How to Shop (Part 1)

I learned how to shop mostly by watching other people--my mom, friends, Sandra Bullock's advice in a random movie: "if you don't love it in the store, you won't wear it."--and through a lot of trial and error. And I'm still learning how to shop! It's torturous--as in, being pinched over and over again by someone with long fingernails torturous--especially if you're shopping for an item like jeans or a dress and you're between sizes. But it's not all bad! In fact, once you figure out how to shop (or at least, better ways to shop), it's actually a lot of fun!

So, how to shop? Let's start at home. Back in my fashion show days (that makes me sound much older than I actually am), I would tell the show's models to arrive at the store for Shopping Day comfortably dressed in clothes you can easily change into/out of. It's tempting to show up decked out in hairspray, hoop earrings, and lace-up boots, but it's a nightmare! You lose so much time unlacing your boots to try on a pair of shorts and then relacing them to go look for the same shorts in a smaller size.

Think comfy (t-shirt, pants, slip-on shoes, wrist scrunchi, crossbody purse to keep your hands free and hold your sunglasses while you try on shirts. Camisoles are super because you can try some items on over the top. Also, if you plan to try on any shirts, wear shorts under dresses.) but DON'T leave frumpy. I noticed even as a middle-schooler that store staff can be rude and condescending, but sometimes dressing nicely can make a positive impact. And you'll be a much more confident shopper knowing you look like a total boss. That makes a big difference! I always try to remember that some of the staff I'll meet haven't had a good day, so I try to be very polite (smile, say, "Hi," make eye contact when entering the boutique/department). That's much easier when I'm not in baggy sweats and a camp t-shirt.

DON'T go shopping unless you know what you want. "I need new clothes" translates to "I have no idea what I want, so I'm going to unintentionally buy a lot of things I don't need, then have to go shopping again next week because I still need new clothes," That was my entire tweenhood. *tears*

Instead, make a list of things that will make your wardrobe awesome--the more detailed the better!

• lightweight jeans in a pale color that won't be too hot for summer
• plain t-shirt long enough I can lift my arms without baring my abdomen
• two tank tops for layering
• hoodie for the beach
• cute earrings for the beach

DON'T go shopping if you or the person you're shopping with is hungry, tired, or feeling sick. Talk your mom and fashion sister into sitting down and eating beforehand, or rescheduling the shopping trip for later. And always bring water with you to stay hydrated.

Plan your shopping trip for a weekend, day off, or evening when you have plenty of time to take your time.

Know your seasonal skin tone, the color beneath your skin color. Knowing what hue of red I look best in has saved me from buying dresses I'll never feel confident in, even though the color looked pretty in the store's lighting. Lots of websites and blogs talk about this, so I'll redirect you to one here. Once you find your season, just Google for color pallet images. Don't get too caught up in whether you're a soft summer or a cool summer: you're a summer (like me!), you can wear summer colors. Besides, you--and your fashion sister--know what you like and, together, will figure out what looks best.

--Side story: I once read a book where the author said summers absolutely cannot wear any black, but black comes in more than a handful of different tones, and I know without any doubt I can rock the blueish one. So don't take advice from rule-crazy fashion people too seriously.--

Wow, that's weird; this post is supposed to be about how to shop, but all we've covered is how to get ready to go shopping! That's because this is only how to shop part one. That's right! Learning how to shop is going to take more than one post, so stay tuned for part two!

Tween Handbags and Purses

Now that we've covered the spring shell wardrobe, let's talk about tween handbags and purses. One of the first things I noticed as a tween, slowly graduating from kids to juniors clothing, is that jacket pockets began to shrink and some jean pockets were façades! Sadly, nothing's really changed, leaving all of us with a necessity for portable pockets. But don't worry! It's not all bad, in fact, having a purse can actually be both practical and glamorous--a mini suitcase that's also a statement piece!

If you are new to the tween handbags and purses scene you're about to encounter three common problems:

1) Boring adult purses

2) Handbags constantly slipping off the shoulder

3) Low quality.

Let's address quality first! Unless you plan on only owning one, you don't need a $100 or even $30 purse. You're still experimenting with styles! But you don't want to buy one so cheaply made that it breaks on the first day! Here are a few things to consider when purchasing tween handbags and purses:

When buying a large handbag (perfect for carrying a water bottle or mini umbrella), check for studs on the bottom, they prevent the bag from getting scuffed on surfaces--scuffing that often leads to torn corners. An equally common problem with large handbags is lining that's not tacked in. This can lead to items getting lost at the bottom of your bag.

A super common problem with not only tween handbags and purses, but all purses (even expensive ones) are straps that break. You can limit the likelihood of this by not overstuffing your bag (that's a lot of weight on those seams!), and getting a bag with a wide shoulder strap should also reduce breakage as the weight is then a little more evenly distributed. Speaking of shoulder straps, that leads us to problem two!

Purses usually fit into three categories: crossbody, handbag, clutch. If you're having trouble with straps slipping off your shoulder, crossbody purses are a solution, but it's hard to find a crossbody large enough to hold both of the books you brought to read in the waiting room. Look for a handbag (aka "shoulder bag") with a strap/straps of a material like synthetic/faux leather (much less slippery than shiny plastic).

 

Wait! What about clutches? Often these treasures have a very thin, attachable strap, but clutches are really meant to be held and they're sized for only essential items (phone, $5-$7, lip balm, mini pen, hair glitter touch-up, and other emergency products). Clutches are beautiful accessories for formal dinners, theater, and ballets, but for costume balls, quinceñaras, and weddings, don't bring anything too valuable as you will probably leave it unattended while you dance.

Now about those boring adult purses! The trick is knowing where to shop. Most of the tween handbags and purses photographed are from Charming Charlie, which offers a lot of glittery options--and penny-pinching sales! You'll find colorful purses at Claire's, but not many handbags. If you're interested in novelty styles, Think Geek, while expensive, is a lot of fun. And probably the best store for shopping tween handbags? Justice! They have a wide variety of styles--and no boring adult purses!

I would love to know about your experiences with tween handbags and purses! What other problems do you encounter a lot--and what are some horror stories you've had as a result?? Leave a comment below!

See you next week!