Trying on clothes in shops

most places for trying on clothes are returned to a rail out back and left for 24 or 72 hours then re- steamed and re-hung.this is in charity shop though. no-one gets to try anything on.....as the donations are left in the changing room area. you can of course take them home try them on ,and as long as the price tag and receipt are bought back you can get a refund ,this is valid for 4 weeks.after that you dont get a refund..

I usually buy online as it’s much easier when you have mobility impairments. I check the actual measurements against my measurements, which helps me to make sure that things will fit. I would normally try stuff on if shopping in town, but as that’s probably not an option at the moment I’d take my tape measure from my sewing kit. Not ideal but it will help.

I hate trying on in shops, too, especially in hot weather. I’m not convinced that Covid can be spread by trying clothes on, but the shops have to obey the rules.
Buying online rarely works for me, and I hate the hassle of returning things.
Like curlywhirly I am just 5ft. Dresses, in particular, are a nightmare. They never seem to fit well. Also, most garment sleeves reach my fingertips. Even petite sizes are usually to fit 5ft 2ins, are hard to find in shops, usually more expensive and choice is limited.
I did get a pair of jeans in Asda recently, which fit perfectly. They were the shorter ‘capri’ length, and exactly ankle length on me!

At the moment I am not going out to shops at all. Haven't in months. Wouldn't want to risk it. So buying everything we need (clothes included) online. I would not feel safe trying on clothes right now.

As I have no clothing shops near by other than the supermarkets that have a clothing section on line is my usual source. Otherwise I have quite a journey to a city. Trying on clothes in store when I think if it is really unhygienic. An item can be back on a rail within a few minutes for all and sundry to try on. I have seen clothing sticking out on the floor the changing rooms gathering goodness knows what. At the moment Covid regulations dictate all clothing returned must remain unused for 72 hours. Think I'll stick with on line. But of forethought required as to needs but I'll manage.

I feel I know what suits me now and almost always buy from charity shops anyway, partly for financial reasons as I have been the, relatively low paid, main bread winner for 4 people during my career and now a pensioner, but also because I like quirky stuff in natural fibers like corduroy and cotton velvet which seem now to be largely extinct in current retail outlets these days. I also know which brands of jeans/trousers fit so I can grab a pair of Levis or Per Una jeans in the right size with confidence. Since my 3 years helping look after a grand baby I mainly adopt the jeans and tunic 'uniform' interspersed with the occasional ankle length long sleeved velvet dress. In general natural fibers are favorite. I was appalled by the recent crop of flowing M & S dresses which seemed fine on line - but turned out to have been made of Bri-nylon like fabric - when one or two designs tempted me in for a looksee. Many of the female tv presenters seem to be shopping there at the moment shrouded in heavily patterned flowing fabric and ...horror of horrors... Margaret Thatcher pussy bows...

I hate trying on in shops, maybe two items are my limit. I buy online bit from one or two companies I have used for years so I know their sizes and generally know what the fabric quality will be like.

For the past few years I have mostly been buying clothes online.

I over-order (unsure of size) and return where necessary.

Not for one second have I imagined that anything I return would be sent to landfill! Why would this happen? The return process is often slow and cumbersome taking a week and usually more.

Covid cannot live on fabric very well and surely wouldn't survive several weeks.

In any case, I always wash new purchases whether store or an online bought, so if I wash my hands too, surely I am safe?

Remind me what the infection rates are in Spain? I think that it's necessary to change what we do for the time being, whatever it takes. I rarely try on clothes in shops except for special occasions. Lands End do trousers in various lengths so might be worth a try for anyone who needs non standard lengths. Which probably covers most of us.

If I buy online I usually check that it will be free returns .

Recently heard about a young man who went out to buy his wedding suit. He choose the suit but was also given a choice of trouser styles eg slim fit or classic. Not being a regular shopper he had no idea which would be best and not allowed to try them on. He had limited time before the wedding so bought more than one pair, but now has to find the time to return the ones he doesn't want. I wonder how they get on in the suit hire shops?

I've been caught out shopping online. For one thing, as has already been mentioned, sizes are not standard and for another, you can't tell the quality. I've bought a couple of items which looked lovely on the model online but found that they were cheap and tacky when they arrived.

Hey ho, we live and learn.

The shops in the UK are just following Covid19 safe procedures in the best way they know how. They would be heavily criticised if they didn't. They are trying their best to make people feel confident about retuning to shopping. The UK has had one of the heaviest death rates in Europe. I am more than happy to accept the restrictions for now in order to get us back to to the High St feeling safe doing so. What other countries choose to do is immaterial. They might be wrong. The return to shopping is fairly recent. Better to err on the side of caution. This is temporary, normal shopping will resume eventually.

I haven't been clothes shopping since the lockdown, just wondering whether people are trying things on outside of the changing rooms, jackets, cardigans for example, and whether this is allowed.

I have bought clothes on line from M&S and Boden . Free to send back. Boden says on its website clothes are isolated and cleaned before being resold. Fast refunds for things sent back and frequent sale offers. Their medium fits me well

I very rarely try before buying - usually my clothes shopping is done in a small slot of time either during a lunch hour or as part of another trip, eg hair dressers and are bound by public transport timings.
I would rather try clothing on at home with plenty of space, usually taking advantage of having the other clothing I want to wear with it to hand.
Those shops that are allowing the use of changing rooms are not only steaming the clothes, but many are also quarantining those clothes for 72 hours before putting them back out for sale.
You have not heard of anyone catching Covid from clothing ? How do you know? Seeing as many scientists are still not 100% sure as to how cases are appearing in unexpected places - water droplets land on anything and everything, not just hard surfaces and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the virus stays live on fabrics - or why would you be advised to try and wash everything at 60 degrees where possible?

I am so fortunate that I have little interest in clothes

what I don`t understand is,, if you buy online,,, how do you know if someone has not already tried it on , returned it, and HAS IT BEEN CLEANED?

at least in the shops they say they are cleaning between tryingson..

or am I being naive/stupid?

It’s simple to know if clothes have been steamed after trying on - they have a strange smell. Just wander round a charity shop where all clothes are steamed - it’s just horrid.

First world problem again! Just don’t buy clothes if it is all too difficult.
Basically two options, buy online try and return if necessary or go without if you won’t buy without trying on.
Personally I buy online as sizes are always different. Most chain stores never have the right size in stock and it is much easier to order online.
Surely if you order and return immediately it shouldn’t cause a cash flow problem?

MawB2 thanks for that. As well as having to take trousers up I have other problems - I have very narrow shoulders and hips, and sleeves are always too long! Many clothes just bury me, even some petite ones and I can't wear anything loose and floaty, I just look like a little girl dressing up in her Mum's clothes! Fitted tailored clothes suit me best, but they're not that easy to find. Luckily I can sew, so I do make all my own alterations, but I would just love to be able to buy something (anything!) without having to alter it!

A month or so back there was a light hearted consumer programme on tv regarding buying and returning online clothing. They seemed to prove the fact that clothes they had bought, then purposely marked before returning them were sent out again without being cleaned.

Maybe it’s expecting to be able to buy cheap clothes in independent stores that’s the issue in the High St, not changing rooms. If you want cheap, go to the chain stores.

I find it difficult to believe that steaming clothes makes a lot of difference anyway - unless it is absolutely thoroughly done and I very much doubt that that is the case.

Fenwicks in Colchester is allowing customers to try clothes on. I don't know what the policy at the Bond Street Fenwicks is.

I usually need to try clothes on. I don't like having to buy several items to try on at home and then take them back if they don't fit or don't suit me. There is the same hassle with online buying. I'm sure these restrictions will have a very bad effect on all clothes shops.

Curlywhirly if they are still in business BonMarché do trousers in 25” and 27” lengths. Have you tried them?

I’m in the same situation as you Curlywhirly. Even if I by shorter length trousers they still need to be taken up which frustrates me no end. It’s just a hassle buying online then having to send things back because they don’t fit. It could be quite a long time before we’re allowed to try clothes on is shops again so think we’re stuck with online shopping for the foreseeable future.

I hate buying clothes online - I am only 5' tall and lots of things don't suit me; I can try several items on before finally finding something that looks ok. In recent weeks I have bought a few things online, all have been sent back. I feel like I am wasting my time and the various companies' time, not to mention the cost of posting and packing and then ending up with no garments! I have visited the shops in the last couple of weeks, but as I can't try anything on I am reluctant to buy anything. I so wish I was a standard size (my husband is and buys most of his clothes without trying them on first, I'm so envious!).