With celebrities like Aishwarya Rai and Deepika Padukone flaunting the nine-yard Indian wonder of a saree on the global platform, this stunning ensemble is gaining random popularity, and becoming a must-have in every woman’s wardrobe. As Indian women, we all have that fond memory of how we felt when we draped a gorgeous saree for the first time. The femininity and grace that is exuded by a saree stands unmatched, and it is still the top contender for bridal wear and party wear for Indian women across the globe. 

As you explore the collection at one shop, your mind is bound to drift to what you might be missing at the other store across the road. This cycle goes on and on, and what you usually end up with is an empty shopping bag, or even worse, a saree that you wish you hadn’t bought.

The ritual of waiting for stores to open on Black Friday seems to be over now. It wasn’t long back when people waited outside the stores, fidgeting with their car keys a day after Thanksgiving. And if we think of India, well, shopping is a ritual here; you have people shopping before any and every occasion. The internet has eased it an great blog written on Black Friday here.  

Online shopping stores for sarees have come as a welcome relief to all the women who shared this plight. These websites allow you to rummage through a vast collection of sarees by different designers, giving you the leverage of hopping from page to page, instead of shop to shop. As easy and convenient as this may sound, you need to remember that you will still have to invest enough time before you can make the right choice, except that you can now do it while being comfortably seated on the couch in your living room. 
 

Watch out for details in the pictures

 A thumb-rule of online shopping is that the final product is not going to be what it appears on the screen. Use tools like the zoom option and multiple views to try to get the clearest idea of what the saree that you are choosing will look like in reality. Read the descriptions carefully to know exactly what the fabric and color is. 

Get your blouse-size tested professionally

Even though it might be the smallest part of the saree, the fitting of the blouse goes a long way in determining the overall look of the saree. You can opt for getting an unstitched blouse and getting it stitched by a local tailor. However, the whole point of shopping online is to get a readymade product at your doorstep.

If that’s what you want, you can get a pre-stitched blouse, for which you need to provide your measurements to the website. I loved the easy-to-fill form on www.indiaemporium.com, which clearly indicated exactly how measurements were to be made, with the help of virtual dummies. It is a good idea to take the help of a professional tailor for measurements, and leave ½ an inch extra for comfort. 

Ask for return policy
No matter how sure you are about the saree you have chosen, remember that there is always a scope of dissatisfaction when the real thing comes before your eyes. So be sure to ask the website for a return policy, just in case you need to use it. These questions are best asked in advance, before you have made the payment. Keep all the bills and invoices that you receive from the website intact, and do not cut off the tags until you are absolutely sure of the choice you’ve made. 

Browse through reviews

User reviews are undoubtedly the most useful tool while shopping online for sarees. Websites that have no reviews or only favorable reviews are best stayed away from. Unbiased reviews can give you a fair idea of whether there are any noticeable differences in colors and fabrics, and other loopholes in the services of the website. 

Sign up for mailing list 
One of the most frustrating feelings as a shopper is to buy a saree, only to see it on an attractive sale a few days after. A good way to avoid that happening while shopping online is to sign up for the mailing list of the website. That way, you can remain updated on upcoming offers and sales and make sure you get the best value for your money. 

Keeping these tips in mind, go ahead and bag that perfect saree you’ve always wished to buy. Every woman deserves one in her wardrobe!