Is anyone buying more clothes in person rather than online?

[IffWhite]

I bought 3 dresses this year.

2 in store that caught my eye and i now love - from m&s and a department store. Both under £50.

I tried on many others that didnt work.

1 from online - almost £300 and it is just ok.

I have gradually cut down and down on online shopping because so much just disappoints on quality or simply doesnt suit me.

Anyone else upping their in person pu4chases?

I used to buy a lot from Asos but now they’ve started charging for returns I’m losing interest.

Online Returns often go straight to the rubbish dump ie LANDFILL. I worked in a clothing company that did this. Not the seller's fault really, often people have ruined the packaging and it can't be sold again in that state. So in the bin it goes, just because someone ordered 2 to get the right size.

So off to the shops I go! I also think it's important to keep stores open.

https://www.bbcearth.com/news/your-brand-new-returns-end-up-in-landfill

They probably have to throw it away, so it makes sense to charge for them.

Not all, I have signed up to wait lists for items before, and if they get a return, they send it back out.
Not all places. As some are so cheap it's not worth it to them.

I buy most of my online stuff from actual stores, they most certainly don't send the returns to landfill! Buying online doesn't necessarily mean buying from a warehouse.

I loved that shop!

The m and s was the massive one on Oxford st - after a long mooch in selfridges where i found nothing.

It can be time consuming i admit, but so is online now places like John lewis habe 2500 dresses to choose from instead of, say, 100 nicely chosen ones.

I’ve just taken delivery of two things and am awaiting another today - and none of them come from sources with actual shop fronts.

My heavily researched ‘final sale only’ raincoat (how my AI correspondent has laughed at me … ) fits exactly as anticipated.

Cycle short length yoga leggings are perfect - from a brand I’ve bought swimwear from previously.

Some linen trousers are coming from a brand I’ve never bought from before. They ‘don’t do sales’ (there’s no sale apparent on their website) but there was a huge discount available via their mailing list.

I simply wouldn’t have access to any of these things if I only used physical stores - whether in Thurso or Mayfair, and I can’t imagine going back to pre-internet shopping.

@SeditiousPam i find AI very helpful for tracking down items at the best price!

It can be. As long as you make it clear you want that exact item and not something else with a similar name, or a couple of features in common.

But going back to online shopping - I’ve received slightly outstanding service recently from a few online retailers. People measuring garments for me, offering to hold them while I get advice on said measurements, agreeing to exchange for a different size without the usual rigmarole … These aren’t big name designer brands - their prices are comparable with some of the more expensive High St brands often recommended here. I’ve been mightily impressed.

(And now need to stop all shopping until at least the new year. 😅)

Im v petite in height. (Less than 5ft) Clothes shopping is a nightmare however I do it.
But i prefer in person shopping.
My latest purchases have been some linen balloon trousers from petite next (i feel sure they would be too short for "regular petite" women!) And - Im unreasonably excited about this - a jumpsuit that fits! From a charity shop.