Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you would have shopped online at one point or another. Online shopping has been in existence for a long time, ever since the existence of internet banking made online transactions possible, but the phenomenon of online shopping in local context only really took off with the rise of online blogshops by enterprising young people who saw the gap in the demand market, filled it, and created a whole new avenue of shopping altogether.
The very first blogshops were basic - they were usually hosted on free websites such as Blogspot or Livejournal, had simple pictures and layouts and boasted relatively small collection of items, usually clothes, for sale. However, as they became immensely popular and more blogshops started sprouting up in the internet world, competition drove many of the owners to find various means and ways to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Some took the time and effort to create beautiful fashion layouts, while others took to designing clothes themselves instead of getting their clothes from the same manufacturer as everyone else. Thing is, competition was so intense that consumers were often spoiled for choice, and the lack of a differentiating shtick meant that many blogshops that joined too late into the game eventually were forced out of competition.
Yet, despite the cutthroat nature of the business, some blogshops have managed to pull so far ahead of the rest of their competitors that they were rumoured to rake in 5-figures sum every month. These blogshops are the ones that people can name from the top of their heads, the ones whose clothes you'd at least have a piece of in your wardrobe, and the ones whose collections are sold out within the first few minutes of their launch. Hard work, excellent customer service, cutting-edge fashion... these are just some of the reasons why some of these blogshops are holding court over the rest in the blogshop world.
Here, we share with you some of our very favourite blogshops. They may not be the biggest or most popular ones around, but they have captured our hearts (and wallets!) in more ways than one!
Little Red Heels
Previously known as LittleRedHeels, now ILoveLRH, owners Min and Xiang owned what could be considered one of the pioneering blogshops in the blogsphere. While many of the earlier blogshops played it safe with their presentations, LRH surged ahead with their gorgeous edgy layouts that looked straight out of the pages of a fashion spread, unique clothing not found in any other blogshop and of course, excellent service. Even if the clothes did not catch our eye in a particular collection, the amazing photography was well worth a second (third, and fourth) look, making LRH one of our early favourites.
LRH has since migrated to a dotcom domain and revamped its site to create a more professional feel. While service standards remain as professional as ever, the beautiful spreads have unfortunately been abandoned, possibly due to a lack of time on the part of the owners. Shame! Nevertheless, we are still fans of their simple and clean layout at the new site and their quirky collections!
BonitoChico
Indisputably the most popular local blogshop right now, BonitoChico's collections are the ones to look out for, because should you even dare to be 10 minutes late for the launch of a new collection, you can be pretty sure the item you're hankering after would be out of stock by the time you place your order. The massive popularity of BonitoChico isn't without its reasons either. We like to think of BonitoChico's selling points as a three-pronged approach: aesthetically pleasing photographs, professional and efficient service, and most important of all, self-designed and manufactured apparel. In a market saturated with blogshops selling the same clothes over and over again, the effort taken to self manufature clothes is refreshing and much appreciated by us shoppers!
Agneselle
It's true: Girls like to look at other girls, especially if they're pretty! Blame it on our voyeuristic or kaypoh nature, there's no doubt that a blogshop with pretty models would attract more attention comparatively. (yes, we are superficial, get over it) But of course, that's only one of the reasons why Agneselle (with model/owner Pei Ling of Hey! Gorgeous fame) is vastly popular among the avid online shoppers. With its self-manufactured collections skewed more towards young working adults, its apparel are often a mix of casual chic and dressy. Paired with a model that makes everything look impossibly good, it's little wonder that Agneselle reigns as one of the most popular local blogshops.
Catwalkclose
Much like Agneselle, Catwalkclose features a variety of casual yet chic apparel don by a model that makes everything look fabulous. Unlike Agneselle however, Catwalkclose features collections (self-manufactured too, yes!) that are much more adventurous in its play on prints and colours. We are especially huge fans of the breezy chiffon materials and bright flower prints that have been dominating their recent collections. One of our favourite things about Catwalkclose's apparel is that while it doesn't jump on the bandwagon of latest fashion trends like so many blogshops do, it remains fashion forward, and more importantly, prices are wallet-friendly!
HerVelvetVase
Another one of the seasoned players in the game, HerVelvetVase, or HVV for short, is one of the few blogshops whose popularity has not wavered since its inception. And for good reason. Collections are, of course, self-manufactured, and fashion veers towards apparel in classic cuts and colours, in a range of formal to casual. While it's easy for those who are not careful to border into boring territory when dabbling in basic cuts and colours, HVV keeps their fashion fresh with detailing and and prints. Innate understanding of what makes their costumers tick and what earns their loyalty? HVV definitely possesses it.
VainGloriousYou
Sprightly, cheerful and youthful - that's definitely the vibe that VainGloriousYou has going on with its shop presentation, clothes and model. Targeting perhaps a slightly younger crowd than the rest of its counterparts, VGY has been extremely popular among student shoppers with its edgier street fashion, and brighter hues. Model/owner Tricia, also formerly of Hey! Gorgeous fame, rocks out her outfits and makes even us, who are not huge fans of the street fashion, want to buy her clothes!
AcrossTheBloodyUniverse
What we like about AcrossTheBloodyUniverse (besides its cheeky name of course!) is how the intimate nature of its collections. Each collection only has a couple of pieces, each piece painstakingly designed by co-owners Mery and Sarah, who also model their own apparel. Their small collections ensure that costumers are not overwhelmed by too many choices and have more time to mull over their choices of colours etc. In fact, shopping at AcrossTheBloodyUniverse feels more like being showed the closet of a close girlfriend. Friendly service and intimate atmosphere - the shopping experience with ATBU is indeed a unique one!
Odorikoya
One of the younger players in the world of online shopping, there's a reason why Odorikoya has been flourishing as a late entrant while many of its competitors have crashed and burned. Odorikoya catches your attention immediately in two ways, first of all, its Japanese name sets it aside from the rest of its competitors (with an endless array of names with wordplay on "glamour", "allure", "vogue" etc etc, who can differentiate one from another anymore?), and secondly, its layout which is a combination of chic and adorable - irresistible! (we are suckers for pretty layouts!) Excellent presentation, uniquely-sourced collections and reasonable pricing - Odorikoya's definitely a keeper in our books!
Disclaimer: The writer is not in any way related to aforementioned blogshops, and can only wish that she's been offered clothes to write this article.
