The Dos And Don’ts Of Shopping With Friends
I spent three glorious days in New York City with two of my best friends from elementary school. We explored the city – talking, laughing, and of course, shopping. Though we had very different fashion styles, we were a match made in heaven when it came to shopping. It got me thinking about the dos and don’ts of shopping with friends. Here’s how to make your next trip successful and fun…
Do: Shop With Friends Who Have Similar Shopping Goals
Similar shopping goals will save you time and frustration. If you need an affordable outfit for an upcoming job interview, but your friends want to window shop luxury handbags on Fifth Avenue, you have different goals. On the other hand, if you all just want to see what’s new and trending, go ahead and get those lavender matcha lattes and browse!
The hard truth: if you’re shopping for something important (and time-sensitive), you may want to shop with a fashion-savvy friend or a personal stylist who will focus on your needs.
Don’t: Assume You’ll Remember What’s In Your Closet
Unless you have a photographic memory or a very small number of clothes, you’re likely to forget what’s in your closet! Take photos of your closet before you go, for a reminder of what you have. Your photos help you identify gaps in your closet. For example, if you own mostly neutral clothes, you may decide to add more colorful pieces.
In my case, showing my friends my Instagram account gave them an idea of my personal style and life in Upstate New York. (Did I mention I hadn’t seen them since they moved to London 30+ years ago?!)
Do: Have A Shopping List
Stores are set up to highlight the latest trends and collections (with the basics and sale items tucked away in the back). It’s easy to get excited about what you see first, especially if your friends like them too, but if you have a shopping list, you’ll dig deeper to find what you need.
Add specific items to your list, i.e., “midi dress for weddings and graduation”, rather than “dress”, so you are not tempted to buy something that doesn’t fit your lifestyle. No matter how cute or cheap that crochet dress is, it doesn’t make sense if you never go to the beach.
Pro Tip
Your shopping list should include what to buy and what not to buy
(i.e. items you already own, never wear or can’t take care of!)
For example:
Buy: 1. black trousers for work | 2. navy ballet flats | 3. cream cropped cardigan.
Don’t buy: 1. more black t-shirts | 2. white dresses | 3. anything that requires ironing!
Don’t: Expect Your Friends To Love Everything You Buy
If you have different personal styles, your friends may not like or understand your choices, and vice versa.
One of my friends loved maxi dresses, the other was intrigued by gender-neutral styles, and I looked for contemporary, tailored pieces. But once we understood one another’s styles, we were able to pick out clothes for each other. We pushed each other out of our style comfort zones, without buying clothes we would regret later.
Do: Have A Budget
When you’re shopping with friends, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and spend more than you realize. Your friend might have the budget and lifestyle for a $500 cocktail dress, but if that’s what you budgeted for an entire work outfit, stick to your plan.
Don’t Buy Something You Plan To Return
Have you ever gotten caught up in the moment, bought something unexpected, with the plan to return it if you change your mind? Returns are time-consuming, and with stores becoming stricter with their policies, it’s easy to forget the deadline.
Pause, look around, and come back to it, or see if you can order it online when you’re home without distractions.
Do: Try Everything On
Don’t skip the fitting room even if you’re on a time crunch. Take a few minutes to make sure it looks and feels right. Then turn it inside out and look at the care label (I’ll explain more at the end of this post).
How Did I Do On My Shopping Trip With Friends?
I bought a coat, a sleeveless sweater, three dresses, a jacket, and some jeans.
What We Did Right:
My friends nudged me to buy pieces that were out of my comfort zone. I spent more than I was planning on some of the items, but the quality and fit made them worth the extra cost.
What Could Have Been Better:
In the excitement of trying on new styles, I forgot to look at the composition and care labels. So I ended up with two dresses that require dry cleaning (something I don’t like to do very often) and one that has more synthetic fibers than I would have liked.
Do you shop alone or with friends? Share your best shopping tips in the comment section below…
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Great post, Nipa! I typically shop online but I do love to browse (latte in hand) or luxury shop with friends. A big purchase is often better in store. Your thoughts on being pushed outside of your comfort zone sound intriguing. I might just give it a try.
Thank Tonya, I mostly shop online too, but I love being able to try things on and get an immediate reaction from friends. xo Nipa