Last week, I did the unthinkable and placed an order with Walmart.com. Shopping at Walmart is a sticky subject, considering many consumers see them as an evil empire. I find it almost unbearable to shop there in person, but I was determined to review the new Normal Kamali collection, so after two failed attempts to find it at stores near me, I bit the bullet and bought a couple items from their website.
Whereas a trip to a brick-and-mortar Walmart is depressing at best (no offense to anyone who shops there, but you haven't been to my Walmart--it's like a scene out of the Mike Judge film Idiocracy), shopping at Walmart.com is actually very pleasant. Norma Kamali's new budget fashion line is conveniently promoted on their homepage. Navigating the site is easy as can be. Additional product shots would be helpful, as would additional inventory. Most of the items I really wanted to see in person were completely sold out (such as this awesome batwing cardigan, leopard jersey tank dress, or black and white striped henley). At the same time, that can be a clever business strategy--it only made me want the items more!
So I placed my order on a Monday, and the goods arrived just two days later on a Wednesday morning. I have mixed feelings about the overall quality and styles thus far. It's been like a roller coaster ride of emotions (I love hyperbole): First I hated it. I saw a lot of jersey and sweats on that annoying model from the '80s and thought to myself, this is the LAST thing Walmart customers need to look good. Then, I revisited the site on a different day with a different mood...and suddenly loved it, especially with those addictive low prices. Six bucks for an organic cotton tee?? Twenty for a black blazer? Hook me up!
Even though I was bummed that all the good stuff was sold out, I eagerly filled my virtual shopping cart with a basic white tee ($6), a gray graphic tee ($6), some red skinny jeans ($15), a long-sleeve crew tee ($8), a black vest ($12), a black blazer ($20) and a two-pack of Nobo gray opaque tights ($8.97). On a side note, the shipping costs were a little misleading: I was expecting to pay 97 cents for the whole order, but when it came time to check out, I realized that it's actually 97 cents per item. Still, very reasonable and as I said, I got my goods within two days.
The quality is definitely good considering the price. I love the graphic tee because, well, I'm a dog lover so the cute little daschund design makes me giggle. Tee-hee. My white tee and long sleeve gray tee are as good as anything you'd get at the Gap. The jeans and vest are fine quality-wise, but the fit was off. Too big. Unfortunately I won't be exchanging them since the smallest size they offer is a size 4 and that's what I got. The blazer works because I wanted something menswear-inspired and this definitely fits the bill. I wore it out over the weekend and channeled Yves Saint Laurent's le smoking (some might say I'm delusional, I like to think I have a very vivid imagination).
I will be hiking back to my nearest Walmart store to return the items I don't want, and I like having that option for returns. It's too bad that the line is only carried at select stores nationwide because I'm curious to see more. I'd love to try a dress from the collection after seeing the editor of Budget Chic modeling her Norma Kamali leopard print dress (see the pics here). In conclusion, I think I have a pretty good sense of the sizing, fit and quality, so I will definitely check back on the collection in the future and if something amazing comes up, I won't hesitate to buy more from this line. And then I'll go plant a tree to atone for my budget shopping sins.
So I placed my order on a Monday, and the goods arrived just two days later on a Wednesday morning. I have mixed feelings about the overall quality and styles thus far. It's been like a roller coaster ride of emotions (I love hyperbole): First I hated it. I saw a lot of jersey and sweats on that annoying model from the '80s and thought to myself, this is the LAST thing Walmart customers need to look good. Then, I revisited the site on a different day with a different mood...and suddenly loved it, especially with those addictive low prices. Six bucks for an organic cotton tee?? Twenty for a black blazer? Hook me up!
Even though I was bummed that all the good stuff was sold out, I eagerly filled my virtual shopping cart with a basic white tee ($6), a gray graphic tee ($6), some red skinny jeans ($15), a long-sleeve crew tee ($8), a black vest ($12), a black blazer ($20) and a two-pack of Nobo gray opaque tights ($8.97). On a side note, the shipping costs were a little misleading: I was expecting to pay 97 cents for the whole order, but when it came time to check out, I realized that it's actually 97 cents per item. Still, very reasonable and as I said, I got my goods within two days.
The quality is definitely good considering the price. I love the graphic tee because, well, I'm a dog lover so the cute little daschund design makes me giggle. Tee-hee. My white tee and long sleeve gray tee are as good as anything you'd get at the Gap. The jeans and vest are fine quality-wise, but the fit was off. Too big. Unfortunately I won't be exchanging them since the smallest size they offer is a size 4 and that's what I got. The blazer works because I wanted something menswear-inspired and this definitely fits the bill. I wore it out over the weekend and channeled Yves Saint Laurent's le smoking (some might say I'm delusional, I like to think I have a very vivid imagination).
I will be hiking back to my nearest Walmart store to return the items I don't want, and I like having that option for returns. It's too bad that the line is only carried at select stores nationwide because I'm curious to see more. I'd love to try a dress from the collection after seeing the editor of Budget Chic modeling her Norma Kamali leopard print dress (see the pics here). In conclusion, I think I have a pretty good sense of the sizing, fit and quality, so I will definitely check back on the collection in the future and if something amazing comes up, I won't hesitate to buy more from this line. And then I'll go plant a tree to atone for my budget shopping sins.
A best friend of mine graduated for fashion design not too long ago and she actually had a couple of intern jobs right when she got out, and one job she had was picking out fabrics for walmart's "new" line.. theyre apparently in the middle of trying to build back up a new reputation by choosing better textures..fabrics...
so thats good news =)
p.s and i think that blazer looks awesome!
Walmart can be deceptive. Most of the time I don't find good clothes there, but once in a while you can really score some amazing pieces. My favorite is a blue-and-white, pure silk "bandana"-print top that looks gorgeous! It's from their "George" line, and unlike any top I've seen anywhere else, even to this day. I wish I got the red-and-white print version too.
PS- I just want to say I am a huge fan and I love everything about your website!!
Hey- I was wondering about the Walmart sizes- the t-shirts that you bought (very cute btw)- is a medium at Walmart the same as a medium at say Gap or Forever21? Or can you give me a good idea of the sizes compared to other stores.
Thanks!!
also a couple of their 'george' label things are not bad.
Anywho, I just checked the labels on all my Normal Kamali stuff: Blazer and vest were made in Guatemala; tees were made in Indonesia; jeans in Bangladesh.
I think American companies are catching on about our general "mistrust" of goods made in China so they're moving production elsewhere...does that make it better? Hard to tell.
At first I shopped at Forever 21 because I thought everything was made in Los Angeles, but that's not the case--just a percentage of their clothing is made in L.A. Also, they've been accused of having sweat shop conditions right here in the states...again, I don't know where they stand today. Consumers need more information about the products they're buying, from food to cosmetics to clothing and beyond.
Thanks for the replies the last time, they were heart-warming.
I'm so glad you did a feature on Wal-Mart!
With my whole student budget, Wal-mart's been moving up my list of favorite stores. (I actually like it a whole lot more than Target.)
My love for Wal-Mart started almost 4 years ago, when I got a pair of White Stag brown faux-suede slouchy knee-length boots. I bring them out every chance I get. They were just 24.99 or so & are still in great shape today!
I've come to find that their designer lines such as George, White Stag and Metro7 are actually of pretty good quality; most likely a lot better than that of Forever21 (which I love too).
Okay, enough about my love for Wal-mart.
Where did you get that cute contrast tank-dress? (Or is it a tank paired with a skirt?) Either way, I would love to own it! :]
I don't know if wal mart is quite up to par with online clothing shopping either - I couldn't find any sort of size chart (not that those are always terribly helpful anyway, but they could at least try)
And in comparison to Forever 21, well, have you ever tried to return or exchange anything at Forever 21? It's impossible! At least wal mart lets you return or exchange pretty much anything.