Ladies Time. Dream Shopping Partners

Shopping is an integral part of many fashion conscious people’s lives. We all have our own strategy when it comes to buying into the latest collections: some may look to internet for the vast array of E-Commerce sites that offer the same clothing you see on the high street but that you can shop from the comfort of your home, or on the bus, wherever and whenever you feel like it; others choose to shop solo, plugged into their MP3 players, ignoring the waves of other shoppers who also converge on malls and shopping centres (particularly at this time of year); and some turn shopping into a team event, enlisting friends and family members for a group trip. This can be immeasurably helpful when it comes to trying things on: who else is going to be as honest about a particular look on you as someone who knows you, your style and what suits your shape?


 A good partner can be a valuable asset to your shopping trip and here are three women inspiring me and Mary Jane Fashion and who I would love to spend just one day indulging in new clothes with.

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Carrie Bradshaw has serious sartorial game, and there’s no denying that she would be a great shopping partner if you wanted to invest in avant-garde pieces. Known for her colour, voluminous, experimental style, Carrie has worn everything from full tulle skirts, pink ruffled Christian Louboutin stilettos, bandanas, over-the-knee socks and longline duster coats. If anyone will take you out of your fashion comfort zone, it would be Carrie, and that’s why she’d be a great shopping partner. She’d help you to see pieces and ensembles in completely different ways, encourage you to opt for things that you might find a little too bright but would see you hitting all of the fashionable high notes.

Marie Antoinette, Marie Antoinette

In Sofia Coppola’s re-imaging of the life of France’s most famous queen, Kirsten Dunst’s Marie Antoinette is a notorious (and fabulous) shopaholic. In one of the film’s most famous sequences, we see Marie shopping with her friends to the tune of Bow Wow Wow’s ‘I Want Candy’ indulging in the latest colourful textures, fans, glistening jewels and saucer after saucer of champagne. At the end she coyly asks ‘It’s not too much?’ about an enormous wig decorated with feathers and decorative flowers. This is definitely our kind of girl. Taking a shopaholic on your own trip might be a dangerous move because she would impair your financial judgement i.e. convince you to spend beyond your means. But, with all the pretty clothes she’d help you gain, what’s the harm in the occasional splurge? 

Ashley, Junebug

Anyone who has seen this adorable indie film will know that it was Amy Adams’ breakthrough film that saw her put in a sweet, touching performance as the heavily pregnant Ashley. With an eternally optimistic outlook, a desire to help anyone and everyone, Ashley, would be an amazing and honest shopping partner. She would keep you feeling confident and great about yourself, whilst giving you options for new looks and styles that she’s read about or seen. Plus, with her constant stream of questions, witty observations and no-holds-barred opinions, you would never be lost for conversation all the way through the trip. In fact, you may find yourself going for a long, laughter-filled coffee afterwards.

Who would be your dream shopping partner?