Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Click Frenzy, Boxing Day, where do we even start when it comes to navigating the Christmas sales period? As stylists, we truly believe in buying what you need and what you know you will wear. So, here’s our stylist’s guide to shopping the Christmas and new years sales successfully.
1. Work Backwards
Don’t even think about adding to cart until you’ve done a stocktake of what’s already hanging in your wardrobe. Put together the outfits you’d like and then work backwards to find the missing pieces that make up those outfits. You’ll be surprised at what you find you already own.
2. Know your measurements
This one is really handy when shopping online. There is a huge inconsistency with sizing in Australia and so it’s often difficult to know your “true clothing size.” ASI stylists recommend having your measurements saved in your notes app, making it easy to refer to when you find items you like.
The key measurements to consider are: chest, waist, hip, inseam and height.
3. Bookmark
Now that you’ve found the missing pieces you need and you are armed with your measurements, it’s time to pre-shop. To stylists, a pre-shop is researching the pieces we need and then bookmarking them into a dedicated folder. This will save so much time when the sales have launched and also stops you being distracted by things you don’t need.
4. Get on the VIP list
Brands often share early access to sales with their members and subscribers. So, if you’re concerned about your wishlist item selling out fast, subscribe to their mailing list and be the first to know when the sales go live. Mailing lists are usually free to join and you can unsubscribe at any time.
5. Remember your RAS
Ever go shopping and find yourself drifting towards the same items and styles you already own? There is a reason for this and it’s known as your Reticular Activating System or RAS which keeps you looking for more of the same thing, seeing you end up in a “style rut”. The RAS is your brain’s filtering system which stops you from getting overwhelmed with all the pieces of information you come into contact with every day, and overcoming this is a big part of the styling system we teach our students. So be aware of your RAS when you catch yourself shopping for something you already own.
6. Leave some wiggle room
Shopping purposefully doesn’t mean just buying basics. We encourage you to explore new brands, colours, shapes and styles you wouldn’t usually try by setting aside a separate budget for things that might catch your eye unexpectedly.
7. Check the returns policy
While in-person and online retailers must provide returns for faulty products, they are not obliged to provide refunds or exchanges for change-of-mind. Retailers are also known to add clauses to their policies on sale or promotional items, so be sure to check the specific returns policies for each brand you are choosing. Knowing individual returns policies will give you peace of mind to shop confidently.
Love shopping? Perhaps a career in Personal Styling is for you.
Did you know: ASI graduate Personal Stylists make an average of $125/hour
Study online or in-person and graduate with a Certificate in Personal Styling to launch your own styling business. Download your free course guide here for more information and course fees.
