Get your pajamas on and start shopping! It's that time of year you can sit back and sign on to take advantage of some real deals ... all without waiting in line or fighting crowds, not to mention camping out in the sleet and snow. The online world of e-tail awaits you.

Finding those one-of-a-kind fashionable gifts is only a few clicks away. However, there are a few things to remember before you get too excited and stay up until 2 a.m., glued to that flickering screen.

After years of doing much of my big holiday shopping via the Internet, I have a few tips to share:

—First, there's nothing that beats the rush for people who love to shop on Black Friday. I understand that for many of you, it's a tradition to bust the doors down at the crack of dawn with Aunt Sue and your mom. But I do have to say, personally, nothing is worth shopping at the mall on Thanksgiving Day. That's what the Internet is for ... and after all, I'm serving spiked apple cider to my guests, so they don't need to drive anywhere to shop. I hope most of you will be relaxing at home.

—Secondly, I do know, however, that some things are hard to buy on the Internet: clothes and shoes, especially. Certain items you just have to try on. Size varies from label to label, and unless you have all the time in the world to ship something back if it doesn't fit and wait on another size, hoping the glitzy cocktail dress will arrive before your office party, I would stick to familiar brands you have purchased before.

—Gifts are even more crucial. If you know your grandmother loves cashmere sweaters in size medium from the renowned Pringle of Scotland, then I would be cautious about ordering a cheap imitation. Even though she may appreciate your gesture, Gram is probably not going to want the hassle of returning it after the holidays. And nor will you. Stick to a wonderful wool scarf. And there's nothing like really having that "touchy-feely" moment with cashmere sweaters, either, if you know what I mean. Some knits feel good and some don't. Some feel expensive, and some feel cheap. It's hard to tell from some fuzzy online photos.

—Then there's color. I happen to love teal ... but there's teal blue and teal green. And there is a whole spectrum of shades in between. Purple is another hard color to read on the Internet. You usually can't go wrong with black. But you may want to check out the goods at the brick-and-mortar store before you order them online. One of the most helpful ways to know what you're getting from an online site is to read customer reviews. I've found most people are honest about the fit and quality, as well as color, and while size can vary from individual to individual, you can still get a good indication of what you're buying.

—Be aware of return and shipping policies. I love free shipping and look for it immediately after I log on to a site. But the return policy is also important. These fees can add up, and if you decide not to reorder, you might be out some money and have nothing to show for it. Bravo for Lands' End who has a "guaranteed" return policy — you can return any item for any reason at any time.

—Always look for discounts. Often, when you're just "browsing" on an e-tailer's site, you can put your "maybes" in a "cart." You may get an email with a discount. Or you may get an automatic pop-up percentage off or coupon code while shopping on the site.

Shopping online can be a lifesaver, especially at this busy time of year. It allows everyone access to large famous department stores, as well as small specialty boutiques and unique artists. But, sometimes, there's nothing like soaking in the real deal and taking to the streets decked in holiday style ... smelling the chestnuts and touching the cashmere. See you at the mall ... after Thanksgiving.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.