I’m a fan of H&M. They’re based out of Sweden and their aesthetic reflects that – european, chic, simple and modern. They have a great selection of affordable, on-trend pieces, but with the affordable prices comes spotty quality and fit. Today I’ll share secrets to help you navigate H&M quality to make the most of your shopping experience, including shopping their new online store!
Take advantage of:
- Accessories – This is one of my favorite stores for scarves, fun bags, shoes, and accessories. They offer a great selection and it changes often.
- Trendy pieces – If there’s a trendy item you’re on the lookout for, check out H&M. Trendy pieces can sometimes only be worn 1-2 seasons so it’s best not to spend a lot of money on them. Save your dough for quality pieces you’ll wear often.
- Coats – H&M consistently has an excellent coat and jacket selection. They may not last forever, but they’ll be stylish and keep you warm at a great price. Perfect for those of you looking for a good buy.
- Affordable office-wear – H&M has a professional clothing section. The quality can be hit or miss but you can sometimes find a unique dress or blazer at a great price. Be careful to consider whether items will wrinkle easily or show their wear quickly.
- Short season pieces – By short season, I’m referring to weather that only lasts a few months out of the year. This depends on where you live. For example, in Seattle, hot weather only last 2 months, 3 if we’re lucky! It makes sense to spend less on those items because you won’t wear them often but you may still want variety. H&M is a great store for this because of the price points.
- Basics – At the checkout counter there’s often a bin of socks, tights, and patterned/colored umbrellas for less than $10. Stock up!
Be cautious of:
- Quality – The most frustrating part of shopping at H&M is that quality varies significantly. Be wary of items that wrinkle easily, catch fuzz, or show their wear quickly. You may find items are thin and require an extra layer so underwear lines aren’t visible.
- Fit – Fit goes hand in hand with quality. Sometimes corners are cut and fit suffers. Armholes and sleeves may be large, shirts may be boxy, coats lining may be skimpy. Be critical.
- Sweaters – While you may get away with a cheap blouse or woven shirt, I find that poor quality sweaters do you no favors. They can make you look wider/fatter, stretch easily, and generally make you look the opposite of polished. Be very, very picky when it comes to knits and know that you’ll need to care for them (wash in cold water, don’t put in dryer).
Online store – Check out my previous post about the new US H&M online store
- Stick to accessories – The online store return policy will cost you a pretty penny if you don’t like the items, so be careful. I suggest sticking to accessories for now. I suspect they’ll soon provide the ability to return items to their stores so you can save on return shipping, but as it stands now you’ll pay $5.95 both ways. ($5.95 x 2 )= $11.90 just to try on items! It’s hard to justify that cost when you’re buying lower-priced pieces.
With this shopping information, you’re ready to shop H&M! I’ll be sharing my favorite pieces from the online store (though I still recommend trying them on in person to save on shipping). Stay tuned!