Here’s how to make sure everything fits just right when you buy clothes online.

What’s more annoying than ordering something online, only to find out it doesn’t fit? Buying clothes online can be a tricky business—but it doesn’t have to be. All you need are some trusty, no-fail tricks up your sleeve for the ultimate online shopping experience.

Here are 9 simple ways to buy clothes online (and actually get to keep them):

1. Know your measurements

Sure, you may consider yourself a size 8, but every company’s size 8 is going to fit a little differently. Keep your exact measurements on hand as a quick reference guide—bust, shoulders, sleeve length, waist, hips, and leg inseam. (Here’s a handy guide to help you measure properly.)

2. Check return policies

Even if the clothes fit perfectly, you might find the color’s more blah in person or the fabric’s too flimsy for your liking. Worse yet, there might be a shipping error, like the time an online store sent me two left boots. Look into the return policy: Does the store even accept returns? If so, for how long? Do you have to pay for the shipping, or do they cover it? The more flexible an online store’s return policy, the better.

3. Read the fit notes

Most online stores have fit notes that tell you the height of the model and what size she’s wearing, which is a great way to decipher how the outfit might look on you. You’ll also want to check out the size chart to make sure you are, in fact, on the right track with your estimations.

4. Buy multiple sizes

Since you’re buying clothes from a site with a flexible return policy (cough, cough), buy more than one size of the items you love, but that have you stumped in the fit department.

5. Avoid items with an uber-specific fit

For example, tops that have seams that go directly under your boobs, or dresses that have a sweetheart neckline. Skirts can also tricky to purchase online if they’re super-fitted. Items like these are best to buy in-store, so you can make sure the girls have enough breathing room. That said, if you intend to buy clothes online from the same stores regularly, you’ll eventually know their sizing options off-by-heart and won’t have to worry.

6. Be picky with your fabric choices

If you’re wanting to buy fitted pieces, make sure the fabrics are thicker. Thinner fabrics tend to be more finicky, and are better for loose pieces that aren’t tailored.

7. Find pieces that are easily adjustable

For example, buy tanks that have adjustable straps over fixed, knit tops over woven, and strappy shoes over pumps. Not only will it up your odds of finding the perfect fit, but you’ll save a ton on tailoring costs.

8. Choose pieces that mirror your body shape

Do a little digging to find out the silhouettes that best suit your body type and stay on the lookout for these as you buy clothes online. You’ll substantially up the odds of the items fitting properly.

9. Stick to simple silhouettes

If you know an item’s going to need adjustments but you just can’t resist, choose simple silhouettes that are easy to tailor—otherwise, with what you’d spend on tailoring, you may as well go for a custom look.

What are your go-to moves when you buy clothes online?

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Online shopping image via Shutterstock

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When I first started learning about organic makeup, I pictured butterflies alighting on biodynamic fields of lavender and organic rose petals magically ground into lipsticks. And yes, maybe it is like that – somewhere, in someone’s pretty organic fantasyland.

In reality, the world of organic cosmetics is much more like the wild, wild west. Just add uncomfortable corsets digging into our spines! Organic could mean 100 percent organic, or it could just mean made with organic ingredients. Natural is different from organic. Biodyamic means super organic, but is really hard to confirm. Essentially, confusing, unregulated labels abound – some are which bald-faced lies.

So what to do? Almost every expert I speak to about this subject says the same thing – educate yourself. At present, there is very little regulation preventing any company from slapping on organic label on anything with a price tag. So it really is up to us, the consumer, to wade through the misinformation.

First, some easy quick tips to get started on. You can find an organic brand you really like and stick with it. You can also look at the packaging of a product – if they invest time and money into eco-friendly packaging, that’s a good indication you should spend your money on it. Third, you can check out our list of some common labels you may see on your cosmetics.

NATURAL: The USDA regulates that food can only be labeled natural if it contains no artificial ingredients or added colors and is minimally processed. The term is applicable to cosmetics that are made with natural, food-like ingredients. Although this label is an important step in the right direction, there isn’t a lot of regulation for enforcing it. The standards for labeling something organic are much stricter.

ORGANIC: During the Clinton administration, there was enormous debate with the USDA as to what organic exactly meant. And it meant it could include things like sewage sludge and genetically-modified ingredients. Luckily, that has all changed.

Now there are three tiers of organic labeling. If something is 100 percent organic, this means that the products were made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods and therefore can be labeled “100 percent organic”. “Organic” also applies to products with at least 95 percent organic ingredients. Both of these categories may also display the USDA Organic seal.

If something is “certified organic,” this means that certification is about regulating and facilitating the sale of organic products to consumers. Products may also display the logo of the certification body that approved them.

If something is “made with organic ingredients,” this means that products made with less than 70 percent organic ingredients can only mention this fact in the product’s ingredient statement.

BIODYNAMIC: Common in many overseas products, this means the product has been organically farmed in a rather interesting way. The farms are cultivated as unified and individual organisms, emphasizing the development and interrelationship of the soil, plants, and animals as a self-nourishing system without external inputs. There is very limited ability to establish and verify this ingredient. You just can’t claim something is biodynamic – it must be certified by an outside source. But these standards can sometimes exceed organic standards.

Hopefully these tips help you in your organic cosmetic shopping adventures!

Image: Ecolabelling.org

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I’ve just returned home with an armful of new clothes. Two soft-as-silk shrunken cotton button downs, one oversized linen-mix cardigan, a burgundy leather hobo cross-body purse that is a dead ringer for Chloe’s Spring 2010 version and a fuchsia straw cloche (may prove risky, but for only 75 cents – I’ll take that risk!)

The sum total for this super satisfying shopping spree was, wait for it – $8.14! It’s like those MasterCard commercials: Add a little pizzazz to your summer wardrobe: $8.14. Keeping clothes out of landfill, the buzz of an incredible deal, driving your friends crazy when they ask you where you got that hot outfit – priceless!

Thrift store shopping is really the most fun I have standing-up. Riffling through the racks, pulling out hangers of clothing with stories to tell, secrets, and pasts, time seems to stop and I’m in the zone of space and creativity. I assess what works within latest trends, pair disparate pieces together and imagine how I might cut, sew, or cinch something to transform it to flatter me. Never mind, oh the thrill of finding a certifiable treasure. Over the years, I’ve found vintage YSL, Jean Muir, Missoni, a solid gold deco necklace priced as costume and a Frank Gehry-designed teakettle for only twenty bucks!

Many of my friends are fascinated by my rummaging ways but complain that they never seem to find anything other than junk. I’ll admit it is not the typical store experience. I’d liken it to being more in line with a reconnaissance mission. The best way to get the goodies is use a little subterfuge, embrace your creativity and follow my guide for a successful thrift store adventure.

The Preliminary

• Swot-up on the latest fashion magazines to get a handle on the trends. If you like, bring clippings to help you keep focused.
• Figure out what flatters your body and what simply doesn’t work for your shape. There are a lot of guides out there – I like this one. It saves a lot of time if you know for example, that v-necks are the most flattering neckline for you.
• Identify someone whose style you admire. When I’m really iffy about an item, and can’t decide whether I should take it or toss it, I ask myself – would Julie Christie wear it (insert your own stylish archetype here)? And the answer becomes clear. It’s a little goofy, I admit, but try it!
• Wear leggings and a t-shirt so that you can try on clothes if there isn’t a dressing room and so you can tell if you can incorporate an item into your regular wardrobe of casual separates.

The Push

• Give yourself a substantial time allowance; don’t bring anyone (kids, partners, pets) unwilling to look for a long time, through a lot of stuff.
• Ask at the counter for a spot to lay out all your items as you go through the first few rounds of sorting through what catches your eye. Even once I’ve whittled it down to what I want to try on, I’d say my try/buy ratio is still a meager 10:1.
• Try everything on. Don’t pay too much attention to the size on the tag. Obviously, people buy clothes from different countries that have different sizing systems. Secondhand clothes tend to shrink over the years and remember that a lot of designers have been flattering us with vanity sizing for years now. You may be horrified that you fit perfectly into a size 16 but who cares if you look fabulous in it (when you get home you can perform a label lobotomy if it makes you too crazy!).
• Look for recognizable names and at the care labels. You can usually get a sense for the age, origin and quality of the garment from its label.

The Pull

• I’ve identified a few favorite hunting grounds over the years, but sometimes I just have to admit that either I’m not feeling it or it’s simply a dry day. Walk away, but don’t give up future visits.
• Reconstruct your new clothes into something else. I’ve cut sleeves from blazers to create long waistcoats, dipped a trench coat in dye and chopped off the bottom of a sequined dress to create a dazzling evening tank. If you’ve bought something that you love but it just doesn’t work, make it into something else.

Abandon Mission!

• Stay away from anything with stains, rips or tears, but remember that you can always replace buttons and zippers (zippers are trickier and best attempted on something really special).
• Bring Cash; most thrift stores don’t take credit cards.

Depending on how successful your mission is, you may just want to keep the location and origin of your new-to-you wardrobe top-secret privileged info.

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If you haven’t spent much time at farmers markets, I know they can be a bit intimidating. Locals always know exactly where to go and what to buy, and seem to possess some kind of secret, cult-like knowledge of seasonal favorites and exclusive deals.

How is a farmers market noobie supposed to sort through the piles of exotic vegetables without feeling like an trespasser?

The reality is this: Farmers market fans can indeed be fanatical (I know I am), but the farmers themselves couldn’t be more friendly and welcoming. Here are my top 10 tips for fitting in at the farmers market and getting the most from being a locavore.

1. Arriving too late

Showing up at a farmers market in the late morning means big crowds and picked over produce. Beat the rush by going early and getting the best of the season. Morning light is also best for snapping pictures, if you’re into that sorta thing.

2. Forgetting to BYOB (bring your own bags!)

Most farmers markets provide small plastic bags for your purchases (in eco-friendly San Francisco, plastic has been banned and most vendors offer paper or compostable BioBags for a small price), but you definitely want to have a larger bag to carry your bounty or you’ll be heading home prematurely.

3. Buying staples

One of the advantages of shopping at a farmers market is that you get the best of the season from local farmers, which is likely to be different from your normal grocery store purchases. There’s nothing wrong with buying foods you know you like, but try to be adventurous with new produce. You may be pleasantly surprised.

4. Not asking questions

You may not know everything there is to know about seasonal vegetables, but the farmers who grow them certainly do. Walk up to each vendor with a smile and ask them what their favorites are this week. If you’ve never cooked with them before, ask for an example recipe or serving suggestions. You can always search recipes online when you get home, so don’t feel like you need to know exactly how you’re going to prepare something before buying it.

5. Forgetting cash

Farmers market veterans know better than to show up at the market without cash in our wallets. Credit cards are not accepted by most farmers and the line at the local ATM machine is a wait you could live without. Pick up some cash on your way to avoid the headache.

6. Focus on fruit

Fruit is great but it will also put a hefty dent in your wallet. If you fear farmers markets because of the price, focus your attention on vegetables. Veggies are cheaper, and when picked fresh and in season can be almost as sweet as candy.

7. Forgetting meat and dairy

Farmers markets are the best places to find sustainable farms with eco-friendly practices. Buy your eggs, fish, milk, cheese and meat products from local producers to reduce environmental impact.

8. Bringing pets

It is illegal to bring dogs to farmers markets in California, but each state has their own policies. Check your local market rules before bringing Fluff Fluff along on your shopping trip.

9. Trying to negotiate

Farmers markets are not flea markets, and haggling is generally not part of the etiquette. Sometimes very late in the day farmers will offer discounts, but it is generally best practice to respect the set prices. Farmers work harder than most of us can imagine, and their asking prices are more than fair.

10. Not shopping around

Samples are commonplace at farmers markets and allow you to find the best produce to match your taste. Nothing is worse than buying a basket of strawberries then finding better ones two stands away. Shop around a bit before deciding on the best purchases. You know you’ve picked the right stuff if you can barely get it home without eating it all.

What are your favorite farmers market tips?

Editor’s note: This is a guest post courtesy of Darya Pino. Darya is a scientist, San Francisco foodie and advocate of local, seasonal foods. Find more healthy eating tips at her blog summertomato.

Image: iLoveButter

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