Whether it’s your mom, sister, girlfriend, wife, or friend – going shopping with a female companion is not as easy as it looks.
When a woman asks you to come shopping with her, it’s not because she wants you to hold her purse or she intends to waste your weekend. It’s because she wants you to make her feel beautiful.
However, there’s definitely a fine line when it comes to your “honest opinion,” so to avoid having your shopping trips end in the silent treatment, we’ve come up with a few shopping rules every young professional man should abide by.
When asked if a woman looks fat in something, the answer is always “NO.”
This is a no-brainer. We say we want your honest opinion, but the truth is if what we’re trying on doesn’t flatter us and you say that to our face, it will haunt us for months to come. We’ll probably bring it up in the smallest fights and we’ll NEVER forget what you said. Your best bet? Say, “You look good in anything, but I like this style better than that.”
Don’t follow us around.
We want to know where you are (you must always be within ‘opinion distance’), but don’t stand there breathing down our necks. And definitely don’t trail around like a lost puppy so that every time we turn around we bump into you and your sad face.
Understand your role.
You’re there to make us feel beautiful. Don’t act uninterested and don’t stare into your phone. Make us feel special. To us, this is our day to feel wanted by you.
Try to give some real but inoffensive input.
Nothing is worse than a man saying, “It’s fine, let’s go.” Clothes are meant to accentuate everything that is great about our taste and our bodies and you need to show your woman that you notice and adore these things about her. Compliment her. And then do it again.
Try things on yourself.
The best shopping experience women often report having with a man is one in which he’s so enthusiastic about the outing that he’s actually actively participating. Choose a few items, ask for her opinion, and go into the fitting room at the same time as her to try things on yourself. This removes any pressure and scrutiny she may be feeling. Just don’t over compensate by suddenly putting all of the attention on you.
Sit outside of the fitting room so you’re close enough to give your opinion when she comes out.
The dressing room can be a cruel place. With harsh lighting, super small quarters, and “fat” mirrors, it’s nice to have you standing by the door with genuine interest to hike up her confidence.
Make some suggestions.
We want you to think we look good. Even if a guy has terrible taste, if he says he likes a woman in something she typically wouldn’t wear, chances are she’ll get it anyway – even if she only ends up trolling around the house in it.
If you get restless, suggest taking a break.
Go grab a coffee or a snack. If there’s one thing women seem to love more than shopping, it’s Starbucks.
Don’t look at other women.
Don’t ever make the mistake of comparing what other women are wearing with what your lady has just put on. There will probably be beautiful women all around you – but believe us, even when you think she’s in another aisle, she’s still watching you. Keep yourself in check.
#NOTABLE
Image from: istock.com/LuminaStock
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