The Seductive eLuxury Will Appeal to Your Senses, Not Your Sensibility
Written: Jan 24 '02 (Updated Jan 25 '02)
| Selection: |
 |
|
|
| Full Review |
A mere twelve months ago, the US economy revved into overdrive—-with a soaring Dow Jones Industry Average in the mid-11,000 range, overnight 20-something dot-com millionaires, and unemployment rates at an all-time low, the luxury marketplace kicked up its gears for what they thought would be their finest year ever. While luxury titan Hammacher Schlemmer pushed personal hovercrafts on the covers of its catalog, extravagant apparel and accessory web sites like eLuxury launched, ready to satisfy the gourmet appetites of a booming economy.
Oh what a difference a year makes. The dot-com bust has reverberated throughout the entire economy, taking everything from telecom behemoths to long-standing retail marts down with it. The Dow Jones continues to sag while pundits predict the fed’s next move to rebound the recession. Add to the fledgling economy the tragic events of September, and who today doesn’t feel that luxury items are too pricey, petty, and pompous to even consider?
Such is my problem with eLuxury-—more a moral dilemma than a functional one. Had this been another time, I may have considered purchasing a $200 designer handbag or a $95 Marc Jacobs charm bracelet from this well-designed, visually impressive site. Like turning the pages of a glossy fashion magazine, eLuxury bombards the eye with stylized images of a retail paradise. Leggy models draped in red silk and rose petals, seductively adorned in $300 La Perla lingerie, beckon you to make a purchase. But who can? I simply refuse.
My moral tirade aside, eLuxury’s simple navigation and attractive presentation will appeal to your senses, if not to your sensibility. Neatly organized into five main sections—-women, men, gifts, beauty, and brand shops—-eLuxury offers the fashion-savvy, fashion-needy a variety of ready-to-wear choices. For women, Dior, John Galliano, Michael Kors, and DKNY offer an average of nine pieces each on the site, ranging from $110 for a DKNY slim pant to $2,270 for a Kors shearling long coat. Other selections for women include:
Lingerie & Hosiery, Handbags, Small Leather Goods, Shoes, Jewelry, Watches, Accessories
Carrie from “Sex and the City” would go wild for eLuxury’s extensive selection of handbags. Logo bags, totes, weekenders, pouches, clutches--they’re all here from Dior, Celine, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton. Click on Dior’s Trotter logo bag and you’ll pull up the product detail complete with color swatches that, when clicked upon, display a full photo of the product in the new hue. For $165, this small tote (8.25" x 6.25" x 1.5" according to eLuxury) represents one of the lowest-priced handbag options available from eLuxury. But I’m no Carrie. I don’t have an HBO wardrobe budget, so I’ll have to pass.
Gifts
Besides Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive, where else can Dean & Deluca and Baccarat comfortably reside, side-by-side? Gift items at eLuxury include:
Vases & Accessories, Figurines, Stemware & Barware, Kitchen, Bedding & Bath, Candles, Wreaths, Gourmet, Champagne & Sparkling Wine
I hear your next question: what on earth is a luxury candle? Diptyque from Paris claims to be the candle of choice for “celebrities and style-makers.” At $40.00 for a small, 50-hour votive, that better be one fabulously fragranced chunk of wax!
Special Links
For those who want to feel luxurious but don’t want to spend a fortune, there is a convenient link for “hot picks under $100.” This month’s selections include a James Perse American Flag tee at $34, Chocoholics Body Frosting Gift Crate for $28, a Louis Vuitton credit card holder at $75, and a sexy pair of Hugo Boss men’s boxers for $28.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, the home page features a host of “Love is...” links to tempt your cupid:
“...In The Air” – Perfumes from Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Annick Goutal.
“...Simply Scrumptious” – Chocolates and Champagne.
“...Midnight Lace” – La Perla lingerie and Dior fishnets.
“...Utterly Charming” – Jewelry by Bvlgari and Baccarat
“...Model of the Month” - She’s gorgeous. She’s Brazilian. She’s 18. One more reason to hate this site.
Shopping in 3D
The site offers 3D views of a dozen select products, however, dial-ups beware: you need to download Viewpoint software first. But I question their use of technology—-do I really need to see the front, back and sides of a “By Terry” pressed powder refill? I zoomed in on the compact, zoomed out, rotated it. Hmph. Looks the same: like a pressed powder compact! Skip this section, it’s a waste of time.
Valentine’s Day Shipping
Orders placed by February 11th at 11:59PM EST are guaranteed to be delivered by February 14th. It’s important to note, however, that eLuxury only ships in the US.
Best Buy
I’ve done all the leg work, rather click work, to find the best item on the entire site. Ladies, check out the Trish McEnvoy “Maxed Out” compact of 10 lips colors, very reasonably priced at $18.00. (Find it via the “Gift Finder.”) Small and sleek, the size of a credit card, your own Visa won’t be maxed out by this affordable luxury pick.
Can it Survive?
My only question after pouring over the sensuous pages of eLuxury is whether or not the online luxury marketplace can survive. Tempted at every corner by a stunning presentation, I still cannot part with my cash. Having been a beta tester for Luxlook.com at the behest of a friend heading that web project at now-defunct marchFIRST, I likewise avoided making a purchase there, even though they presented me with a $100 gift certificate (which didn’t make a dent on that site). I became acquainted with eLuxury when the dying (now dead) Luxlook sold my email address to them, and I’m still holding back. Considering the poor economy and the families in such great need of assistance right now, I would just be plain selfish to grab that achingly trendy Dior handbag.
This site gets points from me for its eye-popping photos and easy navigation, a window-shopper’s dream. I was also impressed that an “in stock” status message is supplied prior to even creating an account. If they don’t have what you want, you can just walk away, no questions asked. My recommendation of this site is for window-shopping only, and it comes with reservations, but again, that’s my over-sensitive sensibility talking.
On the other hand, in these difficult times, who would fault me for treating myself to a little something special from eLuxury’s lower-priced selections of eau-de-toilet or a decadent dose of “Shari’s Berries” chocolate-covered strawberries?
Nope, sorry, I was just kidding.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
About the Author
Location: Somerset County, NJ, USA
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me: Just returned home from USFSA Adult Nationals, 4/8/02. I will actively return to Epinions soon!
|
