Everlane Review Wool-Cashmere Waffle Square Crew Sweater and Mid-Rise Skinny Ankle Jean

Hello and welcome to the first Everlane review of 2018!  I rarely combine multiple items in a review but I think I'll save you and I a little time but starting to do combos when necessary (especially for Everlane items because TBH I'm ready to start reviewing other ethical brands).

So first off, this foldover crossbody, also from Everlane, is new to me but I have purchased and reviewed this purse in the past (review here).  But I returned it since the natural leather color, though gorgeous, was a bit to fragile for my liking.  So when I saw Everlane release it in this new beautiful burgundy/oxblood color, I knew this was the purse I was waiting for!

{Wearing: Everlane wool cashmere waffle square crew, Everlane mid-rise skinny jean, Everlane modern points, Everlane foldover cross body}

Ok now onto the new stuff.  So first up is Everlane's wool-cashmere waffle square crew, which I got in XS (this is a size smaller than my usual Everlane size).  I decided to go with the smaller size since the sweater looked quite bulky on the model on the website.  And even with the XS sizing, the sweater felt big and puffy on me (and frankly felt unflattering).  Also something about the collar made me think of a clown collar.  But on Instagram a lot of you actually liked the look of the sweater:

This was one of the few times I think my opinion deviated from you insta peeps.  And I was torn about keeping it or sending it back, but in the end I didn't love it so back it went (I try my best to follow my rule of don't love it, don't keep it).  Also the sweater wasn't as comfortable as my favorite Everlane wool-cashmere sweater from last year (the one that made it on my Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post).  The neck was a bit itchy on this new one and I wonder if it's because they added nylon to the fibers to the trimmings (I'm assuming neckline, hem and sleeves) this year.  Either way I'll be sticking with last year's wool cashmere sweater since it's still got plenty of life left!

I also decided to try out Everlane's mid-rise skinny ankle jeans even though I've sworn off buying any more skinny jeans for the time being.  But I guess I drank too much of the Everlane kool-aid and felt like I needed to at least give them a shot.  Well I gave them a shot and promptly returned them (yep, just reaffirming my need to stop buying skinny jeans).  I got them in my regular size (28) and found they fit TTS.  The ankle length was perfect for my 5'4" frame.  If you're in the market for a pair of skinny jeans, these Everlane ones are not a bad place to start. 

Oh and I also found that at least initially these black jeans are a lot stiffer than their modern boyfriend jeans in mid-blue (which I reviewed here).   It's probably the copious amounts of dye needed to get this jet black color that stiffens the denim.  Anyway I think I'll stick with my decidedly un-skinny Frame denim and Mott & Bow pair that I'm constantly rotating (seriously I'm only rotating between 3 pairs of pants currently and am debating on selling all my other pairs since I'm not wearing them).

Anyway as usual you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here and if you're a first time Everlane buyer I would greatly appreciate your support by purchasing through my referral link here!

P.S. Speaking of the Everlane kool-aid, there's one blogger who's definitely not drinking it anymore.  Grechen certainly gave me some food for thought on her post here!

Everlane Review Lightweight Puffer Jacket

Last week I reviewed Everlane's short puffer jacket (review here), which I loved but at the same time had no practical use for (especially since I already have several puffy winter jackets).  And this week I'm reviewing the other puffer jacket that I ordered, the light weight puffer jacket.

First a note on sizing, I ordered a small here and it fit perfectly.  I would say it runs true to size and would advise sizing up only if you want to layer thick sweaters underneath (but in these pictures I am wearing a tee and Grana's cropped cashmere sweater and everything still fits just fine).

I actually really liked this puffer jacket since it is indeed very lightweight.  The insulation was just the right amount of puffiness and it definitely kept me warm in Tahoe's mid-40-degree weather.  It has zippered pockets that are easy to slip your hands into and the main zipper was alright (though not as heavy duty as the zipper for the short puffer jacket and it was a tad hard to zip up at times).

{Wearing: Everlane lightweight puffer (in small), Frame denim (similar here), Ugg snow boots (similar here)}

This jacket really reminded me of a Northface jacket, just sans branding (which I prefer).  I only wish it did come with a hood since I would normally wear a jacket like this in the rain and a hood would be useful.  

I think this would be a great alternative to a traditional NorthFace jacket if you're in the market for one.  However, I already have a jacket very similar to this one from Arc'teryx (this Atom Hoody jacket) which I bought several years ago and love.  So I'm not in the market for another lightweight puffy jacket, thus I ended up returning this one.  {Quick note about the differences between the Everlane puffer and the Arc'teryx one: Everlane uses a Primaloft filler while Arc'teryx uses Coreloft and from what I can tell the Coreloft is lighter and more compact but is just as warm if not warmer.  But then again the Arc'teryx jacket is over double the price of the Everlane one.}

Anyway like I said, if you're in the market for a new lightweight puffer, this ethical option is a really good one (as long as you don't mind that there's no hood).  But if you already have one, there's no need to go out and buy this one.

As usual this Everlane review is not sponsored and I am only able to do these reviews because of your support-purchases through my referral link (thank you!).  You can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

Everlane Review The Oversized Blazer

Hi guys, so some of you have asked about Everlane's oversized blazer, and I apologize for how long it took me to finally get this review up (it was a combo of Everlane's shipping time + the backlog of other reviews I had on my list).  But luckily it's still available so for those of you who are still interested, you can still snag it online.

So back when I was working a 9-5 job as a clinical study coordinator, I was actually known as the blazer girl.  My concept of 'professional' equated to blazers, so I basically wore one every day of the week.  I had about 10 blazers to rotate from, mostly from Zara with a couple Helmut Lang ones thrown in.  When I quit that job to do this Airstream biz, I got rid of all my blazers except one from Helmut Lang like this one (which you never see me wear because I never wear blazers anymore).  So I was a tad reluctant to even try this blazer since I know I don't wear them anymore.  But since I got several requests, I thought I would give it a shot.

When I first got it, I did a little poll and you guys were divided about it:

(sorry for the blurry pic)

Here's a much better picture of it:

{Wearing: Everlane Oversized Blazer, Grana Pima tee, Grana distressed cropped jeans, Everlane Day Heels, and Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite bag}

Please excuse the hideously oversized jeans I'm wearing, and I know I could have styled these better with skinny or straight legged jeans.  Anyway I actually really liked the blazer.  The blazer is made from a really high quality wool, while the inside polyester lining keeps it from being itchy.  The blazer had a good weight to it and actually feels more expensive than its $150 price tag.  The gray herringbone is very much on-trend for the season.

Now a very important note about sizing.  After discussing the sizing of this blazer with reader Ashley, I knew that the fit was super super oversized.  So I went down 2 sizes from my usual Everlane size (I'm usually a 4 and went down to a 0 here)!  And I think it actually worked out.  It was a smidge snug around the shoulders (I wouldn't be able to layer a sweater underneath this), but I had no problems buttoning it up and the sleeves are the right length.

I think if you're looking for a blazer from an ethical brand, this one is a really good option (just size down one to two sizes).  As for me, my blazer days are over.  One of the perks of working for yourself is you pretty much get to wear what you want.  So I'll be sticking to my tee, jeans, and sweaters and I'll leave the blazers to you professionals.

{Thank you to all first-time Everlane customers who purchase through my referral link here.  It is because of you I am able to review so many Everlane items!}

P.S. I know this isn't Everlane related just yet but I read this really exciting article about Eileen Fisher and their clothing recycling program.  I have yet to buy something from them but I think they might be in my future!

Everlane Review Short Puffer Jacket

Hi y'all and how's this for a backdrop for my Everlane review photos?  This was taken on our last trip to South Lake Tahoe, which I thought would be a perfect place to try on the two puffers I purchased from Everlane, and yep both kept me cozy despite the wintery temperatures.  

So when I first got this Short Puffer Jacket and polled you guys on Instagram, most of you guys gave it a thumbs down.  And I can see why.  It's quite an oversized square fit that just makes me look pretty wide on top.  I'm wearing a small here (my usual Everlane size) but I think I could have gotten away with an XS.  However because it's a bit large I can comfortably fit a sweater underneath should I need it.  In these pictures I'm wearing Grana's cropped cashmere sweater.

I actually really love this short puffer.  The material is waterproof but not shiny and slippery (it's quite matte).  The Primaloft filling is lightweight but does it's job well of keeping you warm.  There are angled pockets that are lined with a fleece-like material to keep your hands warm.  The zipper is super heavy duty and easy to zip.  There's an inner snap pocket large enough for my 7+ iPhone and there's inner cuffs at the sleeves to keep the cold air out.

I didn't personally test out how waterproof the jacket was since I didn't want to get it wet if I wasn't sure I was going to keep it.  But I did see Everlane's promo insta-story where they took it up to Canada and had it floating in an icy lake.  So I trust that it's quite waterproof.  

{Wearing: Everlane short puffer (in small), Frame denim (similar here), Ugg snow boots (similar here)}

So the only thing holding me back from keeping this jacket is the fact that since it's a short puffer, even if I'm toasty up top, my butt and legs will be still exposed to the cold.  That's why when I buy winter jackets I usually get the long version.  And I know Everlane has their own long puffer, but then I would have 3 long winter jackets (plus their long puffer looks like it'll dwarf my short stature).  And I'm not sure I really need that many long winter jackets seeing as how I live in California (my other 2 winter jackets stay in my closet in Tahoe).

What do you think?  Should I keep it?

Everlane Review The Cashmere Sweatshirt

Hi guys and another Everlane cashmere sweater review for you today, or more accurately it's a sweatshirt I guess.  When I tried Everlane's waffled cashmere (review here), which is still my favorite, I saw they had this sweatshirt available (I think as part of their cashmere lounge wear collection) and I ordered while I was still in a haze of Everlane cashmere love.  And well unfortunately it's nothing like the waffled cashmere sweater and I'm not in love at all with this one.  And the majority of you guys agreed:

Thanks to everyone who voted.  I love asking you guys on Insta-stories what you think of all the things I try.  It's like getting a second opinion from a trusted friend.

Anyway I returned this cashmere sweatshirt because not only was it an unflattering fit (as most sweatshirts are) but the collar was super tight and even though this is made of cashmere, it gave me a slight itchiness around the neck (I just looked and it's because the trimmings are 9% nylon and 1% elastane along with cashmere).  I did find that if I rolled the bottom hem under, it did make the sweatshirt look a tad more flattering.  But for $150, your money is better spent on their regular cashmere sweater or for $5 more get the waffled one.

{Wearing: Everlane Cashmere Sweatshirt, COS pants, Everlane Modern Oxfords, Loewe Hammock bag}

As for sizing, I got this in my usual Everlane size of small.

So anyways, unless you're really going to spend big bucks lounging in cashmere, I would advise to pass on this sweatshirt.  Also I've tried cashmere sweatpants before (from Grana) and found that it's just too hot to wear that indoors and pretty impractical to wear outdoors (especially if it's rainy or windy).  

Have any of you guys tried cashmere loungewear and what did you think?

Oh and happy Thanksgiving (to my fellow Americans).  I am so grateful for all you guys who support me with your comments, questions, and purchases through the blog!  Thank you thank you thank you!

Everlane Review The Italian GoWeave Easy Pant

When I saw these Everlane GoWeave Easy Pants I immediately thought of my favorite Grana silk ankle pants (reviewed here) since they both have that easy silhouette and that ever-expanding elastic waistband perfect for the buffet line.  I decided to order a pair in what's quickly becoming my go to color of this season, navy (get ready for lots and lots of navy folks).  

First a note on sizing: I ordered a size 4, which is the smaller of my two usual sizes (I'm usually between a 4 and 6 on the bottom).  And the 4 fit perfectly.  The pants fit just right at the hips and waist with some room to spare.  So these definitely run a tad large.  Of course the pants were a tad long for my short legs (I'm 5'4" but my legs are more like that of a person who's 5'1").  What do you think? 

{Wearing: Everlane waffle knit cashmere square crew (reviewed here), Everlane GoWeave Easy Pant, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here).}

I don't think it looks bad at all.  And if I worked at an office I would most likely have kept the pants and worn them often.  But since I work in a garage, the most practical pair of pants for me are jeans (especially since these easy pants are dry clean only, which is not so easy IMHO).  Also these pants are 100% wool so they'd be better suited for those AC-blasting offices.  

I have to say, of all the various GoWeave trousers I've tried from Everlane (like this one and this one), these are the clear winner.  Also I only just recently noticed but there's a big difference between Everlane's Japanese GoWeave (made from triacetate) and their Italian GoWeave (made from 100% wool).  Also the Japanese GoWeave should be hand-washed and not dry cleaned while the Italian versions are dry clean only.  Oh and just to note, if you're sensitive about itchiness from 100% wool items, then these might not be for you since there is a very slight itch to these pants.

Overall I'm really loving this head-to-toe Everlane office look, and I think Everlane is really stepping up their design game (quite possibly because of the former Creative Director for COS, Erica Bay who unfortunately left the company in February of this year.  But that's more than enough time for her to have put some good designs into the works for Everlane).

Anyway if you're an office worker looking for something easy (but don't mind dry-cleaning), then these pants might be for you!  And you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

Everlane Review Modern Boyfriend Denim Jeans

Ok so I have to admit that as much as I love Everlane, I'm not in love with their new and much heralded denim collection.  First of all, I have way too many skinny jeans and I think in general I'm kind of over the skinny thing so I stayed away from that silhouette.  Currently I'm loving styles with looser or straight legs and that's why I love my Frame straight leg jeans and my Mott & Bow slim boyfriend jeans so much.  And I was hoping I would love Everlane's Modern Boyfriend jeans the same way, but to be honest I don't.  

For some reason the proportions don't seem right to me.  It could be my short legs, in which case I could just hem it and that might fix my dissatisfaction.  But my real qualm with these jeans is the crotch area.  For some reason it balloons out a bit and at the same time there's a V-fold right at the crotch.  And I'm pretty sure it's not a size issue since the jeans fit perfectly at the waist.  I also noticed the ballooning effect on Andrea and Jamie, which makes me think it's the jeans and not me.  I think it might be the 10" high-rise waist.

{Wearing: Petit Bateau striped top (similar here, Everlane one here), Everlane Modern Boyfriend denim, Everlane Modern loafer mules, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

Lol the thumbs up was me asking my husband if he liked the jeans.  

As for sizing, I went a size down for these Modern Boyfriends on the advice of other reviews.  I'm usually a size 28 or a 6-ish on the bottom, and I ordered these in a size 27.  Like I said the waist fits just right so I'm pretty sure I got the right size.  Since these jeans are made from 98% cotton and 2% elastane, there's minimal stretch going on.  So while these jeans fit well when standing, it does feel a tad constricting at my natural waist when I sit down, but I'm sure it'll stretch out a bit with wear.  

I'll try hemming these and we'll see if I like them better.  But at the moment I find myself reaching for my Mott & Bow jeans more.  Since the denim on both felt very similar I checked the specs and it looks like both brands use a 98% cotton and 2% elastane mix.  In general I like the mid-rise of the Mott & Bow jeans (reviewed here) and the slightly slimmer legs.  But we'll see, I'll update this review once I hem these Everlane jeans.

Did you guys buy the new Everlane denim and what do you think?

Everlane Review Cotton Long Sleeve V-Neck Crop

Hi guys, happy Wednesday!  So when I ordered Everlane's Cotton Long Sleeve Crew, which I reviewed last week (here), I also decided to try out their Cotton Long Sleeve V-neck Crop.  I usually like their cropped items better since I'm petite with short legs.  However I found their Crew Neck sweater to be slightly cropped and the perfect length, while this V-neck crop was a bit too cropped for me.  This cotton sweater probably would have looked better with Everlane's wide leg cropped pants (or another similarly high-waisted pants).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Long Sleeve V-Neck Crop, rag & bone cutoffs (similar here), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules, Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite}

In the Cotton Long Sleeve Crew review I had mentioned how soft and stretchy their cotton material is, and of course the same holds true for this sweater.  But that's the only thing I liked about this sweater.  I didn't like the cropped length on me nor the super wide v-neck.  Both aspects make it more difficult to layer something underneath.  In the end I returned this sweater and kept the crew neck one.

I'm debating on trying out Everlane's luxe wool crew sweater too since I really love the crew neck style and I've never tried their luxe wool (100% extrafine merino wool) before.  Has anyone bought one?  And what do you think?  Or did you guys buy their $100 cashmere?  This is my third season of Everlane cashmere and I'm debating whether I should buy another one.  If I do it would be this crew neck one in the donegal pattern (update: of course it's now all sold out in my size so maybe I'll pass on the cashmere this year afterall).

P.S. I actually just bought the waffled cashmere because it's a new offering from Everlane this year and because it's waffled cashmere!  I'll try to get a review up as soon as I get it, which will probably be in a couple weeks since I'm also hitting the road again in our Airstream this week for the next 2 weeks.  Follow along on my Insta-story to see all the places we go on our roadtrip!

Everlane Review Cotton Long Sleeve Crew {Updated November 2018}

I purchased this Everlane Cotton Long Sleeve Crew quite awhile ago, thus unfortunately most of the size and colors are currently gone (well this pink one is gone-gone but you can sign up for the waitlist on the other colors).  So I apologize for waiting so long to review this.  I've tried many Everlane sweaters over the years (just take a look at the sweater section of this post), and lately a lot of them have been a no-go for me.  But I do have to say this cotton long sleeve crew is one of my favorite sweater styles to come from Everlane, and it's because even though it doesn't look cropped on their website it actually is slightly.  It's the perfect length!  Also, the crew sweater isn't large and baggy unlike their Soft Cotton Square Crew (I've tried enough square styles from Everlane to know that it just doesn't do my petite frame any favors).  I really love the fitted and shorter length of this regular cotton crew (I'm wearing a size small here).

Wearing: Everlane cotton long sleeve crew, Coach belt (similar here), Mott & Bow jeans (reviewed here), Everlane Modern loafer mules, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)

Also the cotton material of this sweater is super soft and stretchy.  It almost seems too stretchy so I'm sure that's why they recommend hand-washing and laying flat to dry.  And come to think of it, this is probably the softest cotton sweater I've tried from Everlane so far (of course their cashmere is the softest sweater).

This cotton sweater is the perfect transitional piece between seasons, and though this pink color probably works better for spring rather than fall I don't mind.  When the temperatures start falling, I look forward to layering this under a bomber jacket, which I'll be able to do because of the slightly cropped length.  I love it so much I'm thinking of getting it again in the khaki green color when it restocks (in Feb!).  But until then I'll cherish this pink one I have.  

You can find all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews here and first-time Everlane customers can support me by purchasing through my link here (thank you!).

Feb 2018 update: They're back guys after being gone all winter!  I just purchased the khaki one and the navy/white striped one.  The khaki one isn't here yet but the I've been wearing the navy/white striped one and it's bigger than this pink one even though they're both smalls.  The new cotton sweaters are slightly more oversized than the original.  I could never wear this pink one with low rise jeans since it'll show my midriff but this navy/white one doesn't

Also I'm going to have to say I can't attest to the quality of these sweaters.  This is all the loose threads after several months of light wear:

I swear I'm not like brushing up again barb wire or anything.  This is from usual wear and tear but I think the cotton threads on these might not be the best quality. 

Anyway we'll see how this navy/white striped one fares but I just wanted to give y'all the full picture here.  Anyone else have issues with these cotton long sleeve crews?

{Nov update: So I ended up donating this sweater because I couldn’t handle all the loose threads and purchased the navy/white one, which I did a separate review of here because it was a totally different sweater. Same name but different in size, shape, and quality. The second batch was made much better and I haven’t had any quality issues with it. This is the batch that is currently on sale here.}

Everlane Review The Cotton Two-Pocket Shirt

It is a very very rare occasion that I love something from Everlane so much that I've purchased a duplicate.  I've only done it once before and it was for their linen dolman tee dress (reviewed here, no longer sold), which I only repurchased because it was on a 'choose your price' sale {and I'm so glad that I did since I accidentally put the first one in the dryer and it shrunk}.  Well here's repurchase number two: Everlane's cotton two-pocket shirt.  I bought one in black and another one in ochre (and now that I look they no longer have the black one).  

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Two-Pocket Shirt, Marine Layer denim skirt (similar here), Everlane modern loafer mules (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 bag (similar here)}

I have been looking for a shirt like this all summer for work.  As you know, I work in a large garage (with Airstreams) and am frequently outside.  And during the summer months I need a cover-up that I can quickly put on to cover my arms from the harsh San Jose sun.  But I also want it to be lightweight and not too close to the body.  It's as if Everlane read my mind because not only does this cotton button-up drape away from the body but it also has two large pockets to hold all the things I need while working (usually a pen, a walkie-talkie, and other odds and ends).  Above is how I styled the shirt before heading out for a casual dinner.  Below is a picture of me after a long day driving Airstreams up to Sebastopol and setting them up for a wedding delivery (this is how I really look 90% of the time).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Two Pocket Shirt, rag & bone denim shorts (similar here), Adidas Adilette Cloudform slides (similar here), Hermes Lindy 30 bag (similar here)}

Not the best outfit photo but I just wanted to show you guys how I really wear it all the time.  Also a note on sizing, I went with a size 2 (my usual everlane size is 4) since this shirt looked so oversized and I didn't want to be really swimming in it.  It works well except maybe the sleeve length is a touch short but I don't mind since I usually roll them up anyway.  You definitaely want to size down with this shirt, but it also looks like there's not a whole lot of sizes left.

As usual this review is not sponsored but first time customers can support me by buying through my referral link (thanks!) and you can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

Everlane Review The Street Nylon Fanny Pack {Updated Feb 2018}

I guess you could call me an Everlane groupie.  Of course by looking at all my reviews you would think that, but I'd like to think I buy Everlane things because their style meshes with mine.  Well now I consider myself a full-on groupie because I'm willing to try new styles just because Everlane is making them.  For example, I never thought I would hop on the granny shoe band wagon, but after trying out their Day Heel (review here), I feel like they're totally my style now.  Well this fanny pack similarly falls into that category.  I never thought of myself as a fanny pack kind of gal.  I grew up in the eighties and I felt like that those firmly belong to that era.  But oh cool, Everlane made some fanny packs?  Sign me up! Lol, well it kind of happened like that.

{Wearing: Grana tee, Marine Layer denim skirt (thrifted but similar here), Everlane Form Slide Sandals, Everlane fanny pack}

I first purchased the fanny pack just to see how their new line of nylon bags were like.  I have enough of their totes and no need for a backpack, so I thought, 'let's try the fanny pack.' The fanny pack came right about the time when I was leaving for Burning Man, and I thought it might be useful to bring along.  And yep it totally was!  But of course now I can't return it so I need to figure how to use this fanny pack in my regular day to day style.  But man-oh-man, fanny packs are so so so useful.  Talk about a hands-free bag at it's best.

I love the nylon material that they used for the fanny pack.  It's lightweight but durable and isn't super bulky.  But the fanny pack is quite large and if you wanted to, you could really stuff it with a lot of things.  Also I love the zippered compartment in the back (where it faces towards your body) for things you want to keep extra secure.  This back pocket is also quite deep and can fit a lot.  The zippers are nice and big and very easy to pull.  You can tell that this is a well-made, practical bag.  Unfortunately it seems that they are out of this green color and don't plan to make anymore (otherwise it would say 'waitlist').  But they still have it in the brick (my second choice), black and gray if you're interested.  As usual you can find them here (referral link) and all my Everlane reviews here.

{Feb 2018 Update: I'm facing facts that I am not a fanny pack kind of girl.  So I'm selling it here.  Also I washed it in the washing machine on delicate (in a mesh bag) and air dried it so you would never know it went to Burning Man lol}

Everlane Review The Day Heel {Updated January 2019}

Did you hear granny shoes are in?  And Everlane nailed the trend with their Day Heel.  I've pretty much sworn off heels and have cleared my closets of all heels except for my 5-year old Valentino Rockstuds (similar), which I reviewed here.  But when Everlane bragged that these are the most comfortable heels ever, I had to of course give them a try.  I actually ordered them during their first release but then the color I wanted became unavailable so they refunded me the money plus gave me an extra $25 (I love their customer service)!  So when their Pointed Slide didn't work for my feet (review here), I thought it would be a good time to try their Day Heel in pale rose (I'm on a real pink kick here, it must be all that millennial pink seeping into my consciousness).

And you know what?  Everlane was right.  These are pretty darn comfortable heels.  So much so that I kept them!  The leather is super soft, and the elastic at the heel grips on fairly well without being too tight.  And the square heels gives so much stability.  I walked all around Target and out to dinner with zero blisters.

So yep I added another pair of heels to my closet, but I do need a pair of heels that aren't flashy and besides I'm really digging the granny heels look.  

The pale rose color combined with the leather Everlane uses (the high-quality kind that's super soft and smooth) makes these heels delicate and a bit fragile.  So I definitely recommend babying these a little. 

For reference I'm usually a 7.5 to an 8, but always go with an 8 with Everlane since their shoes tend to be a bit narrow.  But I didn't have any problems with the width of these shoes at all.  Now if I can only get rid of the tan lines from wearing my Everlane Street Sandals daily in the hot California sun.

Also Grechen reviewed her pair of Day Heels and you know if she liked it, they must be good!

Now Everlane has a bunch of new colors for the Day Heel for autumn.  I'm really loving this cognac suede color.  Did anybody else order the Day Heel and what did you think?

{And as usual I like to end with my referral link to Everlane (thank you for your support!) and the link to all my Everlane reviews (which I'll need to be updating again soon!)}

P.S. I walked around in these shoes for about 4 hours and developed my first blister from these shoes.  There was one on the pinky toe of my left foot (but not the right, must have different sized feet, lol) and at the achilles tendon area of both heels (well I wouldn't call these blisters, more like rub marks?).  The only blister that bubbled up though was the one on the pinky toe so I guess this shoe does need a little breaking in time afterall.  But TBH I don't love it any less and it's still my casual go-to heels.

P.P.S My current Day Heel obsession is Everlane's Day Heel mules (which I reviewed here).  I love the mule look plus they have the comfort of the Day Heel minus any rubbing at the achilles tendon.  

{Jan 2019 Update: These are still my go-to heels for every occasion! They definitely get more comfortable as time goes on and even though I have it in this really light color, there’s no dark spots or major scuffs on the leather (you can spot clean with a leather cleaner pretty easily).}

Everlane Review Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Pull On Skirt

So when I first saw Everlane's Clean Cotton collection of dresses it was this Crop Tank and Pull-On Skirt that caught my eye.  I just really like the look of the matching two piece outfit and even though I'm not a fan of the midi length (because I don't really have the height for it), I decided to try it out anyway.  And I ended up loving the whole outfit!

This would be the perfect outfit for a more casual wedding or a cocktail party.  I don't really have an occasion to wear this dress to, but I just loved the way it looked so I decided to keep it.  I'm wearing a small for both the crop tank and skirt.  

The only negative thing I have to say about the crop tank is that it's a row of buttons in the back to close so it is impossible to put this on by yourself (someone has to button you in).  Also the skirt is a tad long for my 5'4" frame, but it's not too bad so I don't plan to shorten it.  Oh and just like I complained in my review of the Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress, this clean cotton material wrinkles like crazy so make sure you have your handy dandy travel steamer ready.  But for this outfit, I'll put up with a bit of maintenance.

I also tried out the crop tank with Everlane's wide leg crop pants and I loved the look (sorry forgot to take a pic).  The fact that this crop tank is a bit structured means it'll work with a lot of high-waisted bottoms.  The skirt is a tad less versatile but if you like the voluminous 50's skirt look and feel (like I do) then this is a really great skirt.  Anyway if you're interested you can find all of Everlane's items here (referral link) and all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

Everlane Review The Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress

Hi guys and like I promised, back to a review today!  Well when I got Everlane's cotton collarless belted shirt dress (review here) I thought I was done buying Everlane dresses because I had found The One (Dress).  But when their Clean Cotton line of dresses came out, I couldn't resist not trying them out.  I was initially drawn to their Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Clean Cotton Pull-On Skirt combo (which will be reviewed next), but decided to try out this Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress as well.  

First a note on sizing: I ordered this in my regular Everlane size of 4 and I found that it ran true to size.  It was a bit snug in the waist though so if you're in between sizes, I recommend sizing up.  The size 4 fit perfectly but I struggled to get the zipper all the way up by myself.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm on the chubby side of size 4 or because the zipper is placed in an awkward location between the elastic waist band and ending just below the arm pit (but not all the way up to the arm pit area, which I think would have made getting into and out of this dress a tad easier).

Anyway what do you think?

I don't think it looked that bad, but in the end I returned this dress because of two reasons.  One: the pleats under the waistband caused the dress to poof out in the front, and for me personally I dislike that (that's also why you see me holding down the front of the dress in the second picture).  I have a hard enough time trying to keep my figure slim, so I'm not really a fan of clothing that gives me extra volume in the midsection.  And two: the awkward zipper placement and the cross back means having to get in and out of this dress by pulling it over your head and it was really difficult for me (I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong but yeah I was struggling).  

Also, I'm not a huge fan of this cotton/elastane material.  It's a lot like their cotton poplin and wrinkles tremendously.  The pictures above were after I "ironed" it with my favorite travel steamer.  And even with the steaming, the dress looks a bit wrinkled to me.  This is a high-maintenance material.

If you'd like an excellent second opinion about this dress, Grechen got the same one and you can read her review about it here.  Anyway my favorite Everlane dress of all time is still their cotton collarless shirt dress, but I did end up keeping the Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Pull-up Skirt, so a review of that soon.  And you can read all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews, like this one, here.

Everlane Review The Beach Pullover Hoodie from the Beach Capsule

*This is an unsponsored Everlane review

I've already reviewed the canvas backpack (here) from Everlane's Beach Capsule, and this beach pullover hoodie is the second item I purchased from that collection.  I was drawn to the thin stripes and the cropped length, even though its the dead of summer and 90 degrees.  I could see myself wearing this in the fall when the weather cools down or if I actually went to a California beach, which are usually windy as heck.  

What do you think?

{Wearing: Everlane beach hoodie, Marine Layer skirt, Everlane street sandals, and vintage Chanel flap bag (similar here)}

I paired it with a skirt, but the hoodie looks pretty cute with shorts too.  At times I feel like the boxy cut isn't doing my short figure any favors.  But I still like the casual look.  I'm wearing a size small here and found it large enough because of the oversized fit.  But I did find the neck hole to be quite tight (and it was a bit of a pain to get it on and off without smearing my makeup all over the inside of the hoodie).

The cotton material itself is not super soft nor stretchy.  I think if it's thrown into the dryer there's a chance it'll stretch out due to it's lack of elasticity (so I'll probably be hang drying this one as well as washing it on a delicate cycle in a mesh bag like this one).  Now that I think of it, the material is very similar what Everlane used for their Breton striped oversized tee, but the cotton of this hoodie feels a tad thinner.  For $38 this is a pretty good price for cotton hoodie, but the true test will be how it holds up after multiple washes.  Since I'm planning to keep this one, I'll update the post later with what I find.

Anyway you can find all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews like this one here.

Everlane Review The Pointed Slide

*This is an unsponsored review and I was able to order these shoes with credit from all those who purchased through my referral link (so thank you again for all your support guys!)

For years and years now I've been wanting Jenni Kayne's mule slides, ever since I saw them on Garance Dore's site (I just checked the date on this and can you believe she first wrote about them 4 years ago?!).  And I almost bought a pair from Vince once, similar to this one.  But I never could quite pull the trigger.  So when these Everlane pointed slides came along I was definitely curious to try them out but by this time I've been regularly using the M.Gemi Docente slides for awhile and the Everlane modern loafer mules.  Could I really fit another pair of mules into my life?  Well a good friend was really curious about how these Everlane slides were, so Vickie, this review is for you, lol.

First a note on sizing, I got these in my usual Everlane size 8 (I'm usually around a 7.5-8 in shoes but always go with the bigger size when dealing with Everlane).  And I found them to be snug but not too narrow.  With a little bit breaking-in I can see that these shoes will start fitting like a glove.  As with most of Everlane shoes (except for their form slide sandal and form crossover sandal) there's not a whole lot of arch support, though the insole is slightly padded.

What do you think?  I kind of felt they were like my princess flats because of the lovely rose pink color.  

But here's the thing, the tops of these shoes pull the top of your feet whenever you walk.  And they rub the tops of the foot in such a way that I can imagine getting a blister there after a bit.  I was really conflicted about whether or not to keep these shoes, but in the end I returned them since I already have 2 pairs of mules and I knew I would only wear these on date night or other infrequent occasions (and I already have my favorite pair of special occasion shoes, similar here and reviewed here).  {And if you're wondering, I took care to wipe down the cement floors before taking these pictures, though I'm pretty sure they'll be going to Everlane's next Worn Once event}.

Even now when I look at these shoes, I'm still conflicted about whether or not I should have kept them.  I definitely feel some pangs of regret.  But with the credit of the return, I was able to order Everlane's Day Heels, which I missed out on the first time around.  So at least I get to see what all the hype is about.  Anyway you can find all of Everlane's items here and all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

P.S. I don't read Everlane's own reviews posted on their site since I don't want it to muddy my own honest reviews.  But I did look at them after I wrote this up and I'm not the only one that has the pulling at the top of the foot.  Another reviewer got blisters at the arch, eesh.

Everlane Review Beach Collection Canvas Backpack

I was born and raised in Hawaii and yet I'm not a huge fan of beaches (I know, what's wrong with me, lol).  But because I grew up with Hawaii beaches, they've become my standard when I think of beaches (I think it makes me a beach snob).  So imagine my surprise and disappointment to find California beaches to be too cold for swimming, filled with kelp, and generally unlike the beaches of my childhood.  Lucky for me, like I said, I'm not a fan of beaches so my disappointed wasn't all that great.  Anyway I bring this all up because Everlane's beach capsule collection was definitely made with California beaches in mind and not really Hawaii's.  Why else would they have cotton long-sleeve sweatshirts if not for the cold and windy beaches of (especially) Northern California {P.S. I also ordered this sweatshirt so stay tuned for that review}.

Anyway as soon as I saw this canvas backpack in Everlane's beach capsule I knew I wanted to try it out right away.  Something about the casual easiness of it all was super appealing.  I could imagine throwing a towel, water and some snacks and hitting the beach.  But of course I don't do beaches, so instead I decided to try it out as my summer work bag.  As much as I love my Everlane dipped zip tote for work, I'm also carrying around my old black Balenciaga Work bag (not for work but for daily life) and two black bags over each shoulder is maybe a bit too somber for the summer.  So this canvas backpack is the perfect summer holdall!

I love that this backpack has two deep front pockets to hold water or sunscreen.  They're deep enough so nothing falls out.  There's also a small interior pocket near the short handle, but I've had small things fall out of that when the backpack isn't fully secured, so be careful of that.  the canvas straps are comfortable enough but I only really use it to carry my backpack from the Airstream to the car, and from the car to the Airstream garage (and back).  I'm a car commuter so really my work bags don't actually get worked, which is a good thing because I'm not too sure if this backpack is meant to get worked.  I've been using it for about a week now and have noticed that the black screen-printed bottom gets scuffed pretty easily.  Unlike the dipped zip tote (which has a thick plastic-like coating on the bottom), this backpack only has a thin screen-printed bottom (like a screen printed shirt).  But I don't really mind since scuffs don't really bother me (it adds to the wabi-sabi of it all)

{Wearing: Everlane backpack, Grana linen sleeveless shirt (review here), Mott&Bow jeans (review coming soon), Everlane Form Slide Sandals (review here)}

The backpack encloses with a drawstring and snap enclosure.  There's a handle on the back that you can kind of hold the backpack with (but it's pretty awkward) and the straps are adjustable.  This would be a pretty good beach or pool bag (as long as you don't get it too close to water since it's not exactly waterproof though it is water resistant), or even just a summer picnic.  Honestly this bag holds a lot (more than the zipped dip tote).  And the canvas itself is a quite sturdy so there's minimal sagging from all the things in your bag. 

If you're looking for an awesome casual lightweight backpack, made responsibly then I think this one might be the one for you.  I'm going to keep using it as my workbag throughout the summer and will check back in with an update on how it wears.  As usual you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews, like this one, here.

Everlane Review The Bridge Sandal

And so the Everlane review train keeps on chugging along!  There's a lot of new items coming from Everlane this summer that I've been super excited about.  First it was their Form Sandals (review here) and then it was their cotton belted shirtdress (review here).  And when I saw these Bridge Sandals on their Coming Soon page, I knew I wanted to try them out right away (especially since they are reminiscent of a certain Hermes Oran sandals that seems to be a blogger favorite right now).

First a note on sizing, I purchased these in my usual Everlane shoes size of 8 and I would say they run true to size.  Also true to general Everlane shoe sizing, these run narrow (like Everlane Modern Loafer kind of narrow).  And the vegetable-tanned leather that these sandals are made of are quite thick and very stiff.  It would take quite a bit of pain to stretch out these leather sandals if you have feet that are not narrow.  The Bridge Sandals are not at all like the beautiful stretchy Napa leather that the Form Sandals are made from.  Interestingly enough both the Form Sandals and these Bridge Sandals are made in super tiny factories in Florence, Italy, but they're different factories.  And you can tell because these sandals are nothing alike.  

Also unlike the Form Sandals, these Bridge Sandals have zero arch support.  So if you plan to walk more than a block or two in these sandals, be prepared from some arch pain.  In the end, I had to send these back because even though I really love how they look, they're just not made for my feet.  Give me Everlane's Form Slide Sandal any day (and actually I've been wearing them pretty much everyday).

As usual this is an unsponsored review and all purchases are made possible from referral credit earned from awesome readers who click my link here.  Also you can find all my Everlane reviews here.

Everlane Cotton Collarless Belted Shirt Dress Review {Updated June 2018}

{June 2018 Update: This shirtdress is still my favorite Everlane shirt dress to date!  It's such an easy thing to throw on when you're looking for a put together look.  This year they're back and they're in new colors!  I love the light blue color here but this red one is also pretty cute.}

Finally!  Everlane has finally made a shirtdress made for us short gals!  And when Everlane gets it right, man oh man do they get it right!  Their cotton collarless belted shirt dress is the kind of shirt dress I've been looking for.  The dress looked so promising I ordered both color variations (solid navy and the striped white and blue), and also tried it in two different sizes to see which one would fit better.  

First the striped version in a size 4:

Wearing Everlane belted shirt dress, Everlane form slide sandals, and YSL Universite bag.

I love that this dress cuts above the knees, unlike the majority of Everlane's shirt dresses (actually I think this might be one of the shortest ones they've ever made).  I also love that it's belted, so the shirt dress doesn't look like a tent on me (also unlike the majority of Everlane's shirt dresses).  And last but not least, the sleeve length is perfect for my chicken wings (aka triceps).  Oh, and it has pockets.  This is without a doubt my most favorite dress from Everlane to date.  It's simple but works for so many occasions, from a casual work place dress to a cute picnic outfit.  I can just throw this on and I'm pretty much ready for most occasions.

I found the size 4 to be a great fit.  I was able to wrap the belted twice around my waist and tie it in a small knot, but I also like the look of it wrapped once around and tied in the front (like below).  I'm wearing the navy blue shirt dress in a size 2.  To be honest there wasn't too much of a difference between the two sizes.  The smaller size was just slightly more fitted, but since you use the belt to define the waist anyway, both a 4 and a 2 worked pretty much the same.

In the end though, I decided I don't really need 2 of the same dress.  And of the two color variations I like the striped white and blue one better: it felt better suited as a summer dress.  For some reason the solid blue one kind of reminded me of a communist nursing outfit (not that I've seen one IRL but that's what I imagine it might look like--it's probably the collarless neckline that gives me that idea).

Anyway I couldn't be happier with the striped belted shirt dress.  And the kind of material that Everlane chose to use is all kinds of awesome (on their site they say it's a slow-spun cotton from Japan).  This 100% cotton material is super soft and feels really durable, but it isn't prone to wrinkling (unlike cotton poplin).  A plate of greasy Mexican food flipped onto the dress and I kind of freaked out, but I just used my favorite stain remover, threw it in the wash (washed cold) and it was perfectly fine.  I also just threw it in the dryer like normal and there were hardly any wrinkles (as long as you take it out and hang while it's still a bit warm).  

Anyway if you're looking for the perfect summer shirt dress and you are on the petite side, you definitely should try out this shirt dress.  It's a clear winner in my book!  You can find all of Everlane's items here (referral link and thanks for your support!) and all my Everlane reviews here.

Everlane Form Crossover Sandal and Form Slide Sandal Review

Hi guys so Everlane form sandals have been on my radar ever since I saw it in their "Coming Soon" list.  And I was also lucky enough to get a reader request a review of these sandals so of course I had to get both to try out!  I purchased the Everlane Form Crossover Sandal in green and the Everlane Form Slide Sandal in Wine, both in my usual Everlane size 8.  And well the TL;DR version of this review: the Form Crossover Sandals are better suited with long narrow feet while the Form Slide Sandals are better for wider feet (like mine).  Now to the nitty gritty:

First off the Form Crossover Sandal: it really wasn't that narrow (and nowhere as narrow as their Modern Loafers and such), but I definitely felt the leather stretch a bit when I first slipped these on.  I can tell with multiple wears that the soft leather will continue to stretch to "form" to your feet.  But it would require a slight breaking in period for those with wider feet.  The foot bed on this is quite comfortable and has great arch support.  I say if you can wear their Modern Loafers with no problem, this is the Form Sandal for you.

As for me, my clear favorite was the Form Slide Sandal.  The one big strap was super comfortable and the leather easily molded to my feet.  No breaking-in period for me at all with these shoes.  Like the Crossover Sandals, the Slide version has a great footbed with arch support.

I'll admit, it's definitely not a sophisticated looking shoe.  But I love those Adidas slides from the 90's so these leather versions are a step-up from those.  I've never owned a pair of Birkenstocks (I know, what kind of ethical shopping blogger am I?!), so I don't really know how they compare.  But compared to Adidas slides, they definitely have better foot support and the leather strap molds perfectly to the feet.

In these pictures I just started wearing them so the leather of the Slide sandal still looks smooth, but as you continue to wear them the leather will start wrinkling to mold to your feet.  I also noticed the leather scuffs really easily.  So if you're the type of person who doesn't like scuffed leather shoes I would watch where and when to wear these.

Anyway for other bloggers take on these sandals read here and here.

As usual this is not a sponsored post and all purchases were made possible by readers who use my referral link here.  And you can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

P.S. I was just informed that the Form Crossover sandal gave one of my reader's a blister at the top of their foot.  I can see that happening since the sole of the sandal is quite heavy and if it pulls at the top of the foot, it could cause a blister.