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 Don't Be A Shopping Wuss!By Andrea Blank Andrea says she has never met a sale she didn't love and she IS an excellent dresser and shopper. To see more of her check out her Pictorial For every positive story about dressing rooms, there are probably just as many negative stories (if not more), some with customers screaming bloody murder to store security about a pervert getting his kicks from watching women in various states of undress, often resulting in unpleasant confrontations with the authorities. My rule of thumb is: if you like something, buy it, take it home and try it on there. If it fits and looks good on you, great. If not, simply return it for a refund. The purpose of your expedition is to have fun shopping, not to become a one woman show under the cameras of the store's LP staff.
Stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks (my personal favorite) get healthy prices for their merchandise. But consider that part of the price includes the cost of supplying attentive saleshelp. The value of a competent professional offering wardrobe guidance is often taken for granted. If I am interested in a particular dress, I appreciate input from others who don't necessarily share the same pair of rose colored glasses that I wear. With these stores offering such a benefit, I think it is crazy not to take advantage. In practice, I have found it best to be direct with salespeople. In most cases, once I candidly admit for whom the clothes are intended, salespeople are extremely enthusiastic in making appropriate suggestions. A previously stressful experience involved worrying who might be watching and staring at the floor while paying, followed by a quick rush home to try things on. Often this was followed by a return to the store to exchange for another size. The cycle was often dizzying. Now, I am discretely escorted to a waiting dressing room, where I can try on any number of outfits. with direct honesty, and ask for assistance. Frankly, I think most salespeople in the department stores will be happy to assist. I have had no problem being served in Saks, Neiman's, Nordstrom, and many designer stores such as Escada and St. John. They want to make a sale, and they want you to be happy with it, so you will come back. With their assistance, I have had the store seamstresses custom alter garments just as they would for any other client. Why should I have to take it home to try on, and possibly return it when a simple alteration could make it MINE? On reflection, I realize that I had been kidding myself when shopping. How many boyfriends or husbands buy cosmetics for their girlfriends/wives? How men not only buy the clothes, but then exchange or return them for their mates? The salespeople in our case aren't stupid, they are discrete. They want to make a buck. Now, I take advantage of what they have to offer. We have to be less ashamed of ourselves. In many cases, we put more of a stigma on our situation than others. I have been fortunate to meet many terrific women who are willing to make me feel special.
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