Commando Shoppers

Kathy Kalesti, 47
vice president and general manager of Narciso Rodriguez

"I tend to get overwhelmed if there isn't a systematic approach to the shopping process."

• Kathy keeps a running list so she knows what she has to get on the weekend.
• For one-stop shopping for everything from T-shirts to toothpaste, she gravitates to megastores like Target.
• Forgo the dressing room; try clothes at home, Kathy advises. You're more relaxed and can see how they blend with what you've got.
• Kathy stocks her wardrobe with seasonless neutrals and old standbys (cashmere sweaters, tailored jackets) and splurges on accessories. "I stick to the basics and wear them to death," she says.