The great phenomenon, which is online shopping, has taken great strides in the world of e-commerce. It has essentially redefined online trade and business and the idea of e-shopping has come leaps and bounds ahead since it was pioneered.

E-stores and online trade has left an indelible imprint on e-commerce and there's arguably no better time to exploit it to its full potential than on Ramadan.

With the blistering Ramadan upon us, the most hectic preparations and frenzy probably lie in Eid preparations and shopping. This is precisely when sitting back and clicking for order confirmation is key to get a hold of your desired goods delivered right at your door step.

Facebook, the social media giant has played an undeniable role in the rise of online entrepreneurship; the benefits of which can now be reaped by the innumerable customers and market share it has captured so far.

Photo: Collected

From clothes of all prints and fabrics to assorted collection of jewellery that seem to be unending; from trendy shoes that help you walk the walk to even home décor that could add a 'wow' factor to your interior, the whole lot is offered on sale via online shops. No goods are left out of the equation.

With convenience majorly working in its favour, online shopping has indefinite perks. Beating soaring summer temperatures and evading the notorious traffic in the congested city of Dhaka; online shopping will always come to our rescue here.

Home delivery is a boon, especially as heady Ramadan preparations which always command your attention need to be made to get all your ducks in a row. Symmetric information with descriptions on Facebook pages and detailed captions accompanying every offered good are just some more benefits for you to reap. And if these aren't enough already, there's also cash on delivery to further make your lives easier and special Eid clearance sales and exclusive discounts are always there to lure you.

Now that we have everything covered, indefinite arrays and categories of goods and products eagerly await your selections and order placements.

But let us hold our horses here. With bargaining taken away, online shopping is not always roses and sunshine and in more cases than not, customers do not walk away with the satisfaction of a new good hand delivered.

The virtual world of e-commerce provokes fraud and security concerns. People may be ripped off and unfairly overcharged in the name of added hidden costs. Products made to look lucrative in pictures online may not compare well to the goods neatly packaged in reality.

Fabrics and colours may be misjudged and a keen eye and vivid imagination will go a long way in overcoming these issues. Moreover, insolent deliverymen have to be dealt with and it is indeed rare to come by a delivery service with a basic geographical understanding of the streets of Dhaka.

Now that the pros and cons have been duly sorted out, exactly what are your options when it comes to Eid shopping and e-stores? To quite an extent and rather luckily, the answer here is infinite.

CLOTHES

Infinite is correct when it comes to shopping for clothes online. Whether you want stylish men's wear or chic, crowd-turning women's clothing, e-stores have got your back.

For women who love tradition and have an inner love for traditional wear, asymmetrical and ethnic kurtis, floral to tribal printed attires and even intricately beaded and elegant saris are put up for sale.

If you want to go a different route this Eid, chic evening wears, sleek shirts, suave jackets complemented by intricate or subtle stones, frills and pleats are your calling,

Sponsorship campaigns that many online shops are affiliated with should make it rather easy to come across any one of such posts grandly featuring albums showcasing these and many more options.

While kurtis and traditional clothing may ease your wallet of Tk 1500 to a high Tk 6000, western apparels such as gowns and summer dresses may present their own ranges of Tk 2000-5000. Stylesell, Vogue by Prince or more casually, The Sassy St and Rouge are all available options.

Similarly, for men always seeking to be the standout in the crowd, traditional wear like panjabis and sherwanis in a plethora of colours, fabrics and brands are at your disposal to choose from.

Or even opt for shirts, trousers, T-shirts and jackets if you decide to bend tradition for a day.

Prices will come at a very wide range, roughly starting from Tk 900 for casual wear to even Tk 8000 for traditional attires of prominent brands online.

ACCESSORIES

The right accessories are key to a complete ensemble. And as per the classic saying, life is too short for boring accessories anyway. This Eid dress up a casual attire to perfectly accentuate your look.

Bold earrings, metal or stone necklaces, vintage rings and bracelets; the variety in jewellery knows no bounds. The perfect statement-making belts, trendy handbags or clutches will complete your individualistic look and you will be ready to step out in full stride. However, less is more and instead of stealing the spotlight in attention grabbing accessories go the simple route and just pair your attire, traditional or western with an elegant but classic wrist watch and you cannot go wrong.

Accessories are easy to come by via Facebook. Chances are you have already followed such a page displaying exclusive jewellery. However, for reference, Vogue by Prince and Noir Clothing among many others offer such jewellery starting at a low price of Tk 200.

If you decide to pamper yourself before the festive celebration of Eid, body lotion packages with an assortment of skin care products, moisturisers, bath soaps and scented perfumes from well-known brands like the Body Shop should leave you supple and glowing before the big day. 

Men are not limited by choices in this department either. Dress up any panjabi with the perfect brooch, even going the extra mile of attaching a chain tassel to it, or keep this minimal with a simple yet shiny shirt stud or pin.

Remember to pair accessories accordingly and match with the ideal silk tie, a colour-popping pocket square, cufflinks or just a silver watch. And all eyes will inevitably be on you.

MAKE-UP/COSMETICS

For all the makeup lovers out there, there's no better time for a makeup haul than ahead of Eid. Experiment with your look this Eid and try out colourful summer palettes for eye shadows and glowing highlighters. Lipsticks in matte and creams and unlimited shades, pressed powders, concealers and foundations; the whole lot can be found online. However, there is a catch. Replicas and knockoffs lurk behind many e-stores. The trick is to know your products and do your due research to develop a keen eye and tell a good deal from a bad one. And you will not be disappointed.

UK BD Bazar with authentic goods imported straight from the UK and The Mall BD are reliable sources for genuine makeup goods but the prices can hugely vary and be sometimes rather expensive. A fair flat rate is charged on all goods ordered but delivery expenses do have to be budgeted for.

However, if you do decide for good quality replicas when it comes to makeup hauls, popular sites such as Makeupholic and Fashioneesta lead by example offering replicas of high superiority of prominent brands such as Jeffree Star, Kylie Cosmetics and even Manny MUA with a ballpark range of Tk 280-1000. Getting your hands on one of these is now.

SHOES

This summer be enticed with a wide plethora of footwear. Men have the luxury to choose from loafers, canvas shoes, chic boots, even rainboots, playful sneakers and leather, and formal shoes. Any of these can be effortlessly styled with traditional, casual and formal wear; the options are truly endless.

Women have their very own unique and trendy shoes to add spring to their stride. Great options range from classic heels such as wedge or balance shoes or fashionable boots. Choose a neutral colour in beige, brown light grey or even add a dramatic pop to a simple outfit with a pair of bright coloured shoes and you will have set the example.

Tanzim Corporation and Shadmart among a few others offer categorised collections of exclusive shoes for both men and women. Prices are estimated between Tk 600 during special discounts to even Tk 4000 for unique designs.

Although online shopping saves on precious quality time otherwise spent on physical stores for Eid shopping, it does bring about a whole lot to the equation. Whether you fancy garments that will set you apart, bold accessories that will give you an edge or shoes that give you confident strides forward, online stores indulge your every desire. There's no stopping this phenomenon. And certainly not on a hectic time as Eid.

Vogue by Prince- https://www.facebook.com/houseofvoguelifestyle

Rouge- https://www.facebook.com/rouge.red.bd

Noir Clothing- https://www.facebook.com/noirbd

The Mall BD- https://www.facebook.com/themallbd

Tanzim Corporation- https://www.facebook.com/tanzimcorporation