Clicking for Clothing

Millions of people shop online every day, and the Amazon delivery person has been known to grace my porch occasionally. But when it comes to clothing, nothing replaces the experience of trying on a garment in person, getting to see the fit from multiple angles and even taking a selfie or two. But for those of us who do want to purchase clothes online, what is the best way to approach the task? I’ve gathered a few tips to make your online clothing shopping experience not only easier, but more likely that you will love and keep your purchase!

1. Read reviews

Most people will indicate if a certain feature of the garment didn’t fit well; for example, it might be tight in the bust or have ill-fitting seams. Read these reviews carefully, and look at the review sort order. Some companies sort the reviews by most favorable to least favorable, which doesn’t give an accurate depiction. Sort from most recent instead.

2. View the item in all colors

If you’re looking at an item in black, see if it comes in a lighter color. This is a great way to examine the finer details like seams and the bust area. In the example below, the light pink version of the dress shows a small bust area as well as wrinkle-prone fabric, details​​that can’t be seen in the black version.

3. Look for photos of people who bought the item

In addition to reviews, some websites feature photos of real customers who purchased and reviewed the item. This is a great way to find someone with a similar body type wearing the item (because usually the model is 5’9” tall and, well, most of us are not). Be sure to read the measurements of the reviewer- for example, I’m 5’2”, so I try to see how long the item is on the reviewer, which will be a more accurate representation for my body type. The reviewer on the left has similar measurements to me, while the model below is much thinner and less busty.

4. Consider fit and your body type

If your bust is larger, and it’s a low-cut top, chances are the model is not busty, so the item is going to fit differently on you. If you’re petite, check on the inseam details- for example, I know that a 30” inseam will be way too long on me, and I’ll to get the item hemmed, which usually isn’t worth it. On the flip side, if you’re tall, and an item has a 26” inseam, then it’s going to be a very cropped pant on you, versus a ¾ length on someone my height.

5. Consider undergarments and garment care

What kind of bra can you wear with this item? Strapless? One strap? Halter? If you will need to purchase a separate undergarment just to wear this item, factor that into your cost. Is it still worth it? Also, look at the fabric care instructions. Is it dry clean only? Is the item rayon, cotton, linen, or silk? All these fabrics have different care instructions that could affect the longevity and effort of keeping the item. For example, linen wrinkles easily and needs to be ironed. Polyester is easy to care for, but it doesn’t breathe well and can look cheap. Whatever fabric you’re comfortable with, just be sure to read about it before you purchase.

6. Read the return policy

How many days do you have to return the item? Is the return shipping free or will the cost be deducted from your return? For example, if you purchase a $50 dress, but the return label costs $7.00, you will only be credited $43 back to your card. Speaking of cards, make sure the refund goes back to your original method of payment.

7. Try it On Before You Commit

Before you remove any tags, try on the item at home in front of a mirror AND take photos. If there’s someone in your family whose opinion you trust, ask them. I always ask my 12-year-old daughter because I know she’s brutally honest.

8. And lastly- if it doesn’t look good on the model, it won’t look good on you!

If a 5’10” Gisele Bundchen woman looks bad in something- no matter how cheap/on sale/trendy the item is, it WON’T look good on anyone! Do you have online clothing shopping tips? Feel free to share!