Play Dress Up with Sunday Brunch Dress Shop

When I was younger, I was a hardcore tomboy. I ran around outside with my little brothers all day long. When I wasn't eating grass "stew," punishing my little brothers with my very elaborate ghost stories, and catching crawdads in the creek, I had my nose in a book. I longed to imitate my heros: Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy. Once, I even climbed into a tree with a steno notebook to spy on my neighbors, but they were SO BORING.

I never envisioned that I would grow up to be a fashion journalist, or that I would work as a makeup artist. One thing I swore is that when I grew up, I would NEVER wear dresses. If 10-year old Grace could see Grace now, she would probably be horrified. My favorite "uniform" is comprised of a dress, leggings, and a structured boyfriend blazer with the sleeves rolled up. That means, on nearly a daily basis, I wear dresses.

My favorite place to buy dresses online is Modcloth. They are all so adorable, with a vintage-inspired flair and affordable price points. However, a new website has risen to the challenge of having my favorite dresses on the internet, and that website is Sunday Brunch Dress Shop. It's hard for me to pick a favorite out of this carefully edited collection of gorgeous frocks, but suffice to say, the search for one is always a pleasure. Check out some of my favorites below:


Camilla & Marc Zahra Dress


Yoanna Baraschi Jewel Babe Dress


Men el Stel Cup of Tea Ruffle Dress


Jessica Joyce U-Turn Dress


Camilla & Marc Delphine Dress


Keemia Audrey Dress


IVANAhelsinki Love Dress


Yoana Baraschi Tuxedo Bustier Dress

Play Dress Up with Sunday Brunch Dress Shop

When I was younger, I was a hardcore tomboy. I ran around outside with my little brothers all day long. When I wasn't eating grass "stew" and catching crawdads in the creek, I had my nose in a book. I never envisioned that I would grow up to be a fashion journalist, or that I would work as a makeup artist. One thing I swore is that when I grew up, I would NEVER wear dresses. If 10-year old Grace could see Grace now, she would probably be horrified. My favorite "uniform" is comprised of a dress, leggings, and a structured boyfriend blazer with the sleeves rolled up. That means, on nearly a daily basis, I wear dresses.

My favorite place to buy dresses online is Modcloth. They are all so adorable, with a vintage-inspired flair and affordable price points. However, a new website has risen to the challenge of having my favorite dresses on the internet, and that website is Sunday Brunch Dress Shop. It's hard for me to pick a favorite out of this carefully edited collection of gorgeous frocks, but suffice to say, the search for one is always a pleasure. Check out some of my favorites below:




Camilla & Marc Zahra Dress



Yoanna Baraschi Jewel Babe Dress




Men el Stel Cup of Tea Ruffle Dress




Jessica Joyce U-Turn Dress



Camilla & Marc Delphine Dress



Keemia Audrey Dress



IVANAhelsinki Love Dress



Yoana Baraschi Tuxedo Bustier Dress

Ioffer Shopping Experience

Last year I was given a $500 card from Haute PR company (I'm on their Style Council) to shop at Ioffer.com. I was very excited about this, because I love free money and an excuse to go shopping. What follows is a review of my experience:

Ioffer is like an alternative to ebay. Instead of bidding, you make offers on products and the seller can accept the offer or open negotiations. The concept is simple and straightforward. I found it easy to get the hang of and soon I was on my way to buying scarves and purses and boots and jackets. I have to say, it was a lot of fun.

Pros

You can buy or TRADE for items, which is a pretty novel idea. Sellers specify what they would be willing to trade, but not all sellers participate in the trade aspect of the website.

Sellers generally respond very swiftly to your bid offers. Negotiation is easy. You find an item you want and click Make an Offer. A screen pops up that looks like this:





You determine the price you'd be willing to pay for each item (including shipping). The seller either accepts or renegotiates the offer. If you agree to the price, you pay for it and you're done! Most sellers offer a Buy it Now price as well, so you can skip the negotiation part altogether if it suits you.

Ioffer currently has over 47 million items up for negotiation. That means there are a lot of items to look through. Always, always, always check the feedback extensively. There is more to my cautionary tale of feedback checking below.

Ioffer is FUN. It is fun to negotiate with the seller. It's an online forum for bargaining and haggling and it can be quite entertaining. It also means that you can get so many items for less than the retail price. In every instance, I saved money on the typical retail purchase price.



Cons:

First: The site has a search function glitch. For some reason, different pathways to the same section of the site yields different search results. Say you are on the front page of Ioffer and you click a link in the Top Categories section on the left hand side of the front page:





Well, it would take you to a totally different set of search results than if you were to click on search results from the Search function at the top of the front page:






Searching for a watch in both places would likely yield different results. That confused me at first because I would find something I liked and then not know how to find my way back to it. That's why I recommend clicking "Add to Cart" whenever you find something you like so that you can always bring it up again.


Second: the way they do their feedback is a little strange to me. You can leave feedback for a seller before you have received their items. Most sellers will ask you to do this. In effect, you will leave positive feedback for them WITH the note that you have not received your item yet. There is a function on Ioffer for leaving said note. The reason this exists is because if a seller has not accumulated enough positive feedback they cannot continue to sell their items.

This is dangerous because it can appear that a seller has three positive feedbacks, but unless you check the fine print, you will think they have actually earned the feedback because the buyer has been happy with the purchase they RECEIVED. This is not always the case. This is how I got in trouble.

This is also why my review of Ioffer is several months late. I was waiting for a Paypal dispute to be closed in order to continue with a comprehensive review of Ioffer. My Paypal dispute finally closed. So, here is my cautionary tale.


I purchased a pair of knee-high boots from a seller. I did not know Ioffer's strange feedback policy. I saw that they were a relatively new seller (most sellers on Ioffer appear to be relatively new with little feedback on their profiles), but that they had three positive feedback given. What I did not know is that none of the buyers had received the item. It turns out, I wouldn't either.

A month went by before I decided to file a dispute. I never received the boots and the seller did not respond to a single one of my queries. When I checked back on their profile, I noticed that they now had three negative feedbacks. No one else had gotten the merchandise they had purchased either. I felt like a dummy.

Bizarrely enough, I LOST my Paypal dispute. I never received the boots, the seller stole $50 from me (well, essentially me, but they really stole $50 from Haute PR Company who provided me with the funds in the first place), and Paypal let them. The seller provided a fake tracking number and that apparently duped Paypal into thinking I had filed a false dispute. It is a common scam for sellers in China, using EMS to ship packages, to fake tracking numbers for items. I did not know of this when I started. I also filed a dispute through Ioffer, but they have a very, very weak system in place to handle disputes and it basically did nothing. I never even heard back from that filing at all.

Third: Most of these items are from overseas, which accounts for their exorbitant shipping costs. A lot of the items on Ioffer are fakes or reproductions. I mean, you can't find an authentic brand new Marc Jacobs Stam bag for $50 ANYWHERE. You must use common sense when ordering. However, if you don't mind purchasing high quality fakes, then Ioffer has plenty.

I ordered several things from Chinese sellers like pretty feather headbands and leggings, and I had no problems other than the fact that the shipping was often higher than the cost of the item. I ordered and received over 20 items. The fact that I did not receive 1 single item and had to file a Paypal dispute is really par for the course when you buy through a website like Ioffer or even Ebay. The problem was that I was not aware of site policies and I did not conduct a thorough investigation into the seller. That was my fault.

Just because I had one unsavory experience does not mean I would not shop there again. I enjoyed my experience on Ioffer and have purchased other things from Ioffer since the $500 gift certificate shopping spree, but I have been much more cautious. I have had my share of unsavory experiences on Ebay, and even once on Etsy. Such is the nature of online shopping. Always proceed with caution.

Ways to get the most out of Ioffer: 1) Buy from sellers that are located in the same country as you in order to cut down on shipping costs. 2) Only order from sellers that have lots of feedback. 3) Do not buy from a seller that only takes money orders (Western Union).




Overall grade:

Look: A
Navigability: B- (search glitch)
Available Items: B+
Ease of Use: A-
Clarity of Rules: C (not immediately clear on feedback rules)
Would use again: B (yes, I would check the feedback more carefully)

Ioffer Shopping Experience

Last year I was given a $500 card from Haute PR company (I'm on their Style Council) to shop at Ioffer.com. I was very excited about this, because I love free money and an excuse to go shopping. What follows is a review of my experience:

Ioffer is like an alternative to ebay. Instead of bidding, you make offers on products and the seller can accept the offer or open negotiations. The concept is simple and straightforward. I found it easy to get the hang of and soon I was on my way to buying scarves and purses and boots and jackets. I have to say, it was a lot of fun.

Pros

You can buy or TRADE for items, which is a pretty novel idea. Sellers specify what they would be willing to trade, but not all sellers participate in the trade aspect of the website.

Sellers generally respond very swiftly to your bid offers. Negotiation is easy. You find an item you want and click Make an Offer. A screen pops up that looks like this:





You determine the price you'd be willing to pay for each item (including shipping). The seller either accepts or renegotiates the offer. If you agree to the price, you pay for it and you're done! Most sellers offer a Buy it Now price as well, so you can skip the negotiation part altogether if it suits you.

Ioffer currently has over 47 million items up for negotiation. That means there are a lot of items to look through. Always, always, always check the feedback extensively. There is more to my cautionary tale of feedback checking below.

Ioffer is FUN. It is fun to negotiate with the seller. It's an online forum for bargaining and haggling and it can be quite entertaining. It also means that you can get so many items for less than the retail price. In every instance, I saved money on the typical retail purchase price.



Cons:

First: The site has a search function glitch. For some reason, different pathways to the same section of the site yields different search results. Say you are on the front page of Ioffer and you click a link in the Top Categories section on the left hand side of the front page:





Well, it would take you to a totally different set of search results than if you were to click on search results from the Search function at the top of the front page:






Searching for a watch in both places would likely yield different results. That confused me at first because I would find something I liked and then not know how to find my way back to it. That's why I recommend clicking "Add to Cart" whenever you find something you like so that you can always bring it up again.


Second: the way they do their feedback is a little strange to me. You can leave feedback for a seller before you have received their items. Most sellers will ask you to do this. In effect, you will leave positive feedback for them WITH the note that you have not received your item yet. There is a function on Ioffer for leaving said note. The reason this exists is because if a seller has not accumulated enough positive feedback they cannot continue to sell their items.

This is dangerous because it can appear that a seller has three positive feedbacks, but unless you check the fine print, you will think they have actually earned the feedback because the buyer has been happy with the purchase they RECEIVED. This is not always the case. This is how I got in trouble.

This is also why my review of Ioffer is several months late. I was waiting for a Paypal dispute to be closed in order to continue with a comprehensive review of Ioffer. My Paypal dispute finally closed. So, here is my cautionary tale.


I purchased a pair of knee-high boots from a seller. I did not know Ioffer's strange feedback policy. I saw that they were a relatively new seller (most sellers on Ioffer appear to be relatively new with little feedback on their profiles), but that they had three positive feedback given. What I did not know is that none of the buyers had received the item. It turns out, I wouldn't either.

A month went by before I decided to file a dispute. I never received the boots and the seller did not respond to a single one of my queries. When I checked back on their profile, I noticed that they now had three negative feedbacks. No one else had gotten the merchandise they had purchased either. I felt like a dummy.

Bizarrely enough, I LOST my Paypal dispute. I never received the boots, the seller stole $50 from me (well, essentially me, but they really stole $50 from Haute PR Company who provided me with the funds in the first place), and Paypal let them. The seller provided a fake tracking number and that apparently duped Paypal into thinking I had filed a false dispute. It is a common scam for sellers in China, using EMS to ship packages, to fake tracking numbers for items. I did not know of this when I started. I also filed a dispute through Ioffer, but they have a very, very weak system in place to handle disputes and it basically did nothing. I never even heard back from that filing at all.

Third: Most of these items are from overseas, which accounts for their exorbitant shipping costs. A lot of the items on Ioffer are fakes or reproductions. I mean, you can't find an authentic brand new Marc Jacobs Stam bag for $50 ANYWHERE. You must use common sense when ordering. However, if you don't mind purchasing high quality fakes, then Ioffer has plenty.

I ordered several things from Chinese sellers like pretty feather headbands and leggings, and I had no problems other than the fact that the shipping was often higher than the cost of the item. I ordered and received over 20 items. The fact that I did not receive 1 single item and had to file a Paypal dispute is really par for the course when you buy through a website like Ioffer or even Ebay. The problem was that I was not aware of site policies and I did not conduct a thorough investigation into the seller. That was my fault.

Just because I had one unsavory experience does not mean I would not shop there again. I enjoyed my experience on Ioffer and have purchased other things from Ioffer since the $500 gift certificate shopping spree, but I have been much more cautious. I have had my share of unsavory experiences on Ebay, and even once on Etsy. Such is the nature of online shopping. Always proceed with caution.

Ways to get the most out of Ioffer: 1) Buy from sellers that are located in the same country as you in order to cut down on shipping costs. 2) Only order from sellers that have lots of feedback. 3) Do not buy from a seller that only takes money orders (Western Union).




Overall grade:

Look: A
Navigability: B- (search glitch)
Available Items: B+
Ease of Use: A-
Clarity of Rules: C (not immediately clear on feedback rules)
Would use again: B (yes, I would check the feedback more carefully)

I'm a Carpet Bagger, Baby

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue




































Godspeed to you. Keep the lighthouse in sight.

I'm a Carpet Bagger, Baby

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue




































Godspeed to you. Keep the lighthouse in sight.

Be still, my beating heart

Francesca Sloan-Durand can make your heart stop in its tracks. No, she's not a Big Mac and she's not a Tony's BLT. She actually happens to be the designer behind Babooshka Boutique: the best thing on Etsy. She is also one of the most amazing independent fashion designers I've ever had the joy of stumbling across.

These are a few of her stunning creations (the best part is the price!)



Gunmetal and Grey Shiney Matte Panel Leggings, $52



High Waist Paperbag Pencil Skirt w/Pockets, $48


Leather Look Oversized Box T Shirt in Black, $46



Long Feather Stretch Head Band Head Piece Black n White, $20



Gold Studded Black Turban Headband Head Wrap, $18



Boyfriend Sweater Tunic w/ pockets in Grey, $92


See what I mean? I want it all. I want everything in her store. I am a fashion critic and writer - it's rare that something can please me in total, but she has managed. Her collection is flawless. It's wearable, comfortable, fashion forward, and gorgeous - with a little something for everyone. Democratic Fashion is what I like to call it.


She let me interview her, and her answers made me like her and her products even more. Read the interview:

High Fashion Girl: The name of your store is very unique. How did you come to name your shop Babooshka Boutique?

Babooshka Boutique: When I was a child I had a chihuahua puppy named "Francesca's Babooshka Bubble Baby" Bubbles for short. She was stolen from my backyard when I was in middle school. When I was trying to think of a name for my first boutique in 2005 I decided on Babooshka rather then Francesca because of the importance of my dearest puppy and all of the different meanings of the word. When I would pull the gate for my shop that I had in Philadelphia, it was almost daily that someone would stop and ask me if I knew what babooshka means. I love the way the word Babooshka sounds and the way it looks. It was just a perfect match.


HFG: That's a great way to derive a name for a store! I love the name of her chihuahua. My first cat was named Biffy Biffy Boom Ba. Though, I doubt I could use that as the name behind my inspired line of clothing (if there was one).

HFG: How did Babooshka Boutique manifest?

BB: Probably when I won "Best of Philly" in 2006 just months after opening my shop. I knew at that point that what I was doing was special. Philadelphia has a lot of wonderful shopping and for what I was doing to be chosen for such a special award I knew at that moment that I was doing the right thing.

HFG: Are you a one-woman operation?

BB: Yes, I am a one woman operation and always have been.

HFG: Impressive!

HFG: Do you have many employees at your brick and mortar store in PA?

BB: One employee, yes.

HFG: You sew everything yourself and are quite the entrepreneur. Have you had any help establishing your business or advertising to the public or is it all DIY?

BB: I went to fashion design school. Graduated in July, 2005 and opened my first shop October, 2005. The shop was a dream that I had to see through. I did it all myself and I have not stopped working since.

HFG: What has been your proudest moment as a boutique owner so far?

BB: I have had a lot of moments. It seems like they are always replaced by something more current as they happen. In the moment I always think "wow I never would have thought" and then months later something even more amazing topping the previous moment comes my way. I think its all of the hard work. When I had my shop I made everything that was in the shop as well as running the shop, once I shut down my shop down and continued to stock shops across the US I kept doing that on my own as well. Now that I moved to Pittsburgh and run my website Babooshka Boutique as well as my Etsy shop and stocking boutiques across the world I am always working. I never stop which is probably why things always seem hectic here but I don't mind that at all.


HFG: Has the economic recession negatively impacted your business?

BB: This last year has been the best. I think my price points help. In the last year I have sewn over 2500 garments. I would not say (crossing fingers) that I was effected at all.


No kidding! With your price points and accessible trends, it's no wonder you're doing well in this economic climate.


HFG: Who is your fashion inspiration?

BB: It is weird. I don't obsess over any one designer. I appreciate a lot of what is going on in the fashion world out there but at the same time always make things that I want to wear that fit my true aesthetic and Babooshka's image.

HFG: What do you do to make sure Babooshka Boutique stands out from other Etsy stores, online boutiques, and local shops in Philadelphia?

BB: I think it all comes together organically. Like I stated above I just do what I love and stay true to myself. Luckily, it has worked out really well for me so far. Babooshka's 5 year anniversary is this year.

Now, dear readers, if you are enjoying Babooshka Boutique's creations as much as I am, I have a treat for you. Francesca, owner and creator of Babooshka Boutique, is extending a discount code just for High Fashion Girl readers (use the code HIGHFASHION at check-out). It's only valid at her online boutique, not at her Etsy store. However, her Etsy store and online boutique carry nearly all of the same merchandise. Each piece is handmade to order by Francesca herself.

Be still, my beating heart

Francesca Sloan-Durand can make your heart stop in its tracks. No, she's not a Big Mac and she's not a Tony's BLT. She actually happens to be the designer behind Babooshka Boutique: the best thing on Etsy. She is also one of the most amazing independent fashion designers I've ever had the joy of stumbling across.

These are a few of her stunning creations (the best part is the price!)



Gunmetal and Grey Shiney Matte Panel Leggings, $52



High Waist Paperbag Pencil Skirt w/Pockets, $48


Leather Look Oversized Box T Shirt in Black, $46



Long Feather Stretch Head Band Head Piece Black n White, $20



Gold Studded Black Turban Headband Head Wrap, $18



Boyfriend Sweater Tunic w/ pockets in Grey, $92


See what I mean? I want it all. I want everything in her store. I am a fashion critic and writer - it's rare that something can please me in total, but she has managed. Her collection is flawless. It's wearable, comfortable, fashion forward, and gorgeous - with a little something for everyone. Democratic Fashion is what I like to call it.


She let me interview her, and her answers made me like her and her products even more. Read the interview:

High Fashion Girl: The name of your store is very unique. How did you come to name your shop Babooshka Boutique?

Babooshka Boutique: When I was a child I had a chihuahua puppy named "Francesca's Babooshka Bubble Baby" Bubbles for short. She was stolen from my backyard when I was in middle school. When I was trying to think of a name for my first boutique in 2005 I decided on Babooshka rather then Francesca because of the importance of my dearest puppy and all of the different meanings of the word. When I would pull the gate for my shop that I had in Philadelphia, it was almost daily that someone would stop and ask me if I knew what babooshka means. I love the way the word Babooshka sounds and the way it looks. It was just a perfect match.


HFG: That's a great way to derive a name for a store! I love the name of her chihuahua. My first cat was named Biffy Biffy Boom Ba. Though, I doubt I could use that as the name behind my inspired line of clothing (if there was one).

HFG: How did Babooshka Boutique manifest?

BB: Probably when I won "Best of Philly" in 2006 just months after opening my shop. I knew at that point that what I was doing was special. Philadelphia has a lot of wonderful shopping and for what I was doing to be chosen for such a special award I knew at that moment that I was doing the right thing.

HFG: Are you a one-woman operation?

BB: Yes, I am a one woman operation and always have been.

HFG: Impressive!

HFG: Do you have many employees at your brick and mortar store in PA?

BB: One employee, yes.

HFG: You sew everything yourself and are quite the entrepreneur. Have you had any help establishing your business or advertising to the public or is it all DIY?

BB: I went to fashion design school. Graduated in July, 2005 and opened my first shop October, 2005. The shop was a dream that I had to see through. I did it all myself and I have not stopped working since.

HFG: What has been your proudest moment as a boutique owner so far?

BB: I have had a lot of moments. It seems like they are always replaced by something more current as they happen. In the moment I always think "wow I never would have thought" and then months later something even more amazing topping the previous moment comes my way. I think its all of the hard work. When I had my shop I made everything that was in the shop as well as running the shop, once I shut down my shop down and continued to stock shops across the US I kept doing that on my own as well. Now that I moved to Pittsburgh and run my website Babooshka Boutique as well as my Etsy shop and stocking boutiques across the world I am always working. I never stop which is probably why things always seem hectic here but I don't mind that at all.


HFG: Has the economic recession negatively impacted your business?

BB: This last year has been the best. I think my price points help. In the last year I have sewn over 2500 garments. I would not say (crossing fingers) that I was effected at all.


No kidding! With your price points and accessible trends, it's no wonder you're doing well in this economic climate.


HFG: Who is your fashion inspiration?

BB: It is weird. I don't obsess over any one designer. I appreciate a lot of what is going on in the fashion world out there but at the same time always make things that I want to wear that fit my true aesthetic and Babooshka's image.

HFG: What do you do to make sure Babooshka Boutique stands out from other Etsy stores, online boutiques, and local shops in Philadelphia?

BB: I think it all comes together organically. Like I stated above I just do what I love and stay true to myself. Luckily, it has worked out really well for me so far. Babooshka's 5 year anniversary is this year.

Now, dear readers, if you are enjoying Babooshka Boutique's creations as much as I am, I have a treat for you. Francesca, owner and creator of Babooshka Boutique, is extending a discount code just for High Fashion Girl readers (use the code HIGHFASHION at check-out). It's only valid at her online boutique, not at her Etsy store. However, her Etsy store and online boutique carry nearly all of the same merchandise. Each piece is handmade to order by Francesca herself.