Little Red Dress

This is what I had hoped to wear to our Christmas Eve service a few weeks ago. However, I wasn't feeling well that night, so I opted for something quite a bit more casual.

I love a flowy, girly dress like this. I can't wait till the Spring when I can pair this with sandals and some chunky bracelets.

We finally got out of the house yesterday. We did some window shopping, some real shopping, and picked up dinner on the way home. The weather is warming up here and I'm happy to see the snow melt.

Dress - c/o eShakti

Cardigan - Goodwill - $3

Pumps - Dillard's - gifted

Double wrap belt - Banana Republic - $3

Product Review for eShakti

eShakti sent me this dress a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I'm all about the fit and flare silhouette. Plus, the ruching and flouncy pleats are romantic and flattering.

 

The fabric has some stretch in it so I got away with ordering it in a size smaller than I should be wearing right now since I'm still downsizing after having Capri and wanted the dress to fit later.

 

Thankfully, the dress is fully lined so the under slip is what clung to my tights.

 

The fabric is seasonless, so I will be rocking it with sandals and bare legs in the summer, while today I paired it with opaque tights and a blazer.

 

All dresses can be ordered in custom sizes with custom requests. This dress's original design was mid-calf length. I had it made to knee-length. All I had to do was type in my height on the order page and choose the length I wanted in a drop down box on the online order form.

 

 

I coordinated with my children's outfits, too! Fun for Christmas!

 

I've done product reviews for eShakti in the past and have always loved their selection of retro silhouettes and well made clothes that I can custom size and style.



eShakti Fall 2013 Collection

eShakti is now introducing their Fall line and as always, I love some of their pieces. Check out this fresh, adorable skirt!

 

Who wouldn't want this slimming illusion dress?

 

And this universally flattering jersey dress is the perfect LBD for any occasion.

What makes eShakti worth the price? Custom sizing and designing. Most all of their products come with customizable hem lengths, necklines, and sleeve lengths.

 

 

Right now, their Fall line is being sold at an introductory price of 20% off original prices.

 

Here are some of the reviews I have done for eShakti.

 

If you do order something, let me know your thoughts!

20% off at eShakti for Domestic Sophisticate Readers!

Do you have trouble finding a dress that fits you just right? Do you find that you can never get a dress that fits your exact specifications? They are either too short, they never have sleeves, or the neckline isn't right? eShakti can fix all that. Just type in your exact measurements and eShakti will make a dress customized to your size. Many of their dresses also can be customized by changing the sleeve, neckline, or length for a small charge. Still not sure? Check out my product reviews here.

 

Here is a special discount code DMESTCTEDS, exclusively created for my readers to get 20% OFF when you shop at eShakti - valid from 02/26/13 thru 03/10/13.

 

 

 

Note: (*conditions apply)

Code has to be entered in the 'Promotional Code' box. No Minimum Order Value. The discount code is not case sensitive. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This code can be clubbed with any other gift coupon or gift card in the same order. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. Not applicable on previous purchases.

eShakti Product Review and an Announcement

Hi ladies! I know, it's been a while since I've posted and you miss me, right?

 

Well it's been a crazy month, so I've been waiting for something really post worthy and finally have it for you today!

 

eShakti sent me this gorgeous dress just in time for me to wear to my sister-in-law's rehearsal dinner tonight. I ordered a size up after my last experience with eShakti and was glad I did. This dress fit absolutely perfect and was so comfortable!

 

It's 100% cotton so it's very breathable, easy to care for, and irons great. I had the dress customized to knee length (it was originally below the knee) and think this length fits my body type so much better. For a knit dress, I love the quality of the fabric and the construction. So often I find knit dresses to feel very cheap and to appear like you're just wearing a t-shirt. This hangs nicely and looks more like a jersey than a knit.

 

I got so many compliments on this dress tonight and wish I had this dress a lot sooner, because I won't be able to wear it for much longer . . .

 

Baby #3 is on the way!

 

Check out my arm candy! Some of my favorite gifts!

Dress - courtesy of eShakti

Bangles from Dillard's, an antique mall, and J.Crew - all gifted

Boots - Michael Antonio - $9

Earrings - gifted

eShakti Code

Deep Purple Tweed and eShakti Product Review

eShakti let me pick out a sample dress to do a review for them. I have worked with eShakti before and have been very pleased, so I was excited about the opportunity. I picked out this simple sheath tweed dress in this deep purple hue. I finally had a chance to wear the dress to a political event I attended last night.

I paired the dress with black tights, simple black pumps, and this fun beaded necklace and earring set. The gray necklace picked up the purple color of the dress and appeared to have a purple haze around it. I loved the effect.

eShakti is a unique online clothing store in that it offers updated twists on classic pieces that you can customize to fit your size or taste. For instance, online this dress came in all the standard sizes, but without sleeves. I opted to have them add a cap sleeve, and requested custom sizing to fit my short stature.

 When the dress arrived I was thrilled! Pulling it out of the box it looked divine! The fabric has shiny black thread throughout that gives it just the right amount of shine for a night out. The dress was well made and fully lined.

Unfortunately, however, when I tried it on, I ran into some problems. The dress is supposed to be pulled over your head, but the size of the dress didn't take into consideration my broad shoulders, because I could barely get it on! Also, I chose a dress that had my exact measurements, and I should have opted for the next measurement up so I would have a little bit more breathing room. You can see in the picture above, the dress is so fitted, it shows off my belly (something I did not want it to do!).

 The dress also came with this black fabric applique which I felt added too much bulk where it wasn't needed. I simply took it off with a seam ripper.

If it weren't for the zipper being so short, and if I had ordered a larger size (beware, the size chart is an actual measurement for the clothing item, so if you are 34, 26, 36 like me, you shouldn't order the 33, 26, 36 dress like I did! Order the 34, 27, 37 dress!), than I would really love this dress.

 

Here are my pros and cons for eShakti:

 

PROS:

• Customized sizing and styling so you will always find the right fit
• Classic, modest pieces that don't require a strapless bra (although they do have strapless dress options too)
• All their pieces are very feminine
• Quality pieces for the price
• Figure flattering styles
• Unique twists on classic pieces so that you won't look like everyone else
• Plenty of 100% cotton

 

CONS:

• You can't get their items on super clearance (this is a big con for me)
• You have to pay shipping
• Once you have customized an item, you can't return it for a different size (or at least this has been my experience)
• Their dresses tend to be difficult to get on. The zipper allotment was pretty small on the last dress I ordered as well.
• I generally do not like the prints they use, nor any of the embellishments

I would recommend eShakti for casual bridesmaid dresses, for ladies who can never find the right size, and for women who are always looking for dresses that are long enough and with sleeves for modesty since every dress can have length and sleeves added.

 

This is my honest review. Hope it helps you out if you are thinking about placing an order!



eShakti Promo Code

Here is a special promo code: DX30LEY especially created for Domestic Sophisticate readers to get 10% off at eShakti (valid till 31st August, 2012). This code can be used in addition to the other offers online. 

If you check out the "eShakti" label on my sidebar, you can read my reviews of eShakti. 

Hurry, offer ends soon!

eShakti Promo Code

eShakti is offering my readers a 10% discount code which can be used in addition to the up to 40% off discounts that are already on the site.

I've gotten to review eShakti's products myself and love the concept and the dresses. You get made to order, custom sized clothes for the price of a dress you could get at Macy's. But you don't have to get your dress made to order, you can purchase anything in a standard size and cut - the alterations and custom designs are all optional.

Use the promo code DX30LEY (created especially for Domestic Sophisticate readers) to get 10% off! The code is valid till Tuesday, July 31st, 2012. This code can be used in addition to the existing 'up to 40% OFF Sale'

Happy shopping!

Hemming Tutorial

Being I'm only five feet tall, I am constantly having to hem pants, skirt lengths, or dress lengths. What would be a mini skirt for most gals, is a knee skirt for me. And what is a knee skirt for other ladies, ends up being a midi skirt for me. Don't even get me started on anything that is ankle length or longer!

I'm also a big advocate of skirts and dresses hitting right at the knee. When a skirt or dress hits a small point of your leg (just below your knee as your calf curves into to hit the knee, or right at the knee is you have small knees) it accentuates the smallest point of your leg, making your legs appear thinner. The knee skirt length also helps to give your body the right proportions. If you look at the body's silhouette, it can be placed into thirds. Your top torso to your waist, your waist to your knee, and your knee to your feet. If the hem line cuts off right at the end of the second third of your proportion, you will create a very balanced and proportioned silhouette.

That being said...I've posted about how I do a blind stitch hem before. But now I want to show you how to do a machine stitch hem on a full skirt.

First, measure and use chalk or a piece of white soap to draw a line to wear you want the length of the skirt to hit. Measure two inches or more below that and cut.

At the edge of the cut off hem, baste a very loose stitch about a half an inch or inch from the bottom of the hem. I did two rows of stitching, but one should work.
Then pull the loose threads from the basted stitch to gather the fabric ever so slightly.

Iron under the gathered pieces making the crease hit right at the line of your gathered stitches, so the basting/gathering is tucked under.

Then iron under the hem again to meet the desired length you either pinned, chalked, or soaped and iron. You can either hand stitch a blind stitch, or machine stitch the hem from there, right at the top of the fold.

Hope that helps!

20% off at eShakti!

eShakti is offering Domestic Sophisticate readers 20% off their purchases from now until February 28, 2011! All you have to do is type out this promotion code at the checkout: DOMSOPHISTICATE2011

The discount can be used on as many purchases as you like from now until 2/28. It's an exclusive code and cannot be clubbed with any other offer/gift certificate or promotion that may currently be on.

For my review of their products, click here.

Discount at eShakti!

Exclusive to Domestic Sophisticate readers, use this promo code Ni7T2B to get 15% off when you shop at eShakti - valid till the end of November!

Outfit Post: eShakti Dress

Wearing my eShakti dress again. I still love it!

Dress - courtesy of eShakti
Cami - F21 - $2.50
Pumps - JCPenney - $4
Necklace - Macy's - $5

Product Review: eShakti Clothing

When eShakti asked if I would be willing to do a product review for them - I jumped at the chance! I had been hearing about the company from Fab Finds Under 50 for quite some time, and had spent some time on their website long before they contacted me.

What makes eShakti stand out from other online clothing companies, is that they offer customization for each garment for a nominal fee of $15. So for instance, the dress I chose to review was originally mid-calf length and had sleeves. I opted for sleeveless and knee-length.

Not only do they have a very large selection of clothing items in any style, shape, or color, but the quality of their clothes is impeccable. I would say the quality of the dress they sent me was at least as good as Ann Taylor or J.Crew, but their prices are about 1/3 the price of Ann Taylor or J.Crew.

Not only is their selection wide, quality tops, and customer service excellent, they offer all sizes, or specialized sizing (where you can type in all your measurements and they make a garment to fit your exact measurements), so you are guaranteed a perfect fit. This option makes online shopping easier than ever.
I love my dress and would heartily recommend eShakti.

***The shoes are Steve Madden and I'm wearing a beige textured cami underneath this dress by Lunaire. The lighting doesn't show the cami well, however, so I thought I would point it out.