In which I post someone else's work

By Jackie O'Fee, published in Flair magazine, July 2008 issue, pgs 12 & 13 (please don't sue me! I even included the end plug just in case)

What was I thinking?

Have you ever been out shopping and found the perfect item, been really excited, bought it, only to get it home and find it just somehow doesn't work?

Perhaps it doesn't go with that skirt, or it really doesn't suit your body the way you thought it would. Whatever the reason, it is frustrating and disappointing.

I'm talking about the "What was I thinking?" moment that comes briefly before the "Maybe if I buy some shoes/pants/a paper bag to wear on my head - it'll work" moment.

Sadly, a few days later - perhaps even after these have all been tried - the 'fantastic find' is relegated to the back of the wardrobe.

Here it will be forgotten except for those embarrassing "What about that $350 top you bought?" questions from your partners when you are complaining about having nothing to wear to your next event. (Of course, the $350 amount will be a fictional amount of approximately half the real value of the item - we might make fashion mistakes but we're not that silly, are we?)

So, here are a few insights into what makes for mistakes and how to avoid them:

Skinny mirrors: There are retailers out there who insist on using 'skinny' mirrors in their fitting rooms. These are great mirrors which reflect a taller, slimmer version of who you really are. Sadly, it's an illusion: all done with mirrors as they say. How to avoid this particular trap: get real - if you weren't that slim before breakfast, changes are that you are even less likely to have lost five kilos and added five inches after lunch. Another tactic: remember the store, remember the mirror.

Unrealistic expectations: The trouble with being a woman in today's society is the norms are all false - that is, if you believe the hype we are all supposed to walk out of the fitting room looking like Elle MacPherson. We don't. Enough said.

Same old, same old: How can you look fabulous, fresh and funky if you keep buying the same stuff? I often hear women complaining of being 'bored' with their look, but confusing 'setting it apart detail' with 'trendy, out of date quickly'. Too scared to buy anything truly stylish and different for fear it will date, they take the safe route - only to find they've repeated themselves over and over in their wardrobe. There's only one way to avoid this one: scare yourself.

Too Risky: Here's the contradiction to the point above (note: these mistakes can be written off as "learning experiences"). Going too far form your normal style can make you feel uncomfortable in your clothes and can also mean that your new clothes don't work with your old clothes. To avoid this: only buy something "out there" if you truly love it, and if it's a departure from your normal style, buy the complete look, don't attempt a half measure.

Sales Staff: The enthusiastic 19-year-old sales assistant is addicted to "America's next Top Model" on TV, wears a bikini top for a bra, trites in txt, drinks alco-pops and has no idea of what it's like to be you. Likewise, the sales assistant old enough to be your mum gets her fashion tips from English Woman's Weekly, along with her knitting patterns and shepherd's pie recipes. Both are probably on commission. Avoiding this one: take an honest friend with you and trust your own instincts.

I teach all Signature Style clients a simple 'quick look' test to use in the fitting room: When looking at yourself in the mirror shut your eyes for a moment and then open them. What's the first thing you see?

The detail you see first is what others will notice about you first - that could be really good or really bad. Make sure it's really good.

If you'd like the ultimate unbiased opinion on your next shopping trip - call the experts. Signature Style knows the shops of Newmarket like the backs of our hands and we'd love to help you find those perfect garments.

Call us on 09 630 5115 and make shopping mistakes a thing of the past.