Is It Worth It?: Kiki de Montparnasse Lingerie Garter Tank Review
You may want to sit down because I have a confession to make. Are you ready?
I love lingerie. And not just any lingerie, mind you, luxury lingerie.
What you may not know, however, is that it takes a bit more than a three figure price tag to impress me. So, what is it about luxury that I love so much? Put simply, it's the attention to detail. Luxury lingerie is more likely to use silk instead of polyester, jersey instead of cotton, and 100% nylon instead nylon blends. The lace is finer, the fabric softer, and the garments hold their shape for multiple wearings.
Kiki de Montparnasse's Garter Tank was a luxury garment I lusted after for a long time. In fact, it was one of my very first blog posts. In my opinion, the garter tank was the perfect blend of tomboy toughness and shameless sexy. Getting to wear a tank top and stockings at the same time? What a treat! Unfortunately, since it was absolutely impossible for me to justify the $195.00 price tag, I had to settle for admiration from afar.
Therefore, when the garter tank went on sale for 50% off during the holidays, I had to pounce on it. I'm a sucker for a great bargain, and when that bargain is something I already wanted...well, I'm helpless to resist. I awaited my purchase with bated breath, and, when it finally arrived, nearly tore the packaging apart in anticipation. Delicately, gingerly, I tried the tank on and turned to face a full length mirror...only to be shockingly disappointed.
Call me crazy, but I expected to be wowed. The material of the shirt itself was of no better quality than a $5.00 Hanes tank. The cotton was coarse instead of soft, the fabric thin instead of plush. And I don't mean thin in that sheer, delicate way, but rather in a cheap, half-finished way. More importantly, the garters, the "feature" of the entire garment, were short, flimsy, and not adjustable. The tank was also a poor fit, clinging to my shoulders but not my curves. I looked, to perfectly honest, like a child playing dress up.
I sent the shirt back, and, to Kiki's credit, they refunded my money no questions asked. That kind of customer service was enough to convince to shop with them again later (in fact, I bought a t-shirt and a pair of panties on clearance from them last year that I rather like).
The lesson here, of course, is that the most expensive thing isn't always the best thing. And that lesson is big reason why I've shifted the focus of my blog to quality and value instead of quantity and expense
The experience wasn't a total loss, though. I've got an idea about how I might replicate this garment for the budget-minded. Once I give it a try, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.
