any tips on buying clothes online? I like to try on in shops

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Cos I'm a funny shape. Skinny arms and legs, flat shapeless arse, chest like an ironing board and a mid 40s beer belly.

Now you have that picture of loveliness in your head , can someone tell me how to buy clothes online successfully? I hate clothes shopping at the best of times, as I don't seem to suit a lot of stuff, or it fits me funny and I end up trying on half the shop and coming away with nothing. I don't enjoy leisure shopping at all and really don't like buying online as then I have to faff about with returns.
(don't even know HOW you return stuff you've ordered online to be honest).

I don't follow fashion anymore, if I ever did, I wear the same old boring stuff to work, am literally down to one pair of jeans and need to just get a load of stuff as I haven't replaced things that have worn out.

I don't mind paying for quality if it's genuinely good quality. (been disappointed with so many things recently eg Hush joggers, just seem like cheap supermarket ones to me) I used to have a lot of Oasis stuff but that's gone now I think?

Basically can you give me some pointers so I can have a good online clothes shopping experience?! Where can I try? I keep seeing these random companies on my FB feed, never heard of them, where have they all come from??

Sorry, stream of consciousness there.....

Get a style analysis and find out what clothes suit your shape and colour. Then it’s a lot easier to buy clothes that fit you.

I used Styled by Susie, and it was worth every penny.

Ah, ignore her, she's just another of those attention seeker instagrammers. They're 10 a penny these days adn I'm fed up of them being given air time on programmes like This Morning, which when I used ot watch it years and years ago, pre-Katie Hopkins and the like, was actually quite an informative programmes. Now they just surf Instagram and Twitter to try and find someone "contraversial" and get them on for a "chat" to promote themselves.

I just had a look at her instagram. It's literally a load of selfies of her posing in various outfits, absolutely nothing to do with fitness. She is described as a "content creator". Hardly a businesswoman either if she doesn't employ anyone.

So yes, a form of troll and should be ignored and get a proper job.

And by the way, I'm skinny and have never been fat, and don't like exercise at all so god knows what category she'd like to put me in.

whoops wrong thread! Those last 2 were supposed to be on the Yardley woman''s thread!

wasn't talking about Styled by Suzie!

Liquorice is an independent boutique near me which set up a small online operation during lock-down. The owner buys well and knows her market (youngish-middle age, from 40 onwards). She stocks smaller companies, at mid-price and of solid decent quality. It's not cutting edge, but it's not frumpy (IMO). Liquoriceliving.co.uk

Just coming back on to say I've received some items already so was thrilled it was so quick. Got a leopard print top from Oasis via Tu, 2 pairs of skinny style walking trousers from Acai to replace the ideas flappy things too tight on the waist that I had bought in a rush from Sports Direct (thanks threads about nice walking trousers on here - hadn't heard of Acai before).

Some dark blue cheap skinny jeans to try from Tu ( thought it they were worth a try at £15 each) - 14 is fine and can't believe the price but the 12 is too tight so I can just take that back to my nearest Sainsburys free of charge. Got some nice face masks from Tu too.

Also got some black skinnies on the way from Gap (again had to order 12 and 14s as no idea what will fit me), and 3 jumpers from Hush in the sale.

And after all that I can't believe I'm saying this (ME! the anti-shopper!) but after doing loads of browsing I've actually started to develop an interest in fashion and trends and am looking forward to buying new stuff while I'm off work (school hols). I've even started a board on pinterest! And will closely follow this board too.

Just need to buy a (non-boxy) denim jacket and/or a black leather jacket but wondering if I will look ridiculous in that at 47. Oh, and some white canvas trainers, possibly Supergas.

Thanks so much for the tips and encouragement. I'm going to keep going!

@CurlyhairedAssassin you won't look daft at all. Pinterest is your friend. So pleased you've had some success!

If you’re looking for nice denim/leather jackets you could try Sosandar. I can’t vouch for them yet - I’ve just ordered a bunch of stuff from them myself but it won’t arrive till next week 😁

www.sosandar.com/clothing/jackets-coats/

Keep seeing Sosandar on fb and wondering if they're' ok so interested to hear how you get on.

Ordered a denim jacket from Asos (Vera Modo) plus Supergas from there too.

My biggest tips are:

1. Check postage costs/return costs before you start browsing.
2. Always put 2 of something in your online basket (unless you are 100% sure you want something) Whether in different sizes or colours. Or something you definitely will not like (doesn't have to be expensive). This means that you will always, always have to do a return anyway. Which means that you don't end up keeping the "Hmm, not sure" t-shirt - which you largely only decided to keep cos you couldn't be arsed to return it. By always having to do a return it means I only keep stuff I really want/like. Before I did this I did end up with stuff in my wardrobe I then barely never wore

I’ll let you know how I get on Curly 😁

OnDisplay: interesting way of approaching it! I can see your argument but I'd probably just forget to take the stuff back so I think trying to minimise what I return is going to be better for me.

I'll see.

If you work FT, what do you do about your deliveries? I'm off in school holidays so able to take stuff in then but I relaly don't want to start pissing the neighbours off by ordering all sorts and not being here to take them in myself. Some of the office staff in work just get the stuff delivered to work instead but I thihnk that's cheeky myself, it surely creates more work for the poor receptionist!

I’m in my fifties (just) and brought myself a berry coloured ‘leather’ jacket last year! Age is just a number.

I’m almost on first name terms with my local Hermes driver! That’s partly because you order a few things from Next, and they come in separate deliveries.

Next clearance is another good place to look for bargains. Stock changes regularly and you get delivered to the store if it’s easier. Also, if you get an account, you are not paying upfront.

@CurlyhairedAssassin I have stuff delivered all the time because even without lockdown I am housebound. For all my deliveries I have a safe place ( under garage overhang) and they pop a card through the door so I dint have to rush to the door. For returns I try to make sure they do courier collection returns which ASOS and John Lewis do and then I text my hermes lady and she picks up the packages from the garage once I've booked in a collection. I am on first name terms with all the de,Ivory people here ( small little community) and they are all very helpful. ( except one crappy xmas amazon woman who was an absolute arse, rang doorbell oodles of times made dogs bark and howl and woke my sleeping DD).. once you get into the habit of it it's simple. My hermes lady even once stuck the label on for me as I'd forgotten about it...

Im just not really buying much unless its basics or something I know will be ok, like a tshirt etc. or a brand I know often works for me Nows not really the time to be experimental. Im being more careful as I know how rubbish I am at returns

@CurlyhairedAssassin, my Sosandar order arrived. I’ll be honest, not massively impressed. There are a few items that are nice and I will keep but others are made from really cheap material and despite being nicely designed just don’t feel very nice.

I’m keeping this vest top and shorts, and the black tie top in the second picture, but the other stuff (two blouses and a dress) are going back.