How I Shop The Best of Zara
If you listened to my podcast interview on Nothing To Wear, you may have heard some of these tips already, so apologies for the double-up. However, if you haven’t, hopefully this will be a helpful guide to shopping Zara online.
I’m going to be as truthful and blunt as I can be when discussing this, because I think social media tends to fall into one of two camps when talking about chain stores like Zara — deeply for or outrageously against. I come from a place somewhere in the middle, where my realistic take on all things fashion means shopping at places like Zara isn’t just fun and satisfying, but also, to a degree, a necessity.
The pricing, selection and ease of availability at Zara simply can’t be beaten, but that doesn’t mean you should shop there without consideration or care. I’m not an influencer who’ll ever do a massive online haul, because I don’t shop like that in real life and, to be brutally honest, I think it sucks. Nor will I make you feel guilty about buying fast fashion on occasion. To quote literally everyone online right now — two things can be true!
I’m a considerate shopper who hates shit (whether it’s expensive or cheap), basically, but I still really love Zara.
Here’s how I always manage to find the best pieces from them…
Filter by fabric first and foremost. Don’t just search for “white shirts”; type in the fabrication you’re looking for too, e.g. “white cotton shirt” or “white silk shirt”. When Zara uses natural fabrications, they will generally use the word in the product description. The same goes for “leather” shoes and bags.
Not everything you buy has to be 100% natural composition, so allow for some wiggle room here. As a general rule, I allow for some man-made fabrics in skirts, dresses and blouses, but prefer all-natural fibres when it comes to jumpers, pants and resort wear. Being a mindful shopper means being a realistic one. The discussion online by certain influencers about fabrication is often pretty ignorant when it comes to the practicalities, so be your own expert.
Check the “New In” section first and foremost online. This means you don’t have to trawl through thousands and thousands of products in a category. And always, I repeat, always check every image to see what the product looks like in different light. Zara generally displays a model shot and a product shot online, and they can sometimes look very different! Lighting is everything, so be wary of that.
There are certain things I personally think Zara does really well. Poplin shirts and dresses are high on my list — sometimes they rival designer versions — as are denim jeans. The range of fits is always abundant, they’re mostly cotton and the pricing is incredibly competitive. I also rate their leather sandals and heels, coats and accessories such as jewellery, belts and scarves. What I don’t tend to gravitate towards are their knitwear, bags or eveningwear, but this is entirely personal.
I’m always impressed by Zara’s take on summer, particularly their holiday-style pieces. They do kaftans, cotton dresses, boho-inspired prints and shapes, and shirting really well. I always look online before going somewhere warm, as I find this is one of the categories where Zara really excels.
The things that give Zara away as being cheap or not terribly considered are usually in the details. Buttons especially! Cheap buttons — usually pearl-esque in colour, faux wood or stark white — can completely ruin a good piece, so be wary of them on shirts and dresses.
The truth is, Zara sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. There are so many factors at play when I shop there, but the main thing I’ve stopped doing is using it as a last resort or panic-buying destination when I need something new for an event or outing. I’ve since learnt that keeping an eye on what they have online semi-regularly is a much better way to avoid those impulse purchases, and ultimately build a more considered wardrobe in the long run.
Here are some great pieces to shop right now.
