Welcome to the Racked 38, our definitive list of the very best places to outfit yourself online. These are the stores we love for their incredible clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories, and trust for a seamless shopping experience. To land on this list, retailers need to offer intuitive site navigation, a smooth checkout, easy shipping and returns, and — of course — awesome product.
The end result is heavy on multi-brand stores like Ssense and Net-a-Porter, sprinkled with single-brand sources like COS and Madewell, inclusive of atypical approaches to shopping like Moda Operandi and Rent the Runway, and topped off by the very best of the cheap thrills (hi, ASOS). Recent additions to the list include Catbird, Everlane, and Creatures of Comfort; shops that have grown to become major e-comm players.
So without further ado, enjoy our 38 favorite tabs, presented here in alphabetical order.
For even more curated shopping goodness, be sure to check out the Racked guides to the best beauty, swimwear, active, and independently-owned shops.
Topshop
& Other Stories
Backed by H&M, the brand was conceived as a beauty line, but wound up expanding early on into clothing, shoes, and accessories. Based in Stockholm, the company began opening stores in Europe and quickly shot to the top of the "you've got to check this out while you're abroad" list before hitting the States with stores and e-comm last fall. Styles are trendy but approachable and done in materials that are a step up from what you're used to shopping at H&M.
Anthropologie
It's not quite as glorious as shopping in-store, but Anthro-addicts can get their fix through a web shop that delivers everything from twee housewarming gifts to kitchen aprons, ankle boots, and even wallpaper. This is lifestyle merchandising as an art form, down to a nearly seamless omni-channel experience between web, mobile, and store.
Aritzia
This Canadian boutique chain, which sells mostly in-house lines, caught our eye last year. Expect a mix of simple dresses that can be styled for work or play, as well as hyper-trendy, kinda sexy pieces—all served at prices easily digested by the twenty-something shopper.
ASOS
There is nothing better online for getting a trend fix on the cheap. Merchandise ranges from jewelry to shoes to coats to party dresses; just about any product category that goes on your body is shoppable here. The ASOS pro move is to sink $29 into a year's worth of Premier service, which includes unlimited two-day shipping (plus early access to frequent sales). With or without Premier, returns are free and easy as heck. The retailer also gets bonus points for extending its style offerings to petite and plus shoppers.
ASOS
Bandier
The super-stylish New York activewear boutique launched a comprehensive e-shop this spring. Now its distinct mix of fashion-focused performance gear is shoppable (and shippable) worldwide.
Catbird
This online shop, which sprouted from a Williamsburg boutique of the same name, is a go-to for delicate jewelry from a range of indie designer talents like Erica Weiner, Claire Kinder, and Winden, plus a house line that just keeps getting bigger and better. The ring selection is especially strong.
COS
H&M-owned COS (an acronym for "collection of style") launched US e-comm in May of last year, accelerating the heartbeats of art directors, gallery owners, and conceptual architects across the nation. The aesthetic is minimal but forward-thinking, in fabrics that last and at prices that aren't astronomical.
Creatures of Comfort
This boutique's NYC and LA storefronts are must-shops if you find yourself in either city. If not, the online experience will certainly do, selling breezy Black Crane dresses alongside Acne boots and Kara bags. Its in-house line has been picking up steam, too; this season's hits include linen jumpers and block-heel suede sandals.
Aritzia
Eloquii
Eloquii's resurrection was one of the more exciting things to happen to the plus market in 2014. It's focused on trends for sizes 14 to 24, and everything's under $200. The team keeps the merchandise fresh by pumping out a new collection every month, and the world is noticing: Eloquii just landed $6 million to grow, grow, grow.
Everlane
One of the early brands in the cut-out-the-middleman movement, Everlane has really grown beyond the basic tees it started out with. The company's shoe collection is especially good, with made-in-Italy leather loafers coming in under $200.
Farfetch
One site, a zillion international boutiques. That means exclusives, rare finds, and obscure designers you'd have to travel to Mumbai/Tokyo/Berlin to shop, all in one spot.
Forever 21
There's just nothing quite like Forever 21 when it comes to cheap—really cheap—basics, be it nude camisoles for work or wicking tanks for working out. Avoid the scary hell that is the store experience by shopping online, which comes with another bonus: Online returns are actually refunded in the form of payment, not with merchandise credit like in-store purchases.
Need Supply Co.
H&M
Much like Forever 21, the big plus to shopping H&M online is, basically, avoiding the store while still getting all that good stuff on the cheap. If you don't live near a flagship, you'll also get to explore the company's fashion-forward Trend offerings—usually reserved for the big city outposts.
J.Crew
Online exclusives, runway Collection pieces, and special sections like petites and party dresses are among the reasons to hit J.Crew's web shop when you just can't make it to the mall.
La Garçonne
Despite its new Manhattan storefront, this boutique's roots are in e-commerce, and its excellent online presence is an homage to restrained luxury in a palette of black, white, and maybe cream. Up-and-comers like Jacquemus saddle up with The Row for an edit that's heavy on forever pieces styled in a forward-thinking way.
Madewell
Like big sister J.Crew, the sell here is having access to every single piece in one place: all those jeans, jumpsuits, and new Frenchy 'tude.
Nasty Gal
Moda Operandi
No one does pre-sale better. Within days of runway shows, Moda has the goods up for pre-order, securing huge names like Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang as well as newer lines—with rabid followings—like Mansur Gavriel and Delpozo. M'O has expanded to include a boutique section, too, where you can shop big designer names year 'round.
Nasty Gal
Discover so many ways to show a lot of skin while still technically wearing clothes. The site mixes culty trend brands like One Teaspoon and Jeffrey Campbell with an in-house label, unheralded third-party vendors, and a dope vintage section that includes everything from $38 reworked crop tops to pre-owned Chanel. Nasty Gal knows that its lifeblood is newness and shows off fresh finds with cute, shoppable lookbooks and a tab dedicated to what's just launched.
Need Supply Co.
Need Supply is one of the best true boutiques online (its brick and mortar is in Richmond, Virginia), offering a host of brands at a variety of price points: Cheap Monday and Converse mingle with Rag & Bone and Rachel Comey. The overarching style vibe is wearable and cool, never overly precious or sexy.
Net-a-Porter
Net-a-Porter is the OG of luxury online shopping, with over a decade of delivering the world's top-tier labels through the magic of the web. Gorgeous designer gowns, jackets, and bags float on a white background like little works of art to scroll through. Product pages feature items shot both on model and off, as well as a video of the piece in motion, and a runway shot if applicable (which, often, it is). To make the click-click-buy even easier, US orders are delivered within three business days for free, and returns are on the house, too.
Reformation
Nordstrom
In the category of department stores, Nordstrom blows away the competition. Of course it has a massive selection of brands and product categories, a pot that's sweetened by a generous Topshop department and ever-changing Pop-Ins, short-term collaborations with cool stores and brands lead by Opening Ceremony alum Olivia Kim. Even better? Very fast, very free shipping and returns.
Oak
This NYC-based store does an incredible job keeping black, asymmetrical things relevant. Ann Sofie Back dresses, LD Tuttle boots, and Won Hundred jackets is the territory we're talking, enhanced by a comprehensive namesake collection of wardrobe staples that are not-quite-basic.
Of a Kind
Of a Kind knows which designers to watch out for before anyone else does, and has them create limited-edition capsule collections. This is a foolproof place to lock down a thoughtful gift, especially in the home and accessory departments.
Opening Ceremony
Once simply a quirky boutique; now a fashion force to be reckoned with. Find brand new designers, niche lines from around the world, exclusives from big-name brands, and the store's own in-house line in the expansive mix.
Opening Ceremony
Reformation
Reformation does socially and ecologically-conscious clothes that 1.) are incredible looking and 2.) don't rely on the do-good mission as a sales crutch (because, as stated in point one, everything is incredible looking). Limited-run collections hit the site every other week, featuring in-season styles you'll want to wear immediately. Despite the careful sourcing and made-in-LA production, the pieces aren't wildly expensive.
Rent The Runway
Be it prom, wedding, or something in-between, no one owns the renting of special occasion dresses better than Rent the Runway. Notable evolutions include adding stores in New York, DC, and Vegas for trying on IRL, and an exciting concept called Unlimited, which lets you borrow designer accessories for as long as you like.
Revolve
In the same vein as Shopbop and Net-a-Porter, Revolve stocks a zillion designers, selling everything from Alala sports bras to Zimmermann dresses. There's a distinct LA slant to the stock, with lots to love for anyone who's a fan of color, cut-outs, or a boho aesthetic.
Shopbop
Backed by Amazon, Shopbop enjoys the speedy shipping its parent company is known for, but sells the fashion stuff you want now now now. The designer list is enormous, from AYR to Zoe Karssen, spread over a wide price point. Trend shops and seasonally-edited boutiques help you hone in on the best of the moment.
Zara
Ssense
Based in Canada, this is the not-so-secret site to order designer items and avoid paying tax (sorry, Uncle Sam). It stocks a hearty selection of clothes and accessories for men and women, from A.P.C. to Y-3, with a unifying principle of crisp, minimal, and forward. The site's design mimics that ethos with little clutter, hyper-clear images, and not a serif in sight. Free shipping to the US with no minimum is a new, added bonus.
Steven Alan
Steven Alan, the person, has a knack for knowing what sensible people with very good taste want to wear (currently: Suno tunics, MM6 dresses, and streamlined bags by Manufacture Pascal). This savvy has successfully grown his namesake business from a single storefront, founded in 1994, to a total of 22 boutiques and an impressive online shop.
The Dreslyn
"Style before fashion" is its motto, and it's done with an edit of top shelf brands that don't skimp on directional cool factor—Margiela, Helmut Lang, and Tess Giberson among them.
The Outnet
From the people behind Net-a-Porter comes one of the best places to shop discounted designer pieces. The lineup doesn't falter, including Acne, Alexander McQueen, Equipment, and Isabel Marant priced at 40% to 70%.
The Dreslyn
The Real Real
"Authenticated luxury consignment" sums it up pretty well: This is the number one spot to shop pre-owned designer goods on the web. We're talking Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel at up to 90% off. Here's the lowdown on the authentication process, which includes category experts and brand-specific validation points. These people do not mess around.
Topshop
With so much noise in the fast-fast-fashion race, we admire that Topshop executes trends quickly but with some restraint. Look to outerwear and shoes for the best way to rotate in this season's latest for very little coin. Big plus: They've got petite, tall, and maternity sizing, too.
Totokaelo
The web extension of a Seattle store (which now has an outpost in New York City, as well), Totokaelo is all things airy minimalism. Find Illesteva sunnies, Rachel Comey Mars boots, and A.P.C. jeans in good supply, plus stunner pieces by Rick Owens, Issey Miyake, and Acne.
Uniqlo
If your city is lacking one of these Japanese wonder stores—or those wonder stores leave you overwhelmed—shop the comprehensive selection on the web instead. The company makes everything from underwear to outerwear for women, men, and kids, available in an agreeable rainbow of hues and at a considerably reasonable price point. If you were ever seduced by the idea of uniform dressing, this would be a great place to start.
Ssense
Yoox
Yoox is a massive luxury brand discount site, best navigated with many filters (thankfully, saved search features and customizable e-mail alerts make this pretty easy). Gems from Proenza Schouler, Balenciaga, and Comme des Garçons are yours to be had—especially during Yoox's very, very good sales.
Zara
Where would our wardrobes be without Zara? The Spanish-based retailer turns out thoughtful iterations of trends quickly and is always reliable for statement outerwear that looks grown up, ankle boots you actually can't function without, and special occasion dresses you'll be able to work into your day-to-day.