Online or Offline? That is the question

It's 2017 and E-commerce (the fancy name for online shopping) has never been bigger. Major retailers cannot survive the High Street without investing in an online platform for customers to purchase orders. On top of that, we're surrounded by digital marketing campaigns utilising social media, online advertising and emails. The question on many lips - will the High Street survive? 

My own opinion is yes. Why? Because although pretty much everything can be bought online there are some things worth buying offline. For certain (often trickier) items, going into a shop has major merits.

Here are the ones to watch out for.

J is for Jeans

Jeans are the staple of all wardrobe staples. It's something you can't afford to get wrong. 90% of people are unlikely to buy the very first pair of jeans they try on - normally it takes a few shops and a few styles to get the right one. Those with longer than normal legs find this especially hard (why does Zara not have a Tall range please?!) Can you imagine doing all this online? A whole lot of returns and stress that can be avoided.

S is for Suits 

This one applies to men too. The fit, fall and general look of a suit cannot be predicted from ordering online. The model is not you and though sizing guides are normally OK for most things, blazers and suited wear are often a hit and miss. Cut the hassle and go into store. Added bonus: you can mix and match different shades and styles while there.

B is for Bras

Balcony, T-shirt, Plunge.....there are so many bra styles out there. The phrase 'try before you buy' definitely applies to this one. Size 32C or 36E in one store can be very different to another retailer. To be direct, ladies's er bits, are all different, meaning it often requires a lot of trial and error to get the right bra that fits you. Also applies to bikinis.

H is for Heels 

Blisters are a part of life. But the chance of getting them can be dramatically reduced by purchasing a pair in store, where you have the luxury of trying on 100+ pairs and choosing the one that not only looks best (as you would online) but feels best too. Amen.

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The 5 shoes every girl should own

As Marilyn Monroe famously said, 'Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world'. Emphasis on shoes plural, not shoe singular. Because let's face it, we all need a solid weaponry of footwear for whatever the occasion. We know slippers are for bed, trainers for sport, and flipflops for the pool - but what about the rest?

Look no further, this is the ultimate shoe checklist -

Block Boots

Standard boots are great for a) mild weather and b) comfort. But heeled block boots have an added bonus - ideal for times when you don't want to wear normal heels, but still want extra height. (Think parties and long nights dancing). Not only that, but they look great dressed down with skinny jeans.

Proper Heels

Unfortunately though, not all occasions allow for heeled boots. Really swanky events require a pair of quintessential, traditional black heels. To avoid the dreaded 'Ow my feet' syndrome, try to get ones that have a fairly wide heel (not like a pin), with added height at the front of the shoe.

Smart Flats 

Perfect for work, afternoon tea and day trips. I personally love patent styles which add extra shine to the shoe (also eliminating the need to polish them). Brogues are great, as are dolly pumps, but be sure to choose ones that are firm & padded so they last.

Casual Pumps

One down from the full blown sports trainer, pumps are great for those times you just need to nip out, or have a casual errand to run. I also love wearing them shopping, since you can easily slide them on and off to try on clothes, as well as walk around in them for ages.

Two Strap Sandals

And finally. Ideal for dry and warm weather, two strap sandals are the staple city break/holiday shoe. They take zero time to put on, are comfortable AF and are supportive enough to last all those miles by foot (especially when you get lost...).