Men generally hate purchasing clothes. They’re not wrong.
Although I love dressing up and looking stylish occasionally–or taking care of my clothes on a regular day, buying clothes is not on my top list of priorities.
Here’s the truth about clothing shopping is generally not a great option for men:
Stores for clothes are designed specifically to cater to women.
If I can generalize for just a moment…Women like the experience of shopping. They take their time exploring all the options available, and then searching for the lowest price. It’s all about the enjoyment. They actually enjoy it.
When you think of the typical clothes store, it’s thatit is a sea of sizes, colors and options. This is a deliberate overflow. Because, apparently “chicks love the idea.”
Women Have Been Doing It Everything Wrong
The issue is that women have been doing this whole shopping process wrong. Perhaps an alternative way of saying it isthat men have followed the wrong direction. We believed that we were not interested in shopping? But we really don’t like shopping in the way women shop.
They enjoy the experience and the browsing experience, price-comparing, and the JOURNEY …(again This is an average, so don’t put your pants in a swarm just yet.).
Men would like to get to our point: to pick up new men’s clothing.
As swiftly and quiet as you can, as if Navy Seals on a nighttime stealth mission.
Yet, in all the time we’ve attempted to “shop at the mall for clothing,” how have we gotten there? The same way our moms (most likely) taught us: visit the store, take a look at the items on display, and then see whether anything you see appears good…or worthy of buying.
What was the fun? Not fun at all.
Wonderful Information Great News! The Right Way to Shop is actually a lot easier for guys.
Irony in ironies of all kinds? According to the majority of fashion experts, the best way of shopping is more closely with the preferences of men.
Fashion experts, and not just women and men too, say that you must think about and plan your clothing shopping as a special forces tactical strike. (Ok they don’t actually employ those exact words but …).
The last thing that experts recommend is to visit an establishment and “browse.”
The best method to shop is to be focussed, strategic and disciplined on your strategy:
1. Think about what your general wardrobe should comprise
It’s a difficult aspect at first. But , don’t be afraid of your “W-word.”
When you think about your wardrobe an important aspect to think about is your lifestyle, surroundings as well as your environment, job…What essential clothing items are essential to look and feel good doing well…what do you typically do?
For your basic wardrobe, you should think about to make them as interchangeable as is possible. For this, it’s best selecting neutral colors such as navy, black, gray and tan. You can also choose smaller, muted patterns.
If you’re looking for more specific guidelines on what you should incorporate into the wardrobe of yours, websites such as Real Men Real Style, Dappered and the Effortless Gent as well as Style Girlfriend are great resources. I recommend specifically reading about Effortless Gent’s minimalist style to consider the design of your wardrobe.
2. Write down exactly what you’re looking to buy
Gentlemen, this is the key — and the primary thing we often overlook.
According to what Megan Collins from Style Girlfriend spoke to me during an interview heading to the shop to buy “new clothing for fall,” you should be walking into the store in search of two pairs of khakis, two dress tops, a sweater in color that is neutral color…SPECIFIC items!
If you’ve completed item #1 above and you’re ready, this is a breeze to do: it’s basically a need-gap assessment. Imagine you need three pairs of khakis in your wardrobe. However, you already had one. That means you’re required 2 more and the list goes on. Boom. Easy.
3. AGBTYL: Always refer back to your list
(ok the acronym will not get you any medals, but …)
When you’re shopping, it’s easy to be lost in “field conditions” Unexpected sales. Shopping fatigue that alters your judgment. Unplanned, wild ideas concerning colored turtlenecks, or a variety of patterns…You’ve to remain solid, dear. Keep in mind why you’re here. Sticking to your list can be difficult, but maintaining discipline here will save you loads of wallet-ache and Crying-Game-shower-magnitude regret later.
It is even better to keep your list to a minimum and set a time limit. You could even create a contest: do you manage to complete all the items you need to do in just 45 minutes? …Without falling over innocent passers-by while doing it? It’s definitely worth a shot. Make a list of your options and set the stopwatch!
4. Only press the trigger only when you’re truly just
If you’ve made it to the end of your shopping journey this far and you’ve managed to stay focussed on your shopping list Congratulations! Once you’ve found the item you’re looking for, make sure that it’s really worth the money. What do you consider when evaluating the item?
The first thing to do is test the garment on, be aware that FIT is the most important thing. I’ve written previously about this and also discussed in a recent video about my experience with custom-made clothing.
It is helpful to know your measurements, and truly understanding your size. If you’ve not been measured by a professional must do it. However, since measurements differ slightly from brand to brand What happens during the room where you measure is important.
But, your knowledge of your body’s fit is likely to be more vital. Many guys prefer to live their lives wearing clothes that are too tight. Do not do that. While you are trying the product on, think: “Is there room for more than me?” If you can safely hide a pineapple, or a six-pack Rolling Rock in your dress shirt, it might be too large. I’m just saying.’
Enjoy shopping in the store If you’re on the side of the fence while in the shop, it’s unlikely that you’ll fall in love with it when you return at home. In the last few years, when it comes to shopping for clothes and basically everything else I’ve become a fan of using the “Hell Yes” test. When trying to determine if you’re a fan of something, if the answer isn’t an overwhelmingly “Hell Yes!” then drop it and move on. It will simplify your decision-making significantly.
5. Enjoy the convenience and ease of shopping online
Shopping online is like hitting”the “easy button” for men-friendly shopping. It’s not my intention to suggest that online shopping was created specifically for males. However, if you’re a guy who has always resisted traditional clothing shopping but hasn’t tried the idea of shopping online a chance it’s going to be an enjoyable surprise.
This is the best “un-shopping” method of shopping. There’s no visual clutter (you typically sort by size) There’s no smelly perfume counters to stroll past and no other shoppers smacking you, and no salespeople harassing you…and the option to relax in your favourite chair (sans pants If you want) drinking your favorite drink the whole time!
It’s still important to maintain the same standards we talked about in the past: be aware of what you’re looking to purchase and adhere to a shopping list so that you don’t get lost…
However, to enable online shopping to be a success it is essential to get familiar with the process of purchasing and returning goods. The major drawback of shopping online is that you aren’t able to test the item before purchasing it. You may not even know the actual color or material is like — let not mention how it fits until you take it out of the packaging at home. The good thing is that a majority of online stores have extremely flexible returns policies.
My adviceis to order products on the internet as well as PLAN for returning at minimum one item. This will allow you to get past the initial obstacle of understanding the best way to pack your return items to the retailer as well as knowing where your closest UPS or FedEx drop-off location is.
According to Brock of The Modest Man says, the most important thing is to get used to the “rhythm” of shopping online and then returning items that aren’t working. Once you’ve done this then, there’s no way to go back. ….
Clothes-Shopping isn’t That Bad
See? You’ve always believed that shopping was going be painful or traumatizing…
It turns out that shopping for clothes isn’t that bad in the end. It’s just a matter of relearning the things you thought you knew about shopping.