Issue 45. A guide to shopping intuitively
How to shop with awareness
Earlier this month, I shared that my guiding goal for my wardrobe in 2025 is to keep listening to my inner-knowing—shopping and dressing according to my intuition rather than focusing on what I “should” be wearing.1 Intuitive dressing has become a cornerstone of how I approach style, and it’s a practice deeply connected to mindfulness.
I’ve seen some great creators here on Substack explore similar ideas, like Sogole Kane’s recommendation to close out of Pinterest and Stephanie Johnson’s goal to dress like herself during her Hard 75 Challenge. These perspectives have inspired me to reflect not just on intuitive dressing, but on intuitive shopping as well.
Today, I’m sharing prompts and reflection questions to help you shop intuitively.
What is intuitive style?
Intuitive dressing isn’t about rejecting trends or validation—it’s about making shopping decisions with awareness, intention, and self-compassion.
How do we foster style intuition?
Practicing mindfulness and learning to listen to your body are key to strengthening your style intuition. When we’re mindful, we can:
Observe how fabrics, silhouettes, and fits make us feel.
Bring awareness to the external voices in our minds about what we should or shouldn’t wear, and decide how to act accordingly.
Our style intuition exists alongside cultural norms and external feedback. When we practice dressing intuitively, we’re not seeking to shut out external voices entirely but instead, recognizing when they serve us and when they don’t.
How do we shop intuitively?
Mindfulness can also transform how we approach shopping. When evaluating a new purchase—whether in a store or at home—try these techniques:
1. Be present
When you try something on, your mind might immediately race. Perhaps you envision wearing the garment on a future vacation or feel frustrated if a familiar size no longer fits. These thoughts aren’t inherently wrong, but they can distract from making a clear decision.
Mindfulness isn’t about silencing your thoughts but observing them without attachment. When distractions arise, notice them with curiosity rather than frustration and gently guide your focus back to the present moment.
2. Pause before looking in the mirror
Take a moment to experience the garment before checking the mirror. The mirror often invites external voices and societal expectations into the equation. What we think is our opinion might be shaped by others’ perspectives.
How does the clothing feel on your body?
Does it feel comfortable or restrictive?
Do you feel at ease, confident, or excited?
Are there areas where the fabric irritates or pinches?
If something feels “off,” listen to that sensation. If it feels light, joyful, or empowering, that’s a positive signal.
3. Sit with it
After bringing something home or after you’ve tried on an online purchase, give yourself time to adjust to its presence before committing. If you have the time, keep the tags on for a few days and hang it up in your closet where you can see it.
Do you feel drawn to wear it?
When you put it on, does it feel natural, or do you immediately want to take it off?
Does it integrate seamlessly in your wardrobe, or does it feel like it needs more purchases to “work”?
Notice any feelings that come up—excitement, hesitation, indifference. If it doesn’t feel quite right, allow yourself to return or resell it without judgement. If it does feel good, take a moment to appreciate that feeling of alignment.
Dressing intuitively is not equally available to everyone
I’ve had the privilege of generally being able to dress how I like in most spaces despite experiencing size discrimination. I also know that for many people, intuitive dressing is complicated by factors including gender expression, race, economic barriers, time disparity, disability, and more. I’d love to hear from you—feel free to share your experience in the comments.
We all navigate a mix of personal preference, social context, and practical considerations. The goal of dressing intuitively isn't to dismiss external factors, but to make space for awareness and self-trust in our decisions.
Love this and it's something I'm really working towards in 2025. I have such a weird relationship with my intuition because it was clouded by anxiety for so long so now I'm getting to know it again and trusting what I wear has been a fun and easy way to start. The being present is so true — I can easily imagine all the ways something will work for a made up setting, but most days are just "Wednesdays" and I need to picture how something will wear in the here and now!
This is very much how I was trained as a salesperson selling women’s clothing, to talk to customers. I always advised my customers to close their eyes and see how they felt in it. Sit down, move around, raise your arms, bend your legs. I also advised them to walk towards the mirror and not stand in a static pose. And ignore the size, above all! Buy the best fit.
Great article, Maureen!💕