Is it Just a Phase or Will Online Shopping Always be Popular?
Online shopping is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me and my wallet. There are so many products that can be purchased with just the click of a mouse. It is hard to not get caught up in the moment and spend all of your money in a matter of hours. Avid online shoppers can most certainly agree with me on this though, online shopping is not meant for the weak.
My online shopping obsession came forth this summer. I was interning at Redbook magazine; that was mistake number one. The mistake wasn’t because I was interning at Redbook, interning at Redbook was a truly amazing experience that I wish I could relive every day. The mistake was that I was interning at a women’s magazine that focuses on many different topics, one big topic being fashion. Every day I would walk into that office and be mesmerized by someone’s outfit or the clothes picked out for photo shoots. My eyes were constantly being opened to new shirt and pant combinations, new summer heels, and new accessories to perfect your look. Basically, my eyes were opened to every fashionable item I did not have. So, I made it my mission to buy everything.
When I say everything, I don’t mean literally everything, but close to it. My weakness was shoes. Well, my weakness has always been shoes but as for online shopping, shoes became my hottest item to buy. Every woman knows that shoes can make or break an outfit. Once I ordered one pair, I couldn’t control myself.
Some people may think online shopping is difficult because of sizes and then returning items if they do not fit. I am the person to tell you to trust your instinct and your judgment when it comes to sizing. I know that in boots and closed-toe shoes I am a size eight but in open-toe shoes I am usually a size smaller. Therefore, going by this led me to selecting the perfect size for each shoe I had purchased.
Returning items that you bought while online shopping are not hard to return. Most companies have a section on their website that explains all the steps that need to be done to ship something back that did not fit, was damaged, etc. They usually provide a shipping label as well so you don’t even have to pay for the shipping and handling of the item you are returning. If none of this information is on the website you purchased your item from, then there is usually a customer service phone number or email address that can be used.
One of my favorite online shopping websites is tobi.com. It is an online boutique based out of California. To my knowledge, there are no actual locations, and tobi.com is solely based online. I had an issue once where they shipped me the wrong size of the leggings I had ordered. I emailed their customer service regarding my problem and was emailed back in minutes with an apology and a discount code to use for my next purchase. The leggings wound up fitting fine and I decided to keep them, so I emailed them again letting them know this. They responded by saying they were happy they fit and to use the discount code regardless.
I was never an advocate for online shopping because I like to try things on. I tend to be different sizes when it comes to different clothing items and different stores so trying things on helps me find the perfect hit. However, I hated how crowded the mall could be. I love going to the mall because the fresh smell of new clothing or the big red signs that scream “SALE” give me butterflies but I could not stand waiting in line at the cashier for 30 minutes or shoving my way through people to grab the last denim jacket.
Online shopping is the solution to all of these problems: long lines, too many people or “we don’t have any more sizes.” I can go from looking at the new fall boots and sweaters to looking at bathing suits that are on sale and then look at stud earrings and bangle bracelets to peplum shirts and dress pants. The options are truly endless. Online shopping may have burned a hole in my wallet but it has also earned a special place in my heart, and my closet.
PHOTO TAKEN by Jacklyn Kouefati
