It's a blizzard outside, the wind is howling, and your car is buried in snow somewhere in the Farley parking lot. You're back at school and looking to branch out from the sweats and slippers you've been lounging around in all break, but unpacking your bags, you discover you have nothing to wear to class, let alone wear on Saturday night. It's time to do some shopping, but the road conditions aren't exactly conducive to a quick jaunt to Portland or Boston to hit up the malls.
Never fear, online is here! After the customary email and Facebook check, the internet lends itself to a more time-consuming pursuit: online shopping. It can be done in the privacy of your dorm room?even in bed. There are thousands of sites out there?from Neiman Marcus to Target, you can find anything you desire on the World Wide Web. However, navigating the sea of online shops can be daunting. It's hard to know where to find the best bargains and which sites have the best selection?not to mention size, fit, and accurate color choice from a virtual dressing room.
For high-end fashion, the online boutiques are very useful. The web site www.shopbop.com sells over 25 designers such as Sevens, Citizens, and Theory, as well as the eclectic clothing of Catherine Malandrino, LaRoK, and Rachel Pally, to name a few. They also carry other essentials such as shoes, bags, belts, jewelry, and beauty products. Not bad for one-stop shopping! However, these types of stores sell fairly expensive clothing, so steer clear if you're on a strict budget. The site www.grechenscloset.com/masterlist.htm has a fabulously comprehensive list of links to designer boutiques, 'mall' shops (Coach, Anthropologie, Cole Haan, Gap, etc.) vintage, jewelry, shoes, handbags, beauty products, gifts, and indie clothing designers. Also, check out Revolve Clothing's site to view items on a model from six different angles for a more accurate representation of the clothes.
It's no secret that Brunswick, Maine has a limited selection of shops, and even Portland may not satisfy specific tastes. Many of us return to campus longing for our "go to" fashion haven. Thanks to the ever growing online consumer market, many clothing companies (Arden B., J. Crew, Victoria's Secret, etc.) have websites that closely reflect items sold in their stores. As long as you know your size, you can't go wrong.
Another reliable option are sites like Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and other nationwide department stores. When purchasing, pay attention to sizing and return policies?online shopping is not a foolproof process. Most stores now have a link to descriptions of how to match your size to a brand. However, sizing is not universal so make sure to check each website's specific chart. We want that butt to leave behind the best possible impression!
Online shopping can also provide the opportunity for purchasing designer apparel at bargain prices. Sites such as www.bluefly.com or eBay are great options for those with expensive tastes, but a less forgiving budget. At times you can find exactly what you want or need, but more often than not, an open mind is essential. When browsing eBay and auction sites, buyers beware. There are a few rules to follow as the purchases generally come from other individuals, not established companies. Make sure what you're buying is coming new with tags, and check out the pictures and seller ratings. Steer clear of anything sketchy or not made in the Glamorous U.S.A?auction items from overseas are usually fake and not worth the high shipping costs to get it here.
Our best word of advice? Sleep on it. Online shopping can be particularly overwhelming so try to avoid impulsive purchases that can result in pangs of regret. If you still want the same shirt or pair of pants tomorrow, you'll be less likely to morph into an online addict running your bank account dry. Also, never, never online shop after a night out?you probably already made a fool of yourself earlier in the night, there's no need to shell out cash to continue the trend.
As we embark upon a new semester, the same old procrastination methods follow suit. Sure, the hunt for the perfect outfit or the best deal is exhilarating, but sooner or later you'll need to return to that banal art history reading or tedious economics problem set. However, procrastination is productive if the end result is the expansion of your gorgeous wardrobe. So before the work sets in, now is the perfect time to refine the art of online shopping.