news.com.au checkout: What we’re loving this week
Costing a fraction of the price, these timeless and chic leather ballet flats are an “exact dupe” of a designer pair.
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No surprises here but we love online shopping.
With just a click of a button, you can get everything from the non-alcoholic wine alternative that “pleasantly surprised” us to the ballet flats dupes of a $480 designer pair delivered straight to your door. We love the convenience.
But when you shop for a living (yes, sorry we know our jobs are … hard), it takes something truly amazing to wow us. Look, when you spend your work days sifting through thousands of reviews and testing the latest facial oils or mattresses, you tend to become picky. Only the best will do!
So when we find something we love, we want to shout about it. And that’s what we’re doing here.
From fashion trends to beauty buys and electronics, here’s what the news.com.au shopping team’s bought and why we can’t live without it.
Happy shopping!
Slip Silk Turban, $95 at THE ICONIC
“Wow, when I tell you this has been a game changer for my hair, I mean it! I used to think these hair bonnets/turbans were just for people with curly hair, but it actually works wonders no matter what your hair type. As a lazy girl who likes to wash her hair as little as possible, wearing this Slip Silk Turban means I now get an extra day or two between washes. It stops my hair getting frizzy and gives it that ‘just blow-dried’ look even when I’ve just rolled out of bed. Plus, I swear my hair is growing more than it used to because the silk means I have less breakages from tossing and turning during the night. Just buy it already! The only downside is I now need to buy a second one as I hate sleeping without it when it’s in the wash – I’m obsessed.” – Hannah Paine, Editor
Aere Leather Mary Jane Ballet Flats, $140 at THE ICONIC
“The search for the most perfect ballet flats is officially over (for me at least). I’ve had my eye on the famous Aeyde Uma Black Nappa Flats for a long time but could never justify spending $480 on the pair. However, I’m happy to announce that I have found THE perfect dupe on THE ICONIC for a fraction of the price – $140! These Mary Jane ballet flats from AERE are made from a soft smooth leather so they’re very comfortable and good quality. They’re super timeless and chic, and easy to style with almost anything from jeans and skirts to dresses and trousers. They do squeak a bit upon wear but I’m sure that once I break them in, they’ll be chef’s kiss!” – Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
NON8 Torched Apple & Oolong, $30 at NON
“I’ve seen this non-alcoholic wine alternative on my socials for a little while now so I was excited to try it out for myself. To be completely transparent, I do love a glass of wine and always felt non-alcoholic options simply did not even come close. But, I am happy to admit I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. While I wouldn’t necessarily say it tasted like wine, if I had to choose something to compare it to, I would say it is mostly similar to an orange wine. A little bit funky but still rich with flavour and very more-ish. Notes of torched apple and oolong work together to create the perfect summer’s drink that my flatmate described as a ‘better tasting, fancy iced tea’. I had it with dinner on a hot night after work and it seriously was game changing. It was super easy to drink, perhaps going down a little too easily. I don’t usually drink at home during the week so to have something super refreshing and zingy definitely made sitting down for a midweek dinner that little bit more exciting.” – Philippa Tonkin, Shopping Writer
Sheet Society CLOUD CORN Medium & Firm Pillow, $120 at Sheet Society
“Pillows are right up there on the list of things I hate shopping for. They’re awkward to try out in-store and you feel like Goldilocks the entire time – this one is too high, that one is too hard, etc. I recently put Sheet Society’s Cloud Corn Pillow* to the test and chose the Medium & Firm over the Low & Soft option.
As someone who hates both having a pillow so low I may as well sleep on the mattress, and waking up with a crick in the neck, the Medium & Firm ended up being the ideal middle ground for me and turned into a complete neck-saver – quickly making me realise my old pillow was the culprit behind consistently sore neck muscles.
It also has a nice bounce back that helps it hold its shape, and thermoregulation, which is a dream for those like me who run hot while they snooze.” – Lauren Chaplin, Consumer Technology Reporter
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Water Cream 50ml, $149 at Charlotte Tilbury
“If you’ve tried the iconic Magic Cream from Charlotte Tilbury and were after something more lighter, the new Water Cream is going to be your new best friend. The gel-cream formulation is lightweight and super hydrating – I particularly love to use it in the morning as the dewy nature really revives my skin and sets me up for the day. It also layers beautifully under sunscreen and makeup.” – Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
Homebodii Petra Tencel Pyjama Set, $129.95 at Homebodii
“As an avid Peter Alexander pyjama collector, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried these Homebodii pyjamas. When I say they are soft – these babies are SOFT. They have a relaxed silhouette which is super comfy to sleep in and the fabric is incredibly soft and breathable, making them perfect to wear all year round.” – Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
Lioness Rendezvous Maxi Skirt, $10.50 (down from $89) at THE ICONIC
“I have been eyeing the denim maxi skirt trend for a hot minute as well as the focus on ruffle dresses. When the two combined in this skirt from Lioness on THE ICONIC I knew I could kill two birds with one stone and boy was I happy. I’m always afraid of how low-rise items will sit on me (cue 2000s millennial trauma) but the compliments I got on this outfit has it on high rotation for spring!” – Kriti Gupta, eCommerce Social Media Lead
Najo Curb T-bar Necklace (45cm), $189 at Najo
“I’m not really a jewellery girlie so I’m all about classic pieces that will go with everything and last me forever. This Najo T-bar necklace in gold (it also comes in silver!) ticks all my boxes. The clean, timeless style means it goes with every outfit, either the T-bar side or as a simple chain. And as Najo is an Australian brand that’s been creating jewellery for the last 30 years, I know its pieces are built to last. Although it’s not the cheapest, it’s an investment into quality jewellery that I know I’ll wear for years to come.” – Melody Teh, Deputy Editor
Satechi Multi Device Charging Station Dock 5 with Wireless Charging, $119.99 at Amazon
“Being a family of three we’re pretty device-heavy in the house and have a web of wires in practically every room. (I wish I was joking). The Satechi Multi Device Charging Station Dock 5 has made charging much more organised. I love how it has separations for each device to sit neatly in. Bear in mind, these are quite thin and anything with too thick a cover on it won’t fit. For example, my phone and its case just squeezes in, but my kid’s iPad with her thick bumper case does not. I’ve gotten around this by sitting it beside the dock, rather than in which I’m perfectly okay with. The dock has two USB-C PD ports and two USB-A ports as well as a wireless charging pad for your iPhone or AirPods. It doesn’t come with charger cables, but hey, your devices should already, right? It chargers at an expected rate and sits nicely on a countertop or bedside table.” – Stephanie Yip, eCommerce Travel Writer
“Being a long time fan of the franchise, I decided to revisit my mystery/puzzle-solving roots with Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy on the Nintendo Switch – and I’ve been enjoying it SO much. It’s a fun yet challenging game that presents you with a variety of puzzles that you must complete before moving forward in the story.
It keeps me quiet and focused for hours on end and really gets my brain thinking, plus that satisfying feeling when solving a puzzle by yourself (no hints!) is truly unmatched. If you’re having trouble you can still get a bit of help with the in-game hints for the price of just one hint coin which is great. So if you’re after a game that will entertain and stimulate your brain, this one’s a good choice!” – Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
More Coverage
*Product was provided by Sheet Society for an independent and honest review
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