How to Shop Intentionally was never a subject in school.
It was probably never something your mom taught you growing up, either. Even if she was good at it.
(I remember my mom would never take me back-to-school shopping before school started because she’d say, “See what the other kids are wearing first.” I didn’t know how to explain it as a grade schooler, but I wanted the kids to see what I was wearing!)
So really…how would you know how to shop intentionally?
Most high-achieving, professional women I meet tell me they hate shopping.
It took me a few years in business to really understand this, but I get it now. What you actually hate is:
- dragging a huge pile of clothes into the fitting room because you don’t know how clothes should fit or what flatters you
- not knowing how to create outfits, so you buy what’s on display or grab random single items you don’t really know how to wear
- the stress of feeling like you should buy something, even when you’re not sure it’s right
But I can promise you this: successful, intentional shopping doesn’t start in the store. And it definitely doesn’t start with endlessly scrolling websites hoping something magically clicks.
Successful shopping starts at home, with strategy, planning, and knowing what you’re actually looking for before you ever start shopping.
Shopping Is a Task — Not a Hobby
Society, the media, and social media make us think that all women just love to shop, and because of that, you feel like you’re all alone.
But as I mentioned earlier, most of the women I meet really don’t like shopping at all, so you’re in a BIG club!
You’re busy and have about 900 better things to do than wander around the mall for six hours “seeing what’s out there.”
You don’t want shopping to be your hobby. (I know you have other “hobbies,” especially in Colorado.)
You just want a wardrobe that works. One that fits your life and makes you feel amazing.
Honestly, that’s a pretty reasonable expectation.
But without a plan, shopping turns into decision overload fast.
This is when you:
- buy another version of something you already own
- stand in the fitting room wondering why nothing works together
- settle for “good enough” because you’re tired and over it
And then the cycle starts all over again the next time you need clothes.
Shopping is so much easier when you stop treating it like discovery and start treating it like preparation.
How to Shop Intentionally Before You Ever Enter the Store
Intentional shopping starts with planning and strategy.
Before you ever step foot in a store. Before you open 37 tabs online. Before you start randomly adding things to cart hoping it all magically comes together…
You want to arm yourself with the following:
Step 1 — Build Your Style Recipe
If you’re not sure what your personal style is, don’t think you have one (spoiler alert—you do), or are feeling a shift, I encourage you to explore your style.
Before I began my image training oh so many years ago, the phrase “personal style” was an enigma to me. I’d take the online quizzes and never came up with the same results twice.
What I learned is that personal style is really about understanding what you like and don’t like — then blending it with your lifestyle and how you want to feel in your clothes.
Start in your closet
A good place to start is in your closet. Look at your favorite pieces. What do they have in common? What fabrics, colors, and prints do you reach for most?
Then identify what you *don’t* like…the things you never wear, colors that make you shudder, and styles you’d absolutely never wear.
When I work with clients, we use a variety of exercises, including Pinterest boards, color exercises, and examining lifestyle needs under a microscope.
It all leads to a Style Recipe: how you want to look, feel, and be perceived in your clothes.
Each woman’s Style Recipe is unique. You won’t find it from a confusing online style quiz.
Step 2 — Identify Actual Wardrobe Gaps
Yep, you guessed it! This is the part where I’m going to tell you to edit your closet.
Seriously though, you can’t shop with intention unless you know what you already have and what needs to go.
Psst…if you skip this step, you’ll probably continue buying more clothes without ever creating a truly cohesive wardrobe.
Not sure where to start? Check out my post, “How to Edit Your Closet: The Complete Guide.”
During the closet edit portion of my style system, when we’re discovering what’s working, what’s not, and why, I’m making lots of notes about what’s missing…the gaps.
Here are some common examples of the gaps I find:
- shoes that pair well with existing pants, skirts, and dresses
- missing layering pieces
- occasion-specific needs (I’ve worked with a lot of women who work from home and don’t think they need clothes, but when a conference, meeting, or awards dinner comes up, they’re at a loss.)
- orphans—these are the pieces that don’t have a single friend. Nothing at all in the closet coordinates with them.
Important distinction: a wardrobe gap is something functional. Not just something tempting.
If you’re thinking it all sounds a little boring…think again. The magic happens when all of the outfits come together. And sure, we can shop for fun pieces as long as we create full outfits with them.
Step 3 — Strategic, Intentional Shopping
Once you know your Style Recipe and have identified your wardrobe gaps, shopping becomes much more focused.
Instead of wandering stores or endlessly scrolling, you’re shopping with direction. You know what works for your body, lifestyle, and existing wardrobe — and what doesn’t.
This is also where many women realize shopping can actually feel easier. Maybe even…fun. (Even my most die-hard “shopping haters” usually end up enjoying our shopping trips together.)
When I pre-shop for clients — meaning I select clothing before they ever get to the store — I’m using everything we uncovered during the style and closet process.
I’m building outfits, filling wardrobe gaps, and helping her see how the outfits come together.
So when she walks into the fitting room, she’s not overwhelmed by random choices. She’s learning:
- what silhouettes flatter her
- how clothes should fit
- how to trust her own eye
- how outfits actually come together
- how to shop more intentionally moving forward
Over time, most of my clients notice they spend less time shopping, make fewer random purchases, and feel much more confident getting dressed. Which, in my opinion, is exactly how shopping should feel.
What Intentional Shopping Looks Like in Real Life
When you start shopping intentionally, everything changes.
Instead of spending six hours shopping and coming home with three random tops, you walk into the store knowing exactly what you’re looking for.
You stop buying clothes just because they’re on display, on sale, or “good enough.”
You start building a wardrobe where things actually work together.
And maybe the best part of all?
Getting dressed becomes easier. Shopping becomes less stressful.
And your closet finally starts supporting your real life instead of making you feel frustrated every time you open it.
If all of this still sounds overwhelming…or you simply don’t have the time to go it on your own, book a call with me and we’ll talk through exactly how I can help.