“One of the things I am struggling with at the minute is how to shop more effectively online! Not being able to go to store, to try on, to look briefly in the store mirror etc I seem to be scanning and scanning and finding it hard to filter well, interpret pictures, sizes etc.”
I got this from one of my clients when I asked her what she would like me to write about. So here are my tips on online shopping for those who are struggling to know how to shop online for clothes:
1. Always have a list of what you need, don’t just browse for the sake of it.
2. When you do online shopping for something specific, make a list of links with the things you like, rather than adding them straight to the basket. You could also make a visual board on Moonsift - shoppable boards platform. It’s free: https://www.moonsift.com/
This will help you to stop the temptation of just ordering something straight away, but sit on it for a longer while and check in with yourself if you actually need it.
3. Unsubscribe from all the mailing lists from various brands, as they will keep bombarding you with overwhelming offers on things you don’t necessarily need right now.
4. The sizing is the toughest one. I’m going to controversially suggest rather than measuring yourself, to order 2 sizes closest to yours and compare the fit of both. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the situation when we tried one size with the client, and it looked OK, or perhaps didn’t work, then tried the other size and it looked fantastic. I know it’s time consuming, as you’d need to do the returns, but trust me, it’s worth it!
5. Every online shop will have a conversion chart, and if you struggle to see the conversion on there, you can also google conversion charts. Put into search “womenswear size chart” and lots of them will pop up. If it’s confusing, you can contact the brand via email or chat. They can advise if their clothes come up too small or too big.
6. If your hips show one size and your bust shows another, go for the bigger size if it’s dresses or jumpsuits you are after. If it’s separately a top and a bottom you can go for different sizes.
7. It might be confusing and disheartening looking at tall thin models on e-comm websites. Try to look up the brand you like on Instagram, as sometimes you might spot the items you like on differently shaped “normal people”, so you can try to find someone looking more similar to your body shape.
Credit @andotherstories
8. Often, when the model is wearing the look, the brand will put the model’s size and height, and even if they don’t, chances are, the model is going to be taller than an average person. So if a skirt or a dress looks midi on a model it might look maxi on you, if you are shorter. Similarly, if the blazer or a top is long on the model, it will be extra long on a person with an average height or someone short.
Credit @ & Other Stories
I hope this has been helpful!
As it’s been 2 years since the war in Ukraine started, and there is no end in sight, I’ve partnered with Hope4 charity to raise funds for those who lost their homes recently. You can read the full story here: