Tips to avoid surprises with online shopping

Sue Melville

In our new normal, we will do a lot more of our fashion shopping online. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your online shopping experience:

tape-measureDon’t compromise on fit. When you are ordering online, order the item in several sizes and see which one works best for you. Since you will be sending items back anyway, it doesn’t matter if it is one or many items in various sizes.

Know your measurements. Most websites offer a chart with sizing guidelines. They’ll suggest sizes based on your bust, waist, and hip measurements. Still, consider the shape of the item. In a flowy top, you may be a medium, but in a closer-fitting top, you may want to try a large. Guidelines can direct you to the best fit, but it’s still up to you to make the final call on whether it fits or not once it’s arrived at your doorstep.

Read the reviews. You will make a more accurate choice if someone points out that the shape is “boxier” than it looks in the picture or the top doesn’t run true to size. Consider paying this valuable feedback forward and leave a review on the website to help the next person considering this product.

Know the return policy and the details about fabric content and the care of the garment. That information is available, sometimes you just need to scroll down a little further to find it. All this helps you make a wise choice.

Color can be hard to zero in on when you’re shopping from images on your computer screen. I suggest you consider making more than one color choice in an item. If the one you thought you’d like for sure turns out to be skewed too warm or too cool for your skin tone, you’ll be happy to have other colors to choose from.

Not sure if the pieces you ordered are really working for you? Here’s how I can help. Your questions will be answered in a virtual shopping review consultation with me to ensure all of your online purchases are new favorites. With your laptop or tablet you can try on the items and I will help you with the fit, color decisions, or how to fit them into your current wardrobe. Just shoot me an email at Sue@SueMelville.com, and we’ll put a plan into action!

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fashion emergency