Shopping from the comfort of your home, especially during a pandemic, is definitely the easiest way to shop! Companies and brands make it really easy to browse their online stores from the comfort of your couch while you’re watching Netflix in your pjs. Online shopping can be convenient but overwhelming. Here are 6 simple tips to shop online more strategically!
Take Inventory of Your Closet
The very first thing you need to do before you shop online is you need to take inventory of your closet! Take a deep breath and jump right in! Go through your pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, shirts, sweaters, jackets, shoes….all the things. Figure out what you already have and love and what you need. It’s the worst when you purchase something that you already have something similar to!
Taking time to go through your closet will help you shop with a purpose. Make a list on your phone that you can easily refer to so you know what you’re looking for. It’s so easy to put all the things in your shopping cart that are pretty! But you’ll save so much money and shop more strategically when you shop from a list.
Take Measurements
Before you click “add to cart” it’s important that you know what size you are first! Take some time to properly measure yourself so you know what size you’ll need to buy.
MEASURING INSTRUCTIONS:
You’ll need a flexible fabric or plastic tape measure and a mirror to help you see yourself if you’re measuring on your own. You can also use a string and then match it with a straight ruler if you don’t have a tape measure. Your measurements should be recorded neither cinched too tight or with any slack–accuracy will help you to feel beautiful in your clothes. It isn’t size that matters, it’s the fit! You can record it in inches or centimeters, just be consistent with your other measurements. Record measurements for these parts:
Bust- Wearing a bra, take a flexible measuring tape and wrap it completely around the fullest part of your bust and back. Make sure the measuring tape is level all the way around to get an accurate measurement. Record your measurement where the tape meets the beginning.
Waist- Either wear a tight fitting shirt or measure directly on your bare skin. Place the flexible measuring tape above your hip bone, near your belly button. Wrap it around your front and back. This should be loose enough that you can easily breathe, but without any slack in the tape. Record your measurement where the tape meets the beginning.
Hips- To get the most accurate measurement, wear very tight bottoms or just your underwear. Wrap the tape measure completely around the fullest part of your bum and hips. Record your measurement where the tape meets the beginning.
Keep note of your measurements somewhere that is handy for you. I have a note section on my phone that I can quickly refer to when I’m shopping.
If you need help figuring out what clothes will look great on your body shape and size, then you will love this simple eBook that I created just for you! You can learn more about it HERE and purchase it HERE.
Refer to the Size Guide
Once you know your measurements, make sure to refer to them before you shop online and buy! Most websites have a SIZE GUIDE button that will help you determine which sizes will work best for your personal measurements. Find that guide and look at the chart to see what size you would best fit under.
Read the Reviews
It’s tough ordering something blindly without being able to look at and feel it in person. So a great way to get a good idea of what it is you’ll be buying is to read the reviews. Take time to scroll through to see if others have found the item to be true to size, high quality, or have any other interesting features to note. This can save you so much hassle if you take the time to read!
By reading the reviews, I’ve been guided to size up in certain things, be assured that the quality I’m getting is top notch, or be warned that the product did not claim to be all that it appeared.
Read About the Fabric
If you want to build a closet that will last, then it’s best to invest in fabrics that are as natural as possible. Cotton, wool, silk, leather, tencel, linen, leather…these are all high quality fabrics that will last for years! Make sure to read what the item is made of so you can make a good judgment on whether or not it will last a long time.
Also, if you don’t like to make dry cleaner runs, then make sure that the clothing you’re getting can be washed at home. It’s so important to know what you’re getting into before you buy!
Sign Up for Newsletter
A great way to get a discount is to sign up for the company newsletter. Most sites offer a 10-15% discount when you sign up for their newsletters. This is great for those first time big purchases and will help you save a little money!
Hopefully these tips to shop online can help you shop more strategically so you don’t end up wasting time and money! Be a more intentional shopper instead of an impulse shopper. Start building a better and more mindful closet so your pieces will last for years!
