The internet is our source for almost everything these days. You can order everything online, from musical instruments to fresh food. Of course, the internet isn’t a perfect replacement for all of the businesses and social structures that it has altered and replaced. Plenty of folks say that the quality of what the internet delivers can be suspect — and that can be true whether you’re talking about fresh veggies or your latest first date.
But for those savvy enough to use it properly, the internet can be the most convenient way to get the best of anything. With an eye for quality and a sense of which websites to turn to, you can get superior stuff from the internet without ever stepping foot in a store, bar, or other real-world setting. Here are a few tips on how you can use the internet to become a veritable fashionista.
The Internet As a Fashion Research Tool
In its early days, the internet earned the cheesy nickname “the information superhighway.” Silly as that sounds, it’s true. Information moves fast on the internet, and you can access almost anything.
For starters, you can start reading your favorite fashion magazine online. Switch to a digital subscription, or just read the articles made available outside the paywalls. Fashion must-reads such as Vogue and Elle are available online.
Check out message boards, too. On sites like Reddit, you’ll find communities built around everything from the most advanced latest fashions to turning unstylish folks onto fashion basics. The comment sections of websites dedicated to fashion are home to vibrant fashion-focused communities, too. Join the discussion or just read the opinions of other commenters. Comment sections and message boards are a great place to get the word about the latest fashions, and checking them out even occasionally is a great way to improve your fashion IQ.
The Internet as a Shopping Center
The internet isn’t just for finding out about the latest fashions. It’s also one of the best places to buy them.
Shopping online is the convenient solution for hip millennials — and the obvious one, too, which is why so many young women and men are doing their clothes-shopping partly, primarily, or even exclusively online. With the rise of online shopping, you’ll never have to worry about store hours, mall parking, and other stressful hurdles of the brick-and-mortar shopping experience.
Shopping online is also a great way to save money. Without the overhead costs associated with brick-and-mortar shops, online retailers can frequently offer their goods for less. Plus, comparison shopping online is much easier than it is in person.
For millennials and other young shoppers, shopping online is just the common-sense solution. It fits into a busy working schedule, it saves you money, and it will help you find just as many — if not more — of the latest hip clothes and accessories.
Tips for Shopping Online
Shopping online can be good or bad depending on how you do it. Here are some tips for shopping online.
Stores matter. Just as you wouldn’t walk into a Walmart and expect to find the latest hip cuts and fits, you should not rely on the internet’s massive e-commerce sites for your fashion shopping. Just as you would in the real world, aim for hip online dress boutiques and smaller specialty shops. You’ll get higher-quality clothes with fresher styles at a much more competitive price.
Try it on. You may think that you can’t try on clothes before you buy them online — and you’re right, to an extent. But most clothing retailers have forgiving return policies that make it easy to try different sizes and return the stuff that doesn’t work. Keep an eye out for sizing guides, too, and hold onto well-fitting clothes so that you can compare the measurements to the ones you see online. Check the comments for fit pictures and sizing secrets. You’ll get just as good of a fit as you would in person.
Take these tips to heart and you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful new wardrobe!
