Larky Buys & Reviews

21 March, 2012

Caishen Dresses (A6839_pink, A9094, A9805_gray, A655_green)

PROMO_114B_C3_A6839_pink ($7.85, Rating: 2/5)

Rose pink shiny but thin material
No inner lining
Non-centralised ribbon
Sewn-down top bow edges of ribbon, while bottom edges are not
Unequal widths of left and right shoulder parts
Improvements made: Removed ribbon

116_D5A08_A9094 ($11.87, Rating: 3/5)

Dull beige colour for bottom part of dress
Presentable white lacey area
Uneven frills
Inner lining present

1028_22A_A9805_gray ($8.87, Rating: 3.5/5)

Batik-style grey soft cottony material
Way too short to be a dress (for 1.57cm pax)
Best of this lot

105_C3_A655_green ($11.87, Rating: 1.5/5)

Shiny but thin material
Pastel blue-green fabric for middle portion, pure white fabric for top and bottom area
No inner lining
Poorly-sewn underside of waist band
Improvements made: Added a button to lift neckline

Source: Gmarket

Price: As above + Free registered shipping (if above $29)
Item Rating: As above
Processing time: 1 day (s)
Delivery time: 6 day (s)

Bugis Village Touchscreen Stylus (SC21 Silver, Pink Blue)

These weigh heavier than they look, and makes sketching on touch-screen devices easier, especially if one has fat fingers or long fingernails. The rounded tip is rather soft so when pressed down, it would distend. Hold down more and there is a cute squeaky sound across the screen. It would be good if the tip was sharper, for drawing fine lines.

Source: Gmarket

Price: $1.78 each + Free shipping
Item Rating: 4/5
Processing time: 2 day (s)
Delivery time: 5 day (s)

19 March, 2012

Pearly Beats Dr Dre Earphones (S Jack beat Tour)

Think Singpost is just itching for complaint letters. Last year they returned the same item I wanted to send out to me TWICE, and just last week, they returned another item I wanted to send out to me again. Can't they read "If undelivered, return to XOXO" and the highlighted address to be sent to? And the state many of my packages are like unacceptable for a civilised state - torn, crumpled, opened and wet even. Singpost really needs to work on their package handling.

This time, I received a package that are ragged at the edges. The envelop wasn't that great, but still the damage done is too absurd. What's worrying is that the seller didn't pack the item with plastic wrap so if water leaks into the electronic product, I wouldn't know who to blame.

Unwrapping the package, I was immensely glad that there was minimal damage to the product since the product packaging was not the most environmentally-friendly. Let's see:

Apart from the jaw-dropping price, another factor that attracted me to get this OEM earphone for my brother is the unique design of the cables. They are flat, with an uncanny resemblance to mee pok, and the brilliant red colour complemented well with the black ear buds. I figured that my brother would be able to identify with the "Monster" label too hehe =p

A clip to attach to the wires came along with the package, and that I feel is essential since the wires are really long. Additionally, there were extra four sets of ear buds, and I found two pairs particularly fascinating. They are shaped like cones, which I presume the design is so that one can stuff the whole ear bud into the ear. Not forgetting the ear wax as well =x

My brother and I are not worshippers of good sound quality in our earphones. As long as the music gets into our ears without background interferences/noise, we are contented. For this set of earphone, we did not have any issues with either the crisp sound quality or the handy accessories.

Source: Gmarket

Price: $14.00 + $1.00 shipping
Item Rating: 4.5/5
Processing time: 3 day (s)
Delivery time: 1 day (s)

Celina Babe Body Shaper (B06-size M-L, D04-size L)

B06-size M-L ($13.47)

Body-shapers are interesting - they help to push in the fat and artificially slim the silhouette, which in turn makes people feel great about their figure. However, for my case, I decided to get one for my bottom to hide that awful panty line caused by my under-sized panties (it's silly to be ousting my whole box of small undies in exchange for boxer shorts or thongs). So here's what I've bought from a self-conceited seller:

The images on the seller's listing looked so promising.. but it turned out unexpectedly disappointed for me as it is a thin material that does not give much support. Needless to stay, the tightness is not there for this 36" bum. If only there were option for a smaller size. On the bright side, the workmanship is not bad, with the lace only having some stray frays.

D04-size L ($16.87)

Since the evil inner desire to splurge has reared its ugly head, I went on to purchase another body shaper that looks like a spaghetti top. The chest to side of waist areas are made of lace, while the rest are simply mesh material.

With decent workmanship and some loose ends, this spaghetti top is two mesh tops pieced together. So it's like double-layered mesh top. I like the adjustable straps as well as the intricate lace designs.

I'm a size UK 8-10, and I find that it's a feat to squeeze into the top while controlling the amount of force to yank the top on. Speaking from a person with a pear-shaped figure, the bottom region is too tight for comfort and the material keeps on rolling upwards, while the waist region is not as "constrictive" as I like it to be.

When it came to the chest region, rather than lifting my boobs, it flattens them. According to the measurements given on the listing, I'm more suitable to size M based on the chest area. I have already taken size L and it's still so tight up there, so probably a review should be done on their measurements.

On the whole, the L-sized top is pretty small I would say, and is more suited for more petite ladies.. but then, why do they even need a slimming wear?

Source: Gmarket

Price: Refer to above + $2.00 shipping
Item Rating: 2/5 for B06, 3/5 for D04

Processing time: 0 day (s)
Delivery time: 2 day (s)

18 March, 2012

Nana Beauty Shop Compression Knee Socks (Black)

As many might know, compression socks exert pressure on the legs to help to promote blood circulation and prevent fatigue. They are tightest at the ankles and gradually become less constrictive towards the knees and thighs. I have been using 20-25Pa compression stockings from Japanese Gunze Sabrina, which certainly serve their purpose well.

This time around, since there was a time sale (they always seem to tempt me to spend unnecessary $), I decided to get this pair of "brand-less" compression socks to try out during sleep time.

Spanning 78 cm, this pair of socks came without any retail box to verify its source (even though deep in our hearts, we know where the product is likely to be made from). It ranks very well on the aesthetic scoreboard, with all the nitty-gritty details:

I couldn't help thinking about the ease the sock is put on, at least till my knees. To someone who has been using 20Pa compression stockings, this does not feel like anything near 10Pa, how does will it exert its effects proper? I would say it's comfy but not tight enough for the ankle and calf.

At my thighs, the sock got too tight and cut into my flesh. If blood can't flow to and fro properly from my calves and lower legs as the supply is restricted at my thighs, there might be blood stasis at the lower legs. Call me paranoid, I wouldn't want to risk having thrombosis. I'll probably roll the socks down to my knees when I put these on.

This is ill-fitting is rather expected, since proper compression socks should be matched to people based on leg sizes. The fact that the dimensions of my rather odd legs does contribute to the poor fitting as well - more flesh at the calf relative to the thigh. I'm 21cm at the ankle, 35cm at the calves, 39cm at 1" above my knee, and 46cm at the thigh area where the socks are pulled highest to. So the socks are not tight, tight, slightly tight, most tight in the above order. Not good for me.

Oh I just love to look at item feedback that people give on Gmarket, for they make me laugh sometimes. I have just something to clarify after reading some, that compression socks don't "fight fats", rather, they drain edema in the legs so the legs appear slimmer. Fight fats with a healthy lifestyle instead.

Source: Gmarket

Price: $8.90 + Free shipping
Item Rating: 2.5/5
Processing time: 6 day (s)
Delivery time: 3 day (s)

Pinglejia-home Cami Secret

I have plenty of dresses with low necklines so I tend to have a plethora of tubes to go along with them so that I can wear those to work. You see, professionalism is a much desired quality in my profession. And I don't wish for my valued customers to spend too much time checking something else other than his medications.

Anyhow, the strapless tubes tend to slide down after a while and can be quite warm in our weather. A few months back, a colleague did mention to me about some sort of triangular cloth that is designed to cover only the cleavage area, and it can only be bought exclusively in USA.

Fortunately for me, I stumbled upon the stated item - Cami Secret on Ebay. Ebay is such a wonderful site, transcending international trade boundaries and bringing the world closer.

For $5.82, I got 3 pieces of Cami Secret - black, beige, white which suffice for general everyday use. The sewing is beyond what I have imagined (in a positive way), and the material is smooth to touch. There are two clips to be attached to bra straps. They did make my dresses more suitable for work. But if the dress is more body hugging, the outline of the Cami Secret can be seen.