What 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.

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!

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).

Unsponsored Jenni Kayne Mules Review: Are They Worth It? {Updated May 2023}

So you guys I finally did it. After talking about them for almost the whole year (actually I first talked about them in September of 2018), I just decided to finally buy the Jenni Kayne mules (even though I also recently added the St. Agni mules to my collection). Do I really need another pair of mules? No, but I’m blaming the pain meds post-surgery for this one. Or maybe it was the “I feel sorry for myself” shopping urge lol. Either way I’m glad I purchased them because I can now finally stop talking about them. And tl;dr: I’m returning them! Yep, all that energy and time spent pining for them was wasted because these shoes are not comfortable (at least for me).

My biggest issue with these mules is the quality of the leather. I got the natural oiled leather version and tbh the leather feels like cardboard. It’s super stiff without any of that stretch you expect from leather. My St. Agni mules (reviewed here) feels like a luxurious glove on your feet. This one? Not so much. The Jenni Kayne version uses elastic bands to try to get the mule to hug your feet, which is kind of a cheap solution for a pair of shoes that cost $395. Maybe the regular leather version has more stretch and feels more luxurious but since they only come in black and I already have a ton of black mules, I’m going to pass. Even Everlane’s Boss Mules feel more luxurious and hug the feet better than these Jenni Kayne ones (and for the current price of $84, the Everlane mules are a steal!). Though I should mention my absolute favorite mules are the St. Agni ones.

Also the there’s no padding on the insole of these Jenni Kayne mules so I can imagine prolonged walking in them would be uncomfortable. They do run TTS though and the 38 fit me fine.

Overall I’m very disappointed in these mules (though my wallet is rejoicing). I guess you never know how something is going to be unless you try it for yourself, and sometimes it’s worth it to just bite the bullet and buy it so you can stop pining for it. I think in general I love the idea and aesthetic of Jenni Kayne but I feel like I can build a more quality wardrobe of basics with the current ethical brands I already purchase from.

{May 2023 Update: Even though my love for my St. Agni mules are going strong, I decided to return to these Jenni Kayne mules because I really need to give my St. Agni ones a break sometimes. Plus I needed something other than a black shoe. So when I found a navy suede pair of these Jenni Kayne mules for $100, I decided to give JK another chance. And I’m glad I did because I really do like these shoes now. It probably helped that someone else already broke these in a bit so the fore foot area was a bit roomier and also much less stiff. I will say I don’t wear the JK mules when I know I’ll be walking a lot because it still pinches at the forefoot area (right where it creases) on my left foot (maybe my left foot is slightly wider?). Anyway I think for $100 they’re a great second pair of mules for me though I still probably wouldn’t pay the $395 (thought I have to say after 3 years they haven’t raise the price at least.}

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.

ES Mara Jumpsuit + Celine Soft Cube Bag

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.

Everlane Jacket, Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Dress, Everlane Day Heel Mule, Celine Seau Sangle

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!

KOTN Review: The Oat Henley Dress

I first mentioned this henley dress in my What I Didn’t Buy in July post because even though I was eyeing it, I didn’t purchase it. And well sometimes I guess good things do come to those who wait because it was on sale in early August. But also because it was on sale, I was unable to return it…which unfortunately is what I would have liked to have done. But first, here’s my full impression of this KOTN dress.

KOTN markets themselves as an ethical company that makes premium quality basics from Egyptian cotton. But to be honest, I don’t feel their cotton to be exactly “premium quality.” The cotton material feels quite thin. PACT’s organic cotton tee dress felt immensely more premium (which I loved and reviewed here), and even Everlane’s regular cotton feels better than KOTN’s. I guess it all depends on what you define as premium. I like my cotton garments to have some thickness to them. While KOTN’s cotton does feel silkier, it’s a lot thinner. Also this might be fine for tees, but as a dress I prefer thick cotton. Also I think organic cotton is better than conventional cotton (no matter where it’s grown) because conventional cotton uses a lot of pesticides.

Anyway this is to say that I was disappointed in their cotton, and because the fabric was so thin the dress is a bit sheer. Plus the style was not great: the slit up the leg was way too high while the general dress length was too long (I think the site model in the pic above is 5’9” for reference. I’m 5’4”). Thus you won’t see me model it here. I almost didn’t write this review, but decided that this might be informative for those who are thinking about trying KOTN. If you do, I would go for a shirt over a dress, or if you do go for a dress a darker one would be less sheer. As for me, this was a total miss >.<

Unsponsored Chanel Ballet Flats Review: Are They Really Worth It?

There are some costly items are that luxurious and others that are merely expensive and it’s hard to tell the difference. I’ve purchased a lot of expensive items in my lifetime (and sold a lot of them too), and I feel like I’ve gotten better at telling the difference. So are these Chanel ballet flats really a luxury or just merely expensive?

To me, they are merely expensive. TBH they don’t feel all that different from other ballet flats that I’ve owned. I mean the leather is nice and shoes are sturdy but nothing particularly screams “this is worth $750”. They just have the interlocking C’s on the cap toe and the words “Chanel” on the insole. But I’m no expert on ballet flats (I’ve only owned several pairs in my lifetime and they’re not my favorite type of shoe). My idea of a luxurious flat are Martiniano Glove shoes where the leather feels suuuper buttery and sumptuous.

But to be fair, these Chanel ballet flats are durable (I got a used pair and I still wear them out quite a bit and they look great). And they’re a classic that probably won’t ever go out of style.

As for sizing, if you have wide feet like I do you’re going to need to go up at least half a size. I usually wear a size 8 or 38, and I got these in a 38.5. So far I haven’t had any blisters in these, but I also got these used and so they were already broken-in for me.

Since these ballet flats currently retail new for $750 (craaazy), I highly recommend buying them used on a site like Fashionphile or the RealReal. And if you’re worried about the authenticity of used shoes, here’s a quick rundown of how to spot the real thing. And if you want to be 100% certain of authenticity, you can pay for an authentication service like Etinceler (just be sure to get the authentication done while you’re in the return window).

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Harlow Dress

taken when I was still pregnant

So this review has been sitting in my drafts folder for a very long time since I first purchased this cotton Harlow dress (link to the Harlow page on ES) back when Elizabeth Suzann had a sale for them at the end of 2018. I’ve wanted to try the Harlow dress for a long time, ever since seeing campaign images from ES like the one below.

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Something about the easiness and swinginess of the dress got me. But since the linen and silk versions are $245 and $265 respectively, I was a bit hesitant to spend that much on an easy summer dress. Also I thought the linen one might be too voluminous for my frame and the silk too fancy for daily wear. So when the cotton poplin Harlow went “on sale” (due to ES phasing out the cotton fabric for this style) for sub $200 I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately it was the dead of winter when I got it, so it was just in time to wear it for Christmas (that’s when the first photo above was taken). I was able to pull it off layered (while pregnant) but didn’t really have a chance to wear it much after that.

But now that it’s summer, I am loving this dress. It’s so easy to wear and comfy (basically like a nightie). I like that the cotton poplin is lightweight without being too voluminous. But the cotton does wrinkle pretty easily and it picks up lint and dog hair like crazy. If I end up wearing this dress a lot, I’ll consider splurging on the silk version.

Oh and as for sizing, I decided to get a medium because I didn’t want any pulling in the chest area. I’m usually a small in ES, but when you look at the Harlow pages on their site, when the model is wearing a smaller size the dress kind of pulls at the chest. It makes the chest area look more like an X in the front, while I wanted it to look more like a tank, with the shoulder part dropping straight down. But that does mean the dress is a tad large on me and you can see my bra band in the back. I think if you’re wearing a black bra, no one’s going to notice. Or make it fun and wear a really outrageous color bra and it’ll just peek out over the dress.

And even though there’s a lot of fabric with this dress, which can billow out with the wind (so don’t really wear it on a super windy day), you actually won’t look big in it because of the way it drapes. If you want to make it look even more slimming, a belt at the natural waist might work too. As for me, I can’t wait to wear this with some straw accessories and call it a summer day!

P.S. I just got the silk Harlow dress secondhand via eBay and it totally feels different. I love it so much!

Unsponsored Sarah Flint Review: Lana Flats

After seeing Sarah Flint flats on the feet of one of my favorite ethical clothing influencers, Meghan Markle, I decided I wanted to learn more about the company and try out one of their flats.

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Sarah Flint is a direct to consumer brand, designed by a woman (Sarah) that works directly with Italian shoemakers for their shoes. If we can assume that “artisanal” shoe factories in Italy pay their workers a fair wage, then this brand falls under the socially ethical realm. In a lot of ways, Sarah Flint reminds me of M.Gemi (reviewed here, here, and here). Maybe because they’re both direct to consumer and made in Italy. Though M.Gemi price points are about $100 less than Sarah Flint. Sarah Flint shoes will set you back about $300+. The particular flat I tried, called the Lana (which Sarah Flint is wearing below) is priced at $365.

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But rather than spending the $365 for brand new shoes, I decided to stalk the RealReal and wait it out for a used pair. And I was able to snag the Lana flats in my size for $76! So what did I think of these flats? After having tried it out, I can tell you Meghan Markle must have normal to narrow feet, lol. My slightly wide feet did not work for these flats. And keep in mind this is after buying it used (so someone got the initial joy of breaking it in). The length was perfect and the width might have eventually stretched out (on the website they claim that it would), but the outer edges that hug the foot rubbed like a mofo. Unfortunately for me the size 38 flats (my usual size) didn’t work for me. If I ever see a size 38.5 on the RealReal I might try it out (and I’ll update my review when I do), but I could see the length being too long for me and my heel slipping out. Just like with some Italian factories that Everlane uses, their lasts (foot molds) just aren’t meant for my feet (or at least for this particular Sarah Flint shoe).

Speaking of Everlane’s Italian made shoes, I wonder what is the reason the price difference between their shoes and the ones by Sarah Flint is so great (almost $200 less for Everlane). For reference, Everlane’s Boss Flats, which look like some of the shoes Sarah Flint offers, costs $66 to make and Everlane prices it at $165. I wonder if the Sarah Flint shoes have higher end materials and trickier workmanship? Or do they just mark it up more because they can? Even M.Gemi is cheaper and with similar stuff. To me it’s not quite worth it. For just a bit more, you can buy the Martiniano glove flats (reviewed here) which are pure luxury.

But if you want to try them out for yourself and you have normal to narrow feet then this referral link will get you $50 off your first order (I will also get $50 but will probably give them to readers in giveaway contests like I normally do).

kowtow Review: Black Cotton Romper

kowtow is an ethical brand that I only know about because of Grechen. They’re a New Zealand brand that takes their sustainability and ethical manufacturing seriously. They use fair trade organic cotton or tencel, use harm-free dyes, and are also working on circularity with a take back program. In many ways, you can’t get a more ethical brand. But I wouldn’t love them if they’re clothes were also not modern and chic. If Eileen Fisher and COS had a baby, it would be kowtow. The only drawback to them is that their shipping and returns are coming from New Zealand so it’s not so easy for us in the US (though shipping is free when you spend over $200). And of course the price point is not cheap (though it shouldn’t be when they’re doing all these things right). But because of these last two points, I hadn’t tried kowtow even though they were on my radar for quite awhile.

{Wearing: kowtow Romper, Chanel ballet flats (from TRR), thrifted hat}

But I noticed that the RealReal (TRR) carried quite a few items from kowtow, and usually a lot of the same items (which makes me think they’re getting it from a boutique that is trying to offload items and not from individual sellers). Also since this was in “pristine condition”, it was basically new. So when I got some TRR credit I decided to give them a shot (even though TRR’s own shipping and return policy aren’t great). But the price point of the items can’t be beat. I got this romper for a total of $52 (the 20% discount included)! Since their dresses go for about $200-$300 new, this is quite a steal.

{Wearing: kowtow Romper, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Nano Celine Belt Bag (reviewed here)}

As for sizing, I’m wearing a small here and it’s the perfect size. It’s pretty slim on top so if you’re bigger in the chest you might need to consider sizing up, depending on the garment. But since this romper is belted at the waist, it’s really forgiving around the midsection. Looking at their site, I do notice that a lot of their items are made for tall people so if you’re on the shorter side like myself, some of their stuff might not work out so well. Or you’ll have to do some hemming.

Their label reads designed in New Zealand and made ethically in India from organic cotton. The cotton poplin fabric is midweight and smooth. It feels like something Cuyana would use. And the construction is flawless. The bottom part of the romper has hidden pleats on the sides to give you a bit more volume on the bottom overall without adding volume around the waist. The collar at the neckline is slim and minimal. It is in the details of a garment like this that you know that the design and production are top-notch.

So if you’re looking for a simple, modern and ethically-made quality item I can’t recommend kowtow enough. And even more so if you’re tall. As for me, I’ll still be stalking TRR for kowtow items to add to my closet!

Everlane Review: The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirtdress and Picnic Dress

I love Everlane’s Cotton Collarless Belted Shirtdress from 2 years ago (reviewed here). It’s one of my most favorite dresses from Everlane, but haven’t worn it lately due to some added baby weight (which makes the dress come up quite short when belted) So I was super excited to see a new version of their collarless shirtdress for 2019 in a new cotton weave fabric and with longer sleeves! Since I wasn’t offered any free items from Everlane in June (probably because I haven’t been keeping up with timely reviews lol) I purchased this myself with some referral credit (thank you to all those who supported me by using my referral link). I actually prefer being able to review items this way since I feel it makes the review a tad more objective, plus I tend to love the items I purchase myself more (like the Everlane mini form bag and the cotton linen v-neck). Oh, and since I wanted the free shipping, I decided to try out Everlane’s Cotton Weave Picnic Dress as well.

So what did I think of Everlane’s new summer dresses?

I actually love both styles and ended up keeping both!

The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirt Dress

First of all, I really love the new cotton weave fabric that they’re using for this year’s collarless shirt dress. It’s super soft and yet feels durable. The cotton weave has a texture that’s almost like a lightweight corduroy. I think this fabric is less prone to wrinkles than the cotton poplin they used for their first collarless dress. The sizing is similar to their old dress though this year’s version is a tiny bit longer (I got a size 4). But it’s still a tad short on me when I raise my arms (see pic) and I’m 5’4” (and even if you get a larger size, the length only increases marginally).

So if you’re quite a bit taller, this dress might be too short for comfort. At first I was thinking of returning the dress because of this, but I decided to keep it because 1) I don’t know if there would be many situations where I need to raise my arms in this dress (and if there is, I’ll just be careful) but also because 2) I saw this ad campaign for Hackwith Design House’s button-up jacket dress.

The Everlane dress looks similar enough and since I didn’t want to spend $205, I decided to try this collarless shirtdress as both a dress and a duster. And I like it. I plan to try more combos of this dress as a duster, but I like the versatility of having it work as both a dress and a lightweight duster. Oh and they added a belt loop to this year’s dress which is great because I lost the belt of my 2017 collarless shirtdress since there was no belt loop. A small but convenient improvement.

{Wearing: Only Child Alta Top (reviewed here), Only Child Cove Pants (reviewed here), Everlane V sling back (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here)}

The Cotton Weave Picnic Dress

I originally ordered this cotton weave picnic dress with the intention of trying it on, disliking it, and then returning it. And tbh ordered it as my second item so I could get free shipping. But when I tried it on, I didn’t hate it. I was a little iffy about it, but with the encouragement of those on my Insta stories, I decided to keep it. I like the longer midi length of this on me. At first I thought it might be too long, but I think it’s fine (and looks great especially with some low heels like the Everlane Day Heels I’m wearing).

I ordered this in a size 6 because I’ve noticed with Everlane’s “picnic” style tops and dresses, the chest circumference is a bit tight on me in my normal Everlane size of 4. At size 6, it’s just right so there’s no pinching of the underarm fat. Also the backside is elastic so that makes the chest area slightly more forgiving and it makes it easier to put on/take off this dress. The buttons that run along the front are fake and you can’t actually button/unbutton this dress. That makes this dress very breastfeeding UN-friendly but at the same time, you won’t have any gaping holes between the buttons. There’s a side zip to help make putting on/taking off this dress easier. I do like that this dress is slightly form fitting so that it looks great even without the tie. I look forward to wearing this dress more once I stop breastfeeding. Also I plan to wear this dress with a white shirt underneath if the weather is on the cool side.

So I had only planned on keeping one dress (the collarless shirtdress) when I bought them, and then planned on keeping just the picnic dress when I tried them on. But ended up keeping both to work with my wardrobe lol. Hope you see these dresses in heavy rotation as the summer wears on!

PACT Review: The T-Shirt Pocket Dress

I’ve been slowly and quietly been trying things from PACT with some of the credit earned by those who purchase through my referral link (you also get 20% off with this link)—and thank you for your support! I’ve tried their t-shirt (which I compared with other black tees in the review here) and I’ve tried their leggings (which I compare with other maternity leggings here). I’ve also tried their baby onsies and their sateen crib sheet, which were really quite good though I haven’t written a review of them. But nothing was so good (since their undies which I reviewed over a year and a half ago here) that it compelled me to write a dedicated review about it, until now.

I ordered a bunch of their T-shirt pocket dresses right after giving birth, thinking I would use them as sleepwear since I didn’t want to wear any sort of pants at the time. But I recovered quickly enough so that I started wearing my old Pjs within a week or two and then forgot about my order of these dresses (especially since it was still cold and wintery). But now with summer here in full force, thanks to a couple of heat waves hitting the Bay Area, I dug around my closet for easy summery things I could wear and found these dresses. When I tried them on, I fell in love. I can’t remember having had a good heavyweight cotton t-shirt dress like this in my wardrobe. Many of the t-shirt dresses I’ve tried in the past have been on the thin side, which leads to VPL or feeling slightly exposed. Or they’re so short that you can see my butt when I raise both hands up (*ahem* I’m looking at you Everlane). But PACT got it right. These are what T-shirt dresses should be like.

{Wearing: PACT T-Shirt Dress, Everlane Day Crossover Sandals (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here)}

First of all the organic cotton is amazing. It’s super thick and slightly textured so the fabric feels substantial. This t-shirt dress won’t flap up with a slight breeze. Also no VPL. And the length is just right, so it won’t show any underwear when you bend down. There’s one small pocket in the front but sadly no pockets at the hips.

And not only is the dress great but they’re made from GOTS certified cotton and produced in a fair trade factory. You can learn more about their ethics and values as a company here.

How I wore this dress the other day

{Wearing: PACT T-Shirt Dress, Everlane Day Crossover Sandals (reviewed here), Everlane relaxed linen shirt (reviewed here), thrifted hat}

I ordered this in a medium because I didn’t want it to be too fitted and I think it’s the perfect size for my 5’4” frame. It’s loose and easy: the perfect combo for summer dress. So if you’ve been looking for a good T-shirt dress, I suggest giving this PACT one a try. In fact, I liked it so much I bought another one in black. It’s sometimes the simplest items that are the hardest to get right. So when I find a gem like this, I tend to purchase an extra.

P.S. Some sizes still available in black and gray for sale on their site ($20 but final sale), but there’s still all the sizes left on Zappos (which I linked to).