Buy for the change, not the photo. A set you can get out of in seconds is worth more on a working night than one that looks better on a hanger. Anything with a back zip you cannot reach yourself is a problem waiting to happen.
Vinyl and wet look last. Mesh does not. Vinyl holds up to friction and wipes clean between sets. Sheer mesh snags and runs. Buy mesh knowing it is a season rather than a year, and price it accordingly.
Glued rhinestones will shed. Every stone-covered piece loses some. On anything you plan to wear weekly, look for sewn or heat-set detail, and keep fabric glue in your bag.
Two of one beats one of two. Doubling up on a set you already know fits saves more time and stress than adding variety you have to test on the floor.
Measure before you buy. Fit is less consistent between brands in this category than anywhere else in the store. A bust and hip measurement checked against the product page beats guessing from a letter size.
Wash cold, hang dry, no exceptions. A dryer kills elastic, vinyl and mesh alike. Nothing in this category should ever see heat.