Got the shopping bug? Try these 6 tips to shop online with expert success.
2020 will be remembered for lots of things.
One of those will definitely be the sales.
And while I love a bargain as much as the next person, these too-good-to-be-true prices are bittersweet.
Sales bring an immense amount of joy, while they also are a reminder that prices will rise again some day, perhaps higher than before.
Paying full price after 2020 may no longer feel more like a casual swipe of the credit card.
So with a heavier price looming (perhaps not till 2021, but still looming), it’s important to take advantage of the age of super sales.
But of course, there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. You want your closet to be made up 100% of pieces you love, and to do that, you need to be able to navigate the unending galaxy that is online shopping.
You’re not alone in your quest though.
This week, I’m so excited to share some of my favorite ways to prep and execute your online shop like a pro.
Read below, watch the video, and make sure to leave me a comment with which tip you’re most excited to take with you on your shopping journey.
Lots of love and joy!
Raquel
6. KNOW YOUR RETURN LIMIT.
Big sales mean the return policies at some stores have stayed the same, while other stores have marked most pieces “final sale.”
Know the return situation you’re getting into, and commit only to buying “final sale” if it’s an item you are 99.9% sure will work. To be 99.9% sure, a piece should be from a brand you’re highly familiar with, while being a cut you’ve tried before and know how to style.
Even if a piece is not final sale, you want to make sure you’re honest with yourself about the return policies you can stick to or not. If you need the more flexible policy of a big department store to know you can commit to returns, then go with that. If you can commit to the tighter return window of smaller stores, feel free to shop small.
Sticking to the return policy is about being honest about what you can or can’t commit to. Once you give yourself that boundary, you’ll have more freedom to shop where it makes sense for you shop.
FOR MORE TIPS, CHECK OUT MY INTERVIEW FROM STUDIO 512 ABOUT SHOPPING ONLINE WITH SUCCESS.
5. VIEW THE MODEL AS A MANNEQUIN.
The model is a person too, but figuring out if a piece will work for your body based on how the model is wearing it could lead you in the wrong direction. We’re socialized as women to think that the garment will always look amazing on the model, when in actuality, the garment may look much better on your body type than the model.
Trust your knowledge of the shapes that work for you and invest in pieces that you intuitively feel will suit your body type.
4. FORGET THE STYLING.
You never know who’s styled the piece you’re looking to buy, so don’t rely on the whole outfit to dictate how you feel about one piece.
For example, you may see a abstract cheetah print midi skirt you fall in love with, then all of a sudden the white dad sneakers catch your eye and cause you to gloss over the cheetah print skirt.
In this moment, stop, take the white dad sneakers out of the picture and take the fabulous skirt into your world of styling.
How you would style a piece is often very different than the styling you see on a website, so think about how you can use a garment rather than how it’s being used at the time.
3. VISUALIZE YOUR STYLING.
Can a button-down blouse become a shirt jacket when opened up over a tank and jeans?
Can a boxy blouse compliment your figure when front tucked into high-waisted denim?
Can sleeves feel a little less overwhelming if you make it into a 3/4 length sleeve rather than a long sleeve?
As I always say, it’s not just about the garment, it’s about how you style it.
Use your imagination to expand your knowledge of how you can use a piece in your closet. Envision pieces styled in new ways with other items in your wardrobe to get a full picture of just how versatile a garment is in your life and on your body.
2. USE SIZING AS A TOOL, NOT A JUDGEMENT.
My goal is to help you fit fashion to your body, not the other way around. Your body is perfect exactly how it is, so the point of sizing should not be to fit you into a box, punish you, or reward you.
Sizing should serve as a tool to help you understand what garment will best celebrate you exactly as you are.
Since there’s no standard sizing, meaning you could be a XS in one brand a M in another. You’ll want to do a little bit of research.
The size guide and customer reviews are the best way to navigate sizing and feel most secure in the option you choose.
1.SPREADSHEETS ARE KEY.
While there is no standard sizing, brand familiarity can help you figure out your size quickly and with confident.
Making a mental note of your size in each shop can be tough, so putting your sizes into a spreadsheet or Google doc will help you easily reference them going forward.
A spreadsheet is ideal, because it will also help you expand into categories like jean size, swimsuit size, or ideal pant rise. The more information you have, the more informed your decision will be.
