Ally: My first commandment is: Always try an outfit on with shoes, even if you have sneakers on.

Jaime: But you never try outfits on!

Ally: I know, but that’s a shopping no-no, because I go home and I’m like, ‘S- – -! It doesn’t fit.’ So try things on.

Jaime: And look in the mirror. Don’t only look the front way in the mirror. You can have the best chest and upper body, but in the back it can be all flabby.

If it doesn’t look good in the dressing room, it’s not going to look good at home. Dressing room mirrors are the worst, so if you love it in the dressing room, you know it’s going to look really hot at home.

Ally: Always get pants that aren’t too tight on the waist so they don’t cut your skin, even if you need to get a couple of sizes larger than you normally are.

Jaime: If you find something [that’s] too big, then you can always get it taken in or tailored.

Ally: Don’t always think you have to wear a skirt as a skirt and a dress as a dress. You can switch it around and make it your own thing.

Jaime: Don’t buy [something] just because you like the designer. If you see a denim skirt, don’t buy it for just for the brand; you can go to the Gap and get a denim skirt.

Ally: If you’re not sure, put it back and walk around. And then, if you don’t forget about it, you know you love it.

Jaime: Like with splurge purchases – I do that a lot. If there’s a pair of shoes I really love and buy, that would be an impulse buy. But if I leave the store and I can’t stop thinking about this great pair of shoes, then I’ll go back and get them.

Ally: Then, in terms of tank tops, underwear, socks and simple things –

Jaime: Go to Gap Body.

Ally: If you find [that stuff] in lots of colors that you love, and [they] are useful, just get them. It’s not a big deal, getting more than one thing.

Jaime: Especially with basics like Petite Bateau T-shirts. Those are my favorite. If you find something tried and true, buy a lot because they might go out of stock.

Ally: If you get an item that’s totally wild and crazy, make sure that you [have] other things to go with it.

Jaime: Also, if you find something really outrageous and it’s very seasonal, always look for it after Thanksgiving sales, and it will be probably be half off.

Ally: Never buy more than two trendy things. If you go all out trendy, it’s going to be out in a month or so.

It’s good to get things that you really will use because then [otherwise they] just sit in your closet, and you feel guilty or like you’re neglecting [them].

Jaime: Don’t buy something because it’s in a magazine or on an actress and think it will look great on you. Just because Gwyneth Paltrow wore it or it was in Vogue doesn’t mean it’s necessarily for you.

Ally: I don’t follow the rules with fashion. I mix things up. Today, I’m wearing a fur hat with sweat pants. You know what? Follow your own unique style and your own gut instinct. Who cares if other people like it or not? Who cares if the magazines said it’s good or bad?

Also, if you feel like you look good, you will feel confident inside, which will come out and make you look better.

Jaime: Which is why it’s more important to pay at tention to the fit and if something isn’t comfortable or itches, don’t buy it. Because you’re going to be uncomfortable the whole night.

Ally: And if you’re buying a jean jacket and you like to wear hoodies under it – like me – make sure you get a bigger size.

Jaime: Especially with miniskirts . . .

Ally: Because if [a mini] is too tight, then you look like a stuffed sausage.

Jaime: If you have a doubt about it, forget it. If there’s one negative thing about the item you’re buying, even if there’s 100 positives, just don’t buy it. That one negative is going to outweigh the 100 positives of the item.

If you get this skirt and you say, ‘I love it, the waist is great, but the length isn’t good,’ the one thing that you’ll focus on is that the length isn’t good. So even if it’s minute, it will turn into the biggest thing in the world.

Ally: I have a real good [commandment]: don’t take the advice of salespeople. All they want to do is get a commission or sell you things and they’ll tell you something looks good on you when it actually looks like s- – -.

If you initially think it doesn’t look good, always go with your first instinct.

Jaime: Or if you get a dress, make sure you can wear it over jeans. Dress it down, dress it up. Everything should be very versatile in your closet and go with other things you have.

Ally: I think comfort, comfort, comfort. If you’re getting something for a special occasion, make sure you can wear it again.

Jaime: And if you’re wearing something you’re going to dance around in, dance around the dressing room in it first.

Ally: Yeah, dance!