Review with Giveaway: DownEast Basics

This Giveaway is now CLOSED. I want to thank everyone who took the time to enter. The True Random Number Generator has selected Number #152 and that is happyenchilada Congratulations! I will email you and you will have 48 Hours to Respond.

If you have not shopped around the DownEast Basics website then you are really in for a special treat! Not only does DownEast Basics have some of the cutest, most fashion forward clothing styles and accessories, but you will be pleasantly surprised at how very reasonably priced all of their items are, and many of them are on Sale too! I was actually quite shocked and utterly thrilled when I saw some of the most adorable items so inexpensively priced, and believe me when I say you can really make your dollar stretch far when you shop at DownEast Basics. The very generous folks at DownEast Basics have offered to allow one of my readers to win an item of their choice from their website.

Before I get into the details about the giveaway, let me give you a sneak peak at some of my favorite items from the DownEast Basics online shop:


Reunited Wrap Top

Price:  $32.99

3/4 sleeve wrap top with pleat detail around neckline and cuff of sleeve.
Cotton/poplin/spandex.


Frosted Flower Cardigan

Price:  $34.99

12 gauge knit cotton sweater with 3/4 sleeve and applique flower detail. Cotton.


Perfect Form Dress

Regularly Priced:  $38.99
On Sale for:  $25.99

Fitted dress with tiered ruffles on chest and around neckline.
3" waistband with inverted pleats above and below.
Stretch polyester.
Imported.


Turquoise Flower Rhinestone Ring

Price:  $14.99

Flower measures approx. 3x3 cm
Ring sizes 7, 8, & 9

You can also visit the DownEast Basic Blog where you can get sneak peaks on what the newest product offerings are, updates on upcoming promotions and sales and also learn some great fashion tips! You can CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE BLOG

MY REVIEW

The very generous folks at DownEast Basics allowed me to select two items from their New Arrivals Category.  It was so easy to select 2 items to review because the New Arrivals section offers such a fantastic assortment of really cute and versatile tops, skirts, jeans and amazing, truly beautiful, accessories like handbags and stunning jewelry!  From the New Arrivals section I decided to chooset a new pair of jeans and a new handbag from this section, because those are two items that I can never have enough of, and I know I will wear them all the time! These are the two items I received to review:

Double Take Jeans

Price: $54.99

Lowrise boot fit jean with wide waistband, double button fly and embroidered pocket detail.
Available in 32", 34", 36" lengths.
Cotton/spandex.
Imported.
Sizes 0-14

MY THOUGHTS:  I love the fact that these jeans are offered in a variety of sizes as well as a choice of different lengths.  It made selecting the right size for me extra easy.  Of course whenever ordering something like jeans without trying them on first is always a guessing game, because while you try and use the sizing charts available, I find that even if you follow the sizing charts, what you get isn't always true to size according to what the chart says.  I am thrilled to say that when I received these jeans, in a Size 8 and 34 inch length, they fit like a glove.  Phew, a sigh of relief!  It is always a hugh plus and my highest recommendation when a product runs true to size and fits as though you had spent the time in the dressing room trying different pairs on until you found your right size.  Huge kudos to DownEast Basics for this!

I always, always wash new jeans before I wear them, so the first step for me was to wash the jeans and test how they performed in the washer (please note I always wash my jeans inside out and I never put them in the dryer!  Just a quirkiness that I have)  So I washed the jeans twice through the gentle cycle of our washer and let them dry overnight on the clothesline overnight.  I was anxious to wear the next day for the purposes of this review and also because they are so darn cute!

Another huge plus!  They washed wonderfully!  They are really nice rendered in cotton with a touch of spandex so they hold their shape very well.  I wore them with a fresh, crisp white button up the front long sleeved top, a brown vest and my brow leather riding boots.  I also have this really cool brown leather jeweled belt that I wore with them to add that little touch of bling to the outfit.  Seriously, I felt like a rocker chic celebrity in these jeans.  The pockets are embellished with two-tone color stitching in this really hip pattern and the entire length of the jeans has coordinating stitching.  Wearing these jeans makes you feel like you have that touch of subtle edginess and that cool factor that makes them stand out from the ordinary, which is a feature I always look for in my clothes.

I am thoroughly pleased with these jeans in every aspect from the wonderful attention to the design detail that they possess to the very fine quality that they are crafted.  I know I am going to enjoy wearing them all the time for a long time.

Vertical Zipper and Buckle Bag

Price:  $26.99

19” x 11” bag with 8” drop handles. Zipper pocket on back. Fully lined interior with one zipper and two pockets. Zipper closure.

MY THOUGHTS:  From the moment I laid my eyes on this ultra chic and so very stylish handbag I was in love with it.  There are so many elements to its design that makes this handbag so appealing that I felt compelled to choose it!  It has that euro-chic expensive look to it that gives the impression that it must have cost a small fortune, when in reality it is under $30.00!!  The bag did not disappoint when I was able to behold it in person.  The very essence of what I saw in the picture online, is exactly what I saw when I had it in my hands.  It offers everything from its amazing gorgeous design to being so very functional for my busy everyday lifestyle and can easily accommodate all that I have to carry around with me whenever I leave the house, which is a lot of stuff!

The material the bag is made from is very soft and pliable.  It is not leather, but it looks and feels like fine leather.  Who would know???  And the bag has nice white stitching all around it to highlight all the design features.  The bag is nicely lined and the inside is huge!  There is so much space and I love a nice roomy handbag.  There is a decent size zippered pocket on one side and a large open pocket on the other side, as well as a little pocket next to it that will easily hold my cellphone.  The multi-zippered design on the outside is more for show, although the zippers fully function, you can't store anything in them.

This handbag has that very urban, street chic look to it, a style that is so HOT and makes this handbag a favorite of mine for being one of the most divine accessories to add some spice and sassiness to your New Year, New You look!  I know it is going to be my favorite "go to" accessory whenever I want to feel sleek, confident and really stylish!  

GIVEAWAY

Open to USA and Canada

The very generous folks at DOWNEAST BASICS  have agreed to let me giveaway ANY ITEM FROM THEIR WEBSITE OF YOUR CHOICE, this is going to be ONE amazing prize for the winner!  Yes indeed, One lucky reader of mine will be able to pick any item they want from DownEast Basics! I am going to make entering easy with several opportunities for you to earn some extra entries.

To Enter: (Open to USA & Canada!!)

Main Entry: First, you must be Following my blog Publicly on Google Friend Connect, the widget is on the right hand sidebar. Make sure you are following my blog or your entry won't count.

Visit the DOWNEAST BASICS website by CLICKING HERE and browse around. Check out the wide range of products that they offer and pick out your very favorite item (not items mentioned in this review) and come back and leave me a comment letting me know what that product(s) is. That's it.  (the winner can decided on their prize once the giveaway has ended)

NOTE: DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!!

I am going to give you lots of extra chances for additional entries. Each one you do will count as one entry:

Extra Entries:

1. Become a Fan of DownEast Basics on Facebook by CLICKING HERE

2. Follow DownEast Basics on Twitter @DownEastBasics  by CLICKING HERE

3. Tweet the following text (You may tweet once a day):

Enter to win YOUR CHOICE OF ITEM from DownEast Basics @ The Best of Everything For You http://tinyurl.com/ydaxgly #giveaway #win

4. Follow me on Twitter @joannaonthelake by CLICKING HERE

5. Subscribe to my blog through Email, the link is on the right hand sidebar

And that's it!

This giveaway begins on Friday, January 22, 2010 and will end at 11:59 pm on Friday, February 5, 2010. I will use the True Random Generator to select the winner on Saturday, February 6, 2010 and will email the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond back to me.

A very special THANK YOU to DownEast Basics for providing me with the 2 fabulous products for this review.

Disclosure: I received a pair of jeans and a handbag from DownEast Basics for the purposes of this Review. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above and was not influenced by any type of monetary compensation. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with this product are my own and yours may differ.