[nabs-l] clothes shopping

Thu Dec 29 10:51:34 UTC 2011

I thought I'd add my own two cents on this topic, since I'm a
light-shadow blind person who enjoys being in fashion.

For fashion tips, I turn to magazines like Ladies' Home Journal, which
always has a section on fashion that is described pretty well. I also
do internet searches for tips on the latest fashions. For example, I
learned that this fall's fashion was blocking, and had a lot of fun
learning what colours look best together when blocking (where you wear
different colours that compliment each other....for example, I wore
green pants, a light blue turtleneck, and an orange shirt over that).

I also tend to go to the smaller clothing stores in the mall and
around town. One of my absolute favourites is H&M, a British store
that has just in the last couple of years come to the Unite dStates.
There is always someone available to help me find what I'm lookin
gfor, or if I'm not sure, to tell me what the latest fashion trends
are and offer suggestions to try on. Sometimes, just walking around
the store and feeling the fabric and asking my boyfriend "What colour
is this?" tells me a lot about fashion. One example I remeber, I was
looking at jackets and the elbows all had patches on them! I learned
that this was all the rage, for women to have patches on their
elbows...who ever thunk!

I definitely suggest starting with the smaller clothing stores, such
as H$M, Old NAvy, Abercrombie and Fitch, etc., rather than the huge
department stores. You're more likely to get one-on-one attention, and
you're more likely to get fashion tips while you're there, too. Yes,
they'll sometimes try to get you to buy something you don't want, but
stick to your gun and only get what you know you'll want to buy. Oh,
and don't let them force accessories on you. If you know you have
plenty of accessories at home, don't buy that new scarf or necklace
that you don't need!

Hope that helps some,
Jewel

On 12/28/11, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Lea,
> Oh thanks. You go to the first counter when you get in the store. For
> accessories, I have experienced the store clerks taking you to the first
> item they see and trying to get you to buy that. So it happens with clothes
> too. But what I'm wondering is how specific do you need to be with clothes?
> Do you need color and its shade and the brand? Can you be more general and
> say large casual collar shirt and see what they have on the rack.
> Glad to know its worked for you.
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lea williams
> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 9:52 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] clothes shopping
>
> hey I do this a lot. in most cases the counter is close to the door.
> the check out counter. Just walk in and go up to it, and stand there
> as long as there are people there. lol, don't want to stand there
> waiting when no one is there to help. and then they will ask you if
> you need help and just tell them your blind and your needing help to
> shop. If they do not say anything to you, say Excuse me. then wait for
> a responce.
>
> Now wen you tell them what you want, they will try to take you to the
> first hting they see and get you to buy it is some cases, if they are
> not showing you well enough to sute your needs, then just start
> walking off and feeling of the clothes and ask them, what color is
> this, what does it look like. In most cases, they do not have a clue
> how to help and and are at a lost on what to do themselves.
>
> yes Ashley what you said about the size and brand is a wonderful idea.
> They will know more of what to look for.
>
> If you are not able to find some who worksthere, just go up to anyone
> and ask if they are a worker, if no, then ask if they could helpyou
> find one.
>
> It seems really scarry at first but is not once you do it.
>
> Best of luck, hope you get some nice cloths. lol.
>
> On 12/28/11, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Humberto,
>> Glad to know I'm not alone. Try and shop with a friend if you have one you
>> trust. Unfortunately, I don't have that.
>>
>> Well, shopping for items that are not visual in nature like clothes,
>> decorations, and furniture is easier.
>> I have not done much shopping but here is what works.  so far.
>> I  make a mental note of what I want. If it is more than a short list,
>> like
>> more than three or four items,
>> I braille out a list. For grocery stores, I also have a print list for the
>> clerk. I think that is helpful so they can skim the list and ensure you
>> got
>> everything and also get items you need in the same asile.  What I mean is
>> if
>> you are in the cereal aisle and something else is there, they can get it
>> with you. But if they do not have a list, they cannot do that. Keep track
>> of
>> items too you've gotten by marking them off somehow on your list; scratch
>> the braille out or make a crayon mark or something. But its good to have
>> other eyeballs check the list IMO.
>> You do not want to get home and see you forgot an ingredient.
>>
>> For other stores, I make a list sometimes. Then I go into the store and
>> find
>> the cash register and ask for help. Often other customers come up to me
>> and
>> then I say I'm looking for a store clerk for help and they either find
>> them
>> or guide me to the counter.
>> This does not work for department stores because half the time customers
>> have their back to you as their browsing the racks or shelves and
>> registers
>> are not fully staffed.
>> I wait for the clerk and then we walk together and get my items.  They
>> tell
>> me what is available. Then if they just pick something, I ask questions
>> and
>> feel the item. I cannot read most of the label, but I can feel the size of
>> the item. I check it before putting it in the basket and moving on. They
>> might say "we have soap in dove, Leever, and Ocean light" and I might ask
>> "how many per pack?" and if they are the same item and size I might ask
>> "what is on sale?" or  "how much is each item?"
>> Sometimes personnel try and take over if you don't talk to them much. They
>> just think oh I got her the soap, hand sanitizer, and lotion, so I'm done.
>> But shopping is about making decisions about what you want based on size,
>> brand, price and more. Soaps come in small bars, large ones, travel size,
>> and not to mention different brands and  scents just as an example.
>>
>> I also found that browising the store's website is helpful for an overview
>> of products they have and if you are not sure and have a specific item or
>> two, call them and ask. My parents do that too. So its common among
>> consumers in general. If they are real nice, they might even tell you
>> what
>> store carries x item or brand if their location does not carry it.
>>
>>
>> For clothes I don't know. Maybe some magazines have good descriptions.
>> People learn about this stuff by browsing magazines, news ads, and window
>> shopping and we cannot do that.
>>
>> Its easy for authorities to take over as you say and leave us out; not
>> right
>> as we are the ones wearing it.
>>
>> Ashley
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Humberto Avila
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 8:06 PM
>> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] clothes shopping
>>
>> Hello Ashley,
>>
>> I am having similar experiences with my parents buying my clothes for me
>> instead of me. I would like to some day make my own independent decisions
>> about my clothes and what I want to wear and feel comfortable.  I'm tired
>> of
>> authorities taking control of my life, LOL. Smile--. I had the same
>> concerns
>> and questions as you have about stores in general, not just clothing
>> stores.
>> In my experiences, yes they do offer help by saying, "are you finding
>> everything OK?" or things like that. So how can a blind individual making
>> decisions of what to buy ask or find an employee or a personal assistant
>> at
>> the store? I haven't seen cases where people call in or something to make
>> appointments to request assistance at the store; something to look into
>> also.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Ashley Bramlett
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 4:31 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: [nabs-l] clothes shopping
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Well, my mom or family member often buys clothes for me, but I'd like to
>> sometime try it; I've bought other accessories independently.
>> So a few more questions. Last time some of you said that you used personal
>> shoppers or salespeople.
>>
>> I can shop at Jcpenny, Macy's and maybe bloomingdales; depends on the
>> mall.
>> So do you get an appointment with them?
>> What is good to know other than size and brand?
>> For instance, if I said I need size 14 jeans petite, and get the brand, is
>> that enough?
>>
>>
>> How do you find salespeople anyway once
>> there? Most department stores are huge
>> I have some vision. Maybe they wear uniforms or something.
>>
>> and they do not have employees walking around. Now some accessory stores
>> do
>> that. For instance at Sears, Bath and Body Works, card stores and Victoria
>> secret, its been my experience that employees approach people. They say,
>> "can I help you?" or Are you all finding everything okay? Even if I'm with
>>
>> a
>>
>> person, they seem friendly and talk to me. There was a nice lady last time
>> that explained what stuff was in the signature collection at bath and body
>> works last time I was there.
>>
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Ashley
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>
>
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>
> Lea Williams
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