Applied Style

Dorothy Perkins - 25% off and free delivery for LFW

Cream sweater, khaki tshirt, rose tshirt, horse scarf, animal print scarf, ankle boots, leggings. 

I'm not a massive high street shopper (too lazy to trawl for the good stuff). But when one of those shops has an offer on for London Fashion Week, well, it would be rude not to at least look, wouldn't it?

Enter DPFWD for 25% off and free shipping at until midnight on Sunday at Dorothy Perkins.

Online shopping, part 2: how?

Last week I talked (at length) about exactly why I think online shopping is basically the best thing since sliced bread. In case you don't have a spare lifetime to commit to reading it, here's a quick summary:

1. Save money (there are often discount/free delivery and returns codes, and think of all that parking/coffee/lunch money you're not spending. It usually more than offsets the shipping cost)
2. Greater range - you're not limited to what is available in the concessions in your nearest John Lewis, but can access the full range in lots of shops, and ranges in shops that you just don't see on the average high street (because they are online only, or London only)
3. Less impulse buying (you can check in your wardrobe, put outfits together with what you have, see if you really need it, have a think for a couple of hours, then order it)
4. Convenience (your only free time is at 6am? Snap. Shop then)
5. Easy (especially if you know what colours and style suit you, and can eliminate at a glance things that just aren't going to work)

So, internet shopping is wonderful. But how does it work? That's what we'll talk about a bit this week.

Wouldn't you like to be able to access all that lovely stuff? None of it is readily available in real life shops.

The how questions I most often get asked about internet shopping are:

1. How do you know a good internet shop? How do you spot a dodgy one?
2. How secure is shopping online?
3. How do you know something is right for you if you buy it online?
4. How do you do returns if it isn't right?
5. How do you find shops that don't have a bricks and mortar store?

How do you tell a good internet shop?
First things first. If it's the online version of a shop you go into in real life, it's likely to be good - all of the big high street brands care far too much about their reputations to have awful online services. The only exception to this rule in my experience is, randomly, H&M, who deliver astonishingly slowly and take ages to process returns. Such a shame, as their website is actually quite well laid out. I still use it occasionally if I'm not in a rush for something.

If it's not a brand you know, the following checklist can be quite helpful:

1. Is the site well laid out, easy to navigate and the thing they are selling well photographed? If they don't care about their site layout, they probably aren't in it for the long game and might not care overmuch about their customers.
2. Are the introduction and terms and conditions etc written in clear, legible English? Fake handbag sites in particular (especially those declaring "100% genuine Authentic Orrriganal" or similar) are almost always let down by dodgy English in the 'About Us' or 'Terms & Conditions' section. Read it carefully, and if it isn't perfect, run away.
3. Is there a clear link to the delivery and refund policy? There should be a link either on the top menu bar, or at the bottom of the page. If it isn't easy to find and understand the policies, run away.
4. Is the delivery and refund policy reasonable? If they only promise to refund within a month, or the delivery estimate is not clear, again, run away.
5. Do they have a Facebook/Twitter page? Does it get used? I always think neglected social media is a bit weird and suggests a company who doesn't know what it's doing. If there isn't a Facebook or Twitter page, that's no bad thing, but if there is, it should be updated regularly.
6. Are there contact details on the site? You want a UK (or whatever country you're in) phone number and address, so you can call and send letters if there's a problem.
7. Are the prices too good to be true? Then they are. Sorry.

How secure is shopping online?
In my experience, utterly and completely secure. I shop a lot online, and I never had a problem with my credit card details being pinched, my email address being shared excessively (just make sure you tick the appropriate box) or foreign business getting into debt in my name. As long as you stick to reputable online retailers, you're at least as safe as you're going to be shopping on the high street. If you're still concerned, use a credit rather than a debit card, or a Paypal account, as it offers an extra layer of consumer protection.

How do you know if something is going to be right?
I'm terribly sorry, but I'm going to bang on about colour and style analysis again. If you know your colours and you know your style, and the thing you are looking at ticks all the boxes, there is (in my experience) about a 75% chance it's going to work. If you don't know your colours and style, have a serious think about your wardrobe. Does it fit in with the palette of colours you wear? Does the style fit in with other things in your wardrobe? Your hit rate might not be quite as high, but you should be able to minimise disasters. Other top tips:

1. Check out fabric content. If it looks wonderful and it costs £20, it's probably because it's 100% polyester. Which is fine if you aren't bothered by that, but I know I am
2. Look for garment measurements and size guides (please look at the measurements rather than assuming you will be you usual 10, 16 or whatever, as it varies so much from shop to shop). The other good thing about measuring yourself and ordering the size appropriate to your measurements is that you have an argument for free returns/exchange if the item patently doesn't conform to the shop's own sizing system. Be aware that most catalogue models are about 5'10", so everything is going to be longer on you.
3. Read the item description. I have bought things thinking they are navy or brown, and had to return them. On one occasion I angrily phoned up a customer service number to be informed very nicely that the description did clearly state that the item in question was black. Whoops. It may also give you a hint as to whether an item is likely to be oversize or slim fitting, casual or smart, drapey or stiff.

How do returns work?
If you did as I asked above, you'll already know the returns policy of the online shop you are buying from. Some, like Topshop and other high street brands, let you return instore (as long as you haven't paid by Paypal), while others may provide a free returns label, or require you to send the item signed for at your own expense. Read the terms and conditions before buying! Others will provide a postage paid returns label. As far as I am concerned, ASOS set the bar when it comes to online service at sensible prices (Net-A-Porter is also absolutely wonderful, but the prices are somewhat less accessible) - delivery is always speedy, and returns are free and processed promptly. Bliss.

As far as I'm concerned, you should be entitled to a return within a few days of an item being received. I normally chase if the money hasn't gone back onto my card within a week (this is rare), and have never encountered a problem. Some places do have a reputation for slow refunds (Me&EM springs to mind, sadly - I love their stuff so accept this as part of the deal, but it can be mighty inconvenient), but most are pretty good.

How do you find shops that aren't bricks and mortar as well?
If you're a complete online shopping virgin, you'll probably want to stick to shops you know and love before adventuring out into the big wide world of online-only shops.

As for how you find those shops, I find that friends will mention something in passing, or I'll be googling for a particular item and come across a shop - I'll then go through my checklist above before deciding whether to order.

My other little secret trick is to not check the box that keeps your information secret. I don't do it every time, but I do occasionally, and I find I get a little glut of catalogues for mail order companies through the post in the coming weeks. I found out about lovely Hush (which I have mentioned before) in this way.

Next week I'll be posting a big fat list of my favourite online-only or London-and-online-only shops that i think sell good quality clothes at reasonable (well, realistic) prices and offer the kind of customer service that we need from online shops nowadays.

What about you? Any online shopping tips that you rely on?

Online shopping, part 1: why?

Welcome to the first of three blog posts which, I hope, will demystify the world of online shopping just a little bit. OK, so there are those of you out there who hardly venture into town any more and wouldn't dream of buying something in real life without researching every online shopping option online first, but for many women, shopping online just seems an awful lot like hard work, and certainly a lot more hard work than dashing into M&S and grabbing the first dozen or so items that look vaguely appropriate.

I initially wrote just one blog post on the whys, wheres and hows of online shopping, but it became so ridiculously wordy and gargantuan that I thought for the sake of somebody actually making it to the end, I'd better split it into a couple of posts:

1. Why? Seriously, why bother with getting the postman to bring me clothes in three days' time when I could just nip into town and pick something up today, without the delivery charge? I'll tell you, and hopefully you'll believe me.
2. How? OK, I'm convinced, but where do I start? How do I tell a good online shop from a bad one? I'll give you some tips, things to look for in good quality online shops, and ideas to save money and time while looking better than you ever have.
3. Where? The internet is massive, woman! I don't know what to look for and where to find it. No problem. I've got a list of websites that I rely on, and ideas for finding your own favourites.

So, Why shop online? That's a rather big question. Before I spout some of my big positives for online shopping, shall we frame it another way to start with? Why not shop online? Here are the most common reasons I hear for avoiding online shopping:

1. Shipping is so expensive, I don't have to pay that when I go to the shops in person
2. I just can't find what I want, the internet is too big
3. It's so hard to tell what the quality is going to be like
4. I can't tell what size I'll be, and I can't afford to order multiple sizes to try on
5. I want to try things on before I buy them

I'm going to deal with each of those reasons before I move on to a few more reasons  think you should give online shopping a try.

Expensive shipping
OK, so the chances are that if you order online you're going to have to pay shipping (unless you can find a free shipping discount code - more on discount codes a bit further on). But, unless you live right on the edge of a busy shopping centre, the chances are that going shopping to somewhere with much of a selection of shops holds some costs for you too - parking or bus fare is likely to be virtually as much as most online shops' shipping fees, and that's ignoring the possibility of stopping for a coffee or a bite to eat while you're out. And, even if I were to walk into town and drink only my bottle of tap water while out, for me it is worth spending a few pounds to save the 20 minute bus journey each way and the hassle of wrestling two bored boys around enough shops for me to have a chance of actually trying on some clothes that I like (NB: I am working on the assumption that dashing into M&S and grabbing the first dozen items you come across is not providing everything you need, shopping satisfaction or style -wise).

Finding what you want on the internet is difficult
Well, that depends what you mean by difficult. You know where Hobbs, M&S, H&M, Whistles, Monsoon or whatever shops you frequent are on the high street, right? Well, if you go to www.google.co.uk and type in the shop name you want, youll soon know where they are on the internet as well. For now we'll ignore the fact that there is a plethora of other shops on the internet, let's just start by realising that all of those shops you go into in real life have a home on the internet, and most of them are pretty easy to use. With a couple of exceptions (I'm look at you, Russell & Bromley, with your stupid 2003-esque website that doesn't yet offer online shopping despite promising it in 'early autumn 2012')

It's hard to tell what the quality will be like
This is an easy one with shops that you know in real life - you know what kind of quality to expect from H&M or New Look, right? Well, don't expect it to be better when you order online, and be aware that things always look more expensive in the website photos than they do at the store (realise that you may be tempted by thigns that you might walk straight past if they were hanging on a rail. This has uupsides and downsides). Likewise, you can expect a degree of quality from more expensive brands like Hobbs or some designer labels.
With shops you haven't come across in real life, it is usually a safe bet to assume that if the price is amazing for a pure wool jacket or a cashmere sweater, the chances are that it either isn't great quality wool or is badly constructed. There are exceptions (Uniqlo, for instance, does great quality cheap merino wool), but on the whole, work on the assumption that the price is going to reflect the quality, on the whole. If I come across a new online shop I will often google for reviews or mentions of it before ordering.

Sizing problems
If you're someone who normally takes two or more sizes into the fitting room in every shop, it's time to get acquainted with your actual measurements, rather than size labels on clothes. Most online shops offer a size guide (have a look around the listings description for a size guide link. On this pair of Net-A-Porter trousers, for instance, the size guide is to the right of the 'choose your size' menu). Most decent websites will have either an overall size guide or a size guide for each item, which should contain some measurements. Invest in a measuring tape (all of about £2 from a fabric shop) and measure yourself - over bust, underbust, waist and hip measurements are all useful, and be aware of the length measurements of garments, if given. Really good online shopping sites like Net-A-Porter and ASOS will also give you information on the size that the model in the picture is wearing, which can be helpful.
Some shops are still generous or mean, even though they have size guides, but I have had succcess demanding free returns or exchanges for items that patently don't fit in with their size guides, so don't panic too much about that.

Try before you buy
My solution to this is simply to only buy things that I am fairly sure will suit me. Knowing my colours and style means that I have a high success rate with internet shopping, so take a little time to think through the palette of colours already within your wardrobe and the style of clothes you like wearing before you buy. Don't be swayed by the fact that it looks wonderful on the model if you know full well that burgundy makes you look like a freshly dug corpse.

OK, so we've tackled the Why Not? Now for the Why? As well as just being able to tackle the problems above, I've got a few reasons why I think internet shopping can be not just as good as, but better than high street shopping.

Save a fortune
I'll talk more about this in the coming two posts, but seriously, online shopping can save you loads! Discount codes (always around if you are prepared to sign up for email updates/hunt around a bit/wait a few weeks for one to pop up), free shipping codes and simply cheaper prices, whether that's for the same brand on a different website, or finding an equivalent item in a different brand, due to the massive range avialble on the internet. This is particularly true of designer clothes, which can be found much cheaper on less-known websites (more on that in the coming posts).

Greater range
The usual high street suspects are all available online, so if any of them are missing from your actual high street (I haven't lived in a city with a French Connection or a Mango until very recently, and I like a lot of their clothes, for instance) you can probably find them online. As well as that, there are a whole host of shops that only appear online. Baukjen, Me&Em, the ubiquitous Boden and other great online-only (or London-and-online-only) finds can offer quality and prices not available on the high street, never mind the access to designer clothes at reasonable prices offered by some of the outlet websites. You can also use search websites to help you track down, say, every bright yellow blazer on the internet, rather than limiting you to the one you saw in John Lewis. I'll talk more about search websites and online-only shops in the coming posts.

Both of the above reasons mean that by shopping online it is often possible to jump up a quality level, without jumping up a price level. And that is always a good thing.

Less impulse buying
You might think that discovering shops at your fingertips would lead to a whole lot of impulse purchases. Just a few clicks, right? Well, it can do, but it's really no easier than whacking out your credit card in an actual shop, and if you're a sensible shopper who has an actual wardrobe plan and/or shopping list, online shopping can prevent you buying things that don't fit in your wardrobe or your life (if you're shopping at home you can go and look in your actual wardrobe before you buy to see if you have something similar that might work instead). The discipline of waiting for codes and discount vouchers also often means that the initial moment of lust can fade, giving you a chance to decide whether you really want to buy it.

Shop at your leisure
Instead of needing to buy the kids' school uniforms, a new pair of work trousers and a black tie dress for next weekend in the same trip, you can shop at your leisure, when the time is available. I quite often do my online shopping/research for shopping (online shopping allows a lot more research before purchasing, which means that the purchases are often more carefully thought through) in the early morning after Adam leaves for work but before the children get up. Rather than dragging them around the shops and getting everything in a mad rush, I can research work trousers one day, order the uniform from M&S online the next and hunt down the perfect evening dress on ebay or a designer outlet site the next.

Convinced yet? Any further objections? Let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to tackle them.

Discount codes and sales

• CeMe London (expensive, but good quality jersey dresses with clever draping and ruching to hide any number of sins) - 20% discount online only, enter NWS1 at checkout. I'm assuming this is a universal code (I received it in a promo email), but if anyone tries it and it doesn't work, just let me know and I'll take it down. Code is valid for one week.
• Boden mid-season sale - Have a hunt through the website for up to 40% off some styles.
• LK Bennett mid season sale - some great basic heeled courts and knee high boots reduced. I love LK Bennett shoes for work, very comfortable for standing up all day.
• The White Company (exepensive but usually-good-quality basics in easy to wear colours) - 20% off all dresses and free delivery, enter code L1M1 at checkout. Code is valid for one week.
• Phase Eight mid season sale - some good party dresses to be found in the sale
• Seasalt 25% off selected items - I've never bought from here, but friends swear by the quality of the cotton, and it's mostly organic, to boot. All good.

Online shopping gems

Online Shopping Gems is a semi-regular feature of my favourite online shops, most of which don't have bricks and mortar outlets. Enjoy!

• Name: Baukjen
• Website: www.isabellaoliver.com/baukjen
• Best bits: Amazing quality, lots of natural fibres, tops that are long enough, plenty of regular discounts
• Worst bits: expensive if you pay full price, limited colour range 
• Shipping: £4.95 for standard delivery (free on orders over £99), express delivery available
• Returns: at your own expense

One of my go-to online shops is the recently rebranded Baukjen (formerly Isabella Oliver 365, a spin off from the hugely successful high quality maternity wear line Isabella Oliver, which kept me going very happily through two pregnancies. Expensive but wash and wear indefinitely without falling apart).

 

Fab workwear. 

 

Pleasing basics.

 

Oh, and it also has 15% off knitwear until midnight on 1st October - enter KNITS15 at checkout.

OK, so it isn't the cheapest shop in the world (t-shirts start at around £35, knitwear at £85 before a discount), but the couple of pieces I've had have washed and worn literally dozens of times without fading or losing their shape, and if the quality of Isabella Oliver Maternity is anything to go by, that's the rule rather than the exception.

I am a big believer in buying very few items of the best affordable quality (I'll talk more about my very very capsule wardrobe and how hard it works one day soon) rather than hundreds of Primark tops that die after three washes, so I'm a huge fan of somewhere that provides basics that actually last.

Sales and discount codes are key for more expensive shops like Baukjen, for me. Keep an eye out in magazines like Red and Easy Living (or on here - I'll always post any decent discount codes that I come across) for money off codes and sale alerts and be aware that while Isabella Oliver/Baukjen tends to offer great sale prices, the stock does not hang around, and not a huge amount makes it into the sale in the first place.

Baukjen has a real bias towards Winter colours (read here if you have no idea what I'm talking about), but there is the odd piece for the other seasons if you look carefully. My A/W shopping list from here looks something like this:

 

You can visit the main Baukjen website here.

EDITED TO ADD: Ooh, I've just noticed that Baukjen is having a one day 24% discount! Enter BIRTHDAY at checkout for 24% off your order.