How to Go Window Shopping

Co-authored by Candace Hanna

Last Updated: August 23, 2022 References

Window shopping is the act of browsing retail window displays, in-store displays, and even online websites, with no intention of buying any merchandise. Many people enjoy window shopping as a recreational leisure activity, while others use it as a way to price future purchases and find fashion or decorating inspiration. Whatever your intentions for window shopping, learning how to pick the right location, relax and make the most of your trip, and resist the urge to impulse buy, will make it all the more enjoyable.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Locating a Place to Window Shop

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Decide what types of stores you want to browse. You may have certain goals for your window shopping, like getting inspiration to decorate your living room or getting ideas for what you want in your spring wardrobe. If you have a goal like this, make sure you choose a place to window shop that will have a plethora of the kind of stores you’re looking for.^{[1]
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- Ask yourself: What are my goals for window shopping? Am I looking to get inspiration for anything in particular? What kinds of merchandise do I want to see while I am shopping?
- If you're window shopping for clothes, assess what's missing from your wardrobe first so you know exactly what you're looking for.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Candace Hanna
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.}
- Try making a list of the things you're shopping for to help you stay focused.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Candace Hanna
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.}
2
Research area shops. You may need to research shopping areas to find out what types of stores they contain and whether or not these stores will meet your needs. A quick Internet search of surrounding shopping centers will allow you to view a list of the stores each one contains, and help you make your decision on where to go.

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3
Pick a place with multiple shops. When planning an afternoon of window shopping, it is important to pick a spot with a variety of stores. This will make it easy for you to stroll from store to store, without having to commute to a different spot to continue window shopping.
- Some good places to window shop include shopping malls, urban areas with stores along the streets, and flea markets.^{[4]
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- The goals you’ve thought about in the first step will also play a role in where you decide to window shop. For example, if you’re looking to get inspiration to decorate your living room, make sure you pick an area that has quite a few furniture or home goods stores. This will meet both your goals for window shopping, as well as allow you to complete your window shopping in one area.
4
Check the weather. Also take the weather into consideration when you are planning a window shopping trip. Dealing with rain, extreme wind, or cold can make for an unpleasant day. If it is supposed to be nice on the day of your trip, feel free to choose an outside location. If the weather is going to be unpleasant, however, going to an indoor shopping center is probably best.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making the Most of Window Shopping

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Dress comfortably. You’ll likely be doing quite a bit of walking when you go window shopping, so make sure you dress comfortably. Wear shoes that won’t hurt your feet and clothes you can spend the better part of a day in. It is also a good idea to dress in layers so you are prepared for all kinds of weather.
2
Take your time. Window shopping is generally a laid-back, leisure activity. Leave yourself plenty of time to browse shops and make comparisons between merchandise and retailers. If possible, go window shopping on a day where you don’t have any commitments so that you can spend as much time as you want browsing window displays.^{[5]
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- Stop at each window display that catches your eye and study it. Think about what you like about it, what stands out most to you, and how you might incorporate this style into your wardrobe or décor.
3
Bring friends along. Inviting a few friends to go window shopping with you can make it even more enjoyable. Make sure you bring friends that want to look at the same kind of stores and intend only to window shop. If one of your friends plans to buy items while you’re window shopping, you could be setting yourself up for an unpleasant day.
4
Take notes. Depending on your window shopping goals, you might want to take some brief notes while you’re looking at window displays. Carry a small notepad and pen, or use a notes app on your phone to jot down ideas, prices, locations, and any other information you might be looking to gather that day. For example, take a picture of a living room set up you really like, or jot down how much a TV stand you love costs so you can compare it to similar items you find.
- Make 2 separate lists: 1 for things you know you need, and 1 for fun items that would be nice to have but you aren't a priority.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alice Wu
  Image Consultant
  Expert Interview. 12 June 2020.}
- Be careful you don’t let note-taking take over your window shopping experience. Window shopping is meant to be a leisure activity so if you make it too much about gathering information it might not be as fun anymore.^{[7]
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5
Take breaks as needed. Window shopping is all about relaxing, so allow yourself to take breaks throughout the day. For example, meet a friend for coffee or lunch, or just sit down on a bench and people watch for a while. Staying relaxed will make your window shopping experience all the more enjoyable!

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Browsing Online

1
Set aside a block of time. Most people think of a brick and mortar location when they think of window shopping. Browsing websites online is, in effect, the same thing as window shopping. It may actually be more convenient, especially if you have mobility issues or little time to get out of the house. To go window shopping online, set aside a block of time that you can do this without being rushed. For example, take a couple hours to do so after you’ve put the kids to bed or during their nap time.^{[8]
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- Browsing online first can save you the time and stress of searching for things in-store.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Candace Hanna
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.}
2
Compare items using tabs on your computer. Online window shopping is a great way to compare items and prices side by side. If you are looking for one particular item, find the item on a few different sites, pulling each site up in a separate tab on your computer. You can then flip back and forth between the tabs to compare statistics on each site.^{[10]
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Bookmark your favorites. The bookmarks feature on web browsers makes it especially easy to save your favorite items or sites. When you find a product you like at a great price, bookmark this site so you can easily find it the next time you log on. You can also use this feature to save sites that provided inspiration, good information about a particular item, or advertise upcoming sales. You’ll use this feature much like you’d use a note pad or notes app while window shopping brick and mortar stores.^{[11]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Impulse Buying

1
Make up your mind not to buy. For some, impulse buying is a big threat when window shopping. If you truly just want to window shop and not purchase anything, make that decision ahead of time and stick to it.^{[12]
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Research source} If you don’t think you’ll be able to resist the temptation to buy, try one of these strategies:
- Stick to looking at only the window displays if you think you’ll be tempted to buy—don’t go inside any stores.
- If you’re window shopping with a friend, let them know that you’re trying to just go window shopping, and do not want to buy anything. They can remind you of this if you try to purchase an item.
2
Leave your wallet in the car or at home. If you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep yourself to just window shopping, leave your wallet or purse in the car or at home. Doing so will ensure you don’t have any means to purchase something in the store. You may, however, want to bring a small amount of cash along to grab coffee or lunch.
- If you’re an online window shopper, don’t save any of your credit card information on retailers’ websites. This will make it more difficult for your to make a purchase and help you stick to just window shopping.^{[13]
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3
Figure out when you’re more likely to buy. Most people have triggers that cause them to want to shop or to make impulse buys when they are shopping. Think about what emotions make you want to shop. For example, do you purchase more when you are feeling sad? Or excited? Once you identify these triggers, avoid window shopping when you are feeling this way because you’ll be more at risk to purchasing items impulsively.^{[14]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I stop myself from shopping?

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Alice Wu is an Image Consultant and Personal Stylist based in San Francisco, California. She is the Owner of Styled by Alice, an image consulting service offering private styling services for men and women. Focused on personalizing the styling experience, Alice provides closet edits, personal shopping, wardrobe planning, and other services such as event styling.

Alice Wu

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

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Try to ignore any sales you come across. Cheaper items tend to be less well-made and don't last as long.
Question

How do I avoid getting distracted by things I don't need when I go shopping?

Candace Hanna
Professional Stylist
Candace Hanna is a stylist and style expert based in Southern California. With 16 years of experience in the corporate fashion and personal styling realms, she runs Style by Candace, a personal styling agency that focuses on helping individuals find their personal expression through clothing. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Shoutout LA and VoyageLA.

Candace Hanna

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Write down a physical list of the things you need to keep you on track. Also, be very specific when you go shopping. For example, you wouldn't just have a plan to "shop for clothes." Instead, you would say, “Today I’m shopping for pants, and I’m staying focused, and I’m going to take 2 hours and just focus on pants."
Question

What's the best way to shop for a new wardrobe?

Candace Hanna
Professional Stylist
Candace Hanna is a stylist and style expert based in Southern California. With 16 years of experience in the corporate fashion and personal styling realms, she runs Style by Candace, a personal styling agency that focuses on helping individuals find their personal expression through clothing. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Shoutout LA and VoyageLA.

Candace Hanna

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

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I recommend taking one day for tops, one day for bottoms, one day for dresses, etc. It sounds like a lot, but you can’t do everything at once. If you want to avoid being overwhelmed and totally defeated, you need to stay focused and have a plan.

Warnings

It can be difficult to resist the urge to buy merchandise while you are window shopping. If you’re worried you might give in to purchasing, take precautions to prevent this before you go window shopping.

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