Hey everyone,
As a big fan of online shopping, I was asked to write this article in order to recommend the right sites to order clothes from. It is true that I go less and less in store, and that the ¾ of my shopping are done online, so I hope I will be able to give you the best recommendations!
So this article is about online stores other than the ones we are used to due to their physical presence (Ex: Zara, h&m, Bershka, etc…). The first part of this article includes sites on which I usually make my purchases, the second part presents sites that I have never tested but for which I have made inquiries from different consumers.
1. Asos
I could not dare to start with a website other than my precious “Asos”. My favorite site; and you surely know it, the ¾ of my orders come from this website, and I recommend it 2000%. Why do I recommend it?
The great diversity of items: There are really all kinds of styles, for all occasions, from casual to chic, from street to gala. It’s obvious that they’ve thought about every category of people, especially with their “Plus Size” category, “Maternity” and even a “modesty” category and even more.
Brand diversity: On Asos you will not only find “ASOS” items, you will also find items from several other brands.
Fast Delivery: I personally paid €18.99 to get the express delivery option for one year, which means that I can receive all my orders in express (the next day generally) for one year.
But in general, they usually deliver quickly when using standard delivery, between 3 to 4 days. The shipping fees are 4€, and the delivery becomes free once you reach 42€. For an express delivery, the fees are 15€. The other positive point is that there are no fees for returns, and the refund is quite fast; it usually takes between a week and a week and a half.
2. Zalando
There was a time when I used to order there all the time, but not with the same frequency as at Asos. I only order shoes there, and especially heels. I think half of my heels collection comes from Zalando. And to be honest, I’ve never ordered anything else there as I’ ve never been personally interested in their clothes.
Diversity of brands: Their diversity of brands is, I believe, even wider than Asos, which allows you to have many more choices without necessarily going to each brand’s website. This enabled me also to discover new brands that I didn’t know before.
Fast delivery: In terms of delivery, it’s just as fast: a 2-3 day delivery with the option “express delivery” available. And the good thing is that there are no delivery costs for regular deliveries.
Payment option: I must admit that on this point, they offer an excellent advantage at Zalando: there is no obligation to pay at the time of the order. You can indeed order without paying, and receive the bill at the same time as the package. What I particularly appreciate in this option is that the return of an order becomes very simple because you don’t have to initiate any refund procedure, you just have to send the items back.
3. Boohoo
Unlike Asos and Zalando, Boohoo only sells its own brand. However, it also offers great diversity, including several different categories, identical to those mentioned above for Asos. One can also mention the categories for small and large sizes.
In terms of quality, I must admit that it is not necessarily the best, it depends a lot on the type of items but given the very affordable prices they offer, there are no surprises. Moreover, they often make great discounts on their articles, which makes it possible to really find clothes at very low prices.
As for the shipping, I have always chosen shipping in Belgium (when ordering on Boohoo France) and the option offered costs 9.99€ and I always receive my orders within two working days. There is no free delivery available in Belgium. Similarly, when you want to return ordered items, fees are charged; I personally had to pay 5 euros to return an order via DPD.
Please note this! I insist on the fact that I order on Boohoo.fr, i. e. in France, because from now on if you order on Boohoo UK, expect to pay customs fees due to Brexit.
4. Shein
I have never purchased any of the items of this brand before, so the following reviews are reviews that I have collected from various consumers that I have asked to give me feedback.
Regarding delivery timing, Shein delivers within 10 to 20 business days and offers free shipping for purchases over 45 euros. An amount of 2.50€ is charged if the total order varies between 25€ and 45€ while you have to pay 4.99€ for delivery for any order below 25€.
The quality of the clothes is not the best, and just like Boohoo, this brand offers trendy clothes at such affordable prices that it is recommendable for anyone who wants to shop with a small budget. The other positive point is that they also offer a lot of discount codes throughout the year!
One remark that has been made more than once and that I will surely take into account if one day I decide to order on this website is the fact that the clothes are generally in the small size, and that it is therefore recommended to order one size up.
5. PrettyLittleThing
I have also never ordered on this website, so I based my order on the opinion of a regular consumer.
As far as quality is concerned, it depends again on each piece of clothing, depending on whether the tissue is thin, transparent, etc. She advises us to take a good look at the photos and videos available on the website to get an idea of the appearance of the cloth and its quality.
As for the prices, they are very affordable and the website provides very often promo codes, which offers a good alternative to the customer: buying large quantities of clothes at very affordable prices.
In terms of delivery, it is done quite quickly. You will find on their website that the regular delivery to Europe is between 5 and 10 days but it has been attested that in general, the package arrives within 5 days. Be careful, PrettyLittleThing being in the United Kingdom, it should be noted that with Brexit regulations, customs fees should now be charged, which would be quite high! And this, my dear people, is a piece of information to keep in mind if you want to shop there!
Well, I hope this article will have been helpful! Of course, these are not the only online stores where you can do your shopping, but they are well known and we often hear about them. Don’t hesitate to give me feedback if you order for the first time on one of these sites, and here is my Instagram account “@the.christianista” if you need more information about ordering!
Lots of love,
The Christianista
