Clothing is a difficult item to purchase online, although not impossible. Due to the fact that there are no manufacturing standards for sizes, it is a bit of an unknown if a garment will fit or not. Ultimately the key to purchasing garments online is to be persistent, do not give up, and be prepared to return items that do not fit.

• If at first you do not find it, keep searching websites. The beauty of the Internet is that it is much easier to find garments than it once was. No more having to find the same store through different malls for one item. Chances are good that a national brand can be found on another website.
• Check the return policy of the retailer. Not all retailers have a generous return policy and some may refuse them altogether. If it is a garment that you are on the fence on and the return policy is poor, don’t spend the money. If it does not fit when you receive it, or it does not look good, you are stuck with the item and out the money.
• Read the description for the cut of the garment. The more tailored the item, the better it is to go one size up. It is a better safe than sorry line of defense. It is always easier to make a garment smaller than it is to make it bigger. Check with a local dry cleaner for alterations which will give a semi-custom fit.

While these are not cardinal rules, they are ones to heed to avoid disappointment when shopping online for clothes.