Raise your hand if yshou find it hard to shop for clothing and find the perfect size for your body. We are here to tell you that you are not alone. In fact, many people struggle to find a clothing size that feels comfortable and looks good, thanks to the rise in popularity of a practice called vanity sizing. If you have never heard of the term vanity sizing, it occurs when brands label larger clothing as a much smaller size than it normally is. For example, in many stores today a size 10 or 12 may actually be a size 16, and a size 14 may actually be a size 18. This not only creates huge inconsistencies when it comes to clothing sizes, but it makes shopping for plus size clothing harder than it needs to be.
Unfortunately, shopping online can make finding clothes that fit even harder on top of the obstacles created by vanity sizing. And with more than 27% of consumers shopping for clothes online today, we are here to tell you that you’re not the only one who finds online shopping to be an overwhelming process. But, hopefully, we can help make the online shopping experience and process much easier with this guide. Everyone deserves to have a positive and exciting shopping experience online, which is why we are showing you how to shop for clothes online and find the perfect fit every time.
Tips on Shopping for Clothes Online & Getting the Perfect Fit
Bookmark this guide for the next time you are shopping for plus size maxi dresses at your favorite online boutique!
Take Your Measurements
A very important first step to ensuring you find your perfect fit online is taking your measurements. Most brands will have a sizing guide and additional sizing information based on measurements, which is why it is important to keep your sizing info up to date and on-hand while shopping. You can certainly take your own measurements, but in order to get the most precise fit, we suggest enlisting a friend to help. Follow these steps to get the perfect measurements every time:
- Wear fitted clothing that is thin and hugs your curves perfectly.
- Write down the measurements for each area.
- Stand in front of a mirror or have a friend help you wrap the tape measure around the following areas:
- Chest/bust
- Upper arm
- Waist
- Hips
- Thigh
- Inseam
Make a List of or Research Stores to Try
While online shopping can be a bit of a pain, it’s also made clothing so much more accessible. Whether you’re plus size or straight size, you have so many more options when it comes to shopping for clothes online than you do at any mall or department store. In order to find a brand that represents your style, Google terms that fit your style, like “monochrome” or “loose fitted”. You will likely find a site that offers a great selection of plus size maxi dresses or a store that has the perfect high rise jeans.
Leverage the Brand’s Sizing Guide
As you shop for chill outfits or styles you can wear into the office on a brand’s website, you are going to want to make sure you check out the sizing guide for every piece of clothing you put in your cart. This is where your measurements come in handy! Reference your measurements and compare them to the sizing guide to find the size that works best for you.
Ignore the Size on the Tag
As you reference the brand’s sizing guide, you may notice that your measurements don’t align with the numerical size you are used to wearing — whether that is larger or smaller. In the wild west of online shopping, sizes aren’t standardised or regulated. So, it’s pretty common to see sizes be inconsistent and not average. If you want to get the best fit, we recommend choosing the size on the size guide that best represents your measurements.
Remove Your Worth from the Size on the Tag
When it comes to sizing, we put a lot of worth in the number, meaning that if we are a size eight, that’s good, but anything above it isn’t good. This runs true for women of all sizes. While it may make you feel better to order the size eight when the size guide says you will be more comfortable in a size 10 or 12 — based on your measurements — you may end up even more dissatisfied in the end. Receiving clothing you’re excited about but which ends up not fitting could serve a big blow to your self-esteem, and we are all about protecting your confidence at all costs!
Read the “Details” Tab and Study Which Fabrics Are Used
Before you put anything in your cart, it’s important to check out the “details” tab. In this tab, the brand may include important information about the garment like what size the model in the picture is swearing, what fabrics the garment is made out of, if it has stretch in it and if the garment runs true to size or small. Most times, you won’t find your exact measurements on the sizing guide, resulting in you being in between sizes. Checking out the details tab is a great way to help you decide which size to choose. For example, if you’re between a 2X and a 3X, but the garment indicates it has a lot of stretch in it, it may be wise to stick to the 2X. But on the other end, if the garment doesn’t stretch, size up.
Confirm the Brand’s Return Policies
It can be difficult to get a perfect size every time when you are shopping online, so ensure the store you’re shopping from has a return policy that works for you.
You are now ready to shop fearlessly online! As you gain more experience searching for and identifying the perfect size, you will become more comfortable and knowledgeable shopping for your favourite clothes online.
