You’ve doubtlessly heard, seen or witnessed for yourself the possible horrors of buying a dress online. Sometimes the sizes are too big, sometimes the sizes are too small, sometimes the sizes don’t look like they were designed for anything human. It can be discouraging, especially when we are looking for a convenient way to score sweet style.
>Listen, nothing is foolproof. It can be hard to gauge fit by a picture, and – let’s face it – some online stores feature a collection of poorly made garbage. However, there is hope. You can order a dress online that looks great, and fits well: you just have to know how (and where) to do it.
Here’s what you need to know:
1) No Chart, No Buy
Size charts are one of the most underutilized tools available to people shopping for clothing online. These size charts will give you the measurements each size is made to fit, so while you may not know if the design will look good on you, you will know that you’ll be able to slip into it to find out. If you don’t want to waste time and money on clothing that’s likely to disappoint, then don’t bother buying from sites that don’t have size charts.
One more thing: measure yourself. It may seem obvious this is something you need to do, but many of us only think we know our waist size. What we really know is our waist size from about a decade ago. Things change. Measure your chest, waist, and hips. Learn how to take your measurements properly for accurate results.
2) Familiarity, First
Brand name dresses are best if you want to ensure fit – preferably a brand name with which you are familiar. If you have other clothing already from a certain brand, you’ll know what to expect. After all, every brand’s sizing is slightly different, so if you know what size you wear in certain brands, you’ll be more likely to select the right fit.
No one is saying you shouldn’t explore new brands and designers: simply that if you’re looking for certainty in terms of sizing, familiarity is best.
3) Rent Your Dress
If you’re looking for a dress online for a special event and want to ensure it fits, then consider renting. Not only do online dress rental boutiques give you unfettered access to the hottest designs from the trendiest designers for a mere fraction of the cost of actually buying the dress, but the best online dress rental shops will provide sizing charts, free shipping to your door, quick and easy exchanges, and the opportunity to rent a backup dress for as little as $15 – just in case time is of the essence and you’ve left snagging an outfit until the last minute.
Three tips. These three tips are all you need to become a master of ordering dresses online that actually fit. No one is promising you’re going to find the colour or cut flattering, but if you stick to these guidelines, I guarantee you’ll be able to zip it up far enough to find out.
