Finding Better Clothing and Accessories

If you head to the mall with your wife and she walks into a women's boutique, there's no need for you to sit on a bench outside the store. Joining her inside the boutique might not seem like your initial instinct, but there are a number of benefits of doing so—and things that you can do to enjoy the experience in this store. Here are some other things to do.

Look for Men's Apparel

You might think that men's apparel might not seem to have a place in a women's boutique, but this isn't the case in many stores. Take a walk around the store and keep your eyes open for men's items; you'll often see a section of the store devoted to this apparel, selling underwear, pajamas, swim trunks, and other casual items for men. If you can find such a display, you'll have no trouble killing some time by browsing through the available choices—and you might even find something that you'll want to buy for yourself. For example, the men's underwear in such stores is typically very soft and comfy and more stylish than what you might buy at a big box store.

Get Gift Ideas for Your Wife

Whether you're specifically walking around next to your wife or you've decided to roam through the store on your own, this can be a valuable time to develop a list of gift ideas. Keep an eye on the items she's looking at. If you see her hold something for a long time but end up putting it back on the rack, wait until she's elsewhere in the store, and then snap a photo of the item with your smartphone. After you leave the store, casually ask her about the experience. If she tells you, for example, that she saw lots of things that she loved but didn't want to splurge on, you can visit the store at a later date to pick up some of the items that you think she'd want.

Be a Helper

Given that your wife may sit through football games with you, it's nice to return the favor by being helpful and supportive during the shopping process. When she's in the fitting room, ask if she needs another size, for example, and then go track it down in the store. While an employee can do this job, your wife will appreciate your support—you lending a hand might even make the shopping process go quicker. Your wife will likely want your input on how she looks in different outfits, too, so you can chime in to lend assistance in this manner.