I've never been very girly or fashion-forward, so shopping has always been a hassle for me. Almost traumatic.
Add to that the fact that I have a very small frame and I hardly ever find jeans in the correct size, so I often opt for the children's section. It's a nightmare. You'd think that shops would've mastered the art of having clothes that fit everyone the way they're supposed to, but women still have trouble shopping for clothes and finding those items that fit their body shape.
There's a lot to consider when shopping for your specific body frame and weight, like the length of the jeans versus how snug it fits around your hips - it's, unfortunately, not always as easy as walking in and picking whatever the mannequin has on.
READ MORE: I tried incorporating animal print into my wardrobe - and it was (almost) a disaster
Here are a few women's struggles when it comes to clothes shopping:
READ MORE: We asked 4 stylish South African men to dress us
For some, finding the perfect pair of jeans is much like finding 'the one': completely unattainable. Too cynical?
Okay, lets back-up and find some solutions:
Know what you're working with
Sometimes we shop without knowing what our body frame needs and what best suits us. It's important to know what kind of body type you have so that you know what sort of clothes will look good on you.
Instead of copying a particular style and buying clothes that look good on someone else, try to figure out what your personal style is and work on adapting it to your unique frame. Buying clothes should be like buying a bra: it needs to be exactly right for you.
Know exactly what you're looking for
Whenever I go shopping, I realise that half of the time I don't quite know what I'm looking for. "I'll know when I see it" is what I always tell myself, but then I spend hours shop-hopping for this mystery item. Before you leave the house, have an idea of what you want and need in your wardrobe (say, if you always feel like a denim jacket would work with your outfits, but don't have one, get one) so that you know exactly where to look for it, and do your research about where you could find what you need.
Explore, and not just at the mall
I am no longer ashamed to say that I shop in the children's section sometimes, because that's where I find proper jeans. That's where I go when the struggle gets real. If you do some research and explore different places, you'll find certain spots for whatever you're looking for. Instead of relying on the usual stores, find a place or a designer that caters for your needs.
Be creative with what you find
My friend's struggle with jeans is that they either fit her perfectly but are too short, or they are the right length but don't fit her well. So, what she does is she compromises on the length and cuffs her perfectly-fitting jeans as part of her style. When you find something that's missing just one thing, try and be creative about making it work.
Everyone has shopping struggles, but they don't have to keep you from living your best fashionista life. Just be patient and creative, and remember that confidence is always a necessary accessory for whatever you find - it might just be the only thing that always fits perfectly.
Sign up to W24’s newsletters so you don't miss out on any of our hot stories and giveaways.