Many pet owners believe that one pet clothing item is as good as another, but this is just not so.  And buying online can be disappointing if you don't know what to look for.  I will outline a few of the most important factors you should be aware of before making an online pet fashion purchase.

Sizing:  When it comes to animal fashion items, there is very little standard of measurement and often sellers will have size groups that they, themselves, have created.  If the listing (or their eBay store) doesn't have the actual measurements for the intended wearer or the actual garment measurement numbers you shouldn't make a purchase without first contacting the seller for this information. 

Another instance in which you should contact the seller is if only a weight range or pet breed is listed.  Just as human beings can weigh exactly the same and be very different in shape, so it is with animals, even those that fall within breed standards. For dogs and cats, information required for fit is usually the collar size, the chest size measured just behind the forelegs, and body length from base of neck to where the tail begins. 

If other measurements are needed for a proper fit, such as foreleg length or paw width, and it isn't in the listing, you need to contact the seller for instructions or you may end up with items that you can't use. Also check for a FAQ Page (Frequently Asked Questions) and be sure to read it.

A Photo:  When buying pet fashions online, a picture is really worth a thousand words.  You can tell a lot about quality from seeing an actual picture of the item offered.  Whether or not the actual item is shown on a model is a matter of preference.  I personally prefer that fashions be shown while worn because an item can look very different on a hanger or laid out  from when it is on an animal with seams and hems falling as they would while being worn. 

Another thing to be aware of while looking at pictures of offerings is that if only the package of the fashion item is displayed, it's often hard to gauge what the real items look like even if there is a professionally posed photo on the front.

Care:  Just as you'd have an interest in how to care for your own garments, you also need to know how to properly care for a pet garment after purchase.  It may be even more important for pet fashions than for your own clothes because you probably don't roll in things that smell interesting or dance in mud puddles you find in your path.  If garment care instructions aren't in the listing, you could end up spending a lot of cash at the dry cleaners in order for your pet to wear the item more than once.

These are just a few of the things you should be aware of when making an online purchase of pet fashions.  Not only can you have the best looking pet on the block.  If you know what to look for, and look out for, you can also have the best dressed pet on the block!