Most of us (dare, I say all of us) shop online. MANY of us shop for clothes online. It's so much easier to shop from the comfort of home after we've put the kids to bed than to try to find time to go to a store. The flexibility of shopping online outweighs the disadvantages of not being able to see the product up close. But what about trying it on?

An item of clothing does not fit everyone the same way. So trying an item of clothing on is an important step to deciding if it will work for you. How it looks on the hanger can be deceiving. So if you are going to shop online be sure to check out all the pictures of the item. Normally you will find anywhere from 2 to 6 pictures of a clothing item that is being sold. Often you'll see a picture of someone actually wearing the item. This can be helpful.

Even though it's not your body, you can get a sense for how the item looks on someone. Two dimensional pictures of an item that is lying on a white background will not help you to determine how that item will look on you. A picture of the item on a model will at least give you a sense of dimension (where the hemlines are, how an item falls, where the seams are and so on). Pay attention to the details to get a sense of how that item will look on you!

This is also true in store. When you see an item on a hanger, keep in mind that item may look differently onyour body, This is why when you do shop in store, it's so important to make sure you try things on. This is your chance to see how different styles and colors will look on you!

Here are a few items from Madewell that will help you to see the difference between an item on a hanger versus an item on a body. The Madewell website features all items photographed on a hanger. However, once you click on the item you can see additional pictures of that item on a model. Check out a few examples, I've posted below to see the difference.

Notice: The side button detail on this dress is not visible in the first photo above.

Notice: Where the front V and the armholes fall can help you give you an idea if this fit is right for you.

Quilted Side Tie Dress in Moroccan Desert

Notice: This picture gives the dress life. The first photo is not eye catching and you might be quick to discard it. Seeing the way this dress falls is more attractive.

Notice: Thelength of the dress and the overall silhouette are more obvious on the model than in the first photo.

Next time you shop, whether it's online or in store, pay attention to how the item will look on you. That is what's most important to us!