Cheerio, Mate! - UK shopping tips for U.S. fashionistas

Until I met my husband, I was not a traveler. I’m deathly afraid of flying, but when your family lives across the pond, you suck it up and hope the 8 hours go by fast.

Throughout my visits to England, it has become one of my most favorite places ever. People are much more laid back and friendly, there’s an emphasis on quality, not quality like the products in the U.S., and their style and fashion leaves something to envy.

But even if you’re not taking a trip to the UK, you can still shop their style from the comfort of your own computer. Here are some of my tips on how to get more bang for your buck!

1. Currency rates – This is the first thing to remember when shopping UK sites. Remember, the prices are listed in British pounds, and some sites don’t convert prices. Keeping track of currency conversion rates is key and important to know BEFORE you finalize your purchases. If they don’t convert the total in U.S. dollars, do it yourself as otherwise, you’ll get a nice surprise on your credit card bill.

For Mac users, you can find a handy widget for it already on your computer! Or, use http://www.xe.com/, which converts any monetary amount from any country!

2. Change your shopping location – This seems like a no brainer, but people forget to do it. Ever go on a site, fill up our cart, and then realize you didn’t pick your location? I have – and I’ve been severely disappointed when it converted my total to American bucks. Do this first to avoid sulking later.  

3. Size Guides are there for a reason. Use them! While you may be a size 6 shoe in the U.S., that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a 36. Every brand is different, so be sure to consult size charts before purchasing. The last thing you want to do is return your newly imported item. 

4. Read customer reviews – Now that you’ve checked out the size guide, check out the reviews. Often, customers will say how something fit them, and give their own measures as a gauge on the fit. This is EXTREMELY helpful as you can compare your size to someone who may have similar measurements. Plus, postage for returns can be costly. While you may pay flat rate in the U.S. for returns, it may not apply for the UK, and sometimes can result in you paying more to return the item than what you paid.

Happy shopping!