Online Fashion Shopping: 5 Things you must know to save money and reduce your impact
‘Being well dressed hasn’t much to do with having good clothes. It’s a question of good balance and good common sense.’ – Oscar de la Renta
Do you want to give online shopping a go? Are you already an online shopper addict? Do you struggle to choose the right online items to complete your wardrobe? Do you keep buying clothes that you don’t wear?
It is a fact; online shopping has gradually changed our buying behaviour as well as shopping values. We want to spend less time shopping to save our precious time for other matters.
We also know that shopping online and not being able to try on clothes before we buy them can be frustrating; dresses are too short, trousers are too long, colours are different from the photos…
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way: follow our 5 tips to make your online shopping journey easier and more successful.
Purchase behaviour: Why are we changing our habits?
Undeniably, online shopping brings the ease and convenience to us, and it gradually changes our purchase behaviour.
The German statistic portal, Statista, shared some information and data to explain what leads people to choose online shopping instead of in-store shopping. 52% of the interviewed people believe that online prices are cheaper than in-store and 33% of the interviewed people believe that online shopping offers more variety than in-store shopping. 30% of the interviewed people find it easier to shop online compared to going in-store, and surprisingly 25% of the interviewed people think that some products can only be purchased online!
Limits of online shopping
As much as online shopping brings benefits such as convenience, variety, and savings; there are some disadvantages and ‘risks’ to consider.
First, we need to trust the online shopping portal prior purchasing online; then, as we can’t try on the clothes, we might purchase the wrong size.
In addition to that, we might not have any guarantee about the product’s quality.
Finally, because online shopping is so easy, it can lead you to buy more and more items even if you don’t need anything in particular.
To get the most from your online shopping, follow our 5 tips to shop like a pro!
5 must-know shopping tips for a successful online shopping
1. Check your current wardrobe before starting
Before buying anything new, you need to know exactly what you have and what you need. It is a fantastic occasion to start a wardrobe management.
By going through your current wardrobe, you might see items that you haven't worn in a while; you might also see this item that’s just waiting for the right accessory to become an amazing new outfit! Think of that basic white shirt that would compliment a colorful pair of pants so well, or that little black dress that just lacks the right leather perfecto to become your best rock-look ally.
While you are going through your existing wardrobe, put together a shopping list to know exactly what you need.
Be as specific as possible: colour, size, sleeves length, details…
This step will also assist you in defining your budget prior starting the shopping process.
2. Choose trustworthy websites for your online shopping
It is essential to only use websites that you can trust.
If it feels too good to be true, well, it might be too good to be true!
Ask for suggestions to your online shopper friends, use the review system to compare different websites, and do not share highly personal information if it is not relevant with an online purchase.
3. Quality: Did you know that cheap clothes are too expensive?
Quality clothes cost you less money… Quality clothes last longer for the money you spend, they're more comfortable and they make you look better.
Cheap, ‘throwaway clothes’ aren't cheap in the long run. Poorly made clothing with thin material wears out faster and requires you to spend time and money repairing and replacing it. The secret isn't to spend more on all clothes; it is to spend a little more on a few important basic items.
Prefer quality items for your shoes, jackets, trousers and other essential items and allow yourself more changes for your tops, blouses and accessories.
Determine your important basic items based on how often you plan to wear them. For a one-off special occasion, you might not need the same quality than for a daily use.
Please, be aware of the waste crisis on clothes created by the “fast fashion trend” and always consider buying clothes that you will reuse 5 to 10 times.
4. Know your clothing sizes and shop for your body shape
Most of our online shopping decisions are made based on photos, however outfits always look amazing on photos.The model looks gorgeous, the clothes are perfectly adjusted, the light is amazing and there are big chances that the photos have been improved with Photoshop. Knowing that, how much trust should you put on the photos?
Don’t take your decision based on how gorgeous the model is in this outfit; instead, ask yourself how good you will look in this outfit. You might be taller/shorter or slimmer/more corpulent than the model and the result will be different.
By knowing your body shape and how to dress for them, you will be able to know how to choose the right clothes to create balance and harmony.
It is a drawback of shopping online that you cannot try on the clothes and verify the result on you before you purchase them. Therefore, it is important to check the size table and try to purchase brands you are more familiar with to receive well-fitted items that you will often wear.
5. Compare, compare and… compare
“To make a better choice, look at the options you have gathered”.
You can usually find the same product on different websites; it is then interesting to compare the prices, features and delivery options. A cross-websites comparison also provides you with additional information about products and online shopping platforms.
If you have the time, you can always go the shops to try on and compare a few items before making your decision, online or in-store!
Online shopping reveals nowadays customers' pursuit of convenience and price; nevertheless it is essential to keep in mind some essential tips (purchase decision and quality) and to be cautious with the online shopping safety.
What about you? Are you an online shopper or an in-store shopper?
Did you read our article “buying less by buying better”? Read it today and save on your future shopping trip!
Maud Vanhoutte
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