Saturday, February 2, 2008

Some Things To Think About When Buying Clothes Online

Main types of clothing available online

The main categories of clothing now on offer include women's wear, men's wear and children's wear. Within these categories, there are different styles available -- casualwear, formalwear, workwear, outerwear and sportswear. These clothes are available in a broad range of style and prices -- from bargain items through to clothes from high street chains an on to expensive cutting-edge designs. There are also clothes for specific use such as maternity wear or swim and beachwear, together with lingerie and even organic clothes for both adults and children.

How to choose clothes online

It is essential to study the sizing guides provided on the website before buying any item of clothing. Follow the advice given on how to measure different parts of the body -- such as the chest, waist, hips and legs. To ensure a perfect fit, match the individual body measurements with the clothing sizes on the chart. Be aware that body measurements are different from garment measurements -- the latter vary according to the style, cut and fabric.

Length is an important factor when choosing items such as dresses, skirts and trousers. Some online retailers offer two lengths -- regular and long, the choice of which will depend upon your height and, to some extent, the look you are after.

Shirts and Jackets can be particularly difficult items to by online as both the collar size and the sleeve lengths have to be carefully measured to ensure a good fit. Similarly, trousers can be tricky as it is important to get the overall length as well as the inside leg measurements accurate. Some online retailers offer tailoring services and will hem a pair of trousers to the precise measurements given, usually at an additional cost.

Precautions when buying clothes online

Make sure the retailer operates a returns or exchange system. Many offer a 28-day 'no questions asked' returns policy, as long as the items are returned in mint condition. The Distance Selling Directive is designed to protect the consumer and gives the legal right to cancel or return an order within 7 days but there are allowable exceptions to this for certain types of items so it is worth reading the retailer's returns policy carefully.

Some retailers deliver their goods promptly, often within a couple of days of receiving the order. Many have a next day delivery service which can be used at extra cost. If the clothes are required quickly for a special occasion, make sure the order is placed early and ask for it to be posted via express delivery.

The colour of the garment seen on the website can differ significantly from its actual colour. To try to get a more accurate sense of the colour, look carefully at any close-up photographs of the item on the website, if available. Even with high resolution photographs, colour rendition varies from computer to computer. With this in mind, a few retailers now offer colour swatches which can be sent through prior to ordering.

Conclusion

Perhaps one the of main joys of shopping online is immediate access to thousands of items of clothing, often at discount prices. All this is available without even having to leave the house! Once you are familiar with the sizing and colour charts of each brand in which you are interested, it is relatively easy to choose and buy clothes online. If in doubt, consult the retailer's customer services department on any issues relating to size, colour, returns and delivery.

Noa Flint is an independent researcher and writer.

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Source: http://www.articlemonk.com/Article/Some-Things-To-Think-About-When-Buying-Clothes-Online/12671
Jewelry On-line

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