The Recessionista Reviews VERY: Some Great Finds

As a self-confessed Anglophile, with grandparents hailing from the UK, I’m a lover of most things British.  A good cuppa tea, scones, dinner at Maggie Jones in London and of course British fashion. I use to go across the pond every year for museum trips (my beloved V&A) and shopping.  Since the dawn of the recession and the economic downturn, I haven’t been over to the Mother Country.  That’s why I was one of the first bloggers in the US to get excited about website Very.co.uk, a website featuring affordable British labels and celebrity fashion.   Since the launch, I’ve had the opportunity to order and try on some of the merchandise from the site. Now, I feel confident giving you the 411 of this site.  First of all, the inventory is huge.  They offer a lot of merchandise, but as with any large site you have to pick and choose carefully.  The bigger the site, the higher the average for falling into the Fugly trap.  Fugly my label for stuff that is just frigging ugly.  Sometimes it’s also pricey. So Very, has a bit of that.  But they also have built a strong community of buying consumers that help you step through the fugly traps it via Customer Reviews.  Reading the reviews ( and not all retailers are brave enough to offer them) helps you find the best deals and styles.   I picked through Very.com using the reviews and my favorite designers as my guidepost.  I wanted a little black dress, and found a truly fantastic one from label So Fabulous (a Very.com exclusive brand).   It’s called the Power Dress, and this is a great cut with a square neck and fitted waist. It hugs your curves in just the right places and it’s supper flattering.  Other users agreed with my assessment judging by the reader reviews. For $45.00 US and 34 Euros, this dress is well priced and I highly recommend it.  It’s already sold out in the smaller sizes.

Pictured: The Recessionista’s Top Pick Very.com So Fabulous Dress  approx $45.00 USD

Other items I tried on from Very.com include a DKNY print top, which was amazing as usual.  You can’t really go wrong with DKNY. This item was one the most expensive item on the site, so is it any wonder I loved it?  But the offer of DKNY is a great addition to the Very.com list of products.  It promises quality and is still affordable.  My third pick was a pretty item but it looks different in person than the pictures on the site.  I ordered the Fearne Cotton Contrast Jacket, which is nice looking but rather flimsy.  It’s more of a top (lightweight polyester) than a jacket.  There is no weight to the garment at all, although it is cute on.   As one Very.com reviewer wrote, “the paper it came wrapped in was thicker than the jacket”  The jacket also runs a bit small, so if you like the style order up.  For 32 Euros or $44.00 US, it’s not a great value.  If you like it, wait for it to go on clearance. Fearne Cotton is a Very.com exclusive brand.   Judging by the reviews, many of the items are great to look at but may not be as well made as you might like.  Be choosy when selecting from this particular line.

Very.com also offers a lot of celebrity styles and name brands that are popular in the UK.  You’ll find FCUK (not my favorite quality wise, but very popular), Whitney Eve, Ms. Sixties,  Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, and even Versace.   With such a large inventory, there are bound to be hits and misses.   But overall, I like Very.com both as a website and a fashion resource.  From my perspective prices are reasonable, the selection is good and delivery was prompt.  I also like the picks from London Fashion Week and their coverage of it as well as the informational material on the site (Dress for Your Shape,  Rework Your Wardrobe and Five Items, Five Ways.)  If you like British fashion, or any type of fashion, take a look at Very.com.

Note: In the interests of full disclosure, I want you all to know that Very.com allowed me to  pick 3 items from their site and review them.  However, Very has had no input in this review of the evaluation of the products and their site.