How confident are you in how something you have ordered online is going to look on you?

[TheOGCCL]

I often see posts on here about how excited people are as they await an online order but I never know what something is going to be like (fabric, cut, colour) until it actually arrives. I wish I could improve my skills.

It depends what shop it’s from tbh

Some of the cheaper ones like H&M and Zara - the item can be completely different from what I was expecting, especially the fabric and quality of how it’s made. Some things are great but others go straight back.

More mid range/higher end, I have a pretty good idea of what the fabric and quality will be like so it’s just a question of fit and I’m pretty good now at spotting the shapes that will work on me. Doesn’t mean I’ll keep it as I may decide I don’t like it enough, but it won’t usually be because of it not being what I expected. Reviews also help a lot, I love online shops with reviews!!

Very confident. Unless it’s from M and S it will look terrible

I've been quite lucky so far because I know what suits me but sizing can be wildly different from shop to shop.
I used to buy a fair bit from Roman but lately everything has been really baggy and cheap looking, I've had to order size 10 and no way am I size 10, Im a 14 but 12 in skirts. I've stopped buying there.
M@S always fits.
New Look never fits so I don't buy there.

I usually know what will suit me, also I am very careful about what fabrics I buy (I dont mind manmade but stay away from the polyester and other sweaty fabrics!).
Also as I hate returning things I have been known to do a 'test' of a brand I want to try. The very first dress I bought from Joanie was just £5 on Vinted so I could test the fit....I love it and still wear it now!

Very confident, but I onky buy from brands on line where I know the cut and quality of the material, so can judge accurately.

Pretty confident. I know what colours suit me, I know what styles suit me and what fabrics I like, and I know the shops that sell stuff that fits me well. If I'm not sure, I do a lot of measurement checking. My main problem is things that aren't the right length for me, as I'm tall, and sometimes it's not easy to judge. I have a policy of only keeping things bought online if I love them immediately I try them on. If I'm at all hesitant about an item, back it goes.

20% given the amount I send back.

Not at all.

I quickly shopped buying online for this reason.

I only buy things I have tried on in shops.

Not confident at all unless I already have a similar item from the same place. I send most of the stuff back and am putting off ordering online unless it's free delivery.

Very confident that if I like it enough to order it I’ll keep it (unless it doesn’t fit well). I hardly ever return things due to ‘not as expected’ or whatever. I probably make quite ‘safe’ fabric choices and normally stick to a few trusted retailers though

Almost 100% confident if buying new. I rarely return anything and on the rare occasions I do it's been because I wasn't honest with myself about size and I exchange for a size up.

I don't buy much on ebay or Vinted but I've been delighted with everything I've bought.

Total gamble

Quite often on online stores they dont detail the full measurements, particularly leg length and given trousers seem to be made for people who are 8 foot tall and I dont want tos pend more money having them taken up its difficult. Shops that do long, regular and short without giving lengths of what they are and what they mean

Its the reason I gave up ordering from ebay and wont order from Vinted, Ive wasted so much money because you cant really tell the cut online and of course you cant return it second hand.

I hate the faff of sending things back too, nearly been diddled out of refunds from Karen Millen before and so I dont trust shops. Halara were another nightmare, took ages to get the money back and of course you can never actually talk to someone.

Pretty confident because I tend to order from the same places in the same silhouette. I know from experience what is going to work and don’t risk anything else. I may be missing out on great options, but it’s just too much hassle.

Some shops I know well. I’m pretty confident on them.

OP do you not have regular brands you shop in?

I check what I can ( eg measurements, reviews) and I know what styles suit me and where there are likely to be fit problems, but I still end up sending back about 30% of what I order. My main issues are fit around the shoulder ( often way too big) and fabric, especially if it is viscose. If the fabric feels wrong, it has to go back.

Not too bad. Vinted shopping has helped! I know what shapes suit me, what colours and the brands I like. I use Vinted to test out new brands/styles. I live rurally so have little choice but to online shop.

I find even from the same places, I can't predict sizing. I have a large bust where I'm never sure how tops are going to fit over it. I can be between a size 6 and size 12 in tops. In bottoms I'm more a standard 10 but then it's rises I can't predict or often length.