I was going to call this a ‘winter’ haul, but I don’t usually shop for seasonably appropriate things on TaoBao. Considering Taobao isn’t exactly seasonably appropriate either. I mean, sure they’ll push their winter things on you at the appropriate time, but that doesn’t mean you can find a linen blend sailor-style dress that you can only really wear with nude/white tights when it’s that sort of weather because it’s a lil’ bit see through. Damn linen.

Taobao, for those who don’t know, is kind of like the Chinese lovechild of Amazon and eBay. I guess? You have the auction/buy it now element of eBay, and the find-absolutely-fecking-anything nature of Amazon. Plus relatively cheap prices depending on what you search. It’s the Chinese-language parent company of AliExpress, and unless you are currently residing in China or speak Mandarin, you need a shopping service to use it. 

I’m going to do a ‘how to’ TaoBao post soon, I promise. In the meantime you can read Hannah’s taobao how to.

So. Haul. 

I’ve already said that it isn’t exactly seasonably appropriate – 3 of the 5 items I ordered would definitely be better suited to spring or summer. I am also not tall enough to flatlay all the items in one photo. I tried. I really, really tried. I’ll be doing a lookbook post at some point so you can see how all the items are on – because flat photos really don’t do the items justice at all. I’m a bit pressed for time at the mo’ with exams and deadlines and uni starting up again about as intensely as you all think Final Semester will be so flat photos are all I can… do. Wow I’m waffling today. 

5 items breaks down into one jacket, one jumper, a dress and two ‘suspender’ skirts – one of which was the entire reason for me making an order. Oops. 

I generally prefer using TaoBao, over shops like Romwe, Zaful, Shein, etc (I still like Choies though). I feel like you’re less likely to lose the money you spend, can pay with paypal, and end up an all around happier customer because you’re not being duped with poor quality. If your items are out of stock, you don’t get messed around with orders that never ship, or ship late, you get refunded and your overall parcel comes a few items down. But you don’t lose out. 

Ok. Starting the actual haul off with the item that I saw and immediately thought ‘nope, I’m not losing out again’. It’s a suspender skirt in a ‘caramel blush’ / ‘caramel cream’ (thanks, Dulux) check pattern with light pinks and darker chocolates running through. It’s lined, fully shirred at the back, with an elasticated waist and a lace-up front (that doesn’t really do much but look pretty). The shoulder straps fasten with little buttons at the back, and it’s hemmed with lace that isn’t the most intricate. But I’m so in love with this. IT CAN DO NO WRONG. It feels a lot more expensive than it was, with a nice weight to it. Predicting few Marylin incidents in this. 

The second suspender skirt is way more winter appropriate… in colour and material. Dark red corduroy. It’s still mini in length, has a ribbon-corset back which helps adjust the fit, as there is a zip down the side. There’s a tiny bit of elastic in the part-shirring at the back, but a tiny bit. It has buttons with little crowns on at the waist, two bows on the hips, and the lace trim has tiny bows too. The back of the shoulder straps are fastened with a button, same as the check skirt, so that you can hide the straps if you wish. The skirt is also lined.

Item number three is a white linen-blend sailor style dress that I needed. It’s got an a-line skirt and a button up, collared top, with a navy ribbon trim around the sleeves and the hem. It creased horribly in it’s little packet so I’ve had it hanging since it arrived, but am yet to run it by an iron – sorry. It really is an adorable dress. 

Moving onto slightly warmer pieces now with this really pretty, white cropped sweater with little pink applique hearts down the sleeves. It’s quite a loose fit (perfect), and the sleeves are a bit past the shoulder to give it that ‘slouchy’ feel. The little heart appliques are adorable and the sleeves are just that bit too long so I can hide my hands in them. Yay, since the weather’s gone all cold. This isn’t one of those super thick jumpers though, the material, though very, very soft, is quite thin. More a warmer-weather jumper, but it’s nice to throw on as an extra layer around the house or under thicker jackets. 😀

Finally, we come to the coat. This managed to come up both larger and smaller than I thought it would. I got it in a medium because I wanted a little bit of an oversized look (I’m not a fan of super tight outerwear unless it’s supposed to be), and it’s a bit too big in the back, while also being a bit too short on the arms when i stretch them. I mean it’s absolutely fine, the material is durable, it’s quilted, warm. Everything a coat should be. It doesn’t have a zip – poppers only, and the pockets are applique pockets and not going into the lining, but everything else is pretty fab. No construction issues (other than one of the patches being sewn on upside down), so I’m really damn happy. 

I wore this in my Daily Uniform ootd

And that’s all, folks! I apologise for some of the absolutely horrific photography… Uni comes first but I really wanted to get this post up today, and the weather hasn’t exactly wanted to play ball. I think this is also the first time I’ve done a haul and I haven’t been able to pick a favourite item. I love them all, I’m not disappointed with anything. Generally really really happy. 

Which item is your favourite – or, rather which item would you like to see more of? Let me know so I can plan accordingly!

more about taobao: how to order good things from china/asia

♥

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