There are a slew of annoyances that complicate the pure joy of shopping at your local mall. The parking lot is a cruel obstacle course. After driving up the aisles a minimum of six times and avoiding pedestrians that insist on walking in the middle of the road, you will be forced to park in a spot so far away it’s in the next zip code. On the weekends small children are running amuck everywhere, crying and destroying tables of carefully arranged blouses. and there is always a long line at the pretzel stand. Put simply, it can be a hassle.
The answer to your problems is technology! The Internet provides many retail therapy options and you can peruse to your hearts desire from the comfort of your desk, bed, or 12 o’clock humanities class. When asked why she shopped online, Mindy Lane, a psychology freshman said, “ It’s more convenient, being a student I don’t have as much time to run around to the mall, plus they usually have bigger selections online.” Some retailers solely sell online, so you’re more likely to be able to buy items that create a unique look. Below are some great sites to get started on your web-browsing retail adventure!
Zappos
Zappos is most likely the only fashion discovery I will find via my father. Don’t stop reading yet! For years he bought his work loafers from Zappos, and when I came across the website I never doubted Pops again. Zappos carries hundreds of shoe brands, from Vans, to Betsey Johnson, and Madden Girl. In recent years they have expanded to carrying apparel, drool worthy designer denim like 7 For All Mankind and True Religion, sunglasses and bags as well. Their pricing is competitive and they have free shipping, F-R-E-E, 100% of the time on every order (as long as you live in the US of course). Shipments reach your door in 4-5 business days, and in my experience, it has always been faster! If you’re not happy with your purchase returns are free as well!
http://www.zappos.com
Ruche
The story of Ruche, an indie online boutique is sure to get an “awhh!” out of most people. Their website, shopruche.com, tells the tale of a newlywed couple of college graduates and their faithful dog, who started the website in their free time. As the success of Ruche grew they took the plunge and quit their corporate jobs. It’s not hard to see the root of their success. Ruche offers modernly vintage clothing, as well as a line of eco-friendly and a “curvy plus” collection. Their jewelry is my favorite aspect: most necklaces are well under $20 and are sprinkled with eclectic antique-y charms including cameras, bicycles, bows and pearls.
http://www.shopruche.com/
Amazon.com
As students we already know that it can save us a bundle on used textbooks, but the online retailer carries everything from clothing to perfumes. Theatre sophomore Traci Sepp said, “It saves a lot of money, it’s easier to comparison shop, it’s really easy to find what I want quickly, plus I love getting stuff in the mail.” One of her best Amazon bargains was the purchase of her Chi hair straightener, which she got for the steal price of $70 (At Ulta Beauty online, even the sale price is still $99.95.) As an added bonus, for a year any student can register for the Amazon Student program and receive free 2 day shipping among other bargains.
http://www.amazon.com/
Link to Amazon Student Sign-Up
http://www.amazon.com/gp/student/signup/info
Threadless
Graphic tees have always been a wardrobe staple, but most of us have gotten past the phase when “cool” was owning the latest screen print from Hollister. Threadless provides the unique opportunity for anyone to submit a design, once uploaded to the site it is voted on by the community, and usually the most popular are turned into shirts. Designs range from the abstract artsy designs to humorous typography and pop culture. Check the clearance for great $10 tees!
http://www.threadless.com/
Wherever you choose to shop online, make sure to check out the companies return policies as well as it’s shipping rates. You may be getting a bargain on a top that’s on sale for $9.95, but add a few dollars in taxes, and a steep shipping rate and the total could be pushing 20 big ones. Make sure you do your shopping on a secure Wi-Fi network that requires a password; otherwise your credit card information could be used to buy a whole lot more than a new pair of kicks. Happy shopping and may the UPS man arrive quickly!