Featured Article
Image Education

Fashion Catalog Shopping

Catalog shopping is alive and booming. It's a real time-saver for busy people and a wonderful resource for hard-to-find merchandise.

The following guidelines may help save you some frustration and disappointment with mail order merchandise. To begin with, be certain you read the information section of your catalog thoroughly before placing an order. Become well acquainted with company policies, especially return policies.

Because catalog descriptions are brief, you must carefully compare the descriptions of color, material, style, design details and size with the advertising photographs.

First-time clothing orders may be safer if you order in the Petite-Small-Medium-Large sizes that have less complicated fitting requirements. If in doubt about size, don't let that stop you. Order 2 or 3 sizes. Try them on and simply return what doesn't fit.

Plan to order at least three weeks in advance to allow for processing and shipping. Catalog companies are now required by law to ship (not deliver) your order within 30 days of receipt of your order, or within the time specified in the catalog if it is less than 30 days.

If you're in a time crunch, you can order overnight delivery with some catalog companies. You'll pay extra, but it will be worth the charge—for something you really need, quick!

Determine all of your needs before you order, and then order everything at once. Separate orders add to your costs in both time and money. To order Quick Reference Guide to Fashion Catalog, go shopping in our Bookstore.

Image Education | Glossary | Featured Articles | More Information