I don’t know if you can already tell, but I’m a huge fan of straw hats in the summer. It started with a thrifted one (originally from Zara) that’s like a Panama hat (hanging on the wall on the bottom). Since I wore that hat pretty consistently last summer, I decided to get this Eric Javits hat from the RealReal after seeing it in person at Bloomingdales. (My other summer hat hanging on the wall is from Gigi Pip, which I’ll review next!).
Read MoreBlog
Moving from conspicuous to conscious consumption and doing reviews along the way. Find plenty of unsponsored reviews of Quince, Everlane, Grana, and Cuyana on the site! I'm working towards a minimal waste lifestyle, and oh yea I love bags >.<
Ulla Johnson Review
If you follow me on Insta, you know that my latest obsession has been Ulla Johnson. I would love to be able to purchase UJ new, but I find that price-wise and sustainability-wise it’s best for me to purchase it used. So I’ve been stalking the RealReal and eBay and wow I’ve found some good stuff. And they were all at least half price or less. And by purchasing UJ secondhand I really got to see the quality of their clothing and how they’ve held up.
Read MoreFrame Denim Review
I discovered Frame denim way before I started blogging and reviewing clothes. So it never occurred to me to review them even though I do occasionally buy new-to-me (aka secondhand) Frame jeans. But since I had a reader who was interested, plus a couple Insta people commenting on them, I decided to talk about their jeans.
Read MoreWhat I've Been Eyeing Lately on The RealReal
Hi there, I’m a TRR addict and spend so much time on there (I always love the hunt!) and I just thought I’d put together a little list of things I’ve been eyeing lately! And nope this post isn’t sponsored (though tbh I definitely wouldn’t mind TRR sponsorship lol). Also I hope this exercise would help me see if I still love these items in the future (sort of like my What I Want/Bought posts). And if a reader also snags a good deal out of it, all the better.
Ulla Johnson top ($145): Still obsessed with puff sleeves and Ulla Johnson.
If this later qualifies for their usual 20% off (code: Real), I might just get it.
Lemaire Cashmere Cardigan ($116 with code REAL)
Lemaire has been a brand I’ve been wanting to try out. Christophe Lemaire used to be the womenswear designer at Hermes and I’ve always loved his minimal luxury looks. You can learn more about the brand here. You can find some really affordable Lemaire items on TRR and this one is pretty good for a 100% cashmere sweater.
Frame Le High Straight Jean ($52 with code REAL)
I have a Frame denim review coming up, but I only wear Frame jeans lately. And this Le High Straight is my current favorite. I have it in a medium blue color, but this black pair is simple yet chic.
Frame Le High Straight Jean ($40 with code REAL)
Same jeans but in a dark wash. Still awesome.
Mansur Gavriel Cloud Clutch ($495)
Ok so I don’t think I would actually buy this because I have no space in my life for a clutch. But I occasionally dream unrealistically about the Bottega Pouch and this MG version is about $2000 less so there’s that lol.
Jenni Kayne Silk top ($35)
And just to add some color to this line-up, this pink 100% silk sleeveless top is the perfect girly top for spring. I might get this once my credit from selling comes through (and as long as no one beats me to the punch, but if you do I understand—it’s a great deal lol).
Band of Outsiders Dress ($40 with code REAL)
I never could afford Band of Outsiders when they were still around (this brand is no longer producing clothes, at least not under the original team). But I love stalking TRR for their old pieces. This 100% silk dress is the perfect Cali summer dress.
Ilana Kohn Review: Harry Jumpsuit
I’ve seen a lot of Ilana Kohn on the Insta-sphere so even though I wouldn’t normally try on such a wide-legged jumpsuit, when I saw this Harry Jumpsuit for a good price on the RealReal I couldn’t resist.
First a little bit about the brand Ilana Kohn: all their items are made in NYC. They are quality garments and that’s probably why a jumpsuit like this originally retails for $300+. And I’m assuming for that price they pay their garment workers a living wage (but I don’t know that for sure nor is there any info about that).
{Above Pic Wearing: Everlane tee, Ilana Kohn Jumpsuit, Martiniano Glove Shoes, Lululemon bag (old) // Top Pic Wearing: Everlane tee, Ilana Kohn Jumpsuit, Everlane micro form bag, rag & bone booties (old, similar here), Janessa Leone hat (from the RealReal, similar here)}
I figured if I didn’t like the jumpsuit I could easily return it but for $116 it was definitely worth a shot. And to my great surprise, I really love it. At first I thought it wouldn’t work for me since it’s so long and the indigo material is heavy (like jeans). But once I slipped it on, it was really comfortable and fit well. I got a size small and I’m 5’4”. The chest are and arm holes are perfect (I’m pretty flat chested so this jumpsuit might not work for the more buxom figure). The only thing I wasn’t too sure about was the length (especially when I see it on the model here). I want to hem it but I took two polls over on Insta story and the majority of you guys say don’t hem it. I might still hem it lol >.<
The only thing I don’t like about this jumpsuit (other than the price-eek!) is that the zipper in the back goes all the way up so it’s a tad difficult getting this on and off in a hurry. Also because of the wide legs, you gotta be extra careful when going to the bathroom so nothing touches the ground. But those are very minor things. Overall, I really love this jumpsuit (even though my husband likened it to plumber overalls lol).
It’s currently winter (in California) so I’m wearing a shirt underneath this jumpsuit. But it’ll definitely work in the summer too since it’s sleeveless and falls away from the body. So even if the material is on the thicker side, I don’t think I’ll overheat in it (but I’ll update you guys on how it is when I wear it when summer rolls around).
Anyways if you’re interested in trying them out, I see Ilana Kohn jumpsuits pop up on the RealReal once in awhile (current Ilana Kohn selection here).
St. Agni Mules Review {Updated May 2023}
I love me a good mule. California is really a great place to wear mules almost year-around. I wear my Everlane Boss mules quite frequently. So I know if I added another black mule to my closet it would mostly definitely be worn. I had been eyeing the Jenni Kayne mules fooorever but I couldn’t quite pull the trigger ($395!). So I looked for alternatives, and the St. Agni mule (which is the favorite of every sustainable/ethical blogger out there because of their thoughtfully-designed hand made shoes) made it onto my radar. I have both brands saved as a search in the RealReal so when this pair popped up in my size, I snapped it up it even though it wasn’t the woven leather ones I had originally wanted. But how could I resist for $72 of credit?
First a note on sizing. I purchased these in a size 38. I’m usually a 7.5-8 and a solid 8 in Everlane. St. Agni is supposed to run narrow so they advise purchasing a full size up (so in this case I would buy a 39 since European size 38 is about a US 7.5). However I got really lucky with these and they’re the perfect snug fit. My heel also just fits without any overhang. I think by buying them used, someone had already done the work of stretching them out a little. But they look great, with only some minor wear on the soles and a slight wrinkling to the leather.
A little investigating on the internet tells me that this is the Saul Babouche Slide and it’s no longer being sold. The leather of these mules are thicker than the buttery soft leather of the Martiniano Glove shoes and thicker than the leather of the Everlane Day Flats and the Boss Mules. But even though the leather is thick it’s not stiff. It’s just the right amount to hold my foot in place. I also really love the slightly padded insole, which makes these flats super comfy (the Everlane mules have very minimal cushioning in the heel). I can walk in these all day with no blisters or pain points at all. These have quickly become my favorite pair of mules so get ready to see them on the blog often!
P.S. A follower on Insta mentioned that getting the sizing right for St. Agni can be tricky and that she had to do several return shipments to Australia on her own dime that really added up. If I were to buy a new pair of St. Agni shoes I’d probably purchase from a site like The Dreslyn since they’re based out of LA (though they still charge a return fee). I also see that Bloomingdales also carry some of their shoes.
{December 2021 Update: I’m still in love with these mules and are my favorite pair of St. Agni shoes to date. I’ve tried out several others (including more mules like the ever popular Paris mules) but nothing compares to this first pair. You can find my other St. Agni shoes reviews here.}
{May 2023 Update: I’ve been wearing these consistently for almost 4 years now and my love for them is still going strong. These are actually the only St. Agni mules left in my collection because the woven leather ones started irritating my feet (it might be because post-pregnancy my foot has changed a bit). But these Saul mules have molded to my feet perfectly and they’re hands down my favorite pair of shoes. So much so that they’ve worn down quite a bit and I’ve finally taken them into the shoe repair shop for new soles and heels (an $82 fix!! for a $70 shoe—but 100% worth). I still see this style time to time on Poshmark and would definitely recommend them if you’re in the market for a good leather mule. Also I see these in suede and as much as those look great when they’re new, it definitely wouldn’t hold up like these all leather ones!}
Top 10 Favorite Things I've Blogged About
I wrote a post like this last March, so I thought it would be interesting to update this list because my top 10 favorite items have changed quite a bit. Is it because I’ve blogged about so many more new items or is it because as a human I always will love the new and the exciting? Well there are some repeats on here and I’d be interested to see how much this list will change/stay the same again next year.
1) Elizabeth Suzann Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here) in both silk and linen (no longer made): I bought the silk one used and loved it so much that I also got a linen one later when it went on “sale” over at ES. I wear both constantly and they’re such work horses in my wardrobe. See how one of my favorite grammers, mayetteraisa styles her Mara during the #fauxfall10x10 challenge.
2) Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here): One of the most worn bag in my closet and I did a 100 wears later post here. Currently using this bag for my one month in Hawaii and I’m in love with this bag again. It’s the perfect size, minimal yet chic, and can be carried by hand or across the body. I will never give this bag up!
3) Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: I reviewed it here and I still love it (just started my third bottle for the year—it lasts me about 4 months). I’m officially an AB Cream addict and it’s an expensive habit (though I justify it by saying I buy about 3 bottles a year for a total of about $800 a year and that’s still less than microneedling treatments or any other cosmetic procedure). My skin texture has vastly improved and I suffer from far fewer pimples than I used to before the cream. It’s no wonder this is a favorite cream for lots of people.
4) Everlane Modern Utility Jacket (reviewed here): I don’t talk about this jacket a lot and it was only featured once during a 10x10 challenge, but I looooove this jacket. As soon as the weather is cool enough I wear it everywhere. It’s also a great dog walking jacket since there are multiple pockets and it’s water resistant. This one has become a classic in my wardrobe.
5) Thinx Underwear (on last year’s list): Still love my Thinx. It came in handy during my difficult pregnancy with multiple bleeds and leaking amniotic fluid during the end of the pregnancy (lol sorry TMI?). I liked them so much I ordered another couple of them just recently and wrote a new review of them here.
6) Storq Easy Pants: Loved these when I was pregnant and love them now that I have fibroids. Basically these easy pants are the best thing when you don’t want a constricting waist band around your tummy. It’s like wearing PJs in public.
7) Lovevery Toys and Play Mat: Of course this is for Emi and not for me, but when baby’s happy and occupied Mama’s happy and otherly occupied. I love that she can play on the playmat for (cumulatively) hours a day, it’s easy to clean, and so well built. As for the toys, she still loves some of her toys from the 3-4 month box (and she’s 7 months now). I liked the toys so much I went ahead and purchased the 7-8 month box in anticipation of her growing tired of her first set of toys but that has yet to happen. I expect her to play with her new toys until she’s a year old!
8) PACT Underwear (also on last year’s list): My faves are the lace waistband ones and my original pairs have held up great. They’re comfy, well-made, well-priced and made from organic cotton. I don’t know what more you could want for reliable underwear!
9) Martiniano Glove Shoes: Aka the Bentley of flats. I love these shoes for their buttery leather that not only make them super comfy but oh so luxurious. Even after recently purchasing Chanel ballet flats (reviewed here), I think the Martiniano Glove shoes are above and beyond a more luxurious shoe.
10) A Zero Waste Shower Routine: Ok, so this isn’t just one thing but I’m pretty happy with my total zero waste shower routine. On those days I feel like I don’t measure up or I’m not doing enough, being able to feel like I’m making some kind of progress every time I shower is sometimes the little boost I need.
Anyway this post has also helped me reflect on all the various things I’ve tried on this blog and I’m so grateful for everyone who comes here to read what I’ve got to say. Thank you to all of you guys who say the nicest things about my reviews and who make writing this blog worth it!