Women only master clothes shopping at 57

Survey reveals women get the hang of shopping in their 20s but don’t become savvy shoppers until mid 50s

Women don’t get the hang of shopping for clothes until they reach the age 57, a new nationwide study says.

MyHigh.St surveyed 2,000 women and found it takes until ladies are almost 60-years-old before they really realise where to shop, what suits them, and how to barter for a good price.

The mid-fifties is the point at which women start to feel confident in the clothes they buy, and are unlikely to return items back to the shop. Unlike younger ladies the over 50s only need to try on a few items of clothing or pairs of shoes before deciding on what to buy. Indeed, these savvy shoppers embark on a bit of retail therapy just once a month, with 43 per cent describing their experience as ‘well thought out’.

Niki Blackmore spokeswoman for www.MyHigh.St said: “This report is a clear indication that it takes a considerable amount of time before women really start to know what they are looking for when going clothes shopping.

“With age comes confidence, our older respondents have come to accept their body shapes, and able to shop and dress with self-assurance.”

The survey also showed nine out of 10 ladies in their mid-fifties believed they got good value for money every time they shopped, and a quarter think nothing of discussing the possibility of a price reduction with staff. Indeed, 81 per cent of ladies in this age group consider themselves to be great bargain hunters, able to seek out the best buys wherever they go.

By the age of 57 women buy the majority of their wardrobes in just two or three shops, after being familiar with the sizing and product offering.These ladies are modest with their spending habits, splashing out just £45.63 during their once-a-month shopping trip. And once items are bought, they are rarely returned to the shop – with ladies estimating they might take back just one or two outfits out of every 20 bought. Ladies aged 57 are also more likely to have worn most of the items in their wardrobe – with the average person claiming to have just four unworn items.