Busting Retail Blues

So guys and gals as you know i work in fashion retail and as recently I've heard ALOT of people saying how they hate shopping, how they struggle to shop for outfits that suit them or are in current trends or that they simply can't be bothered! WHAT?..... I don't know maybe I'm just an absolute shopaholic but i love it! don't get me wrong its soo much easier to sit at home order something online and get all excited at the anticipation of a parcel coming for you, because lets face it who sends parcels or letters anymore. But theres something about lugging bags around shops and getting to have an all day fashion show trying things on like your a human doll! 

Anyway... Heres a few tips I've created to help you cope with shopping and if not then just a few things that I've learnt from working in retail that can actually help you! 

1 ~ Mannequin 

You know them human shaped things in shops yeah... well they are there for a reason they act as a display cabinet for the best, current on trend fashion! Generally the newest stock to that store or season. Take note. If you need some inspiration then take a look at their mannies and see if that style is for you because most of the time if you don't like those then more often then not your probably not going to like the rest of that brand. If your someone who's doesn't want to waste time then the work is done for you! A whole outfit from accessories to layers! In outfit we have a range of brands so mannequins are a great way to see the different styles that each feature! 

2 ~ Staff

Ask for help! I know that for some reason theres a sense of defeat when you get asked ' are you okay there' 'do you need any help' and you give in and accept help. Most of the time sales assistants in shops are perceived as people who just want to sell you the most expensive stock in stores but i have some news for you hunnies! They actually know their stuff. Okay so i can't talk for all employees in all shops but in Outfit we are trained to know what looks good and be honest! If a customer needs help with an outfit or an opinion its only right to be truthful. After all they are putting their faith in you to look good. A date, a girlfriends birthday prezzie,  a night out, or simply just a new wardrobe. so try it ... you might be surprised! 

3 ~ Fitting room fright

'You'll never know until you try' and 'it looks a lot different off the hanger' are two things i tell customers i face every single day at work. When it comes to trying things on, unless your super busy and in a rush, then don't hold back! Take as much as you can and try new things on that you wouldn't normally. I would always suggest picking up one thing that maybe your not to keen on or sure about but has some characteristic that your a fan of. So it may be that you hate the fabric but like the shape, or that the cut is horrible but it has a nice ruffle. Trust me it will look a lot different when those womanly curves get in! 

4 ~ Dress for the occasion 

If your not a fan of the fitting room process having to get dressed and underessed and want to speed it up then you'll need to head out in the right gear! looks are important too, don't get me wrong shopping in a baggy tee, hair up and no makeup on is the ideal picture but think about it if your shopping for a girls night out or date night with your granny pants and hair that could fry and egg then you'll only throw yourself into the nothing looks good on me stage! Which lets be honest always ends in buying nothing! Pick shoes that are not only going to get you through the day but also compliment whatever it is that your shopping for! so ankle boots or ask to take a pair of heels in with you! And don't forget your  chuck on outfit! a simple day dress or stretch jeans boots and a fave jumper.

5 ~ Love or leave

If you don't love it don't buy it! You'll know almost instantly if a certain item of clothing is for you or not! Now don't get me wrong i do it all the time buy something and then never ever wear it... what a waste. But seriously its a great rule to go by that not only keeps your purse happy but iliminates the many hours spent throwing clothes around your room stressing that you have nothing to wear, when actually your drowning in fabric... (lads now you know).

I hope these little tips help you in some way to smash some of your shopping problems if not i hope it was still an entertaining read! 

I want to know what your worst shopping moments were and if this is useful to you at all! Leave a comment below and id love to read them all! 

A.//x 

Life working in fashion retail!

So I've had a few questions about how i got into working in the wonderful world of fashion and where my passion had stemmed from! It all comes down to what you enjoy doing really and today i am joined with my gorgeous friend Alice to talk to you all about what its really like working in fashion retail! So if your interested in the different areas of fashion that you can build a career from or simply nosey then keep reading!

1. Where do you work? Do you enjoy it there?

Aimee ~ Outfit, a store including Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Topman, and wallis (some other outfits have more brands) and yes i really enjoy it! 

Alice ~ Outfit and yes i do ! 

2.How does working in retail challenge you both?

Aimee ~ i'd have to say difficult customers and When styling mannequins being able to dress them in all kinds of styles even if its not to your taste, theres so many different opinions!

Alice ~ Meeting targets and problem customers are my biggest challenges Id say

3.Whats your fave thing about working in retail?

Aimee ~ I'd have to say working with clothing, i love merchandising (changing wall displays and fixtures around) Its so creative and when you style mannequins its like dressing up 24/7!

Alice ~My favourite thing would have to be seeing what is coming into trends before anyone else or seeing what's going in sale, It sounds really lame but i just enjoy knowing things that other people dont!

4. Do you feel pressured to dress a certain way because you work in fashion?

Aimee ~ i wouldn't say pressured as such but of course you always like to look nice especially working around and endless supply of the latest fashion! But thats very difficult to put into practice when you know you have a busy 9 hour day ahead of you!

Alice ~ No not really, sometimes I look at how other employees are dressed at work and judge myself for not making more effort but I don't feel pressure to dress a certain way in or out of work

5.Would you recommend working in retail for the weak hearted? After all they say the fashion industry is the bitchiest! 

Aimee ~ you have to learn not to take things to heart, when fashion is all about personal appearance and style everyones idea of a perfect look is different! wherever you go people will always make comments you just have to rise above it.

Alice ~Hmm I think if you take it personally when people complain about you or bitch about you maybe it's not for you because there's always someone who's unhappy with what you've done and has something to say

6. What are the different areas of fashion that you would recommend for someone getting a first real job? 

Aimee ~Start off in a retail store that interests you, begin as a sales assistant so you can grow more confident in the brand and then work your way up!

Alice ~ I would say work in a place where the clothes they sell are the clothes you like, a simple sales assistant job is best to start but it's harder when you hate the clothes they sell, I hated my first job in retail because the clothes didn't interest me

7. Do you really have much space to be creative working in a shop?

Aimee ~If your working for the right brand then yes, There are so many possibilities when it comes to retail you can be anything from a visual merchandiser, to a stylist, service team, to personal shopper, buyer, to brand specialist and working with a large group of creative people really does keep you busy!! Its far from 'just a shop'

Alice ~ I think it depends what you're doing, as a brand specialist you can be creative but as a till operator or even just a general sales assistant working on a brand there's not much room for creativity as its all down to brand specialists but they let you help move wall displays sometimes

8. How do you cope with criticism?

Aimee ~ At the end of the day dont take things personally, Its just their opinion and you should take it on board to better yourself not beat yourself down about it! Surrounding yourself with lovely and happy people helps aswell! 

Alice~If it's a customer complaining I usually roll my eyes and forget all about it, if it's a manager or employee complaining I take what they're saying on board

9. Do you buy more clothes working for your brand or not??

Aimee ~ YES! Although working as the Warehouse brand specialist makes it hard as i cant ever afford to splash out on a bunch of warehouse clothes.... Unless im treating myself.

Alice~I've definitely bought more clothes since working at outfit, it's hard not to when you stare at them all day

10. What three things have working in retail taught you both?

Aimee ~ You can't please everybody, Its easier to just agree with the customer ...even if they're wrong, and be creative when dressing mannequins.

Alice ~ It has taught me more patience, that some people can't ever be pleased and never put two patterns next to eachother on a fixture

A.//x