The Recessionista Reviews UK Brand Wallis Fashion

Selections from Wallis Fashion for Fall/ Winter 2013

Wallis Fashion is a UK brand that has been around a long time…but it is new to many US fashion shoppers.  But the brand, owned by Topshop’s parent company Arcadia Group wants to change all of that.   For the past year Wallis Fashion has been pumping up their US Social Media presence  (via Facebook and Twitter) and courting fashion bloggers.  I’m one of the bloggers who now receives regular invites to Wallis contest and events.  As a result,   I’ve been evaluating Wallis Fashion for the past 6 mos.  The brand gifted me with a handbag and a dress and I also purchased several items from their UK based website.   Overall, there’s a lot to like about Wallis Fashion, both from a style and a price standpoint.  However, there are a few “gotchas” to be aware of.

A patterned midi dress and handbag from Wallis Fashion

Wallis Fashion started in 1923. The brand has long been popular in the UK and Ireland. However, the merchandise only started to gain visibility in the US when it was acquired by Topshop’s parent company, the Arcadia Group, chaired by Sir Philip Green in 1999.  With the holidays coming up, Wallis has redesigned their website and launched new holiday party dresses and tops that are sure to attract interest.  But, is Wallis a brand worthy of investment or just another purveyor of “fast fashion?”  That was my question.

Some of my favorites from Wallis Fashion

To me, Wallis deliver higher quality than traditional “fast fashion” brands like Forever21 and even their sister company Topshop.  The designs are also a bit more conservative, so you can expect them to be in style longer.    The cuts are  very feminine and there’s nothing too over the top in the Wallis wardrobe.  Many of the styles offer figure camouflaging effects like draped side ties, rouching around the stomach and waist areas and high waisted maxi dresses.  These effects create a very slimming effect for many of the garments.  I ordered one of the print tie side dresses and it’s very well done with the side draping that does make you look a few pounds thinner.  The prints is also charming and very vintage looking.  For $67.00 it might be a bit more that I wanted to spend, but it fits well and will last a few seasons.  I’ve also tried their handbags and jewelry.  The handbags are well done, although they are PVC (polyurethane) not leather.  Most of their bags are priced under $60.oo US and they look more upscale than their price tags indicate.  The jewelry is a good looking and for the most part affordable, although a pair of earrings I ordered turned my ear lobs green indicating an inexpensive plating (perhaps copper or silver) leading to a chemical reaction with my skin, and thus the green color.  If you are sensitive to jewelry with or have had reactions to inexpensive brands in the past, you may want to take that into consideration.

Sizing for Wallis is Misses sized ,ranging from size 4 to size 16 US.   The sizing is more generous than Topshop’s,  Forever21 , Target GO and in most cases H&M.   Because the sizing is a bit fuller, the pricing is also a bit higher.  Hem length is also a bit longer for Wallis dreses, so there are most choices in midi and maxi lengths than there are in “mini” length.  For working women, this a real plus.  Wallis also offers petites and plus size fashion, so Wallis accommodates a wide variety of shapes.

The main issue I had with Wallis Fashion is the returns process.  The brand needs to have a shipping and returns facility in the US if they really want to go after this market.  I ordered a gorgeous maxi dress from Wallis, but the style ran a bit large, and sadly it did not fit me well.   When I went to the Post Office to return it I learned the  the cost of the return was $29.00, which was more than the clearance price of the dress.  So I gave the dress away rather than sending it back due to the high postage costs to mail to the UK. The other issue with Wallis Fashion is supply and demand.  Items seem to sell very quickly on this website.  For the most part, this is not a site you can come back to and buy when things go on sale.

If you like an item, you should order it, because the odds are it won’t be around longer than 21 days.   Either Wallis is keeping supply low, or they have a steady demand of shoppers and styles that regularly sell-out.  The quick turnover of the goods makes it hard to get the style you want, when you want it.  Wallis Fashion regularly offers sales, but sale items also seem to move quickly and are available in limited sizes. If you’ve checked out Wallis Fashion online, leave a comment and let me know what you think.   I do like this brand, I just wish they had some US based ordering and returns facility to make it easier to shop with them and be a repeat Wallis customer.  For each order, you have to factor in delivery from the UK and if you return to the UK, you will have to pay the shipping costs, which can be expensive.