Guide to Confidence in Online Shopping ~

I know shopping online can be a bit scary to some people. There are a lot more risks than buying something from a physical store because you only have a profile and pictures to go from. However, if you can get it right, online shopping can be pretty easy and convenient, it opens up a a much bigger variety to what you can buy and if you know what to look out for you can feel a lot more confident in what you purchase.

Here are 11 simple tips that are good to practice when deciding if something is safe to buy:

1. Research. This is probably the most important thing you can do and is linked to all the other points. If you find a product you are unsure about research its name and brand. ALWAYS research the name of the store, the brand, the product itself. Use google, tumblr, blogger, facebook etc to find the store and search for information.

2. Reviews. In your research you should look for reviews. These are a good indicator of how trustworthy a shop is and the quality of their products. Multiple reviews would be best as one bad review should not reflect the entire reliability of the shop or the product. It may have just been a one off mistake or honest miss in quality control.

3. Price. The price of the product is an indicator of the quality. If you buy, for example, a belted dress for $10. It sure looks cute, but don't be disappointed if when you get it it has lose threads, poor stitching or has the probability it will fall apart quickly. It annoys me to no end when I see people reviewing a product negatively for these reasons and they don't acknowledge the price of the item. You can't expect top quality for virtually nothing.

4. Feedback. Some marketplace sites have a feedback system be it written reviews or ratings. Etsy, ebay, amazon, even taobao have feedback systems. High ratings for a high amount of sales is good. Low rating for any number of sales is bad. If it is based on written feedback read the customers comments and get a generalised idea of how reliable the store and product is.

5. Sales. Again number of sales is important. Especially for places like storenvy which do not have a rating system. The higher the number of sales you can assume the more reliable they are and the likely you will be able to find a review or information from past customers.

6. Sizing. Always check your size. Don't go off generalised/standardised sizes, go off measurements and compare them to your own measurements. If there are no measurements offered you can always ask for them.

7. Communication. Don't ever hesitate to ask the seller questions. They should get back to you fairly quickly, if they are not quick they will usually excuse themselves. If you have already bought the item you can ask for updates on the purchase, most will do that themselves, but if you are ever worried just let them know your problem or request help from them, you are within your right to do so.

8. Payment. Paypal is probably the most secure and safe method of payment. I personally prefer to use it, if the site does not accept paypal I find that a deterrent to shopping there. Paypal makes it really easy to keep in contact with the seller and you are much more likely to get your money back if anything goes wrong, so long as you open your dispute within 45 days of paying.

9. Materials. Materials can tell you a lot of things about the product. How sturdy it is, how comfortable it would be to use/wear, if it is toxic, if you are paying too much for it. Cheap fabrics can make you sweat, they can damage easily, it is a good thing to keep in mind if you are paying a lot of money for something made out of polyester. Or if you are buying something that actually has harmful ingredients.

10. Photos. Photo quality is a good indicator of if you might be about to get ripped off. If the photo is of low resolution it is most likely a picture that had been copied from the internet many times. If it is a crisp clean photo then it is more likely to be an exclusive picture to that store. If it has a watermark or signature, that does not belong to the store selling it, it may be a replica or the seller may have permission to use the images. It is more reassuring if there is a photo credit in the description. This is not always the case, taobao resellers will often use the same image because they are being supplied from the same place and taobao images often have a watermark or logo with the shop number. If it looks like an image of a well know brand at a much lower price then the item is most likely a replica.

11. Policies. Sellers and buyers should be aware of their shop policies. When someone buys from a seller it is like entering an agreement for both parties. Be aware as a seller that you must be true to whatever policies you have given and as customers read them so you know what you are agreeing to when you buy the item and what to do if you need to make a return or exchange.

There are exclusions to these points but these are things you should always look for if you are unsure about something. Alway go with your gut, if you have done your best research and you are still unsure don't buy it. If you are happy to risk it then give it a shot and you can always fall back on paypal disputes and claims. 

I hope this will help you!

Black Cat Boutique - Buyer Beware (DO NOT BUY)

So this is the rant/warning I was talking about. I might do a full explanation on a video or this post would be a mile longer than it already is.

Let it be known, I am not pointing fingers, this is just my experience with this situation and is not the same with everyone else involved. I do not have all the information from the person in question as to why this happened, I am just relaying what I know.

The parcel I got today is a cat dress. I bought this dress on the 27th of August 2012 from Black Cat Boutique (BCB) on storenvy, Sufinkusu on Tumblr, Kirsten Amanda, or Kirsten Amanda Brown on other social networking sites, paid for it and all. It is now the 15th of March 2013 and I finally got it. It was initially promised to take 3-4 weeks to arrive, instead it has taken 7 months.

After a month I had not heard anything so I contacted her, I was assured they were on the way from the supplier to her. Another month passed I expressed concern again and was reassured again with the same thing and that there was not anything she could do at this point, despite being suggested to contact her supplier. Unfortunately I left it too late and could not file a paypal claim so I could not resort to paypal to get the money back.

A few weeks passed and on the facebook page for BCB more complaints and questions about peoples orders started to come up. People, including me became suspicious of a scam.

So I looked for the dress elsewhere. I went to Brave on storenvy and explained to her my situation. She was extremely helpful, gave me advice on filing claims on paypal and when I asked for the dress she said she could get me one in a few days, so I bought it. It arrived in just 4 days.

BCB posted that she would give refunds as she realised people were being made to wait too long. However no one got a refund because people had filed too many claims and she had been reported too much so paypal locked her account. She could not access the money. We suggested finding other funds she told us it wasn't possible. Our items finally arrived to her but again she could not post them to us because of the financial difficulty. However she did post pictures of the items to prove she at least had them.

She disappeared for a while too, closing down the store and she did not reply to emails or comments on the facebook page. Everyone was very worried that it had all been a scam at that point. She returned sparingly now and then, finally giving the excuse that she did not have a working computer, again when she went on holiday. Let's just say there were lots of excuses for delays.

Someone finally suggested doing pay on delivery to domestic customers. So we would have to pay extra postage to get our items at the post office once they were sent. This was suggested a while before the seller actually went with this option. She always seemed very reluctant to actually tell us what she was doing to resolve the situation. When asked her usual answer was a vague "I'm doing the best I can".

All in all the communication was the worst. People getting angry didn't help because the seller got frustrated and replied with an equally irritated response. I never sent any aggressive comments however, as frustrating as it was, I actually defended her on occasion. When she was being accused of being a scammer I did point out if it was a scam she would have packed up and left by now with no communication at all.

Her disappearances made it hard, and from her excuses and the time it took it felt like getting this issue resolved was barely a priority to her.

However, I did receive my dress. What I paid for. She has promised to refund the postage money when her paypal is working again, but who knows how long that will be. She was never snappy at me, but I guess that's because I was not snappy to her, so I was usually received with politeness. I also now have two of the same dress, I will probably sell one.

If she was to open her store again I might consider buying from her but only if I knew there were other satisfied customers for that product. Just keep an eye out and be wary of this seller, I think people have a right to know this is the history of this seller but as always it is your judgement whether to buy from her...

UPDATE: She has removed all past comments on her facebook page making this post even more important for people to read so they are aware of the issue.

UPDATE#2: I did end up getting my postage back but it took 3 months more so this. So the whole ordeal took 10 months to sort out completely. Since then she has opened her store again and closed it. Her facebook page is still there for you to see the comments and complaints, it is the same thing all over again. It seems she has not learned her lesson like she assured us. I'm doubtful the people who made orders on the second opening of the store will get what they paid for or a refund this time. It's 2014 now and these issues have still not been resolved since 2012.

:c

Cosmetic & Chemical Awareness - Advice from Fawn ♥

Labels. You have got to read them, especially when it comes to cosmetics and adhesives. I'm not going to preach to you about how great natural products are over chemical. Despite my views on animal testing and carcinogens in beauty products I know that not everyone can afford organic quality brands, I actually prefer to use home remedies because I hate the idea of paying a fortune for things just because they are not poison, however I think it's for everyones benefit if you are aware of what potentially poisonous chemicals you may be exposing yourself to in cheaper products.

So I have compiled a little list of some well known hazardous chemicals often used in products as well as some good natural products you may be interested in.

Definitions:

Carcinogen - A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
Cruelty Free - No animal testing was used with the product.
Dermatologically Tested -  Tested on human volunteers to determine a products tendency to irritate skin, efficiency or skin tolerance. (Does not mean it is cruelty free as well)

Why this is important:

I first became much more conscious of reading labels for chemicals when I bought a pair of adhesive bras for $8. After buying them on the train trip home I was bored and idly read the label with the adhesive ingredients. It contained lead, arsenic, mercury and barium just to name a few. It said it was approved to be safe to use by Australian standards. However, with most of those chemicals this issue isn't exposure it isaccumulation, a build up of the chemicals in a humans system that causes the problem. So is there really a 'safe' level of those chemicals? I personally don't think there really could be. Especially when putting it on such a sensitive area.

Another case you might know about was that PSA about the nail polish from hottopic containing lead that went around tumblr a while back. Think of what happens when you wear nail polish, if you are anything like me I put my fingers near and in your mouth sometimes and I notice nail polish has chipped away. I would not like to think I am ingesting small bits of lead each time I do this. Nail polish is pretty toxic to begin with, there is a reason they say pregnant women and young children should not wear it.

Those are just a couple of examples of hazardous chemicals in cosmetics. There are many more,and they are not all well known and sadly perfectly legal to use.

List of Hazardous & Potentially Hazardous Chemicals to Look Out For:

• Lead - A highly poisonous metal that can affect all organs of the body. Main target is the nervous system and can cause kidney disease, anaemia, miscarriage, reduced fertility, reduced cognitive function, blood and brain disorders and death depending on your age and level of lead you are exposed to. 
• Mercury - Extremely toxic metal. If accumulated to high enough levels it will cause damage to the kidney, brain, and lungs. Mercury poisoning can result in several diseases, including acrodynia, Hunter-Russell syndrome, and Minamata disease.
• Barium/Barium Compounds -  At low doses, barium ions act as a muscle stimulant, whereas higher doses affect the nervous system, causing cardiac irregularities, tremors, weakness, anxiety, dyspnea and paralysis.
• Arsenic - Arsenic poisoning is caused by elevated levels of arsenic in the body. It tends to affect the kidneys, lungs, skin and liver. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, bloody urine, cramping and hair loss. Final result is coma and death.
• BHA & BHT - Used mainly as preservatives in skin care products and makeup. Suspected endocrine disruptors. Harmful to fish and wildlife.
• Benzoyl Peroxide - Used in acne products. A skin, eye and lung irritant. Toxic by inhalation. Possible carcinogen and tumor promoter.
• Dibutyl phthalate - Used as a plasticiser in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupters and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and wildlife.
• DEA, MEA & TEA - Diethanolamine, Monoethanolamine, Triethanolamine. A foam booster used in shampoos and cleansers. Skin and eye irritant, known to cause dermatitis and easily absorbed through the skin to accumulate in organs and the brain. Also a carcinogen.
• Parabens - (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl) Endocrine disruptors and may interfere with male fertility. May cause hormonal imbalance in females and early puberty. Also a carcinogen, known to contribute to breast cancer.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate - Used in garage floor cleaners, car washes, engine degreasers and 90% of personal care products that foam. Linked to eye damage, depression, laboured breathing, diarrhoea, skin irritation and death.
• Siloxanes - Ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone". Used in products to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
• Petroleum Plastics - Propylene Glycol and Butylene Glycol. EPA considers these substances so toxic it requires gloves, goggles, protective clothing to handle it and disposal by burying. It warns against skin contact to protect brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. Possible carcinogen
• Triclosan - A pesticide, used in antibacterial products. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to wildlife and fish. Also a carcinogen.

List of Carcinogens and Potential Carcinogens:

• Coal Tar Dyes - Maybe listed as FD&C colour and pigments, p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as "CI" with a 5 digit number following it. Contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins to the skin which can affect the brain and cause skin irritations. Absorption may cause oxygen depletion and death. Nearly all are carcinogenic.
• PEGs - (Polyethylene Glycol) Conatains high levels of Dioxin and are very common in a range of products. From sunscreen, to baby care to personal care.
• Dioxin - Won't appear in ingredient lists. Found in PEGs, Triclosan and ehtoxylated cleansers. Causes cancer, reduced immunity, birth defects, miscarriages and nervous system disorders.
• Petrolatum - Used in some hair products and in lip balms and moisturisers as a moisture barrier. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
• Parfum (aka 'fragrance') - Used to scent products, but have been used in unscented products too. Can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to neurotoxicity and cancer. Some harmful to wildlife and fish.
• Aluminium - Used in underarm antiperspirants. It mimics estrogen that can damage DNA and has a possible link to breast cancer.
• 1,4-Dioxane - Not listed in ingredients. A carcinogen that can contaminate petroleum based ingredients that are used in sudsing products such as bubble bath, shampoo and body wash.
• 1,3-Butadiene - Found as a contaminant of products that contain isobutane as a propellant. Suchs as in shaving creams, spray on sunscreen and foundation, and antifungal treatment. Exposure mainly occurs through inhalation and links to breast cancer.
• DMDM Hydantoin, Methanemine, Quarternium -15, Imidazolidinyl Urea & Diazolidinyl Urea - Used in a variety of products, most as preservatives. They slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde. May cause joint pain, cancer, skin reactions, depression, allergies, headaches, chest pain, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and insomnia.
• Phthalates - Esters, usually used as plasticizers. Linked to endocrine disruption and breast cancer. Even a potential link to obesity. Children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are the most vulnerable. Found in nail polish, fragranced lotion, colour products, body wash and hair care. Look for DBP, DEP, fragrance or phthalates on the label.

Other Ingredients to Be Aware Of:

• Palm Oil - A vegetable oil derived from palms. This is an industry causing massive habitat loss to orangutans. It is very unlikely to be harvested sustainably if you find it in your ingredients.

Now you may be thinking, "Well shit Fawn, what products are not going to kill me?". Of course it is unlikely you will die as a direct cause of using products that contain these but they are definitely not good for you. Your best bet is to not use products that contain them and those will most likely be organic and natural brands. Of course, if the label has organic on it, you will most likely be paying more because marketers see it as a way to make more money. A way to save is to make home remedies using your own natural ingredients. They take time and effort to make and are not suited to everyone either.
Now you have a good list to look for to, so you can check your labels and know what you maybe exposing yourself to. If you are looking for some labels that are not likely to have these harmful ingredients check out some of the ones I have listed.

Carcinogen & Toxin Free Products:

• Natural Instincts - Personal care, skin care, shampoo, body wash, baby care. I use the body wash of this company and it is gorgeous! Cruelty free and made from essential oils with lots of organically sourced ingredients.
• Lush - Organic and ethically sourced personal care products, cruelty free and handmade products.
• Sanctum - Certified organic, vegan and not tested on animals.
• Inika - Certified organic and mineral makeup.
• Zuii Organic - Cruelty free, halal and vegan organic makeup.
• Bloom Cosmetics - Have an organic range of skin and hygiene products.
• Tony Moly - I don't know how accurate the translations are but this Korean brand has a big focus on organic and natural ingredients and claim to be cruelty free.
• The Body Shop - I don't believe to be all organic but they have a focus on natural sources and are cruelty free (they sold out on animal cruelty by selling their products to china who, by their laws, can test the products on animals before or after its been put on the shelf in stores), use no palm oil, and support ethical sourcing and sustainability.
• Butter London - For your DBP, phthalate, formaldehyde and paraben free cosmetics (BEST NAIL POLISH OMG)

Sources:

• Breast Cancer Fund
• David Suzuki
• MindBodyGreen
• Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

♡ Black Milk Adventure Time Swimsuit Review ♡

  BlackMilk Adventure Time Wolfpack Swimsuit Review

• $100 - Buy here~

Shipping: Free, express post (in Australia)

It arrived in its usual shiny black envelope. This order took a bit longer to process than normal, it took about 5 days after I paid for it to be sent but arrived with in 2 working days of being posted.

Item/Quality/Price:

I got rid of my old bikinis for this series from BlackMilk. Picking a favourite design was so hard but I went for this one because I figured it would look great as a body suit too. It is a light, stretchy material. When stretched it doesn't go see through. I have been swimming in a pool and a lake so far wearing it and it is a great swimming suit. It looks awesome, has a lovely cut so I don't have to worry about popping out or getting a wedgie when I dive into the water haha.

It was expensive, the most I have ever paid on swimmers. But I knew it was going to be and I really wanted it so I was willing to pay for it.

Overall:

A great, flattering swimsuit. It is pricey, shipping was slower than normal but still arrived in about 7 working days after being paid for. I have never been disappointed with the service or quality from BlackMilk.

♡

☆ Pastel Morgue Storenvy Suspender Skirt Review ☆

☆ Pastel Morgue Storenvy Suspender Skirt Review ☆

• Buy here..$16.99

Shipping: Free!

It was sent 3 days after I paid for it. Once it was posted Thala, from Pastel Morgue, sent me a email with information about my order and with helpful tips of what to do if anything went wrong. It was polite, straightforward and I felt like if there was an issue she would have been easy to talk to. It arrived in a thick plastic envelope about 14 days after it was marked as posted. The garment was in it's own plastic and was undamaged in transit. That's a good shipping service in my opinion.

Item/Quality:

The garment can be worn as just a high waisted skirt or with the suspenders attached. They fasten on with buttons and have two button holes so the straps can be adjusted to two different lengths. There were a few extra threads on my item but they were clipped off easily. The material is a nice cotton blend, and not to heavy. On my shape the skirt is quite short. I have to wear shorts or a petticoat underneath it so you can't see my bum. I'm looking for a good petticoat and will recommend one when I buy it. I really love this skirt, its so cute and looks great with a printed tee and printed tights.

Overall:

This was a great bargain for this skirt, it looks adorable and I love it even if it is a little short on me. This was a really smooth easy process with the seller and I would not hesitate to buy from her again ^.^

†††

❤ Sandysshop Sponsored Review ❤

† Sandysshop Sponsored Review †

• Silver Stud Knee Socks - $9.90
• Pink Stripe Mock Thigh High Tights - $8
• Gothic Rose Side Corset Fishnet Tights - $8.99
• Pastel Goth Kawaii Unicorn Icecream Tights - $8.90

Use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off your order ❤

Shipping:

They arrived 10 days after they were posted which was great! Packed nice and neatly in a thick yellow envelope. They were in their own individual plastic and undamaged when I opened them.

Price/Item Quality:

The studded socks, I was a little worried about the studs and the elastic. I thought the studs may be glued on and they would peel off in the wash. Nope, they are stitched on with elastic. Awesome! If they were to somehow come off I can just stitch them on again. So that was good. The elastic, I was worried would stretch after one wear or fall down easily. I have worn the a couple of times and not had to pull them up once! They are really comfy and look great. I have paid more for just plain thigh highs so I think they are really good for their price!

The first thing I noticed about the pink stripe mock sock tights is they are quite long. So these are great for taller people. Super comfy, good sturdy material, I don't feel like I have to worry about ladders or holes forming. They look fantastic, worth every penny and I can't wait to wear them more as the weather gets cooler.

The gothic rose corset tights you do have to be a little careful with when you are putting them on. Because of the corseted sides and the netted fabric means it can be a bit fiddly to get on and you need to be careful to not tear or catch on the fabric. Other than they are gorgeous! Well made and look great under a pair of shorts.

I fell in love with the unicorn ice cream tights as soon as I saw them! Super cute design. They fit really well and are made of a thick, strong nylon. They seem like they will last a long time and the print doesn't crack or split when stretched. They are great quality and an awesome design, the price is very decent for what you get!

Communication:

Sandy, the owner of the store, is so nice. Very polite and easy to talk to, even with english not being her first language. She really is a delight to work with and she has a wonderful store :3

Overall:

Sandysshop is a great little store. The owner is a honey, a pleasure to work with. All her tights are well priced and great quality and she is always getting new and unique styles in, a lot of them I have never seen in other stores! I'd highly recommend checking out her store if you are looking for a neato pair of tights~

❤ Use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off your order ❤

❤ Another Brave Store Review ❤

❤ Brave Store - Another Tights Review ❤

Buy them HERE!

• Bow Suspender Tights - $12 $10.80 (10% off CULTFAWN promo code)
• Heart Suspender Tights - $5 $4.50 (10% off CULTFAWN promo code)
• Winding Ribbon Tights - Gift (Not Available)

Shipping: $5

The tights were shipped within 24 hours and arrived separately within about a day of each other after a bit over 2 weeks. The shipping was slower than usual because these were bought just before Christmas, so no worries there. They were wrapped up in durable plastic envelopes/packaging that kept them safe and in tact for their whole journey. As always Brave Store has a great shipping service.

Item/Quality:

Firstly, I will talk about the two I paid for. I really love them, they are both cute and sexy and I have already had a few compliments while wearing them, which is always nice. My favourite would have to be the bow suspenders. The heart and bow suspenders feel sturdy and comfortable, no holes yet and I have worn and washed them a couple of times already. The bow suspenders are longer so really good for taller people. The heart suspenders fit me just right but I feel if I was any taller (I'm around 5'8) they might have the habit of getting pulled down. The only thing I have noticed that isn't quite right is where the dark fabric meets the nude nylon, the fabric has frayed excess fabric on the inside. The hearts and bows get a blurred edge or slightly misshapen because of this. If you look in the pictures you may notice it. I'm sure if they were carefully trimmed it might reduce this, I just have not got around to doing it yet and it doesn't really bother me that much.

The ribbon tights, in the bottom right picture, are really cute however they are quite small for me. I do have to wear shorts over them to keep them up and they got ladders as soon as I put them on (you can see it down the side of my left calf) which makes me think the fabric is probably a bit weaker too. Lovely Jane, owner of Brave Store, sent them to me as a gift which I am so grateful for though. I still think they are gorgeous, the ribbons are printed on the fabric and look like they wrap all the way around your thighs and ankles. However, if you are interested n getting yourself a pair, they would be better suited to people who are a bit shorter than me ^.^

Overall:

I love them all, I don't normally do ratings but I'd give the bow and heart suspender tights a solid 4/5 and the ribbon tights a 3/5 simply because I'm too tall for them. Brave Store will always be one of my favourite stores, Jane is always polite and friendly, she gets your orders filled quickly and they arrive nice and fast for such a reasonable shipping fee. Thank you so much for my gift too Jane I really do appreciate it!

† Remember to use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off your purchases at Brave †

♥ Luna Doll Sponsored Review ♥

† LunaDoll Sponsored Review - Sun & Moon Leggings †

Buy them HERE!

Price: $27

These are a great pair of leggings. The fabric breathes nicely and is stretchy so it is a generous fit. They are well made, no loose threads and sturdy materials. Great quality! The price is super decent in my opinion!

Item:

I got a size small and they fit really well with room to spare. They are not too long and not too short (I dislike leggings that are too high above the ankle when they are not meant to be!) Comfy but very flattering. Made of ... they are light, silky to the touch, but don't really create static electricity. They breathe so I have been able to get away with wearing them in this warmer weather. The print is gorgeous, this depiction of the sun and moon have a nostalgic effect on me. My favourite mug, that has been in out cupboard for as long as I can remember has a similar design, and we have had garden sculptures/ornaments in our yard like them too since I was a baby. I adore this motif! It's pretty versatile too in what styles it can be worn with.

Packaging/Shipping:

They came in a plastic envelope with no tears, not even a dirty mark on the outside. Inside the leggings were neatly wrapped up in tissue paper with a cute sticker to seal them. They arrived a week ago on the 8th of January. Shipping was a little slower than normal given it was the holidays, New Year and Christmas, and they were sent before Christmas. Not including the holidays they took probably under 3 weeks to get to me which is great.

Overall:

I have had heaps of compliments already about them and I have only worn them twice! Vivien is lovely to work with, polite and helpful, she is very approachable if you have any questions. I was over the moon (haha pun) with how wonderful these leggings are, I highly recommend them if you are looking!

LunaDoll has more great products you should check them out too! ♥

† Dolls Kill - Lip Service & Toki Doki Review †

† Dolls Kill - Lip Service & Toki Doki Review †

Lip Service Desperately Seeking Daggers leggings - $40 Sale 50% off: $20

Toki Doki Blind Box - $12 Sale 50% off: $6

Shipping: $20

It was shipped just a few hours after I paid for it and I received it a bit over a week later. The website says 4 days for delivery, it took 7 working days to get to me. That is still good but when the site says 4 days and I don't get it in 4 days I do get anxious. Luckily it was all trackable by DHL and I could see where it was and what time it left each location, all the way to Australia. So even though it was late, by only a few days, I would say their shipping is very reasonable. It was in good sturdy packaging, and surprisingly my blind box wasn't squashed in transit.

Price:

The total, including shipping, was $46. For the quality of the leggings and the figurine I think it was fairly decent. I bought these when there was a 50% off sale at Dolls Kill. I was super excited about the leggings because they were something that had been on my wish list. The figurine, I love Toki Doki, but I mostly decided to throw that in so I would be actually still be saving a little on the leggings haha. Turns out I was actually saving big time on the Toki Doki figurine too.

Item/Quality:

For the blind box I actually think I got a good deal. For me to by from the Toki Doki website the figurine would be $8 but the shipping for just the 2 inch figure would have been $50 (what the actual fuck...how can it be that expensive?!). Sadly it wasn't the design I wanted from the Unicornos, but that's the whole idea of a blind box haha. It is a well made very cute vinyl figurine is a great addition to my collection of figurines.

The leggings are super comfy. I love their design and they fit really well. They are well made, cotton and elastic material, made in the USA. They have a sturdy zip at the back and you cant see my undies through them when I bend over (big bonus when it comes to leggings!) My ass looks nice in them too ;D

Overall:

Would buy from Dolls Kill again, they were super fast at processing and I could not find a problem at all with my order. I am even more sold on the brand Lip Service, beautiful clothes that are well made and affordable! 

†††

† Choies Suspender Skirt Review †

† Choies Suspender Skirt Review †

Bought from Choies

Price: $39.00 $19.90 (New Member discount)

I think the original price is a bit much for the quality of the product but when you join up and make an account with Choies you earn points which can be spent to discount the price. The discounted price is much more reasonable.

This dress is no longer available from Choies, but I have seen it elsewhere.

Shipping: Free

It took about 2 weeks to get to me with a tracking number, so I was able to track my item. I think this was really reasonable. They offer express shipping too though if you are in a hurry.

Item/Quality:

This dress is super cute, I really do love it but I have to say I'm also a little disappointed. When it arrived it had a few loose/extra threads which were easily cut off. The biggest downfall with this dress is the fabric and design. I had to add a clasp over the top of the zip because otherwise the zip would just keep falling undone through out the day. The fabric, polyester I believe, after one wash started to ball up and become rough. I still wear it but the fabric is looking a lot shabbier so I can't pull it off for some occasions.

Overall:

A really cute dress, I got what I paid for but only because of a discount. This dress, in my opinion, is not quite worth $40. Choies seem to be a reliable company, their shipping service was excellent and they give a generous amount of points for your first purchase. This is the only thing I have bought from them so I can't comment on the quality/price of all of their products.

☽ † Glitterhell Decarabia Sweater Review † ☾

☽ † Glitterhell Decarabia Sweater Review † ☾

Bought from: Sugar Coated Sprinkles (Storenvy / Etsy)

Originally from: Glitterhell

Price: $36

The item is secondhand, only worn once. It was lovely and clean when I got it. The original price from Glitterhell is $40. I have been dying for one of these ever since I laid eyes on it but I always miss out on restocks at Glitterhell because they sell out so quickly and I'm probably in the worst possible timezone to try and get one. I think for the quality, the original design that both prices are fair to ask.

Shipping: $5.40

Shipped from the UK to me in Australia. Shipped three days after I paid for it, it took about 2 weeks to get to me. I think the price of shipping is really reasonable. It arrived in a yellow envelope that was lined with bubble wrap so it was nice and safe, however the tape that had secured the opening, even though it was adorable Rilakkuma tape,  had come loose so when I got it the sweater was poking out. Luckily it didn't get dirty or damaged so I'm happy.

Item:

It is a basic sweater from American Apparel with a gorgeous design printed on to it. The sweater is a lot lighter than I was expecting, thinner too but a scorching Summer is on the way so that's a good thing. It is so comfortable, the sleeves are so long yet it is the perfect size. I don't like sweaters with sleeves that don't reach past my wrists! So this is the perfect style of sweater for me.

Communication:

Rachel from Sugar Coated Sprinkles was so very helpful. I pestered her with so many questions but she answered all of them politely and quickly. I bought the sweater from her Storenvy store but used Etsy to get in contact with her. She was a delight to buy from.

Extras:

Along with the sweater there was a cute little business card and a cherry lolly, that I ate while I was panicking about bush fires. While I didn't stop panicking it did taste good.

Overall:

Glitterhell has amazing products and I am over the moon I managed to get my hands on one of their things. I've got my eye on a few shirts too. Hopefully I will be able to grab some in the next restock! Sugar Coated Sprinkles made it possible this time and I'm so thankful. She has wonderful handmade products too! Both are top notch businesses who should be proud of their wonderful products ^.^

Check out Sugar Coated Sprinkles and Glitterhell for great creepy cute & pastel goth products~

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