The Graduate Perspective

“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically, and emotionally.”  This was said by Christian Louboutin the maker of those famous and coveted red bottoms. While Christian Louboutin shoes cost me about a month’s salary, I do think there some truth in this quote. Wearing a fabulous pair of shoes gives me an extra boost of confidence and attitude! Which is why I like having different shoes for different moods and occasions. But personally, I don’t like spending a lot on shoes unless they are a staple such as sneakers. However, finding good quality shoes with on trend designs can be difficult.

I had seen Just Fab ads and ads for similar websites pop up on my Facebook page for a few years before I bit the bullet. The ads would peak my interest with too good to be true deals like “$10 for your first pair” or “50% off”. For those that don’t know Just Fab (my link) is a subscription based retailer. The way it works is when you join the membership, which is free, you can buy a pair of shoes every month for $40, $39.95 to be exact, or they charge you that amount and you get credit to pick out shoes later. You do have the option to skip every month so they won’t charge you but only till the 5^th of the month. This is how they get you, and got me on several occasions.

Most of these items are $39.95 but more recently they have included items that cost between $29.95 – $60, with the exception of jewelry. I do tend to stalk their website pretty often, and I have noticed that their they have much better selection with more trendy pieces recently. Over the last three years, I have acquired several items from Just Fab and many due to credits from forgotten skips. I have listed out short reviews of each item, so that you get a better understanding of the quality and expectations if you are interested:

Shoes:

1. Black over-the-knee faux leather boots: These were my first Just Fab purchase. I really wanted over-the-knee boots like ones I had seen all the bloggers wear. I did not want to spend a lot on them since they would not be shoes I could get away with wearing to lab. These shoes were exactly what I was looking for at the time and with the first-time purchase promotion I got them for $15! What a steal! I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the faux leather and craftmanship. The shaft of the boot fit tightly around my calf and they don’t slide down. Surprisingly these boots are more comfortable than my expensive riding boots. (5/5)
2. Green suede flats: I got these flats with the black boots as part of the promotion and they only cost me about $7. The green was much brighter than on the website, which slightly disappointed me. The crystal detail was well made and made the flats look more expensive, however the color of the shoe had the opposite effect, in my opinion. However, I only got to wear them 2 or 3 times, because they got so loose they slipped off my feet. (3/5)
   
3. Suede maroon boots: The maroon color was exactly like the website; however, the roughness of the faux suede was a major downfall. The suede got dirty very quickly and I only ended up wearing them for one season. Also, the boots were very wide around my calf making them unflattering, in my opinion. (1/5)
4. Heeled combat boots: These boots retailed for $29.95 on the website along with #5. I fell in love with the design of the Louis Vuitton heeled combat boots and I think these give off a similar aesthetic, a mix of masculine and feminine. The color of them was unique and the red thread was not as bright as it appeared on the website. The heel height is comfortable enough to wear all day in the lab and the side zip makes them easy to put on. (5/5)
   

1. Suede pointy-toe boots: I was worried about getting another pair of suede boots from Just Fab after my previous experience, but these were perfect!

The suede is soft and design was on point (pun intended, haha). The only issue
with these shoes is that they are very tight around the toes and ankles and I could
have probably used a size up. I did end up wearing them for a whole day and they
didn’t hurt too badly. (4/5)

Accessories:

6. Fuzzy socks: Probably the best purchase of 2017! They are knitted socks from the outside with a fleece lining. I can describe them in three words: comfy, cozy, and warm. (5/5)
7. Gold-bow clutch: The tag that came with it read $36 but Just Fab sold them for only $20, so not bad. Again, the faux leather was excellent. The bow was adorable and the magnetic clasp secure. The only downside was the lining on the inside which did not match the design or quality of the outside. (4/5)

Take Away:

• The amazing deals that Just Fab advertise are true, however they only apply to first time customers who sign up for membership. Also I would wait till a good promotion comes up.
• The faux leather is much better than the faux suede.
• Some of the shoes and bags are overpriced, sp pick and choose based on what you think is worth it or what you can find elsewhere.
• Most of the clothes are overpriced and the designs are basic and boring, in my opinion.
• Major point 1: Just Fab membership is only worth it if buy shoes often (once a month or every two months)
• Major point 2: Forgetting to skip is very easy, and it can cost you.
• Major point 3: Canceling the membership is that simple. It requires you to call customer service and cancel over the phone. Which is silly considering its an online retailer.

Overall, I am happy with the shoes I got and some of them are my most favorites, but at the end of the day the service is not for me, and I will be canceling it in the next few days. Lastly, I will leave you all with this “You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose!” from the one and only, Dr. Seuss.