Friday, December 21, 2007

ATTENTION SAUCY BRITS

Is "Saucy Brits" an OK thing to say? That's not a derogatory term, is it? I think I heard it in a Hugh Grant movie once, but now that I've put it up there in blaring capital letters, I'm worried that it might be the equivalent of Susie Bubble titling a post "ATTENTION FAT, LAZY AMERICANS," which of course she would never do (unless maaaayybe a fat, lazy American did something really horrible, like sat on her cat and refused to get up, but I'm not even sure that she has a cat and good god this sentence is getting out of hand), but you get the idea?

Anyway...assuming I haven't mortally offended you and/or completely lost your interest, I'm in need of some advice. ASOS: perhaps you've heard of it? They carry delightfully cute things like this top, which my friend Lydia is currently coveting:

What has been your experience with ASOS quality? Do you think this top would look good for an hour and then disintegrate in the rain? Or would it last for decades and become a family heirloom Lydia could pass down to her future well-dressed daughter?

The prices are wonderfully low in pounds, but switch up that currency to dollars and add shipping costs and all of a sudden a coat costs roughly as much as a mini cooper. I've had my eye on a few things on the site as well, so your feedback here could greatly affect numerous American closets.


Help me, Great Britain. You're my only hope.*

*OK, so I kind of lied about the "only hope" thing--I'd love for anyone, anywhere, who has shelled out shipping for an ASOS item to respond. I've got multiple hopes.

28 comments:

Anne-Marie said...

Daddy Likey I can help!!!

Having nothing to wear for the Chrimbo season I went online in despair and turned to ASOS for solace.

I spotted this little number:

http://www.asos.com/Asos/Cap-Sleeve-Pleat-Frill-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=206805&cid=4168&clr=MidnightBlue&Rf-200=3&sh=0

and also this
http://www.asos.com/Asos/Star-Print-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=211197&cid=4168&clr=Print&Rf-200=17&sh=0

and ordered them thinking my problems were solved.

Anyway they arrived the other day. The material of the first one was really crappy and made me look like ten ton tessie as it flared out too much under the boobal area.

the second one also made me look "voluptuous" in a bad way but the quality of it was quite nice. I returned both of them so I suppose the moral of the story is don't trust those skinny beeatches of models. The postage costs are quite hell too - I wouldnt have forked out only for I was so convinced the dresses would suit me - boy was I wrong!

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Dressed and Pressed said...

Hey Winona! I can't help but when has that ever stopped me?

So, my two cents: I spend a lot of time on the ASOS site coveting stuff but have never really got round to buying anything from them. The stuff looks nice but the prices tell you pretty much all you need to know about the quality.

If you live in Blighty then it's probably not too hard/expensive to send stuff back if you don't like it but between postage costs, tax and the sheer amount of time wasted, I probably wouldn't do it if I were you.

If you're really, really stuck on ASOS, then maybe stick to their Luxe or Premium ranges which are supposed to be better quality and are consequently more expensive. Thus endeth the lesson.

tiff said...

Okay I feel the same way about brit site RiverIsland.com but here's the problem: they won't even ship to the States!! I need a saucy brit with a paypal account who will buy and then ship me one of their GOREGOUS leather coats. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Oh hunnie, it looks like the poor model is wondering to herself "when is it gonna rip?"
ASOS I have been very disapointed with, simply because i hate spending money. I say make your own...infact on threadbangers they have a whole toutorial on a shirt just like that
for a pirate costume
but hey, i bet your friend has always wanted to be a pirate.
http://www.threadbanger.com/episode/HAL_20071017

Love and Kisses,
Becky

Anonymous said...

My experiences haven't been great. I've had to return two dresses because the fabric was cheap and nasty and they were just poorly shaped. However I did buy a pair of black leggings from them (yes I know, leggings = evil!) that were good quality compared with similarly priced highstreet ones. I would buy more non-structured stretchy type clothing from them, but then I live in the UK so the risks are not so great for me.

Bouncing Evil Ginner said...

I've only had one experience with ASOS and it was fine!! I got a sea-green vest top, with netting and a sparkly butterfly neckline and it's still going (I bought it a few years ago, but it's not exactly worn a lot...). Sizing was normal, quality was fairly good (I think it was £20, not bad for a party top). But as I've not used ASOS, or known anyone who has, for a few years then maybe other Brits know better.

LallaLydia said...

I HAVE always wanted to be a pirate! There's travel involved, and they get to wear sashes! (When do we ever get to wear sashes? Prom queens are excluded from this interrogation...) Seems like I'd be risking upwards of 60+ yankee smackeroos if I do go with that top so maybe I'll try to follow bexxx's advice and make me own. Thank you everybody! (And thank you Winona!)

Unknown said...

what the HELL winona, i'm supposed to be shopping for OTHER PEOPLE right now, not MYSELF and i just serioulsly lost like AN HOUR on this site. damn you!

WendyB said...

I recently bought something from them...not their brand, but a dress from Antik Batik. It hasn't arrived yet but I went through this insane drama where they said my billing address didn't match the credit card number (I called Amex; there's NOTHING wrong) and if I didn't send them copies of my driver's license and credit card statement by such-and-such a time the order would be canceled. I found that kind of email to be rather extraordinary, so my reply was how do I know this is even you and not some Romanian hackers and why should I send you anything (which of course they'd destroy after reviewing it, they said) when you can just call Amex. It went along from there. At this point, I'm still expecting the dress though not sure I want it. It was definitely my least pleasant online clothes shopping experience next to the bitches at Net-a-Porter.

Anne-Marie said...

Wendy I have heard of other people getting that email too and not bothering to order after that - I wouldn't expect the dress. Its a bit extreme and theres no way Id send those details over the net.

WendyB said...

Very interesting, Anne-Marie. So they are serial offenders. What is up with that? I'm a small business and want to be careful with unknown customers but there's ways you can do things nicely! And of course there's always the PHONE and the ability to call Amex! Asshats.

fritha louise said...

I've got a top, a skirt and a pair of shoes from asos. The top is ok, its not bad quality, its held up alright and everything, but the material is a bit cheapo. The skirt is just fine, decent material and nothing's ripped/broken on it. But the shoes both looked like crap compared to the pictures on the website and broke after two times wearing them. Not impressive. I wouldn't bother if I were you, its not worth it really.

Unknown said...

If it's any help I've seen sweaters that could easily be modified into something like that on clearance at Old Navy... not the best quality, either, but about $12.99.

Asos has mightily tempted me in the past, too, mostly with their shoes.

Blue Floppy Hat said...

You still get brownie points (not that those are worth money) for the Star Wars ref...hee hee.

Anonymous said...

I've bought loads from ASOS and love it! I've only ever sent 1 dress back as the strap snapped of it. I've been wearing some things for years now and they're still going strong.

Sally Jane Vintage said...

I broke down and purchased a pair of metallic flats from ASOS about a year ago. When they arrived, they were so flimsy they felt like house slippers and they had a horrible chemically paint smell that never went away. I even set them outside on my window sill for a couple of days to let them air out. I finally got rid of them after letting them stink up my closet for a bit. Never even wore them. I suppose I could have kept them around for those days when I get tired of sniffing my white-out at work. I don't think I'd shop there again.

Emma said...

I'm sorry, Winona! I come in peace. Well, technically I come not to praise Uggs, but to bury them. Still, for you, I'll make an exception because you're so rad.
Like, if I went to Portland with my Ugg-catching gang and saw you on the street in them, instead of throwing a ripe tomato at you, I'd be like "Eh. Let her pass, boys, let her pass. It's WINONA."

Anonymous said...

I may dare to address someone as Fat Lazy American if indeed that is the case... I'll have to give that one some thought...

As for ASOS, I'm not a huge fan as all the WAG/Girls Aloud poses of the models puts me off the clothes. The quality is questionable in some cases but the roster of premium brands is quite impressive these days.... I know their marketing peeps and get some free ASOS goods once in a while and it does range from ghastly to acceptable.... not sure whether you would want to fork over your money for something that is just 'acceptable'...

Liberty London Girl said...

NO!! the quality is appalling - and that's my pro fashion editor opinion. I was actually approached to style some fashion stories for their mag and, apart from the insulting fee - they ARE a profit-making commercial business after all - and turned it down, and goodness I was relieved I did when I got my hands on some samples. But at that price what do you expect? Of course they now stock designer labels, but personally, i think it's all directed at people who know nothing about fashion, and need some hand holding. Better off buying yr designer duds elsewhere, and heading to Forever 21 for a cheap fashion fix in the US. . LLG xx ps congrats on the Shiny Media accolade too

Jello on Springs said...

Thanks! I've linked you as well. And ahh yes, those pesky exchange rates. A friend of my dad was recently in Europe and says he had to pay the equivalent of 10 dollars for a chapstick!

Anonymous said...

Hey honey,

The prices are ok but not for the quality of the clothes!
I live in the UK, so returning the stuff I ordered wasn't a big deal but for you it'd be a right pain in the arse :o)
I ordered 2 dresses, one appeared to be made out of tissue paper and despite coming down to mid thigh on the model, only just covered my butt ( i am 5'0 though so i should have figured this out!)
and the other looked red online but was a more orangey-wishy washy colour in the flesh.
So..basically what I'm trying to tell you is not to bother!
:o) Hope you had a wickedfab christmas xx

Anonymous said...

ive had both good and bad exepriences with asos. bad: 2 terrible print dresses - poor quality and sizing. good: 2 pairs of cheap jazz shoes which look great and a black tulip dress with a sweetheart neckline which gets compliments every time i wear it.

Anonymous said...

ASOS is pretty good in general, I just get put off by their shipping prices. I live in New Zealand and I get charged a whopping 30-40 GBP every time I buy. They do overcharge on shipping, and it's kinda unfair lately as they don't arrive in boxes anymore, they come in plastic post bags which would weigh so much less than the original boxes- yet they charge $$$, sometimes more than before!! Also, I once bought 3 tops and a pair of shoes and got charged 40 GBP for the shipment- got an email once they've been dispatched that shoes are unavailable and tops shipped out. Those tops alone would've only costed 15GBP to send it if weren't for the shoes....I didn't get my post refund for that.

Other than shipping dilemmas, ASOS is overall good and quality pretty good too, some really do last! =)

Anonymous said...

geez - seems like i´ve been truly happy because i never had problems with asos. on the contrary: on my first purchase they even did send me a present! i`ve ordered 3 times from then on and luv the stuff dearly! :-)

Ruby Fuerza AKA Lucille Brawl said...

I've bought a dress at ASOS last year (shiped from UK to my home in NYC). I was happy with the quality though the fit ran a little small.
xx

Anonymous said...

Clothes for Women is many times better!

maxi dress said...

hey, great blog, the description of the material should give you an indication on the quality of the garment.

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