Tag Archives: buy designer bag

Since purple is really hot this season, i think it worth my time to share with you all the fab purple ensembles you can purchase right now.

The colour purple has never really been considered a staple colour in your wardrobe. Yes, you can wear a top with beautiful purple flowers on it, but block purple has always been seen as a bit heavy and drab for many people. Not anymore! This Winter, make sure you cosy up in the hottest purple creations around.

So, how do you wear purple this Winter? Well, i think the trick here is not to “overdo” it. With purple being quite a heavy colour, it is important that you use it in a way that doesn’t make you look washed out or old and frumpy. The wrong colour purple could do this. Lets look at my example:

Below is a pic i found from a US site. It is a purple and black housecoat / cardigan. For me, this does not work. The purple is too bright and the black makes it look like a bumble bee that has been swimming in Ribena. The material doesn’t work for me either – too “shaggy” and messy. This cardigan is so busy and fussy on the eye, that you would have to wear white underneath to help tone down the vibrancy. I think this is anything but a statement piece.

Not my cup of tea...

Not my cup of tea...

Now I’ve shown you what doesn’t work, check out this hot little cashmere cardigan available from Laura Ashley.

Purple at its best!

Purple at its best!

By wearing a dark purple top with lilac accents on the pockets etc, this breaks up the heavy block colour of the purple and makes it much easier on the eye. Team this cardigan with some black trousers for a hot winter look.

Now, lets remember we can always make our purple a little bit more exciting by choosing different purple variations in an outfit. If its an evening out you are planning for, then see below:

Experiment with your purple!

Experiment with your purple!

Okay, this was just a quick mock-up that i did, but notice how the dress is a bluey-purple, not garish and totally stunning in a soft, floaty material. Team this colour purple with a fuschia pink bag and shoes and you are set for your evening out! Note the sheen on the dress is replicated on the bag and shoes. Never piece an outfit together with different materials clashing.  Also notice the slight ruffle effect of the bag works well with the dress. The bows on the shoes are mirrored with the bow wrapped around the dress. This outfit is perfect for a night out, and shows how you can wear purple and make it really work.

The dress is by Jay Ahr  – Jersey Mini Dress

The shoes are by Tibi – the fuchsia Heathcliff Ankle Wrap Sandal

The bag is by Fendi – The Borderline Ruffle Clutch

Check out Net-A-Porter to see if they are still available!

So, when you’re choosing your purple for this Winter, make sure you get that colour just right. Purple can be hard to wear and cheap drab looking versions will do nothing to complement your figure so shop wisely.

Oooh its the big one! How on earth do you tell fake from real on eBay? It really bugs me when i see loads and loads of so-called “authentic” items in the listings when i know in my heart of hearts that they are anything but authentic, genuine items.

Here’s a tip i learnt. Some sellers think they can get away with putting “authentic” on their listing, like it is an authentic designer piece, but that could also mean it is “authentic from China” etc. Authentic is a bit of a gray area these days. So, some sellers have indeed picked up on this, and they will often list the item as “GENUINE” which is a good indication – well a better one, anyway – that it may well just be real.

I feel sorry for eBay in many ways with this whole fake scandal. Not long ago, they were ordered to pay an astronomical amount to top fashion houses. According to the judgement, eBay ended up paying 19.28m euros in damages to Louis Vuitton Malletier, 17.3m to Christian Dior Couture and 3.25m to the perfume brands. (Source: BBC)

The thing is, with eBay, it is such a worldwide user-friendly platform, that how is it possible to control the dodgy dealings that go on? I mean, when you list an item you are asked to adhere to the terms and conditions and state that the item you are listing is authentic. However, people will just abuse this and carry on listing anyway. Who is going to refrain from making some money just because they think their item is fake?

I also feel sorry for those that have been caught out buying so- called designer goods on eBay, only to find they are fake designer items. My friend bought a Louis Vuitton handbag and paid £75. She thought it was genuine because it came with a controllato card and a Louis Vuitton dustbag, but when she took it to the shop to get it authenticated, she found out the truth. The thing is, if the price is too good to be true, then it probably is. You might think that £75 is a lot for a handbag – which it is – but any Louis Vuitton fans will know that it is a snip at that price and can’t possibly be real. You go into the Louis Vuitton store and try and get a bag for £75! No such luck I’m afraid guys, so why would you think you could get one on eBay.  

When it comes to eBay and designer clothes, always check the seller’s feedback to see what other buyers have said. Another good tip is to check if they are selling multiple items of the same designer goods. 35 Fendi scarves sold in the last month? Hmm, my instincts say steer clear – fake items are bought in bulk and it is always a tell-tale sign if they are shifting a load on eBay.

At the end of the day, if you are wanting real designer clothes on eBay, then the best bet is to check if the item comes with a receipt. This will usually show an honest seller who is only too aware of the counterfeit market, and also shows that someone does not want to be a part of it.

It is becoming increasingly hard to distinguish real items from fake items on eBay, but the tips above should help a little bit. Unsure of an item’s authenticity? Leave a comment and i will try and help out.

A VERY fake Louis Vuitton Bag

A VERY fake Louis Vuitton Bag

(Image source: http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2008/06/pick_of_the_blo_65.html)