Showing posts with label handbags. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handbags. Show all posts

5/17/2013

ASOS (Online Shop, UK)


ASOS is an international online retailer shop settled in the UK that sells a great range of men and female fashion, beauty and jewellery products at great prices. Young people, from 16 to 34 y.o.a. are their preferred target. They cater for all sizes, from petite to oversized. In a way, ASOS is a "very fashionable right now" sort of shop, although they also sell items from well-known designers like Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, Dita Von Teese, Ralph Lauren, and Armani Exchange among others. They even have a marketplace area to buy/sell pre-owned, second hand and vintage clothing.  

Although usually ASOS is not my cup of tea, this is a great place to shop from, and I especially like their lingerie and hosiery areas. I bought a couple of fancy tights, which are ridiculously expensive in Australia, for a very good price.

ASOS offers free shipping to Australia on all standard orders, no matter how much (or how little) you spend. This is great, always, especially if you just fancy little cheap things, which you would not buy if you had to add a shipping fee.

ASOS' website is very easy to browse, very simple and clean to the eye, still very well organised and extremely informative. They even have a corner devoted to fashion trends. The photos are zoomable, their refining search system fantastic, and Australian sizing and prices are shown all the time as the ASOS Australia online site is where you are automatically directed if you live in Australia.

Major credit/debit cards and PayPal are accepted for payment, but you will need to register before checking out. ASOS stands out, to me, for the great service and diligence with which they fulfil your orders. I placed my order on a Sunday, and the parcel was posted that very  day! This is the first time that an online shop does that, and I buy online a lot. Confirmation order and tracking link were provided a immediately, and the tracking link was updated and emailed to me once the parcel was handed over to Australia Post. My parcel (normal standard shipping) took less than a week to reach my place in Western Australia from the UK. That is... how to put it?... wow! That is what usually takes parcels from the Eastern States to reach WA.

I will definitely order from them again.

2/15/2013

Modalu (Online Shop, UK)

Modalu is a British brand that specialises in good quality, hand-crafted classic-style stylish leather goods. They do not stock large products of each item, but the ones they have are the classic Pippa handbags, and some more seasonal and dressy bags and wallets. They usually have simple designs, appropriate for work and formal events, although some of the bags have seasonal colours and can be worn casually.  

Modalu's products have very good quality leather, beautiful greyish inner lining, and simple but catchy golden metal-ware touches.

Despite the quality of the products and the classy design, the pricing is quite affordable, even  "cheap", especially if you are purchasing from Australia, and from Perth, where any leather good costs a fortune. 

The brand has a great deal of stockists in UK, Ireland, and a good part of Western Europe, but not in Australia. Their online shop, however, is great.
 
Modalu's website is very clean and easy to navigate, and the ordering system is very simple. You can pay by credit card or Paypal. They charge you a tax fee depending on the area of the world where they are shipping and the weight of the product. Delivery and returns within the UK are free, but shipping to Australia and other  non-European destinations has a flat fee of 15 Pounds.

The shipping and delivery by courier is fast, and takes about  4-7 working days for Australia. The orders are not traceable, but they are delivered so fast that I didn't find this to be a problem. If you register, you can check the status of your order, and see whether your parcel has been dispatched or not.

Customer service is very good. I had to cancel an order on a waiting-list item in the past, and they were very understanding and refunded me immediately without hesitation or questions asked. 

The colours on the photos are very similar to what you get, but a bit toned down, I would say. 

They do have discounts, at the change of season, and online offers. Check the site often, because you could a great leather bag for half its original price.

11/18/2012

Carmen Steffens (Perth WA)

93-93 William St
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9324 3556
Website
Hours:
    Mon-Thu 10:00 - 18:00
    Fri 10:00 - 20:00
    Sat 10:00 - 17:00
    Sun 12:00 - 17:00

Carmen Steffens in a Brazilian franchise with hundred of shops overseas that sells both women and men's leather and silicone shoes and bags.

Semi-hidden in the Raine Square, the Perth shop is relatively small, but very spacious, with a nice seating area in the centre. It has a very European feeling. They have a focus on good quality, bright colours, attention to the detail, glitter and sexiness. They only bring a few pairs of each model, so you get a very exclusive thing when you buy one of their products regarding both style and colour.

I especially like their flats and ballerinas, which are not only beautifully designed, but also very comfortable. The silicone flats are beautiful, cute, and comfy, and they are not smelly or sticky on your feet.

Customer service is wonderful, with very warm and accommodating staff. Even if you are just browsing around and do not buy anything, they are extremely friendly and welcoming.

They really put a lot of effort in packing your shoes. They put a big of fancy in their carry bags, provide wonderful satin-red silk dust bags for your shoes, and even give the payment receipt in an elegantly designed paper wallet.

DOWNS
+ Pricing is a bit high. Wait for discounts and sales.
+ The sizing can be a bit awkward sometimes for Australian standards. They have the Brazilian, American and European sizing marked on the shoes, but some of the pairs fit one size and a half, if that makes any sense, so they can be a bit small or loose on your feet, if your feet, like mine are a bit uneven. You might need to buy insoles to find the right fit.
+ Their International website is partially written in Portuguese. 

UPDATE JANUARY 2013
The shop at Wesley has closed down.

10/09/2012

Boticca (Online Shop, UK, USA)-REBRANDED

My fashion motto is "Who wants to wear vintage when you can wear the future?"  Then I found Boticca, and she told me "I'd rather wear a unique story" and the friendship was born.

Boticca's motto conveys well the spirit and philosophy of this chic, independent and artistic-oriented market-inspired website that sells unique accessories from emerging International designers.


What Do they Sell?
Boticca has a great selection of unusual creative jewels, handbags and accessories: quirky, daring, shocking, odd, artsy, sophisticated and timeless depending on the pieces.They have an stress on ethnicity and world-wide design, so you can get things from Sudafrica, Lithuania, UAE, Venezuela, Israel, France or USA, just to put mention some countries from where the stuff comes from.

The quality of the pieces and designs is good, classy and edgy. The articles on sale are sold in very limited quantities (1-10 pieces usually) so there are many chances that you get something unique or unique-ish. 

Generally speaking, most pieces are overpriced, although you can find things for 30-40 bucks. There are many things incredibly cheap, but most o them are pricey or expensive. If you are not too carried away by your fashion low passions, wait!


How Does the Place Works?
The place works as a market where the different designers set their stalls and rules. However, they are subject to Boticca's stamp of approval regarding the quality of the design and Customer Service. 

Each designer has different preferences regarding shipping (free or not) and how they ship, which are specified in their personal space; you can always contact them directly for shipping methods, size customisation, ask for out-of-stock items, and any other thing. In "Your Account" area you can easily check the date of order, date of dispatch, find your tracking URL, "received" button, and "leave feedback" button. 

The three items I have bought so far are true to the photo and description of the items on the website, and except for one, they were affordable and good value for money. 




What Makes Boticca Different?
There are similar shopping places on the Internetosphere (new word's alert!!!!), but they sell from well established luxury brands or emerging artists that are chaperoned by the same brands and fashion holdings, not truly independent.

Boticca is in a way, a posh well-groomed Etsy, and shares many things with that vintage and handmade market: internationality, direct contact with the designer, secure-payment, order tracking, clear product details and photos, free customisation, among other things. However, Boticca is more an avant-garde high-design boutique than a handicrafts social-global market. Many designers have accounts both in Boticca and Etsy, but Boticca has a specific market niche and the place is curated by a group of designers, collectors and fashion experts, so it looks and feels different - but it is also way more expensive.

The Dark Side
$$$ As mentioned above, most things are overpriced. In some cases the materials and design justify the prices; however, in most cases they are not justified at all. Sorry, my opinion. Overpricing is a marketing technique I have already mentioned in this blog, so you can get awesome sales when the price is right. This is a global marketing sin, so we have to surf this ocean of nonsense to get to the place we want.

$$$ Many of the items are sent by regular registered mail, so they can take three weeks to get to your place, plus the period required by the designer for customisation if you choose a ring or something sizeable. If you need faster shipping, contact the designer in advance to arrange things differently.  

$$$ They have a small selection of men stuff, but I find it a bit limited and boring. Still, if you are a man, decide by yourself.

$$$ They have a few email notifications options, and they are ticked on by default, so you are going to receive tons of emails from Boticca. They should be unticked by default! They inform of sales, price reductions, new items, and so on, but this is a constant incitation to purchase. Not good for impulsive shoppers and shopaholics!

Tips for Saving
1/ You can get some discount coupons if you invite friends and they join and/or purchase. 

2/ Wait for Boticca's regular free world-wide shipping weekends.

3/ Wait for private sales by the designer of your devotion. Private sales are held on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays; you access to the latter by pushing the "fan" button of each designer you fancy. The sales are regularly scheduled and emailed about, last for 48 hours, and the discounts go from 20-50% and are worth the wait, especially if you are after expensive-ish items. Beware that the sales are not on everything the designer sells, so you could be unlucky and not find what you want discounted.

3/ They give you discount vouchers after your first purchase to use in your next check out. Another invitation to shop, a thing that Boticca does perfectly well.

4/ Sometimes they offer discount vouchers just for joining the site.  

5/ The same item can suffer slight modifications in the price, for reasons that nobody has been able to explain to me. Like, you see a bag one day at X dollars, and next day is 55 more, or vice versa. Sometimes nothing changes, but sometimes it does. I have experienced it myself, so do keep an eye on your prey! 

***
If you want to splurge on unique pieces of jewellery and bags that will not be worn by hundred of women in the city, this is your place to shop from. This is a special need for Perth fashionistas, who have not many high-design places in the city and most of the hand-crafted jewellery is traditional, way too expensive, and mostly branded. To be honest, I think that my fav jewellers in Perth should be selling at Boticca, so the world meets them.
 
Boticca is the sort of secret you do not want to share with your frenemy, because it is way too cool for her, and you could not bear her wearing anything that is very much you. So I am just telling you, not your frenemy. Please, if you buy from Boticca, comment on your experience and the pieces you are buying, so we do not end wearing the same stuff at the Oscars. Mind you?

UPDATE
Boticca was swallowed by Wolf&Badger. It works pretty much the same. But I haven't bought from them since the change.  

8/06/2012

Nine West (Forrest Chase, Perth WA)

Forrest Chase Shopping Centre
207 Murray St
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9325 5052
http://www.ninewest.com.au
Hours:
    Mon-Thu 9:00 - 17:30
    Fri 9:00 - 21:00
    Sat 9:00 - 17:00
    Sun 11:00 - 17:00 

The Nine West branch shop on Forrest Chase is an open shop that has always wonderful window displays. The interior has a very classy minimal celled wall showcasing their bags and shoes, and, to top up all, a great lighting that really makes the products on display look their best. In fact, the whole shop has an air of elite and luxury that is, however, very far from what it is. 

 
The design of their pieces is trendy and classy, with a good mix of classy flats and the latest trends in shoes, handbags, wallets and clutches. The pricing is fantastic for the handbags but a bit up for the shoes having into account that the materials and overall quality of the products is  medium in the best cases. Still they look like a million dollar! Kudos to Nine West. Still, plastic is plastic, no matter you call it faux-leather or synthetic. I would not mind the syntheticity of it, if the materials were softer in the shoes and less rigid in the bags.
The shop-attendants are welcoming and helpful, and let you wander around freely or approach you depending on your shopping aura and vibe.

Nine West is a perfect place for decently priced fashion seasonal fixes, especially for those that you do not want to spend much money on as they are not going to be trendy next year. Nine West is also a perfect place for Vegans and animal activists who do not use leather but want to look  "à la mode".

5/09/2012

My One True Love Bags (Online Shop Australia) -REBRANDED

  Website

No, sweetie, this not a love declaration from me to you. This is the actual name of an Australian brand that produces limited edition good-quality leather bags. What an appropriate name for a bag brand. Don't we all consider our bags an extension of ourselves and our most precious possession?

MOTL was founded in 2011 by Russian designer Nina Baranova after settling in Sydney, and has received a well-deserved media attention. The brand has seasonal unique classy designs, excellent leather and materials, gorgeous colours and a no-fuss online site. The bags are a big pricey, but not much considering the quality and limited edition of the products they sell (150 pieces for each design), and that you can buy mass-produced plastic bags (now conveniently renamed faux-leather)  from chain retailers at half the price. 

MOTL's website is very basic, not specially stylish, and has a few blind spots (an empty blog, and not developed links) but it is very easy to navigate and gets you where you want without hassle. You will find a little story of the brand and the designer, the conditions of sale, and the list of stockist in Australia (none in WA yet), and the online shop. 

The online shop doesn't need of registration (unless you really want) and can pay by credit card or Paypal, and deliver your purchase by Registered Post without extra charge; your order will arrive in a couple of working days to major destinations within Australia. So very convenient! 

The website store offers a photographic listing of the bags on sale. You can click-in and see different photos of the bag of your choice, although I found them a bit poor in size and in variety. They truly need an online zoom system -as the one you can find, for example, at Nordstrom's or Macy's- to see the details of the leather and materials, a photo of the inner lining, and, most importantly, a photo of the bag on a mannequin or woman figure to see its fall, shape and approximate size. Otherwise, you are just guessing. They provide a description in writing of the bag, but that is never as clear as a photo on a woman shape.  You don't want to take your measurements tape to figure out the size of the bag you are buying, or imagine in your head how long the bag falls or the shape when empty, when it takes you a second to figure that out by looking at a photo.
 
I missed an automatically-generated email informing me that my order had gone through and was being processed. I had to contact their customer service to get that confirmation. That is not good enough. At the same time, they processed my order immediately and was sent immediately, too.

Now, the big question is, did the bag I got matched what I have imagined via the website? The answer is not exactly. The colour purple was almost identical,  but  I was disappointed that the bag has no structure. Thus, when you use the cross-body belt it hangs down awkwardly, and I had to place it around the handles hooks. On the other hand, it has no individual flap so you cannot have it semi-open to put your hand inside and grab whatever you need from inside. However, you cannot see that in the website because the bag is photographed just standing and puffed from inside, not semi-full. They need to improve their website photo system, so you get what you see. The bag is beautiful and very good-quality, a kind of stylish work-briefcase for ladies, still very trendy and youthful. I have had tons of compliments on it from the teens to old ladies.  


UPDATE April 2013
The online shop and the whole website of the brand has been suspended, and there is no way to find what has happened to very innovative brand. Their Facebook page is still operative, but it hasn't been updated since September 2012. 


UPDATE JANUARY 2015
Their website was brought back to life last year. However, no items are added to the selection of bags already there. The pieces out of stock are not being brought back, he blog is not updated, and it seems that a dying site. 
It is a pity. They have awesome quality leather bags, and I get compliments on my purple bag almost every day from both men and women. The bag has proven to be very good quality, perfect for work. Always stylish and unique.