Is anyone buying more clothes in person rather than online?

How I miss my small-boobed size 8 days!
I say I am a 12 but sometimes I am a 14 or a 10 or even an XL in Uniqlo. Sizes are so weird these days.

I tend to buy more in person now, or at least buy online something that I have already seen in real life. The last thing I bought was a Whistles blouse that I tried on a month or so ago in John Lewis but could justify the price - just bought it online in the sale.
I don't tend to buy anything online from retailers that charge for returns as my success rate is not high - I am so often disappointed with the fit or quality. I'm trying to buy less in general so it works.

I don't deny there are advantages to shopping online. I was in poor health and pretty much housebound for a short while last year and I learned to appreciate it then. (Not that I bought much but online browsing was a great diversion from thoughts of mortality.) And I like that it's given us all access to great clothes whether we live in Shoreditch or Shanklin.

But I've found the biggest downside of online is that I'm less likely to try anything new or different because it's just too complicated figuring out how it'll look or what size I'll need, even more so if it's Vinted etc where I can't return. I can feel myself sliding into a rut and I really don't like that at all.

I find my friends and sisters mostly buy in person, while my younger colleagues, nieces etc buy online. It's a generalisation.

I've given up online clothes shopping.
sizes and fitting are so random these days

I would buy 4 times more clothes than I currently do if I didn't have to pay delivery / returns costs. I know companies think online is the way forward, but for it to really work that way IMO, delivery and returns need to be free.

From my perspective, while I could buy more, I can do without the extra stuff. So I do.

Whenever I’ve ordered clothes online - other than basics like a coat, T-shirts, nighties - I’ve been disappointed. Either they didn’t fit or the quality didn’t reflect the photo and description.

@Floisme - not being able to return things is absolutely a barrier to adventurous online shopping.

It’s certainly the main reason I haven’t embraced the online pre-owned market. Over the years I’ve bought the odd thing from Vestiaire - but the stress of being told that one can re-sell anything unsatisfactory is just not something I need in my life.

(Right now I'm actually waiting for a response to a query I’ve made to an online shop - that’s quite stressful enough as I’ve already fallen in love with the item … )

Most of my online shopping is for tried and tested pieces or brands (so I know I like a T shirt that Cos does year in year out, so I know exactly what size I need for example), ordering several sizes and colours, and sending 90% of it back. In terms of finding something new/different, it's in store shopping all the way. I much prefer seeing and feeling fabrics and seeing how things fit. Plus my sizing is changing (thanks menopause!), so some of my failsafes no longer look the same as they always did.

I’ve bought at charity second hand shops recently. Online also but the fit can be bad. One boutique I used to go to locally the clothes really aren’t all that so I don’t go there now. M&S never has my size in store in certain items.

The only time I ever shop online is if the shop I want to buy from doesn't have my size in and it's to busy for them to do the order via online delivery for me.

Apart from buying cards and the odd item from small businesses on etsy I don't do online shopping.

but the stress of being told that one can re-sell anything unsatisfactory is just not something I need in my life.

Same here.

Same here. We only have Primark and M&S alongside Sainsbury, Morrisons and Tesco. Buy nearly everything online or in the supermarkets. Our M&S is hopelessly small and has very limited stocks and Primark is just cheap "wear once" crap.

Yeah, I've surprised myself by quite enjoying the chaos that is Vinted but I won't make random 'try it and see' buys there - handing over money I'll never get back on the basis of a few wonky photos is quite risky enough for me. And no way am I getting into reselling things that aren't right - I spend far too much of my life online as it is.

I have had some success with Vinted for winter clothes. But never spend more than £25.

I've gone up to £40 on Vinted but I didn't stop fretting until it arrived and I knew it was OK. It's no way to live!

Anyway I am about to order a dress.from Boden online as I doubt it will be in shops. I sent back the last one as a 12 was more like a 16.

Of course, it's sold out!

I realised a lot of clothes and shoes in my wardrobe that I’m not sure of were bought online.

That's why I swapped back to almost exclusively shopping in-person. I don't think it's an age thing either, I'm in my 30s.

But I know myself and I'm far more likely to think "that'll do" if I buy something online that's not 100% right because I can't be bothered returning it. Whereas if I try it on in the shops I won't buy something unless I love it when I look in the mirror. It's meant I have fewer clothes but love them all.

I'm a big fan of a charity shop too. My nearest ones tend to be rubbish but there are two in a local town where I can usually grab a total bargain. Off the top of my head this year I've bought a Hush jumper for £6, a Monsoon dress for £7 and a Jigsaw shirt for £4.

It was my experience of shopping in a big Primark which has brought me back to in person clothes shopping. I loved how easy they made the trying on process, it was really enjoyable and I don't often say that!

I only ever buy clothes and shoes in person. I like to walk in the shoes around the shop, check the quality, check the fit of clothes, look at the seams, feel the fabric, check the colour. I think I enjoy the process, but also that when I get home, I know I've bought wisely.

Yes. I've been deliberately buying less this year, but when I have wanted/needed to shop I have done so in person. I find it much easier to moderate my buying by shopping on person, and also that my purchases are better and I wear them more as a result. I still enjoy browsing for ideas online, and I do miss certain shops that I can't easily get to in person, but overall prefer it and intend to continue shopping like this.

How do you all find stock? I popped into Zara and Mango today, and both were sold out of the dresses I wanted in 12.

I'm mid 50s & buy 99% of my clothes & shoes on line. I know my size & what works on me & have a very low failure rate.

I am not a huge fan of vinted though i have bought a couple of nice things over the past 2 years.

I go to the bigger stores. I can usually find what I want. If not, I leave it.