Review: Embroidered Black & Grey Loafers

Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned.


I did not follow the Absolootely guide to Aliexpress and the Shopper's Checklist.

I bought two pairs of shoes without checking the measurements.

From the product page
They're just so great! Like, they're a nice, cheap loafer with a pretty embroidered pattern. So chic. I was totally thrown by how much I liked them and by the US$10 price tag, and I didn't want to know the truth I already suspected, which is that an Aliexpress size 9 is not, in fact, actually a size 9.

39 is technically a size 8, so they've made a mistake.

I did manage to fit one of my feet into one shoe, and it was lucky I could get it off! I really like these shoes, guys! I'm so annoyed about this! Anyways, here are some snaps:


Quality-wise, they are exactly what I paid for. They're flimsy, not quite perfectly put together and the cheap, factory scent is quite hideous. I am impressed with the design. The grey fabric looks luxe and the black is a nice black. You'd find these at Rubi shoes for $30 each. They'd go with everything and last just long enough for you to get a little bored of them. If you're certain you're getting the right size, then I do recommend these loafers.

I'll be putting these up on TradeMe within the next month or so, and I'll update this post with the results of the sales. Hopefully I can at least get my money back!

Ratings
Product Quality: 3/5
Accuracy of Description: 3/5
Similarity to Original: N/A, as far as I can tell.

Well, I hope we all learned a lesson here. I certainly did. That's the last time I trust fate with my money.
Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Thirty-Four Dollars and Sixty-Four Cents

A Summer outfit for under $50. Join in on Polyvore!


Thirty-Four Dollars and Sixty-Four Cents



Contributor: Rachel, @RachelElsewhere

Online Shopping Gems: Leggings

Some of the coolest fabrics are used for leggings, but they are a controversial and difficult to wear piece of clothing. The general consensus is that they are best worn with a tunic, and not as pants.



They are a great example of an item that you're not going to wear a lot. As amazing as the above Star Wars tights are, you won't get $100 use out of them, as Black Milk might suggest.

Here's a HUGE collection of the very best leggings I found on Aliexpress:


Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

DIY: Detachable Collar

Can also be used to dress up your pup, which is a bonus.
If, like me and my dad, this is your favourite ever moment from The Big Bang Theory, then have I got the project for you!

 I mentioned that I wanted to give making a detachable collar a go, but I'd gotten rid of a blouse that was an excellent candidate. Thankfully, I was idling through a box of old clothes and I found this excellent shirt that I bought from Supre about three years ago.


The problem with this shirt is that it looks a bit like the 70s threw up on it. It's a bit too bright and bold for me to wear without feeling like I'm in a costume. The fit is also a bit unflattering. However, I do like the print in small doses, so it's perfect for this project!

There are two types of detachable collars, and the first step is working out which of these you prefer, and which your shirt suits best:

By Miu Miu
By Carven
The shirt I'm using is chiffon polyester, so it's too light to be made into a bib (it wouldn't sit properly, unless I strengthened it). So I'm gonna take the easy route and turn it into a simple collar. I have a couple of collar tips that I'll add, to give it some extra flare.

The process is very simple, and can really be summed up in a couple of photos

Just cut the two collar segments off, exactly like this. 
I decided to add  couple of collar tips, using a hammer to lightly tap them closed.

Totally convincing! 
So easy!

Here are some links to sites with more comprehensive guides:
http://www.rookiemag.com/2011/10/diy-collars-marlena/
http://emilyjane.typepad.com/my-blog/2014/02/diy-detachable-collar.html
http://runwaydiy.com/2011/02/24/diy-miu-miu-collar/


Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Forty Dollars.

Another Under $50 Challenge entry by Kate! Head over to Polyvore to have a go yourself, and join in the fun.

Forty Dollars.



Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold : Crazy Sexy Cool Beanie



Cos I'm looking like class,
and he's looking like trash.
- TLC, No Scrubs -

My friends showed me the Mombasa Rose version of this beanie a few days ago and I knew I'd be able to track the exact same hat down for less than $20. It only took a moment for me to creep online and discover one for just $10! I didn't imagine I'd also find a store selling one for nearly $50. Can you imagine spending that much money on a beanie? That is so unpretty.

I can't guarantee they're all the exact same hat, but I'd say considering that 99% of the world is made in China these days, it's pretty safe to assume so. The other perk? Ali Express has free shipping, the other two don't. As if you needed any more convincing. 

Just don't go chasing waterfalls in this, because I'm not sure how waterproof it'll be. 



Fool's Gold : Crazy Sexy Cool Beanie



Contributor: Rachel, @RachelElsewhere

Review: Ferret/Fox Blouse

I've already done a review of a cute printed shirt, and there are several more to come. I'm so obsessed with the range of $10-ish blouse sold via eBay and Aliexpress!

This blouse is pretty widespread across Aliexpress, and the page I bought it from can be found here. It's covered in little yellow ferret-like creatures, with their shadows also crawling around. It's bloody delightful, basically.

Photo from product page

This is one of my fave online buys, because it was super cheap and it's really great quality. The fabric is more of a polyester than the light, cheap feeling chiffon, which actually makes for a very crisp print and a soft feel. The white is a cool white, not remotely beige, and the yellows and blacks are vivid.

Are they ferrets?! Foxes? Weasels? Stoats?

As white as a Springer Spaniel's nose, which is pretty damn white.
The cut and fit of the skirt is pretty good. I got a Large, which is, as per usual, not a Large at all. It's a UK10. It's has actually got a very nice fit to it, being a little towards the snug side without being tight. It isn't very long, hitting just above the waist.

Not that the shoulder hem sits a bit forward, which is pretty clever in terms of fit.

So pretty! I'm really impressed by the vividness of the colours.
 Overall, I'm really happy with this shirt. It's very easy to wear and it just doesn't look like something you can buy for under $10 (USD)! If you are considering buying it, do be careful with the sizing, ok?

Ratings
Product Quality: 5/5
Accuracy of Description: 4/5
Similarity to Original: N/A, I think. I have been searching for the original with my trusted advisor, Google's Search by Image function, but I can't find it. I'm sure this is a dupe, because the photos of the model wearing the shirt look very professional.

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Forty-Eight Dollars and Sixty-Seven Cents

Absolootely dares you to put together an outfit for under $50 (US)! With online shopping, the possibilities are practically endless! This just proves you don't need to blow the budget to look stylish and cool.

Here's Rachel's 2nd submission:

Forty-Eight Dollars and Sixty-Seven Cents



Contributor: Rachel, @RachelElsewhere

Pearl of Wisdom: eBay 101

If you're an avid Absolootely reader, then you'll remember when Kate went through the basics of using AliExpress. AliExpress isn't my native online shopping store, I'm more familiar and more experienced with eBay, so I'm calling this school to session to walk you through the basics. With these simple tricks, I'll help you avoid scams and rip offs. You can thank me later.



The first thing to note about eBay is that it has several different sites, including ebay.com, ebay.co.uk and ebay.com.au. I use ebay.com because it can display prices in New Zealand dollars.

Here's my list of musts for browsing eBay:
-Filter by price + shipping: lowest first > buy now > shipping specific to your location. There's nothing worse than finding something you love only to discover it won't ship to your country.

-Filter by size, style, colour, pattern, material and condition: new with tags. You can even refine the country the seller is located in if you only want to shop locally.

-Pay attention to the related products that are shown along the bottom of the page. This is where you'll find some of the best listings and discover the same product selling for less.

-Don't limit yourself to clothes. My best eBay purchases include camera straps, bags, iPod screen covers, pencil cases, craft supplies and phone cases. There's so many other things to buy!

-Have an upper spending limit. For me, I am reluctant to purchase any item over $20 in case things go awry. If they do, then don't hesitate to follow it up. I've not received items I've bought for only a few dollars and sellers have been more than happy to refund me.

-Think it over. The worst (but also best) thing about eBay is that they use PayPal, so they're not asking you to put in a card number every time you make a purchase. Instead of tossing everything in your cart and checking out straight away, leave it for a day and come back. It can be all too easy to spend everything you own through their mobile app.

-Check all the details and all the photos. I don't just mean the measurements, I mean study the actual photos and compare them. Sometimes, they use photos of a very similar, but different product. Do those two bags match? Which one looks cheaper? That's the one you're getting.

With this knowledge, you forth and unleash yourself on eBay!

Contributor: Rachel, @RachelElsewhere

Online Shopping Gems: Cookie Cutters and Chocolate Moulds



Today's post takes Absolootely in a slightly different direction. Up until now, we've been all about fashion, but I thought I'd share a few of my favourite baking accessories. It can be tricky and expensive to keep up with the latest trend, so I prefer to turn to the Internet for my supplies. 





I can personally vouch for the cat and flower cookie cutters and the foil candy wrappers, all of which are of excellent quality. The cat and flower cutters are a super sturdy metal, none of that flimsy, sharp stuff. I also own a Winnie the Pooh version of the Mickey Mouse set, makes for totally unique cookies.

Contributor: Rachel, @RachelElsewhere

Pearl of Wisdom: Dealing with Faulty/Poor Fitting Clothes

With buying clothes online, fit is a big issue. Even when you can try something on before you buy it, after a wash or a few days of wear, a cute skirt can turn into your worst nightmare. Unfortunately, some problems can't be fixed. You can't turn a Size 6 into a Size 12, it's just not going to happen. However, depending on your skill level with a sewing machine, it's pretty easy to alter an item to have a better fit, higher quality or turn it into something new. Here are some methods I've used in the past to deal with malfunctioning clothes.....


UNFLATTERING T-SHIRTS
One of my favourite items to shop, buy and wear is the classic t-shirt. I have a tonne of band tees, plain tees and quirky tees, because they're uber comfy and easy to wear. However, I often find myself buying t-shirts that just looks weird on me. I'm too curvy to wear shirts made for men and I actually find that a lot of t-shirts have a really unflattering silhouette that makes my torso look disproportionate. The best thing you can do to a poorly fitting t-shirt is to cut it up! I really like this look, because it's a little grungy and playful. Half the tops they sell in chain stores are artfully cut up anyway, and they'll charge you $60 to make you look dishevelled! Here's some photos of all my cut-up tees:

Left-to-Right: The Maine, Devendra Banhart, The Maine, The Vaccines. 

Cut a split up the back and tie it to make it more fitted.

Cut the ribbing off the collar for a more flattering, looser fit.
I don't do any sewing, as they really don't need hems. The fabric doesn't fray and it looks fine with a raw edge. The most important thing I've learnt about the cutting process is to take it very slowly. Only cut off a little bit at a time, or you'll risk cutting too much off and ruining the top completely. Only do about a centimetre at a time when it comes to lengths, and try on the t-shirt between cuts, so you'll know when it's just right. There are loads of creative things you can try, so have a look around Pinterest, or Runway DIY!


UNFLATTERING DRESSES
This is my favourite trick to do! A lot of the time, I find that the issue with a dress is the bottom part. Too short, too tight, too long... I've bought a few pretty dresses for their colour or print, and there really could not be a more simple way to fix a dress: Turn it into a top. Just hack the bottom off. Conversely, you could turn it into a skirt, or a skirt/top combo. A dress is just a long top. Don't be afraid to get rid of that excess material! Here are a couple of ex-dresses that are now amongst my fave tees:

This was a super short dress! It's 100% silk, so it's super floaty and soft.

I'll add a hem to this, as the lining is fraying. It was originally a sari type thing, so I just lopped off the bottom!
Again, the most important part of the process is to take it super slow. Dresses tend to be made of fabric that is more prone to fraying than t-shirts, so hemming may be necessary. I haven't hemmed either of my ex-dress tees, as I quite like a raw edge, and I'm a little scared I'll ruin them with my average sewing!
If you can't change the length, due to a zipper for example, then there are still things you can do. Read on for more advice, as a dress is basically a skirt/shirt combo, and I'd rather not repeat myself!


UNFLATTERING SHIRTS/BLOUSES
After finding the massive selection of amazing blouses for under $15 on Aliexpress, I have now got a vast selection of cute shirts. They all fit me, except one that I sold on Trademe. I'm actually having regrets about selling it, as I could've turned it into a detachable collar, a la Miu Miu.
If you're having problems with the fit due to tailoring, then here are some suggestions: Move the buttons further in or out, Turn it into a crop blouse by hemming it or tying it up, Take off the sleeves, Turn it into a detachable collar or bib, Add or take out darts..... So many options! Here are some blouses I've tweaked:

Added new buttons to blue blouse. Cut off sleeves of bear blouse.
Before shot. The print is a bit overwhelming with the sleeves.


UNFLATTERING SKIRTS
Skirts are tricky. There's a whole range of potential issues you could have, and I'm just going to list some ideas for alterations and hope something works for you! Add a fringe to the bottom to make it longer or clean up a messy hem, Hem it if it's too long, Let out the hem if it's not quite right, Take it in one both sides if it's too big, Give up on it and just use the fabric for something else. Here are some skirts I've made alterations to:

Hemmed them both shorter, they were awkward lengths. The black one was a mullet skirt (-shudder-)!

I added a daisy trim to this ex-mullet chiffon skirt. It's so pretty! Check out Spotlight's selection of fringes for inspiration.

I hope this post helps with present or future troublesome clothing! Don't be afraid to get stuck into altering clothes, it's just fabric at the end of the day. Have some fun!

We'll be doing a series on buying secondhand goods later on, and one of the best tips I have for thrifting is to go into your shopping a little hopeful that you'll find something that could be beautiful with some little extra effort and love. You just have to see something in it that you think you can work with. Check out A Dress A Day for loads of examples!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield
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