Brits love shopping online. It’s official: more than one third of UK web users buy their clothes online (and you can bet a sizeable chunk of them are mums). And despite the credit crunch, we splashed out nearly £1.8 billion on internet clothes shopping in the first six months of 2008.
Whoever dreamed up online shopping must have had mums in mind. We love it – no more mad dashes to the high street before it’s time to pick the kids up, or worse, dragging them kicking and screaming with you. Just relaxing in the comfort of your own home once they’re safely in bed.
Many of us are seasoned net shoppers, but may be wary of choosing clothes online. Common concerns are that clothes don’t look as they appear on the site, the sizing may be inconsistent and it’s a hassle returning stuff.
But as long as returns are free, don’t be put off. Check before you click ‘place order’ – that way, if you’re disappointed in the cut of those jeans or that coat is too long, it hasn’t cost you anything.
The best sites are the ones that are easiest to navigate. Plus, look for detailed descriptions – fabric, care, sizing, colours – and good picture zoom so that, short of handling the garment, you get a good idea of what you’re buying.
Some of the best fashion sites are those that have spun off from traditional mail order companies, including:
Boden – for that yummy mummy look
La Redoute/Vertbaudet – French chic at low prices
Littlewoods Direct – we like the Get the Look section where you can dress like a celeb for less
Next – clever grouping of collections in the online Next Directory makes it a doddle to put together an outfit.
For added mum appeal, they all have great kids’ ranges too, and let’s face it, kitting the little ‘uns out online is a lot less stressful than hauling them round the shops.
