Several weeks ago I posted about making an order on the highly popular XPluswear website. If you want a bit of a refresher, you can see it here
Now when I say popular, I refer to the fact that you cannot get away from the brand on social media, both through influencers working with them and posting and the sheer amount of adverts all over Facebook and Instagram.
The Kimono Set
Both I and my Blogger Bestie Boo Brown were both taken by just how amazing some of their dresses looked and placed separate orders.
My order went a bit awry and I ended up cancelling it which is one of the things I wrote about in my previous post. At the end of the blog I had put in an order for three items.
The Blue Gradient Dress
Around eight weeks passed and a parcel arrived on my doorstep. It was just one of the outfits, but I eagerly opened it.
Only to be drastically disappointed.
One of the things that the website gets drastically wrong is any form of description or write up about each item. You basically have to get the gist from the name of the product and even then this can let you down.
My point was proven exactly with this first item; the Plus Size Casual All Over Print Kimono Cardigan Set.
Night Fever?
The pictures show a lovely floaty leg trouser and a floor length kimono in a bright green material with a tropical print. The material is described as polyester, and the individual measurements given.
Not ‘Swishy’
But this is all it says about the item, apart from offering two purchase options; the two piece set at £32.56 and Kimono only at £30.93.
A Little Underboob
Well as I wanted the set, I placed my order and added a couple of other things that I will mention later.
Hiding The Underboob
When I opened the package, the contents were a pair of trousers that were certainly not loose and flowing and a tiny bandeau top.
A Bit Clingy
Now, I had noticed a small strip of material across the models chest in the photograph, but there was NO mention whatsoever of the bandeau and certainly no information to state that the 2 piece set was just trousers and a tiny tube of material.
Quite Loose at the Back
There are some that could say that I should have realised this and known that the kimono wouldn’t be included. However given that the name states Kimono Cardigan Set, I am not a novice at purchasing things on the Internet, and this was just not stated.
Very Stretchy
My second point was that given the cost for purchasing both parts (£63.49) I would expect MUCH better quality from the garments than what had been sent.
Not Impressed!
The material can only be described as swimming costume fabric. Highly stretchy, clingy and liable to make you very sweaty. The other thing was the colour difference; neon green instead of a lime colour.
Showing More Than I Would Like!
The trousers in the picture did NOT compare to the ones I had been sent. They clung to every lump, bump and scar, and did not ‘swish’ as much as stick.
No Support
I was happy with the print of the items on the website, but in reality with such a clingy product it really was vile.
As for the bandeau?
Oh Lord!
Well, it could have doubled as a headband to be honest. I tried it on, but given that I am well blessed in the boobage department, the bandeau was never going to work for me.
But, I gave it a go,
Bordering On Indecency
Firstly with my bra on to make sure I didn’t get arrest for indecency of course.
Given that this site caters for people from sizes 10 to 28, the top just isn’t going to work for a lot of people. The largest measurement is a 5XL which comes out at just under 65 inches!
Bosom Breakdown
Can you honestly imagine someone with a 65 inch chest wearing a piece of material with two rows of elastic only given that the material is only about 8 inches wide?!?
Surely Arrestable?
After taking some photographs, Mr B suggested taking my bra off as per the model on the website.
Giving Up!
Well, that’s when things went seriously south, including my bosom!
I Give It a 0 out of 10
The bandeau has no support at all, and both my boobs and the top started to sag. It also showed a considerable amount of underboob, which may be okay on tanned, lithe, young people on Love Island, but will never be acceptable on a 48 year old plus size Me!
So, maybe that item was a bit of a duffer, but how about the next one?
Well, if I thought the first was bad, the second was possibly even worse!
The Plus Size Elegant A-Line Tulle Solid Midi Dress came in several varieties; I went with the gradient blue which was an ombre effect from a grey/blue down to midnight blue.
NOT the Tulle Midi Dress
Boo also ordered the same dress but in a different colour so we were able to compare the products against each other.
Well, what exactly can I say about this dress?
Long and Creased
Nothing nice, that is for sure!
The dress came out of the bag so creased it looked like it had been slept in for several weeks. The colour was super-cute, however the material was thin, shiny, polyester like the kind you get on cheap fancy dress outfits.
Fire Hazard
It was so awful a material that I kept getting static shocks from it when I tried it on and the cling was unbelievable. The picture of the website looks like a firm fitted bodice, however this was so thin and unstructured that it just hung like a dishrag.
Oh and there was NO tulle anywhere to be found on the dress.
From The Back
Also this dress is described as a midi dress. Now I know I am not the tallest of people, however this went beyond a maxi dress. It was of ball gown length on me, and even if I grew several inches, it would never be between my calf and knee and I doubt it would others either.
If I tried to get this taken up, I would end up losing all the gradient colour, however the cost it would take to do that is not worth it given the bargain basement quality fabric used.
NOT a Midi Dress
Now I know you may think I am exaggerating about this dress, however it is not even hemmed properly, just overlocked as you can see in this photograph I took.
The Neck Line Hemming?!?
Oh and the cost? Over £60 for this garment. Do I feel it was worth it? Absolutely not, in fact if I saw this on sale in a cheap bargain store, I wouldn’t pay more than £10 for it on a good day.
Not What I Paid For
To say I am a little gutted is no less than the truth. I have a wedding in Chicago at the end of July and I was hoping that this dress could be on option to take away on holiday with me, but I wouldn’t wear this in my own home.
For one thing, the static would drive my television signal mental and likely to spontaneously combust!
Ombre Obnoxious
Boo had virtually the same opinion with her dress; it did not meet the description of the item but she was told the return rules didn’t cover her opinion because they put everything on their website.
Well, apart from a description of what you are actually getting?!?
Feeling Blue
Okay, so I have now completely slated the outfits, but what could I do about it?
Well, apparently NOT A LOT!
One of the things I didn’t read was the FULL return conditions. Whilst there is a 30 days return warranty, they will not pay for return shipping unless defective.
This policy also ‘excludes perceived quality, fabric, colour abberation issues caused by personal or subjective judgement AND size issues caused by personal neglect since we have indicated the size, colour and fabric on our page’
Yes, they have indicated the size, colour and fabric however it does not match the items, the look or even the material descriptions. But that is not covered at all.
Whilst I could pay for the shipping to send them back, I am sure that the cost would probably be equal to the value of the clothing, however I am going to look into it and see because the fact of the matter is that these clothes will NEVER be worn by me and I doubt that they would even sell on the regular sales pages.
I am sure there are probably lots of garments on the site that are of an acceptable quality however out of the five items Boo and I bought, three were horrendous, one was liveable and the other was good BUT not as described.
Because of the hype about the clothing offered and the huge size range, I took the plunge but as the old latin saying goes ‘Caveat Emptor’
Buyer Beware, indeed!
Till next time,
SPSG xxx