Unsponsored ♥: Sheinside.com

Personally, I'm not into sponsored posts on blogs. I don't think you can genuinely review a product you haven't paid for. It's cool that people can make money from their blogs, and some bloggers do it in a really interesting way, but sales pitches aren't fun to read.

So no, this is not sponsored, this is a genuine recommendation. Absolootely is affiliated with Sheinside, but it's one of those half-assed schemes which mean we get like 10c if someone buys something via our blog. We're on the same thing with AliExpress. Not for profit, but for market research really.

Spiel over, I'm a huge Sheinside fan.

sheinside.com/?aff_id=1967

It's like a slightly more expensive AliExpress that's reliable and has a pre-collated set of cool things. I see things on the site from AliExpress, but also a lot of things that aren't. I've noticed that over the past year, they've gone from stocking mainly Free size to having a S, M, L selection in the vast majority of their inventory. That's cool.

They also have a tonne of promotional activities, like an exact rip-off of ModCloth's "Be the Buyer".
There's also some sort of system where you can submit clothing designs yourself. And a laughably bad official blog.And an about page, which has some pretty impressive stats.


Here are A LOT of assorted, awesome Sheinside items (average price is about $20USD):



Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield


If you see something you like, feel free to link it to us on Tumblr, in the comments below or via our Forum and we'll check for you if it's available cheaper elsewhere :-)

 Also, have you ever bought from Sheinside? How'd it go for you?

Online Shopping Gems: Wall Decals

Wall decals/stickers are amazing. Especially when they're under $10!



On with the show....



Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Pearl of Wisdom: When Things Don't Show Up

I bought a dog camera online. You attach it to their collar and it films what they get up to. It was $17 USD. I've been excited about it for a month and a half. I just wish it would actually, you know, arrive.

The risk with online shopping is that there's often an ocean between you and the thing you just bought. You've sent your money off into the ether and have to basically sit and wait for the dividends.

I've had about 5 items just never show up. At first I'm always annoyed, then I feel embarrassed for being so stupid and then I feel kinda happy, because I have too much stuff anyway.

I've never not gotten a refund. That's maybe just me being lucky, but I've yet to experience a seller on any platform who doesn't take responsibility for an item not ending up on my doorstep.

If you think you're in a no-show situation, contact the seller right away. The system is in your favour and most of the time there's a way to resolve it nicely.

Write a sassy letter if you like. On the computer. Just never use typewriters, they're extinct for a reason.
If the seller is silent or refuses to compensate you, when you've waited long enough to be certain that the item isn't going to turn up, contact the relevant platform authorities. AliExpress have an "Open Dispute" option, for example. If you're buying online, only ever use sites that have systems in place for when things go wrong. Be proactive. Feedback systems are pretty good at keeping people honest, but there should also be a way to get the site's actual employees involved to resolve things.

Before you buy, also be sure to check the guarantees. Many seller will offer full refunds, but only if the item is not received within a certain time period, eg, 35 days. Personally, I think this makes no sense at all, because it means I could ask for a refund if the item doesn't show up after two days. I've had things take almost two months to get to me!

In conclusion, be proactive. If you're spending more than $10 online, check all relevant fine print, such as the refund policy and feedback of the store. If less than $10, then they'll happily just chuck you a refund, it's so inconsequential, and it's a cheap life lesson if they refuse.

Let's all just hope and pray that my dog camera shows up. Because I really, really want it to!

If you want some specific advice, do utilise our long-suffering forum. It's really just there for support. We wanted to give you a place to ask for help from us people who waste far too much money online and so have a good idea of how to deal with shonky sellers!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

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

Bear with, bear with...

Absolootely in November has been a bit like this:


And for that, I'm sorry. It's a bit of a case of the snake eating its own tail- Absolootely helped get me a full-time marketing job, and that meant I haven't had the time or energy to blog.

I spend most of my spare time snuggling my dog and telling her how much I missed her while I was away working. That's my life.

Loving Absolootely as I do, I dedicated today to prepping a lot of new posts, which I'll stagger over the next few weeks.

Woooo, regular content!

Until then, here's a bit of a preview of what I did today and some things to look forward to....


Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Forty-Seven Dollars and Ninety-Nine Cents.

I'm procrastinating studying for my exams, so thought I'd revisit the ol' Absolootely Under $50 Challenge.

There aren't any formal rules for this, except that we do pricing in $US, because it's easier that way. Oh, and it has to be a complete outfit (shoes + top and bottom, or dress, at least). And shipping should included in the prices. And items should be available in multiple sizes.

Have a go, if you think you're up to the challenge! We're over on Polyvore, the best platform for this, so let us know if you've got a 'set' for us and we'll feature it here.

Forty-Seven Dollars and Ninety-Nine Cents.



Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold: Bou-Cheeky Boutiques

Sorry about the terrible pun in the title. It's better phonetically, try saying it outloud and you'll understand why I had to go with it!

Being a native Wellingtonian, I do love a good quirky boutique. Buying locally made products and supporting small businesses is awesome, plus they're basically like Etsy IRL.

Every city has a shop almost identical to this.
Unfortunately, just like Etsy, I've noticed (credit to my friend Rose) a lot of products that have been bought for cheap, say $2, from a site like eBay or AliExpress and sold on for a huge mark-up. Businesses need to profit to survive and marking things up is common practice, but it seems unfair to put something that's been made in China under sweat shops conditions next to hand-made and thoughtfully designed products.

To price them the exact same amount and chuck some branding on the Made in China product is a bit cheeky. If I buy a $50 necklace from a Cuba Street boutique, I expect it to have been made in San Francisco by a girl wearing vegan-friendly Doc Martens (in my mind, her boyfriend has a matching pair, a fine moustache and makes novelty fridge magnets...). That is what I'm paying for.

It is possible, of course, the boutique owners have been duped into buying these el cheapo goods, but I think they sell them to support the low profit margins their other products have.

In Wellington, there's a boutique called Matchbox (pictured above) who are a perfect example of a Boutique Gone Bad. I have nothing against them and actually quite like a lot of their inventory, but in the interest of the everyday consumer, I feel I have to point this stuff out.

Here are some examples of products you can get for MUCH cheaper online (all in $NZ):

Cat Ring

Dinosaur Necklace

Arrow Necklace

Superhero Socks

And I haven't even calculated for bulk buying, which would lower the AliExpress prices significantly.

What you're paying extra for is being able to physically examine the item before purchase, plus the convenience and experience of a local store. However, this is more of a quality issue than anything else. A $5 necklace is simply not a quality item! It's going to break or wear out pretty fast, and by slapping a $30 price tag on it, you're promising a higher quality than the necklace can fulfil. Plus the store is implying these goods are something they are not by re-branding them.

Matchbox, I like you, but I am certifying you Bou-cheeky!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

AliBaba & The Vibrant Future of AliExpress

Since AliBaba has taken Wall Street by storm over the past month, breaking the record for the biggest IPO in global history, I figured it was about time Absolootely went a bit deeper into the world of AliExpress and its sister sites. I'll try make this super easy to read, because there's some pretty technical information I'd like to include.



The AliBaba group is China's biggest online commerce company, and also probably the biggest in the world ever. Here's a fantastic explanation by the Wall Street Journal, with lots of pretty pictures and infographics, that sums it up nicely.

AliExpress is one of their sites that specialises in selling Chinese products to Global consumers. Businesses wanting to buy wholesale goods in bulk buy from AliBaba.com, generally.

Proportionally, not a lot of people know about AliBaba in the Western world, but that is going to change. AliBaba is connecting Chinese producers to consumers worldwide, cutting out intermediaries, ie the retail sector. It's a recipe for success in this globalised world.

Before we discuss what AliBaba's success in Wall Street means, we'll have to do some learning. I've done a Finance 101 paper, so I sort of understand this stuff, and hopefully can translate money talk into simpler language.

AliBaba recently issued what is called an Initial Public Offering (IPO), which means it is now possible to buy 'Shares' of the company. A Share, or Stock, is an investment in the company. You pay them for the Share and receive payments as they use all the money collected from selling Shares to grow as a business. As the business grows, they can afford to start paying you back for investing in them. If they do well, you'll earn more than what you paid for the Share. If they don't do well, you'll make a loss. Also, a Share enables you a say in the company's operations, one vote per Share.

The IPO is a big deal because a company stands to earn a lot of money from selling Shares, and it shows how much confidence financial experts have in the business. AliBaba raised BILLIONS. Like, MULTIPLE BILLIONS. About US$21.8 billion on its first day of trading.



This means two major things for us AliExpress fans: 1) AliBaba have the funds to sustain and majorly improve AliExpress and other sites, and 2) People who know a thing or two about companies are predicting that AliBaba is going to be around for a while, doing some seriously major scale business.

Some companies don't have a big IPO and still go on to become massive, such as Google, and some companies offer IPOs when they're already a big deal, such as Facebook. It can mean a lot of things, but the main thing it will provide is opportunities for AliBaba to tighten its hold on the e-commerce market. AliBaba is now one of the biggest tech companies in the world and is going to be a huge part of the expanse of the Technological Age we're living in.

As for Absolootely, it means we totally jumped aboard the right bandwagon.

If you're interested/as big a business nerd as me, here's AliBaba's IPO Prospectus, which has some details as to how the company plans to expand and other such insights.
Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Pearl of Wisdom: Brand Loyalty School

This may seem like an obvious one, but there are actually a couple of simple things brand loyalists could do to keep their favourite small business running. If you really like a product or service, then you should reward the business by helping them grow, or at least not fail.

Not for their sake, dear God no, but so you can keep getting the things you like! Hashtag Selfless.


Accompanying us will be some cartoons from a fantastic 'marketoonist', Tom Fishburne.


Buy their Product Regularly

Firstly, there's something called the Double Jeopardy law which dictates that not only will a small business have less customers than a big business (which is logical), their customers will also buy less from them.

If you look at the products you buy, you will almost certainly notice that you tend to return to bigger brands every so often or most of the time. This is simply because they're generally cheaper and more available to purchase. The best way to support the smaller brands that you love isn't just to buy from them, it's to make an effort to buy from them as often as possible! Double Jeopardy causes the demise of numerous small businesses and it's not hard to counteract.



 Participate in Customer Surveys/Feedback

Most businesses conduct market research to get a better picture of how they can benefit you more. They also love love love getting feedback from you, positive or negative! If you have a problem with a brand that you support, tell them. And if you get an email asking you to fill in a questionnaire, do it.

Responding to market research is important if you want to live in a world where products and services are actually GOOD. Steve Jobs has kinda ruined this, because he was famously anti-research. He was a genius, but many businesses are now convinced that he disproved marketing research as being a crucial tool for businesses. 3d televisions were only consumer tested reactively, nobody actually asked consumers if we wanted 3d TVs!

absolootelymail@gmail.com if you have any feedback about this very site ;-)




 Tell People

This is really obvious and I suspect all of you already do this. Word-of-mouth is free and one of the best forms of advertising out there. People are more likely to buy a product if it was recommended by a friend and less likely to buy it if they hear something bad about it through their social grapevine.

In the spirit of Word-of-mouth, I'd like to give a shout out to Much Moore who do a fantastic Chocolate & Cookies ice-cream. It's delicious, you should try it.




I've kept this nice and short, relatively, which was hard, because I have so many more ideas and marketing theories that I wanted to discuss! Ah well...

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

Announcement: New Forum Open

If you look to the navigation bar, you may notice a bit of a change! We've replaced "Contact" with "Forum", which is pretty exciting!


Just a screenshot...

Looking around the web, we couldn't really find a place for people to discuss specific consumer problems and triumphs, so we figured it was about time someone created a place for that.

We used Talki to create our Forum, and so far it's been okay in our tests. It's definitely the best option for embeddable forums, but it seems to not work 100% with Firefox. The set up is nice and simple, and it's so cool that you can sign in with your social media accounts, instead of having to make a whole new account.

I know this is really boring, but please read the Guidelines & Rules post, which is located under General. We've made it nice and simple, promise!

Kate is the Moderator, which gives her total power (Mwahahahaha!). Talki only allows for one Moderator on the free version, so it's really just her doing the policing and admin at this stage. Keep that in mind.

Head to our new Forum and have a nosey round! Please sign-in, with one of your social media accounts, and say Hi :-)

Online Shopping Gems: Quirky Socks for Under Five Bucks

My dog, Dusty, in her widdle socks!
So I took a photo for this post, then realised I already had a much better option. You can decide which is better, but I think we can agree that baby spaniels are better than 100% of other things.

Thanks for the bunny socks, Grandma!
Since it's Spring/Autumn everywhere, the whole world is in a similar situation, where the weather is sorta inbetween and all over the place. Spring/Autumn is perfect sock weather, because they'll keep your feet warm while you break out or taper out your summer skirts.

I found LOADS of cool socks on AliExpress, but do be careful, as they tend to be suited for size 34-39 feet. As of the time I clipped these, they were under $5 (USD) and available for sale.

Keep an eye out for the Star Wars and toilet paper motif ones. Such options...




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

Pearl of Wisdom: Sigh. Here's How To Get Free Stuff.

This might be a little controversial, but it's totally related to what we're all about.

Absolootely teaches protection instead of abstinence.

Wait, what? Is this a Sex Ed class I just walked into?

No, this is a How-To-Illegally-Download-And-Not-Get-A-Virus class. Because I think some people need it. I had a conversation with my BFF the other day in which she said "There is nowhere on the internet to download Photoshop. And I'm sick of having to do all those surveys, you know, to unlock the site." I hear stuff like that a lot.

Sometimes, you simply won't be able to pay money for something you want. My favourite film is an obscure Israeli drama. I tried really hard to give Nadav Lapid my money in exchange for a dvd, I swear. I like to fund excellence. It isn't available to buy in my dvd region, so I just ended up torrenting it.

It's not your job to provide income to someone else. It's their job.

Right, now that we've excused ourselves, let's get into some downloading!


TORRENTS

The Torrents
by Folography.

The Pirate Bay is the first place I go when I'm looking to download something. TPB is a Torrent Site. A Torrent is something you download that is 'Seeded' by other people and 'Leeched' by you. The more 'Seeds' a torrent has, compared to Leechers, the faster it should download (relative to size, internet speed, etc).

To Torrent, you need a Torrent Program. UTorrent is the best one, get it here.

To download something using Torrenting, simply search The Pirate Bay. When you're an expert, you can Google and use other sites, but for now, we'll stick to the most popular site. When you've found the thing you're looking for, find the version with the most seeders. Check the comment section. The comment section will let you know if it's a fake, if it's good quality, some common issues, etc.

When you click 'Download Torrent', you'll want to open it straight into UTorrent. The .torrent file itself is just a set of instructions for UTorrent, telling it to download your file(s). In UTorrent, you'll pick the destination file, chose which files to download (if there are multiple) and watch the progress of your download.

Torrenting is the most reliable form of illegal downloading. It's the absolute best for large files, as you can pause it or restart your computer and the download won't be affected.

Once you've finished Leeching (downloading) the file, it will start to upload and you will become a Seeder of the file. This helps other people get the file, but it isn't compulsary. It's just nice.

Here's a useful article on avoiding fake torrents.


STRAIGHT DOWNLOADING

I don't know the official term for this, but this is how you usually download stuff. Depending on your Web Browser, it'll work differently. I use a site called FilesTube to find specific files, but you can always try Google.

As there isn't a space for user feedback, it's harder to weed out fakes than with Torrenting and it's much less stable. However, there are far more files available, and much more obscure stuff. If you're looking for your favourite indie band's first EP, this is the way to go. Your first stop should be to look for a Torrent, as a rule of thumb.


I totally turn into Roy from The IT Crowd when I talk about this stuff. But, like, I've been told that I'm totally like Jen? Whatever, let's just have a #relevant The IT Crowd break, shall we?



STREAMING

If you don't want a copy of a tv show or movie on your hard drive and you want to watch something right away, instead of waiting for it to download, then you can Stream it.

A common misconception is that Streaming doesn't use up Bandwidth. Well, it's the exact same as downloading, in terms of internet usage.

Finding a Streamed video can be hard. There are loads of fakes! Stick to trusted sites, such as Watch Series. Open a few options, because sometimes things get removed and some sites are better than others, in terms of quality and speed.

I use Streaming because it's generally safer. You're not downloading a physical file to your harddrive and it's just easier to work out if something's fake or not. 

Some sites I aim to use when watching online are GorillaVid, DaClips, PutLocker, SockShare, AllMyVideos, VidBull and ClickToView. There are some good ones and some terrible ones. You'll work it out.



Things to Avoid

-"Do a Survey to watch", as I told my aforementioned friend, is a scam.
-"Download this program to download this file", as I told another friend, is probably a virus.
-If you're looking to download a music file, for example, check the extension. '.exe' is not a music format. It's probably a virus.
-Get an AdBlocker. That's just good common sense, really.
-If a '.rar' or '.zip' file requires a password, that doesn't mean it's a fake. MikkiSays is a good music download site that uses passwords. If they give you the password, it's fine (MikkiSays is the password for MikkiSays btw). If they require you to download the password, it's probably a virus.
-Your Anti-Virus program will not like a lot of things, that aren't actually viruses. Torrents make mine really twitchy, but they're fine 99% of the time.
-The standard episode titles are S00E00 and 00x00. For Episode 13 of Season 5 of a show, the code would be S05E13 or 5x13. There are some variations.
-I once downloaded Moonrise Kingdom, only to end up with Machine Gun Preacher. 
-Use common sense! If something claims to be a DVDRip, yet is too new to have been released on DVD, well, you deserve a virus if you still download it.
-Check for things like subtitles, language, source (eg. CAM means it was recorded via a camera, and will be terrible quality).


I hope that wasn't too boring! I'm just a little tired of having to explain this stuff to people, over-and-over again. So, it's there. My years of experience, summarized in a post. Happy Piracy!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Top 4 Dupe/Haul Videos

"Damn, I also need a photo for this post!"

I'm really into watching 'haul' videos about things people have bought of Aliexpress/eBay. Especially when people can compare originals to dupes, sometimes to amazing results.

Here are some good ones (note: if you're not into people rambling, you will not appreciate this):


1. $20 Triangl Swimwear Dupe Comparison by MsPinkaholic0405


I really don't know if she's right about dupes and originals being from the same wholesaler, but I have often suspected it. I have a couple of dupes that are spot on too. She does note that the swinsuit design isn't good (that zip seems like a terrible idea), which just goes to show that money doesn't always equal quality.


2. Haul/Review: Black Milk vs Aliexpress Dupes/Knock-Off (Leggings, Dresses) by Oxana124


Black Milk dupes are a big thing on Aliexpress. I've had good experiences (check out our leggings review here), and I totally believe that it's a waste of money to buy the original. Unless you're heinously wealthy.


3. UNIF Hellbound Dupes + Jeffrey Campbell Dupes Collection by CherrysLittleSecret


I have seen HEAPS of Jeffrey Campbell knockoffs, usually in chain stores. They're another thing I wouldn't pay full price for, but that's just because I'd only wear them once and they look very uncomfortable, no matter the quality. 

4. Fashion Dupes by Lily Melrose


I like it when popular bloggers discuss dupes, because it's becoming a big part of the fashion world. Dupes used to be frowned upon, but they've started to become acceptable. Probably because they've started targetting smaller brands aimed at people who can't really afford them. Like those Charlotte Olympia flats are coverted by heaps of young women, such as myself, but I can live without a Louis Vuitton handbag. I guess it comes down to product vs brand value. Charlotte Olympia is a great brand, but I couldn't even draw you their logo.

Phew, I am exhausted! Haul videos are super long and there are some very tedious ones out there! I watched them, but I'll spare you. If you've done a dupe/haul videos about online purchases, or you've seen one you really like, link it below!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Pearl of Wisdom: Sewing 101

The Absolootely's 101 series has thus far covered the basics of certain forms of shopping. We've covered Etsy, Aliexpress, eBay and Opshopping. Now, things take a bit of a turn and I'm going to focus on a more DIY approach.


Being able to make your own possessions is undoubtedly an awesome skill to have in your consumer toolkit. Everyone should learn the absolute basics of sewing, because sometimes you'll need to fix things and you'll probably want to make something at some point. It's ridiculously satisfying when people ask "Where did you buy that?" and you get to say "Well, I actually made it!" Also, having an individual item tailor-made for you is pretty stellar. And it's even better when you share that with someone else by gifting them a handsewn creation.


Here are Absolootely's top tips for learning to sew and doing it economically:

-First, you need a sewing machine. A basic, second-hand one shouldn't be too expensive, like, under $50. Ask around before buying, as you'll find that your Baby Boomer relatives may have one lying around that they're not using. My mum has three I only learned about recently. People just tend to have sewing machines, it's weird.

My old Bernina Nova.
-If you're not confident, attend a course or, better yet, ask a friend for help. I've started teaching two of my good friends to sew, and it's a really fun group activity. Picking fabrics together, working out how to fix tricky mistakes, planning new projects...

-Basic sewing kits are really easy to find, but be careful, as the cheaps ones tend to be diffuclt to use. Things you'll definitely need, for hand-sewing, are hand-sewing needles, thread, some spare buttons are always useful, an easy fabric such as cotton, fabric scissors, an unpicker and pins. For machine sewing, you'll also need spare needles for your machine, a couple of empty bobbin spools for using different threads, a good sturdy desk, a rubbish bin by your machine for useless cut offs and threads, your machine's manual (if it has one) and extra parts (such as additional presser feet).

-For tutorials, there's this thing called The Internet. I won't take you step-by-step through how to thread a sewing machine and do button holes in this post, because there are heaps of tutorials available online that would do a better job!

-The best place to find pattern pieces (which are the sets of instructions and templates used to make clothing, etc) is at your local Spotlight/fabric store or at opshops. Always check the Bust-Waist-Hip measurements on the packets, same with buying clothes. Pattern pieces will let you know how much fabric you'll need, plus the details of embellishments and fastenings, on the packaging. They're really easy to use!

On older pattern pieces, the sizing charts are totally different. Be careful!
-There are two really useful 'fabrics' you'll want to become acquinted with: Interfacing and Vliesofix. Interfacing is an Iron-On (it comes in other varieties, but stick with Iron-On) fabric used to add strength and structure to other fabrics. If you're following a pattern piece, it will almost certainly require you to use Interfacing. Vliesofix is like double-sided tape. You peel off a layer, iron it onto a piece of fabric, peel off another layer, then iron that fabric + adhered Vliesoflix to another piece of fabric. Bam, two pieces of fabric stuck together, with one piece of Vliesoflix inbetween. Vliesofix is almost always used for applique. It's really useful.

-80% of the time I commit to working on a sewing project is spent ironing and pinning/cutting fabric. Sewing without ironing is foolhardy, trust me, I used to do it. Never hem without ironing first. NEVER. And get prepared to wear out your fabric scissors.

So. Much. Cutting.
-The fastest way to ruin a sewing project and waste your time/energy/money is, ironically, to go too fast. I know, you want to get it done ASAP, but this ain't Project Runway. Take your time, have loads of breaks, make sure you're eating well, keep track of the time. Don't rush. Unless you're on Project Runway, or have a deadline. Then, you are excused.

-The best way to get into sewing is to start with little projects. I spent my summer holidays just making plushies when I was a young lass, both by hand and with a machine. It's best to learn by doing. Namely, you'll make a million mistakes and learn how to fix them, so you'll be ready when you're doing a project that has higher stakes. Plushies and pencil cases are where most people start sewing. They teach you about zips, buttons, buttonholes, hems, seams, patterning and many other basics.

-Before you throw out that ugly old dress, stop and check it over. Could you use the fabric for something else? Are there any zippers or buttons you could scavenge? Is there a way you could improve the garment?

I hope this helped get you into the spirit of sewing! It's a fantastic hobby that no one has ever regretted learning. If you're currently in the middle of a project or about to start one, let us know in the comment section!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold: 'Cross My Heart...' Sunglasses

I've seen these sunnies making their way around a few fashion blogs, usually courtesy of an online store called "Choies". Who are selling them for US$11, not including shipping. 


Surprise, surprise: they're far cheaper on AliExpress. I'd be extremely shocked if they weren't the exact same sunglasses, plus they come in lots of different colours.

The cheapest version of the product I found was under US$4, but the best option I found was this one. $4.04 per pair and loads of colour choices.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Personalized-letter-2014-HARAJUKU-sunglasses-vintage-round-box-sun-glasses/2011035907.html
From Product Page

If you want to find a cheaper version, a different colour or the above link has expired, click here for a pre-made search and you'll find the best results!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield
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