Online shopping: Tips for buying clothes online
For anyone old enough to remember clothes shopping pre-internet, the ability to search through thousands of clothing lines without needing to leave the house is a true blessing.
Gone are the days of trudging around from store to store, rifling through racks to find the right color and size, and often heading home empty-handed. Now, if you want to see what the world can offer in the way of hot pink tracksuits, you can browse them from the comfort of your own home and compare the options easily. Niche items, vintage pieces, and unpopular sizes can all be easier to find online than in stores.
Online shopping has made it much easier to track down the items you want, and a few clicks can see your perfect outfit delivered to your home with minimal stress. But buying clothes without the opportunity to try them on and check for fit can leave you disappointed, so here are some top tips for successful online shopping.
Find your perfect size
Standard sizing can include huge variations, and fit can vary from brand to brand so knowing your size is important. It can also help to pick a well-fitting item that you already own and take its essential measurements. Once you know the waist, bust, hips and leg length of your favorite pair of slacks, you know what you are looking for and can check the specifics of an item to check that it will fit.
This can work for anything from tailored suits to casual tee-shirts and is a great way to get a sense of what size you are looking for. For best results, you can even take a range of measurements, or choose clothes made from similar fabrics to account for stretch and fit and check the size guide on each website (or item) to get the most accurate results.
Use the product descriptions
Many sites give detailed descriptions of their items, with details of the fabric composition, care instructions, and information about the fit and size. Use these to your advantage to ensure that you are choosing the fabrics you prefer with the fit that suits you best and you can often filter by the most important elements such as fabric or leg length.
It also pays to read the full description if there is one – an item described as ‘good for layering’ will probably be relatively thin and possibly sheer, whereas one that is described as ‘durable’ or ‘robust’ will be a lot more substantial.
Read the reviews
Many websites actually encourage their reviewers to include useful information about the fit of their clothes in their reviews. Many will prompt reviewers to be explicit about whether an item was smaller or larger than expected, how it fit, and many even include customer photos for a more accurate idea of how it will look on you.
Negative reviews can be particularly helpful, so it’s worth checking for any recurring issues reported such as weak seams, a tendency to crease, or issues with sizing. Similarly, a review that complains about loose fit might encourage you to buy an item if you want it in a more relaxed style.
Check the returns policy
Many online stores appreciate the pitfalls of buying online and encourage customers to buy in a range of sizes or colors by offering generous returns policies to allow you to try items on at home and return those that don’t work for you. However, some take a dim view of such practices, so it is always a good idea to check before you buy to ensure that you aren’t going to have your account penalized for returning too many items.
Shopping online has revolutionized the clothing market, opening up new options for those with specific tastes, unusual sizing, or a preference for international fashion. Learning how to shop well online will make it easier than ever to find the perfect piece every time.
