Accessory Additions; Buyer Beware

If I can make an admission,  I can honestly say my wardrobe holes are by this point very few.  I could really and truly live happily without adding anything new in the clothing department.  Well, perhaps I wouldn't be HAPPY, but I could live.  The one area which is sorely lacking in my closet however is colorful jewelry.  Those blingy, poppy pieces that make a statement when you wear them.

Continuing on with the honesty bit...I refuse to buy a "bubble necklace" merely because EVERYONE ELSE already owns them.  What is the fun in that?  Sometimes I do things just to be contrary (which is also one of the reasons why I refuse to read Fifty Shades...).

Anyway, I have been on the prowl for some fun, decent quality but not hugely expensive pieces to add to my basics.  I was so excited to have found two pieces that I really loved and envisioned working well in my closet.

Both pieces are from T & J Designs

[I get no kickbacks or free stuff from these or any other retailers, that isn't how I roll.  After what I'm about to share, I doubt I will get any from here on out either!]

The pieces came quickly, within 3 days of my order.  The packaging was cute, a faux-velvet bag embossed with their logo.  However, both my necklaces were shoved in the one bag.  It was a teensy bag.  So, with great trepidation I opened it and beheld my $42 worth of new bling.  GASP!  These are soooooooo cheap.  The Lemondrop is ok, I only paid $18 for it and I can live with its quality.  But the other?  It is really awful.  The metal is barely that, looks and feels more like plastic as do the "resin" beads.  I wouldn't have bought this for $4, let alone the $24 I actually paid. I am sorry.  I know I said "if you can't say something nice than shut the fuck up", but REALLY, this is more buyer beware than cattiness.  They have some highly expensive things on their site, and if these two pieces are a reflection of the overall quality of their items, I would not recommend them to anyone.  Looking on their site after this disappointment, I also discovered that sale merchandise is non-returnable, not even for site credit.  Sad again.  

So.  That was a huge waste of money and a huge let down.  I came away with two lessons from this though; 1) I now remember why I never shop online for stuff I wear and 2) read the return policy BEFORE you purchase stuff!!  

In the good news column...Target was having buy one get one 50% off their jewelry today and I came home with these two great pieces for what amounted to $12.75 a piece.  The quality is FAR BETTER than my $24 fail.

Be on the lookout for all these pieces in the near future.  (Since I can't return it I've got to make it work, right?  Unless you guys want it to be a giveaway piece?)

I think I'm set for colorful necklaces now?  Who am I kidding, I'm on a roll.  Colorful shoes are next.

XO,

Alyssa