I have never been a sure shopper. Oh! you don't know what a sure shopper is? I just coined that word. It means knowing exactly what you want to buy. Sure, I know I want to buy clothes: Indian or western, kurtis or jeans. But that's about it. I can get completely lost in a shop liking a whole lot of stuff, indecisive about what to choose. And, I simply do not like when the helper there comes in almost immediately after you enter the shop asking you what you are looking for? Should I tell them I am looking for a green tunic with red dots, preferable with a turtle neck???
The queue outside a (ladies) trial room can put to shame those serpentine queues you once had to stand in to pay the electricity and telephone bills (in an erstwhile era). I instantly feel guilty about the number of clothes I am carrying with me to the trial room. But given the crunch time I have been allotted by the husband who is in charge of a hyper-active toddler during my shopping escapades and also given my shopping escapades are (now) not so frequent in nature, I have to capitalize on the particular chosen day. I can't understand my own guilt. When I am inside the trial room, I make sure I come out as fast as possible. I don't like the feeling of people with sad, frustrated and long faces outside the room waiting for the person that is in to come out. It always feels as though the person who is inside takes an eternity to emerge out when you are in such a queue. And, if I haven't come to any conclusion by the end of the allotted time, I experience the panic situation of an exam student furiously writing away with the hope of completing the paper even as the supervisor has begun collecting the papers. So, in the midst of such noble intentions and near-panic situations, I invariably land up with a thing or two that I would regret buying in the days to come.
Many times, I end up using the outfit a few times just for the sake of it. Other times, it has happened that I have carelessly discarded or misplaced the bills only to realize LATER the need for an exchange. I have got an earful from the better half on such occasions. Now, we generally schedule my clothes shopping on a Saturday. To account for the not very unusual eventuality of me having second thoughts about a piece of clothing and the resulting need for an exchange. The next day being a Sunday proves very helpful, doesn't it?. And, now I also guard the bills safely.
The queue outside a (ladies) trial room can put to shame those serpentine queues you once had to stand in to pay the electricity and telephone bills (in an erstwhile era). I instantly feel guilty about the number of clothes I am carrying with me to the trial room. But given the crunch time I have been allotted by the husband who is in charge of a hyper-active toddler during my shopping escapades and also given my shopping escapades are (now) not so frequent in nature, I have to capitalize on the particular chosen day. I can't understand my own guilt. When I am inside the trial room, I make sure I come out as fast as possible. I don't like the feeling of people with sad, frustrated and long faces outside the room waiting for the person that is in to come out. It always feels as though the person who is inside takes an eternity to emerge out when you are in such a queue. And, if I haven't come to any conclusion by the end of the allotted time, I experience the panic situation of an exam student furiously writing away with the hope of completing the paper even as the supervisor has begun collecting the papers. So, in the midst of such noble intentions and near-panic situations, I invariably land up with a thing or two that I would regret buying in the days to come.
Many times, I end up using the outfit a few times just for the sake of it. Other times, it has happened that I have carelessly discarded or misplaced the bills only to realize LATER the need for an exchange. I have got an earful from the better half on such occasions. Now, we generally schedule my clothes shopping on a Saturday. To account for the not very unusual eventuality of me having second thoughts about a piece of clothing and the resulting need for an exchange. The next day being a Sunday proves very helpful, doesn't it?. And, now I also guard the bills safely.
Its tough shopping with a toddler. I avoid it completely. I also face the same silly guilt when inside the trial room, have ended up buying clothes in haste (and repented at leisure!)
ReplyDeleteyes very tough..more for the person who is handling the kid..but what to do? I haven't explored the option of leaving both the boys at home to do my shopping.
DeleteThat's a stupid guilt, na? considering the way we have to pay for the guilt? :-0
Lol...good one. So u went shopping again????
ReplyDeleteyes, I went on Saturday to shop and then went back on Sunday to exchange two tops..:-)
DeleteNice post :) Esp, the trail room queues. Argh! I am an almost sure shopper :) Most of my visits have been for a sea green kurta, or a purple top chic enough for work, but not too formal type. The only place I fall crazy is at a supermarket. I have no clue why it excites me but I go mad looking at fruits, vegetables, edibles and dabbas! Mad!
ReplyDeleteLol @ going crazy at the supermarket. It is the place where I shop like a pro..sure of what I want..:-)
Deletethanks, Archana! :-)
Well.. girls/ladies end up liking so many things that buying dilemmas are inevitable!! :D
ReplyDeleteTrue..but not sure if everyone is that way, though..:-)
DeleteI am not a sure shopper too. :) I don't feel guilty about spending too much time in the trial room; I like to be sure of what I am buying. I usually pick up all the clothes that I like at the first shot, then go through them twice or thrice and finally buy the ones that last all two or three tests. ;) This has helped reduce the number of returns and the buying-of-clothes-that-I-don't-feel-like-wearing-any-more, but it still happens once in a while!
ReplyDeleteyeah, that would be the ideal case scenario but when there is a time crunch (always with a baby/toddler)you cannot afford too many trips to the trial room.
DeleteVery nice post dear.... Just loved the part where you explained that the salesman comes immediately when I haven't even made my mind whether I should buy something????
ReplyDeleteTrial room experience was to the T.
I'm sure I'm going to think about you and your post when I go shopping next time... lol..
Thanks, Gulmohar. Glad you liked it. :-)))
DeleteGlad to know this post and I will be remembered..:-D
I can totally understand your situation Uma. I haven't gone shopping for clothes in a long while, but your part of shopping with a hyper-active toddler definitely holds true for most mums (and I am sure to be in the list).
ReplyDeleteThough I am one of the sure shoppers you mentioned, when I look at clothes, I know which one I want and which I don't :)
Am glad you finally worked out a way to help you with the shopping woes :)
@ Era, mostly even I know which ones are better than the rest..sometimes the dress looks better on the hanger than on yourself..the trial room comes to the rescue here..but then like I said trial rooms have a different story with me...so...
DeleteThank god for exchange policies..:-)
You have been tagged!!
ReplyDeletethanks, Me..will take a look..
DeleteLoL, Uma, you've described my shopping persona to the T! I am a shopping Suppandi. I take a really long time to decide. Don't like it if I have too few choices and am majorly confused with a lot of choice too! And with 2 kids and a really reluctant accompanying husband I too have experienced the panic when time is running out. Experience frequent dissonance with my purchases too! Nice post!
ReplyDeletelol@ being shopping suppandi...
Deleteyou sound like my soul sistah! :-))
thanks, Vibha!
jabong is a great portal which has numbers of variety of fashion collections.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.neevov.com also offers international export quality fabric t-shirt direct from factory for men and women.