Sara Zucker: Etsy Shopping Made Simple (Thanks to My Reference Professor)

As one of the most popular (and charming) fashion voices on the of-the-moment site Tumblr, Sara Zucker has made sarazucker.tumblr.com (aka Farpitzs) a hub for inspiration, killer outfits, and well-priced finds. This week, she shares her top shopping strategies and fall essentials on Lucky Right Now.

I don't know about you, but I love supporting independent and emerging designers and Etsy has always been the perfect spot on the Internet to do so. But there seems to be a million and one merchants to choose from--and sifting through them in search of the perfect purchase can turn a fun activity, like online shopping, into something stressful.

While in graduate school for library science, my reference professor focused at least three lectures on the ideal way to complete an e-search. I've used his tips when maneuvering through Etsy and wanted to share them (well, an edited-down version of them) with you.

Start by identifying all of the available ways to carry out your search. Etsy gives you a ton of sorting options, including by category. I like to simply use the search bar because then you can browse by handmade, vintage, supplies, all items, and sellers.

Some people begin their search by looking for specific items, but I suggest the opposite for Etsy. Start broad and sift through the results as they come.