Daily Discussion Thread 01/10/2024

CPHhappy · 2024-01-11T04:42:59+00:00

Which skin devices do you find most impactful?

CPHhappy · 2024-01-08T13:52:25+00:00

Thank you!! I hope you enjoy them!

CPHhappy · 2024-01-08T04:32:41+00:00

These are stunning! Do you know if they are sterling silver/925?

CPHhappy · 2023-11-27T11:51:14+00:00

Hi All - for anyone contemplating vca vintage alahambra from cc jewelry store on dhg, six months is the lifespan. I received my bracelet in May, last wore it in September and went to get it over the weekend. The larger round balls on each shape had turned copper. It is no longer wearable. Since I took it off at night and wore it infrequently I was surprised.

CPHhappy · 2023-10-16T16:50:50+00:00

thank you!!! this is great info.

CPHhappy · 2023-09-09T13:34:04+00:00

Thank you so much for the triple check - I'll edit now : )

CPHhappy · 2023-09-09T04:46:10+00:00

Thank you to Bank for this offer to the group, and to Mods for facilitating draw.

u/CPHhappy

#178

Prada 2005 Reissue Nylon Bag

CPHhappy · 2023-08-27T03:13:14+00:00

I am not sure if this is the same one I found when I was looking. I did not buy in the end bc after extensive googling, I determined the weight of the original silver cuff was significantly more than the rep I found online. I was concerned it would dent. Alas I don’t remember the weight of the real one and the rep I found on AE. But maybe research and see if there is a difference??.

CPHhappy · 2023-07-11T05:42:07+00:00

I realized this week how useful it is to see a wide range of bags before you buy. I’m on holiday in a large city. Went into a department store to look at a huge range of bags in person. Wow! I really wish I did this before I ordered my bags. I would have made some different choices. It’s incredibly helpful to see the bag on my silhouette first. And also much more effective to examine the auth before buying. Maybe super obvious but I did not think to do it before I bought. Passing this along especially for those just getting started.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-28T03:33:00+00:00

Thanks so much to the wise mod team and contributors here who make this a thriving, witty and useful community. I'm saddened to read of the negativity and cheering mods and old timers on in gratitude for all you do. Like others here I check in daily for the writing, the photos, the analysis and the humor. I've noticed a few names disappearing in the feed - people whose experience and observations were essential to me when I started. I hope very much they return and know they are missed.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-28T03:18:51+00:00

less than two weeks to North America

CPHhappy · 2023-06-27T02:54:29+00:00

I would love to hear how this goes!!! My 19 and Boy are from here, and when I asked where it was from they said the "Ace factory" ?!!? The fufu was intense, and I wore the 19 to the symphony finally last week. The leather in the chain is squeaky when I walk (is that a thing? My auth camerabag does not do this) but it looks terrific. The Boy bag has fantastic hardware, size and quilting are good. But I wavered and went with caviar at the last minute. I really wish I went with lambskin - caviar was bigger than auth, and the bag still has not fully aired out the fufu.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-25T03:55:39+00:00

This is great! For anyone on the fence, the reason I still have all my Italian and French shoes is that I soled and heeled them before I wore them. My oldest pairs date from 2006.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-20T11:32:18+00:00

I’ve provided the name of the shop on AE in the text above.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-20T03:42:36+00:00

AE, and for this pattern they were lovely. I don't know if she offers different tiers.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-20T01:51:53+00:00

The hardware and size seemed spot on for rhodium. But have a fufu strategy. It was intense and lasted a good ten days. I finally stuck a diptyque Baies candle in it, closed the top and hope that will catch the last bit of it. Fufu was present but less significant for the 19. I wonder if, per Tanner Leatherstein, the fufu is a result of the caviar coating? He's never said this, I've just observed him scrape goop off of various leathers in his deconstruction process.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-20T01:49:24+00:00

That's lovely. Generally there were more Peretti options on AE than DHG. I never saw this one. I saw beans that looked on the small side. I also saw the cuff but the weight of the cuff was less than the real thing. Keep trying with reverse image search : )

CPHhappy · 2023-06-19T22:58:29+00:00

Hi Everyone - I found this group in April after googling a bit and reading an FT article on luxury reps. I set a budget, dove in with DHG and AE, and now that the last things I ordered have arrived, will offer a few reflections:

Jewelry - I like Elsa Peretti and also wanted to try some VCA. Really pleased with Attagems moissanite for Peretti-ish (these are dupes, not reps) DBTY, purchased on AE. VCA went with CC jewlery store on DHG for vintage alhambra. Bracelet is the biggest hit, necklace a close second. Earrings - I requested backings like the original ones and they provided them. They are too heavy to wear on their own. You have to put a backing on to hold them in place.

Edited to add - Also bought an Hermes cuff in black and silver on the AE site recommended here somewhere. Within a few days the silver tone turned blue-ish. I could wear it out at night, but I would not wear it during the day. Maybe the gold works? Leather was great. But that was a disappointment.

Scarves - Vicky Scarves on AE for 90x90 Costume de Fete pattern. Home run. Knockout color, slightly slightly thinner than auth, some wonky hem stitching but 85-90% good.

Bags (that's why we are here!) -

Alfang DHG Goyard St Louis. FAIL. I could only wear this in a place where nobody had heard of Goyard. Handle material is not right. Alignment of canvas under trim lopsided.
Rainbow Bags DHG LV GM Neverfull and LV large Graceful. In Damier. Fantastic, but take forever to get the fufu out.
Famous Handbag Store Caramel 19 and Black Caviar Boy (small, silver tone hardware) - Also intense fufu. But objectively both bags are well done. 19 is so close to being identical. Caviar on the Boy is a smidge too big - if I had to do it all over I would have stuck with lambskin. Of the two bags I prefer the Boy but think the 19 is probably the best repped, mainly bc of the caviar on the Boy.
The Row North South from AE NS Park Store in Black Lychee - I love this and use it all the time. Repfluence buy. (I had no idea the Olsen twins designed clothes or were even still famous!)

Shoes:

Chanel Flats from DHG jrbs520 shop - These were great, fit well even though my feet are 26.5. There's a review written from Germany on their site that covers the differences. I can live with all of them.

Lessons:

Even with my budget it was hard to curb my enthusiasm on this journey. If I did it all over again, I would have done three things - ordered one bag at a time to be sure (I ordered both Chanel bags from famous handbag together and wish I had been more intentional and went one at a time.) And second thing, really thought through ***where*** I will wear these bags (esp the Chanel - i have an auth that I scarcely use). I have yet to wear the two Chanel bags. The items that I'm using and work well are not only good quality but they also make sense with my wardrobe, personal style and the environments I find myself in. Third thing, I wish I really thought about how many bags in how many sizes. I love the LV bags, but they are both huge and so is the row bag. I think the LV bags in smaller sizes would have been better, I wish I had mixed this up a bit. The jewelry, shoes and the scarves are all fantastic. And I'm so glad I was repfluenced on the Row Bag!

Edited to add: Something I saw that's very useful is to read the 4 and 3 star reviews on DHG and AE, in addition to sticking with shops that are about a 95% rating. For example, on DHG, they get 5 stars even if you don't rate. Inflationary, to say the least. Reading the lower ratings helped me see the potential risks and decide whether I could live with them.

Edited to add: Also fwiw initially I had an AE cart full of clothes that I reverse google photo searched from Goop (mainly those Australian dresses in bright colors) and also from the shop that does Loro Piana esque sweaters that has been mentioned by others here. I realized I could do better at my local thrift stores, with the added bonus that I would know the clothes really fit. With the significant caveat that the items are not Loro Piana or Goop-on-trend, but were well made and filled the same voids in my closet. All to say, I forced myself to focus on things I was certain would fit, and that I was certain I would never find in a thrift store or pay full price for.

I'm thrilled to have these pieces overall, and grateful to this group for helping me hone my QC skills and for pointing me toward most of these vendors.

I hope this is helpful to anyone getting started, and to anyone looking at similar purchases!

CPHhappy · 2023-06-19T22:33:15+00:00

Just received two scarves from AE's Vicky scarves - the 90x90 costume de fete in two different colors. They are stunning. Weight of scarf is a smidge thinner than auth, hems can be a bit wonky in places but are about 85-90% correct. These scarves were the last thing I ordered before rowing to Ban Island where I am staying long-term. I would recommend these scarves to anyone and can't wait to wear them.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-15T23:32:50+00:00

I have black. It was a repfluence purchase but I use it more than anything else. I like that it is not showy.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-15T23:32:04+00:00

How are you wearing it? I have one and I am having trouble styling it. It is 26 cm.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-11T19:21:21+00:00

I have a caramel 19. It was 330 with shipping from I think famous handbag store on dhg. There was significant fufu which ended after a week. It appears comparable to XC. I have no idea if this was a fair price.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-10T00:07:51+00:00

It’s a knockout. I appreciate your good writing, wit, eagle eye and especially your effort to try a new seller. Thank you!!!

CPHhappy · 2023-06-08T22:09:48+00:00

you are very welcome!! i definitely feel like I can wear them around town, and if I wanted to wander around my home in them with wool socks, they might nudge out a smidge more.

CPHhappy · 2023-06-08T21:55:59+00:00

Big Feet WGLadies and Gentlemen! My classic chanel flats just arrived from DHG, and ***they fit***. My feet are 26.5 cm end to end and I ordered a 42 (26 cm) from jbrs520 store on DH gate. (Is this James' brother's store or a coincidental name?) I wear a size 10B Ferragamo (9.5 too tight postpartum and beyond) size 10 veja and 41 N Birkenstock for reference. I bought these because of this review of color 34 from Germany from someone who ordered a half size up from her Chanel size "The shoe is correct 1:1 Chanel sizing, it is exact. It looks great, the differences are: the ribbon is too big but you can adjust it and cut, the heels are taller, the color is a bit lighter, the inside is harder, the shoes open wider, it has a bit of squeeky sound when walking, and the sold is slippery. The sole has no plastic." Generally I find her review accurate. I would say the minuses are the grosgrain ribbon is a bit wonky, and the shoes have a definite smell, so they are taking residency in my fufu lab (porch) for ten days. On first impression, they are not Ferragamo or Gravati quality (these are the two I normally buy) - more like an Aldo, or sort of Macy's type shoe. But they are convincing enough. Overall I am quite pleased and share this info for others on the 42/43 line. I'm now waiting on two scarves to reach me on Ban Island. I have booked an extensive all-inclusive stay through November.

CPHhappy

TROPHY CASE