YOUR ULTIMATE ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDE

Dolls, you know I love a good shopaholic guide, and that's exactly what I have in store for you today. I live in a very remote corner of the world, and our access to quality fashion and makeup stores is seriously limited, which, for a Shopaholic like me, as you can imagine, has been frustrating. I've had to learn the ins and outs of online shopping FAST to secure my shopaholic fix, Dolls. So you can trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about!

---

Depop

I have been a lover of the app, Depop, for years. And it has never failed me. I've only ever had positive and thoughtful interactions with sellers, often receiving cute little 'thank you for purchasing' notes and kind back-and-forth messages. Schemes and scams haven't ever occurred in my experience, making it a very trustworthy app where you know the descriptions of the product are true. The vintage clothes I've found second-hand through Depop have been divine, and I TREASURE them to death. It's such an easy way to find exactly what you're after, clothes that have been in your bucket list closet for years. And it's at your fingertips, Dolls. All you have to do is enter your dream clothing and accessory items in the search bar.

---

Sustainability

Sustainability needs to be a component of ethical spending. We live in a time when thinking about sustainability is no longer an option, but a non-negotiable necessity. There are some fantastic brands out there that strive to include sustainability in their manufacturing process, which is something that shouldn't be overlooked when shopping. I want to share a few brands and ways that achieve sustainable fashion:

• Op shopping, re-gifting, and second-hand item apps are three convenient and spend-less ways to still attain high-end brands for not just a fraction of the price, but for a fraction of the footprint.

• Ghanda clothing Australia uses 'on-demand production', meaning they only manufacture once an order has been placed, ie, they don't make extra size ranges 'in case', only when 'definitely buying', reducing mass production and product waste. Choosing brands like this to shop at can be a simple switch that costs you the same, but has an incredible effect.

---

The art of shopping around

Shopping around refers to not buying the first item you love. It's about finding one item you're obsessed with and seeing if the item itself or something very similar can be bought from another shop for a lower price or better quality, or even better, something you like more. I started practising shopping around when I found Depop because I could find vintage items I way preferred to what was in-store for a notable price difference. It seriously opened my eyes to smart shopping, that impulse buying is a real thing, and not to buy the first thing you see that you like.

---

I absolutely loved writing this shopaholic guide for you, Dolls. It’s been far too long since I’ve done one, and I’m already dying to hear your feedback. I love you, Dolls!

Kisses,

COS x