Shop 'Til You Drop

Now is the time to go shopping for formal wear, fancy shoes and sparkly accessories for next year’s cocktail parties. Go this weekend. Leave the kids with dad, take the credit card (not that I am an advocate for consumer debt, I just like to get the miles and pay off the card at the end of every month) a friend (if you have one) and hit the stores. Everyone is having sales from Target to Saks Fifth Avenue. Whatever your budget is, you are bound to find a great deal on items for your next cocktail party.

Here are a few tips for a successful shopping trip:

1. Take an inventory of things you already have in your wardrobe.

2. Don’t get distracted – make a list of what you will be looking for and do not break from it. Your list could include : sparkly earrings, fancy black shoes, black dress, embellished shrug or shawl, evening bag (think completely opposite of the enormous, milk stained mommy bag you usually carry).

3. Promise yourself that you will NOT buy anything for the children or anything that would find its place in your kitchen. This will just waste precious personal shopping time. We need to FOCUS here people.

3. If you hate shopping for clothes, just focus on accessories and shoes.

4. If you think/hope you will be a different size come the next cocktail party, again, focus on accessories and shoes.

5. Do not buy something just because it is CHEAP. You need to be able to see yourself wearing it and liking it. “Cheap” items that never get worn, aren’t very cheap if you figure out cost per wear.

6. Be prepared to dig through piles of randomness and racks of miscellaneous. The holiday sale product will not be nicely merchandised and easy to look through.

7. Stick a granola bar and a bottle of water in your bag. Shopping hungry causes crankiness and usually results in bad purchasing decisions. It will also give you the added stretgth you will need to do the digging.

8. Have fun and don’t stress. If you come home with nothing, just count it as a little “me” time and think about the money you just saved for your next shopping trip!


P.S. If you already have a plethora of cocktail attire and accessories in your closet, now is also a great time to pick up outerwear for the whole family (coats, hats, mittens, scarfs) at rock bottom prices.