Shop for clothes that fit, even online

Many of us shop online but the cost of return shipping can add up if things don't look right once you try them on.

But, thanks to some new sizing tools, figuring out a fit that flatters just became a whole lot easier.

Jody Rohlena of Consumer Reports ShopSmart says some brand new tools that retailers offer can help you pick the right size.

"Our favorite tool was True Fit. It's easy to use you don't have to do any measuring. You answer a couple of questions and it recommends a size for you and it also gives you fit tips about how the garment will fit your body," Rohlena said.

True Fit is available on 15 retailers' sites including Nordstrom and Lord and Taylor.

Some other online retailers are also trying out fitting tools.

"We felt like it was time to really take a look at this emerging technology to see what was out there and we think there's a lot of promise here so we hope it will only continue to grow," Rohlena said.

Dressipi is a useful tool that Consumer Reports ShopSmart looked at. It works on Apple devices.

You plug in the size you wear in your favorite brand and the app will tell you the best size in more than 500 other brands.

As for shoes, the tool Shoefitr helps you compare sizes among hundreds of brands and styles.

"We like that it does a scan of pairs of shoes so it has a really good - almost like a 3D replica - of the shoe so it can tell you if you wear a size 8 in this particular shoe, maybe you need a 7 1/2 in that shoe," Rohlena said.

When it comes to jeans, Levi's website offers a quiz so you can ID your curve and find the best fit. It might be easier than trying on multiple pairs in the store.

Links to sites mentioned:

TrueFit.com

Dressipi.com

Shoefitr.com

Levi.com

More Sites:

www.searchbyinseam.com - Helps short and tall shoppers find pants and jeans that fit.

www.Trueandco.com - Helps women find the perfect undergarment

www.thirdlove.com - Also helps women find the perfect undergarment

www.beaucoo.com - Helps women of every size and shape find fashion inspiration and clothes that flatter