The High Price of Cheap Knock-Offs

It's happened to us all.  We are surfing online, browsing at the latest seasons of Louboutins.  One way or another we end up on a knock off site, tempting us with the pretty pictures and cheap prices.  We add all our fantasy dream pairs into our basket and hover over the check out button.  It’s only the email from the boss that stirs away from our momentary weakness of actually making a bad, impulsive purchase.  However, once in a blue moon, our desire gets the best of us, and we make the purchase.  It’s always against our better judgment, but the thought of having a new pair of red soles in our closet wins us over, and we justify it with the less than fantastic work week.  This is my experience of the bad decision I made in my moment of weakness. 

I made the purchase of these faux shoes from the Christian Louboutin Shoes Online Store in the hopes that they would not be too bad.  However, when I did receive them, they were some of the most poorly made shoes I had ever laid eyes on.  These made Payless Shoes seem like truly fine craftsmanship.  Even the fake black spray painted leather (see the photo) felt like a sad attempt at very cheap pleather that would likely tear if I was able to wear them long enough that the incredibly thin spray painted red soles wouldn't get a hole in them.  The seams on the back of the shoes was crooked and rippled and had a crappy piece sewn at the top of the ankle in their attempt to replicate the lip on finely crafted shoes.  The "dust bag" is made of some weird papery tissue paper thin like material that smells like a cheap vinyl bag.  I was offended for all shoes everywhere that I gave them my money to encourage this kind of horrible market demand.  PROMPTLY emailed the customer service email that so happily and quickly took my Visa card number for payment, in order to get a return.  

While I may have made a poor decision in purchasing fake high end shoes, I did check the website for their return policy.  It CLEARLY STATES:

http://www.vogueonlinestore.com/faq.html

"7. About exchange, return and refund.

Customers can send shoes back for exchange, return and refund, the shoe should in brand new condition with all tags.

Please contact us for return address, do not send shoes back to sender directly.

After receive the shoes from your side, we will exchange or refund for you."

ADDITIONALLY:

http://www.vogueonlinestore.com/shippinginfo.html

SHIPPING & RETURNS Shipping & Return Policy Shipping Policy Free shipping to worldwide! Delivery is guaranteed.  We ship Christian Louboutin shoes to anywhere in the world, usually send out within 24 hours. After sent out the goods, you will get a tracking number.  Return Policy We accept returns for exchange or refund due to following reasons: 1. Shipping error 2. Damaged goods 3. Size exchange 4. Dissatisfaction In order to refund, the shoes should be in new and unused condition with all tags attached.  Do not return to sender directly. Before return, please contact us at vogueonlinestore.service@hotmail.com for details and help.

As instructed, I emailed for a return due to the dissatisfaction of their "product".  They have since refused me a refund and offered me a mere 10% refund.  This completely contradicts their own policy stated twice on their website.  The long email exchange resulted in the refusal of the owner, Sue Morgan, to follow their own refund policy.  I made several attempts to get my refund and return the shoes but stopped getting any response from them after the third email.  I got screwed.

This should be a warning to you all to never purchase anything from this site and to warn all your girlfriends of the same.  Please repost to your friends, email, post on Facebook and Twitter so that we can stop bad businesses like the Vogue Online Store from taking advantage of red sole loving women like us.

My cheap knock-offs are going to make their way to a non-profit organization, Dress For Success, so that at least some lemonade is made out of this very sour lemon.

*hearts*

A Man After My Own Heart

The only other man you need besides your sparkling eyed beau is your Shoe Guy.  This little homemade makeshift sign proves their dedication to making your shoes the best they can be and with great care.  They not only take care of our soles, but our purses and leather jackets too.  The relationship between a heel loving gal and her shoe guy is one cultivated over time, one shoe at a time.  Trust is established just as a relationship.  You start with testing out the small stuff you know, soles and heels, and if he’s a keeper, you’re giving him your LV and Chloe’s to get the handles resewn.  The best way to appreciate your Shoe Guy is to spread the word of his good work to all your heel loving gals.

*hearts*

iMéxico Lindo y Querido!

While Cinco De Mayo is nothing special to most “real” Mexicans, us hybrids living here in the US of A have come to celebrate it with our favorite cervezas and tequilas over some Lotería games with friends.  Hey, we still put those Frenchies in their place, so why not drink up, right? ;) As a good Angelino, I made my way through the fine Cinco De Mayo celebrations, that fell conveniently on a Saturday, in Downtown LA, including Plaza Olvera, along with all the fine tequila bar establishments celebrating the occasion.  In my fun bar hopping, I was taken back by these adorable maryjane peeptoe wedges from across a crowded bar.  As I approached the gorgeous lady, drawn intently by these shoes, I failed to realize she was actually an acquaintance.  Birds of a feather, go figure! ;)  So of course, she let me get the details of her festive wedges.

They are from a label called Andrea shoes, and fittingly, a Mexican shoe company.  *swoon*  These are not for those with a  fear of height as they are 5 ¼” high with a 1 ¾” platform.  It’s like they know I have a weakness for skyscraper heels, right?  The most obvious thing about these wedges is their endearing print.  It resembles the traditional “gavan,” or Mexican blanket, print.  The ankle strap maryjane sweetness is counterbalanced with a sexy peep toe to make it freshly modern, and utterly irresistible!    

The fact that these are only $62.10 let’s you celebrate your ethnic adoration of Mexican culture all year round.

*hearts*

Lucky FABB West Coast Style

The fashionistas of the West Coast have been finally pampered Lucky FABB style in having been able to attend the first Lucky FABB held in Los Angeles.  Bloggers from up and down the coast gathered in their most fiercest fashions to hear an amazing line up of speakers and get oodles of goodies.  In a stroke of my own luck, I was able to play the role of a Lucky staffer and help coordinate the behind the scenes.  I was in the equivalent of the AV booth helping coordinate the visual presentations and the sound.  While the majority of the day went smoothly logistically, we had some sound issues that we had to work out.  All in all, I was so incredibly fortunate to get to know the incredible ladies of Lucky that have made it my most favorite magazine ever.  I got lots of great pictures from my day’s in’s and out’s.  There were stars left and right and great media coverage of the wonderful day’s run, including the L.A. Times.  I was sad to have missed to meet all the great tweeting ladies like those from Crossroads Trading Company.  Alas, we will be cyberly in love until we meet in person soon, I hope!

Enjoy my sweets!

Moments before the doors opened

Mr. Zac Posen and Ms. Brandon Holly

My post's view

Ms. Alba had an interesting take on where to find investors... just talk to all your venture capitalist buddies.  DUH!

My idea of packing! ;)  Jellypop Shoes!

Jeanie Mai is seriously SOOO adorable!  I want to blue hair now!!

That's me in the reflection! ;)

Easy Shopping Access with Shopping Stations!

Lucky Team briefing for afternoon sessions

View of the beach from the Annenberg Beach House

Colors everywhere!

Amber Veinz - Reward Style, Vanessa Flaherty - Digital Brand Architects, Mascala Wright - Fashionable Marketing Me, Wendy Nguyen - Wendy's Lookbook, Tina Craig & Kelly Cook - The Bag Snob and The Shoe Snob

Shuuz!

*hearts*

Jellypop Shoes at LuckyFabb Conference!

*hearts*

http://my.friend.vu/6866_0027
Jellypop Shoes Shoot!

Heels for Flat Feet

One of my good friends has struggled with her love affair with high heels.  Unfortunately, her flat feet syndrome keeps her from being able to really enjoy the happiness wearing high heels brings us.  She’s asked me to help her find heels for flat feet.  PROJECT! :)

So, not being flat-footed myself and not being an orthopedic doctor, or trained in that field in any way, I’ll give this my best shot.  In the research I’ve been able to find, it seems there is no cure at the moment.  There’s lots of stuff being done for a pill in the future but as for right now, I’m sorry ladies, it’s just not in the cards.  Some say that wearing heels makes it worse, and some even say that it’s the cause of flat feet.  There’s no research that really shows that, and most people have it since birth.  It’s possible your arches can fall over time, but that isn’t always attributed to wearing the fabulous heels. 

The other thing too is that there are no existing heels for flat feet situations.  This news totally bummed me out.  I actually do feel sadness when someone wants to bask in the glamorous splendor of beautiful heels.  I understand that joy and happiness.  I really do…. So someone being physically denied that, well just makes my shoe-filled heart sad.

But in accepting the challenge, and really wanting to help my girl, I think that there is a combination of things that can help.  Firstly, I think that these foot massages  you can give yourself are a great idea, even if you DON’T have flat feet, this looks and feels yummy when I tried it. :) I think doing some type of this stretching and massaging at your desk in a rather discreet way during the day will help you be able to make it through the “walking parts” of your day.  Also, getting custom-molded inserts is another helper.  I know you all probably already have them, so I’m likely preaching to the choir here.  But again, I’m not saying it’s going to get you doing the marathon 14-hour work day in them, but just that it will help tolerate them better.  The other thing is that you’re going to have carry around your flats with you so you can switch them out.  These are a compact and comfy option.   I’d hate to see you crawling to your car or subway stop at the end of the day. 

None of these suggestions will make your pains of wearing heels with flat feet go away, but I really think that they will give you a little less pain, or at least a little more tolerance and more of a real opportunity to wear them. If you have any better suggestions, I’d love to have you share!  :)

*hearts*

The Webster At Target

Photo Courtesy of Target

I’ve been mildly intrigued by this whole “The Shops at Target” that has been peppered through rather cryptic commercials since January.  Of course I adore the bright colors but didn’t feel that the fashions were so moving that I should look into it further.  AND THEN, I got my May issue of Lucky only to be moved to the point of cyberstalking Target.  These ADORABLE wedges were featured in the Style Spy section as the $30 shoe you can’t live without!  And when Lucky says it, you KNOW its true!!

I’ve been combing the Target webpages trying to get more information on these wedges.  So not only was I able to find these sweet ankle strap gold linen cap toe melon orange canvas platform wedges, retailing for $29.99, I ALSO found the flats and the wedges in The Webster Palm Print, also for $29.99. 

And to my Mad Men pleasure, I discovered the entire The Webster at Target line.  The Palm Print has been cleverly styled to create an entire retro-fabulous line of Womens’, Mens’ and Kiddies’ clothes and accessories.  You may not have been able to do the summer vacation in Miami in 1964, but this line will style you up like you just stepped out of the time machine from there.  Simply put:  IT'S. ADORABLE.  The dresses come in such a range of shapes, there’s one for every body type.  The entire feel and design of the line tickles my art deco architectural loving bone.  *SWOON*

Now you may not get your summer vacation of your dream but you can certainly look like it in The Webster for Target collection.  The best part about it, is that it’s all on a Target budget.  Does it really get better than that?  The line launches on May 6^th so now the real question is, what’s going to be your strategy to get your hands on it?  I got mine ready! ;)

*hearts*