Does Description of Item Ever Stop you from buying? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does Description of Item Ever Stop you from buying?

Echo

Veteran

This probably sounds ridiculous, but does a descriptive word for an item you are shopping for ever turn you off completely and make you reconsider whether you would buy it or not?

For example, let's say an item is described as "boho" or "western" or "rock star"but you are NOT at all boho or western or rock star. Perhaps you did not even view the item that way until you saw the description, but now you wonder whether others will see it that way and reconsider. For example, if you are not at all western, and the shoe is described that way, would you hesitate because you wouldn't want to be viewed as western? Or you know that your style descriptors are completely different, and so you wonder why you didn't see that element in the style?

Perhaps all of you are far more confident in your style and don't worry about an item coming off in a different way from how you intended. But is this a legitimate concern? Have the descriptions of items ever surprised you?

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

rachylou

Veteran

I don’t think the description of an item has ever stopped me, but the description for the whole catalog has. And styling influences me a lot in stores, online and catalogs. It’s often hard for me to look beyond display presentations.

Anonymous

A description has stopped me if the length of a dress is less than 40 inches or of a skirt is less than 23 inches. If something I’d described as Western, I may not order it as it is decidedly not my style. If the fabric were polyester it has stopped me unless it is a winter item or very breezy at a great price. I have not ordered pants with more than 2% elastic in the fabric content. I suppose fabrication is a stopper more often than style descriptions.

Carla

Veteran

I’m with Joy. Fabric content will put me off an item.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't think the style descriptor words have ever turned me off -- although sometimes they've confused me or caused me to look harder at the product image (and then reject it on the basis of some aspect I had not noticed, e.g. the way it is cut, e.g length of the rise). Also like Joy and Carla, I've said "no" on the basis of: fabric content. If it will be too warm for my summer climate or not warm enough for my winter climate, it's a no.

Anonymous

Yes, definitely! I reject things based on fabric content (wool and other itchy fiber sweaters), calf hair/lamb skin, jeans with no stretch. Color descriptors or other things, like shoes described as round toe, will stop me too. Also product reviews or customer photos where the item doesn't hang right or is too sheer. Fabbers reviews often will make me want to buy an item or not too!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Second hand items don't come with descriptions apart from the tags, but I examine those carefully - fabric content is my #1 priority these days and I am also am interested to know where it is made and other clues about its quality. I "read" the inside seams too. I am turned off certain designers because of their brand image and personalities, but that is another thing.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m nodding along here. I read descriptions, content labels, washing instructions, etc and use the info for decisions (seeing a great item online and reading that it has icky fabric is grrrrrr). I also note things like fasteners and whether it has sensible pockets. But I also am influenced by style descriptors. Like Suz, if I see something described in a jarring way, I’ll go back and look at the item to see how they came up with that label. For me, that can work both ways. I am still new enough to this game that it can be helpful to me to go look at the item bit by bit to learn the pieces that go into a recognizable style. And sometimes I’ll see an element that will sway my decision.

Helena

Veteran

Yes definitely! When shopping online, I think the descriptors are a great discernment tool. I'd say generally for me it would something in the description of the fit (relaxed through hip, etc, since I have narrow hips), since the models are so often much taller than me, so things hang quite differently. But I would definitely look twice if a descriptor said e.g. "boho". I don't think it's a lack of knowing one's style so much as it's just another tool in the toolkit. I am notoriously bad at visualization (yes, even with a photo!), so their descriptors help me fill that gap.

RobinF

Veteran

Ditto Torontogirl. The description gives me clues about the fit as well as the style, things that I might not have noticed from the picture alone.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

More like Suz, I just look harder when I see a descriptor or term that doesn’t seem to jibe with the item. I am more likely to be turned off by some detail I didn’t immediately notice, like a poofy elastic waist in the back of a skirt, or pleated front on a pair of pants.

smittie

Veteran

Great question!
Putting aside objective descriptions like fabric content and length, I do find descriptions that are incongruous to what I’m seeing as reason to look at the item a little closer.

But rather than say to myself “oh, this item must be western and I don’t want to buy this because it’s western”, I say:

1. This description is wrong! That’s not western!
Or
2. Ok, I can see how someone might think this is western. But I really like it, so maybe I have a small western element in my style.

No. 2. Happens quite a lot to me, and I think the key is to find ways to tone down those western items by wearing accompanying items that are not western.

I think it’s important to trust your eye so that you develop your own sense of style.

always trying

Veteran

Sometimes photos are deceptive. But the main turn off for me is fabric content. also sometimes even price of shoes I think they must be leather but description says not.

Anonymous

ABSOLUTELY.

Anonymous

YES. One word I know now to be wary of is "fitted". That usually ends it for me.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, for me too. Mostly not because of style descriptors, but I'm instantly on alert if the description doesn't fit what I'm seeing in the pictures. And there are a few words that also make me reconsider, e.g. fitted or floaty. I also don't like the word comfortable in descriptions, because it usually translates into poorly made, ill fitting clothes with too much stretch.

Susie

Veteran

It does in terms of fit more so than style. For instance, body con or fitted as a descriptor would be a no go for me. If it is a style descriptor that isn't one I gravitate to it would make me take a closer look.

JAileen

Veteran

Yes to fabric content, but also if the item runs large or small. For shoes, heel height.

DonnaF

Veteran

DCO (Dry Clean Only). Fabric/yarn content. Length of dress/skirt. Rise. Heel height. Color description.

I don't think a style description (boho, Western, etc.) has ever turned me off. I think the photo of the boho/Western/whatever item has caused me to click past before I even get to reading the description.

Sal

Veteran

I rarely shop online - 1/21 this year. Maybe 2-3 pieces most year. Often these are sale items or recommendations. Or something that I have just fallen in love with from advertising.

Some words might give me pause- either because they sound pretentious or not my style. Rocker, Western, 90s style, romantic would be descriptors that might make me question a piece for me.

Echo

Veteran

I absolutely agree with you all regarding fit and fabric content and care instructions. But those are things that make sense for me to look at.

But there have been some items where I have liked the item, the materials and construction and care and fit, but one or two pesky descriptor words just completely turn me off. "Western" is one of those. Others wear it well, bu I am decidedly NOT western and have no desire to be. So when I see that word in a description of something that didn't strike me that way, I find it disconcerting and off-putting. And then I look again to see what I could have missed, but I often still don't see the western element. Looking again, perhaps it is the fact that I don't automatically see an angled block heel as western, and others do?

I just think that perhaps stores could sell more items if they kept their descriptions to the factual information! Then I wouldn't think I was wrong in my vision of something and reconsider the purchase!

Bennett

Veteran

I agree with smittie. And I never thought about it, but I see your point. Why would they give a clothing item a style label? I wonder if it helps some people decide they want it?????

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Words are used in descriptions so the items turn up in online searches. So if a certain style like boho or western or whatever is trending, I think that keyword ends up getting slapped on a lot of items so that someone looking for a “boho top” finds an item the retailer is trying to market. A descriptive word that doesn’t appeal to me on its own will not turn me off unless I see evidence of it in the photos.