Lost In A Spotless Mind

These past few weeks have involved more shopping for me than usual, as I’ve been shopping for the perfect dress for Christmas parties and for wearing on stage. As I’ve found quite a lot of useful tips along the way, it would be really bad of me not to share them with my wonderful readers, so here we go:

Before You Leave Your House

♮Be Your Best. Shower, shave your legs and such, put on makeup and take the time to make your hair look good. If you don’t look good, you’ll never find a dress that makes you feel good either. Just stay clear of complicated updos and lots of lipstick, as these will be annoying in the dressing room.

♮ Dress Cleverly. If you’re shopping for a dress, wear a dress. Also, avoid long necklaces, hair accessories or buttoned cardigans, as you will spend more time taking them on and off than you will trying on new things.

♮Know Where Your Heart Is. Look at some of your favourite dresses, and try to work out why you always feel good in them. Consider the shape, colour, material and general style. I, for instance, know I usually prefer dresses that fit snugly around my waist, are made in a soft fabric and have feminine details.

♮Understand Your Canvas. Because as I have an hourglass figure, I’ll never look my best in a waistless shift dress. There is a great guide concerning body shape and clothing here, if you have trouble working it out on your own. I’m not saying you need to stick to a strict set of rules, but it will definitely be helpful to be aware of your shape when you’re out there among thousands of potential dresses.

♮Be Prepared. Pick a rather large handbag – preferably a cross body bag so your hands will be free. Now add your wallet, a water bottle, a hair tie if your hair is long, a lip balm of some sorts, a pair of heels and a belt, preferably one that’s elastic and of medium width.

On the Battlefield

♮Go It Alone. Recreational shopping is wonderful to do with a friend, but not if you’re looking for something very specific and have to keep your head in the game. The only exception is if you have a friend who understands your style really well, and has accepted to spend the day helping you with find a dress and is willing to put her own shopping needs aside for another day (when you will return the favour, naturally).

♮Timing Is Everything. If at all possible, do your shopping during the morning/early day, and not in the weekends. Your stress levels will thank you.

♮Be Open-Minded. This is the most important thing I’ve learnt these past weeks. I’ve tried on dresses that made me look like a pudding, but I’ve also found two wonderful dresses I probably would have missed a few months ago. Grab everything your gut seems to like, and use your critical head later, when you’re actually wearing the thing.

♮Bring Two Sizes Of Each Dress. Having picked the wrong size is really annoying if you’re shopping alone, as you need to get completely dressed and leave the dressing room to find a different one (and then probably face a line to get back into a dressing room).

♮Remember Your Little Helpers. The belt you brought can give you a waist in the most shapeless of dresses. The heels will show you how the dress can look “in real life”, and the hair tie can help you imagine the dress paired with a fabulous updo. Oh, and the water bottle is not only good for fighting dehydration, it is also a lifesaver when your hair gets static from pulling all those dresses over your head. Just put a few drops of water in your hands, and pat over your hair.

♮Avoid Taking Hostages. Dresses that look good, but “only” need to be hemmed/dyed/taken in/taken out/dry-cleaned… Don’t. Unless you’ve got a regular routine of seeing a seamstress or possess amazing DIY-skills, this dress will never be your perfect one.

♮It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over. Unless you’ve tried every single dress in every single shop, have searched all the online stores and vintage boutiques (which is rather impossible), your perfect dress is still waiting for you somewhere out there. But you won’t find it if you stop looking, darling.

♮ Don’t Let Go. If you find a wonderful dress, but they’re out of your size or the colour is wrong for you, don’t lose hope! Ask a shop assistant to call the same store in other cities, trying to locate your size. Or ask if they have the dress in other colours, or something of a similar style to the one you like. Some shop assistants might seem like the devil’s minions, but they still have to do their job if asked directly. Brace yourself and think of the dress you love – it might be waiting in a mall a few miles away.

Do you have any tips of your own, darlings?