PACT Review: Sweater Cardigan and Long Sweater Coat

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I apologize for this very delayed review of 2 PACT sweaters I purchased in November. Some sizes for these sweaters are now sold out, but since a reader had asked for a review, here it is! The first item I bought was this Long Sweater Coat in black in S/M. It’s 100% organic cotton and feels super soft and smooth. The weave is quite tight so I don’t have to worry too much about it stretching, sagging, or snagging. It’s a tad cold for a cotton cardigan, but I look forward to styling this with different outfits in the spring.

The second sweater I purchased was this sweater cardigan below. I wanted to try the rust color that they call Cinnamon Heather, but at the time they only had a L/XL. Since this was during the time I still had fibroids, I thought the bigger size would be fine to accomodate my pregnant-looking belly. Well it turned out that L/XL was much too large so I never really wore it. I also didn’t like that this sweater is made up of 20% wool, which made it itchy. So I decided to give this sweater to a friend. Anyways let me know if you have any questions about these sweater or PACT in general. And if you’re interested in purchasing, this referral link will get you 20% off your first purchase (thanks for your support)!.

P.S. I just saw that PACT has a new line of maternity clothes, which I wish they had when I was pregnant last year. I love their thick leggings, and their maternity ones looks great!

Unsponsored Pyne & Smith Linen Dress Review

Pyne & Smith have been on my radar a long time since they’re an ethical fashion blogger favorite. If you’ve been reading ethical style blogs for a bit, I’m sure you’ve come across them already. But I took my time getting to them since A) I already purchased way too many linen items last year (mosty Elizabeth Suzann and Only Child) and B) Their cute linen dresses weren’t really my style. But when Salina had a promo code that gave me a 10% discount and she donated her commission to charity, I decided it was the best time to give them a try. And as much as I wanted to get some linen overalls, the $248 price was a bit out of the range I was looking to spend. So a happy medium was this long sleeved no.12 dress in black linen for $165 that could be dressed up or down.

{Wearing: Pyne & Smith no.12 dress, Martiniano Glove Shoes (reviewed here), Acne Studios Musubi Bag (reviewed here)}

First a little background on the company if you’re not familiar: they make all their linen clothing in Southern California from European flax (grown in Belgium and France, and milled in Lithuania). Joanna is the founder and designer behind the brand, and she even answers all the emails sent to the company! You can read more about her and the brand here.

Now about the dress. I ordered it in the medium size after taking a look at the measurements here. I would normally be a size small but I decided to be a bit more cautious and order a size up post-pregnancy. I started ordering a size bigger than my normal because I’ve come to grips that I’m not the same size that I was and that’s ok! And if I ever shrink back to my pre-baby weight, then this dress can easily accommodate that since there’s a tie at the back so I can cinch it smaller. And even in the medium, I find that the 42” length (only 0.5” longer than the small) is perfect for my 5’4” height. It’s not quite midi, but it hits below the knees (a true midi length would look quite dowdy I think). I also love the length of the sleeves, since it hits at a really flattering area of the arm. I also ordered this dress since I can unbutton it easily from the front to breastfeed (it’s a tad tight when trying to take off one arm while leaving the other side on but it’s definitely doable).

As for the linen quality, it’s superb! The actual weight of the linen is 200gsm which makes it slightly thicker than weight of the other Lithuanian slow fashion brands like LinenFox and NotPerfectLinen, but less thick than the linen used by Elizabeth Suzann and Only Child. You can see how they all compare in this ethical linen review post here, which I updated with the addition of Pyne & Smith. They don’t have the thickest linen but sometimes you want more of a midweight than a heavyweight linen (especially if it’s hot).

As much as I love the dress though, I was a bit disappointed when trying to unbutton the buttons to breastfeed I found that several of the buttonholes weren’t properly sewed. So the buttons would snag, which is especially aggravating when trying to quickly breastfeed a wailing baby. For an investment piece like this I would expect it to me impeccably made. But who knows, it might just be a one off with the specific maker of my dress. And overall I really do love the style, the ease of the dress, and the quality of the linen.

Unsponsored Only Child Clothing Review: The Cove Pants {Updated December 2020}

I’m just like any other blog reader out there who are influenced by those sponsored posts. So even though I was trying to be good and add only one item of clothing to my closet per month, I added this Only Child Cove pants to my closet in March (along with the many other things I purchased that month) because of Andrea’s posts of these pants here.

I wasn’t even searching for wide leg pants but something about the way she styled those pants made me think I was missing a key piece in my wardrobe. Plus I needed some new pants in my life because even at 8 weeks postpartum, this belly is not going away on its own (P.S. Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding does not help you to lose weight—especially when eating like 5 lactation cookies a day lol. Also the fibroids are still in there and distorting my uterus). So instead of wearing the same pair of maternity overalls and storq easy pants over and over, I decided to let myself get a new pair of pants I could actually fit in. And boy, I have zero regrets!

{Wearing: Everlane cotton linen v-neck (reviewed here), Only Child Cove Pants, Everlane Street Sandals (no longer sold, reviewed here), Everlane Mini Form Bag (reviewed here)}

First of all I got a medium to accomodate my new pooch and I have no problems getting them over my hips and belly (this is a major reason why I can’t wear most of my Elizabeth Suzann items from pre-pregnancy even though those bottoms are loose-looking). I find the elastic of these Only Child pants to be less stiff (ie more stretchy) than the thick elastic on Elizabeth Suzann bottoms (which don’t stretch out as much but might last longer). I appreciate the quality elastic on ES bottoms but sometimes it’s too tight, and even pre-pregnancy I had to shimmy the pants over my hips. No need for shimmying in these OC pants.

I also got the Cove pants in the short length since I’m 5’4” and they hit right at the top of my foot. But since these pants are so wide in the leg, I wanted them to hit closer to the ankles. So I hemmed them by an inch and that’s what you see in the pics here (or rather my mom hemmed them lol).

And now that I look at them, I see that they’re pretty similar to the Florence pants from Elizabeth Suzann since I’ve hemmed them. The only real difference that I can see between the two is that the ES Florence pants come up a little shorter and they’re a tad snugger in the hips than the original OC Cove pants. But the linen quality (which even in this light flax color is fully opaque) between the two brands are similar (as discussed in this linen discussion here) and the price points between the two are pretty similar as well (with the OC one being slightly cheaper). I think if you want wide leg pants that are a tad snugger with a tighter elastic around the waist go for the ES Florence pants, but if like me you’re looking for loose pants that fit basically like PJs, then go for the OC Cove pants.

P.S. Also take a look at Lia’s comment below about the difference in the rises between the ES Florence pants and the OC Cove pants.

{December 2020 Update: So I’m not sure when OC added pockets to their Cove pants but they now have pockets! That really makes these the best pants and I’ve been wearing them a lot this past years (because hello elastic waistband lol). I also just wrote a post comparing these Only Child Cove pants to the Linenfox Ocean pants if you’re interested in how they compare.}

The Problem With Ethical Sneakers

What’s the problem with ethical sneakers? Other than how to style them without looking like an 80’s office worker ala Melanie Griffith in Working Girl?

The inspo for those Everlane sneakers

Actually that’s a problem I have with all sneakers but that’s a post for another time.

No, the problem with ethical sneakers is that they’re usually made by ethical companies with comparatively little experience in the sneaker-making business and that they’re usually made with natural rubber.

Let’s tackle the natural rubber issue first. I get why ethical companies like using natural rubber: because it’s not virgin plastic. Rubber is an organic material made from the sap of rubber trees and thus is biodegradable in its purest form. It’s the original elastic polymer before plastics came along. But the problem with rubber when its used for the soles of shoes is that it’s heavy, stiff, and makes for a clunky uncomfortable sneaker. This is true with the Veja sneakers (reviewed here) as well as Everlane’s sneakers.

But take this with a grain of salt because I’m an ex-runner so I expect my sneakers to be cushiony and lightweight—truly something that I can work out in. If you’re okay with skater type of shoes, then you might not mind a heavy stiff shoe with no cushiony support.

Also as an ex-runner I believe in the research and development that sneaker companies put into their shoes. And that’s why I have issues with ethical companies with little or no experience making sneakers, especially if people start working out in them. If you’re going to be putting miles on your sneakers, either by running, walking, or even jumping around, you want to be sure that those shoes were made for that. So even though sneaker companies may be using virgin plastic like no tomorrow, at least your legs and feet stand a good chance of being protected from injury (and sorry if it came down to my legs or the environment, I’d choose my legs each time). I would not recommend working out in either Veja or Everlane sneakers since they’re not made for that. Oh and please don’t hike in them either (at least not a serious hike—get dedicated hiking shoes for that and your future ankles will thank you).

Of course, if you're just wearing sneakers for light walking and as a fashion statement then wearing ethical sneakers is totally fine. In which case maybe you can give me some pointers on how to style them without looking like I’ll be changing shoes at the office.

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P.S. So my solution for adding sneakers to an ethical closet? Buy them secondhand from a store like Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange. The shoes you find in those kinds of stores are usually still in great condition and have lots of mileage left on them. Plus I always wear socks with my sneakers so it’s less gross to me to buy athletic shoes used (but smell the inside of the shoe first—sounds gross but it’s a must).

P.P.S I also read this article, which I found through Grechen, and it highlights the difference between an ethical fashion brand’s (Everlane’s) approach to sneakers and a sneaker brand’s (Adidas’) approach to a more ethical shoe. If I were to buy one, I would go with the big shoe brand with their large R&D budget. Now if only Adidas could use recycled plastic and then make a recyclable shoe. Maybe someday, though it feels like it’s a little too late for this technology already.

Veja Sneakers Review: The Esplar

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Back in February, I had documented in my one week money diary that I had purchased these Veja Esplar Bastille sneakers from TheRealReal (cost on site $60, retails $165, but since I had TRR credit from selling it was $0—score right?). And I was soooooo excited to add them to my shoe collection because who wouldn’t want to wear stylish ethical sneakers? But unfortunately these did not work out for me—at all.

First a note on sizing, I got them in my usual shoe size of 8 (I used to think of myself as 7.5 because I was 7.5 in TOMS, but have come to realize that I’m pretty much an 8 and this is especially true after pregnancy). And they fit fine in both the length and width so I would say they are true to size.

I loooove that this company tries their best to make an ethical sneaker with the utmost transparency. They are very conscious about the materials they use and where they source it from. Their leather “doesn't come from the Amazon nor from an area that was deforested for cattle farming purposes” and their tanning is done under strict EU REACH regulations. The interesting detail on the heels are actually tilapia fish scales! And their rubber for the soles of their shoes are made of 20% natural rubber allowing them to help preserve the wild rubber trees in the Amazon (though I guess the other 80% is synthetic?). {Side note: I watched a pretty interesting documentary episode (episode 3) about rubber on Amazon show The Beast That Is The Global Economy.} . But this is all to say that Veja is really trying to make the most ethical sneaker out there.

Now if only they were comfortable.

Well this is just to say this particular model, The Esplar, is not. My main problem with the shoe is that the leather tongue is so stiff that it pokes into the tops of my feet. I’ve tried to bend it back or break it in, but to no avail. Also the sneaker is heavy, like the heaviest sneaker I’ve ever worn. I have to say Nike, Adidas, and a lot of other sneaker companies may not be ethical, but they know how to make a comfortable sneaker. Sadly, this Veja one might be the most uncomfortable sneaker I’ve ever worn. And there’s no point in buying something just because it’s ethical. It needs to be a good product as well.

But I’m not willing to give up on them yet. Their vegan models look more promising, at least the ones that look like classic New Balance shoes. Has anyone else tried these shoes or other Veja styles? Did you like them and would you recommend it?

Everlane Review: The Cotton Linen V-neck Sweater

Hi guys and it’s been awhile with my Everlane reviews but here’s a fresh new one (I pushed up this new review since I got a lot of interest about this sweater on Insta but the posts after this will be back to those written pre-birth). Since I utterly failed at my one new item per month resolution in March, I just let everything slide and ordered two new items from Everlane in the last week of March (it’s like when you blow your diet so then you eat ALL THE FOOD). But oh it felt so good to scratch my Everlane itch and get this cotton linen v-neck sweater and the mini form bag. And it felt even better when I realized both items were clear winners for me (ah, there’s that Everlane that I know and love)!

First a note on sizing, I got this sweater in a small (my regular Everlane size) and I would say it fits TTS. The sweater is boxy and cropped, which is perfect for my post-pregnancy 5’4” frame (I love that it flows away from the body to hide my remaining belly pooch). It’s also the perfect loose spring/summer sweater to tuck into some high-rise bottoms (I can’t wait until I can fit into my jeans again).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Linen V-neck, Elizabeth Suzann’s Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here), Martiniano Glove shoes (reviewed here), Everlane mini form bag}

What I really love about this sweater though is the wonderful texture of the linen cotton combo knit. The linen makes it more lightweight and slightly rougher than a 100% cotton sweater. The texture isn’t soft and smooth but I wouldn’t say it’s itchy either. When you compare this to the the Everlane’s soft cotton square crew (reviewed here), this linen cotton version has a looser weave and is a lot lighter in weight. But both have a very similar boxy cropped shape with wide sleeves (except the cotton sweaters are crewnecks while the cotton linen blend sweaters are v-necks). I wore this cotton linen sweater in 73 degree weather and it was the perfect light cover-up and didn’t cause any overheating. The cotton sweater would have definitely been too warm.

My only concern is how this sweater will do over time and with multiple washings. The instructions say to handwash this, which I’m not a fan of doing. But I’d be willing to wash this sweater by hand because I love it that much. I’ll update this review after I wash it and let you know how it fares.

A close up of the weave

So if you’re looking for a good hot weather cover-up or a sweater for those slightly cooler summer days, I highly recommend this cotton linen blend sweater. And I definitely recommend getting it in this sand color (which is more cream than beige) since the texture will elevate your all neutral look (because you know that’s going to be the trend of the season). I have to say this is one of the better sweaters to come around from Everlane in recent times and I have a feeling it’ll go fast (the crewneck version is already sold out in the smaller sizes).

Has anyone else tried this cotton linen sweater and what did you think?

Unsponsored Vetta Review: The Oversized Sweater

So I know I’m very late to the game here, because every other blogger in the ethical/sustainable community has tried out items from Vetta. And all their reviews have raved about their stuff (granted most of them were gifted items so I took it with a grain of salt), but I don’t know why I didn’t jump at trying their stuff. Maybe something about the brand being tailored to capsule closets and their items converting as to be worn in a multiple of ways (and sometimes weirdly) kind of made the brand feel gimmicky to me? Plus I wasn’t thrilled that many of the items were made of polyester or other synthetic blends (granted when they are, it’s made from deadstock fabrics so they’re not producing new plastic for their clothes). But ever since starting my foray into the ethical/sustainable closet world, I’m quite picky about choosing fabrics made from 100% natural fibers only (they last longer, feel better, and are biodegradable). But I have to say wherever my prejudice may have come from, I was wrong. Vetta is great and I am especially in love with this oversized sweater!

First of all I have to say a big thank you to Teresa for agreeing to swap clothes with me so that I could have a chance to try out this sweater without breaking my resolution of only one new item in a month! By borrowing this sweater from her, I get to try out a new ethical and sustainable brand without consuming more. Plus she gets to try out my Only Child tops so it’s a win-win!

Okay so onto the sweater. First a note on sizing: they’re not kidding when they say it’s oversized. I’m wearing an XS here and I’m 8+ months pregnant (5’4” and almost 160 pounds now). So if you get this, you definitely want to buy a much smaller size than you’re used to. I really love the 99% organic cotton and the fact that it’s made in a Los Angeles factory that’s 70% solar powered. Vetta takes their values and ethics seriously (you can read more about it here)! All their factories are located in the US so it’s understandable that their prices are going to be a bit higher than say Everlane’s (whose factories are located internationally). So it’s great that Vetta designs their items to be so versatile as well as convertible.

{Wearing: Vetta Oversized Sweater, Ingrid and Isabel faux leather maternity leggings (rented from Rent the Runway), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Acne Studios Musubi Mini Bag}

But I have to admit, I wore this sweater predominantly one way: with the buttons going down the back without the turtleneck collar. When I borrowed the sweater, Teresa couldn’t find the turtleneck portion so I wasn’t able to try it out that way. BUT I’m not a turtleneck person at all (I don’t like the look of them or the feel of them—like a dog collar around my neck lol) so I’m not sure I would have worn it that way anyway. Also I could see this being a common problem with owning a sweater with multiple pieces: sometimes some parts will get lost. I also wore this open as a cardigan and liked it and thought the dolman sleeves make it more interesting than a regular old black cardigan. But wearing the sweater with the buttons all the way up to the top looked weird to me (especially with a large baby bump).

I have to say I was overall very impressed with the quality of the sweater and I really liked it. It’s also the perfect sweater for being pregnant in the winter since it’s super warm for cotton and the tunic length is great for covering the bump. I felt very svelte when wearing this outfit and got several compliments in it as well. But would I go so far as to buy this sweater for myself? In the end, I think I have to go with no because I’m not sure how often I would wear this sweater if I wasn’t pregnant. The long tunic length isn’t quite the right proportion for my petite frame (and right now the sweater looks shorter because my bump brings the hem line up quite a bit). I think sans baby bump, the sweater would overwhelm me. Also I already have several black cardigans so I don’t really need another (if I didn’t have any black cardigans then this would be a serious contender).

Anyway now that I have a very favorable impression of Vetta, I can’t wait to try out some of their other offerings in the future (that crop mockneck looks pretty nice)!

Have you guys tried Vetta? What did you think?

P.S. Actually here’s a blogger who buys Vetta and she loves their stuff!

Unsponsored Rent The Runway Unlimited Review

So as I mentioned before, instead of purchasing one new (or new-to-me) item to add to my closet for January (my new year’s resolution), I decided to try a one month subscription for Rent the Runway Unlimited. If you’re not familiar with RTR, they’ve long been in the business of renting out dresses for special occasions (weddings mostly or maybe company parties). And I’m not sure when they started, but they also now rent out everyday clothing and accessories in the form of RTR Unlimited. It’s like a lending library of clothes, where you can borrow 4 items at a time with unlimited swaps (so you’re only limited by shipping times but more on that later). You pay a one month subscription fee (I paid $129, it’s usually $159 but right now they’re doing a great promo for $99 with the code FIRSTRTR) and all shipping and cleaning costs are included. I should note that they also have a plan called RTR Update which allows you to rent 4 items for one month (usually for $89 a month but right now for $69). The RTR Update plan could be good if you already know what you want to try and know your sizing, but the RTR unlimited has a lot more flexibility and if you’re experimenting with styles or don’t know your sizing very well, I think Unlimited is the way to go.

Rented Vince coat

Anyway, I decided to try this service because I was in a real style rut for the month of December and January. I was getting to be uber pregnant but I did not want to buy any more clothes. I was basically living in my Gap maternity overalls from eBay and my Elizabeth Suzann Georgia midi dress, and I was getting bored. I’m not sure where I heard that RTR was renting maternity clothes, but once I discovered that I knew I had to try it out. And what a great idea too because why not rent clothes you’ll only wear for a month or two? This is exactly the kind of service that’s needed to keep our closets small and our consumption to a minimum. They have some great maternity brands including Ingrid and Isabel (not the Target diffusion but the original), Seraphine, Rosie Pope as well as a selection of maternity jeans. I wish I had discovered this sooner instead of purchasing items through trial and error (and finding out I don’t like over the belly leggings and over the belly jeans—or any maternity jeans for that matter). Though I did get to try form fitting maternity dresses (like the gray one up top) and realized I don’t like that style at all. And I got to try out several maternity dresses for my baby shower. You can search through maternity wear by trimester, which is a great way to see what they have available for your size.

I think this is also a really great service in the winter time, when you want to change up your winter coats but you don’t want to own 10 different coats. In fact, I’m thinking of possibly selling more of my coats and keeping only a couple of my favorites, then re-subscribing next winter to borrow as many different kind of winter coats as I want. This year I was finally able to try that teddy bear coat trend by renting one, and I didn’t have to feel guilty about the purchasing of a 100% plastic (polyester) trendy coat that I’d have to sell off at Crossroads when it “no longer sparked joy.” Instead I wore it everyday for 2 weeks, got lots of compliments and then sent it back to try a different winter coat. I also realized that as much as I love the trend, it doesn’t really fit in with my own simple/minimal aesthetic and it skews a bit young for me. I did however love a very simple tan Vince winter coat that’s currently on sale TheRealReal (which I’m tempted to purchase but I already wore it for two weeks and do I really need to own it? Probably not). Also if you have holiday parties in the winter, it’s great to do the RTR unlimited for one month to rent both coats and cocktail dresses!

Loved these Ingrid and Isabel faux leather leggings, I rented it for several weeks!

Finally, I think if you’re wanting to experiment with your style but don’t want to buy a lot of different items (or try to get them on the cheap with fast fashion), this service is so great! I never thought I would like brown (being a mostly blue and black neutrals type of person), but I really loved the brown coats I tried. I also experimented with color and more feminine styles (a pink shearling coat! a royal blue dress!) but still didn’t like those styles. And instead of just an at home try on, you can wear it out in public and really get a feel of whether or not this style is “you.”

There are new styles added every week so that makes it fun and fresh. It feels like shopping every time you send your items in and are ready to try something new. You can “heart'“ your favorites so it’s easy to see what you’ve already picked out, and you can also filter your hearts by what’s available to rent. The RTR app is really good at helping you find what you want to rent next and the check out process is super simple. You can also review and rate items easily on the app. But just a note, using this service won’t “cure” you of your overconsumption tendencies if you you’re a shopaholic. And really, it’s just a redirection of your shopping habits, but it will help keep you from accumulating more.

The clothes come clean and freshly dry cleaned and are shipped in a reusable garment bag (good for them for minimizing package waste, though I wish they didn’t have to use those dry cleaner plastic bags but of course the clothes need to be protected in plastic like all shipped clothing). Shipping is via UPS so it’s pretty quick and easy (and all paid for by your subscription fee).

But here are some of the cons with this program:

~ Some of the most popular pieces are worn as heck. They do have a quality control survey at the end of your rental so you can let them know if you thought the item was worn out. But I can see that for their bottom line, they’re going to try to keep the clothes in rotation as long as possible.

~ Their selection of clothes need some improvement. Since they’ve been focused on party and fancy dresses for most of their existence, they have a lot of great options for that. But when it comes to their regular clothes, I would love to see brands like Acne Studios, APC, Doen, Reformation, and maybe some other higher end brands or other trendy brands (and higher end ethical brands like Stella McCartney). I don’t want to rent J.Crew, which is something I could easily buy if I wanted to. In terms of maternity clothing, a higher end line that’s not easily accessible like Hatch would be a great addition. Also because they only have one of each size of everything, sometimes the better brands are rented out all month and you never get a chance to try them.

~ Logistically with shipping times, you can only really enjoy a small number of items a month. It took about a week for turnaround (I shipped items on a Monday and got another shipment the following Monday). So I probably thoroughly enjoyed 3 items during my one month rental period: a Vince coat for 2 weeks, the teddy bear coat for 2 weeks and the Ingrid and Isabel faux leather leggings for 3 weeks. Everything else was tried on and shipped back asap. In some ways going with the RTR Update plan where you rent only 4 items for the whole month might be a better value (as long as you like all 4 items and they fit).

Also wanted to buy this IRO coat >.<

But overall I’m very happy to have tried this service and I think I got what I needed for the $130 I spent. I got to experiment a little, a got a baby shower dress, and I got to fall in love with some brands (Ingrid and Isabel for maternity clothes are really great!). I’ve cancelled my plan for now (which was really easy to do—it just took one email to them) since I’m going to be giving birth and I don’t see myself “dressing up” or going out very much for the next couple of months. Also I look forward to fitting back into some of my more forgiving pre-maternity clothes and getting to rediscover my own wardrobe again. But I will definitely keep RTR in mind the next time I want to try a bunch of things without accumulating new stuff! I should also mention that if you really love something you rented, you can buy it directly from them for about 50% off their retail price. But to be honest if you can find it either online on sale, through TheRealReal (like the Vince coat I like), or through eBay it’s a much better deal since the stuff from RTR gets worn a lot and it’s probably a lot more worn than if you can find it secondhand elsewhere. If you’re interested, this referral link gets you $30 off your first rental (and fyi I will also be getting a $30 off promo code for my next subscription).

Would you guys rent clothes from RTR?

Maternity Leggings Review: Storq vs Hatch vs PACT vs Target vs Uniqlo

L to R: Uniqlo, Target, PACT, Hatch, Storq

Since the majority of my pregnancy is during the Fall, Winter and Spring months I needed some leggings to keep me warm under dresses (I’m just not a fan of maternity pants/jeans, though I did purchase a pair of overalls that act as go-to my jeans). I’ve just been on a waistband ban since pretty much the beginning of the pregnancy and have been wearing dresses as long as I could get away with them. But with the cold weather I need some leggings and so I tried a bunch out, both maternity and not. And here’s a comprehensive review of them all:

First of all there are two kinds of maternity leggings: over the belly and under the belly types. Over the belly is great when you want a bit of extra warmth and support around your mid-section. But for me personally, I like the under-belly types since I’m just not a fan of anything putting pressure on the belly. Also some leggings can technically be worn alone as pants, but the ones I wanted were more like opaque tights that I could wear under dresses. So without further ado…

Storq Basic Leggings ($60) made of 92% modal and 8% spandex

For a full review of them, go here. But a quick summary: these are great over the belly leggings if you’re tall (at least 5’6” and above). Otherwise the legs are way too long and the torso portion comes up to right under my bra (and there’s a seam that goes up that irritated my belly every time I wore them). However if you are tall and are looking for a pair of super soft, stretchy, fully opaque and ethically-made over the belly leggings these are probably your best bet.

Hatch Premium Leggings ($128) made of 88% nylon and 12% lycra

These are under the belly leggings that are thick enough to wear alone as pants if you choose to do so. They run a tad small and the size 2 (medium) was a bit tight for me though I’m normally a medium. I also found that the waistband folds and bends, which is a pet peeve of mine. At $128 these are the most expensive of the bunch, and I think the worst value. They weren’t the softest and I found they had a bit of a scratchiness to them. They are however made in New York and so if we assume they are following all US laws (and why not), then they are ethically made and workers are paid a fair wage. This is also presumably why they are the most expensive.

PACT Leggings ($30) made of 92% organic cotton and 8% elastane

These are not maternity specific leggings but since I knew I was looking for some under the belly leggings, I thought these might work. So I purchased them in a large (I’m regularly a medium) and I think they work fine. Since they are on the thicker side, you can wear them as stand alone pants and they are fully opaque. I did find the large were a bit too big in the leg area for me and they bagged a bit, but they weren’t too long (I’m 5’4”) so they’re probably too short for those who are a bit taller and want to keep their ankles covered. As for me, I found them to be the perfect length and they hit right at the ankles. The seams are a bit more noticeable than the Storq leggings and the PACT leggings aren’t as soft as the Storq ones, but for half the price I found them to be of pretty good value. So far these have held up great though I’ve heard mixed reviews about these leggings and some people have found that they don’t last very long (I personally don’t wear leggings all that often, maybe about once a week max and these aren’t my favorite so I’m probably not wearing them more than once a month right now).

Target Isabel Maternity Leggings by Ingrid & Isabel ($20) made of 87% polyester and 13% spandex

I decided to try these undoubtedly unethical line of leggings because after doing some research on the internet, a couple of mommy forums were raving about how great these leggings were. And as much as I wanted to stick to ethical clothing during my pregnancy, I wanted to keep an open mind about what’s out there (who knows, maybe the cheapest option really is the most comfortable). Well even though these leggings promised to be seamless they weren’t. I definitely felt the large seams running up and down my leg and that made it uncomfortable. Also I tried both the over the belly and under the belly versions of these and both were too long in the legs for me. The material for these were the most athletic and had a sheen to them, which is not what I was looking for in my leggings. In the end I returned them and at least I know I wasn’t missing out.

Uniqlo Heat Tech Leggings ($14.90) made of 38% polyester, 32% acrylic, 21% rayon and 9% spandex

So these were my go-to pair of leggings I was wearing under dresses and skirts pre-pregnancy and are several years old. I don’t know why I just didn’t try these out first since I already had them, but for some reason I had it in my head that maternity leggings had to be over the belly. Only after trying out the various leggings up top did I realize that I, one, dislike over the belly leggings and that, two, these heat tech leggings worked just as well during pregnancy (I just have to roll over the waistband a couple times to make them fit under the belly). And this was the most ethical and cost-effective solution since I’ve already had these for several years. Too bad I only discovered this after already going through all the ones above facepalm.

Ah well so lesson learned: try what you have first (the first lesson in ethical closets, right?). So that’s what I recommend: if you already have a favorite pair of leggings, see if they work for you by rolling the waistband to make them under the belly leggings (especially if you’re only briefly pregnant in the winter/spring months). If not, then depending on your height and what you may need I recommend either the Storq ones or the PACT ones.

P.S. I’ve just recently tried these faux leather leggings from Ingrid and Isabel (through Rent the Runway Unlimited and these are not the Target line but their own branded leggings) and I have to say I love these under the belly leggings. They’re very thick and warm and if you’re wearing a maternity tunic, it’s sort of like wearing pants. The medium size is very true to size and fit me perfectly. If you’re looking for something that’s a bit more than your regular ‘ole leggings I highly recommend these!

Unsponsored Rothys Review: The Sneaker

So I reviewed Rothys’ The Point flat here (and you can read all the benefits of Rothys the brand there) and it’s still one of my favorite flats since it’s not only durable but machine washable. But when Rothys came out with their sneaker version, I definitely wanted to try it out since I’m all for sporty and comfortable shoes. I really like how the Rothy’s sneakers look a lot like my favorite Vince sneakers but with the added benefit of being machine washable, made from recycled materials, recyclable at the end of life, and cheaper.

But first a note on sizing: I would take your true size on the sneakers (while you should size up with the Rothys points) if you have average length but wide feet. If you have average width but slightly longer foot you might still have to size up (see Sandy’s comments below) So I’m a size 8 in the points but a 7.5 in the sneakers. Since the toe bed area is a lot wider for the sneakers, I didn’t have to size up.

As for how they wear, these are uber comfy and I love how they really wrap around your foot but also stretch with it. The sole is not too heavy though a tad heavier than my Vince sneakers. But they also provide a bit more cushion than my Vince sneakers. No problems with arch support or blisters. Seriously another great shoe from Rothys.

If you’re interested in trying them out, this referral link will get you $20 off (and for me too). And since I got a bit saved up from my Rothy’s points review I’ll be doing another Rothy’s code giveaway soon!

Anyone else try the sneaker and what did you think?

Unsponsored Only Child Clothing Review: The Linen Alta Top {Updated March 2021}

I’ve reviewed the Only Child Alta top in raw silk (in size XS/S) before here, but I thought I would add a review of this linen alta top in size S/M too since it’s a tad different from the first Alta top I purchased. I originally got this during OC’s end of summer sale and so I’ve had this for awhile now and I’m finally ready to review! Also just noticed that Haley no longer stocks the Alta in linen since she’s moved onto the winter collection but I’m sure she’ll bring it back next summer.

{Wearing: Only Child Linen Alta top (S/M), over Elizabeth Suzann Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here), Arizona Birkenstocks, Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

So I’ve talked about OC’s linen quality before here and like I said in that review, they use the good stuff! Theirs is as good as Elizabeth Suzann and so this Alta top does feel a lot like my old ES Georgia tee (reviewed here). But the two tops are pretty different in shape. First the Alta top doesn’t have wing tip type sleeves like the Georgia, and the Alta top has a high-front, low-back parabola shape to is that I love. I also love that the collar line on the Alta is a bit more fitted.

Compared to my XS/S silk version, this S/M linen version is much less cropped and definitely more voluminous (which is perfect for hiding my preggo belly). Also the sleeve length is also better for me in the S/M (for reference I’m 5’4” and usually wear a size 4 on top).

So right now they only have this top in raw silk, wool or tencel (those wool and tencel ones look so dreamy!). But I look forward to wearing this in the winter anyway layered under jacket or maybe over some long sleeve tees. The fun thing about this top is that it can work a lot of ways! So even though I now have two Alta tops, each one feels so different and yet so versatile! Stay tuned on Insta and here for more ways to wear this top in the winter.

{March 2021 Update: I wanted to let you know that I ended up selling my linen alta top because as much as I liked it, I always ended up reaching for the raw silk version more. I think the linen was not drapey enough for an oversized top and I felt kind of like I was wearing a sail. So I decided to sell this linen version and I purchased the an Alta top in black raw silk in a size down XS/S. I have to say I’m very happy with my decision since I reach for the black raw silk Alta a lot. Now OC is phasing out the use of raw silk and makes their new Altas in a cotton/silk blend (which I’m curious about). Hmm I wonder if it’s time to think about trying another Alta? I’m becoming quite the Alta addict lol.}

All About My Ethical Black Tees: A comparison of Pact, Everlane, Grana, James Perse, Organic by John Patrick (and Amour Vert)

Black tees have always been a staple in my closet, as I’m sure it is for a lot of you guys. There’s nothing easier than throwing on a nice-looking black tee with jeans for a casual yet put-together look. But for something so simple, it’s been pretty hard finding the “perfect” one, especially in the ethical fashion space. So I thought I would do a quick review of the various black tees I have and how they’ve held up through the wears.

The picture up top is my current collection of black tees and from left to right and going from oldest to newest they are: Organic by John Patrick (organic cotton), James Perse (made in the USA), Everlane (responsibly made in LA), Grana (responsibly made in China), PACT (Fair Trade GOTS organic cotton).

Organic by John Patrick

So here’s the TL;DR version of this review: my favorite one out of those top 5 is the Organic by John Patrick. It’s is by far the oldest (at over 10 years old) and most worn out of all of them but has held up beautifully. Yes the brand and sizing tag fell off and I got a couple holes in the front from snagging it on something (but the holes haven’t grown even after another 5 years worth of washings). But this is one of those beautiful tees that just get better with age. It’s soft and feels vintagey and the black hasn’t faded too much considering its age. The neckline is still in good shape and there’s no fraying at the seams. Not coincidentally this is also the most expensive of the bunch. If you were to buy it brand new, you’re looking to spend about $84 (for one tee!). That’s a lot for a tee. I purchased this one one sale at Barneys for around $65 I think. If I were to purchase another one, I would probably stalk The RealReal for one (currently they have this navy one for $35 and this white one for $35).

James Perse

My second favorite tee and also second oldest is the James Perse tee. All their tees are made in the US (so if they are following US law, should be made under fair working conditions). James Perse has been a crowd favorite when it comes to casual upscale tees for awhile now. But they produce several different kinds of black tees and not all are equally good IMHO. I think the James Perse tees with a thinner collar at the neckline hold up better than those made with a thicker band (which tends to wrinkle). The ones I like best are I think the relaxed casual tees with a larger neckline (they run a tad small for me, especially since I like my black tees to be on the more relaxed side). The one in the picture up top is actually one I purchased second hand for quite cheap and it’s lasted me at least 8 years so far! And no holes yet in this one and the color hasn’t faded at all. I would also suggest buying these tees used because brand new they go from $60-$80 (and I find them pretty often at my local Crossroads thrift store).

Everlane

As much as I love Everlane, I don’t love most of their tees (which is too bad since that’s what they started their whole biz on). As you can see in the picture below, the collar of Everlane tees tend to get folded, wrinkled and generally mangled-looking. Also if you happen to get a small hole in your tee, you might as well throw it out because that hole will just grow and grow. Overall, the Everlane ones reads a bit like a cheap tee, especially since it also picks up a lot of lint. I’m slightly allergic to dog hair and so don’t like wearing a tee covered in the stuff (I know I have long-haired dogs so I should be okay with this, but I prefer the dog hair to come out with the lint in the dryer and not stay on my shirt). The one great thing about Everlane black tees though is that they keep their color and don’t fade. Also I will say that Everlane’s cotton crew tees keep the collar shape and are one of my favorite tees (though I like them in other colors since the other colors don’t seem to have the same lint problem as the black one does). I have several cotton crews and are a great choice when you want to cover up your chest to prevent sun damage.

Grana

So when it comes to comfort over looks, Grana is my go-to. These pima cotton shirts are super comfortable and are made of a nice smooth thick cotton knit. The collar stays nice and flat and these would be my go-to all the time if it wasn’t for the fading of the color. It does not look great after so many washes and wears. My heather gray tees in the same style though are still looking great and are my go to tees when I want to wear gray. These black ones have now been relegated to PJs.

PACT

This is my newest black tee and also my least favorite, and that’s because it is basically the lint catcher in the dryer. If I thought the Everlane black tee picked up too much lint and dog hair, this PACT one is ten times worse. The picture below is of the shirt fresh out of the dryer and there was zero lint on it when it went in. For me to be able to wear this, I would need to use a lint roller every time I clean it, which is just too much of a hassle. So that’s also why the collar still looks pristine. Sorry but I can’t speak to how it wears because I just don’t wear it.

I also added Amour Vert in parenthesis in the title because I also wanted to quickly touch upon their quality of black shirts as well. I no longer have the black tees from them because I found that I never wore them so I ended up selling them. The Amour Vert black tee I had was a black version of their Liv tee (similar here) which is made of 93% modal and 7% spandex. The quality of the tee was very stretchy and spring which did give it a nice draping quality (but in a way a synthetic blend tee does, not a good vintagey cotton tee drape). But I personally didn’t like the stretchiness and prefer my tees to be 100% cotton. Also as mentioned by Alice in the comments below, modal will pill after multiple washes so beware!).

Anyway I hope you found this little comparison guide helpful though it does seem to be a bit useless in telling you you need to spend more money for a good simple black tee. But I guess in this case you do get what you pay for. As for me I’m good with my collection of black tees for now, but if you guys have any recommendations for a 100% cotton ethical black tee I’m open to suggestions to add to this review!

Bridge and Burn Review: The Linnton Navy-White Stripe Sweater

I purchased this Linnton sweater back at the end of summer when I wanted to use up some Bridge and Burn credit I had laying around from my return (I also purchased the Karmen dress which I reviewed here). But it was too hot to really wear the sweater so I wasn’t able to give a full review just then. But now with some trips to Tahoe under my belt with temperatures in the upper 50s I’ve had a chance to try it out. And this is a great cotton sweatshirt!

First a note on sizing, I usually wear a 4 or a small on top, but purchased this sweater in a medium and find that it fits perfectly. So I would say this sweatshirt runs a tad small. It’s pretty snug in the shoulder so I can’t layer anything other than a tee underneath. But even though it’s a medium, I find the length to be just right and not too long or cropped (for reference I’m 5’4”).

Lol, please excuse the Tahoe parking lot pictures but decided to take some shots of it “in the wild” so to speak. Also if you’re ever in South Lake Tahoe, one of my favorite brunch places is the Getaway Cafe!

{Wearing: Bridge and Burn Linnton sweater, Elizabeth Suzann Mara jumpsuit (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (review here), and Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

What I like most about this sweatshirt, which is hard to tell from these pictures, is that there’s a terry cloth-like texture to it. So it’s better than a regular ‘ole striped sweatshirt. I love mixing textures when wearing otherwise quite plain clothing.

Anyway if you’re in the market for a cotton sweatshirt with some texture I can’t recommend this one enough. However, if you have enough cotton sweatshirts, just go and enjoy an oldie but goodie :)

Boody Underwear Review

via

So far I’ve reviewed Everlane underwear (spoiler: not a fan) and PACT organic cotton underwear (a fan but also understand why some people say it doesn’t last well) along with some other brands (review here), so I feel pretty well versed in the ethical underwear space. A couple people recommended Boody underwear in my ethical underwear review so I had to give them a try.

If you’re not familiar with Boody Wear, they are an underwear and active wear brand that makes all their items from organic bamboo (a rayon type material made from bamboo). Bamboo is a great sustainable plant that requires less water and less pesticides than cotton (they detail all the benefits of bamboo here). The process of turning bamboo into fabric is a fully closed-look system that recycles all water and chemicals used. To find out how they make this material, check out their page here. Boody Wear also takes their ethical certifications very seriously (and you can view them all here). Their products are made in Korea, and under the WRAP certification they ensure their workers are treated well. All-in-all this is one amazing ethical and sustainable company.

So how is their product?

It’s pretty dang good. So the bamboo material is unexpectedly soft and stretchy. It doesn’t feel like cotton at all, but more like a tight knit spandex/nylon type of material. It’s smooth with a bit of a slipperiness to it (but not as much as nylon). For those who like underwear that stays tight and lasts through multiple washes you’ll probably like Boody a lot more than PACT. But I like my underwear loose and less constricting as well as 100% cotton so I’m still a loyal PACT customer (though I find the lace bikinis are made much better and hold up better than the regular bikini bottoms).

I got the Boody Classic Bikini and found these to run on the small side (but like I said I don’t like my underwear to be constricting so I prefer a looser fit). The mediums fit me well (usually a size 4-6) though I might even go up to a large for a loose fit (the small was a no-go for me). I also tried their padded shaper bra, which I like because they’re like sports bras and the (removable) padding prevents any nipple outlines. For the bras I got a medium and they fit well (I’m a 4 on top).

Their items are machine washable and either lay out to dry or tumble dry low. So far they’ve held up pretty well!

Anyone else try Boody and what did you think?

Bridge and Burn Review: The Kharmen Dress

Hi guys and I have a new ethical brand featured today that you guys might have heard of: Bridge and Burn.  They're a Portland, OR, company that's been on my radar since I first visited Portland 4 years ago and I've already purchased a couple items from them before (I just haven't reviewed them before).  If you're not familiar with them, they manufacture their clothes either in San Francisco or in one Canadian-owned factory in China where they can make small batches of their designs.  They've got all the ethical standards covered and you can read more about it here. 

So I had some credit in my pocket from a returned jacket in January so I decided to treat myself after a no buy July (unfortunately it was earlier in the month before their massive sale going on right now *faceplam*).  The first thing I got was this Kharmen Dress in light blue stripes because I'm such a sucker for a blue striped dress.

First a note on sizing: I ordered this in a small and I would say it's a tad oversized.  I find that B&B tends to run a tad large but not enough for me to bother to size down.  Plus I wanted a loose easy dress and don't mind the extra space (also if I eat a lot, you wouldn't be able to tell in this dress).  It wasn't so large that the arm holes were showing my bra so that's good.

So what did I think of the dress?  I love it!  It's such a good easy summer dress that you can throw on and not have to think about it the rest of the day.  I like the length since it's not a mini and the hem is also slightly longer in the back than in the front.  So I can comfortably bend down without flashing anyone my underwear.  Oh and it has pockets.  That's good 'ole no-nonsense Pacific Northwest design for you lol.  The only thing I'm a little meh about is the racerback design since I don't have a racerback style bra and I'm too lazy to try to convert my regular bras into one.  I'm not a huge fan of having my bra straps show in the back but I can live with it.

{Wearing the Kharmen dress with my fave Everlane V Sling back (reviewed here)}

But what I like the most though, and this is what has drawn me to B&B from the beginning is the fabric they use.  I love that they use Japanese fabrics because (and I'm probably biased here because of my Japanese heritage) I think Japan makes some of the best high quality fabrics.  I mean Elizabeth Suzann and Only Child both source their linens from Japan.  But in general a lot of good fabric is made in Japan (I used to buy a lot of clothes from Japan and a lot of the made in Japan stuff has lasted me decades!).  This particular dress fabric is a blend of cotton and linen and it feels like a light chambray denim.  It doesn't wrinkle even after a whole days worth of wear and it feels light but sturdy.  Also even though the dress is light colored, it is fully opaque and black undies won't show.  One of my other B&B items is a jacket from their traditional Kiriko Japanese textile collection and I love its uniqueness.

Anyway you can find this Kharmen dress here for $84 (from $118).  I know summer is pretty much over for a  lot of you so please don't go buying this dress if you aren't going to be wearing it until next year (no use keeping it in your closet no matter how good the price).  But if you live in Hawaii, Florida, or plan to be visiting a lot of warm places in the next couple of months, I can't think of  a better ethically-made summer dress!

P.S. Their returns are a bit of a pain (you have to send it back yourself and you can only get store credit in the form of an email that you have to remember to use), so I would advise purchasing only if you're pretty sure you're going to keep it.

Trying out YOOXygen

So the other day I was browsing through my usual blog roll when I read about YOOXygen, an arm of YOOX that promotes responsible and ethical fashion.  I've heard of YOOX before, and always thought of them as a kind of Net-a-Porter (basically a site that sells designer clothes).  I've never shopped at YOOX before but I was intrigued by YOOXygen, which is a curated selection of brands that are either produced ethically or sustainably.  There's a kind of hodge podge of brands on YOOXygen, some are well known but most are not.  But on each product page, they give a little background as to why this brand can be considered under the YOOXygen umbrella.  I think this is a great idea for an online site and would love to see something like this for Net-a-Porter or Shopbop so it makes it easier for the conscious consumer to buy from socially responsible brands.  Also this is a great way to discover new ethical brands if you're looking for something different.

So I purchased two items to try.  The first was this white organic cotton blouse from a new-to-me brand called Rakha.  Here's the blurb that YOOXygen gives on Rakha's ethical standards: Rakha recognizes social and environmental responsibility as an integral part of their strategy and practice. Materials are carefully sourced from partners who share the brand’s values: cruelty-free, non-toxic, fair wages, and helping to build sustainable communities. Rakha’s approach to design and garment making is focused on sustainability, making items in eco-friendly or repurposed materials that are biodegradable or can be recycled. All their organic or sustainable materials are certified, including Woolmark certified merino wools, GOTS certified organic cotton, and RPET recycled fabrics.  Sounds awesome right?  Sounds like my kind of ethical brand.  However, if the product doesn't really hold up, all the great ethics in the world isn't going to make me want to wear the item.  And unfortunately this blouse was super transparent and see-through.  Plus the sizing was a bit off and oversized.  So back it went.

The other garment that I got from YOOXygen was this Wool & Gang black long cardigan.  I've heard of Wool & Gang before from Andrea when she knit her own beautiful rust colored sweater from the kit that the brand sent her (you should check it out, it really is gorgeous).  But I'm not a knitter (I've tried) so I thought, why not just buy something that's already knit from this awesome brand.  Here's the blurb that YOOXygen gives for them: Wool and the Gang is a brand which disruptes the traditional business model by empowering customers to produce fashion at home. The brand work for reducing the impact that fashion has on the environment. Wool is the main yarn used by brand, because of its natural, renewable and biodegradable charachteristics. The collaboration with fashion fabrics helps to repurpose fashion waste into new yarn to reduce landfill. The brand also aim to create a community in which every single customers become a crafter, able to produce its own hat or sweater.  And well, I didn't love it.  The wool fibers kept coming off on everything it touched and then when I wore it, it just looked so ridiculously oversized with the front flaps kind of pointing out like wings.  This is just one of those things that you don't know what it's going to look like until you try it on.  So unfortunately I returned this too.

Ah well it was worth trying but I guess when it's a collection of various brands, each with differing standards of quality it can be quite hit or miss.  And in this case it was a miss.  Luckily like most big online sites, returning items was a breeze (one step online and it comes with a UPS label sticker in the box) though they do take $6.95 out of the refund for the return shipping cost.  But it's great to see so many different brands ethical and/or sustainable brands out there now.  I have a feeling that this is a field that's just going to keep growing!

ace & jig Try-On: The Daisy Dress

So this is another review that was requested by a reader via Instagram (so Page this one's for you!).  I had mentioned in a post before that ace & jig is really not my jam.  I'm not a fan of prints and color (as you can tell by my mostly minimalist, mostly Everlane wardrobe).  So trying this Daisy Dress from ace & jig is me stepping out of my comfort zone.  But I'm willing to try anything once, especially something as noncommittal as trying on clothes.

So what did I think?

When I first tried on this dress I got it, I got why people go ga-ga over ace & jig (I mean you should have seen their booth at West Coast Craft).  The material is absolutely amazing, with the textures and beautiful thick fabric.  I'm wearing black underwear with this dress and you can't even see it since the fabric is so thick and opaque.  Also the embroidery and stitching on the dress was really special.  I can 100% believe this fabric was made by hand by an artisan in India.  And thus I can understand why this dress retails for $269 (I was able to get it from Shopbop on sale at $188-which I think is a really good value for what you're getting).  This garment feels special through and through.

Ok but in the end I decided not to keep it.  First off, the dress felt really big on me even though I got a small.  I might have been able to get away with an XS in this (I'm a size 4-6, going towards 6 these days).  And the second reason why I didn't keep the dress is because it's just not me.  The styling isn't me. And when I look at most of the offerings at ace & jig, most of it is just not me.  I'm not Boho nor whimsical and that's what these styles seem like to me.  I'm much more of an Everlane/Gap/Uniqlo style with a couple trendy Zara pieces thrown in (though these days it's actually more of an Everlane+Elizabeth Suzann+Celine combo).  I think if you like Free People and Anthropologie, then ace & jig is more your style.

But that's okay, I'm glad I tried it out.  I'm also glad I know my style since I would hate to spend that much money on a dress just because I like the fabric and believe in the brand's ethics, only to have it languishing in my closet.  In this day and age where there are ethical/sustainable/slow fashion brands cropping up every year, we're so lucky to have choices.  Anyway ace & jig might not have worked out for me, but Grechen had been on an ace & jig kick so you can see all the items she tried on and reviewed over at her blog!