OMG. I am in love. The Valentino rockstud slingback pumps are to die for! Here's a review of my favorite shoes that includes sizing, comfort, and style.
Sizing and Fit
I find Valentino shoes to run small, and Valentino sizing is fairly consistent. For Valentino, I am usually a size EU 38. For reference, in most US pumps and boots, I wear US 7. In US sandals, I usually wear 7.5. In Christian Louboutin, I most commonly wear EU 37.5.
For Valentino rockstud sandals, sizing is more flexible, because the shoes are slingback and caged. I can wear 38 or 38.5 in the rockstud caged sandals. The shoes in the picture are size 38.
For reference, I have medium-width feet with very small ankles. Very frequently, I have issues with sandals gaping around the ankles, but Valentino rockstuds do not have this issue with small ankles. There are quite a few holes to accompany different-sized ankles.
Comfort
Valentino rockstud pumps are very comfortable. My 4 inch rockstuds are superbly balanced to alleviate as much stress as possible on a high heel. The balance is especially impressive considering how dainty and thin the heel is. And the front never pinches my toes in spite of being pointed.
This is everything that I love in a designer shoe: beauty without the sacrifice of comfort.
Style
I think the pictures speak for themselves. This shoe is stunning. Loved by celebrities, bloggers, and fashionistas around the world, the Valentino rockstud sandal has become one of the most worn shoe designs! And, it's no surprise that many women must have them in many many different color combinations (beige, classic black and beige, bright colors, strassed) and heel heights (flats, kitten, high).
These shoes look good with just about everything. Some of my favorites include a casual outfit with skinny jeans, or adding a statement to a classic dress.
Thoughts on Dupes
Valentino shoes are pricey. And, due to their popularity, there are a lot of dupes out there. Honestly, there hasn't been a copycat that I've encountered that even comes close to the original. Everything about the Valentino rockstud shoe is done superbly and all the careful details culminate into shoe perfection!
Since the design is embellished, a lot of dupes just end up looking overly-cheap. And, even some of the best (reviewed here) have gaping issues. Dupes also tend to have a less-attractive longer toe-box, the studs are less refined, and the heel and vamp are less elegant and thin. This all results in an inferior look. There really isn't quite anything like the original!
For dupe examples, see here, here, and here.
With proper care, Christian Louboutin can turn heads for many years and many wears. Here are 5 steps to keep your Christian Louboutin shoes or any designer heel in tip top shape.
These steps can apply to shoes that aren't Christian Louboutin as well.
Step 1: Vibram the Sole
The sole of most Christian Louboutin shoes are made of leather lacquered in a delicious red gloss. As the shoes endure wear, the gloss will start to erode. To keep the bottoms that signature red, get them vibramed!
Vibram is a rubber material that can be permanently applied to the bottom of the shoe. This service is performed by a cobbler, and usually costs around $20-$25 for each pair of shoes.
Vibram pretty much lasts forever, can keep your soles red (assuming that red vibram is used), and provides additional protection from water and moisture on the ground. Liquids can impact the structure of a shoe, so this additional benefit is very useful!
There are just a few things to keep in mind with the cobbler:1. The surface where the vibram will be applied will be sanded down, as gloss makes the vibram harder to adhere to the sole. For that reason, feel free to wear your Louboutins before getting them vibramed.
2. Make sure that your cobbler has red vibram. If black or beige vibram is applied, the result ruins the look of a Louboutin sole. Vibraming is a common service for cobblers, but they may not have red vibram. Red vibrams can be purchased here and provided to your cobbler.
3. Make sure that the cobbler knows to only cover the area of the soles that touches the ground. It would be a shame to cover up the beautiful Christian Louboutin signature and sizing info.
Step 2: Replace the Heel Tips
To maintain structure and to keep the heel of your shoe from grinding down, change the heel tips when the heel tips start to look like the ones on the left.
This low-cost service (usually around $10) can be provided by a cobbler, or you can do this yourself with a set of pliers and a new set of heel tips.
If you're doing this yourself, make sure that you use beige heel tips for lighter-colored shoes, and black heel tips for dark-colored shoes. The size of the heel tips must also be the right size for your heel.
Step 3: Clean the Footbed
Christian Louboutin footbeds are usually light beige. With wear, the bed of the shoe can easily get dark marks and smudges. Routine wipe-downs of the bed can keep it looking clean.
I like using baby wipes for this. A clean towel or napkin lightly dampened with mild hand soap can also do the trick. 🙂
One thing to keep in mind, is that this can fade the gold Christian Louboutin signature on the foot of the bed. However, from my experience, the gold stamping will fade with continued wear of the shoe anyway.
Step 4: Remove Scuffs, Stains and Marks
A good cobbler can save an expensive shoe for very little money! These Christian Louboutin Gressimo shoes (pictured above) used to have very dark marks on them, but my cobbler somehow removed almost all of it! I thought for sure that the shoes were ruined.
If you have expensive shoes, it pays to use a great cobbler. I take in whichever shoes that need servicing every 6 months. By bringing in a whole box at a time, I also save a bundle!
***Once you find a good cobbler, don't switch if you don't have to. I've had terrible experiences with cobblers as well. Even though some had been in the industry for many years, many are not used to dealing with designer shoes. One cobbler literally rubber coated the entire bottoms of a pair of Valentino boots, including the stamping!
Step 5: Proper Storage
Last, but not least, store your precious beauties well. Proper storage can be achieved with these 3 rules:
1. No continued exposure to direct sunlight, no wetness.
2. Provide adequate room for each shoe so they're not touching or squishing each other.
3. The bottom of the shoe should rest on the shoe rack or shelf. Shoes should not be turned over or be hung by its straps or uppers.
Chanel classic flaps are a personal favorite. They're head-turning yet timeless. There are many variations of this classic: lambskin or caviar, different sizes, gold or silver hardware, etc. This time, I'm showing off a Chanel jumbo single flap in black caviar leather with silver hardware.
Like all jumbos, this handbag holds a considerable amount for everyday needs. It easily carries a continental wallet, cell-phone, miscellaneous beauty tools, tissues, small notebook and more.
The backside has a convenient pocket, perfect for a cell-phone.
Its structure and beautiful chain link shoulder straps make it a substantial piece. However, on the shoulder, it's always been quite comfortable and has never weighed me down.
Whenever I go to a mall that has Herve Leger, I ALWAYS stop by and try on my favorite designer! Here are 4 reviews of 4 very different 2015 dresses.
Ever since I tried this studded Giulia dress here, I've been obsessed with studded Herve Leger. The studs shimmer softly with movement, and it is especially dazzling in person.
Longer and fuller a-line skirts usually don't look right on me. However, the Anita dress was extremely flattering on. The low scoop neck really balanced out the large girlish a-line skirt.
I thought this scalloped a-line dress was very pretty, but it looks much better on my taller friends or those with a longer torso than me. I'm not doing this pretty dress enough justice! The Jules dress (here) is simply breathtaking on some.
There are many different types of Herve Leger a-line dresses. I find a-line dresses with shorter hemlines that start flaring at the top of the hip to be most flattering on my short torso.
If you have a specific type of a-line that works best for your body type, let me know in the comments. It's interesting to hear how Herve Leger fits differently on different body types.
I don't find Herve Leger that I dislike often, but the Danika dress was not doing anything for me. Even on the model (here), it doesn't look particularly great.
The fabric on this dress was the thinnest of the ones that I tried on. While it was bodycon, the fabric did not provide any shaping or smoothing unlike most Herve Leger.
All of the dresses in this review post run true to size.
Last week, Lollipuff was on national TV spreading our warning against the many fakes sold online. Some of you may have even seen it. If you haven't and are curious, check it out. 🙂
I was the expert authenticator for Crime Watch Daily's expose on how bad the counterfeit issue has become.
The best prices on designer items always happen when buying directly secondhand from a private seller. Due to the high number of counterfeits, taking advantage of these deals can be risky. Lollipuff wants you to get the most amazing prices on luxury items without having the risk of counterfeits!
The people of Crime Watch Daily were all so gutsy, fun, and hilarious; it was such a blast being part of the filming! They also do a lot of undercover investigations and coverage on horrifying crime. Thankfully, our story didn't involve anything too macabre like murder!
Proper authentication and providing a fake-free marketplace is everything on Lollipuff. Today, we're bringing a fun quiz with authentication tips for Prada bag logos and stamps.
Take your time and look carefully at each Prada stamp, logo, or tag before deciding. Answers are located at the bottom.
Answers: 1. Authentic 2. Replica 3. Replica 4. Authentic 5. Authentic 6. Replica
This quiz brought up a few interesting points. First is how Prada tags can vary based on bag style and time period.
The second is how some authentication tips found online are incorrect. For example on Wikipedia, it states: "(Prada products) are; however, easily recognised if they are fake. The 'R' in PRADA should have a notch taken out of the right leg on a real item, but fakes rarely have this." This is absolutely abhorrently wrong.
There are many many fakes that have a notch in the R. On top of that, not all authentic Prada fonts or logos have a notch either.
This Louis Vuitton guide covers the most famous prints for LV bags. It covers general care instructions and describes each leather and canvas material.
Monogram Canvas:
Monogram canvas is the most well-known Louis Vuitton handbag material. It is very durable, has a pebbled texture, and is water-repellant. Many vintage monogram bags show little to no wear on the canvas. This canvas is very easy to care for. Wiping it down with a damp cloth is usually enough to clean the canvas.
Monogram canvas can crack. This is uncommon. Wiping down the canvas with leather moisturizer/conditioner every year or so can prevent cracking.
Monogram canvas bags oftentimes have vachetta leather trim and/or handles. Vachetta leather darkens over time, in prolonged sun exposure, and with use. Vachetta should also be kept dry as much as possible, because it is very susceptible to water stains.
Damier Ebene Canvas
Slightly more understated is the Damier canvas. Damier Ebene is textured, water-repellant, and durable. The care for this material is the same as the Monogram. The only noticeable difference is obviously the pattern on the canvas.
Though uncommon, Damier Ebene canvas can get cracks. Use a leather conditioner like this one once in a year or so to keep the canvas material flexible.
A dark cowhide leather is usually used for leather trim and handles on Damier Ebene bags. This cowhide is fairly durable and requires no special care instructions.
Damier Azur Canvas
Damier azur is also a canvas material. The biggest difference with Damier Azur compared to Monogram and Damier Ebene is its light color. All of the canvas materials require minimal bag care, but all light colored bags should be kept from prolonged exposure to clothing that is not colorfast to avoid color transfer.
Damier Azur can also get cracks like the other canvases.
Vachetta leather handles and trim usually accompany Damier Azur canvas bags. Again, vachetta inevitably darkens in patina. Darkened vachetta is popular to many Louis Vuitton lovers, particularly during its honey-colored stage.
Vernis Leather
Vernis leather is very similar to patent leather. It's glossy and has a smooth hard surface. Vernis leather can come in many different colors, and many of the colors have a slight micro-glitter effect to them.
For the most part, Vernis is water-repellant. The most pesky issue with Vernis is color change if exposed to sunlight for prolonged time periods. The most important bag care for Vernis is proper storage. Prolonged exposure to sunlight or setting it next to an item that is not color-fast for long periods is usually what causes flaws on Vernis.
Vernis is similar to patent not only in look but also care.
Epi Leather
Epi leather is a hard leather that is textured. Louis Vuitton produces Epi leather in many colors. This thick leather is very sturdy and easy to care for. It also creates great structure to any bag. This bag may be wiped down with a damp cloth if dirty, and conditioning every year or so will keep this bag in great shape!
The most common flaw that this material gets is small scuffs. Black Epi bags are the most durable of all the different Epi colors. Even on older black epi bags that have been used a lot, the scuffs are not too noticeable.
Empreinte Leather
Empreinte leather is a gorgeous softer leather that has a modern drummed texture. It is not particularly sensitive to sunlight, and water. Again, a durable material! We can see a trend and one of the reasons why Louis Vuitton is such a popular designer!
The most noticeable wear Empreinte exhibits is that the leather softens somewhat over time and use. This is ok, because most bags using Empreinte leather are not structured anyway.
Multicolor Monogram
The last iconic handbag material is the multicolor monogram. This material is part of Louis Vuitton's collaboration with Takashi Murakami. It was the longest running Louis Vuitton collaboration (approximately 12 years)! This iconic pattern left Louis Vuitton stores in July 2015.
Not surprisingly, the care and material is like the Monogram, Damier Ebene, and Damier Azur canvases.
Other and Limited Edition
Louis Vuitton does not only produce bags in their iconic patterns. Less iconic materials include smooth calfskin, many limited-edition twists on iconic patterns, exotic leathers, textiles, and more!
Some people like their Herve Leger extra tight while others like their Herve Leger somewhat loose. Why is there such a big difference in people's preference for sizing? Here's an explanation that will cover the difference between a tight fit and a relaxed fit.
Because most Herve Leger is in a thick heavy stretchy material, the same sized person can wear a couple different sizes. In fact, some even prefer to size up. Here's a description of each fit, xxs thru s.
For this blog post, I put on the same top in 3 different sizes: xxs, xs, and s to demonstrate 3 different fits.
XXS Herve Leger Top
My usual size in Herve Leger is xxs, and I prefer a tight firm fit when wearing Herve Leger. I stand 5'5" at 110 lbs for reference.
Most Herve Leger stylists will encourage you to find a size that is quite tight on you, and most likely requires someone else to zip you up with some effort. This fit will achieve the firmest fit with the most shaping.
Not only will it shape and smooth the most, but it will also provide the most support for the bust. Usually, Herve Leger will lift, create cleavage, and press the bust down somewhat. To avoid bust flattening, a hard-shell bra can be worn.
This tight firm fit is exactly that, tight! After wearing it for a day, it may feel somewhat good to take it off. It's not painful whatsoever and does not restrict breathing like a corset, but it feels very much like wearing a very very firm shaper.
I also find that xxs oftentimes differs greatly from the other sizes in length. The neckline is oftentimes noticeably higher, as is the overall length. It is my opinion that many xxs dresses are not only smaller in width but cater very well for petite heights.
XS Herve Leger Top
Because this top runs half size small, the xs only runs half size big on me and still provides some shaping for me. The bust isn't pushed up nearly as much, and depth of the neckline and hem are all much lower.
S Herve Leger Top
This last top is in one and a half size big for me and is a lot looser. It does not provide any shaping, but many people my size may opt for this kind of fit.
The fit is not as sexy and is much more comfortable than the xxs. Due to the nice thick bandage material, it still provides good coverage for my recent large meal.
And, here's a look at all of the different sizes lined up next to each other. Herve Leger recommends the tight firm fit shown on the left that really emphasizes a woman's curves. I also personally prefer this tight shaper look. However, it's totally up to the wearer.
This topic is something that I always wondered about when I was new to Herve Leger. I hope that this post is helpful to someone out there. Herve Leger is absolutely magical, and if you are contemplating about them, don't hesitate! There's a reason why there's such a cult following for Herve Leger, and why it continues to be my favorite designer even when Chanel, Louboutin, and more are part of my everyday life!
To fully illustrate the fit of Herve Leger, no shaper or bra was worn with the top.
Do you have an eye for spotting counterfeit bags? Take this fun Valentino Garavani bag quiz to find out. Answers are at the bottom of this post.
answers: 1. Counterfeit 2. Counterfeit 3. Authentic 4. Authentic
Summer always inspires getting out there and having a little fun. This means that I'm often wearing the most durable, low-maintenance, and functional bags out there. Here's a fashionable vintage Louis Vuitton bag that meets all these requirements.
Hope you all are making beautiful memories for this summer and the weekends are filled with relaxing and exciting events. This year, I've made it a point to create more special moments with friends and loved ones. It's amazing what activities one can come up with when trying. From artsy glass blowing lessons to indoor skydiving to an overnight stay at an American safari, this summer's going to be active and special.
Naturally all this activity has demanded timeless versatile bags that are functional and durable. One such bag would be a black epi Louis Vuitton shoulder bag. Epi leather is SO durable and resistant to damage and made to look great after years and years. The adjustable strap makes this bag easily convert into a crossbody which is the ultimate low-maintenance type of purse out there!
I love how it's structured and high-quality. Even when I'm in a casual outfit, this bag keeps the outfit polished.
The Jeune Fille bag has been discontinued by Louis Vuitton for a long time. Like many other crossbody bags, Senlis, Trocadero, Chantilly, and Blois, just to name a few, it is only available during resale.
