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.}

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.}

Unsponsored Only Child Clothing Review: The Alta Top in Raw Silk {March 2021 Update}

Hi guys and welcome to my first review of Only Child Clothing, another purveyor of beautiful slow fashion pieces.  For me, Only Child is local with all their items made by hand in Oakland, CA.  I first talked about Only Child here, when I mentioned meeting Haley (the founder of OC) at West Coast Craft.  It was there that I purchased this Alta Top in raw silk, and it was love at first wear.  Since then (about 1 month) I've worn this top 10 times.  That might not seem like a lot but if you break it down, that's at least twice a week, and sometimes three.  I've also washed it multiple times and it's held up like a champ!  I really really love this top and would someday like to buy another one in raw silk in a different color!

{Wearing: Only Child Alta Top, Everlane Easy Chino pants (reviewed here), Everlane V Slingback (reviewed here), Polene numero un bag (reviewed here)}

First a note on sizing: I'm wearing a XS/S here and find that it fits perfectly.  Since this is a naturally more oversized top, I went with a smaller size.  The sleeves are on the more fitted side because of that, but not too small that it gets stuck on my bicep.  Also since I'm on the petite side, the smaller size fits me well.  

I really love that the neck-hole on this top is not that wide.  My 2nd generation Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Tee is of a similar shape and style but sometimes I find that the neck hole is too large and my bra straps show.  I have no problems with that with the Alta Top.  I also really love the parabola shape at the hem of the Alta top, which makes it more cropped in the front than in the back.  I find the cropped look goes really well my high-waisted elastic bottoms like the Everlane Chinos up top or the Elizabeth Suzann Clyde skirt below.  But at the same time, it's not too cropped.  It falls somewhere between my Petra crop from ES and the Georgia Tee.  Also I love that the sleeves of the Alta top are more fitted than my Georgia Tee (don't get me wrong I still love the wing tips of my Georgia Tee sleeves but sometimes you want a more fitted sleeve to fit under a jacket and the Alta top is the perfect candidate to layer with).  I think if you don't want as much of a cropped front, you can size up (so I would size up to S/M).

{Wearing: Only Child Alta top in raw silk, Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Billow Skirt, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Celine Small Cabas Phantom (similar here, reviewed here)}

And last buy not least, I love that raw silk that this Alta top is made of.  The eggshell color is the perfect white but it's opaque enough not to show a nude bra.  I also think because the top falls away from the body, you aren't as likely to see the outline of your bra.  I'm a huge fan of raw silk not only because it's machine washable, but also because it has a nubby texture that makes it way more interesting than a cotton top.  Also the raw silk is structured a bit like linen so it can hold its shape well, but at the same time doesn't wrinkle as much as linen.  I've been a fan of raw silk since trying out the tops from Jamie and the Jones (review here and here), but I decided to let those pieces go because I don't wear them as much.  I think in the end it comes down to styling, and for me Only Child fits my style to the tee.  Also if I were to compare this to the J+J blank canvas top, this Alta top is not nearly as wide and not as cropped.  And the neck-hole is smaller than the J+J one.

{Wearing: Only Child Alta Top, Elizabeth Suzann line Clydes (reviewed here), Everlane V Slingback (reviewed here), Celine Small Cabas Phantom (similar here, reviewed here)}

Anyway I can't recommend this Alta top enough.  Like I said I really want to get another one of these (maybe in black) because it's the perfect casual yet elevated tee!

{March 2021 update: I’m still in love with this cream-colored raw silk Alta top and wear it weekly 2.5 years later. I also loved it to much that I got it in black raw silk in a true XS/S size (pictured above), which I also love. My first eggshell Alta was a sample, which I realize is more cropped and all around smaller than the true XS/S. Having tried this black one in the right size, I’ll say the XS/S runs tts and isn’t too cropped nor too oversized. I got another black Alta after I tried and then sold my linen Alta top which I reviewed here. Currently OC is phasing out the raw silk (but they still make it in eggshell and black, the two colors I currently have) and instead use a cotton/silk (70/30) blend for their new colors (that sand dollar greige is pretty dreamy). I’m curious to try it out and may splurge on another Alta, in which case I’d update this review again!}