What is more frustrating than going shopping, finding a pair of shoes you love, and the store doesn’t carry your size? Let’s face it, college girls are stressed out, and shopping can sometimes be therapeutic for us. But the last thing we want is added stress from a bad shopping trip. We don’t want to travel to ten different stores to find the right size, and we certainly don’t want our day ruined by looking at clothes we can’t afford. Plan B? Online shopping. Shopping online allows us to sit back, relax, and look for exactly what we want with no hassle. Whether we shop by size, color, or designer, online shopping allows us to narrow our search for a stress-free shopping experience. Her Campus spoke with some of the top online retailers who make our lives a little bit easier, and of course, more stylish.
Zappos
Zappos is an online retailer that specializes in shoes…and lots of them! Founded in 1999, Zappos’s goal has been to offer the best selections in shoes, including a large variety of brand names, styles, colors, and sizes that are always available. Though shoes are this company’s forte, Zappos also sells handbags, clothing, eyewear, accessories, cosmetics and fragrances. Although Zappos is online, its priority is customer service. “Our goal is to maintain the highest level possible for services and customer needs as quickly and friendly as possible,” said Pat G., a Zappos Team Representative. “We always offer free shipping in both directions, and free return shipping. For people on a college budget, that makes all the difference.”
“When I can’t find a certain shoe size in a store I shop on Zappos and usually am surprised by the vast collection of shoes and brand-name shoes like Steve Madden, Nine West, and Jessica Simpson.” – Molly Gallagher, Syracuse University
“They have basically everything, from lower end pieces to designer wear, and the format of the website itself (you can sort items by price, color, size, etc.) makes it easy and quick to find what you need and order it. Plus the quality of items is pretty much what you pay for, and the service is excellent.” – Ali Szubiak, Emerson College
Shop It To Me
Shop It To Me is known for its great prices. With over 700 designer brand names including Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, and J Brand Jeans, in clothing, shoes, and accessories, you are likely to find something! The shopping experience is unique, because shoppers choose specific brands and sizes, and then receive email alerts when your brand and size choices are on sale. This way your inbox only contains information about sales you have been waiting for. “The goal of Shop It To me is to make shopping fun, easy, and affordable – by giving everyone their own free personal shopper. Not only do we send our subscribers fantastic deals, but they are receiving sales on their favorite brands in their size. It’s a very personalized and convenient experience,” said Laura Ellner, the marketing coordinator of Shop It To Me. Shop It to Me has been featured on Good Morning America, and TODAY, as well as in Glamour and People StyleWatch.
ModCloth
Founded in 2002, ModCloth is the place to go for a wide selection of vintage-style clothing and accessories. The company started off by only selling vintage clothing, but has expanded to vintage-inspired clothing by various indie designers. ModCloth also has a special customer service program called Be the Buyer, which allows customers to vote for new designs that can potentially become ModCloth inventory. “We want to supply our customers with the opportunities to have their voice heard. We believe that is what keeps our company fresh, relevant, and growing by leaps and bounds. This is what allows us to continually accommodate our customer’s pioneering passion for modern trends,” said Aire Plichta, ModCloth’s media coordinator.
“I love ModCloth, I literally check it everyday, though – mostly because of the dresses. They get new stuff every single day!” – Caitlin Hardgrove, Her Campus Contributing Writer, James Madison University
Gilt Groupe
Founded in 2007, Gilt Groupe provides shopping by invitation only to women’s, men’s, beauty, children and home luxury brands at great prices. “Our mission is to create the most exciting, curated shopping experience that helps our members express their style in life,” said Amanda Graber, manager of marketing and communication at Gilt. Gilt holds more designer sales than its competing online shopping venues, with over 70 sales per week. “Our buyers work directly with the designers and brands,” said Graber. Gilt partnered with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), which allows Gilt to work directly with designers, and hold sales that come straight from the no-sale racks. The most popular items at Gilt are the wide variety of dresses. “They fly off the site as quick as lightening,” said Graber. Gilt has daily sales Monday through Saturday, which feature hand-selected products from a single designer. The sales last 36 hours, and take place at 12pm EST, at up to 70 percent off. Gilt’s sale model of daily sales by top designers at specified times, with email alerts to its customers, is the first to launch in the United States online.
“Gilt introduces me to great designer brands that I otherwise wouldn’t have found. I usually shop the Final Sales (where the really steep discounts can be found) and find quality, classic basics that I’ll get a lot of wear out of. Last week, for example, I bought a pair of chocolate brown knee-high riding boots and a pair of black leather pumps with a cute bow on the toe.” Windsor Hanger, co-founder of Her Campus, Harvard University
“The selection is amazing. All my favorite designers are on there: Marc Jacobs, Nanette Lepore, Michael Kors, Betsey Johnson, and so many more. The trick here is to scan the list of upcoming designers and set reminders for the ones you love so you will be sure not to miss them!” – Kristen Loveland, Columbia University
Sources:
Molly Gallagher, Zappos shopper
Ali Szubiak, Zappos shopper
Caitlin Hardgrove, ModCloth shopper
Windsor Hanger, Gilt Groupe shopper
Kristen Loveland, Gilt Groupe shopper
Pat G., Zappos Team Representative
Laura Ellner, Shop It To Me Marketing Coordinator
Aire Plichta, ModCloth Media Coordinator
Amanda Graber, Manager of Marketing and Communications at Gilt Groupe