Most of my shopping is done online although every now & then I like to go into town to touch stuff.
It’s bloody marvellous how easy online shopping has become particularly when we’re all so busy. You can buy 3 different sizes of one thing to try on at home & send back what you don’t like, most brands even have free returns & some actually collect them from your door! You can shop late at night & there are no crowds, that kinda thing.
However it can be a bit soulless, if you know what I mean? The “experience” is dull there’s no thrill in scrolling through a website & clicking items into a basket.
Therefore occasionally I decide to enjoy the REAL (as opposed to virtual ) experience & to make the most of it I take the train into town where all the bells & whistles are. Everybody has a version of “town” shopping don’t they? Mine is London town – one of the best!
Now what to wear for a day shopping?
If you get this wrong your experience will be frustrating & exhausting, get it right & you won’t even notice. The day will be happy, fun & uplifting – a real tonic of joy, so much so that you’ll wonder why you don’t do it more often!
Considering the necessities whilst keeping it classy can be difficult so I pare everything right down. To begin, it has to be comfortable obviously, that goes without saying especially in winter. During the mad Christmas shopping time there are crowds to contend with sure, but I find the thing that is most uncomfortable is constantly going from hot to cold. You know what I mean don’t you? The shops are stupidly hot with ramped up heating & the tube is stifling but then walking between shops or the tube is freezing! So what I do is wear a fine knit top because it’ll breathe (no sweaty pits) as well as keep you warm, with super stretch skinny jeans. The jeans have to be skin-tight for me so I can try on most clothing over them without having to undress. This saves time & effort but on the odd occasion when I have to take them off I only have ballet flats to contend with & not the full on shoes & socks combo. Flat shoes are also great for tackling escalators & lots of inevitable walking.
To deal with the bitter cold I wear an over-sized heavy wool coat that buttons up at the neck negating the need for a scarf.
No scarf for me to drop every time I pull it off as I walk through the doors & my bag has to be a cross-body style. This one allows 3 alternate ways of wearing it due to the detachable strap, see here which is terrific value for money when considering an expensive bag purchase. I never use plastic bags so I carry those little fold away nylon ones in my handbag just in case, although I am partial to a paper or cardboard bag & will happily accept those from the store.
My make up is the natural every day look I describe in this post, for those of you who haven’t seen it. It’s a good idea to keep your make up clean & light so it stays put all day long & you won’t get shiny or end up with panda eyes – low maintainance is key.
I have many versions of this outfit but todays post is probably my favourite because it is all dark navy blue apart from my shoes – Chanel tres chic .
This outfit works equally as well with all grey so I’ll probably post that version at some point, check back or subscribe & never miss a post. Do you have a particular outfit that works well for a day out shopping?
For Thursdays post I’m doing my signature 70’s look, sponsored by Laura Ashley – check it out & be sure to let me know what you think.
Thanks for popping by, Mx
Comments ( 8 )
Abby@midlifecrisisnut.com
Living in the countryside, I do all my shopping online. Only on occasion, just like you, I go to shop in Paris. While I love to admire beautiful clothing and window dressing, it can be quite a frustrating experience. Because when I like something they either don’t have my size or it’s way out of my league budget-wise. It’s then that I resume online shopping. I even have my kids to pick cloths online (mainly from Zara, since my daughter is nine is my son five). I put them in front of the computer, tell them how many pieces they have to choose each, ask them to put it in the basket, I come back and pay. Like this they get what they want and it’s hustle free for all of us. And whenever we did a field trip to Zara or gap or whatever, they pick stuff they they like but never wear because (like us) they decide to buy something because the thing they liked wasn’t available in their size. And online they have all the sizes and the complete stock, unlike what you get in the stores, a fragment of the collection. Amen:) Loved the post, you read my mind. And absolutely love your v-neck, soooooo sexy!
xx Abby
retrochicmama
Yeah it can be quite the disappointment but hey – PARIS is your “town shopping”! That is pretty cool 😉 To be honest I never really buy that much on these days out, it’s more about the experience & you know, touching stuff teehee. I’m with you online all the way but I’m not at the point of letting my kids choose their own clothes yet. You’ve got it sorted, give them some rules & leave them to it – I like it, I’m going to steal that idea!
xx
Abby@midlifecrisisnut.com
I just realised that was a long comment of mine:) I hope I didn’t scare you Michelle, with my lecture:) Anyways, I miss London shopping so much. In the very beginning (we lived there for 5 years) we lived right by Selfridges, and when I mean right by, I mean the office building on the side (I wonder if they still have the Mini salon in there?), we had a penthouse there with stunning views and I was blowing money with at incredible speed at Selfridges and opposite Marks&Spencer (something that eventually got me in trouble with my hubby:). Afterwards we moved to South Kensington, walking distance from Harrods and Sloane street, so that wasn’t much better either in terms of budget. I miss Sloane street (especially the La Perla boutique – the nicest one in the world) because they were so much less pretentious than here in Paris. Here, they look you up and down, sort of to estimate your money spending abilities, even if you’re wearing Chanels:) I found in London they were way more easy and nice, which is why I miss London shopping so much. I better finish now, before you decide to never let me comment again, because I only leave epic ones:) xx Abby
retrochicmama
Stop it I love that you take the time to leave such thoughtful comments!
London is the best isn’t it? But my oh my “right by Selfridges” is a bit much for me, think I’d go loopy – it’s my absolute favourite department store in the world! See I already sound a bit crazed just with the thought of it 🙂
xxx
The Stylopedia
I like how strategic you are in your outfit choices for a day shopping… nothing to slow down the serious business at stake! I tend to do the same thing, planning on every eventuality… and in London, I always have a small umbrella somewhere on my person!
retrochicmama
OMG you’re right- I forgot the little brolly!
xxx
No Fear of Fashion
Very good outfit for shopping. The ballet flats (Chanel!) gives you the Paris vibe. Well, and your looks and figure and V-neck..😄.
Greetje
retrochicmama
Aw thank you Greetje. Yes these Chanel flats are divine aren’t they? I’ve had them for many years & they just get more & more comfortable with age!