by Meadow Lark

Created on: October 06, 2008   Last Updated: February 01, 2009

Do you have sweaty palms? Is your heart beating quickly? These are all symptoms of a man shopping in the women's zone.

The definition of shopping to most men is to run in the store as quickly as possible, pick your item, and then get back to your car so you can hear the rest of your football game on the radio. Hearing the rest of the game might be very important to you, but if you want to impress the woman in your life, it might take a little audience participation.

If I were a man, I would have a game plan. I have listed 8 steps below to help you as you shop for a woman:

1. You need to listen to her. Not just hear what she's saying, but really pay close attention to what she is telling you;

2. Ask her if you can go shopping with her one day. If she allows you to enjoy this famous ritual with her, you have scored big points;

3. When you go shopping with her, pay attention to her moves. For example, notice if she tends to go for high collared tops or sexy, fun tops that flatter her figure;

4. Pay attention to colors that look good on her. Don't be afraid to pull a dress or blouse from the clothing rack and place it in front of her. If you are like most men, you love to look into your sweetheart's eyes. Now is the time to mix romance with shopping. Does red make her face glow and her eyes sparkle? How does she look in black? Purple is big this season. You will see it everywhere. If she likes that color, and you find something in your price range that she can wear, go for it like you would when you're fighting over the remote control;

5. Ask her to list her sizes for you and understand if she's a large woman, she might fudge just a little bit; therefore, if what you decide to purchase for her doesn't fit, don't take it personally;

6. Pay attention to the designers she likes. As you walk through the store with her and you come upon a large sign that says, "Ralph Lauren", ask if she likes that designer. If her answer is negative, ask her which designers she likes.

7. When you go by yourself to the store, you need to check out those price tags. Some designers are very exclusive, and you don't want to rob a bank so your sweetheart can wear designer jeans. Whatever you do, do NOT for any reason let her see that you're interested in the price tags. Not only is it tacky, but you don't want her to see all the contortions your face can make, not to mention the loud sigh you have as a result of looking at the price;

8. Get advice from her friends as to what she might like or what looks good on her. Don't be afraid to tell her friends that you're thinking of getting her a black cashmere sweater, for example. If they are true friends, they will be honest with you about her likes and dislikes. It could be that she hates to wear sweaters or anything with the color orange in it. Watch, listen and learn.

If you are a really lucky man, your lady friend wears a size small to medium and shops from the L.L. Bean catalog. You can pick out something you know she'll like, have it gift wrapped and delivered to your door. Isn't that every man's dream?

If you really want to score points, however, with your lady, take a look at Lucky magazine. You will learn things about clothing, you didn't even know existed. You will find yourself very happy that you were born a male as you look at the shoes with 3 inch heels.

Most of all, remind your lady friend that you care about her and want her to be pleased with your purchase. Don't forget to tell her how stunning she looks!

Is she worth it, you might ask yourself. If your answer is absolutely, it may be time to proceed to the nearest jewelry store.

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