Shopping; one little word that can turn any girl’s bad day into the best day! Shopping is truly a less expensive version of therapy whether you buy one thing or ten. Hitting the mall or favorite little boutique can be the best way to relieve stress or forget about a bad day, but there are a few things to keep in mind during your retail therapy session. Rules, guidelines, the 411 on the do’s and don’ts of shopping for the college girl. Money can be tight for your four, or more, years of college life, but builidng your wardrobe and creating your own personal style can be fun when you spend your money wisely while shopping!
Rule Number One: Do buy what you love. Ask yourself, “Do I love this so much that I want to wear it tomorrow?” If you say yes then it’s all yours, but if you find yourself questioning that leather skirt with studded waist band in your arms, then it’s probably not a must have that you’ll wear more than once. If you know you’re going to wear it all the time, then it’s an investment in your wardrobe, but if not, it’s just money wasted.
Rule Number Two: Do try everything on. When I say everything, I mean everything! If you like it, try it! You never know what’s going to look fabulous on you unless you give it a try, especially when it’s something that you wouldn’t normally wear. Trying on your favorite finds or something totally different is good if you want to branch out and expand your style, but it’s also important to keep yourself from buying something that either doesn’t fit or just looks bad on your body type. If may look cute on the rack, but not so cute on you.
Rule Number Three: Don’t buy something that you already have multiples of. This is definitely something that we are all guilty of! Our favorite black and white tee or black blazer–if you already have a drawer full of basic tees and 30 pairs of jeans, stay away from those items while shopping and invest in other elements of your wardrobe. As much as we love those basics, save that money for a more fabulous statement piece.
Rule Number Four: Do shop the SALE bin. Never, ever leave a store without digging through the shoe sale bin or clearance rack. I can’t even count the number of fabulous pieces I have in my closet that came from the clearance rack. “Last chance to fabulous” is an offer you can’t pass up, and there is honestly nothing more thrilling than finding a piece you love and it just so happens to be in your size! The only down side to the marked down items is that there may be a little more wear and tear on them, so always try them on and inspect them for stains or holes.
Rule Number Five: Do know the store policy: If you’re an avid shopper of Forever 21, then I’m sure you’re familiar with their silly no return policy. Lower quality stores like this don’t except returned clothing even if it is damaged, so make sure to ask about their return policy before you check out.
Rule Number Six: Do inspect your buys. Taking a second look over the pile in your arms is not only important for the sale pieces, but regularly priced items as well! I’ve learned this lesson a few times; upon arriving home when you go to wear your new dress out only to find a giant hole in the side. Is there a worse feeling? So make sure to not only try everything on, but double check for holes, tears, or stains; sometimes it’s on an item that can’t be exchanged or returned.
Rule Number Seven: Do invest your money wisely. Brand names and designer labels are usually better quality than the Target brand flats or the Forever 21 jeans, but there are options aside from BCBG, Steve Madden, and the like. Fashion is not about how much you spend, it’s about the pieces you love and how you style them. Target, Kohls, and TJ Maxx are a few of today’s fashionista’s best kept secrets for accessorizing the more expensive pieces in your closet.