Everlane Swing Trench Review

Hi guys, it's been over a month since I said I would review Everlane's Swing Trench coat, but it's finally here (this one's for you Esther!).  I originally decided to finally try out the Swing Trench (it's been in Everlane's lineup for quite some time now) when I saw their email campaign about it last month.  I stayed away from it before because I used to have a trench of the same shape and it just wasn't really flattering on me unless I belted it.  And well, this trench felt kinda eh as well.

But first the pros:

-The quality of the material is really nice.  It feels durable and it's a nice thick material (which keeps its structure).  I don't think it's water proof but probably water resistant.  

-I like the details of the flap on the front and there's a hook at the collar in the front too (it's styling and details are similar to a Burberry trench that I have)

But the cons:

-It all comes down to fit for me.  I think if you're taller or have longer legs the proportions might work out.  But since I'm short and a pear shape, the A-line shape of the trench seems to add bulk.  I just didn't like the shape of it (which might be a common thing because I see people reselling their Everlane's swing trench on ebay all the time).

I wasn't in love with it (unlike the Everlane's anorak which I adored) and with my limited closet space in the Airstream (and oh man I should take a picture of it because really it's a capsule wardrobe due to the sheer limitation in size), I don't have space for items I don't love.  As usual, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here.

{edit: And I forgot to add, I ordered this in a size small}

Everlane Anorak Review

Last year, when Everlane released their anorak I remember being asked by an Everlane customer service rep at their Open Studio, what I thought about their rain jacket.  And I remember telling her I loved the look of it but I wasn't about to spend $100 on a rain jacket when California was in their third year of a severe drought with no end in sight.  Fast forward a year and this March has been one rain storm after another (one of which water-damaged my Mansur Gavriel).  Well after finding myself wearing my one waterproof Arcteryx jacket (a great jacket but it's a real sporty/outdoorswoman/NorthFace look) a 6th day in a row, I was ready to buy Everlane's anorak (purchased with credits from all you wonderful supportive people who clicked my referral link, thank you so much!)  As soon as it came in the mail I put the jacket on and then proceeded to wear it for another week and half full of rainy weather.  I even wore it throughout my birthday weekend, glamping in the rain (ok I couldn't help myself, I just wanted to share this awesome shot of our Airstream next to some giant redwood trees).

Anyways back to the anorak.  I got a size small and it fits perfectly.  I love love love this jacket.  I think this might be my favorite Everlane item yet.  This baby is fully waterproof and thin enough that I can layer sweaters underneath without getting hot.  The waistband can be cinched with a drawstring so it doesn't look like a potato sack.  The cut of the hem (sort of like coat tails) is also super stylish but practical since it keeps most of the rain off my legs.  The hood is also cut so that it's not just a plain ole' hood (it somehow stays on my head and hoods never stay on my head).  The front can be closed both by zipper or by snap buttons (if you're in a rush).  And the anorak looks great zipped up or worn openly (for when it's not raining).

There's not a bad thing about this anorak and it's probably the most stylish waterproof jacket I've ever owned.  I'm so fully in love with this jacket that I'm okay if California keeps on raining (plus it would really help our farmers out).  As usual, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and Everlane's items (referral link).  

{edit: and more bloggers wearing anoraks here and here)

Everlane Square Silk Shirt Review

Hi guys!  So today I'll be reviewing Everlane's square silk shirt.  You know from my last reviews of Everlane silk shirts here and here, and my general comparison review of Everlane, Equipment and Cuyana silk shirts, that I'm a fan of Everlane's silk tops.  And I think their newest square silk shirt is their best silk shirt so far because I really love how fresh the shape is.  First a word on sizing since Everlane just changed it up by going from S/M/L to actual number sizing (and just when I was beginning to think I figured out how their sizing worked).  Anyway I'm usually a size S for Everlane but a size 4 on top for other brands.  And since this is an oversized shirt but I don't like my tops to be too baggy, I took an educated guess and went with a size 2.  And to me, I thought this size worked out pretty well (for the white/grey I might size up to a 4 because of the sheerness but for the darker colors I think I would stick with a 2).

I got the square silk in the white/grey combo because I thought it would look great for the upcoming spring weather.  I think the sleeves are a great length and the overall cut of the shirt is super flattering (even when tucked in).  

Also I liked that the white/grey shirt had the different bands of silk so it helped break up the blockiness (which isn't as noticeable on the black and navy--sorry not even considering pink, its not really my color)

But in the end I didn't quite love it because it really was quite sheer  (but if you want that black bra, cool silk top combo this is definitely your shirt). If I were to rebuy this silk square shirt again I would go with the navy.  But actually I'm rethinking my whole silk shirt strategy as it is, since dry cleaning is no longer an expense I want to pay (both in dollars and in the environmental sense), nor am I a person to really spend my time hand-washing items regularly, no matter how great it looks or wears.  Sooo lately all I've been wearing are cotton shirts, sweaters and jeans to work (one of the perks of working for yourself).  It's like my college wardrobe all over again except this time I'm wearing Everlane cotton shirts (just bought another U-neck shirt in heather grey the other day) and Everlane cashmere sweaters, so totally an upgrade.

Everlane Modern Ankle Boot and Street Ankle Boot Review

Hi everyone, so today I'll be reviewing Everlane's Modern Ankle Boot and Street Ankle Boot.  If you've read my Everlane Chelsea Boot Review, you know that my biggest gripe about the shoes were that they were cut so high up the leg that it made my short legs look even stubbier.  Well it's as if Everlane heard and came out with two ankle boots just for us short-legged girls!  And both of these ankle boots are a billion times better than the Chelsea boots for so many reasons (which I will enumerate in this post).  But first a note on sizing (which is always a bit tricky with Everlane shoes).  So they say to go a half-size down on their website since these run big, but I've always found their shoes to run a half-size smaller than my usual shoe size (and this is especially true if you have wide-ish feet like I do).  So I just ordered my true size and they fit perfectly!  So I ordered a 7.5 for both the Modern Ankle Boot and the Street Ankle Boot (while I ordered 8 for all other Everlane shoes) and with socks, these boots were super comfortable.  I would even venture to say that these are the most comfortable Everlane shoes I've tried yet.

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First, my favorite of the two is the Modern Ankle Boot.  I love love love this shoe.  It is everything an ankle boot should be!  Clean, simple, and easy to wear.  I loved that they crafted this shoe so that you can't see any zippers or elastic.  You only see the leather since the elastic is hidden between the front and back leather pieces.  This does make getting the shoe off and on a bit difficult but well worth it for the streamlined look.  These boots also came with a simple gray canvas shoe bag, something that the Street Ankle Boots did not have.  These boots look way more expensive than their $195 price tag and this is a classic ankle boot that you can probably wear for years and years.

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As for Everlane's Street Ankle Boot, these boots were also super comfortable and the only reason why this wasn't my favorite was because of my personal style preference.  I tend to like more classic looks than trendier street style looks (but my husband thought these boots were the better looking of the two).  These boots definitely look fresher and more interesting than the Modern Ankle Boots, and were also easier to get on and off due to the wide elastic band near the heel and the pull tab at the back.  The style of these boots looked a lot like the Chelsea Boots but since they are cut at the ankle, the Street Ankle Boots are a lot more flattering (and are a better price at $175).

I love both these boots (well the Modern Ankle Boot more than the Street Ankle Boot), but in all transparency I ended up returning both because I already have a rag & bone pair of black ankle boots (and I don't really need more boots right now due to my downsizing efforts).  But after reviewing these boots, I'm really tempted to buy the Modern Ankle Boots again (they look so good!).  But we'll see since I also moved down to San Jose, for the Elite RV Vacations business, and the climate there is so mild and sunny (more like sandal weather than boots weather).  But if you're in the market to buy a pair of black ankle boots I don't think you can beat the quality for the price of these Everlane boots!  As usual, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and Everlane's items (referral link).  

Everlane Pima Cotton Stretch Shirt Review

Hi everyone!  It's been busy busy here at the Airstream rental garage and with our impending move out of our house.  But of course, I still need to get my Everlane fix so here's a quick review of Everlane's Pima Stretch mid-sleeve shirt.  First a note about the size: I usually wear a size 4 or small on most tops including Everlane.  But this is the first shirt from Everlane where I needed to size up.  These shirts are super fitted (when I wore the small it looked like the top half of a leotard.  And now that I see the shirt on the Everlane model, I'm sure it's not a coincidence that the skinniest of their models is the one wearing this).  Luckily I ordered both a small and a medium and was able to see that though the medium is also quite fitted, it wasn't as Spanx-like as the small.

The pros:

-The Pima cotton is super soft (as expected of Pima from Peru) and the stretchiness of the cotton makes the shirt really comfortable.  The material is thin but seems durable enough.

-I think the scoop neckline and sleeve length are both really flattering.  (Sorry didn't have time to take any pictures, but I'll try!).  Overall the cut is feminine and really flattering (for my more skinny days.  I don't recommend wearing this shirt to go eat a buffet).

The cons:

-Other than the sizing issues, the only real con I think for this shirt is specifically for the white pima shirt: it's super sheer.  I'm sticking to the black and grey colors for this shirt.

Overall, I think these are great shirts and a good alternative to the Everlane cotton V-neck and U-neck shirts I usually wear.  The cut of the Pima shirt is most like the drop-shoulder t-shirt but the Pima version is a lot more fitted and softer.  I'm pretty sure I'll be adding these Pima shirts to my rotation of daily Everlane shirts I wear and I'm excited to see Everlane expanding their network of ethical factories (I always like to scan their factories page and this Peru one sounds exceptional!).  As always, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and Everlane's items (referral link).  Thanks for reading!

Everlane Waffle Knit Turtleneck Review and Marled Chunky Wool Cardigan Review

When I first saw the waffle knit from Everlane, I was really excited.  The knit looked great and so did the shape of the turtleneck.  And I started having visions of looking turtleneck-chic like Anh from 9to5Chic (that girl can rock a turtleneck like no one else).  But the reality when I tried it on was very different from expectation.  Now I wouldn't say it looked terrible or anything, but at the same time I didn't really love it.  Here's a quick rundown (PS these photos were taken around the Anaheim Packing House, which is a super awesome foodie heaven):

Pros:

-The waffle knit is super soft and fairly light-weight but still really really warm.  I hands down love this more than the chunky knit sweaters (which I'm going to review again below but I also had reviewed in the past).

-The style of the sweater is fairly unique with larger, almost "puffy" sleeves and a different knit pattern that hits right around waist level

Cons:

-I just don't think I was made for turtlenecks.  I think my neck might be too short.  When I tried to wear the sweater without rolling down the neck I felt pretty uncomfortable since the neckline was up to my chin.  But when I fold down the neckline it doesn't look that chic.

-At the time I was feeling really chunky in it.  I think it was the whole chunky knits make me look chunkier theory, yet again.  (And with the chunky wool cardigan and Everlane's luxe double knit mockneck and dress that I just reviewed, which all made me feel/look fat I had to take a hard evaluation on my current state of weight gain.  Or in other words, all these Everlane garments made me feel fat and so I had to try on my fat jeans to confirm that even though I'm not at my skinniest, I am not at my fattest either...just yet).

Ta-daa Orange County...

Now I know I've reviewed the Everlane Chunky Knit Cardigan before as well as the Marled Wool Chunky Knit Crewneck, but I thought I would give it one more chance by reviewing the Marled Wool Chunky Knit Cardigan.  And well I still didn't love it enough to keep it.  First off, the black marled wool is a lot scratchier than the grey marled wool I tried out in the crewneck version (and I think it might even be scratchier than the plain grey chunky knit cardigan I also reviewed).  But I think the black marled wool is a more flattering knit and if you have any pilling problems, it probably wouldn't be as noticeable.

Also I ordered both sweaters in a small.  But in the end, I returned both of these items.  Since I'm still in the process of downsizing, I can't afford to keep items I don't absolutely love.  But if I had the luxury of ample storage I probably would have kept the waffle knit since it's so unique and super soft.  Ah well, that's fine since I have a lot more Everlane items coming my way (the street fleece bomber and pants-my first ever pair of pants that I've ordered from Everlane; as well as a couple of the Pima cotton shirts).  As always, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and Everlane's items (referral link).  Thanks for reading!

Everlane Luxe Double Knit Mockneck and Luxe Double Knit Sweater Dress Review

Hi guys!  It's been awhile since my last post, mostly because I've been busy with the new business.  But I've been meaning to review Everlane's Luxe Double-Knit Mockneck and Sweater Dress which were the number 3 and 4 picks from the What Should I Review Next From Everlane poll.  I was actually really surprised when these were the next most popular vote choices because to me I thought both items were kind of meh and well...I'll let you be the judge but I have to say these 2 items were probably my 2 least favorite items I've ever ordered from Everlane.

First up, the Luxe Double-Knit Mockneck.  Now I know I might have gained a few pounds over the holidays and I know I'm not anywhere near skinny, but guys...seriously this sweater made me look like I needed to sign-up for Weight Watchers like yesterday!  I'm usually a size 4 on top and I ordered a small in this top.  The luxe double knit is a medium sized knit, not thin nor chunky but it' definitely quite heavy and warm.  The style of the sweater is pretty unflattering because of the general bagginess and honestly the mockneck made it look like I had no neck.

The Idaho farmer called and he wanted his potato sack back!

Anyway moving on to Everlane's Luxe Double-Knit Sweater Dress.  Of the two Luxe Double-Knit items I would say this was the less potato sack-y of the potato sacks.  Again I got the small (though you couldn't tell by the look of it).  Because of the heft and weight of the knit, this dress felt about as heavy as the chunky knit cardigan.  And here's some poses with the Airstream!

Please excuse the unconventional poses; I'm still trying to find the model within me.  Anyway this dress isn't terrible but definitely not worth the $160 price tag (and can you believe the mockneck was $140?!).  As you can guess both of these were returned to Everlane.  Well even though both of these items were quite disappointing, my love affair with Everlane is still going strong.  I've ordered the waffle knit turtle neck, the chunky knit cardigan in marled wool (the last chunky knit cardigan was in a plain gray so I'm going to see if the marled wool makes a difference), the street fleece bomber and pants so those reviews will be coming soon!

As always, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here.  Thanks for reading!

An Update on my Everlane Sweater and Silk Review and other Everlane items

I got a request for an update on the Everlane items I've reviewed in the past, specifically the one from this Everlane sweater and silk review.  Well from that post I only kept the cashmere sweaters and both the cropped crew neck and regular crew neck cashmere sweaters have been holding up really well.  No real noticeable pilling and I've worn them at least 2 days out of the week for the last couple of months (especially the gray one, which I do feel is the softest of the ones I have).  I probably wear my grey one the most and then the burgundy cashmere sweater.  I don't actually wear the cropped ones (I have the black and light rose donegal in the cropped version) even though I do like the style.  I had a comment from a reader that the the cashmere sweaters wrinkle easily and I do find that if I kind of crumple it in my bag that it does get wrinkled a bit, but nothing that stays permanent.  I just wore it again and it was fine, though I do make sure I fold it and try not to crush it in my bag anymore.  I can't really comment about the silk shirt since I don't wear it too often but it has survived a couple wears and a dry cleaning just fine.

I wear this sweater a lot!  Pilling isn't too terrible.

Another Everlane product I wear constantly is their Modern Point shoes.  I've actually stopped wearing all my other Everlane shoes because this one is hands down my favorite.  I love both the look and the fit.  And I'm thinking of ordering another pair when they eventually restock it (which I'm pretty sure they are since I saw a restocking date sometime in March or April).

Oh, and I'm still using Everlane's Petra Magazine Tote and it's holding up just fine.  There's a bit of a fold where the canvas pockets kind of weigh down on the bag but it's nothing major.  And no stains or color transfer.  

Having gone back through all my reviews, it's interesting to see that though I've tried a lot of items from Everlane I ended up returning a lot of them.  And of those I did keep I only love a handful of items.  But these special few items are on heavy rotation in my wardrobe and they all are holding up great.  As far as I can tell, Everlane is keeping true to their word on quality and I'm excited to see what this new year brings for Everlane.

Everlane Donegal Cashmere Sweater & Marled Wool Chunky Knit Crew Neck Sweater Review

So first I want to thank everyone who has voted so far in my "What to get next from Everlane" poll (the poll is now closed, but I also did a second order that includes the lux double knit dress and lux double knit mockneck so that review coming soon).  The top 2 most voted items were the marled wool crew neck sweater and the donegal sweater.  So that's what I'll be doing a review on today.

First, the chunky wool knit in grey marled.  I never would have ordered this item if it wasn't for the poll because of my whole "chunky knits will make you look chunkier" theory. But I'm so glad you guys voted on this (about a third of you guys) and that I tried it out.  First the marled wool has a beautiful texture and a really tight knit.  I think compared to the chunky knit cardigan I reviewed, the marled chunky knit does feel a little less droopy and heavy (though that could be from the fact that it's a sweater and not a large cardigan).  It definitely feels as warm as the chunky knit cardigan (I wore it for a couple minutes indoors and was immediately feeling a bit toasty).  But what I loved most about this chunky knit sweater was the knit pattern (kind of like a diamond shape in the front and back) and the side slits, which help make the sweater look a little less bulky.  I got a size small and it fit perfectly except for the sleeves which were a bit long (but easy to roll up).  I actually really like this sweater (and so did my husband, who liked this one way more than the donegal sweater I'll be reviewing next).  

I ended up returning it for now because when I purchased the sweater, Everlane was selling it for $110.  But now it's selling for $78 which is a much more tempting price.  I'm thinking of rebuying the sweater at the now reduced price or buying the chunky knit cardigan in marled wool, which is also now selling at a reduced price (it went from $140 to $110).  I guess Everlane decided to cut their margins to help move the merch.  A reader commented that the marled wool chunky knit cardigan might actually look a little more slimming than the grey one I ordered due to both the wool type and the seemingly tighter knit, but I guess the only way I can know for sure is to buy the cardigan in marled wool (should I buy that next too?).

Even before the poll I was itching to try the new donegal wool sweater, especially in light rose.  I ended up getting the cropped cashmere crew because I thought the modern cut would look fresh with the muted color (plus I had already ordered 2 regular crew neck cashmere sweater for my Everlane cashmere review and didn't think I wanted 3). My husband called the donegal wool in light rose a sweater an old lady would wear.  But I think with some high-waisted pants, the cropped donegal sweater looks young and modern to me (I think the donegal is such a fun interesting knit).  But the donegal knit, though sold with all the other cashmere sweaters on Everlane, is not as soft as the pure cashmere sweaters.  The tiny flecks of wool adds texture but is also a bit scratchy.  So if you're looking for the the softest cashmere sweater out there I would recommend a lighter solid color sweater (here's why).  I ordered the small and the fit is like the other cropped cashmere sweater I reviewed: very cropped and slightly boxy.

As always, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and or Everlane's items (referral link).  Thanks for reading!

Everlane Chelsea Boot Review

Today I'll be reviewing the Everlane Chelsea Boots, as requested by a reader.  I originally wasn't interested in getting the Chelsea boots because I'm not really a fan of boots with high ankles.  My legs are short as it is, so a higher ankle tends to make my leg look cut off.  But since I've reviewed all the other shoes from Everlane, including the Modern Point, Street Shoe, and the Modern Loafer I thought I might as well have a complete collection of Everlane shoe reviews.

First, a note on sizing.  The Chelsea boots do have a wider footbed than all their other shoes.  So I went ahead and ordered a 7.5, my usual size.  For all of Everlane's other shoes I ordered an 8 and it fit perfectly.  The 7.5 boots fit well but only if I wore a thin sock.  If you are planning to wear these shoes with thick winter socks I would say go ahead and order a half size larger like you would for all of Everlane's other shoes.

Pros:

- The Chelsea boots are in general really beautiful boots.  The leather is gorgeous, especially in the dark gray that I ordered.  

- The slim ankle makes it easier to wear these under jeans (except for maybe under really tight jeans).  

I really love the shoes, except just not on me (it looks great on the models).  Like I said, I feel like the higher cut isn't flattering for my short legs and thicker calves (as shown in the picture to the right here).

Other cons:

-These boots are really hard to get on and off since you pretty much have to stretch out the elastic on the sides to slide your foot in.  I'm used to boots with zippers so these boots feel like they take extra effort to put on and take off.

-Also, the leather at the top squeezes and rubs against my leg when I walk, which is a bit uncomfortable (but that could just be because my legs calf area is kind of thick).

I was never a Doc Martens kind of gal, but if you are, then these might be the boots for you.  They are definietly sleeker and more modern than Doc Martens but they kind of remind me of that kind of shoe (maybe just the high ankle and the tab in the back?).  Anyway these are beautiful shoes but just not for me!

Like all my other reviews, this review is done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Find all my Everlane reviews here.  Thanks for reading!

Everlane Boxy Striped Tee Review

Just a super quick review today for those interested in Everlane's boxy striped tee. I purchased the white/black version quite awhile back and I really liked it.  I ended up purchasing an XS in this because it looked so big, and it fit perfectly.  I'm usually a small in everything else Everlane, and about a size 4 in J.Crew/Gap.

Pros:

-The length is perfect.  The front is a little shorter than the back so it looks cropped but you have some coverage in the back

-The heavy weight cotton is perfect for layering under a jacket during the winter months.

-The 3/4 sleeves are the perfect length for the look.

Con:

- The tee is quite boxy so it's going to be an oversized look.

Above images from Kate and Grechen.  Check out Grechen's review of the striped tee and another review here.

In the end though I returned it because I already have too many striped shirts.  See exhibit A below: {true, you can argue that you can't have too many striped shirts but you can have too many clothes for an airstream}

But I would say if you don't have too many striped shirts yet, this one is a great option.  As usual, this review was done on items I've purchased myself and is not sponsored (though yesterday I got $30 from Everlane for giving them some feedback over email, but I haven't spent that yet.  Yay for my first credits from Everlane!).

Everlane Chunky Wool Knit Sweater Review

I didn't immediately order the chunky wool knit because I'm just not a fan of chunky knits.  I tend to the think they add extra "chunk" to any preexisting chunkiness.  So I usually stay away from those big knits.  However recently I read some "controversy" (or as controversial as wool knit sweaters can be) about the chunky knit on Grechen's Closet (especially in the comments section) and decided I wanted to get in on the action.  The comments go from "it's the coziest sweater ever" (ooh sounds awesome) to "it pills terribly" (damn that's too bad) to "Everlane customer service is  inconsistent" (which I've heard numerous times, but I think Everlane is just trying to empower their customer service peeps to make their own calls.) 

So I got the Chunky Wool Knit cardigan...

What do you think?  I personally think it's quite a bit unflattering on me.  But the sweater is really cozy and comfy (and quite heavy).  I ordered a size small here and the sleeves fit perfectly.  I know this is meant to be an oversized sweater but I'm not sure I'm feeling it.  

If you're not aware, the "controversy" is the fact that last year's chunky knit (which Everlane boasted sold out in 72 hours) unfortunately had a crazy pilling problem.  Though Everlane has said that this year due to the many complaints they used a tighter knit and longer fibers to try to prevent the pilling problem.  Take this how you will, but as I was trying on the sweater I already noticed a pill and I'm not sure if that was from trying it on or just a remanent during the production process.  Anyway, pilling issues aside, I'm leaning towards a "no" on this one just because I don't really like how it looks on me.

Here are some other opinions on the chunky wool knit: here,  here, and here.  The last link is for Grechen's blog (which if you haven't already noticed, I'm a huge fan of and am constantly linking to her review posts) and she was gifted an Everlane chunky knit this year so maybe she can do an update on the future on whether or not this year's version has the same problems as last year's.  Unless y'all think I should keep the cardigan?

As always, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and or Everlane's items (referral link).  Thanks for reading!

Everlane vs. Equipment vs. Cuyana Silk Comparisons Review

I'm not sure how useful the Everlane cashmere vs. JCrew cashmere review was, but I really enjoyed learning a little bit more about the source and production of the materials of the clothes I buy.  And Everlane makes it even more interesting because of their radical transparency and thus their willingness to give consumers a lot of details.  So today I'm doing a silk comparison post as well.

{I read an older review post the other day on my phone and realized that these posts look really really long.  So long, I'm not sure I would even read it.  So for those who are in a time crunch here is the tl;dr version of this post: Everlane silk shirts are better than Equipment silk shirts.  But Cuyana silk shirts can't really be compared with either of the Everlane or Equipment shirts because it's a totally different kind of silk.  Whether you like Cuyana over Everlane or vice versa is a personal choice--and mine is Cuyana).  The details on how I got to this verdict below:

Cuyana silk shirt, Everlane silk shirt, Equipment silk shirt

First a little background on silk:

-Momme is a special weight measurement used for high quality fabrics and is used to indicate the heft and weight of the fabric. Higher momme weight means that more silk was used in the production of the fabric.

-The standard momme weight for silk ranges from 12-19.  Silk with a momme weight from 16-19 is usually considered high quality.  And anything 19-22 in momme weight is about the best of the best (momme=mm).

-Silk cloths also have a thread count and should be greater than 400.

-There is silk made from wild worms (usually Shantung or Tussah silk) and it's courser and more beige than cultivated silk which is smoother and whiter.  When you think silk, you're most likely thinking of silk from cultivated worms (like these 3 shirts).

-There are several types of silk: chiffon (the billowy one), china silk (also called habotai, about 5-12mm), and crepe de chine (12-15mm).

sources: 1, 2, 3

Bottom left is Everlane, bottom right is Equipment and top is Cuyana.

Now to compare the silk from Everlane and the silk from Equipment.  The silk of both shirts felt fairly similar--the type of silk that feels a little more velvety but thin.  Equipment doesn't give us any information about their silk, except we know it's made in China (from the tag).  Everlane's silk shirts also come from China (Hangzhou to be precise) and their silk is 16mm crepe de chine.

The only difference between Equipment and Everlane silk is the color.  Though both shirts are black, the Equipment one is not a true black, it's more of a gray.  But of course the biggest difference is the price.  I purchased the Equipment blouse for $208 while the same shirt from Everlane is $78.  With the same quality silk but at a much better price it's kind of a no brainer to go with Everlane over Equipment (on top of that Everlane does awesome things like give back to this silk factory in Hangzhou.  They funded the construction of solar panels so that the 240 workers who live and work at the factory can have hot showers.  Everlane was able to do this through their Black Friday Fund}.

Cuyana, Everlane, Equipment

From the pictures, you can clearly see that the Cuyana silk is quite different from both the Everlane and Equipment silk shirts.  It's a much darker color, but it's also of a much heavier weight.  Their silk shirts are made in the USA from 22mm crepe de chine.  That means a lot more silk went into the production of this shirt and you can tell.  It feels a lot more durable.  I love this silk shirt so much I'm considering getting this one in white (I feel like most white silk shirts are really sheer, but since this one is so much thicker it will probably be quite a bit more opaque).  But for more than twice the price (at $175) of an Everlane silk shirt, the Cuyana silk shirts are definitely more of an investment piece (best for those who truly believe in Cuyana's motto: Fewer, better things).  Still it's cheaper than Equipment shirts.  {Moral of the story here, no one should be buying Equipment shirts when there's so many better options around.}

So my final verdict: Everlane > Equipment; but Cuyana stands apart.  If I could only choose one?  It would be Cuyana.

Here's another blogger's review of Everlane and Equipment silk shirts and another blogger's review of Cuyana's silk shirts.  I purchased all items in this review for myself and this post is not sponsored, but if you'd like to help me purchase more Everlane items here's a referral link.  Thanks for reading!

{edit: I add Grana's silk into the mix in a Grana vs. Everlane vs. Cuyana silk review}

Cuyana Silk Tee and Scoop Tee Review with a comparison to Everlane's Silk and Cotton Tees

So now you all know I'm moving from 2500 sqft. to 250 sqft. next year (details here), so you would think that I've completely stopped acquiring things, especially clothes.  And I will...slowly... but I can't just quit cold turkey.  Plus I have some left-over store credit that I need to use up before I become technically home-less (though I'll be trailer-full).  Well that's what I was telling myself when I purchased a couple more items from Cuyana.  (I did a review of the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote).

If you haven't heard of this brand, I sometimes think of it to the older sister of Everlane.  Their clothes are a little less trendy and I think for a more refined crowd.  Their motto is "Fewer, Better" which is a bit different from Everlane's "Radical Transparency", yet both companies believe in quality items sourced and produced in a responsible manner.  Oh and Cuyana costs a bit more too.  Cuyana's silk tee runs you $155 while a comparable one from Everlane is about $75.  Cuyana's cotton tee is $40 while Everlane's is $15.  Those numbers alone would tempt some just to stick with Everlane (especially since what they're doing is not only socially responsible but their products are also really quite fantastic).  But Cuyana deserves an honest test-drive as well.

And this is what I thought: (also for those who are interested in the sizing of Cuyana's cothes, I am about a size 4 or small in most tops and I would say the sizing is pretty comparable to Everlane- ie an Everlane small is about the same as a Cuyana small).

First up is the Cuyana scoop neck tee.  I really love the fit of this shirt.  The scoop neck is just-right in that it's not so wide that you flash everyone with your bra when you bend forward.  Also, the sleeves are the perfect length.  And finally the shirt isn't cropped, but it's not too long either (it's hard to tell because the model has the shirt tucked-in on all the shots, but the shirt ends right below the waistband).  For a better idea, Everlane's shirts in a small are about 24 inches from shoulder to bottom hem while Cuyana's is 22 inches.  The material is also super soft, softer than Everlane's cotton shirts.  And that's because Cuyana's are made from 50% modal and 50% pima cotton.  (Also did you know modal is just another way of saying rayon?  I didn't because I never really bothered to know more about my clothes until recently).  So that means the care for this shirt requires laying flat to dry.  But I really don't have space anywhere to lay them dry.  Also this tee is $40, which is over double of Everlane's cotton tees.  So my overall verdict is to stick with Everlane for their tees (edit: but to be clear, it's mostly due to my preference for a no-hassle shirt that I wouldn't get too upset about if I got it dirty-which happens to my shirts all the time).

Everlane silk tee on left and Cuyana silk tee on right

But if I were to choose Cuyana or Everlane when it comes to the silk department, my vote goes to Cuyana's silk tee in black (in small).  I love love love it!  The silk feels amazing and is totally different from Everlane's silk.  This silk material is of a heavier weight and feels more durable.  It reminds me of the kind of silk that kimonos are made of (I know that's not super helpful, but I really don't know too much about silk).  It's hard to describe the difference, but I plan to write a more in-depth post about the different kinds of silk and compare the silk from Everlane, Equipment, and Cuyana.  As for the shirt itself, the cut is really flattering.  I like the extra length in the back and also the sleeves, which I didn't think I would like because it almost looks like cap sleeves.  But the sleeves are cut a little longer so it actually looks quite flattering (still hides any flabby triceps, though I like how the Everlane silk tees have a longer sleeve overall).  For almost double the price, the Cuyana silk tee might seem like less of a value than Everlane's silk tee.  However the silk tee from Cuyana is of a higher quality and seems like it would last longer.  If your goal is truly to have fewer but better clothes then Cuyana's silk tee is the better choice.

So I would say give Cuyana a chance, especially when it comes to their silk items and their leather goods.  Those items are truly made with a higher quality and are worth the extra dollars if you plan to use these items for years and years.  Like all my reviews, I purchased items for myself and have not been paid for any of my opinions.

{edit if you're looking for more silk reviews there's the first one- Everlane vs. Equipment vs. Cuyana silk review; and the second one- Grana vs. Everlane vs. Cuyana silk review}

Everlane $100 Cashmere Sweater and Silk Review

{Oct 2016 edit: Hi guys just so you know I've done a bunch of reviews on Everlane items (and many many of their sweaters) and you can find them all on my Everlane Reviews post here.}

Recently Everlane released a bunch of new sweaters and sweatshirts so I thought it was about time to do another sweater review (and like my other Everlane sweater and silk shirt review, I'm adding the one stray silk shirt that I purchased along with the sweaters).  Today I'll be reviewing Everlane's Sweater Tee, the Everlane scuba sweatshirt, the Cashmere Cropped Crew, the regular Cashmere Crew, and the Modern Silk Point Collar.   

I reviewed Everlane's Chunky Wool Knit cardigan separately here.  And I reviewed the Everlane Donegal Wool Sweater here.

Like the other reviews, I'll be listing what I have, a quick note about quality, and what size I wear (I'm usually a size 4 or small on top, size 2 at places like GAP or sometimes Jcrew){note: I like my sweaters on the looser side, so if you are fit and like them fitted I say size down}:

The Everlane Sweater Tee is made of a thin material that's cotton, nylon and wool.  It looks like it might be a cool sweater but the material feels itchy and the fit is way oversized (I ordered a small and it felt like a large).  Not comfortable and not flattering.  So I sent it back.

I also didn't have much success with the scuba sweatshirt.  I ordered it in a size XS (though I usually wear a small in most Everlane clothes) because the sweatshirt already looked a bit oversized.  Well it was.  The XS felt like a large and I felt like a football player wearing this sweatshirt--not flattering at all.  Another return.

But the $100 cashmere crew sweaters are a different story.  I purchased both the regular crew neck as well as the cropped crew neck versions of their cashmere sweaters.  And I loved them both.  A lot.  In fact I'm debating on ordering another one after I did my Everlane vs. J.Crew Cashmere Sweater Comparison Review (I'm thinking of getting the light gray in the regular crew neck).  {P.S. Thanks Grechen from grechenscloset for the heads up, I forgot to add the sizes I got in these.  I got a small for both the cropped and regular crew neck cashmere sweaters.  And if you're curious on how much shorter the cropped version is here are the measurements: the regular sweater is 23.5" from shoulder to bottom hem while the cropped version is 19.5" from shoulder to bottom hem in the front and the back (which is a bit longer) is 22". }

So why did I love these sweaters so much?  Well first the price point.  I think for grade A quality cashmere, $115-$125 is a pretty fair price.  If the quality is as good as they say it is, then these sweater should last me a long time.  Also I love the fit on both of the crew neck styles.  The cropped version is perfect for a pair of high-waisted jeans or pencil skirt.  Or you could also layer it over a collared shirt.  A little trendy, but a great look for anyone who has short legs like me. 

whowatwear.com and vivaluxury

On the other hand, the regular crew neck style is a classic look that will never go out of style.  I'm tempted to buy more of these sweaters though in reality I'm not sure how often I would wear them.  These sweaters are 2-ply or 3-ply cashmere (I detail all the differences in my cashmere review), and so they are super thick and warm.  Which is great for the winter...except indoors and outdoors when it's windy (the soft cashmere doesn't stand a chance again that biting SF wind).  So I guess it's best worn as a layer under a jacket.  Well we'll see.  And I'll get back to you on how often I end up wearing these, when, and how the cashmere stands up.

And finally I purchased the Modern Silk Collar shirt (in small) awhile ago and never had a chance to review it.  Now I see they have more silk tops, and I tempted to get the long-sleeve collar-less version.  I reviewed the sleeveless version of their silk top before and I loved it.  The silk felt thick and durable and the fit was great.  I would say the Modern Collar shirt is also a high-quality silk shirt with a great fit.  Here's another blogger's review of Everlane's silk and cashmere selection from last year.  And if you're looking for more info on the chunky wool sweater, here's a year later review from Grechen's closet (the short story: it looks like last year's chunky wool pilled a lot, but Everlane has fixed the problem for this year's sweaters).

Like all my other reviews, this review is done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Find all my Everlane reviews here and you can purchase all Everlane items here (a referral link).  Thanks for reading!

Update: I got a request for an update so here's the link to how my Everlane clothes are holding up.

Comparison Post: J.Crew Cashmere vs. Everlane Cashmere {Updated January 2022}

Everlane sweater on the left, J.Crew on the right.  A little promotional cashmere test tube from Everlane in the middle.

I'm a cashmere newbie.  Yes, I've had cashmere sweaters before but I never really took a hard look at my cashmere.  At least until this fall, when I coincidentally purchased 2 cashmere sweaters at the same time: one from J.Crew and one from Everlane.  These 2 black sweaters could not be more different, and yet both are made from 100% cashmere and both are made in China (and both were at a great price point, though the J.Crew one was on sale).

First, how these 2 sweater cousins differ:  The J.Crew Sweater is made of very thin cashmere.  It feels delicate and soft, but not very warm.  But the Everlane sweater is much thicker and bulkier.  I feel very warm, bordering on hot, when I wear it.  And the Everlane sweater feels ever so slightly scratchier than the J. Crew one (just a tiny bit).  Both are brand new so I don't know how much pilling would occur (I'll try to post an update later).

So after some research, I've learned:

-All cashmere is technically hair from the underbelly of a goat (usually Mongolian).

-Cashmere starts to differ in terms of quality of fibers: the cashmere fibers range from 0.8 - 2.5 inches long and have to be less than 19 microns in diameter (finer cashmere are 14 microns or smaller).  The best fibers are long and thin.  Thicker fibers are used as part of cashmere blends and shorter fibers causes pilling when they break.

-Fibers are graded as A (14-15.5 microns & 1.3-1.4 inches long), B (bigger than 19 microns in diameter), or C (30 microns in diameter). The thinner the fiber, the better the quality and the more expensive the product.

-Cashmere garments can come as 1-ply, 2-ply, or 3-ply.  1-ply is the thinnest and wears out the fastest but the 3-ply can sometimes be too warm, especially for indoor wear.

-Lighter cashmere sweaters tend to be softer because dying fibers a dark color tends to make the fibers stiffer.

So to apply this to my 2 different sweaters: I don't know what the fiber is like on the J.Crew sweater, but I'm pretty sure it's 1-ply.  That's why it's so thin.  If I were to wear this sweater often, I'm sure I would start to see pilling sooner rather than later (plus take a look at the picture, the J.Crew sweater on the right is a gray color though it's supposed to be black) .  But I do like the fact that I can easily layer it to wear indoors.  On the other hand, the Everlane sweater is definitely a 2 or 3-ply material.  And because it's Everlane, we know some of the details about its production.  They say they use Grade A fibers that are 15 microns and 30mm long (that's about 1.12 inches).  Yes, that fits the Grade A criteria for diameter though about 3mm less in length.  So that explains why it's priced so reasonably.  It's not a big difference, but for luxury items an extra mm or 2 (or more) puts it in a hugely different price point. {January 2022 edit: This is a loooong overdue edit but I have to say that Everlane cashmere cannot be more than 1 ply either. Since this is not a luxury cashmere product and it feels like a standard conventional fashion cashmere sweater, I’m guessing that it’s a 1 ply sweater that uses decent cashmere fibers. I now have a cashmere sweater from The Row, which feels thicker and more luxe (and I’m guessing this is what a thicker ply feels like). If you’re looking for a classic cashmere sweater that’s a tad more luxe-feeling than the Everlane sweater I highly recommend looking at Quince’s baby cashmere sweaters.}

So my final verdict: I'm fairly certain that my Everlane cashmere sweater is well worth it for $115-$125 but I'm not sure how often I would wear it since it's almost too warm to wear indoors.  

If you want more information, these are the sites I used to learn my cashmere facts: a newspaper article, a how-to site, and cashmere.com.

Also if you guys are looking for an actual review of the sweater (and not just the material) along with sizing info check out my new Everlane Fall 2015 Sweater and Silk Review and for 2016 I have all my Everlane reviews here including most of all the new sweaters Everlane has debuted.

Like all my other reviews, this review is done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Thanks for reading!

{Edit: After some thought I've decided to sell the JCrew sweater and instead buy an Everlane cashmere sweater in gray--I'm hoping my research is right and the softest sweater will be the light grey one!} {update: yes I bought and yes I love my gray cashmere sweater.  It's marginally softer than the black one, or it could just be in my head}.

{Also Grana's cashmere is equivalent to Everlane's and better than J.Crew's}

Everlane Modern Zip Backpack Mini Review

Instagrams from @briannasharm, @zoey_bloom, @takemeafk, @levoleague, @lifewithleroy, @marapparks, @haileymoon, @missandiemercado

In all honesty, I'm not really a backpack person.  But if my goal is to review all things Everlane (find all my Everlane Reviews here), then I would be remiss not to even try out their popular modern zip backpack.  In general I'm a fan of most of Everlane's accessories, like their Petra Tote and their various shoes (Everlane Modern Point, Modern Loafers, and Street Shoes).  But long story short, I'm not as much of a fan of their Modern Zip Backpack.

I purchased the Modern Zip Backpack in mini.  The mini isn't that much smaller than the large.  It's only about 0.25" less in width and about 2" shorter in height (measures 11.5"L x 6"W x 15"H).  But compared to the large modern zip, the mini doesn't come with outside side pockets or a laptop pocket inside.

But here are the things I did like about this backpack:

-the style is simple but gorgeous.  I love the contrasting black leather with white zippers and light colored canvas (the color I purchased is called Stone and it's the lightest of the bunch).  

-the backside and straps are lightly padded, as all backpacks should be, to make for a comfortable fit

But this is why I ended up returning the backpack:

-the backpack felt like there was more style over substance.  I tried wearing it with various heavy books inside, and it just doesn't feel as sturdy as my favorite Fjallraven backpack (but to be fair, Fjallraven is meant to be "durable gear").

-the mini size, like I mentioned above doesn't come with a laptop compartment inside or outside side pockets to hold water bottles (it only comes with the larger size), which I feel like are necessary on all backpacks (so really, I would say with the minimal size difference, but great difference in features it might make more sense to just buy the larger size instead of the mini).

-these are minor annoyances but because the straps are part canvas, adjusting the straps are a bit difficult (and impossible while wearing the backpack.  I guess I'm just used to being able to adjust the straps while wearing it because I grew up doing that with my Jansport backpacks with their nylon straps).  Also, the square zip pocket in the front is hard to open and close quickly because of the pocket corners and also the zipper isn't the smoothest.

I think if you're looking for a stylish backpack that's more form over function, this will work just fine for you.  I think for me, if I'm going to be wearing a backpack, over say a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag or lady bag, then I really need to carry quite a lot of things.  And this is why stylish backpacks just aren't my style.  For this reason I probably won't be doing an Everlane Petra Backpack review.

Other reviews of the modern zip backpack (all on the larger size): review of the large modern zip, review on reddit, and another review about the larger size.

For my other Everlane reviews the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored).

Madewell Transport Tote vs. Cuyana Classic Leather Tote vs. Mansur Gavriel Tote vs. Everlane's Petra and Day Market Tote {Updated January 2021}

I was unfortunately not able to compare these two very similar totes side by side since I ordered the Madewell Tote first, didn't care for it so returned it and then purchased the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote.  But here are some of the similarities and differences I noticed between the two bags (also you can read a whole reddit forum discussion here).

First the dimensions: The Madewell Transport Tote (in black, with tan handles) measures 14.25(h) x 14.25(L) x 6(w) inches with a 8.25 inch strap drop.  The Cuyana Classic Leather Tote measures 13(h) x 18(L) x 5(w) inches with a 9 inch strap drop.  So the Cuyana tote is a a little shorter, but a lot wider.  However, since the leather on the Cuyana bag is so soft and smooshy, it's quite easy to fold in the sides a bit to make it less wide (like the picture below).

source

Though the totes are really similar, here are the reasons why I think the Cuyana tote is better:

-First off, the leather on the Cuyana tote is amazing.  It's super soft and smells wonderful. The smell reminds me of the leather of Balenciaga bags, even though the textures of the leather are different.  The leather on the Madewell tote is stiff and feels and smells like cheap leather.

-The difference in the leather is probably due to the fact that the Cuyana tote is made in the US while the Madewell tote is made in China (plus Cuyana is a brand all about producing top quality items).

-The strap of the Madewell tote is a just a tiny bit shorter, but it can make all the difference when trying to wear a tote bag over the shoulder when wearing a winter coat.  I think the Cuyana bag might fit, while the Madewell tote most definitely wouldn't.  

The Cuyana tote also comes in 3 different variations: the classic, the tall tote and the zippered tote.

So as you can see, my vote clearly goes to the Cuyana tote over the Madewell tote.  But if we were to have a broader discussion about all the totes that I own (including the Mansur Gavriel Tote —reviewed here—and the Everlane tote), I would have to say my favorite is probably the Everlane tote.  I love the smaller shape, the adjustable straps, and the two deep interior pockets with snap closures.  The Mansur Gavriel is good for just piling things in, and it holds its shape really well.  I think in general I'm just not a soft tote kind of gal.  But if I were to choose one, it would definitely be this Cuyana tote.  

Have you guys checked out Cuyana before?  I'm in love with their products and their site

I personally purchased all of these totes and were not paid in anyway to make this review (just trying to help fellow-tote lovers!)

{Feb 2019 update: Things have changed in the 2.5 years since I've written this review.  The leather on the Everlane petra tote stiffened up and became rubbery, which I really disliked so I sold it.  I also did not keep the Cuyana and Madewell totes because in the end I wanted to limit the number of totes in my closet.  I have a friend who used a Cuyana tote consistently for 1.5 years and the strap broke on her.  Also I had the Cuyana Leather Travel Bag for a brief time but also sold it because I found the leather quality on that to be not as great—it was very thick and pebbly.  So what totes am I currently using?  I love my Celine small cabas tote (reviewed here) and my Everlane Day Market Tote (reviewed here—which is very different and better made than the original line of heavy Petra totes IMO even though the leather is of a thinner quality. You can see how the Everlane Day Market Tote wears even after 100 uses here). I also love Cuyana’s Classic Structured Tote since it has an extra layer of microsuede on the inside to allow the bag to stand up on it’s own and make the bag overall less floppy. If I were to get a tote bag to replace my Celine one I would probably go for this one. However if you’re in the market for a lightweight, slightly floppy tote then Cuyana’s Classic Leather tote is the one for you.}

P.S. My friend has Cuyana’s small Carryall tote in stone and has been using it almost daily for at least 4 years. The long crossbody strap broke in year 2, but the bag itself is still going strong, which I think is a good testament to the quality of the leather Cuyana uses as well as it’s durability (well except for the strap). She replaced the strap but here she is modeling her very well used Cuyana tote for me: (also she’s tiny so the small bag looks huge on her fyi)

{January 2021 update: For those of you guys on a budget, Quince (also known as onequince) has some very similar totes for about half the price. Quince is an ethical company that contracts with the factories directly in small batches at the best possible prices (thus also preventing waste by not overproducing a certain item). My review of the Quince leather tote is here (where I also compare it to Cuyana’s leather). I would say Quince’s tall tote is like Cuyana’s structured tall tote and not the floppy one I reviewed here. Quince’s selection of totes can be found here. But if you’re looking for something like the Cuyana structure tote, unfortunately they don’t have anything like it anymore.}

Everlane Modern Loafer Review

Everlane, as you know is one of those brands that I like to review. I've done 4 so far: the Everlane  Tote, cotton tees, sweaters/sweatshirts, and the Everlane Street Shoe Review.  But I forgot to review one of my favorites the Everlane Modern Loafer.  I've actually have owned these for months now but they're just not the right shoe for summer.  Now that Fall is right around the corner, this might be the perfect time to review them.  Also Everlane just debuted their Modern Point Shoe yesterday so check those out too!  I'm really tempted to get those as well. {update: I couldn't resist and I ended up buying them!  Find my Everlane Modern Point Shoe Review here.}

{12/2016 edit: You can find all the Everlane shoes I've reviewed interspersed in this list of all my Everlane review here.}

First off, these Everlane loafers come small so order a half size up from your normal size (for reference, I'm a 7.5 in TOMS but in these I had to get an 8; but for the Everlane Street Shoe I had to get an 8.5 or a whole size up).  My feet are a bit on the wider side so when I got the loafers they fit perfectly length-wise but were a bit tight near the front of the foot.  I could have just broken them in over time, but I wasn't willing to put in the pain and time.  So I did some research and found several ways to stretch out the shoes.  The one that I tried and worked really well for me was the freezer method.  This entails using a plastic bag about half full of water (I used double ziploc to ensure there were no leaks and make sure you try to squeeze out all the air) and stuffing it into the front of the shoe as best you can.  I left it in the freezer for about a day to let the ice freeze and stretch out the leather.  The next day, just let the shoe warm up a bit and then remove the bag of ice.  Ta-daa, a stretched out shoe in one day.  This isn't a miracle-worker so don't expect it to be a drastic change, but the leather has some give now so it's a bit more comfortable.  Here are more tips on how to stretch out a leather shoe.

Once I stretched them out, they were the perfect size.  I've received so many compliments about these shoes, especially from some of my more fashionable friends.  So they're now my go-to for occasions when I want to look put together but I don't want to wear heals.

The bottom of the shoes are super slippery and thus a bit dangerous, especially for me since I'm not the most elegant of people.  So I bought some foot petals in clear.  

Now these shoes are perfect!  I can't wait to pair them with some of my Fall sweaters and coats.  For my other Everlane reviews (on sweaters, shirts, and their Petra tote) the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored, but if you'd like to help me purchase more items to review, please use my referral link here).

Anyone else try the modern loafers?  What did you think of the sizing?

{More reviews from other bloggers: Everlane Modern Loafer Reviews here and here.}

{update: just found this on Everlane's Tumblr page comparing their Modern Loafer with J.Crew's new loafers}

{8.7.16 update: So I've had these loafers almost a year now and I didn't actually wear them as much as I thought I would.  I find myself choosing Everlane's modern point over the loafers every time.  And when I try them on again today I find that the leather on these loafers are still quite a bit stiff and squeeze my foot.  So in all transparency I'm going to sell them.}

{12/2016 update: And if you're curious, my favorite shoes of this year (because they are most comfortable and well-made) are the Felize loafers from M.Gemi and the Street Sandals from Everlane}

Everlane Street Shoe Review {updated}

I purchased the Everlane street shoes in chalk a couple weeks ago and I've been wearing them around the house ever since to see how I like them.  

Here's a quick review of these shoes:

-First of all, these run super narrow.  I'm a 7.5 in TOMS but I needed to get an 8.5 in these (I also have Everlane's loafers, which I got in an 8, so these are even narrower than the loafers).

-These shoes are nubuck leather, which means they look great, but the get dirty really easily, especially the chalk color.  But the material is so gorgeous, like velvet.  But I also found that this shoe doesn't stretch out much so if they feel narrow, they'll stay narrow.

-The style: sometimes I look at these and think of Keds, but really they are more stylish than that, especially with the slightly pointed toe.

For my other Everlane reviews (on sweaters, shirts, and their Petra tote) the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored, but if you'd like to help me purchase more items to review, please use my referral link here Thanks!).

{update: I ended up returning them after a spell because for the life of me they weren't comfortable.  The front was way too narrow and stayed narrow.  And because I had to get the larger size to fit my feet, they were a bit too long.  And I apologize to all those who might have tried them out due to my original glowing review of this.  Sometimes I fall in love with style of the shoe but then realize it doesn't fit my real life and I definitely wrote this when I was still in the honeymoon phase with these shoes.}