EYE-SPY MONTHLY DESIGNER REVIEWS: MONTIQUE

This month I am putting all my focus on an amazing new label that I’ve discovered, because I truly feel like women all over the world will love this label just as much as I do.

Ready ?! Drumroll please !

MONTIQUE.

Yep, that’s it. One word that will change your life. Well, maybe not change your life, but hey, you’ll look amazing no matter what size you are, and it won’t put a hole in your bank account either.

Montique is a hot new Australian label that is taking our beautiful country by storm. Being only almost a year old in the world of retail, Montique is quickly becoming the name on women’s lips when they’re looking for something to wear to a wedding, or other event, or even just gorgeous glamorous weekend dressing.

Montique makes mostly dresses. Whether it’s above or below knee length, or floor length gowns, but there is also a great assortment of skirts, pants, jackets and tops.
And the brilliant part is their size range. Montique creates stunning looks for women of all shapes and sizes, so their size range goes from a standard Australian 8, all the way to a size 20.

So to all those women out there who have a few more curves, ladies, you do NOT need to shop in a different department because of that little number on your clothes tag.
Don’t be embarrassed if you have a wedding to go to and can’t find anything to wear.. Montique caters to women up to a size 20.

Moving on to the fabrics…silks, georgette, hand-beaded beauties, sparkling sequins, lace and embroidery on one side, and on the other, more conventional jersey blends, fresh cotton blends and high quality polyester.
No matter what you’re looking for, I’m sure you’ll find it at Montique.

So by now, I know you’re saying, ‘Ok, that all sounds perfect ! Where can I find it, and more importantly, am I paying through the nose for all this loveliness ?’

I’ll answer the price point question first. When there aren’t any sales on, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $400 for a special occasion dress. Floor length gowns can be between $300-$600.
Right now though, during sales periods, you can grab some hot bargains anywhere from $50 and up. And that’s not for the crappy stuff either.
Compared to some other labels (that’s you Anthea Crawford !), who charge close to $1000 for a black tie dress, Montique is a lot more affordable and the quality is second to none.

Regarding where you can find Montique, they have an extensive online store featuring entire collections as well as sale items.
http://www.montiqueclothing.com.au

There are also many Myer Concession boutiques conveniently located in most major cities and suburbs. For a full list of stores, just have a look on the Montique website.
And I must say, the staff are very lovely & knowledgeable about what looks good on what body shape, and all the fabrics. It really is like shopping with a personal stylist. They are so helpful and go out of their way for you, which is more than I can say for a lot of other brands.

I actually had one experience that was like none other.. Instead of telling me what I was trying on looked good..blah blah blah..the Montique lady actually told me that it wasn’t doing much to hide my flaws and gave me something else to try. This new dress was something I’d never have chosen on my own, and after trying it, bam ! It was amazing..I was amazing. My body looked great, I looked taller, slimmer and loved it !
So when I say their service is like none other, what I mean is, they’re honest and truly will help you. And you’ll leave the store feeling like a million bucks !

Here are some pics below of some of Montique’s creations.
The sexy red dress has even been featured on Sunrise, with Samantha Armitage wearing it.

Designer Items For Sale !

Ok so here’s my list of items for sale.
If there’s anything you want, just shoot me an email at:
missluxe1@gmail.com
Or of course, you can message me through my blog.
Items are available to anybody, worldwide.

1. Tony Bianco Aisha Box Clutch in Azzure Blue, brand new with tags.

2. Tony Bianco Box Clutch in Silver Zephyr, new without tags.

3. Oroton Dome Mesh MiniBag in Natural Tan, new with tags.

4. Juicy Couture Animal Print Louisa Bag, new with tags.

5. Mimco ‘Barbie Loves Mimco’ Shooting Star Reversible Necklace, new without tags, with pouch.

6. Sass & Bide 100% Silk Blouse Size US 4/EU 41/ AUS 8, new without tags.

7. Tony Bianco KYAH Wedges in Olive Kid Suede, Size Aus 8/Eu 39, new with box.

8. Therapy SnakeSkin Peeptoe Heels, Size Aus 8/Eu 39, new with box.

9. Oroton 1938 Medium Barrel Bag in Neon Limestone, limited edition from the Neon Collection, new with tags.
This is the neon yellow colour, comes with adjustable shoulder strap which can be removed.
For more pics please see my post on this handbag.

That’s it for now, I’ll add more items as I go.

Thanks again !
X

Designer Items For Sale ! Oroton, Juicy Couture, Mimco, Tony Bianco & MAC !

Hello my lovelies !

I am clearing out my closet and have a few items that I want to sell so I thought what better way than to offer my items right here & give first dibs to my loyal readers before sacrificing my items to eBay.

Everyone reading may purchase from me, whether you’re in Australia or abroad.
I’m happy to accept Bank Deposit or Paypal.
Postage wise, I’ll only ever charge you what it costs me to get the item safely to you. All parcels will have full online tracking & a signature on delivery so you can rest assured that your parcel won’t go missing.

If you’re interested in any items, you can send me a message through my blog or you can also email me at:
missluxe1@gmail.com

I’m going to put the price I’d like to get for my item, but everything is open to negotiation so if there’s something you want, send me your offer.

And lastly, I want you all to know that all my items have been purchased by me. I don’t get anything for free from any companies or anything like that.
I can guarantee that absolutely everything I sell is 100% authentic as I’ve bought them myself directly from the store or website.

Look for my next post which will be within the next 24 hours for all the items for sale and don’t forget, be quick ! I only have one of each item !

Ta-tah for now !

FEBRUARY 2014 MONTHLY

It’s been a while since my last post… I know. Life has been very hectic, plus my family suffered a major loss when my mother-in-law died from cancer at the beginning of this month. We weren’t prepared at all because we didn’t know she had cancer until 2 weeks before her death.
As I said. Life=hectic.

Enough depressing news though, let’s get straight into it !

As the weather begins to cool down in Oz, we are seeing the latest boots from Tony Bianco, and I must say, I am loving some, but some are ‘meh’.

The grunge look is here for Autumn so get your feet into some cool black boots with a chunky mid heel. The bonus with this trend is comfort !
The grungy boots on TB would have to be the ultimate blend of comfort & style, plus they’re perfect for rainy days because nothing gets through them and they’re easy to wipe down.
Team them up with your favourite jeans or mini + leggings & you’re set !

Oroton has launched a gorgeous new collection & I’m especially loving the new 1938 barrel bags. The gold or silver cutout ones are my ‘it’ bag for this season.
They’re just so versatile ! You can match them with your jewellery, dress them up or down and they’ll fit everything you need.
It’s no secret that the classic 1938 barrel bags are my favourite !

MAC is launching some great new collections too.
Recently, I got a lipstick & a mineralize blush from their new ‘Fantasy of Flowers’ collection.
The lipstick I got, which is called ‘Dreaming Dahlia’ is a lovely corally orangey red colour. It’s in a lustre finish and is quite sheer, so it looks awesome on, but the winner of the collection is definitely the blush.

The one I got, called ‘Petal Power’, is my ultimate blush & I’m so glad I found it. It is a beautiful shade of rosy pink with a hint of corally bronze and it has a golden sheen to it.
After years of always buying Skinfinishes & using them as blushes, I’m so happy that I’ve finally found my perfect shade.
It’s definitely the one to try. The colour is so lovely and would suit pretty much all skin tones. And what I love most ?
You can’t stuff up with it. It’s a bit on the sheer side and it’s buildable.

When it comes to fashion, I’m not going to get into it too deep because you all know my style.
Classic, stylish & versatile. Trends come & go so quickly so instead of spending all your money on buying everything of that trend, just buy a couple of items. Invest your money on key classic staples like the ultimate pair of sexy jeans or a good expensive coat. Then just add your trendy item like that neon blouse, to your outfit and you’re set !

So all in all, Autumn/Winter is setting in !
Choose your boots & your arm candy, get your warpaint on and dive straight in !

My New Blog

Hi Everyone !

So I just wanted to drop a quick line to tell you all about my new blog called ‘My Chaotic Kids’.
It’s here on WordPress, so it’s at:
mychaotickids.wordpress.com

It’s basically an entertaining blog about the daily tortures that my 3 kids put me through, how I cope with it and the level of madness that I reach on a daily basis !

I hope you all find the time to have a quick peek at it, and I hope you enjoy reading about my hilarious and crazy daily life.

Thanks !

MARCH 2013 MONTHLY

Hello Autumn/Winter Collections !

I am loving Tony Bianco’s new collection, as we see gorgeous boots, super high classic pumps and lots of deep jewel tones and metal embellishments.

The pair that I have my eye on at the moment ?
Easy.
The ‘Averty’ ankle boot in the White Chicago Combo colour.
To me, this ankle boots screams sexy, what with the pointy toe, the bandaged leather look and black/white leather colour combo.
Keep an eye out for the post dedicated to these boots coming up soon.

We see heel heights sky rocket up to 16cms, with the average regular height being at about 14cms.
All the rage is either the almond toe shape or the pointed toe.

Overall, the look is classic, but sexy. Timeless & versatile. They are shoes that will last a few more seasons, not just 2013. Every piece is an investment, but remember your most wearable colours.
If you’re going to invest in only one or two pairs this season, stick to black or beige if you want versatility.
Or maybe go for a deep scarlet red and match it to your lipstick for beautiful elegance.

With prices ranging from about $160 to $220 for heels and up to $300 for boots, choose wisely, though just choosing one may be quite a task !

And don’t forget, get a cheaper price every time you buy from Tony Bianco when you join their loyalty program. Even on sale stock !
And they’ll ship every single order for free. Even if its just a $5 buy !
Gotta love that !

Wanna looks elsewhere ?
Also check out Wanted Shoes, Styletread and The Iconic.
eBay will be cheaper, but they won’t have the latest styles, but you will find previous collections for less than half price.

Winter, here we come !

HOW DOES TONY BIANCO’S LOYALTY PROGRAM WORK ?

Ok so I’ve been mentioning Tony Bianco’s loyalty program in almost every review.
So I’ve decided to delve into this topic a bit, and explain it better so that we all have a good understanding of what we could be entitled to.

So basically, there are 3 levels of membership: Standard, Gold & Diamond.

You can join the VIP Program anytime, and TB will send you a plastic card in the mail that you can use in-store.
If you shop online, you will automatically receive your points, as you’re logged in.

To become a Standard member you need to spend between $0-$499 in a 12 month period.

To be upgraded to a Gold member, you must up that spending to be between $500-$999 in that 12 month period.

And to be a Diamond member, that spending needs to be $1000 and up in a 12 month period.

Now for the rewards.

We should all know that everyone, member or not, receives free postage.
There is no spend limit on this offer.
You could just buy a pair of heel shields for $10, and it’ll still be free postage.

This is fantastic, as before TB used to charge $15 for postage but certain members would qualify for free postage.
Luckily, TB has changed this so now every single TB customer will have anything they buy posted for free.

Now for points and discounts.

Every time you spend money on the TB site, you’ll get points. $1 = 1 point.

For every 40 points you accumulate, you will get $1 back as a discount.

So let’s says for example you spend $160 on a pair of heels.
So you’ve gotten 160 loyalty points.
If every 40 points equals to $1, then 160 points would equal to $4.

So the next time you want to buy something, you can choose to use your $4 discount on your purchase, or you can leave it and let it accumulate into an even bigger discount.

So besides how much you have to spend, what else is different between the 3 levels of membership ?
You get an extra discount.

Here is the breakdown:
STANDARD : You just get loyalty points
GOLD : Loyalty points, exclusive offers, plus a 5% discount on all purchases
DIAMOND : Loyalty points, exclusive offers, plus a 10% discount on all purchases.

The extra discounts that you get as a Gold or Diamond member apply to all purchases including sale items, and if you have a voucher code for another discount, your member discount will still apply too, so that is awesome !

So let’s say, you just downloaded the new TB app, and you have that 20% off voucher code. If you are a Diamond member, which entitles you to a 10% discount, you will receive a total of 30% of your purchase.
That works out to be a fantastic discount !

The only other thing you should know is, you can always upgrade your membership level by spending more in that 12 month period, but if the following year you don’t keep up your purchases, you will be downgraded a level.

For more info or to join the Tony Bianco loyalty program, please go to their website:
Tony Bianco

I hope this has helped everyone clarify exactly what they could be entitled to.
If you have any questions or if you have a comment, please drop me a line as a comment.

Thank you !

AUGUST 2012 MONTHLY

Hi Everyone !

Firstly, I want to thank you all for reading my blog.
I hope all my reviews are helping you to decide which heels and bags to buy this season.

I promise to keep it coming.
I would greatly appreciate your comments after reading a review so I can improve, and also so I can understand even more what information you are all seeking.

I want to make this blog your one stop blog, so any questions or suggestions would really be appreciated.

This month we are seeing a very different style coming from Tony Bianco.
Over the last decade or so, we have watched Tony Bianco shoes evolve so much.

My earliest memory of Tony Bianco shoes were the black school shoe style there were doing back when I was in my very early teens. I remember having a pair for school !

Looking back from then to now and you can see how styles have evolved.

We used to see a lot of classic styles, the first pointy toes back in the 90’s, the round toes in the early 2000’s, then the almond toes in the mid 2000’s.
Now we are seeing sculptured wedges without heels and pumps so high that Tom Cruise would want a pair.

In a sense, it’s like once every 10 years, we come full circle again.
Now the pointy toes are back in again.

I love watching shoe styles evolve.
I have loved gorgeous shoes for as long as I can remember, and being a very loyal Tony Bianco customer, I have watched them closely over the years.

They are always first to bring out a new style. Leaders in shoe fashion. And their quality is second to none. I have never ever had a pair of TB heels break or come apart. Even when I thrash them.
Another reason why I love them.

As for bags, Oroton is my favourite label. I love their classic take on modern day styles.
The quality is always of the highest calibre. The colours are always classic but on trend and every piece is an investment.

Yes sure they are expensive. But if you want a designer label on your arm and like most of us, can’t afford Chanel or Dior, Oroton is fabulous.

Most of their bags are around the $500 mark and will last a lifetime.
I do recommend though, that if you are going to buy one or two, make sure it’ll match your wardrobe so you get plenty of use out of it.
Buy versatile colours like black, cream or tan. It’s those ones that will never go out of style.

A lot of sellers on eBay will layby. All you have to do is ask.
That’s how I usually get my expensive bags. Most sellers won’t advertise it, but if you ask nicely, and explain to them your ‘payment plan’, they will do it for you.
And in a month or two, voila !

If you want a more up to the minute colour, buy a label that’s a little cheaper. Mimco is another favourite of mine, that’s a bit cheaper than Oroton and more on trend.

I adore Mimco’s jewelry. Look on eBay for cheaper prices.
I’ll review some of their range soon.

Well, everyone, I really hope you are all enjoying my blog.
Again, please leave comments and suggestions as I’d love to improve this blog even more.
Tell me what you want to know and I’ll do my best for you.

Christelle