Review: Flower Chain Necklace


I paid a bit more for this necklace (Product Page) than I'm normally happy to spend on AliExpress. But I fell fully in love with it, so I had to have it. That said, it was only $7.70 USD, which is still really cheap.


It's a stunning necklace, but it's actually a total nuisance. Firstly, it's heavy. Secondly, the flowers don't sit right and need constant readjusting to get the little red ones to sit in front of the big yellow ones neatly. Thirdly, it's too bright for my skintone- I think this would look stunning on peeps with darker skin than me, but it overwhelmed my complexion.

I took plyers to it and removed the flowers, leaving only the blue chain behind. I totally adore it now, and I have some cool flower charms I can use for something else! Huzzah!


Note: the eyelets are still on in these photos because I removed them all later. They needed to be pried quite far apart to come off.


Note 2: That's my adorable kook of a cat, Izzy. She looks grumpy, but if I wasn't holding her, she'd be on the ground meowing at me to pick her up for a cuddle. Cats are weird.

Speaking of cute weird things, here's Dusty modelling the necklace before I improved it:




Two points to Gryffindor if you spotted that my pets are colour-coordinated!

 Ratings
Product Quality: 4/5 (The paint or whatever it is comes off when scraped, which is something I'll have to watch out for)
Accuracy of Description: 4/5 (The colours are brighter IRL and it looks just a bit difference overall on the product page)
Similarity to Original: N/A

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Review: Adorable Planet/Rocket/Parachute Embroidered Tee

I'm not a huge fan of basics like striped t-shirts, but I do love a cute tee. And this is the cutest cute tee of all the cute tees.



I bought this for about $8 (USD) from here, which is cheaper than any current versions I can find. Searching "parachute stripe" under Woman's T-Shirts seems to be the best way to find it on AliExpress.

Mine's a size Large, which is about a size 10 UK. That is, of course, not remotely Large, but that's AliExpress for you. It has a tight fit and is actually pretty flattering, though it's just a lil' bit short. Best worn with high-waisted bottoms, unless you like showing off that awkward bit of stomach just below your belly button.


I'm so in love with the little embroidered balloons, parachutes, hearts, planets and rockets! They're subtle enough that you can wear the tee with basically anything, but add some whimsy to an otherwise plain outfit. It's a really good design, I'd be surprised if it wasn't ripped off some fancy label. I can't find evidence of an 'original', so I'll have to give credit to an anonymous wholesaling company.

Much as I love this top, there is, however, a flaw. The neck ribbing is a bit loose, so it sticks out and doesn't sit nice and flat. It was much worse before I sewed it in at the shoulders, but I didn't quite manage to fix it completely. As with the dupe leggings we reviewed earlier, I do recommend this t-shirt, but only if you don't mind doing a bit of tweaking. It's a pretty simple fix, really.

That damned collar ribbing!

I got the Black version, but it also comes in Green and Blue. I ummed-and-ahhed for a while before choosing a colour, because they're all so cool!

Blue & White
Green & White
Seriously, I want 'em all. I wish they were still available for under $10! The cheapest I could find was $13 (USD), which is still very reasonable, I suppose.

 Ratings
Product Quality: 4/5
Accuracy of Description: 3/5 (The photos are a bit misleading, the fit and the neck are quite different.)
Similarity to Original: N/A


Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Review x Fool's Gold: Mise-En-Dior Earring Dupes

[If you're new here, Fool's Gold is a regular segment in which we examine dupes. Because it mightn't be real gold, but in this case, it's just as good!]


These Dior earrings have been around for a few months and have been worn by such people as Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Cara Delevigne, Emma Watson and Charlize Theron. They're pretty hot right now, suffice to say.

From the Mise-En-Dior earring product page

I think they're pretty great, so I headed straight to AliExpress the first time they appeared on J-Law and found that there are loads of them to be found for very cheap prices. You can find them in every colour imaginable and in a few different sizes to boot.

I had no idea which to get, so I bought three pairs, from this page. I got 16mm Champagne, 16mm Pink and 18mm Pearl, all of which I thought would be nice and understated varieties. I might buy a more bold pair, because, spoiler alert, I totally love these!

Left-to-Right: 18mm Pearl, 16mm Champagne, 16mm Pink

These are the parts


Looking at photos of the Dior originals, they actually look much heavier than mine. In the above photo of Jennifer Lawrence, you can see that her earlobe is slightly bent to accomodate the extra weight of the back section. This doesn't happen with the dupe versions, as they're very light. I think the Dior ones would actually be very uncomfortable!

18mm Pearl
16mm Pink

As for prices, Mise-En-Dior retail at about $450 (USD). The dupes can be found for under $2 a pair. Sure, you're never going to convince anyone that they're the real thing, but that's not really the point. If you like the style, you can get it for dirt cheap!

I'd totally suggest getting a couple of pairs. You can play mix-and-match with the balls, swapping around the front sections. Hour and hours of fun.


Ratings
Product Quality: 5/5
Accuracy of Description: 5/5
Similarity to Original: 4/5

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Keep An Eye Out For... Vintage Binocular Cases!

We usually review brand new items that everyone can get their hands on, but I felt this was just as useful! I spend a fair amount of time in opshops, so I'm always on the look out for things to be on the look out for, and I'm happy to add to other peoples' scavenging quests.

Over the past three years, I've found a couple of vintage binocular cases in opshops, just your standard, unfancy, no-frills thrift stores. And I absolutely adore mine, so I highly recommend snatching one up if you stumble upon it.


The first one I bought comes with a story that makes it twice as special. I saw the most beautiful bag, like, ever in Ziggurat, a fancy Wellington vintage boutique, when I was about 16. The red lining was what I really loved, because it was so stunning. The bag was $70 though, which meant it was far too pricey for me. However, I added it to my birthday wishlist and would pay visits to gaze upon it every time I was in the area.


This stopped, eventually, and I forgot about it completely. Until the day, about a year or so later, we were reunited. I was rummaging through bags in Recycle Boutique, a secondhand clothing chain store, when I suddenly saw my coveted bag, just chillin' with the other, inferior, cases. I think the most probable reason for it switching stores is that someone bought it from Ziggurat, for $70, and gave it to Recycle Boutique after it broke.


Oh, and I am certain it was the same bag. But it had some extra wear to it and it had a couple of issues. However, it was $15 and I still loved it, so there was really nothing stopping me from running to the counter to finally make it mine.

It did need some fixing up, which I was into, because it's not hard and it means you can get a great vintage item for a cheap price. I had to sew the fastening strap back on and replace the lid lining. Both of these tasks were very easy, and it allowed me to personalize it with some pretty nautical fabric.

The two pieces where my finger is had to be sewn back together.
I use this bag regularly and it's definitely the best bag I've ever had. It's really sturdy and holds a good amount of items. I don't mind that it isn't soft and flexible like fabric bags, because it means that it's pretty good at protecting my things. The main reason I adore it is because I think it's really whimsical and it always gets attention. It was made to hold binoculars, which is something a few people guess, but most people just assume it's a cool vintage bag.


A month ago, I was hanging around a Salvation Army store in mid-Wellington, when I spied an almost identical bag to the one I had around my shoulder. I became a bit self-conscious as I approached it, wondering if people would notice the girl with an unusual vintage bag admiring a very similar one. And after I bought it, I suppose I did look a bit like a hipster voyeur, walking around town with my two vintage binocular cases.


My first bag has a gorgeous red lining, so I expected the second one to have a similar shade. Much to my surprise and delight, it has a bright purple lining! So cool! Even cooler was the price: $5.


However, like my first bag, this bag was also slightly broken. One of the little pieces of leather holding the strap in place had been torn. I've fixed this by hand-stitching the broken pieces back together, which has done a really good job so far. If the stitches stop holding, I'll glue the strap to the base and the broken bits to the strap. It's fine. It was $5 and better than any bag I've bought brand new.


Some other differences between the bags is that the second one is a dark brown, while the first is tan. The first one has a longer strap. They both have adjustable straps, which is really useful, so you can alter the length. The first one has "Made in Japan" stamped on the bottom, but the second one has no claim about its origin. Both are a little scruffy, which is to be expected from vintage items, and it justs makes them look what they are (old and heavily used).


If you find one of these, NAB IT! They are awesome bags and they really add some charm and whimsy to every outfit. And they're super practical, to boot.

I've had a nosey round online and I haven't found many bags at all, let alone for as cheap as mine were. The main problem seems to be people emphasising "Vintage" and that shipping isn't cheap (if only this beauty was a bit cheaper!). Also, most of them come with binoculars, which bumps the price up. There are different styles to the ones I have, which is pretty cool. These bags are wasted on binoculars!

Apparently my late granddad had one of these bags in storage, so if I'm lucky, I'll have another in my collection soon, that is extra special because it's an heirloom. Look out for these in your grandparents' homes, they're totally the sort of thing your oldies would have had back in the old days.

Happy thriftin', everyone!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Recommended: Bone Hair Ties

I'll keep this short, because they're just hair ties.


I've had these for a few months, so the tie is starting to wear.

THESE ARE REALLY COOL. BUY THEM. 

Seriously, I get so many compliments on these beauties (they come in pairs). It's a really easy way to add some fun to a simple outfit, plus they're practical! Flintstones Chic, I call it.

Photo from Product Page
OMG, just remembered that they come in loads of different colours! YES! Add To Cart....

Ratings
Product Quality: 5/5
Accuracy of Description: 5/5
Similarity to Original: N/A


Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Review: Silver 'Jacket' Earrings

This year I have been totally enamoured with a type of earring called the 'jacket' earring. Jacket earrings are comprised of a stud earring with an extra attachment that sits between the ear lobe and the butterfly or stud component. They are a brilliant way of adding a little bit of edge and interest to an outfit, without being too overstated.


My favourite pair are these silver diamante ones, which I bought off eBay a few months ago. They are super cheap, at under $4 (USD+Shipping) for two!

From Product Page
They have a stud with a long wire that is slightly crooked, so they sit better. There are two holes on the attachment, for different sized earlobes. It's great design and I haven't had problems with it yet. Aside from the classic earring problem of getting caught on clothes and coming off.




The photos on the Product Page, as seen above, suggest that the earrings are decorated with little stars, but they are actually more like flowers. I don't mind this, as it's a minor difference, but it's still a thing to note. I haven't found a version of this product for sale that has pictures of these flower ones. Are all the advertised star ones these flower ones? Who knows...


Overall, I'm really happy with these. For their price, I've gotten a lot of use out of them and I'm sure I will continue to. They're only slightly starting to go that bronze colour cheap silver jewellery inevitably goes, and I think I'll just buy another couple if they break or go too brown.

If you are considering buying earrings like these off eBay or Aliexpress, double-check how many the page is selling. For a pair of these, I ordered 2 and received a pair, but for another, similar, item I ordered 2 and received 2 pairs.

Ratings
Product Quality: 4/5
Accuracy of Description: 3/5
Similarity to Original: N/A (I think!)

I have another two pairs of jacket earrings, so keep an eye out for reviews of them, coming up in the next couple of months. If you're a fan of a jacket earring, let us know in the comments below and/or come squeal in excitement with me on Twitter!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Review: Large Patterned Backpack

Trying to find a good-sized backpack is a mission and a half. It's especially hard finding one online, because you have to rely on accurate measurements and descriptions! My friend, Rose, managed to find a really cool one that fits all of her stuff (she is the type of person who is apocalypse-ready whenever she's away from home, she needs a big bag!), which she said I could review for her.


I got some photos while we took the train together today, and quizzed her about how her bag's been going over the 3 months she's had it. I have an investment in this backpack, as I was there when she scaled Aliexpress for her perfect bag. It was a real test of our friendship, because it took about an hour and it was very tedious! She landed on this one after an extensive search.






Her number 1 complaint is that the straps are thin and hurt her shoulders. This happens when backpacks get heavy, as all school kids will tell you, so it's not so much a design flaw as a caution. Another problem she has is that while the depth is good, the width is a little tight for her Uni books. 

We both appreciate that it had heaps of pockets! There's even one on the back! The fabric is also really pretty and it's a really quality product. Rose did shell out a little for this, because a good backpack isn't cheap, and it's not something you want to be faulty. 

If you're looking for a nice, reasonably priced backpack for your schoolbooks, packed lunch and gym gear, then this is a really good one! It's good enough for my pseudo-doomsday-prepper friend, which is the best credit a backpack can get, IMO. 


Ratings:

Product Quality: 5/5
Accuracy of Description: 4/5 (Many flowers is, indeed, brown. However, the page is quite confusing, because there are two variations, but only one is for sale.)
Similarity to Original: N/A








Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Review: Dupe Leggings

Aliexpress is pretty well known for doing dupe Black Milk leggings. If you want to have a look at some of the best ones on there, check out this Gems post. As with most Gems posts, we can't account for the quality of each product. But I have gotten my hands on two pairs of leggings, so I can give an overview of what to expect from these lower quality, cheap knockoffs.


I bought these excellent nautical tights, and my friend bought these skyline ones. We're both happy with the look of them. Hers are slightly more pixelated than mine, but it's because the image is a lot denser and more detailed, so it matters less. I was really impressed, actually, at the crispness of mine! They're very nice!




The reason I have my friend's tights in my possession is I refused to let her wear them until I fixed the crotch for her. I got my leggings before her and after only a day of wearing them, there was a hole in the crotch! She wore hers for about an hour after receiving them and they also were starting to come apart at the seam, so I think it's a problem the majority of these types of tights will have.

Crotch hole alert!
You can see where the stitching has come undone.
If you buy a pair of these leggings, I highly recommend reinforcing the crotch before wearing them. It only takes a couple of lines of stitching on the sewing machine. Since it's a very stretchy fabric, you'll want to use a zigzag, or preferably an overlock stitch, like the one my grandma's sewing machine can do (see photo below). Go further than the problem area, just for extra reinforcement.


The weak crotch problem wasn't an issue for me, because I'm an avid sewer, and it really is the only flaw I've had so far. I love my tights and I'm really glad I didn't buy the originals, because I will certainly not get $100 worth of use out of them. I only have, like, one top I can wear these with, they don't go with very much! Once I fixed the crotch (how many times can I write 'crotch' in one post...), they were totally worth over the $7 (USD) I paid for them.

Also, note that neither of us bought Free size. A lot of these leggings only come in one size, which might seem reasonable because they're very stretchy, but it's best to look for variations that have multiple sizes.

Ratings

 Beige Nautical Tights
Product Quality: 3/5
Accuracy of Description: 5/5
Similarity to Original: 3/5 (the brown is slightly more purple, the images bigger and the fabric is cheaper. But pretty good still.)

NYC Skyline Tights
Product Quality: 3/5
Accuracy of Description: 5/5
Similarity to Original: 3/5 (the image is much more pixelated and the fabric is cheaper, but also still pretty good.)

UPDATE 3/8/14: Prone to shrinking dramatically in the washing machine!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield
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