Your Local Shopping Guide: How to Shop Where You Live

Hi Ladies,

I'm so happy to be sharing with you again...As many of you know, if you've been reading Tina's blog for a while, you've heard us tout the many advantages Nashville shopping has to offer. We've seen a wonderful increase in the last several years of great stores opening in Nashville...both department stores and boutiques. It's the best of both in local and big box retail shopping.

I realize though that many of you dream about living nearby great shops and you may not live near a metropolitan area; so we're going to talk about how to shop when the shopping may not be that great.

Shopping can be quite overwhelming. Use these guidelines to help you as you plow through the stores that are close to you and navigate the salespeople who will be either really willing to sell you something, or just appear bored and bothered by the interruption.

1. First, consider COST PER WEAR(CPW).

You can stretch your budget by putting your larger wardrobe dollars into the items that will be work-horses for you, and that you will wear over and over again.

Examples might be a GREAT dress, or a white blouse, jeans that fit you perfectly and you feel beautiful in, a black pump with timeless styling that you can wear with your jeans, to your office, church, and and/or a party. I want you to get the biggest bang out of your clothing budget, and there are strategic ways to achieve that. Every time I'm shopping with clients, I find myself teaching this principle again: Spend more on this, spend less on this!

2. Don't disdain the Big Box Stores like Target/Walmart/Costco/Sam's.

Big box stores have become super competitive and are now stocking merchandise that sometimes looks as appealing as what I see in department stores! (But be careful, the margin of error is pretty wide.) These stores are great places to pick up inexpensive V-neck tees (make sure the fabric isn't too thin), novelty tops/blouses, flip flops and athletic wear.

What I think of when I shop these stores is that I can hopefully catch a sale and buy some inexpensive accessories to take to the pool or beach. I'll also pick up a couple white V-neck tees to get me through the summer, because you know that after a few washings t-shirts never seem to look that fresh. So I suggest buying these every season, and for that reason, you don't want to pay too much. Chances are, one that I spent a lot more on won't look that much better anyway. So save your wardrobe dollars where you can and still get a great look.

3. For important purchases, buy quality.

I do NOT recommend buying something like your black pumps on the cheap since these need to be a work horse in your wardrobe for years at a time. I've sniffed out the best brands for the best value through a lot of trial and error, and am happy to introduce you to them on your next Girls Shopping Trip! For now, save that important purchase for when you are at your local department store or chain store.

A while back I wrote a blog about packing for a weekend trip to the beach.( If you haven't read it, you can read it here.) Well, on the plane going to Florida I realized I had left my exercise skort on my drying rack at home! Yikes...that's about as bad as me leaving my readers or my cell phone at home, ha! So as soon as we were in our rental car we took a beeline to the local Wal-Mart and I found an exercise skort that I really like, even more than one I had paid quadruple the price for a while back! This one is longer, and I can not only wear it for workouts, but I also feel more comfortable running errands in it. My point is, think out of your box a little when you're thinking about how to stretch your wardrobe dollars. In my case, I didn't need to search for the nearest name-brand store to find a fill-in item that now I wear proudly every week. And I love that this is my Wal-Mart skort!

4. Boutiques

Local boutiques are much more likely to promote clothes, handbags, and jewelry created by local talent. In boutiques, you'll find one-of-a-kind pieces that will be special additions to your wardrobe. I just love to actually touch and feel the fabric and texture of an item and try it on in the store. Small boutique owners go out of their way to help you find what you are looking for. A great relationship with the boutique owner or key salesperson is very beneficial.

We have developed strong relationships with the stores we use in Nashville, and so we often get the best inside information before anyone else, and we happily pass it on to our clients. On top of that, since we don't take kickbacks from retailers, we've secured exclusive discounts for our clients in some of the best stores in Nashville. If you are a loyal customer, you will get special treatment, too (but I wouldn't ask for a discount!)

5. National Department/Chain Stores

If you live in a town where you have department stores or chain stores, its' best to go in armed with a fixed strategy and not get detoured by pushy salespeople or the lure of a sale. We've seen a lot of mistakes over the years and closets full of unworn clothes or the wrong clothes for your shape or stage in life. So, word to the wise, use these stores for your wardrobe building blocks: a great white blouse, a versatile black pencil skirt, or a seasonless cardigan. And then watch for them to go on sale, and that's your cue to pounce. See where I'm going with this? A few pieces will take you a long way if you stick to neutrals that work in many settings.

6. Your Local Consignment Store/Goodwill

Add your local Consignment stores and Goodwill to your list of places to shop. Like Tina, I have found some treasures in these stores. I even look for them in cities when I'm traveling. It's amazing what you can find. These stores are fabulous resources for designer brands that are gently worn, furs, vintage purses and jewelry.

Tina and I were shooting blog pictures last year and stumbled upon this fabulous Escada gown, worn one time by a famous country music singer! I loved the ivory and midnight blue color and the simplicity of it. All it needed was a few minor alterations, and now it fits me just perfectly. I proudly wore it to a white-tie function in Nashville last summer knowing that I had on a couture gown at a very small fraction of the original price!

I found this vintage mink stole at an antique mall in Denver and I love to pair it with my jeans, boots, and a sweater. Life is about experiences and I love wearing the fun pieces I have found, and remembering the treasure hunt that led me to them!

I'd love for you to come see us in Nashville and experience shopping like it's meant to be. I'll take you on a VIP shopping adventure like you haven't yet experienced! You'll have a hard time duplicating it on your own because I'll take you to our favorite boutiques that even some Nashvillians don't know about! We'll have champagne and treats along the way and we'll roll out the southern hospitality and Nashville Red Carpet just for YOU! This is a perfect Girls Shopping Trip (read more here). Please feel free to email me at [email protected] and we'll set it all up!

If you'd like to have all of these tips for local shopping in your pocket at a moment's notice, you're in luck! Grab my Local Shopping Guide as a PDF simply by signing up below and keep my tips and tricks with you everywhere you go.