Fashion Blog by: Madisson Stanley
Now that the weather is sort of a buzz kill being chilly, and the only shopping in our area is outdoor malls; online starts looking like the best alternative. So instead of bundling up and grabbing that coffee to brace yourself for a grueling day of searching for clothes, curl up with your laptop instead. Since nothing new is circulating right now, I decided to share my online shopping tips with you.
So let’s start with the obvious reason, you don’t have to leave your bed to shop. Maybe you don’t have time to stop by that store on the way home from work to pick up that shirt you want to wear next week, or maybe you’re sick and looking for a pick-me-up. Either way, this is a new era; get comfortable with the technology that’s been presented to us.
The thing that held me back in the beginning was getting my parents comfortable with punching in their credit card information for some website they’ve never seen before so I can get a new top. There’s tons of ways to check if a website is credible (ask your librarians, seriously), or if you don’t want to risk it then stick to big names like Macy’s or Dillard’s. There are also these really cool prepaid cards that you can buy now that work like a debit card so you or your parents can load them with whatever amount they require and you can just order using that cards information without any worries of getting your account wiped.
Now let’s talk discounts. You may think since you’re shopping online you’re going to miss the deals that are being held in-store, in some cases that could be true so do some research before you purchase something pricey. But nine times out of ten they’re usually the same, not to mention free shipping, and there’s also these wonderful things called promo codes, or promotional codes that are either provided by the store, or if you do a little digging some fashion bloggers update each week with new ones that take down the price even more. The site that’s most popular and reliable to look for codes is www.retailmenot.com which actually provides a wide variety of codes not even just for clothes shopping.
Let me also point out that when you chose to shop a store online you will also get the cream of the crop when it comes to variety. Some items aren’t always promised to be in stock, but when a store releases a new collection you’re most likely going to be able to access it before it gets shipped to your store. Some websites also offer sneak peeks into the season’s clothes to-be-released. I’ve personally had an experience where I searched every store in my area for a type of shirt and I found it was only carried online. So if you’re having a problem finding that perfect sweater you just bought when you decide you should’ve picked up a second, never fear, it’s most likely still online.
Last but not least, let’s talk about electronic wish lists. Some websites offer you the option of marking your favorite pieces onto a wish list whether it be an upcoming holiday, or birthday, etc. When you compile lists like these you can either prioritize or track spending or the people of your choosing can view these wish lists to avoid the awkward gift returning situation. They’re sort of like the grocery lists of clothes shopping, I find them to be helpful reminders of what’s going to be in season soon and use them to compare to other pieces I’ve spotted as well to price match. So be your own internet Santa and try out using the wish list option, which is usually made available at the top of most pages where you would click to browse or search.
Amen fashion,
Madisson