Stylist's Secret: Tips and Tricks For Online Shopping |

By Kristin Hull

As a busy mom, we understand that going to the mall and shopping for yourself is probably a faint memory. And that’s ok because you’re focusing on raising your children, but it is often at the expense of your wardrobe. I know, you’re thinking how unimportant your clothing is in the big picture. And that’s true – to a point. What we wear often affects how we feel about ourselves. That’s not saying it’s about wearing designer pieces or looking perfect – those things are often about how we want others to view us. But dressing for confidence is about how you want to view yourself – and that IS important. Let’s face it, none of us feel good when we know we’re walking around in an old, stretched-out, stained duds. (Speaking of confidence, check out our Happiness 102: Confidence post here.)

That’s why The Mommy Stylist is here

Yep, that’s why we do what we do. It’s in our mission statement. We strive to make it easy for you to shop, mostly online, so that you can spend your time doing all the selfless things a mom does. So, that said, we thought we’d share all the online shopping tips we’ve learned in order to make the experience that much better for you. Let’s get to it.

Tips and tricks to make you an expert online shopper

Check the site’s shipping charges. You don’t want to spend time picking out a bunch of items only to realize at the end that the shipping price just isn’t worth it. (And in case you haven’t noticed, we always try to let you know when a store we use has free shipping and free returns – just to save you time.)
Check the site’s return policy. Free returns are far and few between but boy do we love the stores that offer it like Nordstrom, Zara, and Asos.
Always check the size chart and keep a measuring tape on hand. Scoop up a measuring tape next time you’re at Target. That way you’ll have it when you need it. We all know sizing varies, even between pieces from the same company. So, be sure to check the chart for every item you want to buy.
Enlarge photos. Always enlarge the photo of a potential purchase as much a possible to assess fabric quality and see any details (that you may or may not like) that weren’t visible in the small photo. If you’re considering buying something that is dark, check to see if it is available in a lighter color and then enlarge it. Details are much easier to see in lighter colors. There have been many times I have almost bought something black but when I enlarged a lighter shade of it I saw that it looked cheap or too see-through.
Use Pinterest’s price drop feature. If you pin something from certain websites (which include many of the ones we feature regularly like Asos, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Modcloth and more) Pinterest will send an email letting you know if said item has gone down in price.
Read the reviews! Kudos to retailers who aren’t afraid to let customers leave reviews. They can be incredibly helpful when assessing fit, quality, sizing, etc. Use this valuable tool to your advantage.