WEEKEND STYLE GUIDE // HOW TO SHOP ONLINE, SUCCESSFULLY

Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram have had a huge impact on how we shop for our clothes.  One minute you could be scrolling through your Twitter feed, and the next you could be purchasing a dress you spotted that received rave reviews!  In a matter of minutes a pretty new dress could be winging its way to your closet

I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of shopping online.  I think it’s fantastic that we have so much choice and control over how and when we purchase our clothes, but I’ve seen far too many closets with too many clothes hanging un-worn with the sales tags still attached, to know that many people aren’t shopping online successfully.

The pros of shopping online are plentiful:

• It's easy!  
• Retailers sometimes offer Web Exclusives - items and discounts that are only available to the online shopper.  
• Most of the time the item is illustrated on a person rather than hanging limply on a hanger, making it easier to get a feel for what the item looks like on.
• You’ll often be given suggestions for other items you might like, items that are similar to those you’ve already looked at.  While I know this can be annoying, it can also be brilliant as it sometimes throws up options you might have otherwise missed.
• You can read other buyers reviews, so you get to see if the fit runs true to size, how it washes and how it looks and feels in comparison to what it looks like on the screen.
• Sometimes, shopping online is a sneaky way to get round stingy refund policies.  Some stores (not many, and certainly not in the USA where returns policies are far more generous than in the UK) won’t offer refunds on stock purchased in store.  However, if you purchase an item online from the retails website, then often you are able to return the item to a store for a full refund if it’s not right.  I know that this post is supposed to help you make purchases that don’t need to be returned, but there will be some instances when you will have to try an item on at home before deciding if it’s right.

 

There are quite a few cons too:

• You can’t feel the fabric and see the colour as well as you can in person.  So you won't really know what the color is like until you see it.  
• Some online stores are styled brilliantly, so much so that when you actually make a purchase, you’re left wondering if it’s the same item you saw online.  I’ll use an example - I love Free People and when we moved to the US I was really looking forward to stepping inside a store and seeing the clothes for real. But if I’m really honest with you, I left feeling a little disappointed as i didn't think the items looked nearly as awesome as they do online.
• It can be hard to gauge what size to go for without trying an item on.
• If the items not right, and you want to send it back, you’re often charged a shipping fee to return it, and are sometimes hit with the original shipping fee on top of that.
• It’s very easy to purchase things you don’t really need. 

So how do you get round these?

• Know your fabrics.  As you’re unable to feel the item, it helps to have a basic knowledge of fabrics, such as how they look and feel and how they wear. I’ve created this simple chart to help you, feel free to download it and print it off here if you like! 

 

• Read the buyer reviews, it’s a fantastic way to truly find out what product is like.
• Some sites encourage shoppers to share photos of themselves wearing the items they’ve purchased, this is a great help! Not only can you see what it looks like on a range of different body shapes and sizes but it might give you a few ideas on how to wear it.
• Know your stores - do the sizes run smaller or larger than average?  This will help you determine what size to go for.
• Look for the size guide.  Almost all online retailers have a size guide to help you choose the right size.

See, there are lots of things in place to help you make the right choices when shopping online, but if you’re still not getting it right then ask for some help!  I offer a range of online shopping packages that will help you find the perfect pieces and save time doing it, just get in touch to find out more!

Do you shop online much?  How often do you find yourself having to return items?  Maybe you've nailed online shopping?!  As always, join in the conversation by commenting below...I love chatting with you guys!