Clothes Outpace Computers in Online Sales

So it looks like we're getting pretty comfortable shopping online. For the first time, online shoppers spent more money on clothes online than computer equipment last year.

Spending on clothes, accessories, and footwear hit $18.3 billion in 2006 and it's expect to reach $22.1 billion this year, when 10 percent of all clothing sales are forecast to take place online. The report by Forrester Research found that online retailing grew 25 percent to $220 billion, above the expected 20 percent growth forecast.

So this must mean the early adopters are being joined by the early doubters in online shopping. For lots of moms, it's been an easy transition from catalog shopping to online shopping. Who can argue with something that saves time when time is so limited?

I don't think I did any more shopping online in 2006 than in 2005. My pattern seems to be holding pretty steady: I buy the clothing staples I know I won't get any argument about online for my kids, and go to brick and mortar stores to try things on when we know size and personal taste is an issue. Those outings are pretty infrequent, so online shopping fills in the gaps nicely.

Technology that is bringing virtual dressing rooms into the online shopping experience holds lots of potential, though early reports from women say these tools are not perfect. When it comes to trying on clothes, that doesn't surprise me.

Are you doing more online clothes shopping than in previous years—opening more cardboard packages than finding parking spaces at the mall? What works for you, and have you tried any of the virtual dressing tools highlighted in this post?

Let us know.

Related: Measurement Tools Improve Online Shopping

LINK: Study shows online apparel sales growing [AP via Yahoo! News]