SHOP SMARTER and become wiser consumers. We would love to have the wardrobe of Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyonce, and the Nicole Richie, but lets face it, some of us are not in the same financial bracket. We don’t have to shop like celebrities to look like them. So I’m starting a series inspired by InStyle’s September 2009 issue called “75 Ways to Shop Smart.” InStyle has given us ways in which we can still enjoy the luxury of shopping with breaking the bank. We can do more than buy hangers or expensive items that we won’t use by becoming wise consumers.

Lesson #1 MAKE A PLAN!

• Schedule a shopping appointment in pen. If you shop sporadically or on a whim, you tend to buy things that are not necessary. Setting a specific date and time to shop is making shopping a priority and according to D’Souza you’ll shop smartly and more efficiently.
• Know what you have.Before you leave your home, go through your closets and drawers to see what items you already have. You’ll have a better idea of what’s missing or what needs replacing.
• Write it all down. Sometimes your memory may be a little foggy, so create a list that will keep you focused on what items you need for your wardrobe. The list will act as your guide and keep you on track, similar to the rules (the pictures) given on What Not To Wear
• Do your research. Go online and look up new designers, trends, and stores. You will see what is “HAWT” for the season, what is “EXCLLUSIVE” and who has the best prices. Without doing research, you may end up buying something that you regret either because of the price or because it is no longer a current trend.
• Don’t invite your friends.I agree with this 100% I used to shop with my friends alllllll of the time. We ended up buying the same exact clothes, which is not a problem if we don’t wear it the same day, but I used to put certain items back because my friends would picked them up.  Shopping with friends can be a distraction. Either you grab the same item or you do more socializing than shopping. I’m not saying don’t shop with your friends at all, because I know we need that “second opinion,” but that opinion may go against what you think so it is a Catch-22. Be mindful of when and where you shop with  your friends.