For the fashion-conscious college student who loves getting mail and loves to buy clothing, online shopping can combine the best of both worlds.

As the Internet becomes even more predominant in everyday activities, many people are staying away from the mall and closer to their computers.

"I hate salespeople," Jun Chen (junior-insurance) said.

Chen frequently shops online for this reason and also because she said she can shop at her own leisure. "It's easier to compare prices than if I were at the mall," she said.

Dozens of Web sites showcase many different online stores.

A typical online shopping experience begins when a customer browses by category or searches for a specific item. After choosing details like style and color, the shopper enters a method of payment into a secure site. The purchase will then be shipped.

Those who prefer the stores they would find in a mall can visit the Web sites of their favorite shops. Most major retailers have Web sites with online shopping, and for the price of shipping, will send clothing and other items all over the country.

These Web sites can usually provide a certain size or style that might not be found in a local store, since the sites usually carry the same merchandise as the actual stores.

For those uninterested in retail stores, there are many Web sites that provide a selection of different manufacturers to choose from.

Girlshop.com is a shopping site that offers clothing from independent designers not found in mainstream stores. A shopper has a chance to view the clothing from various "boutiques" and make purchases.

The unique Girlshop.com also caters to men with its brother site, Guyshop.com.

For those who must have designer items, eLUXURY.com and Bluefly.com are two different Web sites that offer major-label clothing. eLUXURY.com offers men's and women's clothing as well as accessories and carries clothing from designers such as Louis Vuitton, Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs. For those will a smaller budget, Bluefly.com carries designer styles at 25 to 75 percent off retail prices.

Like eLUXURY.com, the site offers clothing for men and women from brands including Ralph Lauren, Armani, Prada and Gucci, however, the prices are always discounted.

Another site, Shoebuy.com, showcases more than 200 manufacturers of shoes and handbags.

Shoppers can search for their favorite brands in different styles such as boots, sandals and athletic shoes.

Many of these stores offer exclusive sales and extra discounts for members, and some may even provide free shipping.

Tara Nickolls (junior-elementary education) said she likes the convenience and variety of online shopping. "I can pretend I'm at a good mall," she said.

However, Nickolls said the downfall comes when the item is not what was expected.

The drawback is that there is no chance to try on the clothing.

"Sometimes you get clothes you don't like," she said, "and then you have to pay to send them back."