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I’ve been hearing from our community about how challenging they find shopping online for clothes.
So today, I thought I would map out some of my best tips to help you navigate the world of e-commerce, so you keep more of what you buy and save yourself trips to the post office.
Our Current Situation
Retailers and malls were experiencing dwindling sales and low foot traffic long before the pandemic.
Many of the stores and shopping destinations currently on the cusp of never recovering from our economy’s freezing were in dire straits before this because they didn’t adapt to the changing world.
Shoppers have been underwhelmed for a long time.
Now, all retailers are going to have to overhaul how they do business.
The aspects that made shopping fun and convenient are missing. And as long as there are surges and masks-wearing, a lot of people will avoid the mall and stores altogether.
Today, nothing is easy or enjoyable about in-person shopping. Many retailers still have dressing rooms closed; and even if you could go into a dressing room, there is limited inventory and sizes.
Before 2020 many departments and specialty stores moved their petite and plus sizes online or greatly reduced their square footage.
And customer service is non-existent.
Without a pleasant in-store experience, retailers have to figure out how to maintain sales, so they will incentivize us to shop online, like deep discounts, bonuses, and free shipping.
But that brings along its own set of frustrations. So let’s net out how to do it well, so you save time, money, and sanity.
My Best Tips for Shopping Online
Personally, I’ve never enjoyed shopping in person. It’s online only for me, all the way.
Here are some of the ways I navigate it.
Figure Out Your Personal Style
Knowing what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’re looking for is the biggest game changer when it comes to shopping online.
Take some time to discover your personal style. I go into detail on how to do that here.
If you don’t know your style, how in the world are you going to see items you like?
Create an inspiration board. I use Pinterest, and update it frequently.
Then, when you are considering a purchase, ask yourself if that item will you help you create your ideal style.
Know Your Measurements
The long held belief by almost all of us that we are a certain size is pointless. I can wear anywhere from a medium to a x-large, and an 8 to a 12 – all depending on the brand.
You need to take your measurements and have them on hand to compare to the size guide provided on store sites. I keep mine in the notes app on my phone. You want to have your shoulder, bust, waist, hips and inseam.
Check Retailers Sizing Guide
Next, you must refer to each retailer’s size guide before adding anything to your cart. Every single one is different. The reason is that sizes are not regulated in the retail industry. Manufacturers can (and do) create their own size scale with no rhyme or reason.
Below, I captured the size charts from three of our most popular retailers: Old Navy, J.Crew, and Banana Republic.
Let’s say your bust measures at 38″.
You would be a large in Old Navy and a Medium in J.Crew and Banana Republic. That’s a full size difference (which hold true in real life) and these brands are all under the same ownership.
The discrepancy is even more drastic with brands that target different demographics – for example, I would swim in a size 10 suit from Talbots, but it would be tight in Theory.
And if you are in the States, but like UK brands, remember their sizing is completely different than ours.
Read Reviews
Many retailers offer customer reviews that provide both a star rating AND comments.
If you see something you like with a low star rating, be sure to read the accompanying comments.
Often, customers write poor reviews because of shipping issues, or matters of personal tastes that have nothing to do with the fit and quality of a product.
Check the Return Policy
As the retail landscape changes, I can guarantee return policies will become more generous, and additional conveniences will be offered, like prepaid shipping labels, pick up, etc. Just give it some time.
However, it’s still important to check.
Not long ago, I made an impulse buy off of Instagram to try a brand that kept showing up in my feed.
By the time I opened the package, a few days after receiving it, I had pretty much missed the window to send it back. They had a ten-day return period with convoluted requirements for return and refunds.
It was so much extra work I ended up eating the order and learned a valuable lesson.
What (and Who) to Avoid
Speaking of what to avoid, proceed with caution when it comes to “social media brands.” These are brands like the above example that focus their marketing entirely on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Their shipping times tend to be so long you forget you even placed an order and have impossible return periods. More so, they’re not transparent about manufacturing practices.
If you see a product or brand you’d like to try, first do a quick Google search to find as much information as possible.
Always read their “about” page. If they don’t have one, it doesn’t sound professional or they don’t provide key information like a customer service number or address, avoid it.
Wear it Three Ways
Follow the same guidelines online that we recommend for in store purchases. This is where I find online shopping incredibly helpful. It’s just you shopping!
Before you pull the trigger on a purchase, ask yourself a few questions:
Do I LOVE it (assuming it fits the way you hope)?
If it’s a mix and match item, can you wear it at least two, maybe three ways?
If it’s a better basic, how frequently will you reach for it?
Depending on the price, could you benefit from having more than one?
What’s nice about online shopping is you have no pressure.
You can toggle back and forth between your Pinterest boards and your shopping cart. You can search for discount codes, or options at different stores.
You can walk away for a minute without feeling bad about wasting someones time.
Online shopping can be incredibly efficient and fun with just a little pre-work!
Them, when the items come in, you can spend time trying them on in the comfort of your home, with the pieces you already have to see what they will look like in your real life wardrobe!
Find Trusted Resources
One of my goals here at The Well Dressed Life is to take the stress out of shopping for our community as much as possible.
Our daily posts are designed to help sort through retail “clutter” and only feature pieces that will fit into a classic, modern wardrobe.
And you can visit our Facebook Group to get updates, ask questions and get feedback.
Finally, I recently set up my Like to Know it page, an app that helps you “shop” some of your favorite influencers. If you are on the app, you can follow me here.
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