Hot Buys Weekly 7: Chanel Inspired Resort Wear

It feels so good to be back blogging again after taking a few days break from Stardoll to focus on schoolwork and such. But now that I'm back, I've been itching to critique the latest Hot Buys Weekly release! So I'm sure many of you, by now, have realized that Stardoll imitated Chanel's Resort 2013 release for this week's Hot Buys. I say they did a pretty good job with this collection.

The first piece I took a look at was the Resort '13 Dress. Using a side-by-side comparison, I'd say that they did a lovely job with the tulle layering and flowing design. The flowers on the Hot Buys dress were, however, missing the contrast that actually made them look like flowers, and not just pastel-colored confetti. The dress looked like it were being puffed up by a soft, spring breeze, and gave the dress nice volume and definition.

The next item I enjoyed was the Pastel Paris Hair. It most certainly was an accurate depiction of the wigs that the girls sported while modeling the designs at Chanel's release. I thoroughly enjoyed the color, being a fan of pastels, and the cut and style. They did a nice job with the windy look.

When glancing back and forth between Chanel's release and the Hot Buys, the Golden Resort Purse fell a bit short. The purse design itself lacked detail, and was a little too 2-dimensional for my tastes. 8 Stardollars for something of this caliber isn't necessarily a waste of money, but I wouldn't really recommend spending money on it. Of course, I do commend the lovely effort and style of the gold chain, as well as the shading on the strap.

The Resort '13 Sunhat was a classic and versatile addition to this week's collection, in my opinion. The wide brim nicely complimented the black ribbon tied around it. However, the shading gave it a plastic appearance, and I do think they could have done more with deepening the shade and gradient of the pink. There wasn't really anything too special about this hat, though.

I was a little confused with the Striped Boots. Sure, the pinstripes in light pink on the white were very nice, but I really don't see how it fit into this collection. It was as if they just threw a re-designed copy of January's Fallen Angel Boots. (See attached photo.) It was definitely the wild card in this collection.

Overall, this collection scored an A.

I think Stardoll did a pretty decent job with this collection, and managed to accurately pay homage to Chanel's Resort '13 release! I hope there will be more of these types of collections in the future!

Hot Buys Weekly 6: Denim

This week's theme for the Weekly Hot Buys release was denim, and lots of it. I think the only items in the collection that weren't made of the fashionably durable material were the two pairs of shoes. However, as much as my love for the versatile fabric goes, I didn't particularly like Stardoll's take on it with this release. The construction seemed a little sloppy and haphazard to me; and although the general design might have been somewhat inspiring, it fell into the category of those more recent Hot Buys that aren't anything special.

So we'll begin with the Knot Striped Shirt. I definitely enjoyed the loosely casual knot at the bottom of the shirt, but it did little with the overall design of the item itself. The wrinkles and creases in the fabric were constructed decently, but with barely a strip of midriff showing and the modesty in the high-buttoned collar making me slightly uncomfortable, I could hardly see spending 14 Stardollars on it.

Next is the Dotted Denim Dress, which I didn't like very much. To me, it kind of resembled a cross between "cowgirl" and "trendy", which only works in some circumstances... and this wasn't one of them. The denim star-printed fabric didn't really work in this particular dress, and to be quite honest, it looked like someone took a pair of scissors to some overalls and sewed it on top of an opaque LBD. However, the shape of the bodice was rather nice, and I liked the straps, but I feel like more effort could have been put into the skirt to make it truly Hot Buys worthy. That was the overall problem with this entire release. Nothing really that caught my eye or made me want to spend a whopping 18 Stardollars.

The Dotted Punk Jeans would have been so much nicer if the Stardoll designers hadn't overlooked one crucial detail: the fact that the translucent white dot pattern is running right off the leg of the jeans into space, only by a little, but still overlooked, nonetheless. Forgive me if I'm being overly captious with my patterns here, but it just ticked at me, I suppose. But I really did love the jeans themselves. Aside from that simple misdemeanor, the simplistic style and the cuffed ends were quite nice. The acid wash coloring was also really nice. I do still believe that more could have been done to the waistband and the stitching could have been enhanced a little, but I'll settle for this, if nothing else. Probably the nicest item in this week's release, in my opinion.

But my question is... what's so punk about ripped jeans?

I'm usually very picky when it comes to buying shoes in the Starplaza. I've got to try them on a bunch of different times, with different pairs of pants or jeans or leggings, and I've got to be 110% sure that I'll actually wear them and not waste my money buying them. That being said, I'd probably avoid buying the Camelia Sneakers. I'm really confused as to what the point of sticking random black tufts of whatever that's supposed to be onto the sides of the shoe. The straps of the shoe (if that's what those actually were) blended right in with the fabric, making it look even more plain than it was to begin with.

I really don't have much to say about the Mademoiselle Booties. I won't go that far as to say they were a horrendous blight on the name of fashion, and "how dare they call themselves shoes", but it was pretty bad. It would have looked a little nicer if it had a more sophisticated and sleek appeal and overall design.

Overall, this collection scored a D.

I'm still waiting for a huge surprise for next week! I'm thinking a modern, Oriental themed collection would be a fresh take? Or maybe the classic black and white mod. So many options, but we'll have to see what comes out next week! Until then, dollies! 

Hot Buys Weekly 5: Vintage Voyage

I can honestly say that I was rather shocked when I logged on this afternoon to find that yet another Weekly Hot Buys collection had been released! I'm making a stab in the dark at this latest release being a bonus collection of some sorts, being that there were few items; all of which were accessories. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this week's bonus collection. This "voyage" theme was neat, classy, and elegant, which was certainly a splash of ice water in the face for myself, if not for many who believe that the most recent years' Hot Buys collections have been nothing but non-cohesive flops. I certainly commend the nice designs in this week's release.

The Voyage Scarf was my favorite piece in the collection. I thought the sheer black chiffon and the deep violet pattern complemented each other very nicely, as well as the style and cut of the fabric. The knot of the scarf itself had an elegant look that would really look good with most neutral colors, or anything plain as a means of dressing it up without it being too overpowering.

Another favorite of mine was the Voyage Big Bag, which did credit to its name. It certainly was a large enough, with a smooth handle and a waxy appearance (thanks to the nice shading on the creases of the leather). The deep burgundy color with the orange-brown tan of the handles looked just like a vintage tote, with a simplistic enough pattern that is versatile with almost any darker color.

I wouldn't mind spending 9 Stardollars on the Voyage Stilettos, if they were a little more creative with the idea. I don't think the overly-modern and mundane design worked with the vintage theme at all, however the craftsmanship was pretty decent in regards to the shading and the shadows underneath the ankle-buckle. It looked a little too "Original Future" for me, not one of my favorite shopping destinations at the Starplaza.

The Voyage Fleur Bag had the potential to be a lovely piece, but in my opinion, it was ruined by the childish-looking flower in the clasp. The shading was gorgeous, and realistic enough to tell that the outer layer was a quilted plastic sort of design, which was quite nice. However I don't think the almost neon indigo color really worked with the theme. One thing I did appreciate in this design was the effort visible in the metal clasps holding the handles to the bag itself. They were subtle enough to go unnoticed, and subtle enough to be a shining star all by themselves. They really gives the shorter handles a lovely definition, and add to the overall quality of the bag.

The last piece in this collection was not an accessory, rather a themed steamer trunk in a lovely shade of pale pink and white. The Luxury Trunk is a lovely addition to this collection, and the wooden panels on the corners really accentuate the pale pink around the trunk, and the white quilted pattern on the inside. I really liked the white curlicues on the top edges, as well.

Overall, this collection scored an A-

So far, the ratings seem pretty erratic for most of the collections, with scores ranging from A's to F's. However, this was one collection that I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to see, after last week's low rating. I think they're really working on the craftsmanship with some of these pieces, but that as well, takes continuous effort, so we shall hope for the best! 

Weekly Hot Buys 4: Retro

Welcome back to the fourth installment of the Weekly Hot Buys reviews! A few things to remember while reading this, the first being that I was in a pretty good mood because Florence + the Machine had come on Pandora at the exact moment I decided to check out the Starplaza for this week's latest release, and my mom had just arrived with a huge case of Vitamin Water. The second being that, for these reasons alone, I was able to stomach this week's Hot Buys and charge through with equally uncharacteristic vivacity.

No, but seriously, this meme pretty much summed up my initial reaction.

I have to admit, I was rather confused by this week's odd theme. I pegged it as "retro" in the title, hoping it was somewhat accurate.

Here's a picture of the collection (courtesy of the Starplaza... and yes, this is another print-screened image. Sorry about that, but I don't get the ads anymore; not quite sure why. Once I figure that out, the picture quality should hopefully improve, haha).

So we'll begin with the Brooch Jacket, and I'm not quite sure I even know how to begin with this one. The overall design and pattern really threw me off. I think the color is nice, but the random, unidentifiable objects stitched into it were quite unflattering. However, I do enjoy the craftsmanship on the pearl buttons and the collar, but it certainly isn't worth the 16 Stardollars that they're charging for it.

The Mirror Skirt was another piece that I wasn't too fond of. The cut, length and color were actually rather nice, however I didn't like the reflective polka-dots sewn into the fabric. It just screamed, "shower curtain" to me.

I believe that in every Hot Buys collection, there's always one piece that you really can't mess up, and in this week's release, it was the Checkerboard Tights. Classic and versatile, these tights could be paired with several different colors and styles, but I feel that the best use for them would be in a kitschy / vintage theme. They really are quite nice, and the craftsmanship is lovely, especially in regards to the reflection of light off the surface, as well as the shading. 

The Medallion Clutch, however, was not nearly as nice. It reminded me of the glasses case I used to have for my thin, wire-frame glasses in the 5th grade, and the seatbelt-buckle strap only made it worse. The shading on the metal adjustment clasps were nice enough, however it wasn't enough to pull this accessory through to a passing grade.

The Beaded Heels caught my attention, that is, until I took a closer look at the overall composition. Sure, the craftsmanship was nice in regards to the heel and the strap, but the rumpled, pink fabric and sewn-in black and white beads really didn't belong there. Maybe if someone took an iron to the heavy, thick-looking fabric, or if the oddly out-of-place beading were taken out, it would be worth spending 7 Stardollars. 

Overall, this collection scored an F

I really didn't like this theme (and my opinion may not be yours), but I'm still on the edge of my seat to see what's on for next week! I would really love to see a 50's revival. God, I love the 50's; halter necks, big hair, poodle skirts, the whole nine yards! Well, a girl can dream, can't she? 

And on that note, I'll be seeing you all next week! Ciao! 

Weekly Hot Buys 3: 80's Revival

Rise and shine, dollies! The release of another weekly Hot Buys means it's time for another review segment! I've got to say, honestly, this week's release didn't really meet my expectations. In fact, it fell a little far from it, however there were some pieces which had excellent components.

To begin with, the Oversized Sunnies fell almost in the middle of the spectrum. The neon green frames studded with black painted-on dots was more an eyesore than it was eye-protection. The lenses, I thought, were pretty nicely made, but the frames did them no service. They did however, live up to their name; being definitely oversized, and not in a good way, unless you enjoy looking like you have eyes that should probably belong on a fruit fly. 

The Bling Lips Necklace was probably the nicest item in the whole collection. I thought the subtle black ribbon threaded through the heavy gold chains were a stylish complement to each other, not to mention a recent growing trend in today's fashion. However, the waxy red lips dangling from the thickly strung-together necklace wasn't too flattering, especially considering that they were studded with very fake-looking diamond studs placed awkwardly in the middle of the parting lips. 

Next, we've got the Blue Brocade Coat, which, surprisingly, didn't turn me off as soon as I saw it. I really think that maybe if you paired it with accurately matching jewelry or accessories you could pull it off. The composition of the design was very nice; you could really get a close look at the well-made texture. Think me unreasonable, but I really do find the sleeve-angle rather awkward. I think it honestly would have looked better if our mannequin remained sitting with her arms bent.

The Electric Blue Bag was supremely mundane. Nothing really special about it, and nothing that I particularly liked or disliked.

Lastly, the Hot Pink Heels hardly left a good impression with the closing of this week's releases, although I will compliment the shading on the heels, even though it could use a bit more blending.

In total, this collection scored a D.

As much as I can't wait for the next collection, I really hope they try something more unique and less overplayed in regards to the theme. 

**Apologies for not being able to get a decent picture up. If you're wondering, yes, I did have to screenshot an image, due to the fact that I didn't receive the legitimate advertisement of the collection. 

Weekly Hot Buys 2: Gothic Lolita

After reviewing the latest edition of the weekly Hot Buys, I've surmised that a Gothic Lolita theme has definitely been in contemplation, not only with the Hot Buys, but with the latest Sunny Bunny collection, as well. However, I am a total sucker for Sunny Bunny, and my inner 10-year old little girl is telling me to truly enjoy this week's Hot Buys collection.

I thought I'd start on a good note with the Gothic Lolita Top. Honestly, I really thought it was a blast from the past in regards to overall composition, and it was certainly versatile enough to be paired with something as mundane as a pair of colored skinny jeans to a fitted pencil skirt. The only part of it I didn't find too appealing were the peplum ruffles. Personally, I was never a real fan of that trend, but the shading on that addition was definitely reminisce of something I'd have seen in an earlier Hot Buys collection, which is always a good thing. The creases and wrinkles in the puffed sleeves also deserved honorable mention, just because I loved the classic way they worked with the lace on the front. 

The next item, the Teal Tutu Skirt, was a bit of a far cry from anything as decent as the aforementioned piece. I found it a little awkward, composition-wise, with the shape reminding me of a lamp shade. The teal undertones weren't too awful in the color combination, but again, the translucent black and teal tulle underneath the skirt itself looked like tissue paper to me. Overall, not too attractive, although I'm sure you could cover up it's mediocrity by pairing or layering it. 

The Gothic Lolita Tights were, again, not one of my personal favorites. My dislike for them stems from the fact that I can't stand the color purple, so make of it what you might in your own circumstances. However, I will say that the design is simplistic enough, but the color makes it rather difficult to create subtlety or pair it with an ensemble. "Stand-alone" pieces like these are the wild cards in a Hot Buys collection.

And finally, to sum everything up, I'll finish with the Strappy Platforms, and there is really only one word that I'd use to describe them: fabulous. Do my eyes deceive me? Are those shadows that I'm seeing underneath the straps? And the light reflections on the front of the shoe itself were lovely. Although they aren't anything special design-wise, considering there have been a few items in the Starplaza that looked practically the same, I'd still give them an A+ for composition.

Taking everything into consideration, I'd probably give it a B- total. 

I'm glad to see that Stardoll has been taking a few steps in the right direction with this week's release. It certainly gave me some hope and raised the bar for next week! Until then, dollies.

Weekly Hot Buys 1: Valentines

It's apparent that Stardoll decided to take a break from the effortless monotony of creating yet another monthly Hot Buys collection, and so they released a new Weekly Hot Buys event. Five new items will only be available for purchase during that week. But of course, as excited as I was to log in and pray for the best, I was still expecting the worst. I certainly think you can guess my expectations as soon as I reached the Starplaza.

I personally found these items, on the whole, rather disappointing, as is the depressing trend in the most recent Hot Buys collections. But today's releases were far from disappointing. In fact, I might as well have shaved off all my hair and moped about New York City in sackcloth, ruing the day Stardoll ever put these designs on the drawing board.

These items definitely stuck to their Valentines theme, with pink used in every single item. The love earrings were a cute addition to the mini collection but were cute rather than fashionable. The heart shaped studded clutch is extremely large which is a let down as it is a nice item excusing the fact it is very weirdly oversized. The blouse is once again a reasonably nice piece that was let down by the exceedingly large and rather odd gaping hole in the middle. Which leads me to the nail tips, once again a cute addition, costing a rather large sum of 6 stardollars per hand.

The "All Around Hearts" accessories were truly appalling, eerily reminisce of clown makeup, and something I could see my 9-year old cousin wearing to a dance recital. I was able to finally snap a photo of my dollie sporting the eye-pieces without my retina burning out in the process, so please excuse my complete inability to edit photos...


*continued after break*