If I have to be honest, I would say that I probably buy a lot of things I actually don't need. I just love to spend money. But because I'm on a credit crunch and my account balance is trying to gain some weight, it's been pretty hard to buy things that I really really REALLY want. On days when the urge to buy something is too strong, I let go a bit and push myself either to the sale section or just cheap things.
Now I don't really like to buy cheap things because in my opinion and experience, usually cheap products are dodgy, overpriced for that material, and a waste of money because it will inevitably break or tear or just be ruined in some way. I always think it's better to not buy a cheap product and take the money that would have been spent on it and put it towards something of better quality. That being said, there are those items of exception. I remember when there was this HUGE Ray Bans crazy. Almost everyone I knew were either sporting them or pawning after them. There was also a lot of look-a-like sunnies being produced. Because I liked the style and the way they suited me, I purchased a $5-10 pair of knock offs from DIVA. The reason I didn't buy the real deal was simply because I wasn't and still isn't a huge sunnies person. I don't really wear them and when I do, it's pretty brief. Most of the time they sit in my bag without any covering or casing, getting scratched and ruined. Also during that time, I was losing a lot of things, so I knew if i did get something expensive I would most likely lose them. That was one instance in which I felt it was okay to buy a cheaper version. A few years later I got a real pair of Ray Bans as a gift which unfortunately don't fit my head/face. It's wayyy too small and because of that they don't touch my nose bridge, so it's kinda just hovering there. Looks so weird and I never wear them. Literally just sits in my car for that super sunny days when I forget my regular sunnies and I just need something to block the sun while I drive. I don't actually wear them out. It's a shame too because I really like them.
Anyway, what I really want to talk about is ICE (NO, not the drug -__-). I went late night shopping on Thursday night at Robina Town Centre and brought a new bracelet from ICE. ICE produces some amazing jewelry and they always have a 2 for $10 deal going on. If you don't know about ICE it's a fashion store, stocking mainly clothing. It holds shoes, nail polishes, belts, and jewelry.
About a year ago I was in the store just accompanying my friend. While she was trying on clothes, I took a peak at the jewelry wall. I found this funky looking bracelet band thing and the tag said its was like $7 or something.
The store assistant then informed me of the 2 for $10 deal so of course I was gonna buy something else. I saw this edgy necklace and got it.
I was super excited because I just wanted something fun and casual to wear and I wouldn't be worried about scratching or breaking it. Only recently did I realise that the necklace I got is modeled after a House of Harlow necklace (http://www.mall0rymitchell.com/2012/01/house-of-harlow-station-necklace-envy/). It looks exactly the same to me and I get heaps of complements on it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm totally envious of the girls who can afford the real deal and if I could I wouldn't be buying cheap knock offs. But for now, cheap knock offs will have to do. Then I realised that the bracelet band thing I got was also similar to a branded item. I love wearing them still and not having to worry about chipping or scratching. Both items haven't broken, the only thing would be the necklace and the metal on it has 'oxidized' (I think that's whats happend)/faded. So it looks a lot cheaper and 'trashier' now. So that is the down side of cheaper items, this obviously wouldn't occur in the more expensive one.
The bracelet still looks intact, the faux leather hasn't 'peeled' away so it still looks like new. I think I should also mention, I'm not one to really take care of my things. I only just recently started to keep my more expensive jewelry items in the original box/packaging they came in. But for other cheaper items, I don't really try to insure they don't break and storage usually consists of me throwing them into whatever space I can find in my desk cupboard. So for cheap jewelry to have lasted me this long and still be acceptable for me to wear is amazing!
After having such great success first time round, I went back for more a few months later and got two other pieces of jewelry. I saw this super cute necklace with pearls and a stone encrusted bird. I just think its is just the prettiest necklace. But a few months later the bird fell off and I was so disappointed. But it was only the little clip thing so it could easily be fix. I was in a hurry one day and I wanted to wear it but I hadn't fixed it yet so I just wore the pears and it looked so nice even without the bird.
So the second piece I got with the necklace was a chain bracelet with ribbon through it and had pearls attached. Unfortunately it broke, I was absolutely devastated. It had this elastic wire through the ribbon and chain that held the pearls and that's what had broken. Everything else was fine, the chain was still intact and all the latches and parts were working. I think I just stretching it out one day and the elastic snapped. I'm sad to say that I couldn't repair it but on the upside, I did get a few wears out of it and it was only $5.
I don't have a picture of it before it broke but I kept the parts. I don't know why? I think I thought it still might have a chance or I could fix it but it has no hope. No hope AT ALL.
So my most recent ICE jewelry purchase is this beautiful bubble bracelet. There were a few different colours like deep red, purple, cream, and dark blue. I got the blue because I'm really into navyish jewelry right now and also because it suits me the best. But I think I might go back get get the deep red or the cream. It's just a really pretty bracelet and I'm super excited to wear it.
Because I went shopping with my friend, she saw some bangles that she liked so instead of me getting 2 for $10 we split it and each got one for $5. I do think that this bracelet will break just because it is stretchy and ICE elastic hasn't been reliable thus far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and I'm going to hope for the best. But like I said I'm not gonna take extra special care of it. If it breaks, it breaks. I'll live.
So if you haven't already checked out the jewelry at ICE, I definitely recommend it. There's some nice pieces and I don't think it's a waste of $5-10. Definitely worth it :)
Most pictures were edited with Instagram (username: yan1093)
Thanks for reading and I'll let you guys know if this bracelets has the same unfortunate ending like the pearl one. I hope not!
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