Shopping and Dressing Room Tips

A consistent mistake we make is that we aren’t strategic when shopping. The result is

that we end up with garments that catch our eye but don’t fit well nor integrate into our

wardrobe.

First, consider why you buy a garment: is it on sale and are you comfortable with it? Can

you wear it with three other outfits, or is it just cute and you’re in a shopping mood?

Does it fix a wardrobe need?

How something fits is critical and sometimes we only see the biggest flaws—like tight

shoulders. In fact, when you have a garment that fits properly, you’re more likely to

wear it and not even realize why.

Fit Tips

Shirts: Seam sits on the shoulder; buttons lie flat without gaping; no draped fabric

under the arm; sleeves stop at your wrist break; tailoring creates a cleaner line and is

easier to tuck in; shirts shouldn’t ride up when sitting.

Skirts: If they’re a midi, make sure they don’t hit at mid-calf; knee-length tapered skirts

make your legs look longer; when walking, skirt shouldn’t rotate; leather skirts shouldn’t

be worn with leather boots (unless suede); if wearing boots, it’s more flattering if some

skin shows at the knee.

Pants: Avoid slash pockets as they can make your hips look wider; wide-leg pants

fitted at the top make you look taller; if you’re pear-shaped, wear flat, not pleated

pockets; and no gaping pockets while sitting.

Blazers: Seam sits at the shoulder; when buttoned, there should be no extra fabric at

the collarbone; the jacket fits nicely under the arm without pulling; the cuff rests at your

thumb knuckle; and jacket lays flat while buttoned.

Tammy’s Truism: When combined, these tips can save you money by reducing mistake purchases. Factor in tailoring costs as they can address some fixes.