Selling clothes online comes with specific challenges: customers cannot try anything on, sizes vary between brands, popular sizes sell out first, and returns eat into margins. WooCommerce handles the basics well, but a few targeted plugins make a big difference for fashion stores. Here are the ones worth installing, and why.
1. A size guide on every product
“Will it fit?” is the main question before buying clothes, and the first reason for returns. A size guide link next to the size selector, opening a clear table in a popup, answers it without leaving the page. Assign different charts to different categories (tops, trousers, shoes) and add fit notes such as “runs small”. Read how a size guide reduces returns or try Sizely.
2. Back in stock alerts per size
In fashion, products rarely sell out completely: a size or a colour does. Without an alert, a customer who wanted an M simply leaves. A back in stock form on out-of-stock variations lets them leave their email and get notified automatically. Waitlists also tell you which sizes to reorder. See back in stock notifications for WooCommerce and Restockly.
3. A sticky add to cart bar
Fashion product pages are long: many photos, details, composition, care instructions, reviews. On mobile, the add to cart button disappears quickly. A sticky bar keeps the price, the size choice and the button within reach. See sticky add to cart on mobile.
4. Sale countdown timers
Fashion runs on seasons and sales. A countdown based on the real sale end date makes the deadline visible on product pages and encourages hesitant shoppers to decide. See WooCommerce sale countdown timer.
5. A free shipping bar
Clothes are often bought as outfits. A progress bar showing “Add $12 more for free shipping” encourages customers to add a T-shirt or accessories. Choose your threshold carefully, see WooCommerce free shipping bar.
6. Social proof
Recent sales notifications (“Someone in Lyon bought the linen shirt”) show that the store is active and that products are popular. Use real orders only, see recent sales notifications. Add customer photos and reviews on product pages too.
7. An announcement bar
New collection, sale dates, free returns, shipping deadlines before Christmas: an announcement bar keeps the most important message visible on every page.
What not to install
Every plugin adds weight. Avoid all-in-one “conversion suites” that load dozens of features on every page, autoplay video backgrounds and heavy sliders. Choose focused, lightweight plugins that load only where they are used, and test your product pages on a phone after each install.
Fashion store checklist
- Size guide on every apparel product.
- Back in stock form on out-of-stock variations.
- Sticky add to cart on mobile.
- Clear shipping and returns information on product pages.
- Free shipping threshold above your average basket.
- Fast pages with compressed photos.
All the plugins above are included in the WooCommerce Plugin Bundle. Try them on the live demos, and read our WooCommerce conversion tips for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important plugin for a clothing store?
A size guide, because fit is the main reason customers hesitate and the main reason for returns.
Do these plugins slow down WooCommerce?
Focused plugins that load their files only on product pages have a negligible impact. Test your pages after installing anything.
Can I have different size charts for men and women?
Yes. Assign a chart per product, per category or per tag.