How to Buy Clothes Online Like a Boss By Barb Huttin

What's not to love about shopping online? First, you can shop anytime day or night. Second, you don't even have to get dressed. Third, you don't leave the house - your loot comes straight to your door. Even better, you don't have an annoying salesperson nipping at your heels trying to convince you to buy accessories you don't really need (but actually totally want). Not to mention, there's no waiting in line or fighting it out with other shoppers for the last cute sweater in your size in your favorite color. However, doing your clothing shopping online also has some nasty drawbacks. If you've ever ordered a pair of jeans that looked perfect on the website but were two sizes too small once they arrived, you know the struggle is real. The other big drawback has to actually wait for that awesome outfit to arrive, which for those who want what they want, when they want it, can be tough. However, there are ways to ensure a perfect fit (really!) and having to wait a couple days can actually be a good thing. Here's how and why.

• Know what your measurements are. If you want to buy clothes online that you know will fit, this is your first and most important step. As you probably know, one brand's size 6 might be another brand's size 4 or even size 8. Size really doesn't matter, as long as you know what your measurements are. These include bust, waist, hips and inseam - the length from your crotch to the end of your leg. (An easy way to measure inseam is to take a pair of your jeans that fit well, lay them down and use a measuring tape to find the length from the crotch to the cuff.)
• Use the size charts. Most reputable online clothing stores have size charts or some type of sizing information. Use your measurements to find the right size. A word of caution: if an online clothing store sells multiple brands of clothing, their size chart might be a generalization for multiple brands. When in doubt, go to the designer's website of the particular brand and check their size chart, just to be certain.
• Check out the site's reviews. Look for comments on fit and quality to get a feel for whether or not you need to buy a size up or down, or how well certain types of clothing actually fit. For instance, if you're a large busted woman, you might look for comments on whether a button down top gaps or if the material holds its shape. These are things you can't know just from a photo of the clothing.
• Know your materials. A big drawback of online shopping is you can't actually touch an item before buying it. If you're a hardcore fashionista, you probably not only know the difference between the way cotton and polyester feel but also the differences between French terry and rayon span jersey. However, if there terms are Greek to you, go through your closet and look at the labels on your clothing. Make a note of the fabrics that are the most comfy as well as the ones that itch or scratch. This will give you an idea of what fabrics to get and what to avoid.
• What a minute. Because you're not physically carrying around a ton of clothing, it's easy to get carried away. If you're given to impulse shopping and find your online cart is overflowing, take a day or two to cool off and then see if you still really want that crazy boho maxi dress.

About the Author: Barb Huttin is an online shopping maven and contributing writer who loves to help fellow fashionistas find the perfect fit.

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