MagpieStyle.net Offers Tips for Snagging an Online Auction Fashion Deal
Find out how to avoid online fashion buying mistakes by knowing how to find clothing items that fit.
Orlando, FL, December 06, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Hesitant to buy clothing via auction? Don’t be. Online auction sites are a treasure trove of great finds, from vintage jackets to designer dresses. With the holidays fast approaching, there's no better time to bid on those shiny, sparkly dresses that will make stylish moms stand out at a party.
Here are some tips from Fashion Blogger Tracey Velt of MagpieStyle.net for checking the fit of an online auction item:
1. Know your measurements. Don’t do this yourself. Have someone well versed in body measurements—such as a local tailor or seamstress—take these measurements. On most online auction sites, vendors will list measurements allowing consumers to figure out whether or not the item will fit. Forget about size. Even if someone always wear a size 10, he or she may be bidding on an item from a couple years ago when sizes were less consistent. However, knowing size is helpful.
2. Size up rather than down. "I do this all the time with mini skirts, even off of online auction sites," says blogger Tracey Velt of http://MagpieStyle.net. "Stores like Ann Taylor Loft and J. Crew are featuring tons of mini skirts that are just too short for my taste. However, I’ve found that if I order one size up, I can sit the skirt on my hips and it hangs low enough to be comfortable. Then, I have it altered to fit in the hips." This works for most items: pants, skirts, dresses and even jackets.
3. Factor in the cost of alterations. Some alterations are more expensive than others. The cheapest: taking in a waist or hemming a skirt/dress/pants. Factor these costs into what you're willing to pay. For example, that size 12 leather jacket is cute, but if you generally wear a size 6, it will cost a fortune to have it altered and even then only so much can be done. One size too big is generally easy to alter. It’s much harder to make something bigger or to take it down more than two sizes.
4. Try it on. When looking for current items from a particular brand, say J Brand jeans, go to a retail store, try on the item and mark down the size and style. "I buy most of my jeans at online auctions and found that Citizens of Humanity is very consistent with sizing. J Brand is not," says Velt of http://MagpieStyle.net. And, with jeans, the stretch plays a factor. If the jeans are a thick, stiff material, size up. You’ll have to ask the seller for details about that.
5. Know the size. If someone generally takes a size 4 in Gap skirts, she can pretty much bet that a size 4 will fit. Of course, sizes are inconsistent so always check measurements. "My size varies with different retailers, so I keep a list and check it when I see an item I want to buy," says Velt of http://MagpieStyle.net.
Of course, size isn’t everything. Sometimes something will fit perfectly and just not work. That’s why it’s important to be selective with online auction buys and with what is paid. And, if all else fails, resell it.
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Here are some tips from Fashion Blogger Tracey Velt of MagpieStyle.net for checking the fit of an online auction item:
1. Know your measurements. Don’t do this yourself. Have someone well versed in body measurements—such as a local tailor or seamstress—take these measurements. On most online auction sites, vendors will list measurements allowing consumers to figure out whether or not the item will fit. Forget about size. Even if someone always wear a size 10, he or she may be bidding on an item from a couple years ago when sizes were less consistent. However, knowing size is helpful.
2. Size up rather than down. "I do this all the time with mini skirts, even off of online auction sites," says blogger Tracey Velt of http://MagpieStyle.net. "Stores like Ann Taylor Loft and J. Crew are featuring tons of mini skirts that are just too short for my taste. However, I’ve found that if I order one size up, I can sit the skirt on my hips and it hangs low enough to be comfortable. Then, I have it altered to fit in the hips." This works for most items: pants, skirts, dresses and even jackets.
3. Factor in the cost of alterations. Some alterations are more expensive than others. The cheapest: taking in a waist or hemming a skirt/dress/pants. Factor these costs into what you're willing to pay. For example, that size 12 leather jacket is cute, but if you generally wear a size 6, it will cost a fortune to have it altered and even then only so much can be done. One size too big is generally easy to alter. It’s much harder to make something bigger or to take it down more than two sizes.
4. Try it on. When looking for current items from a particular brand, say J Brand jeans, go to a retail store, try on the item and mark down the size and style. "I buy most of my jeans at online auctions and found that Citizens of Humanity is very consistent with sizing. J Brand is not," says Velt of http://MagpieStyle.net. And, with jeans, the stretch plays a factor. If the jeans are a thick, stiff material, size up. You’ll have to ask the seller for details about that.
5. Know the size. If someone generally takes a size 4 in Gap skirts, she can pretty much bet that a size 4 will fit. Of course, sizes are inconsistent so always check measurements. "My size varies with different retailers, so I keep a list and check it when I see an item I want to buy," says Velt of http://MagpieStyle.net.
Of course, size isn’t everything. Sometimes something will fit perfectly and just not work. That’s why it’s important to be selective with online auction buys and with what is paid. And, if all else fails, resell it.
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Magpie Style
Tracey Velt
(407) 333-8885
magpiestyle.net
Tracey Velt
(407) 333-8885
magpiestyle.net
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