Before ordering clothes online, answer three questions: will the garment fit, what will it actually cost, and what happens if it does not work? A discount is useful only after those questions have satisfactory answers.
Compare measurements using the same method
Start with a similar garment you own that fits comfortably. Lay it out as the seller’s measuring guide requires and record the relevant dimensions. Distinguish body measurements from garment measurements, and a flat width from a full circumference.
Follow the retailer’s diagram rather than transferring a number blindly. Proper Cloth’s shirt guide, for example, measures sleeve length from the centre back of the neck, whereas some makers start at the shoulder. Ask the seller which method its figures use if that is unclear.
Record chest width, shoulder or yoke width, sleeve length and body length for a shirt. For trousers, compare waist, rise, inseam and the leg measurements that matter to your preferred shape. The exact set depends on the garment. A familiar size label is a starting point, not proof that another cut will fit.
Make the return decision before paying
- When does the return window start, and what must arrive by the deadline?
- Are sale items, altered garments or particular products excluded?
- Who pays return shipping, and is a return label supplied?
- Is the remedy a refund, exchange or store credit?
- Are original delivery charges or any fees deducted?
- Can you try the garment appropriately while retaining tags and packaging?
Save the terms that apply to your order. A large retailer does not automatically have the best policy, and a small shop does not automatically refuse reasonable returns. Read the actual offer.
Calculate two totals
Cost if kept: item price + delivery + applicable taxes or import charges + any payment/conversion charges + agreed alterations.
Cost if returned: any non-refundable charges + return shipping + any applicable deductions. Establish which charges apply rather than adding every possibility automatically.
For illustration only, a garment priced at 100 with delivery 10 and an alteration quote 20 costs 130 to wear, before any other applicable charges. A garment priced at 120 that needs neither delivery payment nor alteration could cost less overall. These are invented comparison figures in a single unspecified currency, not retailer quotes.
Check the seller, not just the design
A polished website, payment logos or a padlock do not establish that a seller is trustworthy. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s online-shopping guidance specifically warns against relying on website appearance or padlock icons alone.
Check the actual domain, seller identity, contact details, terms and independent information about the business. Where a brand supplies an authorised-retailer directory, use it to check the named seller. An online marketplace’s reputation does not necessarily establish the identity or terms of every third-party seller.
Keep a comparison record
Save the product name and exact variant, measurements and their method, condition, price, delivery estimate and return terms. For second-hand clothing, ask for clear photographs of wear and the labels. Do not assume an alteration is possible without enough fabric or suitable construction.
When the item arrives, compare it with the listing promptly and decide within the applicable return period. Keep the order record until the purchase and any return are resolved. The FTC’s shopping checklist provides further guidance on comparing offers and retaining records.
Updated 31 October 2026. Originally published 5 October 2010. This article has been revised to add garment-measurement checks, return-policy questions, seller checks and total-cost comparisons.
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