Janina for Jul B Dizon Update

Remember my excitement regarding my purchase from Janina by Jul B Dizon (read it here)?  Well, after only 2 months, my excitement has turned to disappointment.  The earrings I bought had poor quality, as evidenced by the picture below...

Back side of the main earrings

The right earring still has a small hook at the base (this is the thing that you can hook the next part of the earrings to make it dangle).  The left one has no more small hook at the base.  This is soooo sad because I cannot hook the next part of the earrings to make a dangling earring.  Haaaay...my friend told me that she had a not-so-good experience with Jul B Dizon jewelry.  She said that compared to the other silver jewelries she bought, the one from Jul B Dizon easily tarnishes (even for their gold-plated jewelries).  Maybe that's the reason why gold-plating or silver-plating from the store is free.

I really like this pair of earrings...the stones are nice and the design is great.  However, the setting is really of poor quality.  I plan to bring these earrings to Velayo Inc. so they can gold-plate it and maybe put in a small hook so I can still use the other parts of the earrings.  I'll update you once I consult the Velayo Inc. staff.

I will probably not buy from Janina for Jul B Dizon.  Or if ever I buy from them, I will probably ask Velayo Inc. to fortify and strengthen the jewelry setting.  Haaaay....this is a big disappointment for me.

Thanks for dropping by!  I'll talk to you soon.

Janina for Jul B. Dizon

Hi guys!  And this was what made my The Peninsula stay truly special...

Janina by Jul B. Dizon transformers earrings

I will be attending 2 weddings this September and I thought I'd buy myself nice earrings.  I had my gown made already and it is very simple.  So, to amp up the style, I wanted va-voom earrings.  And I got this.  This pair is really cool since it can transform into 3 different designs.  Take a look...

Studs

 

With green enamel drops

With Carnelian drops

These are made from different precious stones and set in silver.  The studs are made of citrine, amethyst and peridot.  The green enamel drops also has a tear-drop citrine in the middle.  The last picture shows the carnelian drops.  These earrings are really versatile since you get 4 designs in 1 set.  You can even mix-and-match studs and drops.  Janina by Jul B. Dizon sells multiple drops which you can anchor to to the base studs.  I'm so excited to wear these.  I actually wore the studs already and got multiple compliments.  I can't wait for the weddings so I can use the full set of earrings.

The price of the earrings are actually separate.  There's a different price for the base earrings and the drops.  The total price for the full set is pricey but worth it since you get 4 designs out of 1 set.  The quality of the stones are good but the setting is a little bit flimsy.  I kept fixing the "pakaw" after each use because it gets loose (probably because it's made of silver and very pliable).  The sales lady also said that they offer free gold-plating and cleaning.

All in all, I like my purchase.  I can't wait to wear these soon.

Thanks for reading!  Talk to you soon.

Andre Piasso

I was on a trip a few days back and during that trip, I wasn't able to buy anything nice for me.  And so, on the plane ride going home, I flipped through the in-flight shopping guide and chanced upon these...

Andre Piasso bracelets

This set contains 2 rhodium-plated bracelets and was priced at $ 25.  I wasn't sure what rhodium was but the picture in the catalog was really nice, hence I bought it.  When I opened the package, I was in love with both the bracelets.  They look and feel really expensive (it definitely felt and looked more than the $ 25 I paid for them).

First bracelet, the gems are not real diamonds.

Second bracelet with charms

I have been wearing the bracelets ever since I got back.  I really really like them.  By the way, a quick search in Wikipedia revealed that...
"Rhodium is a chemical element that is a rare, silvery-white, hard, and chemically inerttransition metal and a member of the platinum group. It is one of the rarest and most valuable precious metals.

Rhodium is a so-called noble metal, resistant to corrosion, found in platinum- or nickel ores together with the other members of the platinum group metals."

Wow!  Good thing I chanced upon these bracelets.  I <3 these!

If you are flying with Philippine Airlines in one of their international flights, get your hands on the Andre Piasso 2-set bracelets.  I highly recommend it.

Thanks for reading!

Zalora update

Hi everyone!  I'm sorry about the long absence.  I just got back from a trip.  More on that in the next blog posts.  Anyways, here's the update on my last Zalora on-line shopping experience (read about it here) which was not very pleasant.  I returned a few items from my last order (sandals, mustard blouse and the white shorts) and asked Zalora to give me store credits in return.  Returning stuff from Zalora was easy.  You contact them thru e-mail and they will send an e-mail with details on the date of pick-up.  Their courier got the items from my house on the said date.  A few days later (less than 5 days), I got an e-mail that they have gotten and checked the items.  They gave me a code to input in their on-line shopping platform so I can use my credits.  Easy peasy.  So, I chose the following...

 

These are the items that I got in exchange of my returned purchases.

Printed blouse (dark green and blush)

Bayo dark blue shorts

I was satisfied with the items I picked.  I wasn't able to take a picture of the belt, but it was of fair quality.  The printed blouse had tucks in them, hence creating a shape, sort of cinching in the waist.  It had a weird shape when worn tucked into bottoms though because it's tapered at the waist.  But aside from that, I still like it.  As for the shorts, haaay...the measurements at Zalora is not entirely correct.  I got the medium size for the shorts since the measurement said that it was for waist that is 27".  But boy was it big!  I have a waistline of 28" and this shorts was around 1" bigger.  The style doesn't allow for belt loops, hence I had to pull up the shorts every so often when I wore it.  Another haaaay...I'll try to sew 1 side of the shorts (the other side has a zipper) to make it smaller.  It will not look even but I think it will work.  I hope it does because I really like the material of the shorts and the over-all fit (minus the big waist).  The belt is okay.  Not too striking, just okay.

My final verdict on Zalora?  I don't think I'll ever shop in this site again.  I'll be sticking with Mango.com because the quality of their clothes are better and more constant.  Also, their website gives you a description of the clothes (materials used and correct measurements).

That's it for now.  Thanks for dropping by!

Zalora 4

I have ordered at zalora.com.ph thrice already.  I have gotten a few items that were reasonably priced and of good quality.  Although some of the items I've ordered were of average quality but overpriced.  You may read my reviews here, here, and here.  My overall opinion of Zalora is that it has a good number of items that you can choose from but the style and quality of the items are not that good.  Finding something really nice at a reasonable price on Zalora is a little like finding a needle in a haystack.  But I guess that's the joy of online shopping.  Looking for that speical piece amongst many other items.  Hence, here's my fourth foray into Zalora.  These were the peices that I got...

 



These sandals from Ylla looked really nice in the site but looked really awful in "person".  The band across the feet was too tight as well as the bands across the legs.  Tsk, tsk, tsk...it made my feet and legs look like longganisa.  At PhP 995, I expected more from these sandals.

Audrina Flat Sandals

The sole doesn't even have grooves...you will definitely slip and slide when you wear these indoors.

And here are the shorts that I abhor.  Again, it looked nice on the picture (model wearing the shorts) but not nice when I got it.  The material was flimsy (very thin cloth).  At PhP 549, I expected so much more from these shorts.

Picture from www.zalora.com.ph

Chictees Joanna Garterized Shorts

The third item that I don't like was the mustard colored blouse.  I wasn't able to take a picture of it because the moment I saw how mustardy the color of the blouse was, I decided to return it.  I can't download the picture from www.zalora.com.ph since it comes out too small.

The redeeming items in these order are the following:

COLLECTIVE.COM Structured color-blocked blouse

COLLECTIVE.COM Kyla Sleeveless plain crepe blouse

I wore the color-block blouse already and it was easy-breezy-comfy.  I have yet to wear the violet blouse.  But I tried it on and it looks nice.  The violet blouse is PhP 495, which is a good deal.  The color-block blouse is PhP 695, not really dirt-cheap but decently priced.

All in all, I was disappointed in the quality of items I bought from zalora (well, the first 3 pieces).  I plan to return the sandals, the shorts and the mustard blouse.  I'll blog about it next time.

I don't think I'll buy from Zalora anymore.  The quality of their products are not consistent.  The website does not give you actual measurements of the garments and the materials used.  It's very hard to determine if a certain piece is of good quality or if it's nice based on the photo.  My suggestion to Zalora is to put in actual measurements of the garments and put in the composition of the items (ala Mango.com).

Thank you very much for dropping by!



Miranda Clothing

Hello again!  Welcome to another review of an on-line store.  I chanced upon Miranda Clothing thru the blog of Patty Laurel (www.pattylaurel.com).  She wore a white skirt with floral design from Miranda Clothing.  You can find the online store of Miranda Clothing at Facebook.  So, anyway, I really liked the design so I went over to Facebook and searched Miranda Clothing.  The selection of clothes from Miranda Clothing were limited and not all agree wtih my style and taste.  But among the clothes I saw, here are the 3 things I liked...

This the black version of the white skirt that I saw Patty Laurel wear.  The white version was already sold out when I checked.  The back part of this skirt has the same design as this front part.



I really wanted a white skirt, so I settled for this one.  The back part has the same print with a small midline slit.

This is an asymmetrical dress.  I couldn't hang it because it didn't have those little things on the side that let you hang clothes with.

Let me rate my purchases.  The material of the black skirt is of good quality and the design is nice.  The price of P800 is not bad considering that I could get a good mileage out of this piece.  As for the white skirt, the material is also good.  I liked that it had the same print as the one in front so it minimizes the appearance of being see-through.  Also, the skirt has lining, which also minimized the appearance of being sheer.  At P800, I think the price is just-right.  Now let's go to the asymmetric green dress.  This dress, I don't like.  I paid P800 for it but the material and quality of the dress is not really good.  It even came with these ghastly spots/marks.  Yikes!  And the fact that you can't hang this dress (it doesn't come with a strip on the side that let's you hang the side without the shoulder strap) makes it even more depressing.  The only way to keep this dress is to either fold it or hang it from the waist.



I don't know what the material of this dress is called but it's stretchy and cheap-looking.  I don't agree with the price of P800 for this dress.  There's no return policy so I can't return this dress. I'll just have to make it work.  Haaay...

I don't think I'll ever shop at Miranda Clothing again.  The quality of their products are just too unpredictable.

Thank you very much for reading!  Drop by again for another review.

Mango.com 3

Look what the mailman brought today (well, actually a few weeks back...delayed post :-) )!  My Mango.com orders!  After ordering at Mango.com for the second time, I really can't forget the black sandals I saw on their site. 


The sandal I can't forget

After a few weeks of thinking it over, I finally decided to buy it.  But I can't buy it on its own because I want to get free shipping, so I decided to buy 1 more pair of shoes and a shirt from the sale items. 

My loot

These are the 2 pairs of shoes that I bought.


So far, I'm happy with the performance of these shoes.  I've worn them a couple of times already and they are really comfy.

I guess this is the last of my Mango.com buying for now.  I can't spend P 6,000 every time I log on to their online store.  Haaaay....Ipon muna bago gumastos.  But I think these shoes are worth it.

That's it for now.  Thanks for reading!  Have a great one!

Burlington Stockings

Has this ever happened to you?  A run in your stockings!  Grrrr...

Okay, here's the story.  I took these babies out for a spin for the first time.

As you can see, these shoes are not foot-friendly (especially for someone like me who has a big entrada --- the width of my feet are kindda big for my foot length).  It doesn't pinch my toes but it did create a big lesion on the bone at the base of my big toe.  And with 5-inch heels, it did not do any good to my foot width.  So, after 2 hours of using it, I couldn't take the pain in my spontaneously formed bunion (well, I call the inflammation of the bone at the base of my big toe as such).  I decided to channel Kate Middleton and bought myself a spanking new pair of stockings.  I just wanted to cover my feet and protect it from the shoes above.  Haaay...tiis ganda...

I was in a hurry and I had to put on these stockings inside my parked car.  Lo and behold, I created a run in my stockings!  How can that be?  How can that happen?!  These stockings were new and I was very gentle in handling them.  Then I saw the culprit...

I was wearing this ring when I was putting on the stockings.  This ring may have snagged the delicate garment.  Grrrrr!  P 99.75 out the window.  Sayang.  :-(

Lesson learned.  Never put on stockings with your ring on.

The End.

Verdict on the Aldo shoes: these shoes really does wonders to the legs (probably due to the height of the heels).  However, it will murder your feet.  :-(  I got it on sale for P 2,500.  I'll try to wear it again some other time (just because it costs so much I couldn't just wear it once).  I hope the other times I get to wear it, my feet will not complain.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for dropping by!

Mango.com 2

Guess what came in the mail today (well, actually, it came last Thursday)?  My Mango.com order!  Yipee!  This is my second time to order at Mango.com (read about my first experience here).  I had a pleasant experience in the first one, so I thought I might as well try it again.  I ordered last March 1, 2013 and paid for my purchases on the same day (thru credit card).  I got my stuff March 7, 2013.  It was a hassle-free transaction.  I know we have lots of Mango shops here in the Philippines, but I really like the thrill of getting stuff via mail.  So, here it is, my Mango.com loot...

The box

All the contents

I got 12 items from their online store.  My total was a little more than Php 6000 (minimum of Php 6000 to get free shipping).  I mostly got shirts and dresses, and all items were from the sale list.  All of them fit me quite well.  The only problem was the 2 belts that I got that didn't fit me.  I have a 28-inch waistline, and apparently, a medium is too big for me.  The belts were too large for me and I can't make a new hole because of their materials and designs.  I can actually return or exchange the items that I don't like (they gave me instructions to send items to their office in Bicutan), however, I don't want the hassle.  I'll just give away the belts as gifts.

The 2 dresses I got were size small.  They fit me like a glove.  I now know my true size in Mango (in my first shopping experience, I got medium sizes...it was a little too big, but I can work with it...I just need a belt...but 1 dress I had to give to my sister...she fits better in it).  The cream shirt dress was of good quality.  For Php 695, I think it's a good deal.  It says in the list Mango gave me that 98% of the dress is made of cotton while 2% is elastane.  The style is actually not fashion-forward, but I see myself wearing this piece multiple times for work and for casual days.

This brown wool dress is soft and the material is thin.  It is actually see-through, so I plan to wear it with a slip underneath.  This dress is composed of 50% wool and 50% acrylic.  Again, another fashion-safe dress...I think this will also be a staple in my wardrobe.

Next up, the shirts.  I think one can never have enough shirts.  Hi hi hi...The material of the shirts are flimsy.  It's very sheer.  According to the list, the shirts are made of 100% cotton.  For Php 295, I'll take it.

The sleeveless shirt is made of 100% linen (photo below).  Again, the material is sheer and the it is a tad big for me (even if the size is small).  But I can work with this.  I'll just wear a camisole underneath or maybe do a little bit of layering once the weather permits.  As for the long-sleeved shirt, it is made of 100% cotton and the color is a soft lilac (photo below).  I love the softness and the style of this shirt.  It will again be another staple in my closet.  However, the down-side with the lilac shirt is that there is no buttonhole in one of the straps that holds it up when you fold it.  I have a sewing machine with button-holer function...maybe it's a sign that I should learn how to use it.  I'll probably blog about that experience.  Stay tuned.  :-)

Linen sleeveless shirt

Long-sleeved shirt

Last of the shirts is this red and gray t-shirt.  The sleeves are folded and comes at 3/4 my arm.  It is made of 100% viscose.  The material is thin, hence it doesn't make you hot/warm when you wear it.  This is perfect even for our tropical weather.

The last of the clothing I bought was this navy blue pencil skirt.  The composition is 97% cotton and 3% elastane and it comes with a thin black belt.  It comes up above the knee.  I see myself wearing this during casual Fridays at work...and during Saturdays too (I work on Saturdays <insert sad face>).  The material of both the skirt and the belt are of good quality.  And for Php 695, I think it's a steal.

Finally, the accessories.  I bought 2 pieces of foulard.  I know we don't get to use it often here in the Philippines, but I think it's a good thing to have around.  These scarves are actually sheer and of thin material.  The list says that both foulards are 100% modal.  A quick Google search reveals that modal is a type of rayon.  These scarves are smooth and soft.  I'll probably use these when I travel, to combat the cold air conditioning inside airports and airplanes or when I watch a movie (you know how cold the movie house gets).

And the least favorite of my haul (just because I can't wear them)...the belts.  I love these belts, but alas, I can't wear them.  They are too big for me.  Well, my loss will be somebody else's gain as I plan to give these as gifts to those who will be able to wear it.

All in all, I was pleased with my Mango.com haul.  I can't wait to wear/use all of these.  I actually used the cream dress already and so far, so good.  It didn't cause any problems for me.

Well, that's it for now.  I hope to show you how these clothes fit me.  Maybe in another blog post.

Thanks for dropping by!  I hope to talk to you soon.

Mango.com

Hi everyone!  Here's another fashion-related post.  I was surprised to see that Mango is offering online shopping for Philippine consumers.  I know that we have lots of Mango shops here in our country, but I really don't have time to shop in malls.  Besides, when it's sale at Mango, there's usually lots of people in the stores and the sale items usually don't have my size.  I know it's risky buying online since you can't really fit the items.  But I tried it anyways and here's my take on the Mango online shopping.

The package came in a nice black box.  The shipping was quick.  It took only around 10 days from the day I ordered to the day I received the box.  Shipping is free for purchases more than or equal to Php 6000.

 



I really don't want to spend too much for clothes.  Majority of the time (or actually 100% of the time) I buy sale items.  I don't pay full price for clothes.  So, when I was shopping at Mango.com, I only browsed through their sale items and only the ones that are less than 1000 Php.  I'm also a safe dresser.  I gravitate towards classic lines and non-trendy fashion.  The package came in a stylish black box.  Inside, all the items were enveloped in plastic bags.  The dresses came with nice black hangers.  Cool!  Here is what I bought...


Dress for 995 Php

This red dress is actually big for me.  The size is medium (US small).  The upper part is loose but the lower part is just right for my big hips (I consider myself pear shaped...small on top, big on the bottom).  I'm 5'2'', the length is long for my frame.  I tried to wear it with a skinny belt and it actually works!  Even if this dress is big for me, I will still be able to wear it.  But next time, I will order the small size.


Same size and style as the dress above, but for some reason, this dress is smaller and fits me better.  Also 995 Php


Same dress style, different color.  This is also size medium (US small), but it really is smaller and shorter than the one above.  I can wear this dress with or without the belt.  Again, this one is a keeper.  Love it.



Another dress for 995 Php

Comparing the first 3 dresses, this one is actually the largest one for me.  The size is medium (US small), but it is really loose.  But with a skinny belt, I can still make this work. 


Dress Php 695

Among the dresses, this one is the smallest and fits me just right.  Again, the size is medium (US small) but it actually fits me.  Although the size is right for me, the style is not that nice compared to the first 3 dresses.  But still, I would keep this for casual dress days.

T-shirt Php 495

This shirt is also a keeper.  The material is thin (for the very conservative, you might want to put a camisole beneath this shirt).  I can see this shirt being a staple for casual shirt days.

Blouse (material is thick) Php 545

This item is actually considered a t-shirt in the Mango online shop.  However, I consider this one as a blouse.  The material is thick and looks more like a blouse to me.  The fit is a little loose (size small, US XS) but it looks great.  Again, a keeper!

T-shirt (thin material, you would need to wear a camisole inside the shirt) Php 695

This shirt is really loose so I got the small size (US XS).  The material is thin, you really need to wear something beneath this shirt.

Blouse (thin material also...no need for camisole since the color is dark) Php 395

I really like this one.  It was put under t-shirt items, but I consider this one as having a blousy look.  It can be made into a casual top or a blouse for work.  Either way, I really like the way it fits.  I got the small size (US XS).

T-shirt Php 345

Lastly, I got this sweatshirt.  The material is just right, not too thin and not too thick.  The fit is also great.  I got the medium size (US small).  I can wear this on days were the weather is a little cold or maybe in the upcoming rainy days (I know, I know, it's still a few months from now, but it's sale so I got it...girl scout...laging handa).

All in all I am happy with my purchases.  There is an option to return/exchange items.  Items will be sent to Mango address in Bicutan (or Sucat), I forget.  They gave me a sticker which you can stick to the package.  I won't be using the sticker, though.  I am pleased with my purchases (even if some of the items are big for me...I can devise ways to make it work).

Here are some of my suggestions when it comes to shopping at Mango.com:

1. Try several items and style in a Mango store so you can gauge your size for different styles.  It will help you choose your size online.
2. There are items that they only sell exclusively online.  Check their site and watch out for these items.
3. Ask friends if they want to buy something online from Mango.com.  Consolidated your purchases since delivery is free for a minimum purchase of Php 6000.
4. There are items that are available online first before they bring it out to the stores.  If you want to score something ahead of the others, then shoppping at Mango.com is the answer.

I hope you find this post useful.  I'm currently saving money for another online shopping spree at Mango.com.  I'll tell you about it once I have saved up money.

Thank you for reading!  Have a great day.