How to Shop YOOX (and score designer deals)

YOOX (pronounced in one syllable rhyming with “fox”) is an Italian online retailer offering premium brands at reduced prices.

Over the last six months, I have gone from rejecting the premise of buying apparel online to doing most of my shopping this way, and YOOX has been one of the chief merchants to convert me.  For the record, I’m not affiliated with YOOX in any way; I’ve just enjoyed shopping with them and want to share the insights of my learning curve. 

Although I live in a suburb of Canada’s biggest city (technically an adjacent city, but culturally perceived as a Toronto suburb), it’s hard to get your hands on premium and contemporary designer merchandise without making the tortuous, traffic-ridden trek downtown to Toronto’s prestigious Yonge and Bloor area.  Even then, there’s not much competition for these few high end retailers, rendering good deals hard to come by.

Enter YOOX, a website selling past season items from top design houses including Prada, Balenciaga, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Mui Mui, Marc Jacobs and many more.  Not only does the site provide instant accessibility to these brands, it also offers them at substantial reductions.  Keep your eye out for additional promotions (like an extra 10% off all items) that run regularly.     

Summer Splurge – Gucci Espadrilles

A great bonus of my new online widow shopping addiction has been learning where to find designer apparel at moderate price points.  I am astounded by how well high end American department stores, like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, service the Canadian consumer.  Both of these stores are almost constantly running “duty free” promotions for Canadian shoppers; this in addition to “10% off your next purchase” discounts for signing up for emails (NM) or following a first purchase (Saks).  Standard import duties that are not calculated at check out, but billed on delivery, can nearly double the price of your item, making duty free promotions a major incentive. 

Both stores offer a large inventory of designer gear that can be difficult to access here in Canada (and I live in a suburb of Canada’s largest city).  It certainly isn’t easy to find Gucci shoes at less than half price around here, as I did with these espadrilles.  Hooray for the clearance section at Neiman Marcus having just one pair left (and in my size)!  

These shoes pair well with my new Paige jeans and my summer wrap dresses.  I love that the floral pattern continues all along the wedge of the shoe, in contrast to the cork or jute rope soles typical of most espadrilles.  A printed shoe adds an unexpected pop to an outfit and can add needed interest to an otherwise solid ensemble. 

As this is my first Gucci purchase, it was interesting to see how the trademark is incorporated into the product.  The show box itself is the coolest I’ve ever seen.  It’s covered with about two hundred of the trademark “GG” symbols embedded into the cardboard.  Similarly, the sole of the shoe features hundreds of super small raised monogram symbols serving as grips for secure walking.  Of course, the Gucci horse bit hardware on the toe is a key trademark.  

Does this score justify my newfound obsession with online window shopping and sale monitoring?  I’ll have to pair them up with a few outfits, wear them out, and report back to you!

 

 

 

Why Preloved Handbags are Cooler than New Ones

 

My latest find, the Louis Vuitton Perle Vernis Malibu Street Bag. LOVE IT!

Since purchasing my first “preloved” handbag last December, seeking out superior vintage finds online has become a new obsession hobby.  “Preloved” is an elegant way  of saying “pre-owned”, which is less elegantly known as “used”.  Sometimes the “vintage” label is applied to preloved items, but this really term is technically inaccurate  if the bag is only a few years old.  

Whatever you call it, there is a thriving online market for pre-owned luxury handbags. I am particularly drawn to Canadian websites like Love that Bag, Modaselle and Beyond the Rack which I blame as partly responsible for my new online window shopping habit, (which may border on the verge of addiction). 

On the surface, it might seem that the singular advantage to buying preloved items is greater accessibility to high-end brands.  As I’ve fallen deeper down the rabbit hole of this new interest however, I’ve become convinced that pre-owned handbags aren’t just less expensive than their new counterparts, they are also much cooler! Here’s why: 

Greater selection 

With vintage/preloved shopping, you’re not limited to a designer’s current collection.  With a little patience (and diligent e-hunting), you can theoretically pick your ideal handbag from every bag ever produced.  A vintage handbag is selected from a much wider pool of styles making it a much cooler, more personalized, fashion statement.

Demonstrates fashion literacy and individuality 

Budget willing, anyone can walk into a designer boutique and purchase the “it bag” of the moment, but doing so doesn’t really say much about one’s unique style or personality.  Do you know the year, history, season and artistic director behind the bag on your arm? Is your arm candy reminiscent of an era, trend or cultural movement that conveys meaning for you?  Vintage handbags are a great way to demonstrate your fashion knowledge and convey a vibe that’s all your own. 

Review of the Coach Legacy Metallic Duffle!

This review will be short ….this bag rocks! I didn’t realize how I was unnecessarily suffering with a not-quite-big-enough handbag until I started wearing this one, officially known as the Large Legacy Metallic Leather Duffle. 

 

I’m a multi-method commuter, using a mixture of car pooling, public transportation and walking during my work week. I carpool halfway to work with my husband and then walk or bus the rest of the way. 

 

As such, everything I need for the day has to be hauled in my bag – but it also has to be easily transportable. The Legacy has more than enough room for a lunch, phone, wallet, make up bag and extra clothing. There is even room left over for shopping errands I may need during the day. 

 

On those days I have the time to walk, I really need a bag that is comfortable on my back and shoulders. The larger-sized Legacy does not disappoint! The thick, adjustable shoulder strap keeps the roomy bag from slowing me down (even with my achey third trimester body)! 

 

I love that the bag is not black (yawn) and yet looks absolutely amazing with everything.  The shinny, metallic leather adds a flair to any outfit and has held up beautifully to anything I’ve exposed it to (including the rough Canadian elements). 

 

The zippers are super high quality, always gliding easily and never sticking. The front pocket is roomy enough to keep all my instant must-grabs (i.e. phone, keys, shopping list) close at hand.  

 

Finally, the bag looks gorgeous whether stuffed to the brim or two-thirds empty. It doesn’t matter where my day takes me, the Legacy makes my trip better! 

The Coach Park Leather Mini Duffle Crossbody – My Review

The Park Mini Duffle in Leather

For my very first Coach bag, I opted for the Park Mini Duffle Crossbody in eye-catching magenta. I love that the “Coach” reference is subtle and secondary to the purse’s inherent merits.  I find the repeated-C signature Coach pattern to be tacky. A bag should be capable of making an impression based on it’s design – it shouldn’t have to scream “look at me, I’m brand name!”

 I love that this bag is just solid leather with the tiniest “Coach” stamp in silver on one side.  The bag’s stunning colour alone ensures it pops against any outfit. Given that magneta is so vibrant, the merlot lining and embellishments tone it down to keep it sophisticated.

I always gravitate to crossbody bags because they are so darn practical. As much as I might like the look of a dainty satchel or clutch, it’s simply not worth the sacrifice of giving up one of my hands.

This little bag is great because, on the rare occasion when a hand-held purse is required, I can remove the crossbody strap for a more elegant look.  With a four inch drop, the top strap is just long enough to slip over your shoulder and tuck the purse under your arm, but only if the bag is sparsely populated, otherwise it will bulge uncomfortably under your arm.

Great hardware converts bag to a crossbody (or stroller bag) in a cinch.

I also love the hardware on the crossbody strap. It’s a swivel hook lobster clasp that makes unclipping and re-clipping a cinch – perfect for mom’s like me who may need to attach it to a stroller handle.

The bag is very small. I had initially purchased it as an everyday work bag, but it will only work on days that I’m packing the bare essentials (wallet, work ID, lightly-packed makeup bag, work blackberry and personal phone). If I intend to carry any extras, like lunch or a layer of clothing, I need to switch it up for another bag.

For many, it will be the perfect little companion for running errands because it’s so light and unobtrusive. For those of us with kids, however, it will probably work best as a compartment for mommy’s personal items as a companion to a larger duffle/baby bag.

The bag’s “retail price” was $228, but after the tagged discount and 50% off everything in the store promotion, I paid about $93.

What I didn’t know when I bought this bag is that it was Made For Factory (MFF), meaning that it was never sold in the full-price Coach boutiques.  Knowing what I know now, would I still have bought the bag? Honestly, probably not, simply because I feel the disingenuous marketing of MFF products is disrespectful to customers. On the other hand, I’m partly grateful I didn’t know about MFF products when I made the purchase because the bag is a lovely addition to my wardrobe and will be a fun statement piece for many of my outfits.

It is after all, my very first Coach bag. I’m bound to be fond of it!

My Review of the Croozer for 2

Lexia sleeping in the Croozer for 2.

I’ve been eyeing up the Croozer for 2 since I started thinking about have a second child.  Running is something I really enjoy, but since returning to work, I have found it almost impossible to leave my daughter behind to get out for a run.  After months of denial (“I’ll find time to run by myself eventually”), I’ve finally accepted my new reality – if I’m going to run with any regularity at all, I will need to take my daughter with me. 

 

With a new baby on the way, and a great deal on the Croozer at my local SportChek, I decided now was the time as any to invest in this chariot. My hope is that I’ll maximize my investment by running with it throughout this pregnancy as well as when Lexia’s little sibling joins us.  Here’s What I love About the Croozer: 

 

Easy to Control – Easy to Push 

Overall, I got what I was looking for. The Croozer makes running with children possible and pragmatic. Even with one 26 pound child on one side, and nothing to counter the balance on the other, the stroller was balanced and even-keeled. The wheels are great to keep moving over bumps and mixed terrain. I can even control it with one hand on straightaways. 

 

Fun and Comfortable for Baby 

The side-by-side seating was a big selling feature for me.  I imagine that if I were a child accompanying mom for a run, I would much rather share the view with my sibling, rather than be isolated and/or staring at the back of their head. My daughter enjoyed the ride and quickly fell asleep in the comfortable bucket seat.

 

Adaptable

I think it’s fabulous that this works perfectly with one child but will soon accommodate two.  With the purchase of the infant sling attachment, a child can ride in this as young as one month old, yet the bucket seats are spacious and the Croozer boats a combined weight limit of 100 pounds. I believe it’s possible that my family will be using the Croozer in one form or another (be it a stroller for two, or a bike trailer for our youngest) for many years to come.  

 

Built-in Protection

I live in cold climate where crisp weather is the norm.  The Croozer cabin keeps kids out of the sun and has a built in plastic layer for wind, snow and rain. 

 

Here’s what I don’t love about the Croozer:  

 

Big and Bulky 

I knew this going in, but the sheer volume of this stroller truly does require serious consideration before purchase.  The Croozer doesn’t fit through either my front or back door.  While the wheels pop off easily to thin out the overall width, there is a large metal bumper at the front of the stroller that prevents it from fitting through a standard door. 

 

Not being able to bring the fully constructed stroller into my house is a big sacrifice. It means I have to coordinate getting two children ready and plopping them into a stroller outside my home without leaving anyone unattended.  If my children fall asleep on our outing, I have to risk waking them up to lift them out of the stroller and bring them inside. 

 

I think the manufacturer should consider adding hinges to the bumper so that users can  pull the two sides upwards to better fit through small spaces. They could also put mini wheels on the bottom of the cabin (picture something like suitcase wheels) so that one could still push their kids through a doorway even if they must remove the outer wheels.

 

Can’t See Your Kids

If any stroller ever needed a peek-a-boo window, it’s this one.  We’re talking about putting two small children side-by-side with open access to each other (one of whom may be as young as one month old).

 

In order to get a good gage on what your children are doing, you really need to stop pushing and walk around to the side of the stroller. That’s a real cramp in one’s running style! 

 

Not Great For Tall Folks 

I’m only 5”7, but even I kicked the back bumper a couple of times during my first few runs. Now that I’ve found my Croozer-flow, it only seems to happen occasionally on my walking breaks, but I’m not sure how well this would work for a taller person. 

 

My husband is 6”4. There’s not a stroller in the world that would convince him to run, but it would be nice if we found one with a push bar high enough that he felt comfortable walking with it. This isn’t that stroller. While the push bar is the perfect height for me, it would be great if it was adjustable so that people of different sizes could customize it to suit their stride. 

Overall, I’m very happy with my Croozer. It’s got me out running again – money well spent!