What are your challenges when it comes to shopping?

“What are your challenges when it comes to shopping?” This was a question I asked online the other day to try and find out the problems you are confronted with when you go shopping. There were a few clients who were the inspiration for this line of thought through the conversations we had in the changing rooms that probably make more sense now, after all the time we’ve had over the past year to reflect on our style and choices.

During the summer sales this year, we got to see all types of clients with different budgets, physiques, and needs that are maybe different than throughout the rest of the year. Some come in with clear ideas of what they want: they need to buy new tops, or they need new jeans, or want to invest in more dresses, or want to build a more timeless wardrobe. But they all come in with the same dilemma: How do we know a fit is good for us?, or How do we know a piece is versatile? or How do we know a piece of clothing is timeless and not just a trend?

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR SHOPPING CHALLENGES

“Recognising good materials and work”

Good fit and good cut are easy to recognise when you have an eye for fashion. If you don’t, here are some things you should look for when in doubt:

If the fit is poor, the garment won’t fall properly when you try it on. If the quality isn’t good, you’ll see misaligned cuts on your piece of clothing, visible or unfinished seams, colours fade after a few washes, or you may even read on the tag that you cannot wash it at all. When you try on quality clothes, you’ll notice that the sleeves are fuller or that there is more room at the knee. Quality clothing keeps its shape after being stretched.

The best kind of fabrics are natural fibres such as silk, cotton, linen and wool. Modal, viscose and tercel are also made from natural origins. The fabrics that you should absolutely avoid are acetates, polyester and acrylics as they are not good for your skin. High quality denim should be slightly uncomfortable and stiff at the beginning because of the material’s higher thread count.

“Not knowing if the sizes are accurate for my body”

When it comes to personal style, one thing to keep in mind that it is personal. What may work for some people may not work for you, and to find what does work for you, you have to try the clothes. I cannot stress this point enough—your eye can choose pieces that look good on in photos or on other people, but there is no guarantee that it will be good on you too. You have to take the time to try and explore, at least until you find your personal style. Shifting trends may not be of help if you are trying to discover your style. Clothing choices are also about your own personal development as you go through life and changes and new experiences. Turn your head from the runway and look more to style icons that have had an enduring style over the years: Jane Birkin, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Bianca Jagger, Kate Moss etc.

One thing that helps is going through your gallery of photos and seeing what clothes made you feel the best and most comfortable; it may be colours or shapes or specific items that may help you discover more about your personal style. And last but not least: dress for yourself and to feel your best—not to impress others. Every time I tried to go out of my own style just so I could fit in or to try to impress others, I wasn’t comfortable and that you can see across the room more than you can see an outfit. Be true to yourself.

“Not to go for trends but for evergreen classics”

was also one of the most recurrent challenges mentioned when it comes to shopping, and it is absolutely normal when you have myriad choices in front of you, especially when shopping online―it’s not easy to stay true to your style and to not to be taken by the wave.

And the answer from me an easy one: it’s the force of habit. If you still want to experiment with your style and to discover new shapes and cuts that work for you this advice may not be for you, but if you feel often lost and don’t know what to pick and do want to invest in pieces that you never tire of year after year and build that timeless wardrobe, then here is a little inspiration for the kinds of pieces you should be looking for …