Where I shop at, I have developed a good relationship with the salespeople. Initially, I entered the store and began buying for someone else, but after a while I grew tired of the whole "I'm buying for my girlfriend routine," so I began to take more time browsing. Eventually, one of the salespeople noticed and asked me if it was for me. I tried to be discreet in answering. She noticed my facial expressions and began showing me something I might be interested in. From then on, she and her co-workers knew who I was shopping for. Over time, I have gotten to know them by their first name, and we both treat each other politely and with respect.
At one outlet of the same store, a girl there actually took me all over the store comparing clothes to my body. Luckily, I was the only customer in the store. It was a fun experience. Of course, I was a little nervous.
What I usually do before I go shopping is take a look online to see what the store might have. I look for items that might have gone on sale and new items that catch my attention. Once I am at the store, I browse around and chat with the salespeople to ask what is new in the store. (I believe that, if you are the first to open a dialog, the salespeople will more likely be friendly and helpful towards you.) If it is not too busy, I try to get one of the sales people to show me a few items, just so that I don't feel so alone in the store. I do let them share their opinions to give me more to work with. I also keep in mind what I like and what tends to work well with my body type. (Sometimes, what I like doesn't work for my body type.) Most importantly, I try to have as much fun in the store as possible without drawing too much attention. After all, I buying for myself.
This approach has worked well in the stores I have shopped. I have purchased shirts, jeans, skirts, dress, and lingerie. For me, the main thing is not to draw too much attention while being confident consumer.
