Confession: I never liked shopping online.
I never even gave it a chance.
I just announced that “I’m the kind of person who needs to try things on” and stayed away from it as much as possible.
Shopping online brought up all kinds of questions, preloaded with frustration: How do you try on multiple sizes? How do you know if the fabric will feel good against your skin? How do you know if it’s a piece that’s prone to wrinkle?
And maybe the most pressing question: What if you have to return it?
Ah, the dreaded return.
Step One: Print the return label. Foiled already, the printer is out of ink!
Step Two: Give up.
I’m kidding (kind of).
But the point is, I never liked shopping online. And that was fine because I always lived in a big city with plenty of real stores.
Then I moved to a small town.
And everything changed.
Before we moved, I would often get emails from people who wanted to create a closet they loved, but lived in a small town without any stores they liked. I never knew how to address their challenge.
But now, a year into small town life, I do.
So here we go. We’ll start with some tips to simplify + streamline the whole experience, I’ll reveal my favorite stores that offer free shipping, and I’ll share how shopping online has actually changed my habits for the better. This is a long post, so strap in — let’s go!
• • •
5 TIPS TO SIMPLIFY ONLINE SHOPPING
01 | Start a Fit Kit.
What’s a Fit Kit, you ask?
It’s essentially a place where you can keep track of notes like your measurements, the way certain fabrics drape, and brands that fit you well.
You could start your Fit Kit in a document on your computer, in a notebook, or simply on a piece of typing paper.
Let’s take a quick look three things you should include in it:
Measurements.
My success rate with shopping online went through the roof once I finally broke down and bought a tape measure and measured myself.
I measured the regular stuff like waist and bust, but I also took more specific measurements like foot length and shoulder width.
I also measured some of my actual clothing — like the length of my favorite dress (AKA my ideal dress length) or the hip measurements on my favorite loose shift dress. This really helps. Sometimes it’s hard to know how a piece might fit based on body measurements alone, but the measurements of your favorite clothes can give you context — you can compare the measurements of clothes online with clothes you own that already work.
So, when I find something I like online, I grab the list of all of my measurements (and the measurements of my favorite clothes) and compare them.
Size charts still have their flaws, of course, but I’m finding more and more success as I learn to use measurements in creative ways.
Fabrics.
Remember my frustrated questions earlier?
How do I know how the fabric will feel against my skin? How do I know if it’s prone to wrinkles?
My ever-evolving fabric notes can help me get the answers.
In about 10 minutes, you can jump start your fabric notes:
- Look through your closet. Pull out two or three pieces that feel great against your skin. Look at the tag. What is it made of? How thick or thin is the fabric? Anything else special about the fabric? Write it down.
- Now pull out two or three pieces that don’t feel great against your skin — they’re scratchy, itchy, or stiff. Look at the tag. What’s it made of? Make notes.
- Pull out two or three pieces that don’t wrinkle. What’s it made of? Make notes.
- Pull out a couple of pieces that do wrinkle. What’s it made of?
You get the idea. You could do this with pilling, stretching, and shrinking too.
If I find a piece I might buy online, I check out the fabric content. When I compare it with my notes, I can predict how a piece will drape, how it will feel, and how prone it might be to wrinkles.
Sometimes you’ll come up with conflicting notes — one 100% cotton shirt does wrinkle and another one doesn’t. It happens — not all fabrics are created equally. But try not to let it frustrate you. Keep making your notes and over time you’ll begin to see patterns. (Hint: Perhaps it has to do with the brand or where the fabric is made)
Brands.
When you know the general quality of a brand, it can help you predict the quality of an item. To minimize returns, take notes on the sizes and fabric quality of your favorite brands.
As you might be able to tell, Madewell is my sure bet when it comes to getting the right size and good quality right off the bat.
But, while it’s helpful to have go-to brands, sometimes we want to explore new brands. Right now, I’m wanting to do less Madewell and more exploring.
But discovering new brands can be tricky online — sometimes it’s just hard to take that risk when you have no experience with their clothes. I’ll share more on this topic in just a second, in tip number five.
02| Pick a visible place for receipts and return packing slips.
I’m vigilant about those returns. Buying something online and forgetting to return it is not something I want to do.
So when I’m deciding on a piece, I keep my receipts in plain sight, right on top of my dresser. It reminds me I’ve got an “open” order that I need to “close” soon.
If it’s hard to remember to ship things back on time, try designating one day each week or each month that can be your return day. Not that you’ll have something to return each time, it’ll just help you become more conscious of returns.
On that note, pay careful attention to return policies. Not everyone has as generous a return policy as Nordstrom.
For example, Garmentory has a three day return window. Yikes! If I hadn’t known that beforehand, I might have missed my opportunity to return a pair of shoes I tried there.
03 | Get two sizes or styles to try on, and then return the one that doesn’t fit.
I rarely do this. And sometimes it can just feel wrong, because twice as much money is temporarily tied up in the order.
But, when needed, it can help expedite the process. Or it can help when you think your size might be out of stock by the time you make the exchange.
04 | Set up a packaging station.
No need to make this fancy or complicated. My packaging station is basically a roll of packing tape and a sharpie next to the printer. But I have everything I need to repackage the return right there with minimal running around. It just helps simplify things a bit.
And for those days when your printer does run out of ink (or if you don’t have a printer), they’ll print out your return label for a small fee at UPS.
05 | Use the rare in-store shopping trip as research.
When I actually get to go to a store, I usually spend most of my time researching brands I’m interested in — instead of actually shopping to buy.
For example, I’m trying to find some new denim brands that are made in the USA. I got to go to Nordstrom in Dallas a few weeks ago, and I used most of my time to try on different washes, cuts, and sizes of Rag + Bone jeans, Paige Denim, and Current/Elliot — even washes and cuts I wasn’t interested in. I just wanted to get a feel for their quality and consistency.
If there’s a brand you want to explore, try on a variety of their clothes — even pieces you’re not interested in. Make notes on how they fit + the overall quality vibe you’re getting. If there’s a lot of inconsistency in the dressing room, it might be better to stay away from that brand online.
• • •
MY FAVS: STORES THAT OFFER FREE SHIPPING
I almost included free shipping in that list of tips you just read.
But no. Free shipping doesn’t get a bullet point. It gets a whole section.
Because the dollars that get lost in shipping were the primary source of my frustration about shopping online. But there’s hope! Here are my favorite places that offer free shipping to the US (and most offer free returns too!).
FORTRESS OF INCA | Made responsibly + Free returns | My favorite pair of black ankle booties are from here (also available in navy + cognac).
NORDSTROM | Responsible options + Free returns | Looking for responsible options? Simply type “Made in USA” in the search bar. You’ll be happy you did.
MADEWELL | Returns are $5.95 | I’m confident in their sizing and quality so that makes it easy — I rarely make returns here.
GARMENTORY | Responsible options + Free Returns | Garmentory is a great source if you’re looking for independent designers. But get familiar with their super strict return policy before you order.
ZAPPOS | Responsible options + Free Returns | Hint: Type “Made in USA” in the search bar, then use their filters to refine.
And bonus:
MOTT AND BOW | They don’t offer free shipping (unless you buy two or more pairs of jeans), but they are still worth a mention because of their innovative at home try on program. I like their faded black skinnies.
• • •
After doing most all of my shopping online this year, I’ve got to admit, I actually prefer it now.
It’s a peaceful experience — there’s no traffic or checkout lines to deal with. You can wear PJs and listen to a nice playlist. And you can try things on with clothes you already have — a big plus for avoiding those “fantasy life” purchases.
But my favorite thing about shopping online?
It takes instant gratification out of the equation, because of the shipping wait.
Before I started keeping an edited closet, instant gratification was the number one reason I used to go shopping.
Bad day? I know what will fix it! A new top (that I can wear tonight)!
But now, since I’m shopping online, there’s a built in wait time — shipping.
Much like my capsule experiment, learning how to shop online has helped me get off that instant gratification train. The whole experience of shopping is slower now — allowing more room for me to be intentional and thoughtful with my purchases.
Do you have any tips to simplify shopping online? I would love to hear because, while this is what I’ve learned so far, I’m always excited to learn more. Share away!
xo
Where is your bedding from? I love the stripes!
I was wondering the same thing! Love your bedding!
Great suggestions on online shopping.. one of the big reasons I don’t like to do it is because of the dreaded return! I love that idea of keeping stuff ready.. party of the battle is having the stuff on hand to send everything back.
looks like the same one i have from ikea! it’s a duvet cover!
I have a similar duvet, and mine’s from IKEA – not sure if it’s the same, but it looks pretty close!
Hi Kristin and Brittany! The girls are right — it’s from IKEA! :) xo, Caroline
Hey! It looks like my bedding that I bought at IKEA. And I love it so much! Hope that answers your question, though I can’t guarantee that I’m right. :)
I’d really love to hear what you’ve learned about the ‘feeling soft against the skin’ and ‘wrinkling’ as I’ve not been able to tease this out. I keep seeing cotton and thinking it will wrinkle or linen it will really wrinkle, and no way am I ironing my clothes…
Living in another small Texan town, & not being able to touch has been a real problem.
And not seeing the drape, hang.
I’d love to see more of your experience with this!
As a textile geek, I’m glad to see more description of the actual *fabric* rather than *fiber* in clothing descriptions. We frequently shorthand, as in the blog post above, and refer to “100% cotton” as a type of fabric – this is leaving out the textile weave and weight choice, which could be a crucial distinguishing feature. Three examples of “100% cotton” could be denim (a heavy type of twill weave suitable for pants, dresses, and overshirts), broadcloth (a medium-to-lightweight ‘plain’ weave suitable for summer dresses and button-down shirts), and gauze (a very lightweight ‘plain’ weave suitable for translucent blouses, lined full skirts, and bandages). Some weaves drape better than others, or wrinkle more, or hold in sweat more…and the fiber almost doesn’t matter. I’ve had stifling hot cotton blouses and breathable polyester – it’s about the textile structure, which are absolutely part of the designs.
Here’s where good catalogs beat in-person: The catalog will describe the fabric weave, whereas in person that garment has probably been starched in some way, so it will fool you re: wrinkling, draping, resistance to pill, etc. Google words like twill, satin, pique, seersucker, oxford, etc… the weaves – you’ll learn over time which ones serve your purposes, and rebuy those. (Hint: You want twill weaves rather than plain ones, if you don’t want to iron. Look at the reverse side of your jeans – see the diagonal lines? That’s the magic. Plain weaves are even in both directions like a checkerboard.)
WOW, that was super helpful. Thanks Sarah! Time to go educate myself on fabrics…
I was going to ask the same thing – I love that comforter! Would love to know what brand it is!
Hi Gayle! It’s a duvet cover from IKEA :) xo, Caroline
Thanks for this post! I’ve been doing more and more shopping online being that I live in a fair small town.
I’m not sure if you received my email I sent a couple weeks ago. I’m headed to Austin and am looking to pick up some fall pieces. Any recommendations on where to shop? My style is pretty similar to yours. :)
Hi Colleen! Sunroom was my favorite store in Austin. It’s very small, but they have really beautiful pieces that are responsibly made. Have a great time! :) xo, Caroline
Great post! I do almost all my shopping online, both because I live in a small town and because it’s so much more peaceful. You covered most of my tricks, but I would add that it’s helpful when a retailer lists what size the model is wearing – even better if they tell you how tall the model is. As you suggested, I use trips to the city to try on sizes, brands and cuts that I’m not comfortable ordering – when I like something, I take a picture of myself and the tag, a useful reminder when I am ready to buy something new. Finally, some stores offer free returns in-store, something to keep in mind if you’re planning a trip to the city or there’s a better selection online than in your local store.
Hey Alice! Fantastic tips. Thank you for sharing! :) xo, Caroline
This is a great list! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m often wary of shopping online for some of these same reasons, and because I don’t get the instant gratification rush – which, in the long run, would be better NOT to depend on, anyway!
Totally unrelated question (but equally important): where is your duvet cover/comforter from in your intro picture? I love the clean, simple stripes!
Hey Austin! The duvet cover is from IKEA :) xo, Caroline
Although I live in a city and have access to all the shops and brands that come along with that, I dislike shopping in physical stores for new pieces (vintage and thrift are different for me because I find them more inspiring than demoralising). It’s artificial and pressurised and those changing room lights acquaint me far too well with cellulite I didn’t know I had. I invariably end up stressed and down on myself. Online shopping, on the other hand, I enjoy and have far more success with.I completely agree with your tips and thought I’d add that,while it’s important to take online reviews with a generous pinch of salt, one thing that’s proved helpful is combing them for the more objective information, such as measurements and any idiosyncrasies in reviewers’ bodies that sound like or unlike my own. One of the best companies for breaking this down into extractable info is the UK brand Pepperberry, the clothing wing of the bra retailer and maker Bravissimo (catering specifically to the larger boobed among us), which has customers list their typical dress size, the Pepperberry size(s) they ended up trying, their bra size per their most recent fitting, their weight distribution… Most of their designs aren’t to my taste but the things I have bought have been spot on in terms of sizing and fit. (I should add that I’m in the UK so this is a realistic and sustainable option for me…they ship to the US and elsewhere but that obviously has greater environmental impact. I wanted to mention it regardless, in case it’s useful to someone.)
Hi Clare! That’s pretty awesome that they provide so much information. Wish more companies did that! Thanks for sharing :) xo, Caroline
Caroline – THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I love browsing online. like love love. big time love. but I’ve bought exactly three things online (three dresses from eShakti. one of which I returned — but not before a month was up, so I got a gift card that I never used — due to it’s poor quality.) It has always seemed so so intimidating. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this. like you mentioned, I think shopping online is great (in theory) due to the fact that it takes away the instant gratification, but there have always been so many what ifs/how will I know this will fit/feel nice?
Such a life saver. I’m going to turn into an avid online shopper now!!!
lottie
Wow these are incredible tips, Caroline! So thorough!
I love online shopping but so far I’ve only ever bought from stores that I’ve previously gone into to try on clothes (a lot of the time clothes are cheaper online so I wait to purchase online rather than in store). But taking all this great advice into consideration, once I’ve made up my Fit Kit I’ll be sure to start exploring a bit more online! :)
Hey Victoria! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much simpler the Fit Kit makes it to shop online. Good luck! :) xo, Caroline
Thanks for this post Carolyn! Even though I live in Austin and I have enough stores to shop from, I really don’t have time to shop with the hours I work. So this post is really helpful. Also, I am trying to make the transition from instant gratification to consciously selecting the pieces I buy. Great post!
Thred Up doesn’t have free shipping (under 75$) but they do have a 28 day return policy so I can work with that!
Hi Loribeth! I agree, a return policy of any kind from a secondhand clothing store is impressive — 28 days is great! :) xo, Caroline
I live in the Netherlands and go to Zalando (a little bit too) often. They offer free shipping and free returns. The downside of this however, is that I often buy a lot because I know it won’t cost me anything to return it. My tip for making online shopping easier is to select the fabrics you like, the price range you feel comfortable within, other things like sleeve length and waist height, and your size(s). This will only show you things you know you are most likely to like, and things you can actually buy (if you’re not willing to wait for something to go on sale or wait for your size to come back in stock).
I also have a question for you, Caroline: Now you started shopping online, how would you refrain from going on a shopping binge? I find it very hard to stay away from online shops, because they are ALWAYS available; staying away from ‘real’, physical shops is a lot easier… Thanks so much for your answer!
I have this problem too. I love shopping online even though I live less than 2 miles from a Nordstrom. But there is so much stuff and so many new brands to discover, I find myself spending so much time surfing clothes sites. The only way I have been able to prevent the binges (I spent sooooo much money last year) is I put myself on a clothing budget. I have a monthly allowance that rolls over if I don’t spend it all. I made a wish list Pinterest board, and go back to mull things over. I sometimes miss out on things that sell out, but it doesn’t bother me so much now. I still feel like I over shop and spend too much time on it. (& Just don’t look is not a realistic answer :)
Thanks so much for your reply, I totally feel the same. Sometimes I am able to contain myself and put myself on a budget, but often I just spend spend spend, and before I even realize I’ve ordered a package every day of the week… I think I need another hobby :P Anyway, I find that it’s hard to refrain from online shopping because the internet is always available, wherever you are. Therefore I’ll be trying a different strategy: keeping my phone offline during the day. Maybe that’ll help :) good luck to you sticking to your budget! :)
Hi Renee! This can be a tricky one to manage for sure! For me personally, returns are the biggest thing that keep me in check. I really don’t like to spend time on returns, so their shadow makes me much slower to buy online in general.
But if you’re having a hard time, I would suggest a few things — unsubscribe to retailer emails, keep a list of recent purchases handy (so you’re not inadvertently overlapping orders and overspending), and use the capsule planner to keep your intentions clear. Once it’s written down and you have goals in front of you, it might help you stay on track.
Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
Even living in LA I’ve had to hone my online shopping skills because there are not many fair trade brands in brick and mortar stores, plus my kid HATES shopping, so that limits it a lot! Great tips :)
http://www.thismomsgonnansap.com
This is such a helpful list! I am just like you were; “I have to try things on”! Excited to edit my closet and be more intentional about my purchases. Thank you!
Another thing to watch out for, especially with jeans, is to check out fabric composition. I learned this the hard way after a few favorite pairs of jeans stretched out in less than a year. If cotton is under 80%, I won’t buy it any more. Normally I try to get jeans with at least 90% cotton. The jeans that don’t have as much cotton will feel super soft, but they won’t hold their shape for long. Another good denim brand that’s made in America is Mother.
I also love sites where you can read and leave reviews. So helpful!
Hey Kate! What a fantastic tip! Thanks for sharing :) xo, Caroline
Madewell charges for returns now? I just returned something through an online return & wasn’t charged but this was two weeks or so go. Hope this isn’t a new policy I live in a small town too without a madewell & they are my go to for almost everything!
Great tips! I do a lot of online shopping because I find it more time-efficient, even with returns. I don’t live in a small town, exactly, but any shopping is about half an hour away (while the post office and UPS are 2 minutes away). Plus, like you said, I like to try on items with other pieces I own, and maybe sit around in them for a few minutes to get a feel for if they are comfortable. I would only add that if free shipping and returns are offered, I almost always order two sizes — even from brands I know — because different styles from the same brand can be so different! That way I know I got the ideal fit.
oops, accidentally posted as a reply to this. But since I’m here, thought I’d say that I think it depends for madewell — jeans (and maybe other categories of items??) are always free returns.
Hi Sidney! They do, but since a return label comes with your order, if you end up using it, they just deduct the $5.95 shipping from your refund once they process it. So it’s not an additional charge. :) xo, Caroline
I live in a small town, but even more so, I just don’t like shopping. I do all of these things on your list, it’s great to see it spelled out though. I also like both Amazon and Sierra Trading Post for great shipping and returns. I type Made in USA or organic cotton or whatever into the search bar, both have such a random selection but sometimes I find amazing things. I learned about the awesome brand United by Blue by searching for USA-made items on Sierra Trading Post for example, and I’ve now ordered their clothes both from STP and from them directly when they offer free shipping.
On a side note it seems like there have been a lot of shopping-related posts and new purchases since you returned to blogging. However, I’d love to hear more/get more inspiration in the ‘Less Shopping’ category, and/or in thrifting and making do and contentment, which you used to talk about a lot. I feel like this isn’t a don’t-shop-so-much blog as much as it once was, but I so loved your capsule wardrobe year and the emphasis you had then on spending time doing OTHER things! I still love the blog but just want to put in my two cents that I think your clothes are awesome AS IS, and I hope you aren’t feeling fashion-bloggers pressure to keep buying trendy new things (rompers! overalls! flares!) to keep us interested! :) Put another way, you used to inspire me to buy less, but now, I have to fight the urge to buy more when I read the blog.
I know that you are excited about the ethical and high quality closet and I’m betting that is spurring many of your new purchases. At least that is what I am going through in the past year as my eyes continue to open wider to the better quality and locally made options, and as I make my attempt at doing a quasi-capsule wardrobe, which requires, unfortunately, shopping. But I just can’t wait to feel a little more “done” with the wardrobe update and get back to my I-almost-never-shop happy place.
Thanks again for the tips – happy you’ve found your groove with online shopping!
xo Caroline
Online shopping has definitely become a way of life now that I live in a smaller town! Most of the brands I like to shop at (luckily) offer some form of free shipping, but it’s such a hassle to send the items back. One thing I’ve learned is that if you have returns, take them back to the store and more often than not, you’ll get the entire purchase total back, rather than having the return fee deducted from your total amount. I know this isn’t really conducive to someone who lives really far from stores, but if you’re like me and your closest store is about a 30-45 minute drive away, try making a day out of returning your items! Sure you have to pay for your mileage, but you’d probably end up paying that back in return fees anyways. Plus, its a lovely excuse to get out of the house AND you now have the option of getting the full amount back OR getting store credit…decisions decisions. In my experience this has become a fun process instead of something I used to dread!
Hey Andrea! Thanks for sharing that advice. Great point! :) xo, Caroline
i like reformation, emerson fry and everlane.
my husband is a fan of eddie bauer and lands end, those are the top 2 brands he has shopped at since ever.
I love your idea of a fit kit. I am learning to enjoy shopping online because there’s usually better selection for things on sale. My one tip is to keep track of when you order items, when they are to arrive & where (I have a PO box which I prefer to send stuff & a home address because some things won’t ship to PO boxes). I use the reminder app on my phone. This helps me keep track of stuff and follow up on delays.
Hi Angela! Thank you for sharing that tip. It really is important to track items and make sure to follow up on items that are delayed or somehow never make it! Great advice! :) xo, Caroline
This is awesome. Thank you for sharing! One thing I also find about shopping online is that it allows for more in-depth comparison shopping. When you’re physically having to visit stores, it all feels a bit under the gun, yes or no. But I like being able say “I need a sweater” and then pin several different sweaters from different sources to revisit later and try to find the best one. It even feels like the hunt is more fun, because it’s like setting up a competition where I’m always the winner.
Hi Lo! Oh yes, 100%. It makes researching multiple items so much more attainable! No driving around town looking, just plug in a few key search words and you have lots to choose from. Great point! :) xo Caroline
I use Polyvore for that kind of research. If I don’t find something I love on Polyvore then I stop searching & wait a few weeks to search for it (on Polyvore again). I’ve found some beautiful brands & items that I would never have found in stores.
I’m also the kind of person who needs to check EVERY option before making a decision. But with Polyvore I know that I’m getting something gorgeous within my budget & meeting all my requirements.
If I buy anything online, and it’s rare, it’s always from a super good quality brand that will last me years and years. For me it’s usually from Patagonia or Prana, maybe Ibex since I have a more outdoorsy lifestyle. They’re also brands that I can predict how they will fit since they’re known to me, so returning them is usually not an issue. Also, those brands don’t have super trendy cuts and colors so they translate from season to season and that’s what I look for when buying anything. Occasionally there is something non old-lady looking from LLBean (free shipping) or Duluth Trading (no free shipping) also good quality. Otherwise, buying online is just not worth all the time it takes for me. Most of my clothes are thrifted so when I do want to buy a new article of clothing, I agonize over making big purchases online even though I know that potentially I could own the item for a long time. I usually have better luck buying second hand. I’m pretty fortunate to live in a town where I can thrift good quality items in my town.
I’m currently still working on making my capsules- one for work, one for home. It’s been ongoing since I found your blog last year. Thanks for the inspiration Caroline.
Hey June! I totally understand that perspective (the agony of large purchases!) and appreciate a good thrift find myself. Not all thrift stores are created equal, so it’s awesome that you have good shops near you! :) xo, Caroline
Returns are the bane of my life. I live in New Zealand which means ‘international shipping’. The cost of returns can often outweigh the cost of the item itself. Consequently I have $70 worth of shoes sitting here because they are too big and it costs $69 to return them. Only option is to try and resell them but will probably not get my money back. It’s the downside of online shopping.
Oh Keriana! That totally stinks! And it can be so much work to sell them too. I hope you have some luck with that. xo, Caroline
I only shop online. I hate going to brick and mortar stores, despite living close to NYC where there are thousands of them. I spent a few days a while back trying on clothes from my favorite brands to figure out my sizing, so I have no issue with that when ordering online. I also buy most of my clothing used, from vintage shops on Etsy and online places like Poshmark.
I only shop online, and I live in NYC and work on Fifth Avenue in Flatiron where there are a million stores! However, they never carry my size in stores (I’m very petite) and I hate dealing with salespeople, so I order everything online and only visit brick stores to make free returns.
Ah, yes! We all have our reasons, right?? Elle, I love that you took the time to figure out your sizing by physically trying stuff on. Great idea! :) xo, Caroline
How would you compare Everlane sizes to Madewell? Figuring out sizes in new brands is definitely my biggest hangup!
I’d say Everlane runs large compared to Madewell. I typically wear the smallest size at Madewell (XXS or 24 or 00), and Everlane’s 00 sizes are much too large on me and their styles (especially tops) also to be much boxier too.
I can’t make any sense out of the Everlane size charts. It seems that they require measuring the clothes that you currently own that fit you and comparing. Knowing your bust, waist and hip measurements won’t do it. Very strange.
Hi Liz! Great question. Everlane can seem tricky, but I think (?) I’ve figured it out. If the item is described as “relaxed fit”, it typically runs large and if it’s described as a “slim fit”, it runs smaller. I don’t know that you necessarily need to size up or down — I guess that would depend on the look you’re going for. Oh, and the “oversize fit” is quite oversized! Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
I just got a new job and which requires a whole new kind of wardrobe than I’ve ever had. I’m taking this opportunity to start off right and only buy clothes than I can mix and match, and feel confident and comfortable in without breaking the bank. Being a college student I can’t justify spending more than necessary on new professional clothes. But since most of them are more pricey I decided to do my research first.
So like the last time I worked on my wardrobe. I made a list of things I have and things I needed. made a board on Pinterest to get ideas of the style I want. I made a color scheme for my new work capsule and I was in the middle of opening up all the taps in one window for shoes and another window for clothes of all the brands and stores I frequent. I opened up your blog for inspiration and to see if you had a post on professional pieces.
My next step is to find pieces similar to what I’m picturing in my mind by shopping sales and my favorite stores. Pin them on a board and eliminate what I don’t need or any duplicates. Once I have my final pinterest board with the pieces I want. I’ll go into a few physical stores to try stuff on and then order my final decisions online. But in increments first the necessities and then the things that will provide more character.
Your blog has been such an inspiration to just take my style into my own hands and do what I want to do. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with my own process of shopping and elimination. Keeping my wardrobe simple with things I love to wear over and over again. The end result of having a wardrobe full of only clothes that I feel comfortable and confident in is awesome!
Hi Hannah! I love how thoughtful you are about the whole process. I think it will pay off in the long run. Good luck! :) xo, Caroline
Hannah, Wow, you’re organized. My work wardrobe contains things that can be dressed up or dressed down. You can’t go wrong with a couple of classic slim fit (but not skin tight) knee length skirts. Black and maybe brown or gray. Could be a bit shorter depending on your workplace. You can go seriously professional with the black skirt and a tailored white shirt. Or lavender. Maybe add a small scarf or necktie (like men’s) in a snappy color. Red. Dark purple with lavender. Or some other accessory like a necklace. I’m not good on accessories though. I find that I’m constantly fiddling with them. Wear stockings and nice shoes that you can actually walk in! I hate seeing an obviously professional and intelligent woman tap tap tap around on extremely high heels. I’m scared she’s going to fall flat on her face (so much for appearing capable!).
On another day you can wear the same skirt with no stockings and sandals or booties and a fun shirt. You are so wise to start with the basics! It’s amazing to me how the same skirt or shirt can look totally different with a few switches. Caroline is extra good at showing us this.
One other thing: you don’t need to have 20/40/60 different outfits. If you see the same colleagues day to day they’ll stop noticing specifically what you’re wearing. They’ll (maybe) notice if you look scruffier than usual, or spiffier. Or if you wear something new (or new to them). But my experience has been that generally most people around you aren’t watching you that closely. So fashion is for YOU to enjoy and have fun. And feel great! And for those around you who enjoy seeing new attire.
Shopping online is one of my favorite things – for many of the reasons you mentioned. I also think it’s so much easier to see what a store has to offer. Like Old Navy, for instance. It’s so much easier to type “bomber jacket” or “boyfriend cardigan” into the search bar than to find those items in their stores.
I also really recommend reading online reviews if you’re considering an item that you’re unsure of. It’s amazing what you can learn – like if the color appears differently in person, or the item smells funny (not making this up!), or the dye bleeds, etc. Oh, and I always google for promo codes (and use rewardStyle and ebates)!
Hi Kelsey! Great tips! Thank you for sharing :) xo, Caroline
SUCH a great post! Yes to all these tips! I’ve just recently created a note on my phone with my measurements so I pretty much always have them on hand ;) And having lived in small town USA my whole life — and especially now that I have babies in tow — I would definitely say that I prefer shopping online as well! It absolutely dulls the instant gratification factor. I’ve had stuff in my “cart” before and decided to wait on it, realizing just a few hours later that it would have been an impulse buy. I’ve grown accustom to the ship time wait, but would have to agree that it is still a part of that “good buy litmus test”. Thanks for sharing Caroline. Great post. :)
Hey Caroline! I love this post, thanks for it! I actually have the opposite problem, since I have never liked shopping in person, as I feel like it’s easier to sort through sale/clearance online. I have always loved online shopping, maybe a little too much. I find myself spending much more when shopping online. It’s easy, just plug in my paypal, or credit card number, and bam, it’s done! Didn’t even felt like I spent much! So I struggle with buying with intention while online… If anyone has tips regarding this, I’d love it. This blog itself has encouraged me to slow down the online purchases dramatically, but if anyone else has similar issues, I’d love to see what has helped with you!
Hi Dana, that’s a common problem from the sound of it! For me personally, returns are the biggest thing that keep me in check. I really don’t like to spend time on returns, so their shadow makes me much slower to buy online in general.
But if you’re having a hard time, I would suggest a few things — unsubscribe to retailer emails, keep a list of recent purchases handy (so you’re not inadvertently overlapping orders and overspending), and use the capsule planner to keep your intentions clear. Once it’s written down and you have goals in front of you, it might help you stay on track.
Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
And online, you can shop with your adorable dog! We have a whippet so I may be biased, but your dog is so cute!
Hi Karen — we think whippets are the cutest too! :) xo, Caroline
I personally like shopping online better than shopping in stores because clothing in stores can often become shopworn from other people trying them on, which makes it feel like I’m not getting a completely new product. I like ordering stuff online where (in most cases) the items will be coming from the site’s distribution centers in new(er) condition.
However, the downside of online shopping is that you never really know what you’re going to get until you receive it, and that’s where the advantage to brick and mortar stores comes in, where you can at least try on, feel and see the items you’re thinking of buying before you commit to doing it. Like many others have mentioned, that’s the reason why if I see something I like online, I often make a trip to the store first to see if I really want to buy it. A lot of things I find in the stores often look nothing like what they look like online, so it really helps to do that when possible.
One tip to getting free online returns is calling customer service when you happen to get a damaged or unsatisfactory quality item in the mail. I’ve found that often times customer service departments will work with you to not only issue you a refund or place a new order for a replacement, but will also e-mail you a prepaid return label to send the item back to them for free. I can tell you that it’s worth it to take a few minutes or so to call up customer service to do this, instead of paying for the return shipping yourself. They can often expedite the return faster this way.
Hi Kat! That is a really smart tip. I think customer service is sometimes better online, since they aim to please and don’t want negative reviews! Good advice :) xo, Caroline
These are all great! Keeping note of my measurements and what sizes I typically wear for particular brands has been a gamechanger. It also makes it that much easier to buy favorite brands secondhand online.
Hi,
Great post! I generally shop from my favourite stores (like Country Road in Aus) online as I know what size I am with those guys but being too lazy and forgetful when it comes to returns from other places like ASOS means I have a small stash of things to give away.
Thanks for the tips on how to be more mindful of returns!
Alicia
https://olivekisses.wordpress.com/
Such a great post, Caroline! Bookmarked for future reference as well. :) I only shop online for clothes (or at least 99% of the time) so I’ve become quite an expert at it, although once in a while I get a miss. I echo Jenna’s comment above – keeping note of your size is brands is a total game changer and once your find a brand you love, it get easier. I’d also like to add in Shopbop, one of my favorite online shops that also gives free shipping and free returns!
Hi Caroline!
I love all of your suggestions! I am new to shopping online, and have often been hesitant because of sizing. I LOVE the style you are putting forth, it really resonates with me. Looking at myself I am a very proportional/busty 5’8″, and feel good about my size, but in almost every website you link to on your blog I am always just out of range on their size chart. It gets me thinking for a minute that I ‘need to be thinner’ but then I snap back into reality and realize that there are very few 5’10” size small and extra small people in the world and the models I am looking at are slightly unrealistic. I just find it hard to trust these brands on sizing. If you find any links in your general style for us larger ladies, I would love to see that! Keep on inspiring Caroline! =)
Hi Rosie! Thanks so much for the thoughtful recommendation. I never want my readers to feel that a look is unattainable because of size. I can’t promise I will have links in every post, but I will keep this in mind if I hear of brands with a size range more appropriate for everyone. On that note, I hope you can see these posts as just ideas — and still be able to find looks that you love without actual links. Thanks again for the suggestion. :) xo, Caroline
Your advice is so straightforward and logical that it’s almost like, “Why didn’t I ever think of that before?!” Thanks for the great tips, Caroline!
I also keep a list of my measurements and which brands and stores I like. And I have made photos of all my clothes, bags and shoes (or just download the photos that are in the online shops ).that way I can compare the thing I want to buy either online or in a “real” store so I can see if the new thing will bedre able to be mixed with at least 3 other items in my closset and wheter it fit my style and also can figure out whether the pattern or the color fit me and my skin colour.
I also buy things second hand online and it helps a lot to know the measurements of my fav pieces.
Kind regards from Norway
Hi Jane! Great tips! I love that you keep photos, so your shopping goals are at your fingertips! :) xo, Caroline
Super interesting post, Caroline!
I find online shopping a mixed blessing.
The good: Online I can look through many versions of something easily. So if I’m hunting for something specific it’s more likely I’ll find the one I actually want, rather than buying the closest thing I find in store, only to end up replacing it with a better version later. Options = specifications.
The downside of online shopping is that it’s always available. You can be anywhere and if you have a smartphone, you can be shopping. For a while it turned into way too much of a habit. I found myself online shopping for hours the same way some people binge watch Netflix. I was doing it daily. I excused it because I wasn’t necessarily buying something every time… so it didn’t count, right? Wrong! I was still buying more than I needed because it was so easy. Also — what a horrible way to spend that amount of time! It had become my way of winding down… except I didn’t feel good afterwards.
Here’s how I dealt with it.
1) I applied a best-practice: I chose one night a week that I could shop online. That way I could look forward to it, keep it in check, plus there would actually be new things in stock! (Which there wasn’t when I was doing it every day…) I could swap the day if I liked, but I kept it to only once a week.
2) It’s great that you’re looking to explore new brands — all the power to you! But I had to do the opposite… An endless supply of online stores was a dangerous thing because I could just keep going. So, I limited my options to my five proven favourites and stuck to those. This meant once I’d looked through their stock — that’s it. I log off. Next, by shopping at just my proven favourites, if I do buy something, I almost always end up with a winner. So those dreaded returns are rare. Plus, since most of my stuff is from the same pool of places, they go with each-other really well. Which makes it way easier to plan outfits!
3) I keep lists. Ah lists! Glorious, glorious lists! I have a shopping list and stick to it. If something that’s not on the list strikes my eye, I put it in my Wishlist. If I still want it after a week or two, I’ll buy it. This stops impulse purchases.
So far, so good! Super manageable wardrobe. Love your blog!
Lia! Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed comment! A lot of people are looking for advice like this. I’m glad you shared what works for you! :) xo, Caroline
I found that once I embraced the fact that I WOULD make an online return, it opened up a whole new world for me. Now I order almost all of my clothes online. I typically will order at least 2 sizes to try on, yes this means more money is tied up in the beginning but that usually helps me qualify for free shipping anyway. As far as the money spent on returns, many have free returns and ones that don’t are usually $5-$8. But I promise I would spend that money if I were at a mall or somewhere else on coffee, gas, a random clearance item, etc. I also find online shopping to help with keeping my purchases on target. I can build a shopping cart or Wishlist and look at it for a few days or a few weeks even, I almost always end up editing it down before I actually buy. Plus I don’t feel that “dressing room pressure” of I have to take this home now, what if doesn’t work, what if another store has a better/cheaper item, etc. I can compare multiple stores at the same time and try on the item with my own clothes and practice remixing it in my wardrobe before I decide to keep or not. And once again, when you already complete your order knowing you’ll make a return (multiple sizes) then it’s easy to just package it right back up and drop it off the next time you’re out running errands.
Hi Christina! What a great way of looking at it. Thanks for sharing! :) xo, Caroline
I love all the tips you give! I think they’re really useful for people like me who are not so used to shop online, so thank you! xxx
http://fallingforablog.blogspot.com.es/2016/08/italy-diary-part-i-pisa.html
Caroline, I LOVE this post. I’m an avid online shopper and found all your tips to be so useful! I do need a bit of advice. I work in retail at a clothing store, and the urge to buy what I’m selling is HUGE, especially once you add in the employee discount! Do you have any advice on how to put blinders on and avoid the temptation?
Hi Alexa — oh that employee discount would be tempting, for sure! I guess I would offer similar tips as I did to those who struggle with overdoing it online.
I would suggest writing down your goals and being very intentional while you are working and/or shopping. If you keep a list on your phone or in your purse of only the things that you need to buy, then only allow yourself to buy those few items.
You could also keep a list of recent purchases handy, so you’re not inadvertently overspending. When you’re tempted to shop, reference that list and see how much money you’ve spent already.
It may even help to use the capsule planner to keep your intentions clear. Once it’s written down and you have goals in front of you, it might help you stay on track.
Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
Great tips, Caroline! I’m only just now getting decent at shopping online after making quite a few mistakes with sizing & impulse purchases. Also, I’ve found I’m more attracted to sales online than in stores. It’s so much easier to browse through the sales tab than the sales racks, wrestling with other people for a deal. However, I’ve bought so many things where I thought later “do I really like this, or just the price on the tag?” Now what I’ll do is browse the new arrivals of my favorite brands (things that will definitely not be on sale) and pin anything that stands out to me right away. And let them sit there. If I still like something whenever it eventually goes on sale, to the cart it goes! Gives me plenty of time to think if the item really fits my style and fills a need in my closet. :)
Hi Taryn, I totally agree, you have to look at whether you love the item itself, or the sale price tag it came with. I like that you give yourself a waiting period. It makes the purchase so much more intentional. Thanks for sharing! :) xo, Caroline
These are all great tips. I’ve always been a little nervous about online shopping, however, I have bought a few things online and I was pleasantly surprised when they actually fit just fine. I only had a problem once, that I can remember. Even then, I took it back to the actual store and they let me exchange for another size, so it turned out to be worth it. Great post! By the way, do you think you’ll have some information about putting together a capsule wardrobe for this fall? I would love to read your ideas.
Aimee
Hi Aimee! While I have loosened up on the rules of my capsule wardrobe quite a bit, I’ll definitely be sharing some styling ideas and exploring how my style is changing over time. Hope you’ll follow along! If you want specific tips on putting together a capsule wardrobe, you can always reference my past posts :) xo, Caroline
Love these tips. I also lived in the big city forever and have recently moved to a small town and have found my lack access to my main stores has left me feeling out of touch. I am afraid to buy online because of fit, but I also hate to waste my time in the city shopping the whole time.
I also have a question about the duvet cover…is yours the blue or grey stripe at Ikea? Love it!
Hey Robyn! It’s the blue stripe :) xo, Caroline
Great Advice! But .. most shops don’t give exact inches for the sizes on their clothes — this means you have no real idea what they mean by a size 6, or 8, or 10! My best success haas come on the luxury designer resale site called The Real Real, because I know the brands, and they give EXACT measurements for each piece! Thanks for all you do … you’ve REALLY helped me! Finally, I’d love to hear what you found out during your high end jeans comparison … I have decided that despite my too-large collection of Rag and Bone and Current Elliot, I prefer American Eagle to all others! You might give it a try some time. Take care and keep writing!
Hi Gillian, The Real Real sounds great! I wish more online stores did that. Thanks for sharing :) xo, Caroline
I love all your posts! I am on step one of creating a capsule closet. What are your go to fabrics that you love?
Hi Caroline! These tips are all awesome! One I’d like to add is in regards to colour matching. I am building a capsule wardrobe entirely with tints (so saturated hues that have had white added to them, eg bright navy blue as opposed to a navy blue that looks almost black). I am working with a colour card of tints which is great for in person shopping but sometimes a picture of an item online doesn’t end up harmonising with the card once I get the item shipped to my home. So the solution has been to take a picture of the colour card (or the piece of clothing I want to match it to) then upload it and do a split screen of my photo side by side with the clothing I want to buy online. This usually eliminates differences in screen colour and real life colour :-) I’ve found this particularly handy when trying to buy the right shade of neutral eg getting your brown leather items to all go together. Anyways I hope that tip helps someone out! Thanks for coming back to blogging :-)
Hey Elizabeth, wow! What a clever idea! Thank you for sharing that tip :) xo, Caroline
This is a great post! For me, in-store shopping is sadly a rare occasion too! Where does the time go…
Bonnie x
http://www.bondujour.com
Unfortunately online shopping is not for me – as several readers already mentioned above, I tend to over spend, shopping online is so easy!
Hi Caroline!
Thanks so much for your comments about Everlane. I bought this super cute romper, and its adorable. https://www.everlane.com/collections/dresses/products/womens-gia-romper-navywhite-stripe
Check out Noble Denim from Cincinatti.
Fantastic practical tips for online shopping! I found myself wondering “Why didn’t I think of that?”
I do almost all my shopping online. Yes, that does mean a few returns (4-5 a year) and some “extra” costs if shipping isn’t included. However, I’m learning to order smarter and to know which companies’ sizes run big or small (the Fit Kit will help this).
Psychologically what I’ve done is to merge the cost of postage and returns into my overall spending allowance. Plus, I calculate my time as worth $20 an hour. Yes, I’m worth it. But even $10 gives you an idea. If I have to pay $12.00 for shipping and returning an item that screams “ouch!” BUT the time spent ordering and returning an item is less than a hour. If I had shopped in stores for an item I might have gotten something just right, but rarely at the first store or the first item tried on. And I’ve spent time and gas money. I still might change my mind later and want to return it. So, time and gas money needed again. Then time to look for something to replace the returned item. Then lunch or dinner out since you’ve been out shopping. Or at least a Starbucks run. Or something to “console” yourself!
Balances out pretty well. Or maybe I’m just really good at rationalizing!
Hi Carol, what a great way of looking at it! You and your time are absolutely important and putting a dollar value on it really makes you think. Brilliant! :) xo, Caroline
Such a great post! Dressing for the changing seasons is always so hard!
Do you know of any good retailers that offer petite sizes? I know Nordstrom sells petites, but I often find most of it is not my style. Petite clothing–particularly in department stores–tends to be old-lady focused, which isn’t great for this 30-year-old. Thanks!
Hi Lauren! I know J. Crew offers petite sizes (as well as Asos, Banana Republic, Anthropologie) and I just saw a site called Petite Bomb that has a guide to brands that carry petite sizes. If you are looking for fair trade brands, you can try Reformation, and any number of Made in the USA companies like Paige Denim, 7 For All Mankind, Eileen Fisher, etc. Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
If you want to learn more about fabrics Fabric for Fashion: The Complete Guide and its companion Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book by Clive Hallett and Amanda Johnston are a great start.
Xoxo
Another fabric need/textile engineer
Thank you for sharing Melina! :) xo, Caroline
Great post! I completely agree with you. I also live in a small town so I often have to shop online. But I do prefer to try things on I a real shop. :)
http://www.isabellaschoice.com x
Hi Caroline,
What do you think of services such as “Stitch Fix?”
Hi Ame! It’s not for me, but I definitely see the value for people who don’t want to / don’t have time to spend time looking for the right pieces. :) xo, Caroline
Here’s a good tip I got from a customer service representative – turn the bags the stuff came in inside out to make your return. I used to try to remove all the labels, etc. Some of them seem to be designed to turned inside out, and have self-adhesive built in (no tape needed).
Rebecca! That IS a great tip. Thanks for sharing. Such a great way to cut down on waste! :) xo, Caroline
So incredibly organized – I need to create a FitKit asap!
BLOG
I completely agree! Online shopping can be rough, especially for a petite girl like me. I can never get the right fit. Thank you so much for the list of stores! I love your style and free shipping is awesome!
http://www.thebeautydojo.com
I do most of my shopping online because, even though I live in a big city, I find it a lot easier to browse from my living room with a cup of tea than traipse around stores and find nothing I like. You’ve given some really good tips here; I hadn’t even thought about keeping a record of things like fabric type, because I know that I prefer natural fabrics, but it’s a really good idea for someone feeling lost about that kind of thing.
One of my biggest pieces of advice for online shopping is to pay attention to the shapes/styles of clothes you like, both in terms of general style and in terms of your own body. For instance, I’m not a fan of maxi dresses as a style; I prefer knee-length skirts. I’m also short and curvy, so I know that things like baggy shift dresses make me look pregnant and dresses with cinched waists look great on me. So when I’m searching for new summer dresses online I look for knee-length dresses with hourglass shapes.
I live in the largest brazilian city (São Paulo) but I always shop online. It’s more comfortable and it helps with the immediate sensation of satisfaction that shopping something brings. One of my strategies is to add all I feel like getting to the cart and then putting out.
Other tip is not to pay with a credit card. It’s a common practice in Brazil to use bank slips, so you have some days to think if you really need those things and then pay it.
This hits right at home with me! I used to LOVE shopping in-store, also for that instant gratification. But the last few years I much prefer to shop online and you’re right, it does slow down the process, in a good way. I’m still working on good matches with size and material but you’ve got some great advice here that is sure to help. Thanks girl!
Brilliant, sensible, and gives me a serious why-didn’t-I-think-of-this moment. I am starting a fit kit right now, before I engage in the Boxing Week shopping online extravaganza. Thank you!
I like your idea to start using a fit kit. My daughter has been getting into online shopping more since I can’t take the time to go out shopping in person with her because of work. I’ll be sure to give this tip a try to hopefully help my daughter.
You make a great point when you say that we should make a fit chart so that when we order clothes online we get as close as possible to our size. I’m a huge fan of shopping online but I always struggle to get a perfect fit. I’m going to take the measurements of my favorite clothes and hopefully, with that, I won’t have to return the clothes I buy as often.