Clothes and Shoes: Tips for Shopping

When choosing clothes or shoes at an online shop,

have you ever wondered whether an item is really the right fit for you?

Since you can't pick up the actual item and check it yourself, this kind of uncertainty is only natural.

This time, to help you choose products that truly suit you,

we'd like to share some tips for shopping at online stores.

[Choosing Clothes at an Online Shop]

When choosing clothes at an online shop,

many people would probably say that size is the thing to watch out for.

It's disappointing when clothes you've finally bought turn out to be too big or too small

and you end up unable to wear them.

Since you can't try clothes on beforehand at an online shop,

gathering information in advance is necessary, but if you know the key points to check,

you'll be able to choose clothes with confidence.

◇How to Read Sizes

First, let's review how to read clothing sizes.

For a typical top, pay attention to the following measurements.

① Length: the length of the longest part from the collar to the hem

② Shoulder width: the length across both shoulders

③ Body width: the widest measurement across both underarms

④ Sleeve length: the length from the shoulder to the end of the sleeve

There are also measurements like hem width and sleeve opening width,

but the four points above are especially important since they determine the silhouette of the garment when worn.

When these sizes fit you well, the garment's shape looks neat when worn,

and it also becomes easier to bend and stretch your arms and move around your waistline.

Let's take a look at a specific example using the SERGE Border Basque Knit LTC901,

a basic border-pattern cut-and-sew top from the French factory brand Letroyes,

worn in different sizes, to see how the same top looks in various sizes.

Here, a model who is 157cm tall is wearing size XS.

She can wear it, but there's a somewhat overly snug impression to it.

What stands out is that the wrists show through the sleeves and the hem has become short,

and the shoulder line of the garment sits narrower than her actual shoulder width.

This is size S. There's ease in both the shoulder width and sleeve length, and the length is just right.

It's neither tight nor loose, and you can see that the garment's silhouette

is kept beautifully in shape.

And this is size M, for reference.

At this size, the sleeves are long enough to completely hide the fingers,

and the shoulder line droops down. Since it's too large,

you can also notice excess wrinkling in the body and sleeves.

It's striking how much the impression changes with just a difference in size—choosing clothes really requires attention.

When choosing clothes at an online shop,

first focus on the measurements mentioned above and compare them with your own size.

If you don't know your own size, we recommend measuring a garment

that already fits you perfectly.

Once you've measured it, you'll have a basic size reference,

making it much easier to judge just by looking at the numbers.

◇Enjoy Coordinating with the Size That Suits You

◇Materials Vary Too

Also, when choosing clothes, pay attention not just to size but to material as well.

Since fabric touches your skin directly, it's best if it's as close as possible to what you imagined.

Even when the same material is used,

differences in the manufacturing method can result in differences in texture and comfort.

For example, take this ZUTTO Original Waffle Long Sleeve Cut-and-Sew Top.

Not only is it made from 100% cotton,

it also uses a textured fabric called "waffle," often used for towels.

This makes it gentle on the skin and exceptionally soft.

It's also resistant to wrinkling even when the sleeves are rolled up.

On the other hand, here's the Border Cut-and-Sew Top PANEL BORDER white/blue

from Armor lux, a French brand that has been making cut-and-sew tops for generations.

Although it's made from the same 100% cotton material,

it's thicker than the waffle long sleeve top mentioned earlier

and gives an overall rounder impression.

This border cut-and-sew top is knitted with a double-faced technique,

giving it excellent stretch and softness. Its plump, chewy texture creates a wonderful sense of comfort.

It may be a subtle point to notice, but

comparing the two like this, can you see how even the same material

can have slightly different fabric characteristics depending on how it's made?

In particular, the thickness of the cuffs and how wrinkles appear will differ

from product to product, so it's worth paying attention to these details.

[Choosing Shoes at an Online Shop]

Now, let's move on to how to choose shoes.

Since shoes offer less flexibility than clothing,

they can be even harder to choose at an online shop.

We recommend choosing shoes with as much attention as possible to each product's characteristics.

◇Fit and Sizing You Should Know About

One major reason shoe shopping can be confusing is that

sizing notations differ from product to product.

It's often said that Japanese-made shoes tend to be made wider,

while shoes made overseas are often narrower,

but the actual fit varies from product to product.

On ZUTTO, the size chart section of each product page includes

a rough guide to Japanese sizing standards, so

please be sure to use it as a reference.

※If you are viewing on a smartphone,

please tap the "View Size & Specifications" button to check.

Shoe fit is greatly affected not just by length but also by width, so

if the width isn't right, the shoes may feel tight or come off easily.

As with New Falcon's medical sneakers,

lace-up shoes have the advantage of being easier to adjust for width.

For this reason, when choosing sneakers, we recommend first selecting a size

based on foot length rather than width.

On the other hand, as with DIEGO BELLINI's loafer series,

all-leather shoes and flat shoes

without laces can make it harder to judge the fit.

With leather shoes, they gradually soften and

mold to your feet as you wear them, but some people find them tight when first worn.

For this reason, if width is a concern, we recommend choosing one size larger than your usual shoe size.

We describe these kinds of product characteristics on each product page, so please check them along with the sizing information.

◇How to Try On Shoes

Once you receive your shoes, we recommend first trying them on indoors.

Here are the key points to check when trying them on:

※For lace-up shoes, be sure to check the fit with the laces tied.

・When you put the shoes on, is there a comfortable amount of room at the toes (are your toes touching the front of the shoe)?

・When walking at your normal pace, do the shoes come off, or are they too tight to walk in?

・Do you feel any discomfort when crouching down?

The key is to reproduce, as much as possible, the movements you

make in everyday use, and check how the shoes feel while wearing them.

Even if you find that the shoes don't fit your feet after all, there's no need to worry.

At ZUTTO, if the shoes are unused (only tried on) and you contact us within one week of receiving your package,

we will accept size exchanges or returns for the product.

If you would like to do so, please feel free to contact our Customer Support team.

■ZUTTO Customer Support: support@zutto.co.jp

■For details on exchanges and returns, please check our Shopping Guide.

>>Shopping Guide

◇◇◇

Shopping online is convenient, but

it's also true that there are aspects of products that can be hard to fully understand.

At ZUTTO, in addition to describing product characteristics on each product page,

our Customer Support team is happy to offer individual advice on fit and sizing concerns.

We hope you'll take the time to consider our various products carefully and enjoy shopping with satisfaction.