Who hasn’t left the dressing room feeling overwhelmed and near tears after hours of trying on clothes that don’t fit?

The truth is we’ve all been there. And if you haven’t yet learned how to try on clothes the right way (and yes, there is a right and wrong way!), standing beneath those harsh dressing room lights surrounded by a pile of jeans and dresses that don’t flatter, fit or slim you can be a truly traumatic experience.

The good news is that there is a tried-and-true method to take trying on clothes from dreadful to FUN, and it all begins with avoiding the top three shopping mistakes women make.

Mistake #1: Only shopping the sale rack.

I love a good bargain as much as the next person, but there are a couple of problems with the sale rack that you should be aware of before your next shopping trip.

The first issue is that you need to expend a lot of energy and sift through a ton of clothes in order to find just one piece in your size and color. What’s more, the clothes you do find in the sale rack are often out of season, meaning you have to wait a while before you can wear them. And since we all know how quickly trends and bodies can shift, you could spend money on something that never actually sees the light of day. The second problem with the sale rack is that you often end up purchasing things just because they’re on sale – not because you have a real need for the item.

That said, I’m not completely against the sale rack. You can find some great bargains in there! But before you dive in, just remind yourself of these pitfalls so you aren’t caught off guard.

Mistake #2: Shopping for too many things.

Let’s say you need to purchase a new black dress for a work conference next week in Ohio. You enter the department store with your eyes peeled for black career wear, when out of the corner of your eye you spot a summery turquoise and orange shift dress. Sure, it’s not what you were looking for, but it’s so cute! After you grab your size you’re ready to shift your focus back to the task at hand – that black work dress – when you spot a silky white tank top perfect for sultry summer nights. You grab one in your size, and then a pair of pale blue linen shorts, and then a bright red bikini – and before you know it your dressing room looks like you’re headed to St. Tropez next week – not a work conference in the Midwest.

Sound familiar? This is one of the most common mistakes I see women make when shopping, and it’s what leads to feeling overwhelmed and buying things you simply don’t need. To prevent this from happening to you, begin your next shopping trip completely focused on the items you need and don’t let anything distract you.

Mistake #3: Not knowing your body shape!

Not knowing your body shape before you enter the store is a huge mistake! You end up pulling things that look great on the hanger, but that aren’t the right shape for your body at all. You try them on, they don’t look good, and you feel awful and end up hating shopping all over again. It’s such a vicious cycle. To keep this from happening to you, get to know your body shape and what colors and cuts look best on you before you hit the dressing room.

Mistake #4: Not knowing the brands that fit you.

The truth is, not all brands fit all women. I took a group of clients to one of my favorite boutiques a few weeks ago, and while the brand fit most of the ladies perfectly, it simply did not work for one of the women, and she ended up in tears because nothing fit. I explained to her that there wasn’t anything wrong with her body – the brand just wasn’t the right fit for her. I then took her to another boutique down the street where everything fit her body beautifully. She made a ton of wonderful purchases, and left the store feeling more confident and amazing than ever.

The moral of the story is this: don’t assume there’s something wrong with your body because something doesn’t fit you well. You’re already gorgeous just the way you are; you just have to find the brands that highlight that beauty.

A final note….

Shopping isn’t supposed to leave you stressed out and in tears, wishing you had a different body. Remember: you’re beautiful just the way you are, and as long as you steer clear of these four major shopping mistakes, I guarantee you’ll have a much better experience on your next trip to the dressing room.