LIKE many other things they do in life, men and women don't shop in the same way.
Most men look at something, like what they see, buy and pay up. This can be a shirt, wallet or belt.
Women look and look again, then scrutinise it, try it on and then often change their minds after that.
I also know of men who don't shop at all and leave the buying of clothes to their girlfriends or wives. The only thing they try on for size are their own pants.
When I buy a medium-sized shirt, what concerns me are its colour, collar size and sleeve length. And yes, its price.
When all are in order, I pick one up and head for the cashier's counter.
A woman friend who buys shirts for her husband removes the one she has selected from its plastic wrapper and examines it closely for seam flaws and other defects. If the husband happens to be with her, she ushers him to the fitting room and wants him to emerge with the shirt on to see if he "looks good" in it.
I have witnessed men who have refused to do this. But guess whose wishes finally prevailed?
Sales people have told me that men are less fussy, especially when it comes to buying shoes. The sales staff has to make only one trip to the storeroom to get the right size. But serving women customers can mean making several trips. A small flaw in the stitching is enough for women customers to reject the shoe.
Have you not seen the number of shoes in a variety of designs being tried on by one woman customer in the department stores?
Although I enjoy shopping and have had occasions to accompany women shoppers on such outings, the experience can be quite trying. It is the wait until the lady finds the perfect dress or pair of shoes that tests my patience.
So I have long resorted to this arrangement that many other men also adopt- tell her that at a certain time, both will meet at a certain spot in the store.
But even this does not always help. She is more often than not late. There have been times when such a tardy woman turned up without any purchase.
"I didn't find anything I like. Let's go elsewhere." These are words that can send dread deep into the heart of a man.
But I have also seen men, both old and young, display the patience of Job. The young ones are usually seen waiting outside the fitting rooms for their girlfriends to show them how they look in a dress, a pair of jeans or a T-shirt. And they also gallantly carry all the girl's shopping.
Such acts of chivalry are not always welcome among some young women.
Says engineering undergraduate Sally Yeo, 22: "I will never let my boyfriend carry my handbag or my shopping. Makes him look fawning. It also makes me look like a cissy. Of course, if it is a heavy item,I will ask for his help."
But when you see an older couple, say in their 50s, shopping, you can be sure that the final arbiter on what shirt to buy or what belt to try on is the wife. After all the years of marriage, many men appear to have given up when it comes to deciding on colour, style or what not during such outings.
