A Woman's Guide to Buying Clothing Online

Are you in that small minority that actually loathes the thought of going shopping for clothing? Is it an agonizing task to endlessly try on clothing for hours, only to find one t-shirt that looks like something you already have? Do you actually hope that someone will buy clothing for you so you don't have to bother? If any of these sound like you, than this guide is written for your benefit. No matter what your shape, you can find the right fit without having to try anything on. Buying clothing online is the ideal way to purchase clothing without the hassle of stores, travel, or embarrassing 'fashion shows' with your friends.

Finding the Right store

If you know that there is a certain brick and mortar store that you used to shop at that usually carries clothing in the fit and styles that you love, than chances are there is an online companion. By purchasing from online stores that carry similar items to their original mall stores, you can guarantee the right look and sizing. We all know that no two sizes are created equal when it comes to women's apparel, and that's why it's essential to know your size. You can't rely on size charts on websites because most of us aren't flattered with the size that our measurements require. This isn't to say you should always buy a size lower than your measurements, but in some clothing like jeans, it is essential not to have 'hanging' material in all the wrong places. So when you know whether a store has a bigger or smaller cut than what you normally buy, you can better order the correct size without the hassle of returns.

The Right Style

Style is everything. From previous experience you've probably encountered updated fashions that just don't suit you. Be true to yourself and don't purchase styles that you know do not flatter your figure no matter how 'in' they may be. But what if you've never tried that style before, how can you tell if you will look good in it until you get it in the mail to try it on? There are a couple of rules to follow in this situation.

First think about the silhouette of the clothing. Let's say that you are looking at a classic sheath in red from an online store. It looks great on the model as she's standing with her legs crossed, her hip jutted to one side, her stomach as flat as a washboard. Do a little picturing on your own figure. Are you uncomfortable with dresses that cling to your stomach area? Do you plan on standing with your legs crossed and your hip jutted out to one side while you sip champagne at your next office party? Pictures of clothing are designed to make you imagine that your figure will look like that with only the purchase of the clothing. It's subtle, but you need to take a second to ponder how the fit of the dress on the model is going to differ on you. Sometimes models are in weird positions because the clothing is shapeless on even them and they need to contort their bodies to make a better cloth display.

Another thing you should consider when wondering if a style will work on you, is your height and body shape. Are you short or tall? Rounded or more angular? There are many styles that you can guess are not right for your height and/or body shape. Capris are generally more attractive on longer-legged individuals, and rounded bodies don't look as flattered in suits designed for broad-shouldered women or flatter chests. Especially pay attention to inseam lengths so you don't end up looking like you are expecting a flood.

The last rule of buying clothing online, is regarding prints. Models almost always look great in crazy prints because the backgrounds they are set in are meant to complement the colors. You will not be in a color-coordinated background when you are wearing it. Also if you are wide in the torso or legs, than prints for shirts or pants are big fashion errors. Unless you know a certain pattern looks good on you, stick with solid colors.

Pictures can be deceiving

Make sure you utilize product descriptions. In a product description you can find out what the clothing is made of, if it's machine washable, how long it is, and whether it has sheer areas that you hadn't noticed from the picture. Do not rely on the image of the clothing, or you'll be disappointed when you receive a sheer lacy shirt that you thought came with the solid matching cami in the picture.

Colors will also vary somewhat depending on the quality of your computer screen and the images on the website. But don't let this deter you. It's relatively easy to figure out the in season colors because they are the ones everyone is wearing. Just stick with solids or colors that you are sure work with your skin tones. If you know you look awful in yellow, don't get some variety of yellow even if it looks like a great color on the model.

If you will be a smart shopper, you can avoid actually going to a store to purchase clothing. If you find styles that are surprisingly great for your figure, than buy a few more in different colors. Finding a few basics, like jeans, slacks, and button down shirts in the right fit will help make future online clothing buying a breeze. Why spend all your time picking out clothing when you can order it online and be sure it's what you've been looking for? So, don't let the idea of buying clothing online scare you, just keep these simple rules in mind and you can't go wrong.