Buying new clothes

[Kamen]

I need some new clothes but the thought to go from shop to shop, look clothes in front of other people and sellers, and asking if I can try them is terrifying to me.
The last time I did this was a month ago. I was together with my mother and looking for shoes. At some point I was so nervous, with fast heart rate, that I was ready to leave the shop in the middle of the shopping.
What about you? How do you buy new clothes?

 

[recluse]

I buy most stuff online mainly due to the fact that i live so far from everything, and also you get cheaper prices online. The only things i can't buy online are trousers because the sizes vary so much.

When i do go to shops i go to a large store which allows you to try clothes without asking, you just choose an item and go to the changing room yourself.

 

[Ashiene]

i have never bought my own clothes, and ive been wearing the same ones for at least 4 years.

 

[Chod77]

I loathe shopping. I never know what to buy and I feel like I look like an idiot in everything I wear. Like the people above me, I just do it online. It's a lot easier. Also there is just something so exciting about having a package come to you in the mail.

 

[Smokeringz]

i go to thrift shops, not alot of people there. But i usualy shop online

 

[Kamen]

Online shopping seems a good alternative. I do it but with books and other stuff. I should try it with clothes, as well.

 

[weak]

I buy everything online, better variety and more convenient.. zappos.com has free overnight shipping and a 365 day return policy on most stuff.

 

[Azahara]

Replay

I agree with Kamen. Shopping on line is a good alernative, but perhaps if you go with someone else, the first time you feel anxiety. Don´t worry. Go out of the shop and breathe deeply 5 6 times, If you can´t come into the shop. Go the next day and do the same. Try inside the shop as many time as you can and so on. Your level of anxiety will decrease. Another possibility is going to a big store where dependents are not over you all the time.

I don´t like going to the shops. I usually go with my husband who choose the clothes for me. I never get to decide myself. But, now, I have decided to go alone. The worse for me is to decide.

Good luck! :wink:

 

[chris87]

I like shopping online, because I don't like dealing with the store salespeople. Whenever I am looking around, they always ask me if I need help with anything. I know they're just trying to help, but it makes me too uncomfortable, especially when I feel like they're watching me.

 

[sleepysparrow]

I hate shopping!! For anything, especially clothes. Every retail store or big chain clothing store i've been to, the people that work there are just so rude, and the girls that go in there always go with friends, or just act snobby and I always think they are laughing at me. I don't really like anything too trendy anyways, I hate trends. I haven't bought new clothes in a while, when I do it's usually in thrift stores for vintage, the sales people are usually nicer in there. I sometimes shop online, although it's really expensive to buy new things and I always feel guilty about it because i'm pretty poor. I wish I could just make my own clothes, buy some fabric and a sewing machine, but sewing machines are also too expensive.

 

[Ebbe]

I agree that shopping online can be fun, but I don't think it is a solution to your problem. If you are shopping online instead of going to an actual store, you are only avoiding your problem and it might become even worse.
Since you already managed to go to a store before, I am sure you can do it again.

I guess that the way of facing the shopping problem depends a lot on what part of it invokes your anxiety.

Personally, my anxiety is invoked by having to talk to people. Usually, talking to people in stores has a very repetitive pattern and almost always includes the same conversation, so if you just stick to those ("Can I help you with something?" "No thank you, I am just browsing.", "Do you want a bag?" "Yes, thank you."), and prepare yourself for those lines, there is not much that can go wrong.

Otherwise I agree with some of the other posters, that it's easiest to go to big stores where people don't pay too much attention to you.

But I guess it depends a lot on what part of the shopping freaks you out the most. Do you know what part that is?