How to Shop Online for Clothes That'll Actually Fit

Online shopping is revolutionary for the fashion industry. The options are endless and you’re given accessibility to brands from all over the world. The downside? As convenient as online shopping is, we don’t always end up with pieces that fit us just right, resulting in taking time out of our busy schedules to do the dreaded returns. 

For many hard-working women, finding the time to go to the mall is nearly impossible. Therefore, we’ve researched the best possible ways for you to shop online and help find garments that’ll fit you perfectly. 

Measure Yourself

First and foremost, when it comes to online shopping it’s vital to know your own body measurements. It's the foundation for determining what size works best for you.

Bust: Measure under your armpits, around your shoulder blades, and over the fullest part of your bust

Waist: Measure around your natural waistline. This is the narrow part of your waist, approximately an inch above your navel. 

Hip: The hip should be measured around its fullest part of your body (approx. 8 inch below your waist).

If you’re unable to measure yourself we recommend finding your best fitting clothing and comparing those sizes to the item you're looking to purchase.

In light of some clothing being designed to fit longer in length or looser around the waist, we suggest finding a tailor you trust. Tailoring your more expensive items to fit you snug is a exceptional practice to buy the garments you love and feel confident when you wear them.

Size Charts

An important step in determining your size when online shopping is reviewing a company's size charts. You may have noticed that there isn’t standard sizing when it comes to the manufacturing of clothing. For example: when purchasing jeans, I am a size 23 in the brand AGOLDE whereas in Denim Forum, I am a size 25. Size charts are an important guideline when online shopping but that does not mean we should solely rely on them. In addition, we recommend taking a look at the model's measurements. A mini dress may sit perfectly on the 5’7” model but if you’re 5’10” or taller it may become too short.

Reviews are your best friend when it comes to online shopping. Size charts are an important guideline for determining your size but ultimately, you'll always want to read over the reviews before purchasing. Not only will you know if a garment is manufactured to fit smaller or larger than the standard size but you’ll get an insight if the garment is even worth buying. Be cautious of fake reviews produced by companies and pinpoint comments that additionally talk about the craftsmanship.

Shopping Tip

Size up if you’re in between sizes. If you lose weight you can always take material in but you can’t take material out.

Shopping for Your Body Type

As we all know, every woman has a different body shape which naturally comes into play when determining what size and fit to purchase. Determining your body shape will make a significant difference in fit when purchasing. Is the brand you’re looking to purchase from known to make products that will emphasize your natural curves? Or is it designed for a smaller hip-to-waist ratio that may be ideal for athletic, rectangle figures? 

Specialty stores can accommodate specific body types such as petite or plus size. Stores that are made to fit those particular body types will hug your body in the right places and hang at the proper length. Ultimately, it’s important to research what garments will be flattering on your figure when putting together your wardrobe to find the pieces that’ll compliment you beautifully.

 

Returns and Exchanges 

Personally, I’ve always found buying shorts online to be challenging. As long as you purchase from a reputable brand with a clear returns policy, a trick I’ve learned is if you’re unsure which size to go with, buy more than one and return those which don’t fit. This way of shopping has saved me from spending unnecessary money on shipping and the devastating “sold out” when I go back to buy a different size. 

A company's returns and exchange policies should always be looked at when shopping even if you know your correct sizing. A no return policy can arise issues in the future if you’re unable to return that $200 dress you don’t love. 

Therefore, when in doubt email the brand and ask any questions you have. Nowadays, online shops like Euphoros Collective have live chat features that could help you with exchanges and sizing questions within minutes.

Online Shopping Tips

• Avoid brands without a clear outline of their return and exchange policies. 
• Find fashion bloggers who have roughly the same body shape and measurements as you. Follow them for inspiration about what to buy and what size to see how the garment sits on them. 
• Avoid “one size fits all” brands if you’ve never purchased from them before.