| The other day I had a clear insight in to what type | | | | positive shopping experiences. |
| of shopper I am. My husband and I were sauntering | | | | So often we go with a friend who knows what she |
| along happily in the local shopping centre, heading | | | | likes, but it may have nothing whatsoever to do with |
| towards the lighting department of the department | | | | our body shape, colouring or style. It may look great |
| store and chatting away, just enjoying being | | | | on her but not necessarily on you. This leads to a |
| together and having precious time off together. | | | | wardrobe full of things that you have paid for that |
| Suddenly everything changed! Out of the corner of | | | | belong to her and consequently don't get worn. |
| my eye I saw it...THE maxi dress. MY maxi dress, the | | | | Sometimes we go absolutely determined to find one |
| one I had been searching for all summer. There it | | | | particular item. We have the perfect image in our |
| was hanging just inside the shop and before I knew | | | | mind and in our over focussed state we miss all the |
| it I had dived in through the door, grabbed the | | | | other wonderful garments that may be calling us as |
| hanger and was in the changing room at the back of | | | | we walk by! Sometimes we just keep on buying the |
| the shop. And how good did I look! Colour wonderful, | | | | same style because we've had success in the past |
| style and fit perfect! Oh yes this really was mine and | | | | and of course that's exactly how we end up looking - |
| I was at the till paying when I noticed my rather | | | | as if we've had success in the past! |
| confused looking husband wandering around outside | | | | This comfort zone is one of the most difficult |
| the front of the shop. Poor man, I had just | | | | obstacles to overcome. A colour and style |
| disappeared and he had continued walking and | | | | consultation with a professional Image Consultant, is |
| chatting away to himself for about another 2 shops | | | | always a great investment because then you |
| before he realised I had gone. | | | | understand what will work for you and what won't, |
| You see I am a hunter when it comes to shopping. I | | | | and how to relate that to trends in the shops at any |
| dash in, attack the garment, club it to death and then | | | | one time. Although Image Consultants can provide all |
| carry it home victorious! Others are gatherers. They | | | | the services offered by personal stylists or personal |
| start at one end of the high street and purposefully | | | | shoppers, they offer so much more because they |
| cover the ground sussing out exactly where the very | | | | educate you from an objective viewpoint which |
| best patch of berries is before returning there to | | | | results in you enjoying really successful shopping trips |
| make their purchase. Neither method is right or | | | | time after time because you understand exactly |
| wrong, but my behaviour was a very stark example | | | | what you're doing. And that means whether you are |
| of the fact that, love shopping, or hate it, we are all | | | | a hunter or a gatherer you wardrobe will be full of |
| very individual in our approach. And if we understand | | | | clothes you love and make you feel fab! Happy |
| and unpack some of the psychology behind our | | | | shopping! |
| shopping patterns we can learn to have far more | | | | |