When someone tells me* I can go shopping online and send them the bill, I don’t have to think twice. No siree. I click on to that site quicker than you can say “someone else’s credit card is going to melt”.
See, online shopping doesn’t scare me one bit. In fact it gives me a little thrill. Oh, ok, a big bloody thrill.
There’s the secrecy factor.
(I cannot confirm or deny whether this went down in my home recently)
“So, what are you looking at, babe?” my husband inquires from the lounge, as I sit at my desk, clickety, click, clicking away. “Oh, you know, just BROWSING,” I answer. Which really is loaded in a hefty dose of the truth because the world of online shopping has opened up the concept of “just browsing”, hasn’t it Stylers?
I mean, cast your mind back to the not so distant past. There was a time when you couldn’t track down the perfect pair of shoes or a handbag without a) living in a capital city; and b) wearing out the soles of your shoes looking for said perfect item in that capital city.
Now, the world is literally open for shopping all day and night long. All you need to equip yourself with is a credit or debit card and some savvy that comes from understanding what you want from your purchase.
Tips for shopping for clothes online:
1. Know IRL the label you’re shopping for. This means you’ve actually tried different pieces from the label on in store so you know whether you’re a size 10 or a size 14 in that particular label. Sizing will generally be consistent within a fashion brand or label but, as you know too well, is not consistent between labels.
2. Use this knowledge as a reference point but don’t buy a thing without first checking the size guide. Get out your tape measure and write down your measurements. Match these back with the sizing guide and choose your size based on that. And if there isn’t a sizing guide, click away and head to the next online retailer.
3. Check the retailer’s return policy. Do they make it easy for you to return the item to them for exchange, credit or refund? Will it cost you a motza to send it back to them?
4. Check that the retailer has solid contact details – phone, email and street address, so that if something goes wrong or astray, you can track them down.
My online shopping mission was to search for and buy a dress from Westfield online.
It was my first time on Westfield’s online shopping portal. And this retail giant certainly makes it easy to narrow down exactly what you’re looking for.
There were 1481 dresses for me to choose from. Scary, hey?
Not so scary when you can narrow down your search even further: type, price, size, store and brand. I narrowed those 1400-plus options down to 32 by opting for a day dress under $150 in size L. Easy. And from the brands that were left, Leona Edmiston leapt out at me. Specifically this dress.
Leona Edmiston Ruby Shell Shirt Dress in native green $129
What I LOVE about this dress?
It has that dress-up/dress-down versatility. Yes, you can do heels, and tights. You can add boots and a long-sleeve Metalicus top underneath for when it turns cooler. Yes, you can add leggings and ballet flats. It doesn’t need ironing; can be washed in a lingerie bag in the machine and is comfortable to wear throughout the day. It works equally in an office as in the playground over skinny jeans.
In a nutshell, it suits all my multiple wardrobe personalities. A win, win. Another win was the speed in which my new dress arrived. THE VERY NEXT DAY.
The packaging on a parcel you receive just adds to the excitement of your purchase. Leona Edmiston did not disappoint.
And out of the packaging and off the hanger, this dress itself did not disappoint either …
Leona Edmiston Ruby Shell Shirt Dress $129, worn with Country Road scarf; wyse leggings and Sandler flats
I actually prefer wearing this dress without the belt tie. My short torso means that the positioning of the belt and belt ties has the unfortunate effect of making my hips seem even bigger. My solution was to loosely tie the belt at the back of the dress, which, by the way, is something I do with trench coats as well.
I’ve already worn the dress twice and I know it will be on high rotation in my wardrobe throughout autumn and into winter.
What was your last online clothing purchase? What tips do you have for other Stylers about how to choose a garment you won’t have to return?
*Westfield online gifted me this dress. I was not paid to write this post.
