FlamingoTo buy clothes online without returning most of them, measure a piece you already own that fits well, compare those numbers with the product's size chart, read reviews for how it fits rather than whether people like it, check the fabric, and picture what you'll wear it with before you pay. Most returns come down to two surprises: the size was wrong, or the piece looks different on you than on the model. Measurements deal with the first. Seeing the piece on your own body, in a virtual try-on or against something you own, deals with the second. Flamingo helps with that second part: it puts clothes on your twin, a free AI avatar of you, so you can judge colour and proportions. It can't tell you the size, so you still need the chart.
How do I find my size when every brand is different?
Stop using your usual letter size as the answer, because a medium in one brand can be a small in another. Use numbers instead.
- Pick a similar piece that fits you well. For jeans, use your best jeans. For a shirt, use your best shirt.
- Lay it flat and measure it. Tops: chest from armpit to armpit, shoulder seam to seam, and length. Trousers: waist, rise, inseam and leg opening.
- Check what the chart is measuring. Some charts give body measurements and others give garment measurements. A garment that measures the same as your body has no room in it, so compare like with like.
- Between sizes? Choose by the part that can't be altered easily. That's the shoulders on a jacket and the hips on trousers.
What should I look for in reviews?
Skip the star rating and search the reviews for fit words: "runs small", "true to size", "short", "tight in the arms". The most useful reviews mention the reviewer's height and the size they bought, and photos from customers show what the model shots don't. If several people say the same thing, believe them over the size chart.
How can I tell the quality from a product page?
- Fabric: look for the composition and, for jersey or denim, how much stretch it has. A thin fabric shows more and clings more than it does in a styled photo.
- Close-ups: zoom in on seams, buttons and the weave. If a shop shows no close-ups, be careful.
- The model's size: many listings say how tall the model is and which size they're wearing. Use that to work out where the hem will fall on you.
- Colour: check more than one photo and any customer photos. Studio light changes colours, especially reds, greens and creams.
How do I know it will suit me before I buy it?
Ask three questions before you add it to your basket:
- Does it go with three things I own? If you can't name them, you'll probably need to buy more to wear it, or you'll send it back.
- Have I kept something like this before? If your last two wrap dresses went back, a third probably will too.
- What will it look like on me? This is where a try-on helps. In Flamingo, screenshot the product or the outfit, and each piece is cut out and can be put on your twin alongside clothes from your closet. Read how to try on clothes from a screenshot for the steps.
A try-on is an AI image, so treat it as a check on colour, proportion and styling, not fit. How accurate is virtual try-on? explains what it gets right and wrong.
Is ordering two sizes a bad idea?
It's sensible when you truly can't tell and returns are free, as long as you send the extra back on time. It's a poor habit if the shop charges for returns, so check the policy first. Many shops now charge a return fee or give a shorter window on sale items, and some sale items can't be returned at all.
A quick checklist for sale shopping
Sales are when returns are easiest to regret, since a low price makes you skip the steps above.
- Make a list of what you need before the sale starts.
- Keep your measurements in your phone's notes.
- Read the return policy for sale items.
- Would you buy it at full price? If not, skip it.
- Keep the tags on until you've tried it with your own clothes.
What's the easiest way to try this?
Start with your next purchase. Measure one piece you love, then make your twin in Flamingo and try the piece you're considering with your own clothes. Flamingo is on iPhone, Android and at app.tryflamingo.app. Your closet and your twin are free; try-ons come with Flamingo Pro.