Drop The High Street Drag - Shop For Style Online!


Surely it's considered a major fashion faux pas ? turning up somewhere in the same outfit as someone else. If the current crop of high street shops are anything to go by, however, you'd be forgiven for thinking that clothing conformity is something we're all striving towards.

Let's face it, for those of us looking for something a little bit 'different', high street shopping can be a pretty dreary and dispiriting experience. Just imagine that you're blindfolded and parachuted into a UK city's shopping street ? your blindfold is removed ? do you know where you are? The answer is that there will probably be very few clues, as you will find exactly the same shops wherever you go. The 'usual suspects' will be side by side, churning out similar-styled garments and cashing in on the latest 'celebrity style' craze with cheap copies of couture pieces.

To those who crave individualism and want to dress with a bit of flair and originality, this copycat culture is depressing. Kate Moss only has to appear looking stunning dressed in her own inimitable style ? inimitable being the moot point here - and suddenly we're being bombarded by 'where to get the latest look' articles and fooled into spending our hard earned cash on faked fashion which isn't going to make us look a million dollars, and won't make us look like Kate in a million years. When it comes to mock fashion the real mockery is the one we make of ourselves.

Don't despair! The internet is a fantastic resource for anyone seeking their own unique style. There are plenty of places to shop online offering distinctive, desirable apparel and accessories which will set you apart from the 'clothing clones' without breaking the bank. The benefits of buying online are many; no more trooping round town elbowing others out of the way, no queues, and no last minute buying because the shop's about to shut, only to get home and discover your panic purchase looks terrible on or has traces of cosmetics on the collar. Instead you can shop from the comfort of your home, browsing and buying at your leisure.

Small businesses and solo fashion designers use the web to showcase their products, and because their overheads are lower (no huge retail premises to maintain and large staff to pay) you have a real opportunity to purchase gorgeous garments and attractive accessories which won't cost the earth. There are also sites selling quality second-hand and vintage fashion pieces, allowing you to track down your own style statement for a fraction of the price of buying new. If something is described as 'hand made' don't let memories of Auntie Dot's amazing asymmetrical unravelling knitwear cloud your judgment ? handmade usually means lovingly crafted with great attention to quality and detail, and can definitely denote a one-off, original clothing item which will be the envy of others and a fashion favourite for years to come.

If you're more concerned about the look you want than the designer label you're wearing, there are a few points to consider when buying over the internet. Search for sites with decent product photographs and detailed descriptions, not tiny little 'thumbnail' images. After all, you wouldn't buy a product from a catalogue unless you had a good idea what it looked like. Use careful keywords to narrow and speed your internet searches. For example, if you'd prefer a product in a quality fibre, include 'wool' or a more specific term such as 'mohair' as one of your search words to find precisely what you want faster. Vague, all-encompassing search terms will only drag the high street to your desktop, and you'll end up ploughing through 'virtual' polyester! Make sure sites offer secure checkouts that encrypt your credit-card details; safe and trusted payment methods include PayPal, WorldPay and NoChex, although there are plenty of others.

Finally, enjoy the experience! The internet gives you a great choice, and buying online from a smaller supplier often means you'll receive a much higher quality product and level of service than you'd find in a vast anonymous 'bricks and mortar' store. Independent online retailers are keen to involve their customers in a real relationship, and you'll find yourself returning regularly to your favourite fashion sites. Shopping to suit yourself can be very rewarding, and not just financially.

About The Author

The author has an interest in distinctive, desirable female fashion, shared with the wider world at http://www.billcoo.co.uk. Please link to the Bill Coo shop if you wish to reproduce this article!

email@billcoo.co.uk







Related News



Sluggish Economy Takes a Toll on Beauty Business - WFMZ-TV Online

Sluggish Economy Takes a Toll on Beauty Business
WFMZ-TV Online, PA -5 hours ago
Many budgets are "drying up"... ...and some think that blows beauty out of the picture. For the diehards, the monthly beauty bill can be through the roof. ...
Tips for Budgeting Beauty in Tough Economic TimesWFMZ-TV Online
all 3 news articles


Elegy finds beauty in darkness - Vancouver Sun

Vancouver Sun

Elegy finds beauty in darkness
Vancouver Sun,  Canada -3 hours ago
Given the ambient desperation, Elegy could have been an ugly and painful ride, but Coixet finds beauty in the darkness because she's not afraid to grope for ...
Review: 'Elegy'Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
all 9 news articles

VIDEO: Sellers Get Naked For New Beauty Products - KFI

VIDEO: Sellers Get Naked For New Beauty Products
KFI, CA -10 hours ago
"We want to turn some heads and let people know that we do not need all the excess packaging we use in all of our products." Portland, OR (KEX) - They were ...

Baltimore Beauty Examiner - Examiner.com

Examiner.com

Baltimore Beauty Examiner
Examiner.com -1 hour ago
Her goal is to educate and enthrall her readers with beauty tips for everyone, from the meek to the daring, for the commuters in all of us, and for those ...

Day of Beauty at Boca Raton's Town Center to benefit South County ... - Sun-Sentinel.com

Day of Beauty at Boca Raton's Town Center to benefit South County ...
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL -12 hours ago
By Dave Rossman | Forum Publishing Group Boca Raton – Women of all ages are invited to a Day of Beauty sponsored by the South Palm Beach County chapter of ...

Disney Classics Pump Up Blu-ray Catalog - Home Media Magazine

Home Media Magazine

Disney Classics Pump Up Blu-ray Catalog
Home Media Magazine, CA -2 hours ago
Also in the pipeline are Pinocchio, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast. Each will be available for a limited time only in new multidisc sets ...
Disney Preps New Platinum CollectionsAnimation Magazine
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Announces Expansive Slate ...MarketWatch
More Disney Platinum Titles on Blu-ray InfoTheHDRoom
Pocket-lint.co.uk - E-Gear
all 43 news articles

Armed bandit terrorises beauty salons - Melbourne Herald Sun

Armed bandit terrorises beauty salons
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia -34 minutes ago
AN armed robber has embarked on a week-long reign of terror at a number of beauty and tanning salons across Melbourne's inner-north. ...
Man wanted over robberies Northcote and Clifton HillVictoria Police
Police release image of man wanted for beauty salon robberiesMelbourne Herald Sun
all 14 news articles

‘Beauty’ looks for Chip - knox.VillageSoup.com

Beauty’ looks for Chip
knox.VillageSoup.com, ME -8 hours ago
ROCKPORT (Aug 28): Camden Hills Regional High School’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” will hold auditions for the role of Chip from 4:30 to 5:30 pm ...

SUBVERSE: Sister act - Times of India

The Age

SUBVERSE: Sister act
Times of India, India -8 hours ago
So you thought beauty contests were only brainless meat shows for the benefit of men? That no self-respecting lady from a decent background who had even an ...
On the couch / O athlete, please hold thy tongue (in any language)Ha'aretz
Priest's plans for nun beauty contest canceledUSA Today
Top Ten Reasons a Nun Beauty Contest is a Good IdeaCollege Times
Catholic Weekly - Beliefnet.com
all 666 news articles

Butterflies Invade Airport, Bloodthirsty Beauty: Singapore Buzz - Bloomberg

Butterflies Invade Airport, Bloodthirsty Beauty: Singapore Buzz
Bloomberg -2 hours ago
By Adam Majendie The airborne hoard will not overwhelm the state's air traffic control system, however, as the new additions to the local airspace are all ...