Skip to content

Learn to Power Shop, Part One- What to Wear

10062790545_7c08ff7c4d | Photo credit: Robert Sheie  -  Foter  -  CC BY
10062790545_7c08ff7c4d | Photo credit: Robert Sheie - Foter - CC BY
8344048410_5332f6a95a_o | Photo credit: Caden Crawford  -  Foter  -  CC BY-ND
8344048410_5332f6a95a_o | Photo credit: Caden Crawford - Foter - CC BY-ND

After helping men shop for almost a decade, one thing I know is that most men hate to shop.  The lines, the retail clerks, the number of choices - oh the humanity!

Well good news, below is a list of 3 ways to dress for shopping that will make your exclusion more enjoyable, , and help your become an expert in power shopping. Look for Part Two of Power Shopping next week.

Photo credit: no prawns / Foter / CC BY | no prawns / Foter / CC BY
Photo credit: no prawns / Foter / CC BY | no prawns / Foter / CC BY

1. Your Coat

One of the more irritating things about shopping in the winter is the outerwear. How are you supposed to buy stuff with a giant down parka, scarf and tuc? Man up- leave your coat in the car; run into the store/mall. The more civilized stores have coat racks at the entry, and most malls have lockers, but you should really thicken that skin girly man, so I say make the dash. This will allow you to not complicate the process by trudging through the mall looking for a place to put your coat. You will begin to sweat. And, I have learned if you start to sweat, the day is ruined.

And don't forget to leave your sunglasses in the car. Man, they are a hassle while shopping, getting all caught up every time you change your shirt, constantly falling on the floor.

2. Your Clothes

For most shopping trips, every item you put on your body should have a purpose, nothing superfluous. Starting with your shirt, you should wear a simple t-shirt, short or long (no buttons or anything complicated please), and a zip up hoodie. Your pants should be easy to take on and off. Your socks should be trustworthy, meaning they stay put while you take pants on and off, AND most importantly, your shoes should be slip ons. No laces. Did you hear me? NO LACES.  An average shopping trip with my clients is about 3 hours. I have wasted more than 45 minutes waiting for my clients to get undressed then redressed (despite the nifty pdf they were sent before we went shopping, just saying...). If you are solely shopping for a tux or a suit, then of course, you might want to dress a little nicer but keeping the general idea in mind.

3. Your Wallet and Cell Phone

Take only the essentials -I mean it. One credit card, ID, and maybe a debit card just in case. All three items go tucked/zipped safely into your pocket. FYI this goes for women too. I cannot tell you how many times people have left their wallets at stores because they had so many bags in their hands. Streamline people. I could tell you to leave your phone in the car, but I know you will just ignore me. Bring it with you, but make sure you have somewhere safe you can store it while you try things on, like a zippered pocket or a fashion consultant to hold it!

It seems strange to put so much consideration into what you should wear shopping, but it really helps. Wearing the wrong clothing will be frustrating, causing you to waste more time, getting caught up in the change room and weighed down by unnecessary stuff. Putting consideration into what yo wear to shop  will make the experience much faster and more efficient allowing you to get what you need, and get the heck outta dodge!


What's next?


Reader Feedback