New shopping realities
As we've discovered in recent years, more and more people are embracing shopping online over going to the stores. The pandemic has only accelerated this trend. Think about it. Have you been to a mall recently? Did you feel comfortable, free of worries, wandering from store to store? I haven't. Well, not yet... maybe one day, who knows? For now, the sight of all those masked faces, those endless line-ups, the impossibility to quietly sip my favorite drink while walking around, all these restrictions take away my desire to stroll. As soon as I finish my shopping, I just want to go back to my car after having frantically washed my hands to finally take off my mask and take a good breath of air without feeling any threat.
The alternative that I prefer more and more? Shopping safely online, in the comfort of my home, without any stress or pressure. I must admit that this confidence in online shopping is quite recent. It started with small purchases that I considered "safe": books, decorative items, costume jewelry, children's clothes... then I slowly started buying clothes. Yes, I made some mistakes, but I also made some very interesting discoveries that were worth the "risk" taken. I quickly learned to recognize the brands that did their best to reduce this risk by providing as much information as possible about the product, in order to make me feel perfectly comfortable with my purchase.
Reaching your comfort zone...
Of course, this doesn't happen without a little work at first, especially with a brand you're not sure if the brand's fit or size will work for you, not to mention the anxiety that comes with deciphering in-between sizes. For example, what to do when the size guide says that a "small" chest should range from 33 and 35 inches, and my own chest measurement comes in lower, but my waist and hips are spot on. Anxiety around this seemingly impossible decision that more often than not results in an abandoned shopping cart.
My advice: Avoid panicking and TRUST THE MEASURES. If the measurements are taken correctly, there is NO reason for the clothes not to fit, especially the dresses... It's mathematical: the numbers are facts, they don't lie. In fact, there are only two rules:
- Be 100% honest with yourself in front of the mirror. Give up the old reflex of pulling in your stomach to measure yourself!
- Remember that the best way to measure yourself is while wearing your favorite bra: you know, the one that is well-supported and only enhances your bust; not the one with the stretched out elastic that we all refuse to throw away because "it was so beautiful and cost me so much" and that gives us a shape that defies gravity.
Carefully write down these measurements and keep them as a reference for as long as your body type matches.
Then compare your measurements with the size guide of the online store where you want to buy: it will tell you what your size is relative to their size guide. It's very possible that your waist and hips will lead you to two different sizes. Choose the larger of the two, and you can be sure that the garment will fit you.
To be even more certain of your choice, look at the measurements of the garment. They should be larger than your body. At worst, when the fabric of the garment has good elasticity, your body measurements can be equal to or even up to 6 inches above the garment's measurement for a tighter fit.
All of that sounds complicated to you? Don't hesitate to ask for assistance from the company's customer service department. Hesitating to get started when you first start buying clothes online is normal, but the more you do it, the more confidence and skill you will gain.
And most importantly, remember: good measurement is key!
