My Online Shopping Tips (What I Wear)

Disclaimer: I will not body shame or fat shame anyone in this post. I also will Not tolerate any comments containing body shaming or fat shaming in the comments below or in the comment section I personally share this post. Gross comments will be deleted. 

So an article on BuzzFeed came across my timeline on social media. Go Read What Happened When This Woman Ordered A Dress Online Captures The Online Shopping Struggle and come back. So this Chinese lady bought a dress saw on a celebrity online and felt like it was an example of why people need to be careful of buying online.

Their example maybe a stretch. The dress fell in a all the right places as it did the celebrity & site model. Now just because the website does not have it's own pictures of the dress on non-industry model size bodies is a matter of splitting hairs, in my opinion. No store shows what every clothing item looks like on everyone's body. I will say the intent of the article, I do agree with. "People Need to Learn to Properly Learn How to Shop Online".

I am a Proud online shopper. I do at least 70% of my clothing & shoes shopping online. Other than shoes & in-season items, I don't feel the need to try everything on. Physical shopping makes me frustrating. It's not the crowds and pushy sales people. Physical store are for trendy shopping. I don't dress trendy a lot. I am more of a classical dresser. I might buy trendy pieces to update a look but most of my base clothing are classics. It is mind numbing to me when I need a basic white blouse and black skirt

and got to a physical store to find it, What do I find? I find the seasons trends.

That's cute!!! I like the look. It is not practical for my life. Physical stores are not so catering to practical. I understand that. They spend a lot of their money from trends. They have to be sure they get those sold. All my classic pieces that I wear, I can Always find online. Here are my personal ways I use to shop & purchase online.

• I Research everything I buy online. This is my money. I work too hard for it to be stolen. I work too hard for not to fit the way correctly. I read reviews because customers can be brutally honest if a product is inferior. I also like to see where the bloggers that look similar me are talking about.
•  I Love to shop around before purchasing. One of the best benefits of online shopping. Who has the better price & value?
• I click on the Sizing Charts. All stores are not alike. At one store I wear a 1X. At another store I wear another size. All Brands are not alike. Take buying shapewear from a national chain for instance. Maidenform, Bali, & Glamorise may have different sizing charts.
• I keep a current records of your measurements. Even in physical shopping this should be done. At least every Spring and Fall (warm & cool) take your measurements. One can't keep trying on clothes like one does in the brick & mortar stores. Some online stores don't have brick & mortar stores to go into. Some stores carry collections that can't be tried on in person (Boycott Update Coming Soon) Having your measurements helps in making wise decisions.
• I know the store, the brands they carry and how you fit in those brand. JCPenney carries Worthington & St John's Bay. I wear those well. Walmart has Faded Glory & NOBO. Faded Glory fits well but NOBO does not. Tried on a Nine West shoe in a 6 1/2 M on at Macy's, it fit well. I see the very same shoes on Amazon's website for cheaper, what size do I buy? If you pay attention to your habits and preferences, it lessens a lot the guess work & headache associated with online shopping.
• I take Risks but don't pay for them. Trends, especially trendy shoes are risky for me. I have an average foot for my not so average body. As cute as many shoes are many of them hurt. I do Not believe in "Pain is Beauty" when it come to my feet. But when I do take the risk, I wait for sales and special deals. And there is always the clearance sections where many items go to before the season is over. 
• I sign-up for deals for every store I shop and will potentially shop. Many discounts are email to shoppers. Some stores send out their deals weekly. Also signing up make you a preferred shopper and preferred shoppers get deals in-store alos. Who doesn't like a deal?
• I believe in Coupon codes. Shipping is painful. I call it the gas prices of online shopping. Like gas stations each store's free shipping minimum varies. I pray for a good free shipping not based on the minimum codes. Many times there are codes to help your cost before shipping. I also use them just to lower the cost period. 30% off is 30% I can put back in my pocket. My favorite to use is Coupons.com. I get my grocery store coupons there also. Search the store's website codes also. And don't be so quick to close the pop-up window when first getting onto the site. Codes may be there.
• If it sounds iffy do Not buy it.

So these are the things I do keep me from looking like this chick from one of my favorite shows from the 90s, Living Single. She didn't have a mirror and had to depend on Regine, the sales person to tell her she looks good. Common sense would have told her to look at her bust and she could see those the top was stretching for dear life. That is the trick to online shopping, using your common sense. That is my top tip, "Use Your Common Sense". Hope I helped someone.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms