It's becoming increasingly popular for busy consumers to take their precious shopping time away from the high street and into the hassle-free environments of their personal or work space by doing it online. Instead of taking time out to travel to the mall, jostling with other customers and facing busy queues and changing rooms with less than honest mirrors, more and more of us are purchasing our clothes with a single click of the mouse button.
The internet can be a daunting place however, so where to start? It's rare that a high street shop won't have an presence these days, so it might be worth starting with the names you already trust, however some fantastic niche websites have sprung up offering everything you need under one designer umbrella. Here we look at some of the best.
Net-a-porter.com
One of the originals and still one of the best. Net-a-porter is aimed at a high-budget crowd, though it is defiantly worth saving up for the designer dresses on offer for the immaculately wrapped parcel alone. This site houses just about every designer under the sun. From punky Vivienne Westwood through to Ricky Owens and his cool biker jackets with everything from jewellery and accessories in-between. Not to be missed, even if only for a ‘window' shop!
Asos.com
So named ‘As Seen On Screen' this site has really matured since the celebrity copy-cat style of its infancy. It's now host to a vast array of designers and brands, as well as its own branded gear, and covers everything from cheap fast-fashion to more expensive lines. This site is a go-to for any style and budget. Popular with young women in particular, this site proves a real threat to the high street.
My-wardrobe.com
Often cited as a more affordable version of net-a-porter.com, this is still online shopping in style - appealing to a more discerning or mature customer than asos.com yet still not totally inaccessible to the majority of women (or ‘everyday luxury' as its tagline suggests). Secondary designer lines, and mid-price point and classy designer such as Day Birger fill the ‘rails' of this easy use website.
Topshop.com
Whilst Topshop is a well-known high street store, it is always worth remembering as a handy ‘go-to' online destination too. As with the others, it includes many other brands and is host to hundreds of fashion lines, making it a great choice for everything from shoes to earrings (via clothes, of course) and up-and-coming designers at affordable prices.