The clothing industry is an incredibly fast changing world. In the last 100 years, clothing has gone through the metamorphosis from couture to ready-to-wear, and on to the rise of disposable fashion. Currently, we are in the middle of another giant shift in the clothing industry.

Your online shopping purchases have arrived. But are they clogging your closet?

I am alluding to the rise of online shopping. Passed are the days of needing to shop in person. Now, we can mindlessly buy clothing in the comfort of our own homes. No need to deal with pushy salespeople, or unflattering dressing room lights. No longer do we need to root through racks of clothing to find what we are looking for. Instead, one can do a quick Google search and in a few clicks, and 5-7 business days later, be the owner of a brand new garment. You literally do not even need to touch a piece of fabric until the package appears on your doorstep. But, is that a good thing?

Think about the last thing that you bought. Really think about it. Think about how it was merchandized online, and then how it felt to buy it, and eventually pull it out of the package. Then think about how much you have worn that garment.

Maybe you are a success story and the last thing you bought was a beautiful shirt that you wear on every possible occasion.

Or maybe you are more like me.

The last thing I bought online was a paisley long sleeve blouse. Online, it was paired with an effortlessly cool pair of dark jeans, and stacked heels. The model smiled sweetly, and elicited promises of surviving early spring in a chic, versatile, long sleeve blouse. I quickly typed in my address, and put the purchase out of my mind until it arrived on my doorstep a week later.

What I pulled out of the thin package was quite a different story from what I saw online. Much to my surprise, I was holding a sheer, paper-thin cropped shirt that felt scratchy to the touch. After trying it on, I realized, much to my dismay, that the top fit me poorly, and I could not picture one piece of clothing I would be able to pair it with.

Could I have read the description of the top more closely online? Yes, of course. Could I have returned the top? Yes again. However, I did neither of those things. Instead, the defunct blouse hangs sullenly in my closet.

Is your closet clogged up with online shopping purchases that are not being worn?

Is your closet clogged up with online shopping purchases that are not being worn?

I would be lying if I said that we don’t run into these same issues in a store. Maybe a pushy salesperson convinced you that something looks fantastic, only to find that it is in fact the opposite of what you wanted. Or maybe those jeans that looked so good on the mannequin turned out to be ill fitting once you tried them on.

However, when you shop in a store rather than online, you get to save yourself the headaches and mistakes that come from shopping online. Instead of guessing on a size by the way that a garment fits on a model, you have the option to bring multiple sizes into the dressing room with you, and compare them on your own body.

You also get to feel the fabric, and see how it reacts when you move. Is it too constricting? Does it feel scratchy against your skin? Does it cling to areas that you would rather not expose?

Most importantly, you get to really think about the wearability of the garment that you are considering purchasing. When you physically purchase an item, whether you hand over cash, or swipe a credit card, you are more aware of the gravity of the purchase you are making.

There are times when buying something online comes in handy. Perhaps you wore out a jacket that you can still find online. Or maybe the color that you know will look fantastic on you is only carried online. However, I urge you to think about your online shopping habits. Although online shopping may seem convenient, usually it just clogs up your closet and drains your wallet. By shopping in person, you can save yourself the headache and stress of ending up with clothing that has no wearable value. And you won’t even need to wait 5-7 business days!

About Emma Grillo:  From a young age, I’d pour over the pages of my mother’s Vogue, and relish any opportunity to dress up for a special occasion. This infatuation with fashion has followed me to Lewis and Clark College, where I am pursuing a BA in English and Art History. I am extremely excited to intern with Joseph, learning the ins and outs of personal branding and style.  I am also writing 10 blogs, including this one. I am thankful for this unprecedented opportunity, and for the hands on education that I will undoubtedly receive.