What to Know About Buying Your Teenager’s Clothes Online
Do you have a picky teenager who doesn’t seem to like any of the clothing options found in local shops and malls? There’s a slight chance that they have their favourite sets of clothes that badly need to be replaced but they’re against getting rid of them due to not being able to find the right fit or style at a price that won’t break the bank.
As a parent, you may not be thrilled at the idea of shopping online – there are shipping costs, the fact that items can’t be tried on before purchase, and the fact that photos aren’t always representative of the quality. Unfortunately, you’re at your wit’s end with trying to drag your teen to the store, hunting for sales/deals, and arguing over what is best suited for your young adult.
We’re going to walk you through what you can expect when purchasing your teenager’s clothes online and why this option is better than dealing with in-store shopping. Keep reading to find out more!
Finding the Best Fit
If you shop online, you already know that finding an item that fits you can be difficult. Every brand’s sizing is slightly different and can include varying measurements. You probably have a preferred store that you shop at because you know how their clothes fit and the quality in which they’re made.
With this said, to find clothes that fit your teen’s body, you’ll need some measurements. Yes, you can potentially take the measurements yourself – however, a tailor might actually give you a more accurate idea of sizing.
Obviously male and female clothes will focus on different measurements, but write down the ones that are often used. These often include chest, sleeves, waist, hips, and inseam. For men’s clothes, you will usually need the circumference of the neck as well.
When shopping for clothing online, you’ll use these measurements to compare them to sizing charts. Hopefully, these numbers are all similar to the breakdown of various sizes but often they won’t be exact. With that said, you’ll need to base your sizing choice on the largest applicable measurement.
Additionally, if a measurement is not an exact match, you may choose to size up. For instance, if the chest measurement is 42 or 42.5 inches and a large is 42 or 43, you probably should order a size up in order to ensure a comfortable, breathable fit.
Age-Appropriate Styles
Chances are, you and your teen have different ideas of what is appropriate for them to wear. You also might not like their overall style choices. This is an age-old topic.
In order to come to some type of agreement, you may need to compromise. Allow your teenager to create an online lookbook or Pinterest board of styles; you may be surprised to find that your tastes aren’t completely dissimilar and that there are a number of great options for them.
You may also choose to create a lookbook of things that might look great on them – they might even surprise you and want to wear it!
Look at a wide range of styles including shorts and pants as well as graphic t-shirts with cute and uplifting slogans like a ‘choose joy’ shirt, dressy but youthful shirts, and blouses. For dressier occasions, consider looking at a few dresses and suits.
Although it may be difficult to see your teenager as a young adult, remember that they are growing up! They don’t want to look like their kid sibling, and they want to show that they, too, are mature.
Covering the Costs of a Teen’s Clothes
You already know that clothes are expensive and creating fashionable looks can take a toll on your bank account. Ideally, you will find stores that offer free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount.
Additionally, you may consider choosing stores that are known for their rewards/loyalty programs in order to receive points or coupons for later use or even looking into online secondhand stores.
Depending on your budget, the total cost of the order, and the store from which you choose to buy, there may also be payment plan options. Catalogues may offer you to buy now, pay later clothes that you’ve needed for a while. It can be helpful in allowing your teen to contribute more money toward their clothing choices without completely emptying their bank account on a single purchase.
Even if you don’t require your teenager to share the cost of their clothes, you may still benefit from not having to spend a large amount of money all at once. Instead, you’d be spreading the payment over several instalments which will allow for less stress on your monthly or weekly budget.
Creating a Fun Learning Experience
The experience of taking your teen to the mall to shop for clothes might be a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy spending quality time with your teenager while supplying them with a great wardrobe.
Shopping online can allow your teen to see the price breakdown of items, giving them a realistic view of what life necessities cost. It can also be a helpful tool in teaching budgeting and even how to choose quality clothing without paying too much.
While it can be frustrating to try to find your teenager’s clothes online, these tips will help guide you in locating age-appropriate, budget-friendy, and well-fitting clothes!
This is a collaborative post
