Shopping Online (Booking)
Originally uploaded by 全球人氣榜

The internet puts, at your finger tips, a treasure trove of unique & quirky vintage or handmade fashion as well as all the high street & designer inspired style too - but how good are you at discovering the best bargains amongst the multitude of fabulousness that is on offer at the mere click of a button? Here are five tips for getting the most of your online shopping spree:


1. Browse the sale or clearance sections of the high street online stores - it sure beats jostling with the other bargain hunters at the sale rack in TopShop. Asos has some fantastic bargains in their clearance section… with prices on a whole range of items from shoes to trousers at less than 10 pounds! Check it out here. Also see the sale items on TopShop, New Look and Dorothy Perkins.

2. Check out ebays items ending soon or filter your search by time left to on the auction. You'll be able to find items to bid on that have limited or no bids already & pick up some top bargains. Because bidding on items ending soon requires some quick thinking to nab a bargain, this particular method of online shopping can be somewhat of an acquired skill. You will need to work on your eye for a bargain to avoid impulsive buys on low quality items. It is important to be a little discerning. For instance, with shoes, check the sole and heel wear (can they be reheeled?), branding (ie. Is it something from a cheap chain store? If so chances are you're paying close to a similar price for a used product as you would for brand new in store & these sorts of brands are quite often made of materials not built to last, a bargain is about more than price point), material (leather shoes or el cheapo synthetic?).

Another ebay tip: Learn the jargon such as BNWT (brand new with tags) - you could score a piece straight off the rack for a fraction of the price - a lot of ebayers start the bidding on their items at 99p so if you manage to find something & be the first bidder in the last few minutes of the auction you could end up bagging yourself a 99p bargain!

3. Remember, scoring a bargain is not just about price, consider quality too. Check the branding on shirts, is it the sort of brand that can withstand a bit of wear & tear and that would be worth purchasing pre-loved? What materials are used in the product? Is there a refund or exchange policy in place to ensure the item you receive is of premium quality?

4. Check out Etsy. Quality & originality, unique style & handmade pieces, this stuff isn't throwaway, it's investment pieces, made with love & care. Not only will you get to rock pieces that aren't being worn by every other girl in the street but you are also supporting budding designers.

5. Subscribe to style blogs in your google reader. Keep abreast of what's happening in the wonderful world of fashion all the while gaining inspiration to develop your own sense of personal style. A lot of style bloggers post when great online sales are going on and some team up with online stores to offer their readers exclusive discounts.


Bonus Bargain Hunting Tips for eFashionistas!

Remember your body type, how the clothing appears on the model isn't necessarily how it will fit you (it could work way better on you, or it may not quite live up to your hopes).

Think about how pieces will work with your current wardrobe.

Don't buy something just because it's a good price, if it's not your style or size or you know in the back of your mind that the chances of you wearing the piece are slim, it's not a bargain! Paying anything for items you won't use is just ripping yourself off.

Know your size, exchange is often an option but isn't it so much nicer to receive something and be able to wear it straight off the bat? If you are always a size 4 in boots, don’t buy size 3 because it’s all they had and the boot was super cute... if you wouldn’t buy it in store don't buy it online! The other great thing about online is that you can totally get away with just admitting to yourself that you need the pants in a 12, not a 10 & you need not worry about the once over from any snotty size 6 retail sales girl.

Sell on - exchanging & getting refunds from ebay purchases can often be difficult. If you have bought something that wasn’t quite right, which can often be the case with vintage or original pieces where sizing can be a little ambiguous, register as a seller (which is super quick & easy) & sell it on, get your pennies back & maybe even make a profit if you're smart!

Take inspiration from Dita Von Teese, adopt the mantra "I won't buy anything unless it's more amazing than what I already have on.'' (& no this does NOT count if you are shopping from bed while lounging in flanno jammies!)


What is your top online shopping tip? Where is your favourite online destination to bag a bargain?