Before you read any further, you are going to want to check out my Amazon Store as you read this post and follow along. You can find it HERE.
Did you hear, I have big news? I finally signed up for an Amazon Prime account! I know, I know you are all thinking that I must be insane. How did I live this long without an Amazon Prime account? Well it’s a long story, but I’ll make it as short as possible.
I’m a late bloomer, hence the name of the blog, Later Ever After. I do things on my own life timeline and don’t follow along with what the majority of society is doing. This goes for getting married , buying a home and having a baby. I need to do things when I’m good and ready.
That applies to Amazon Prime too. I resisted it for as long as I could for a few reasons. First, I felt bad buying things online. I love going to retail stores and shopping for what I want. I want to touch and feel the products I’m buying. While I understand the way of the world is turning to online shopping, I didn’t want the stores in my community to close in response to that. Having local and national chains within steps of my front door is important to me. No one wants to walk out there door (or drive in the car) and not have a store nearby.
Second, I felt that the instant gratification of Prime would ruin me. Do I really need everything within two days? When I do shop online I always choose free shipping regardless of how long it takes to get to me. If I order something and it’s 7 days for free shipping, I’ll wait it out and choose the free shipping. It also builds the anticipation and excitement for the item I’m bought. Getting something in two days, just seemed like a bit much for me.
And finally I felt like I was just giving in and doing what everyone else in the world was doing. I’ve never been one to be pressured into doing something or doing something just because everyone else was. I didn’t want “The Man” to win and I certainly wasn’t going to help him succeed in putting those local businesses out of business. I’ve lived over 14 years (did you know Prime Started in 2005?) without Amazon Prime, I didn’t think I needed it now.
Why I Signed Up For Amazon Prime
Trust me though, Mike and I debated signing up for it for a while. I’ve always been on the side of no and he slowly wanted to get it. Let’s flash forward to the day I had to eat crow and signed up for Amazon Prime. It was about two days after we took Elizabeth home from the hospital. We needed a few thing for the baby ASAP, there was a huge snowstorm in Chicago, I was still recovering from everything and we just couldn’t get to the store. So we signed up for Amazon Prime and never looked back.
I’ll be the first to admit that I trashed talked Amazon Prime previously, but boy oh boy am I hooked now! I do try to be responsible with it and not purchase things on a whim or one item at a time. Having multiple items in my order to minimize packaging makes me feel like I’m doing my part to take care of the world.
My purchases have been essential items for the home and baby for the most part. Nothing too exciting, except this baby car seat cover that I’m crazy about. How adorable is the faux firm trim on the cover? I wish they made it in my size! Speaking of things in my size, Amazon has great clothes! Yes, Amazon clothes!
I only know this because one of my favorite bloggers, Meghan Lanahan does the best Amazon clothes try on sessions on her blog and Instagram. She is an adorable southern gal with great style. I was so inspired by her style that I jumped right in to the whole world of Amazon clothes. I’m loving what I’m seeing on there and want to share all the details with you!
Now For a Few Fun Facts About Amazon
Did you know that Amazon owns Shopbop? Which means if you are a Prime member you can get faster, free shipping from Shopbop. It’s a pretty good perk!
Amazon has a ton of brands that are unique to them and not found anywhere else. They actually have about 70 in-house brands.
Amazon Wardrobe is a service that lets you test out clothes for seven days in your home before charging you.
Amazon Clothes Brands I’m Wild About
Daily Ritual – This brand has elevated athlesuire items that are perfect for weekend wear. Cozy sweatshirts, great basics (striped tees and black tees) and casual dresses.
The Fix – Great brand for accessories, shoes and purses.
Cable Stitch – Cozy, stylish sweaters that are on trend. They have great options for oversized sweaters to look on trend when wearing them.
Lark & Ro – If workwear is what you are searching for this is the brand for you. It reminds me of Ann Taylor, Banana and Loft. The styles are appropriate for office or evening and come at a much lower price tag than the retail stores.
Online shopping in general can be overwhelming. I find myself scrolling through page after page of clothes to realize that I forgot what I was searching for in the first place. Well, Amazon is a lot bigger than most retailers so being focused is important when shopping online here. In order to help you find the best items I’m sharing a few pointers with you.
How to Shop on Amazon
Narrow Down Your Search Criteria – If you are looking for dresses, then start by looking for dresses. Sure it’s easy to go to the brand you like, but you could be missing out on other brands. Opt for a specific search first, like dresses, then if you find a brand you like you can shop their entire store.
Read the Reviews – People love to give their opinion on Amazon, so use it to your advantage. Read 3 or 4 reviews to see what people are saying about an item. Check the most recent reviews first. Old reviews could be outdated if the item has been revamped or updated. If you constantly see the same feedback, like the item shrunk after washing it, chances are yours will too.
Check the Sizing Charts – Sizing on items varies from brand and even within pieces of a certain brand. Check the individual size chart for each item you are wearing. I found that in one brand I am a medium and in another brand I’m an extra large. Keep in mind the actual size doesn’t matter, it’s how you feel in the item that matters most.
Cost Vs. Quality – There are some amazing finds on Amazon under $30 and even cheaper than that. I love a good deal on anything, but you need to know that the price is directly related to the quality of the item. Don’t expect your $15 sweater to last for 5 years, it may last a few wears and you need to be ok with that.
Now that I’ve covered how to shop on Amazon and the brands I’m loving I want to share the products in action!
Cable and Stitch Oversized Sweater
It’s still winter in Chicago so I’m going to get my use out of this puppy well into the spring. I love that the sweater is longer in the back and shorter in the front. You can wear it as is or do a tiny front tuck. I’m wearing a small and could have sized down to an extra small given that is it oversized. I’ve paired it with my Everlane Authentic Stretch Denim, which is only $68 and my Everlane Loafers. The common denominator is Everlane, I love them!
Levaca Hankerchief Top
I love this top for two reasons. First, it’s a lightweight turtleneck and second, the asymmetrical bottom is adorable! It’s a longer length top which makes it ideal to wear with leggings, however I opted for denim. Given it’s oversized you can tuck the side in a bit to cinch it up. I’ve dressed it up with a longer necklace and my leopard flats (mine are old, but I’ve linked some similar styles).
Boho Sweater
This is my prized find on Amazon! I’ll admit it’s not my normal style, but I am in love with the details on this sweater and the price…it’s only $18! Keep in mind my point above about price and quality, you get what you pay for. Regardless, I’m in love with this cardigan. It’s lightweight and perfect for layering and the upcoming warmer temps. You can take this sweater into the summer as well with a pair of jean shorts.
Do you shop for Amazon clothes? What amazing deals have you found? Let me know in the comments below.
Comments
Comments are closed