CLIQUE BAIT
The inside scoop on where
and how to shop online
Hands up who’s given up on online shopping due to endless dud buys – from grossly miscalculating your clothing size to ordering cuts and fabrics that look fantastic on the model but somehow accentuate all your problem areas? Below is my full-proof guide to snagging bargains you not only look great in but save you oodles of hours stalking the streets to find what you’re looking for, stretching your dollar and precious downtime further. The top five points include the preliminary steps you should follow before you even contemplate pressing that purchase button.
01. KNOW YOUR BODY TYPE
So often we fall under the seductive charms of a model looking fantastic in an outfit. Before you even place an item in your shopping cart, stop and think about your “problem areas” and “best features,” then analyse the image again with your body in mind. For a clear breakdown of what cuts and styles are on your side, see my body shape guide here. And remember to READ descriptions for clothing in particular as fabrics can appear very differently when photographed (stay away from synthetic fibres and other materials that age badly like angora and mohair).
02. KNOW YOUR SIZE
Body shape and size ae two completely different things. You can be a pear shape and a size AUS 8 or a rectangular shape and size AUS 12. Try on you best fitting clothes and shoes and keep a file note on your computer regarding what sizes you are for tops and bottoms (some of us are a size larger for pants and skirts than for shirts and tops), American jeans and European shoes, remembering that French and Italian footwear seems the same but varies just slightly (for e.g. my feet are a French 39 and an Italian 38). This way, you don’t need to dash to your closet before selecting sizes with each purchase and can make accurate choices depending on what style of garment or shoes you’re purchasing.
Most fashion sites have a size guide chart you can click on. I find Net-A-Porter sister’s discounted site, The Outnet’s, one really thorough and accurate as it even includes ring sizes – see here. If you want to be really concise, take your bust, waist and hip measurements too and look for “product measurements” click-ons to get precise measurements for garments you’re looking at. And always look at “details and fit” sections (as some sites may mention if a garment is not true to size and those with wide hips, for e.g., may need a size larger than usual).
Accessories are always a safe as there's less margin for error, so gain some e-retail confidence with a handbag or wallet purchase to get you started.
03. KNOW WHAT COLOURS SUIT YOU
Always, always think about your hair shade and skin tone, remembering that any colour close to your face (a shirt, tee, jumper, dress or scarf) must complement your colouring (you can be more flexi with heavier colours below the waist such as black or navy pants). Natural blondes, don’t get seduced by a dark-skin model working a deep coral pink sweater and brunettes, a pistachio green V-neck tee will look like a washout on you.
04. AVOID IMPULSE PURCHASES
To prevent being regularly seduced by items you don’t necessarily need, create a wish list every six months with your Summer and Winter “needs” – from basics to hero purchases (leather jackets and pants etc.). For those watching their pennies, include a budget for both. This way, when e-sales pop-up, you’re less inclined to make rash decisions. Always consult this list when you have your weak moments!
05. CONSIDER PAYMENT OPTIONS
Pay either by credit card or set up a PayPal account as both are internationally recognised. Note that any overseas credit card purchases accrue a banking fee charge on top of your purchase. With this in mind, if there are a few items on a particular website you’re keen to buy, purchase them at the same time so you’re only charged one shipping and one banking fee. The benefit of PayPal is that it’s a super secure method of payment and you don’t have to memorise your credit card and expiry date numbers – only a pin. See here for more information on PayPal.
Also, take note of a relatively new Australian import law: if you purchase over AUS$1000 worth of clothing/accessories from one site in one transaction you are charged a shipping tax. Often it’s cheaper to break the purchase up into two separate transactions, each under AUD$1000 to avoid paying this duty (it usually still ends up being cheaper paying two shipping fees). Lastly, always remember to check returns policies. Most sites permit free return shipping if the size/fit isn’t right. Only stick with these ones. Some websites state that sales of all discounted items are final and that no return or refund is possible. Only ever use these if you have perhaps tried on the item in a bricks and mortar store and are 100% confident that the size you purchase fits!
Now you’re ready to shop!
SITE VISITS
Where to begin your search? Start locally. The benefit of Aussie e-stores and sites is that you’re familiar with their products and have favourite local designers in mind. Often you see more of a range online than in store and you can visually see what garments look like on a model rather than on a rack. Also, you’re usually not charged a delivery fee for national purchases. Gain some confidence in this sphere first.
When you’re ready to broaden your search, there are two options:
If you are specifically looking for a particular brand, accessory or style of clothing, use aggregators. I’ll sometimes do a mass search on a website like Polyvore, Farfetch or ShopStyle for either a pair of shoes I can’t find in my size on a chosen website or do a generic hunt for a particular style of clothing or a brand and style of jeans. This way I can compare prices and often find my product on sale somewhere. BUT, be careful not to be stung by exorbitant shipping costs particularly from boutiques offering e-sales rather than the e-departments within large department stores or sole e-retailers.
Get familiar with a few terrific sites that offer discounted designer labels (often last season in the northern hemisphere, so perfect for ours!), amazing sales bi-annually, or permanently offering discounted items. Favourites of mine include: theoutnet.com, a discounted designer site (sign up and receive emails with the new drops every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening), mytheresa.com and matchesfashion.com (for designer porn and inspiration plus great permanent sale items – it’s also worth subscribing to their newsletters for e-zines spouting new trends and notifications of their big bi-annual sales). Another great e-mag called The Edit by Net-A-Porter is uploaded every Thursday evening. This designer site also offers two massive sales each year, so sign up to receive notifications.
ECONOMISE YOUR TIME AND MONEY
Once you’re in the swing of e-shopping, start refining searches by clicking on garment styles or a size you want. This way, you’re not trawling through pages of images only to find that the one piece you’ve fallen for isn’t available in your size! Start taking note too of the brands you’re drawn to. With each filter, the results lessen and that way, you won’t feel overwhelmed by an abundance of options. Also keep abreast of financial news. Know when the Aussie dollar is peaking and dropping and pounce or hold-off accordingly. Many sites give you the option to state the Australian dollar value of an item which helps (usually you just click on your country). If not, xe.com is an accurate exchange rate site.
Learn the lingo
When searching for items online using aggregators, make sure you’re up to date with your fashion terminology, or at least know the proper word to describe what you’re looking for. A ruched skirt, for example, is very different from a ruffled one.
USE ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Subscription services are a great way to combine all the benefits of online shopping into one perfect little package. Sign up to your favourite e-stores (provide billing details: credit card or PayPal and your delivery address) and you’ll receive emails informing you about upcoming sales, special discounted offer on stock for limited times, regular notifications about new drops and special free shipping discount codes which are offered regularly). Best of all, you don’t even have to purchase anything until you’re ready, but you receive these benefit notifications automatically – no catches, it’s totally free.
SAVE
As a subscriber and account holder you can log in and use “Wishlist” options. If you love an item but it’s not available in your size or is simply just too expensive, save it in the size you want on the site’s “Wishlist.” This way, if your size does become available (perhaps a return from another online purchaser) or is offered for sale down the track, you are alerted.
Also, you can keep items you’ve selected in your shopping cart indefinitely so long as you have a logged in. This way, you can wait until the time’s right to spend. However, they are not secured for you and you will at times be informed that some inclusions have sold out if you hold off for too long. During sales, it’s best to impulse purchase (carefully!) as you often lose if you snooze.
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