The Top 5 Mistakes Guys Make When Shopping

For some men, shopping is a daunting task. First you have to figure out what you’re looking for, find the place you want to browse, and finally taking the time to go out and do it. Today we’ll help you take a little bit of the stress out of the shopping experience with our five tips to make shopping more successful for guys.

Mistake 1: Not Having A Gameplan

Shopping is not the place to just wing it. It’s helpful to think about the reason you’re looking for whatever items you’re shopping for and how you intend to wear it. We often recommend thinking about your personal style and considering if the piece you’re considering fits your look and is something you’ll get a lot of wear out of. 

It may be helpful for you to recall a specific look you’ve seen in an ad or social media and find ways to personalize it to fit your lifestyle and look. When you have a plan of attack for your shopping trip you’ll be much more successful than going out thinking “I need a shirt.”

Mistake 2: Waiting Until The Last Minute

If you’re shopping for a specific event or purpose and not just to build your wardrobe, the last thing you should do is just wait til the last minute. Doing so will make you rushed in your decisions and you may be less likely to pick out something with lasting value for your wardrobe. 

If you wait until the last possible minute to shop you’ll have a greater likelihood of buying just whatever works, and not something you actually love. You also run the risk of finding something you really love but not being able to get it in your size in time, and tailoring is going to be a big challenge as well.

Mistake 3: Skipping Tailoring

The absolute best way to look better in your clothing is to wear items that fit you well. Whether it’s a sport shirt or sport coat or pants, alterations to make them fit your body type perfectly will just make the items look that much more polished, and you’ll feel more confident in them too! 

It’s a common misconception that getting clothes tailored is a long arduous process. It really isn’t (and it’s so worth it). When you buy from Ticknors, free alterations are included in your purchase. Just like that. Your Ticknors style advisor will guide you on what tailoring you may need, have a quick chat with you about how you like your clothes to fit and look, and get your garments ready to be taken to our in-house tailor shop. So rest assured that if you buy from Ticknors, you’ll end up with a great fitting look.

Our tip for getting clothes altered: If you didn’t purchase the clothes from us, find a tailor you trust and start with a conversation. You can explain to them what you are looking for, show some images that you like, and if you feel confident they can deliver what you’re looking for, then go for it!

Mistake 4: Thinking of Individual Garments Instead of Full Outfits

Next time you’re out shopping or flipping through a magazine, take a look at how each individual garment in an outfit makes the look “work.” A lot of men think about specific items over complete looks, which may make you overlook something that would fit right in to your wardrobe. For example you may find a shirt that you don’t think you’d wear much on its own but would look awesome with a specific pair of shoes you own and a sport coat. When you see something you like, or something you think you want to buy, ask yourself how many outfits you can create by purchasing that item? Could you use the jacket with a different pair of pants? Could the shirt work on it’s own and with a sport coat? Tie and no tie? Think about how many different looks you can create with each piece — it will add versatility to your wardrobe and make your dollar go farther.

Mistake 5: Not Asking For Help

Shopping to build a personal look is no time to be stubborn. If you have a question about a style or anything, it is important to ask! Ticknors style advisors are there for that exact reason. Whether you’re unsure of where you can wear something or if an outfit looks good on you or if the pieces complement one another, just ask! We’re here to help you look your best. 

So There You Have It

The Top 5 Mistakes Guys Make When Shopping. If any of these sound like you, we’re here to help you create a wardrobe you’ll love this fall. Just stop in to any Ticknors store or book an appointment with us to get started.