advice on buying ladies' apparel in standard retail shops

I recently returned from a shopping trip to Walmart, Target, and Academy, and I wanted to share some reflections on the last few months as I’ve gotten comfortable with shopping for women’s clothes in public. This isn’t a sizing guide—women’s sizes are so confusing that I can’t really help you there—but here are my tips for an average guy buying women’s apparel at big-box stores, solo.

0) Blend in. Dress and act like your regular self. It makes a huge difference…

1) Keep your cool. This is the toughest hurdle because what we’re doing feels “embarrassing.” If you don’t have a girlfriend, just make one up for whom you are shopping. On my first few trips, I felt like everyone was watching me, which was hard to get over. But…

2) In truth, almost no one cares. I’ve noticed that other shoppers barely register where I’m buying from. At big stores like Walmart, people are everywhere grabbing all sorts of things. A random employee might glance at you but is usually too busy to care. A passing mom might be lost in thought about soccer practice (lol). Intimates are even easier because it’s normal for a man to buy something sexy for his partner.

Use a hand basket (usually near the entrance) instead of a cart. They’re typically plastic and opaque, giving you enough privacy to wander the whole store comfortably.

3) Have a purpose (or at least look like you do). I usually research sizing and styles online before I go out. When I step into a physical store, I have a goal: picking up an item I’ve already decided on. Sometimes I get tempted to grab panties or other small items while doing my grocery shopping; buying unrelated things alongside helps lower the tension.

If you plan to browse (say, looking for specific colored panties), project confidence. A trick that works well is pulling out my iPhone and opening the Notes app with a random list displayed. Glance at it periodically, and if you furrow your brow slightly as if deep in thought about something complex, anyone glancing over will think, “Lol, he looks like he’s on an errand but has no idea what he’s doing—poor guy.”

4) Don’t blush. If a clerk approaches to ask if you need help, just say, “Nah, I’ve got it.” If you do want assistance, phrases like “I’m looking for item type X” work well. When they ask about size, try saying, “Uh, she’s slightly smaller than me, but not by much.” This usually directs them to the correct section ^_^.

5) Know your sizing before entering. You don’t want to be trying things on in the middle of Target aisles. Men generally don’t do that (at least I and my friends don’t). When buying pants, we find a pair with matching inch measurements from our preferred brand and go for it. Occasionally, I’ll unfold an item quickly and hold it up to check if the size is right. Don’t pin it against your body; just hold it at arm’s length and compare key points on the garment to yours. This whole process takes no more than three seconds.

6) The checkout counter isn’t that daunting. If your store lacks self-checkout lanes, rest assured that cashiers see so many purchases daily that they rarely remember you afterward. At Academy today, when I bought these pink t-shirts, the clerk commented, “I like this color better.” I replied, “Didn’t specify which kind of pink, so I grabbed both,” handed over my money, and left. In reality, I got both because I have matching panties for each pair—teehee. If you use a hand basket as suggested, people behind you won’t notice what you’ve picked up.

Cheers! Here’s the casual weekend outfit I put together today. ^_^ Image Image P.S. I think pink is now my second-favorite color, right after black.