How to conquer a mall in 60 minutes

Large malls can be intimidating. Their sheer size and volume of high quality stores can make you feel like you're in a maze, not knowing where to go next. That’s fine if you have 5 days of your vacation allotted to shopping but I, for one, do not prefer to spend my vacay time indoors and if I’m travelling for work and I’m lucky enough to have time to get to a mall, it’s usually never for an extended period. It's more like a couple of hours at most. In fact, I did an outlet mall just last month in 60 minutes and left feeling like I conquered it. 

I used to be a ‘browser’ but now my shopping trips have turned into full-on time-sensitive missions. Here are a few tips to make your next shopping trip efficient, fun and (hopefully) a big success:

1. Do your research. Find out what stores are in the mall, and then decide what ones you want to visit.

2. Make a list. Take a look at your wardrobe. Read some of your fav fashion magazines. Then jot down what you’d like to find on your trip.

3. Be specific. Don’t say you want to find tops. The term 'tops' is too broad. Instead, say what kind of tops you’d like to have. That will make your life a lot easier when you’re at Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s and you’re surrounded by tops of all shapes, colours and styles.

4. Get a map and plan your route. Remember the list of stores you want to visit? Decide what order you'll visit them in.
5. Set a budget. Let's face it: most of us could probably do some serious damage to our bank accounts at our favourite stores in a matter of minutes. We could, but we shouldn't. Be sure to set a budget before you begin buying! 

6. Dress comfortably. Wear something that’s good for running, er, walking between stores. It’s nice to look good but 4-inch heels won’t cut it for this kind of trip. Unless you've mastered a skill that I haven't, I think you'll find something comfortable a little more efficient.

7. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it. Don’t spend a lot of time deciding on whether you like something. If your first reaction to trying something on is only okay, you’ll probably feel the same way later. No one likes buyer’s remorse! 

I hope this helps you on your next shopping excursion! If you have any more ideas, tips to add to the list, or thoughts, please leave a comment. Happy shopping!