Suzanne Carillo

9 Useful Tips To Avoid Making Mistakes When Buying Clothing Online

Was this embroidered boho dress a mistake?

I bought this dress and booties way back on Black Friday on super sale from an online retailer.

I’m not proud of myself.

To be honest, I don’t think it was worth it.

Yes the dress is all hippie dippy trippy, sheer with embroidery, a funky boho style that I’m drawn to but let’s be clear…it isn’t vintage.

After I bought this from an online store called SheIn (fast fashion! Boo!) I saw the exact same dress available at Zara. Did Zara copy their version or did they copy theirs? All I know is that I supported fast fashion which makes me ill (I had a mad moment of weakness!) and the probability of running into someone wearing the same dress (the horror!) is much higher than I would like.

The quality of the dress isn’t great. It came with snags on it already and quite a bit of the embroidery is pulled or threads are coming loose. It still looks pretty from a distance, but these things matter to me even when I buy on sale. Also I worry that should I try to wash it the whole thing will simply fall apart.

The velvet booties I don’t regret.

They are comfy and the chances of finding deep burgundy velvet booties like this via vintage or secondhand shopping in my size with a low heel and in good shape are zero, so I won’t flog myself over the booties.

This dress requires another dress/slip underneath. It also doesn’t define my waist and normally I don’t care for that silhouette on me but I think slowly I may be shifting towards a more forgiving sense of personal style.

Might be because I’m having a fat ~~day~~ year.

Since I bought the dress online there was no chance of sending it back.

Shipping, customs and duty in Canada are all far too expensive to consider returning items bought online from overseas.

We’ll see just how much I regret purchasing this dress depending on how often I wear it.

I worry about snagging it already. I was terrified that Zoë would jump up and snag it.

I’m not often lured into the vortex of retail consumption as I choose to focus my efforts on secondhand clothing that doesn’t carry as much guilt.

I’m not perfect though and sometimes I succumb to temptation.

Like my favourite author says, “I can resist everything but temptation.” – Oscar Wilde

Some Online Purchases I Don’t Regret

Last year temptation took over when I bought this Mod Cloth dress which I love and have worn often, recently to the blogger meet-up in Phoenix. It’s my vespa dress.

I bought this vintage dress online through Etsy and I am very happy with it.

Another Regrettable Online Purchase

I bought some gorgeous booties just after Christmas that I never got a chance to wear or feature on my blog from Anthropologie.

I should have looked a bit more carefully at the manufacturer and done some research on their European sizing.

They were meant to fit a child’s foot. I tried stretching them out but nothing worked. I was like Cinderella’s cranky step sister trying to squeeze my plump feet into some delicate tiny velvet booties. When my feet hurt everything hurts and I turn into a nastier version of Gordon Ramsay.

I had to take the beautiful booties back to the store and swallow the extra $60 I paid in shipping, taxes and duty. Not cool. Now someone with petite baby feet in Oakville is walking around wearing a pair of booties that I partially paid for. I choose to look at it as “Paying it forward” rather than failing at online shopping.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

I’m not a huge online shopper but I’m going to share a few of the tricks I’ve learned through my limited experiences on how to shop successfully online.

Useful Tips To Avoid Making Mistakes When Buying Online

1. Measure yourself properly with a tape measure.

Sizing is much easier to choose correctly when you have your own measurements to compare with those indicated online.

2. Pay attention to the fabric contents.

The ModCloth dress was cotton with a bit of Spandex. The other dress is sheer polyester, basically night and day in terms of quality and fit.

3. Be a bit flexible on the colour.

Each computer monitor is calibrated a bit differently and we all choose our own level of brightness on our screens not to mention that photos don’t always reflect the exact colour of the garment.

4. Make sure the item is lined if you are buying a skirt or dress.

The Mod Cloth dress has a cotton skirt inside that adds to the flare of the dress and keeps me cool. The other dress required my own shift dress underneath.

5. Check the store’s return policies for your country.

If you live in the US often manufacturers have a much better return policy for you than for those of us located outside of the States. You could wind up losing shipping costs, duty and taxes like I did.

6. Read the product reviews.

I’ve stopped myself from buying quite a few retail items online that looked cute in the photos and then had horrible reviews.

7. Research online for reviews of the retailer.

Not all online retailers are created equally. Some have great customer service some have no customer service. Do a bit of research before you hand over your credit card number.

8. Only use an online site with a secure certificate.

This means they have paid for additional security to protect your credit card information.

9. Research the manufacturing company regarding sizing.

I should have done this for my booties. I would have realized that the manufacturer has notoriously small sizing.

Do you have any personal tips for shopping online that you’d care to share?

Have you bought anything online and regretted the purchase? If so, what was it and why didn’t it work for you?

Linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday

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Over 40 Blogger Meet-up Phoenix Winter 2017

I’m back from a fantastic refreshing trip to Phoenix

hosted by Sherry (Petite Over 40) aka the organizing super hero.

What makes Sherry awesome?

Sherry was willing to do anything to ensure a successful meet-up.

Sherry feels a like sister from another mister. We have very similar tastes and ideas. I still haven’t figured out how her huge heart fits into her petite body.

She is a mini organizing/planning machine. I don’t think I’ve met anyone else who is so aware of the needs of those around her. As soon as I arrived at her place I felt like I was “home”.

She is a night owl, impressive art collector and well rounded gal-of-all-trades that sometimes made me laugh until I cried. What more could you ask for? (Maybe that she didn’t live so darn far away from me!)

Sherry is a joy to be around and the reason this blogger meet-up was such a success.

Scenes From A Blogger Meet-up Phoenix Style

Good thing I left my six shooter at home as firearms are not allowed at this funky fun restaurant we visited. Just one of the many great places I was introduced to in Phoenix.

Naked Burt Reynolds with a blond wig anyone?

Don’t let anyone tell you Phoenix is only for “old fuddy duddies”.

This place is full of vibrant, whimsical and hip art, culture and food with awe inducing scenery that makes you feel as insignificant as a spec of dust in space.

Arboretum

Sherry took me to visit the Arboretum which is a massive park on the outskirts of Phoenix showcasing the native plants and wildlife.

I half expected John Wayne to saunter up on his horse while we were out hiking this trail. The scenery looked like it was straight off a movie set. Every corner we turned took my breath away. Even the smells were sweet. Not something you normally associate with the dessert.

Just hanging out with a goat on my back. #sonormal

#beakerhandbag #phoenixstyle

Goat Yoga

Yes, we did goat yoga and I loved it. I think we all did.

Someone asked me, “Why goats & yoga?”

Of course I responded, “Why not goats & yoga?”

Duh.

Next on my list is baby pugs and yoga, but I doubt anyone would wind up doing much yoga.

The Botanical Gardens

The meet-up started Friday evening with the surreal dreamy backdrop of a vast open sparkling Indian ink sky, cinnamon mountains and catci soldiers standing at attention outlined in the silver glow of moonlight.

We were serenaded by Big Pete Peterson and his blues band in this Arizona paradise.

I kept closing my eyes trying to freeze the moment in my brain and absorb every detail, my foot tapping along to the blues.

One of the attendees was not a blogger but rather a blog fan.

Jude, up in the photo above with me was a welcome addition to our gang.

It was insightful to have the opinion of someone “on the outside”. Jude has high energy, a curious mind and a fabulous sense of fashion and personal style. It was amazing meeting someone that has only recently discovered fashion bloggers to get her opinions and feedback.

blogger meet up phoenix 2017 — Curly hair gals to the left…straight locks to the right.

Want the scoop on the other ladies I met?

Diane – Fashion on the Fourth Floor

Stunningly beautiful, crazy high energy, talkative, outgoing, fitness obsessed, excitable force of nature with a very clear vision of her personal style.

Basically I want what she is having.

Rena – Fine Whatever

Low key, initially shy, determined, focused blogger with fabulous hair and a wonderful smile. Rena is a skilled thrifter and secondhand shopper, another reason I was delighted to meet her.

Patti – Not Dead Yet

Patti and I have met three times now in real life and each time she is a centered and calming force. She has a bit of a mischevious twinkle in her eye and a wicked sense of humour. I wish she lived closer to me as she has brilliant insight and a way of getting people to open up. She always knows just the “right thing” to say. I call her my Pattie Barbie because she sometimes lets me choose what she wears.

Margo

Margo (Wave Productivity) isn’t a blogger but rather a productivity coach. She is a fun, creative, talented wisp of a woman with a type A personality and impeccable taste. Her style is a modern day version of Audrey Hepburn. She opened up her magazine worthy modern oversized loft to Rena and Diane and hosted a blogger branding guest speaker, Jacqueline (Another Hand Advantage) along with a vast selection of Girl Scout cookies. I believe I tried everyone of those cookies… twice because we don’t have the same cookies in Canada. (That is my excuse and I’m sticking with it.)

Interestingly I learned that Facebook is still the best area to be posting on social media as a blogger. Surprising right? All you Instagrammers take note! I guess I’d better get back to posting on my FB page.

You may be surprised to learn just how little we focused on fashion or shopping at our style blogger’s meet-up.

We took in one very busy and overwhelming high end consignment store called My Sister’s Closet during the meet-up. We only shopped for about an hour. I picked up one Missoni look-alike vintage knit maxi skirt and a few of the other ladies did quite well. Overall though we were more interested in getting to know each other rather than simply buying more clothing.

After the meet-up was over Sherry and I took in one vintage store where I picked up a black velvet Charlie’s Angel jumpsuit with keyhole neckline and a unique plaid blazer. Sherry made out like a bandit at that thrift store. I can’t wait till she shows off some of her new treasures on her blog. One of them is very 1920’s style with lace and pearls.

What to expect at an over 40 blogger meet-up? Memories and moments that will stay with you. I'm just back from Phoenix and have a few stories to share. — What you don’t see in this photo is that the little goat head butted me big time. I think he’d had enough of being held by strangers in spandex. The additional lady to the left is Arlene, a friend of Sherry’s that owns rabbits, dogs and a pig!

Best part of the blogger meet-up?

Getting a back massage by a goat and having the chance to meet and share ideas with fascinating, creative, powerful women.

Whenever you think that blogging isn’t fulfilling you or you’re not making the type of money (ha ha!) or success you’d hoped for, try going to a blogger meet-up.

Connecting with interesting people and making new friends is the reason I continue to blog.

If you’re a blogger why do you blog? If you’re a reader why do you choose to read blogs?

Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, Shoe and Tell, Turning Heads Tuesdays, Fine Whatever, Hat Attack