Choies Lemon Print Skirt Review

There are a few shopping sites out there that I think of as fashion blogger crack. If you've spent any time on Lookbook, you've probably heard of them - Choies, Chicwish, Sheinside. They have random sounding names, offer free shipping and points for promotion, are relatively cheap, and are based out of Hong Kong or China. The clothes are all quite trendy, so for vintage loving girls, right now they're a great place to stock up on midi skirts while they're popular.

So, I bought this skirt when I was drunk. Had I been sober, I might have passed it up, but I think I'd been trolling Instagram or something, seen the new PUG dresses with the orange print (which are super f-ing cute), and decided then and there that I was going to get something citrus print. This was mostly just what I found that checked off all my boxes - citrus print, not a mini, under $50. 

One of the skirts that I wear most frequently is this green one, from Chicwish.

It's comfortable, well made, and I received it fairly quickly after I ordered it. I expected to get a similar experience from Choies, but that didn't exactly happen.

For starters, I ordered it on the 15th of June, and I received it on July 3rd, which was slow, but within the time frame that they promise delivery. I did have some issues with their website, which had me really concerned. I didn't receive a confirmation email, and the site wouldn't let me log in or reset my password. However, both times that I contacted customer service, the response was both quick and very helpful, so they definitely get points for that.

The pros: I really like the print on this skirt. The colors are nice and vibrant, and the scale is small enough to do some fun print mixing if you're so inclined (I would love to pick up a yellow or green gingham shirt to wear with this). It's also full enough to accommodate a petticoat, which isn't always true of skirts like this that aren't produced for the retro niche market.
The cons: The quality and construction are middling at best. The cotton is thin and a bit scratchy, and when I first put it on, I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the button through the buttonhole. It turned out that it had been stitched, but not opened, so I had to take a pair of scissors to it. Not a huge deal, but kind of annoying, and indicative of the lack of attention to detail.
I do wish the skirt were a little bit longer, but I can't really call that a con. It hits me just above the knee, when I prefer my skirts to be at or just below knee length. I'm 5'7, so on a shorter lady it might be a better length.


So what do I think of this company? Well, you get what you pay for. This skirt was about $45, with free shipping; it's cute and easy to wear for summer, but it might not last until next year. Choies, and the companies like it, have a lot of products, some with really beautiful prints, for quite good prices, so if that's what you're looking for, I'd say go for it. My experience with Chicwish was generally more positive than my experience with Choies, though, so I'd be more likely to order from them in the future.

Heart of Haute Sale Rack Review

I am returned, safe and largely sound, from the wilds of Wisconsin!
So I don't think I'm going to be camping again any time soon. Frankly, I don't think any vacation that involves the phrases "swarms of mosquitoes," "tick check," or "'fuck fuck fuck get it off me!' 'Ok, just give me a sec, do you have the lighter?'" is going to be quite my thing.
But anyway, I have a review for you!
While I like the idea of vintage reproduction clothing, I don't buy very much of it. I've mentioned before that I'm a bit of a cheapskate, and while repro might be more durable, less precious, and have more sizing options that vintage, it's can also be more expensive. That's why I was really excited to discover that Heart of Haute actually has a dedicated site for their sale items. Now, the reason why they're on sale is that they are imperfect, which may be a deal-breaker for some people. Personally, I don't really care. I buy damaged vintage all the time, items with stains that need to be soaked out, hems that need to be taken up, seams that need repairing and buttons that need to be reattached. They don't sell anything that's unwearable, so for a 30-50% discount, I can deal with an almost imperceptible flaw in the fabric.

Funny story - when I struck this pose I accidentally stuck my elbow in the tree, showering myself with tiny green bugs.
The dress that I purchased was the Sweetie in aqua. The shipping was only about $5, and I had it in under a week. It's a pretty classic, 50s style dress, with a sweetheart halter neckline, full skirt, and waist ties. The dress is unlined, but the fabric is sturdy and irons very easily. Although the instructions say to wash cold and hang dry, I ended up throwing mine in the dryer because I was in a bit of a hurry, and it came out fine.

According to the size chart, I'm on the small end of the measurements for a medium, so that's what I ordered. I think I would have been better off with a small, however, since my rather diminutive bosoms don't come close to filling out the bust. A turbo-charged push-up bra helped me out in that department, but I'd say this style might be better for those ladies with a bit more up top than I've got. Likewise, I had to really tighten up the waist ties to get a good fit on the waist.

The dress is really well made and comfortable, and I love the vivid aqua color, which is very true to what I saw online. I wore a light petticoat for these photos, but I walked around without them for most of the day and it was still really cute. Overall, I recommend this dress and the website very highly.
In other news, I've created a Facebook page for this blog, and I would be so very pleased if you would like it. Check it out here.

Links to love

1. I don't care what you say, I will never try oil pulling
I do not understand this fad at all. As she explains in the article, there are some minimal benefits to oil pulling, but don't start talking about how it's going to purify or detoxify your body if you want me to keep listening. I'm sure the Ancients had many Secrets, but quick weight loss and tooth whitening were not among them.


2. Elliot Rodger and the poisonous ideals of masculinity
As I'm sure all of you know, recently a young man went on a shooting rampage in Southern California, killing six people and himself. Before he died, he made Youtube videos and wrote a manifesto that made it clear that while mental illness was the reason why he did what he did, misogyny was what directed it. There is nothing wrong with masculinity, but the way that our society prizes it above all else is sick and dangerous.

3. Bunny Yeager, pinup portraitist, dies at 85
Bunny was the photographer who captured so of Bettie Page's most iconic images. I actually had not heard of her until she passed, but I was really inspired by her life, and by the fact that a woman was so responsible for helping create images that still inform my own style and expression.


4. Laverne Cox is on the cover of Time magazine
The amazing Lavern Cox is on the cover of Time! I think this is a great move for them, frankly; the Orange is the New Black  star was snubbed for their 100 Most Influential People list, despite being the overwhelming front-runner in an online poll that they took that featured her. She is an incredible woman, and I think that it's great that she is opening up the discussion about trans issues.
To be honest, I have not always been as sensitive as I should have been towards trans folks that I've encountered. I let my curiosity about their changing bodies be the focus of my discussions in a way that I now realize was very invasive. So thank you, Laverne Cox and Janet Mock and other amazing trans activists, for pointing out what so many of us do that makes can make the trans community feel alienated.


5. Junebugs and Georgia Peaches review The Oblong Box's budget pinup tops
I'm always looking for a good deal, and these budget pinup tops look like the bomb.  I always appreciate it when blogs bring lesser known brands to a broader audience, and I think once they get a few more colors back in stock, I'm going to have to place an order for one (or two) myself.