Clothing shopping

Clothing with writing on, logos, ripped bits, any sort of 'worn' styling, too flared, too tight, too baggy, I can't stand. I like stuff that fits slightly more tightly than regular and neutral colours. I don't like making statements through what I wear, except understatements, if you know what I mean.

It doesn't help either that I don't like shopping on the high street. It's busy man. Real bustling, noisy, hot and bothered busy on those streets. And once you get into the shops it's even busier, noisier and nastier than outside. Every time I try and buy even a pack of socks more often than not I'll bail out amidst the cacophony of modern 21st Century consumerism and head home for the tranquillity and peacefulness of shopping for clothes online.

Once I even went into a clothes shop to get measured then went home and ordered a pair of jeans online from the same company that measured me, because I just didn't have the time or inclination to queue amongst the melee.

Until I can afford my own personal Bond street tailor the web is my shopping mall when it comes to clothes. Why? Because it means I can, in the comfort of my own home, (importantly) find those clothes I like (you know, without silly slogans on, frilly bits, etc) and browse through without the worry of getting shouldered by some over-zealous mother dragging her screaming kids down the clothing aisle.

Shopping online for clothes is fun and easy. Rather than worrying about getting out of the shop into the fresh air, you are in a conducive environment for making rational decisions, rather than the environment that dictates: 'it's 5 minutes until the store closes, better get something, anything, otherwise it's been a wasted trip to the busy and overcrowded shops.'

All you really need to know is what size you are, and even if something is too big or too small, most online clothes shops have easy to understand and helpful returns policies.

Apart from having to wait a little bit longer to get your clothes that you've bought online – often deliveries will be just the next day – shopping for clothes online is miles more convenient and tons less stressful.

For me it's almost a victory over the clothing products that I dislike, and the shops that stock them. Getting label-less clothing seems like a marathon effort when you're in the high street. There's a kind of perverse monopoly on style. But online there is a garment democracy, because someone somewhere is making and selling the types of clothes you like.

Be it boxer shorts, lingerie, denim jeans or cotton shirts – even organic and fair-trade clothing – I can find them so easily on the web. Given that most online clothes stores are UK based and are easy to reach by telephone or email if you need more information, I am sometimes surprised that I even bother to go to the high street.