How to try clothes on properly at home

Short answer: Try clothes on indoors, on clean clothing and with the tags still attached. Sit down, reach your arms up and walk a few steps. Those three movements reveal far more than just standing still in front of the mirror, and they only take an extra minute.

Keep the tags attached

Without tags, an item usually cannot be returned, even if it turns out not to fit. So try clothes on indoors, on a clean floor, not outside or in wet weather, and leave the tags on until you are fully certain you are keeping the piece. See return, exchange or cancel.

Sit down

A waistband that feels fine standing can dig in while sitting, because the body folds differently at the hips and thighs. That is the most common reason a piece never gets worn, even though it looked perfect in the mirror while standing. See bamboo underwear for men.

Reach your arms up

A top should stay tucked in or stay in place even when you stretch or reach for something on a high shelf. If the fabric rides up immediately, it will do so all day in practice, every time you move naturally. See bamboo T-shirts for men.

Walk a few steps

If a leg creeps up or an edge rolls, it usually happens within the first ten steps, not only after a full day. So walk around the room instead of only standing still, so you spot the problem while exchange is still an option. See bamboo briefs.

In daylight

Check for see-through fabric in daylight near a window rather than only under a lamp indoors, since artificial light can hide how sheer a fabric really is. Pale colours are the most affected, and it is easier to spot the issue before the purchase is final than afterwards. See bamboo T-shirt for women.

Try it with the clothes you will actually wear it under

If the piece will be worn under or with other clothing, put it on in that combination from the start. Underwear that feels perfect alone can behave differently under tight trousers, and you only notice that difference by testing the actual combination.

Move the way you normally do

Do not just stand still in front of the mirror, but do the movements you actually make during a day, whether that is bending down, reaching or getting into a car. Clothing that looks perfect standing still can behave quite differently in motion.

Do not wait too long to decide

Try the clothes on the same day they arrive, while the return window is still long, instead of putting them aside and forgetting about them. The longer you wait, the bigger the risk that you forget to check whether the tags are still properly attached.

Note down what did not work

If something did not fit, note briefly why, whether it was the waistband, the length or the fabric. That makes it easier to choose correctly next time, instead of guessing at the same thing again on a later purchase.