What to Wear on Black Friday
PART 1: UNDERWEAR
First of all, when it comes to lingerie, stay simple. "I don't care what you're wearing, you need Spanx as undergarments. I'm not a fan of any tummy. You should always wear those when you're shopping," Martin chides.
Stephenson agrees. "Stick a pair of Spanx in your bag, which will hold you in if you're trying on that LBD." She says coverage is as crucial as clean lines, and recommends microfiber tanks, thongs and boy shorts from Hanro.
"Sometimes, you don't always get a dressing room on Black Friday," she continues. "In my shopping experience, it's a day when women have no shame. If you need to get naked in front of the world, at least you'll look good."
Courtesy of Spanx
PART 2: PANTS
Stephenson says when it comes to legs, stay skin-tight. For the brave or the buff, she'd suggest leggings.
"But I love my Loft skinny denim which has got spandex in it which sculpts the body. This season, everyone is buying boots and it makes it easy to try them on – you don't have all that fabric from a boot cut. You never need to take a pair of socks. And you can even pop a dress or tunic over – it's not bulky denim."
LOFT Modern Skinny Jeans, $59.50, available at LOFT stores and LOFTonline.com.
Courtesy of Ann Taylor
PART 3: SHOES
"There are so many embellished flats nowadays, at all price points," says Stephenson. "It looks festive and is easy for you to slip in and out of."
Heels are fine too but keep them low and kittenish: Cole Haan with its Nike technology, BCBGeneration and Jessica Simpson's collection.
Stephenson is also fond of Converse sneakers, a classic that's been revived yet again. She's increasingly spotting customized pairs, with sequins or brooches like a sporty version of that embellished flat.
"Just avoid shoes that take a lot of time to take off, and stay away from Uggs and clogs – I understand why women love them, but they're ugly," she says.
Jamie Koslow, AOL
PART 4: JEWELRY
Keep jewelry to a minimum. Chunky cocktail rings will snag on sweaters as you browse, and chokers catch on necklines of anything you try on. If you're loathe to nix sparkle entirely, keep it to outerwear: Stephenson loves the embellished sweater coats from Vera Wang's line for Kohls.
Brown Heather Long Sleeve Wrap Cardigan w/ Jewel Detailing by Vera by Vera Wang sweater, $78, available at Kohls.com
Rachel Been for AOL
PART 5: HAIR AND MAKE UP
The same rule's true for hair and make up as jewelry. Think fresh faced and simple, more Taylor Swift than Dolly Parton.
"You don't want to leave your face over every single garment you try on," says Stephenson. Pop hair in a pony tail and stick with nothing more than lip gloss.
Taylor Swift makes a shopping run in NYC.
INF
PART 6: OUTERWEAR
The key when you're running in and out of stores, or from the mall to the car, is to plan for extremes of hot and cold: opt for layered outerwear, like a cashmere cardigan.
"Vests are fantastic, too and we're having this huge sleeveless moment," raves Stephenson. "And layering a coat with a vest means you don't have the bulkiness."
Actress Kristen Bell steps out in a multi-layered outfit while readying for some retail therapy.
INF
PART 7: BAGS
"You have to stay as hands free as possible," Martin says, before confiding her own practical strategy. "I wear a pack around my waist that's black and I bought for $5. In it, I have a credit card and $100 cash in a rubber band, my shopping list, my Blackberry and some lip balm. That's it."
Stephenson agrees that practical purses for Black Friday should be hands-free. "Like messenger bags. And this season is all about the rectangular shape in bags, shoulder bags like hobos. And even very ladylike bags with two handles have a shoulder strap nowadays."
She'd splurge on the roomy quilted Marc Jacobs Stam bag, named after supermodel Jessica.
At left, Rihanna sports a Louis Vuitton fanny pack while out and about in London.
INF
PART 8: MORE BAGS
The fanny pack-equipped Martin has a canny tip when it comes to shopping bags that she calls creative planning.
"Go first to a store that has a great big shopping bag, like Intermix which has a giant shopping bag, because it sells boots," she says. "Then I go there and buy a necklace or a shirt, then ask 'Can I have a big shopping bag, I have a lot of stuff to get today?'"
That way, you can simply stuff future purchases into a single carry-all.
Mary-Kate Olsen teeters in Balenciaga heels with a shopping bag half her size.
PacificCoastNews.com
PART 9: THE MANTRA
Both Stephenson and Martin agree there's one overarching rule for Black Friday wardrobes: don't be tempted to dress down.
"You should look like you'd want to look if you were to run into an ex-boyfriend from high school," Martin says.
She speaks from experience. Martin once broke her own commandments and popped to the mall wearing sweatpants.
"My ex-boyfriend was there with his new girlfriend. I wanted to shoot myself. Everyone's shopping on that day."
Jennifer Lopez's shopping ensemble while touring Rome this summer.
PacificCoastNews.com
All smart shoppers prep for that mall marathon known as Black Friday with a tight list of must-buys – it's a search and rescue-style operation to snag those bargains. But there's more to making the most of the day than shopping prep. The right outfit can stop tempers and temperatures from boiling over amid the frenzy. After all, if you feel frazzled, fat and frumpy while browsing for gifts, it's unlikely inspiration will strike. And if you need to personally roadtest whether that cute top will fit your sister (or even take a break to treat yourself), it's crucial to be ready. So we tapped fashion and beauty guru Mary-Alice Stephenson, a top celebrity stylist whom even Oprah trusts, and "Today Show" regular Jill Martin, author of "Fashion for Dummies" to provide some stress-proof styling tips for braving the big day.