Sponsored Post: Favorite Things, from The Affordable Style Network’s Buyer/Founder
This post is sponsored by The Affordable Style Network, but written by Kat Griffin.
I had the pleasure to talk with Angie Stocklin, the founder and primary buyer for The Affordable Style Network. In 2005, she was a 28-year-old school psychologist when she started Sunglass Warehouse out of her home as a side project with her husband. Since then, she's “taken a big swing” at it as a business, added a number of sites to their roster (including Inexpensive Watches, Handbag Heaven, Affordable Scarves, ABC Neckties, Reading Glasses Shopper, and Socks 4 Life), and has had a lot of fun doing it.
They choose their stock in a variety of ways. “We definitely buy some things based on touch and feel after seeing it at the shows,” Angie said. “We always try to pay attention to what's pretty for next season, and we watch the runway shows and major fashion magazines. At the same time, we try to keep classic things in stock — they're in style but not so trendy.”
While Angie notes that some of their products are “inspired by Valentino or Marc Jacobs, etc,” she wanted to stress that the bags are not knockoffs or replicas. “We don't represent any of our bags to be the exact same style, quality, or size as the designer brand. Yes, you can tell that they're inspired by a designer brand, but an actual knockoff will have a faux name on it, a similar lining, similar hardware, and so forth.”
Angie took me through some of her favorites (and her mother's favorites, her sisters' favorites, and more…)
| This pashmina is one of Angie's and her mother's favorites. “You can't go wrong with it,” she says, noting that her mother has gifted them to all of her sisters, as well as several co-workers and ladies she knows from church. The pashmina is $11.01 and comes in dark purple, berry pink, sky blue, dark green, orange, light purple, and turquoise blue. Solid Colored Pashmina |
 Angie is personally rocking these vintage-looking sunglasses. “They're a nice square oversized style,” she notes. Some of her other favorites include the #3660, which has “just a glimmer” of a cat-eye (pictured at very top), as well as her trusty aviators. The shades at left are $13.56, available in purple, black, brown, black tortoise, and brown tortoise at Sunglass Warehouse. SW Vintage Style #8939 |
| “I always really like to direct people to our business card holders, also,” Angie says. “They're perfect for credit cards, IDs, business cards — and you can just stick them in your back pocket and go.” The card holder is $8.46, and available in black, brown, purple, blue, and green. Cork Business Card Holder |
| Angie also points to the Ruby scarf as one of her favorites. “Our knits are really big, and this scarf is a big, warm scarf. It's extra long, so you can loop it 3 or even 4 times around your neck. With the fringe at the bottom, it's really pretty.” Some of her other favorites include a leopard print scarf (“leopard is hot, but it's just a little bit of a print, so it isn't so overwhelming,” Angie explains), as well as some of the infinity loop scarves. The cable scarf, pictured, is $25.46 and available in creamy ivory, olive green, and black. Ruby Cable Scarf |
| As for handbags, one of Angie's favorites is this zipper clutch, which has a bit of a rock-and-roll vibe to it. It can be worn as a wristlet, also, and the numerous pockets make it great for organization. It's $31.41 at Handbag Heaven. Anderson Zipper Clutch |
I remember another reference to her or a similar group of sites not long ago. They just look like a place to buy cheap, junky stuff. Think NY street corner or dollar store. No thanks. Kat, I appreciate it is a sponsored post, but promoting it just cheapens your blog.
I think it’s nice that Kat is including stuff that people of all incomes can afford. Fashion isn’t just for the rich.
I definitely have issues with knockoffs (however you define them), though, and think that’s a separate point.
Lots of people telling Kat how to run her blog–Kat, that’s a sign of success, if you ask me. You’ve created enough of a brand that your devotees think they have a real stake in it. (they don’t!)
Sorry Ballerina, I would hardly call myself a devotee and no delusion that I have a real stake in it. I am actually finding myself visiting less, you can’t be all things to all people and knowing you market is just good business.
With ya, Chicago S. I think a lot of us – many longtime readers and commenters – visit (and comment – at least under our regular monikers) here less, for so many reasons, this being one of them. Still worth the occasional check in, but just saying….
I agree. Not a fan of posts like this.
“Yes, you can tell that they’re inspired by a designer brand, but an actual knockoff will have a faux name on it, a similar lining, similar hardware, and so forth.”
I disagree with this statement. A knockoff that has a fake tag on it is a counterfeit, but items that are “inspired by” but look extremely similar to the original are also knockoffs. Both are wrong in my mind, but I realize that only one is illegal. Until such close copies are legally wrong under a new copyright law, I will do my own part to not support them and not purchase them. Obviously its not possible to recognize every single copied item, but when I recognize it as a knockoff I will not buy it.
As a matter of curiosity, why do you think “inspired by” looks should be copyrightable to begin with? There are plenty of segments of art that are not copyrightable, and in doing so, they move the industries forward. Fashion is just one example of that.
I’ve done a fair amount of research on it (writing a paper) and honestly I originally thought it should definitely be protected by copyright, but I’m torn now. I’m on the fence and see both sides of the argument. I think I wrote my above comment in a tone stronger than what I meant. I personally think it is wrong to copy someone’s creative work, so that is why I don’t buy them.
I think it’s a tricky line. Every spring, following awards season and preceding prom, I see a ton of dresses some of which are clear copies of something Gwyneth Paltrow or whoever wore to the Oscars and others that are probably also copies but which I just don’t happen to recognize. I can totally see myself accidentally buying one of the latter as I don’t watch awards shows & hate to spend much time in the evenining wear section.
Similarly some bags by Cole Haan, e.g., are very similar to certain designs by more expensive brands like Prada or etc.
I suppose the line is a certain artfullness. In other words, a Cole Haan bag re-interprets a Prada bag, whereas a XoXo purse with XoXo written allover it in chunky white graffiti writing is just blatanly stealing from Louis Vuitton. For me, the bottom line is I just don’t see the point of spending money on sites like this b/c the quality of their stuff is so awful & the look is usually so obviously cheap. I don’t know if it should necessarily be illegal though — unlike the actual counterfeits, I don’t think there’s a lot of chance someone would actually mistake this stuff for the real thing.
That is definitely the complicated part of the issue. All designers at every level copy, they just use different words.
I think this is how the “knockoff” issue gets fuzzy. Alot of what you see in fashion is borrowed from and inspired by what other people have done. At what point does something cross the line from being similar to or inspired by a previous design and being a “knockoff”?
Also, shouldn’t we be allowing some room for different price/income brackets. If Cole Haan makes a bag inspired by a Prada bag and then Target makes a knockoff of the Cole Haan bag, what exactly is the problem (assuming that the Target bag is claiming to actually BE the Prada bag, etc)? Are we saying that people who can’t afford high fashion shouldn’t be able to have fashionable items that fit in their budget? Though I doubt anyone is going to confuse a Target handbag for one made by Prada.
(This whole conversation is recalling to me the scene from The Devil Wears Prada where Meryl Streep’s character lectures Anne Hathaway’s character on the use of cerulean blue from high fashion house down to bargain stores)
I’m all for beautiful creative things at every price point (I’m a student still). The argument in favor of the design protection bill is that it will force more creativity and places like forever 21 and others will need to create their own designs instead of making minute changes to designs created by others. On the other hand, the fear of that is that it will lead to higher prices from the typically less expensive companies. It is unclear which side of the argument is correct, or whether both are.
Hmmm…I’ve always thought that the higher price tag for BR, say, compared to Old Navy is that the designers are better and so cost more (also there are often higher manufacturing costs like a dart to add shape). But basically, I don’t think F21 could possibly afford great design at rock-bottom pricing. I agree the direct copies are a bit much, but by reinterpreting for people with tighter budgets, they move fashion forward. And, IMHO, b/c lower end brands create a broader, fashion conscious public, I think that the higher end designers are much more sought after by trend setters such as movie stars…so that they can be noticed.
@rg, I have seen pieces at BR that are direct knockoffs of similar brands. I got a BR top a few years ago thinking the design looked familiar and then compared it to a Nanette Lepore top that was exactly the same design. I am not even sure there were minor changes.
I’ve bought a few Target “knock-off” bags in my time. Why? Because I’m not going to shell out hundreds of dollars for something overly trendy. Perhaps someone can start “PublicEmployee-ette” for those of us who choose from a different part of the menu :).
I would definitely read “PublicEmployee-ette”
I am a public employee but I have no desire to look like one.
Not that I am trying to look like a “corporate” employee. Just saying.
I think the point of the previous two posters was that they would read a site that featured similar styles as Coporette, but at a lower price point.
Me too, but I am not a fan of posts that are sponsored and try to look like the rest of them. This post is out of place here, and for obvious reasons.
I think there are lots of people in the employment category who would NEED to read “PublicEmployee-ette” as part of their job description. The website could be added to government employement paperwork, and I propose the first item: “Only cute comfy shoes are allowed with work attire; no Nikes or similar chunky athletic shoe can be worn.” If you can’t buy $20 flat, comfortable shoes at Target or Payless, where does that paycheck go?
Can anyone comment on how the purses at Handbag Heaven rate on value-for-money? I mean, clearly they’re cheaper than what’s usually featured on Corporette, but compared with other similarly priced bags, how do they rate?
I’ve been stalking TJ Maxx recently, looking for a “fun” bag in a bold color (purple, royal blue?) in the $40-$60 range. I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet, but I’m sure it’ll turn up eventually. Am I better off sticking with the TJ Maxx strategy, or is a site like this worth considering if I see something I like?
I saw lots of colorful bags in your price range at DSW and on Amazon. Might wanna check those out too.
Oh, great tip on DSW! I always forget about them. I find shopping for clothing/accessories on Amazon very frustrating, which is sad because I’m such a loyal Amazon shopper otherwise.
If you have a nice Macy’s in your area, I’d say visit it once a week/month/whatever. Every brand at every price point has come out with bright colored bags and they’re often dumped in the clearance bins to make room for the new iterations.
Unfortunately, I live in the middle of nowhere! (“Stalking TJ Maxx” = “going there every time I take an out of town trip.”) I’m about three hours from a decent department store of any type.
6pm dot com.
I am frequently shocked by some of their prices.
So long as you know what brands you like, you’ll be able to find something. They often have huge sales. Wait for one of those & you should be all set.
I think waiting to buy something great at a discounted price (e.g., at TJ’s) is a much better use of $ than buying something cheap to begin with. You’ll spend much less in the long run, and you will have a much better product in the meantime.
Corporetters always have the best advice. :-) Thanks!
If you were to start enforcing some sort of law that regulates designers creativity than we will all start to have the same sort of uniform because everything will be a copy of something else. Every time something new is released somebody with something similar will be coming forward with a claim that they were copied. After time creativity will be thwarted and we may all start to look like the amish because everybody will be stifled creatively. This is a bad idea in my opinion. There really is nothing new under the sun.
I like the card holder, especially the green and purple colors The texture looks interesting on my screen. I think it could be a good conversation starter.
I have actually purchased handbags in the past from Handbag Heaven. Nila Anthony, Urban Expressions and Ebisu are actual brands of handbags – even if they cost a lot less than Prada and Marc.
I’m all for inexpensive, fashionable items being posted here (I bought many holiday gifts in the sub-$30 range this year), but I’ve got to be honest – this stuff just looks like junk.