5 Tips For Buying Clothes Online

After a unanimous Instagram poll in favor of sharing my online shopping tips, it was an easy decision to write this post.  I’m a frequent online shopper.  And while I still love actual storefronts and boutique shopping once in a while, the click, buy & show up on your door step has become somewhat of an addiction.  It’s hard to find time to visit the mall or East Village shops any more and when I do, I only have a short amount of time and end up more stressed out if I can’t browse fast enough.  Or if I don’t find the right thing (insert eye roll here).  Plus, if I can cuddle with Cooper while browsing for my summer wardrobe, I’m sold.  Multitasking.

So, because I’ve had a lot practice, I’ve come up with 5 tips for buying clothes online.  I’m talking strictly clothes here today.  Shoes & and other items have other methods.  Today is about having a successful shopping trip online… without the need to use that prepaid return label.

Read Reviews

When it comes to buying clothes online, reading reviews comes first in my book.  No, not all items I’m purchasing require reading through 10-20 reviews, but if it’s not a retailer I frequent, or if it’s a new trend or a brand I’ve never worn, reviews come in handy.  And when I say read them, I really mean… read them.  Don’t simply look at the average star rating.  Instead, choose at least 3-5 reviews with more than one sentence and see what they have to say.  Some websites even offer demographic information (age, height, weight) of the reviewer, which can be even more helpful.  If 3 out 5 reviews say the fabric felt cheap or the color was off, skip it!  If 4 out of 5 rave about the comfort or the flattering silhouette, add to cart.

Pay Attention to Fit + Fabric

Sometimes this comes before I read reviews, sometimes I get this information after, depending on the product.  Regardless, I don’t think I ever skip this step.  I’m all about comfort and I’m very picky about fit.  Yes, I had formal training on fabrics in college, but that’s not the only reason I have broad knowledge on the topic.  I pay attention to what I currently wear and what I tend to feel most comfortable in.  Then, I can compare that to new items based on the information given on the website.  I love wearing cotton and rayon.  Polyester isn’t my favorite.  As far as fit, we live in a world where most models will be thin.  The clothes look great on them, because well… the retailer wants to sell it.  Look at key areas on the model – compare what’s different on your body and how that may affect how it looks on you.  For me, my longer torso and curvy hips contrast most models, so I pay attention to those areas.

Watch Movement Videos

I’ll move right into the videos, because on certain retailers (Asos and Old Navy to name a couple), they offer movement videos.  These show the model actually walking, twirling… whatever they do… so you can see how the clothes actually fall and move around the model.  Genius.  Why is this important?  Sometimes I use it to determine if I like the length of a dress, or if it’s a loose top, I like to see how it moves and what it’s like from the side.  There are a lot of things you can watch for and being completely honest, this feature has changed my mind about an item more often than not.

Buy From Reputable Websites

We all know about those too-good-to-be-true websites with prices so low, it’s hard to resist.  To be fair, there are good and bad ones, but an explanation of those websites can be saved for a rainy day. Today, I’ll stick with simply saying choose wisely when shopping online for clothing.  How to know if the retailer is reputable?  Well, for starters, if you shop in-store, you can also trust their online store.  Other than that, I generally just stick to brands I’ve been aware of for a while or retailers that have been recommended by friends.  This typically makes the online shopping experience more successful – you know what you’re getting, with no bad surprises when you open the package.  And a more reputable website will make your return (if necessary) much less of a headache.

Figure Out What Works On You

And the absolute best way to have more successful online shopping trips?  Get to know what styles work on you.  Unless you don’t mind ordering to try on different trends and then returning – trust me, I get it – your time will be much better spent purchasing familiar fits, fabrics and styles.  Not meaning buy the same thing all the time.  Simply get familiar with what works and what doesn’t.  No trend looks good on every single person, so don’t feel obligated to try them all.  If you really want to get good at ordering, or even purchasing in-store, study your closet.  Choose items that are flattering and that you feel good in and make a mental note.  Obviously, splurge on trends as they come around, too, but you can’t go wrong with sticking to your style.

Do you like online shopping, or do you prefer in-store?

xoxo.  B