Everlane Review: The Form Bag {Updated September 2018}

*I received this item as a gift so this is a type of sponsored post

Hi guys, so since I've been getting a lot of questions about Everlane's Form Bag I've decided to fast track this review if you are debating on whether or not to get this bag.  So as I disclaimed up top I got this as a gift from Everlane, but only after I kindly asked my contact at Everlane (this was the first time I've ever asked them for anything).  I originally wasn't on the list of influencers to get this bag for free (cuz I'm still small beans you know), but I thought why not just try asking?  And wonderful Emily at Everlane said yes and she sent it to me with next day delivery (shout out to Emily--thank you so much!).  Man I feel like I won the lottery!

And you guys, I did win the lottery because this bag is uhhhhmazing.  No really, I know bags and this is a good one!  True to its name this mid-size bag is uber functional but the build and leather quality on this is really fantastic.

So here are all the ways I love this bag:

- So this 13” height x 5” depth x 10.5” width bag fits my 13" Macbook Pro.  This is the first bag I've ever had that can isn't a tote that can fit my computer, which is awesome.  However, a Macbook with a laptop sleeve will not fit horizontally because it just barely fits with the laptop alone.  I think a larger laptop might fit vertically but then you wouldn't be able to close the top of the bag. But I'm not really afraid of leaving my laptop in there without a case since the inside of the bag is soft (it's lined by a kind of cottony felt material glued to the leather).

- I really love the adjustable fabric strap.  Yes, it might make the bag look cheaper, but when it comes to function and comfort a fabric strap can't be beat!  The fabric strap allows you to adjust the strap to the exact length that you want (as opposed to pre-determined belt holes of a leather strap).  And I prefer fabric straps when it comes to comfort since leather straps tend to be stiff and heavier than fabric ones.  But where the straps connect to the bag is leather so that helps to keep wear and tear to a minimum.

- The magnetic closing up top is super easy to open and close.  I also like to grab the bag by the pinched ends at the top, making it easy to grab.  I usually like bags with top handles as well as a shoulder strap since I can easily grab the bag by the top handles.  In this case the flattened top acts like a top handle.

- I can pile a ton of stuff inside of it.  The other day I ended up buying a bit too many snacks at World Market (I rarely go in there so when I do, I end up overdoing it lol) and since I didn't want to use a throwaway bag I just threw everything into my bag.  When it gets stuffed, the Form bag ends up acting more like a bucket bag (the top won't close but that just means you have even more space to throw stuff in).

-Inside the bag is one large flat pocket great for stashing my phone and keys.

- The corners of this bag are reinforced with stitches so it should keep wear and tear to a minimum.

On top of all the great functionality, the leather quality on this bag is really amazing.  When someone asked how it compares with my Celine smooth leather bags (like my Sangle), I would say the Everlane leather is a tad more lightweight (thinner) but also less prone to scratching.  For what you are paying ($235 for this bag), you are getting a great value (compare that to $2200 for a Celine).  And for those wondering, the bag empty weighs 1 pound 6oz, which is fairly lightweight for a midsize leather bag (the Celine Sangle weighs 2 pounds 4 oz.). 

The only thing I would caution about the design of this bag is that with time and wear, if you don't take care and moisturize the leather at the top where it bends to close via the magnets, I can see the leather wrinkling and cracking in the distant future (this is like longterm care tips).  Keeping the leather supple there will keep it from creasing too much and then cracking (I like Chamberlains Leather Milk which I reviewed here).

Anyway let me know if you have any other questions about this bag and you can find them in dark green like mine (it's the new neutral!), black or cognac.

{Sept Update: Now that I’ve been using the bag for awhile now I just wanted let you all know that it’s wearing great. The leather on this is quite tough and I haven’t had any major scratches on it yet. The leather does soften a bit at the top and where the straps attach but nothing major. Also I usually use it to carry my 13” macbook but I get lazy and just insert it vertically because getting it in and out horizontally everyday is a pain.

Also wanted to let you know one of my favorite bloggers, Andrea just posted her review of the form bag and you can read it here.}

Everlane Review The Polka Dot Shirt Dress

*I received this item as a gift to review and thus this is a type of sponsored post

It's finally here!  The Everlane Polka Dot Shirt Dress review!  This was the item I was debating on whether or not to request from Everlane back in early July.  Well due to their warehouse move I've only just received this dress (and I know a lot of you guys are feeling the pain of the shipping delays!  I too ordered some other things from Everlane that have still yet to be delivered, but I've heard that the warehouse move is just about done and things are about to get back to their normal albeit still rather slow shipping time--but at least it won't be excruciating slow lol).  

I was so interested in trying this dress because it's made of a new-to-me material called Cupro, and after doing some research on it I knew I really wanted to try it out.  Cupro is a sustainable fabric made out of cotton linter (basically cotton waste by-product) and via a closed-loop chemical system.  Cupro is similar to tencel/lyocell in that it's a man-made fabric but tencel is made from wood cellulose fibers.  Since cupro is made from cotton by-products, the material is biodegradable like cotton and also breathes like cotton.  But it feels a lot like a heavy silk and thus is often used as a vegan form of silk.  Best of all you can just machine wash it at home, unlike some silk garments.  Cupro also has hypoallergenic and anti-static properties.  (References: 1, 2)  To me this material feels wonderfully silky smooth and heavy-weight (the material feels way more substantial than silk).  Plus it has a really nice drape.

{Wearing: Everlane Polka Dot Shirt Dress and Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here)}

I love this polka dot pattern (a rare patterned dress from Everlane).  I also love that it comes with a belt so you can define your waist.  The other dress I really love from Everlane (the collarless belted shirt dress) also comes with a belt.  Though I kind of like the look without the belt too (pic below).

I'm wearing a size 4 here and find it fits TTS.  The back hem is slight longer than the front so it covers my backside well.  I'm 5'4" and I love the length on me, but I think if you're quite a bit taller than me, you'll find this dress a tad short.  Also since it's a belted style of dress, the sizing is quite forgiving and this would make a great buffet-eating dress lol.  My only teeny tiny complaint is that this dress doesn't have any pockets, but oh well sometimes you can't have everything.  

Anyway I really love this dress!  I think for the gal 5'5" and shorter, it's a perfect casual dress for the weekend or even a business casual dress for the office.  $110 is quite steep for a dress, but I think you're paying the price of the sustainable material on this one.  As for me, I'm super excited to add this not-flowy but not form-fitting dress to my collection since I only have a couple of these.  I'll let you know how this material wears with time and washing but I have high hopes for this one!

Everlane Review The Linen Muscle Tank

If you've been following along with my Summer 10x10 challenge, you would have seen me pair this Everlane linen muscle tank with my Elizabeth Suzann linen Clydes for a very SF Giants fan look.  This is actually my first time wearing this tank because, well color!  It's almost too much color for my usual taste but when I first tried it on at the Everlane store I really liked it (see pics below).  I especially like how the orange (well they call it "rust" but really it's quite orange) goes with denim of different hues.  It works for both dark and light denim.  

I sized up to a medium in this because I found the small to be quite fitted.  And though the arm holes are a tad big, it doesn't really bother me.  The 100% linen is a great lightweight knit which breathes really well.  It's a tad scratchy at first but will soften with washings.  It will also stretch out a tad with washings (which I learned from my Everlane linen knit dress from awhile back), but unlike the dress I don't think this muscle tank will lose too much of its shape since there's less material overall.  I think the dress became a little potato-sack-y after awhile because the dress stretched in odd places.  The best way to keep the shape is probably to lay flat to dry instead of hanging.

What do you guys think?  Anyone else try out their linen knit items this year?  I might not wear this as often because of the color but at least I know what I'm wearing the next time I go to a SF Giants game!

Everlane Review: The Denim Skirt

I've always loved a good denim skirt.  My most worn item in college was a mini dark denim skort from Old Navy that I wore until it turned into a light denim skort (lol remember skorts?  I kind of wish they would come back into style haha).  But sometime in my late 20s, I stopped wearing denim skirts.  It might be because I went into the work force and wore more "professional" clothing or it might be because the denim skirt went out of style (or so says my much younger millennial friend--though I disagree).  Anyway I'm just so glad Everlane has decided to their version of the denim skirt, from sustainable denim produced in Vietnam.  

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Petra Crop, Everlane Denim Skirt, Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Celine Nano Belt Bag (similar here)}

The skirt fits true to size, with my usual size 28 fitting just right.  I love that it's a high-waisted skirt so I can wear really cropped tops like the Elizabeth Suzann Petra Crop in the photos above.  Also the skirt is a good length since I wanted something that wasn't too mini (I'm no where near college age after all).   Since the skirt is 100% cotton there's no stretch to it, which I love!  It really holds you in and helps to keep a slimming shape.  Also the A-line shape of the skirt is really flattering and is great for someone like me who has thick thighs.

Unfortunately I see that a lot of the sizes are out in the various colors  (sorry for writing up this review so late, lol I'm still playing catch up with all my reviews!).  If you live near an Everlane store I think you're still in luck since I saw them there when I visited last week.  Or if you are a smaller size, they have plenty of those left.  Otherwise I hope you can snag one on the secondhand market or petition Everlane to make more!

P.S. As a lot of you guys pointed out, this skirt is definitely for short people.  I'm 5'4" and find it the perfect length.  I think any taller and it's going to be a very mini skirt on you!

Everlane Review The Form Two Strap Sandal

If there was one Everlane purchase I regret this year it would be this Form Two Strap Sandal.  I purchased the Form Sandals last year in the plum color (now on sale at Everlane), and though I wore it a lot I always thought it was on the ugly side.  So when I saw Everlane's new sandals for this summer, I impulsively purchased them thinking they would be my new leather sandal for the summer.  I especially liked the green fabric stripe on the larger band (it looked a tad Gucci-esque to me) and I loved that they added a rubber layer at the bottom so that it's grippier than last year's version.

But here's the thing, I also purchased a pair of Birkenstocks (similar) in May after swearing never to be caught dead in them...ever.  But when I was in a Nordstrom Rack in Hawaii (tagging along with some friends), I tried on a pair.  And ohhhh maaaaii they are so comfortable.  It was kind of love at first wear.  So with two new sandals in my collection, sadly these Everlane ones got neglected.  As I mentioned on Monday, I've worn my Birkenstocks so much that they made it into my top 10 most worn items (so far I've worn them 23 times since May).  On the other hand, I've only worn these Everlane sandals a grand total of 3 days (woomp woomp).

So I don't know if I can honestly recommend these Everlane sandals.  Compared to the Birkenstocks, the sole feels a lot thinner while the straps aren't nearly as comfy.  However, aesthetically, I really like the look of these sandals.  But for me, that's no longer enough (I'm firmly in the old lady camp of comfort over looks).

But if you are interested in these sandals, they are true to Everlane size (which for my slightly wide feet is a half size bigger than my normal size, ie I get a size 8 in Everlane but 7.5 in most other shoes).

Anyway since I'm not wearing these sandals and they're just sitting around in my closet, I figure someone else could get better use out of them.  Like I said, I've only worn them 3 times.  So you can find the for sale here.

P.S. My Everlane giveaway for a $50 gift card ends today on Instagram so enter here if you haven't yet! :)

Everlane Review: The Japanese GoWeave Short Sleeve Mini Wrap Dress

So don't tell me I look good in this dress.  I mean I appreciate any and all compliments (of course) but for this one instance let's just say it looks so-so because I ended up returning this Everlane Short Sleeve Mini Wrap Dress.  I was very torn about whether or not to keep it, and more so after a poll on Insta-story had 89% of the voters saying keep it.  But in the end, as they say, you gotta do you and "me" is not this dress.

But man, I could see this being me some day!

{Wearing: Everlane GoWeave Wrap Dress, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Celine Nano Belt Bag}

This would be "office worker Elaine" who's efficient, no-nonsense and makes the big bucks (lol, all 'not me' attributes at the moment).  But as it stands, I'm really a garage-working blogger so this dress would only see the light of day on rare occasions (maybe a bridal shower or a fancy dinner).  And not to say that all my clothes need to be workhorses but I have enough special occasion dresses (including the Grana dresses I reviewed couple weeks ago), so I don't need another one.

Anyway for those who do work in an office or more formal environments, I would recommend this short sleeve wrap dress.  The mini version works great for petite gals like myself (I'm 5'4"), while taller people could probably rock the regular length.  I'm wearing my regular size 4 here and it fits great! 

The design on this dress is awesome with an inner tie and an outer tie, so it'll never accidentally unwrap.  I also really like that the sleeves overhang a bit to minimize the tricep area.  The material works great for this dress but having owned Japanese GoWeave before, I know this triacetate doesn't breathe.  So this dress is best suited for air conditioned offices or cooler climates. 

But another reason I ended up returning this dress is because triacetate is quite a toxic material to make and also won't biodegrade like a natural fiber.  So I would only feel worse keeping this around in my closet, not being worn and then knowing how this toxic-to-make material will fill a landfill indefinitely.  Nah, I rather send it back (and never get Japanese GoWeave again) and let Everlane sell it to someone else so they can have that "problem."  

Anyway I can't say I exactly recommend this dress, though it is a good dress.  But if you're going to be wearing it a lot to work and it fills a need in your wardrobe then I would say it's probably worth it.  

P.S. See more in the comments (in response to Renee from goblinshark) for some better links with the specific chemicals it takes to produce triacetate!

Everlane Review: The Cotton Short Sleeve Popover Shirt

*I received this item free as a gift to review and style and thus this is a type of sponsored post

Hi guys and welcome to my review of the second item I picked out from Everlane's June line-up of releases.  The first one was the Easy Chinos that I reviewed here (and I noticed are all sold out in the ochre color I featured--did I do that?  Or am I just getting a big ego lol >.<).  The second item I picked out was this cotton notch-collar popover shirt.  I chose it because I tried Everlane's soft cotton popover shirt and loved it (though I didn't keep it since it was pretty expensive for a shirt).  This version is $20 cheaper and has short sleeves which are perfect for hot summer days!

I went with the classic white color because I wanted a simple crisp white shirt and I'm happy to report this top is fully opaque!  The material is a sturdy lightweight cotton that does wrinkle a bit, but nothing my handy dandy travel steamer can't fix in a jiffy.  I love this popover style without buttons because it makes the shirt easier to tuck in and there's also no gaps where the shirt pulls away from the buttons.  And the notch collar is a subtle but cute touch on a fairly plain white shirt.

{Wearing: Everlane Notch-Collar Popover Shirt, Everlane Denim Skirt in Indigo Rinse (review coming soon), Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Celine Seau Sangle bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

I'm wearing a size 2 here, which is one size down from my usual 4.  And the shirt is still a bit oversized.  If you're looking for a fitted button-down type of shirt this isn't it.  But I actually like how it falls away from the body since it helps balance out more fitted bottoms like this Everlane denim skirt.  Also the sleeves were a bit long on me so I rolled them up once.

When I first took a look at this shirt in person, it reminded me of my school-girl uniform I had to wear during elementary school (yay for private Episcopalian school).  It was a shirt just like this with either a skirt or a jumper.  And so that thought must have stuck with me when I first styled it with this skirt:

{Wearing: Everlane Notch Collar Popover Shirt, notPerfectLinen MARSEILLE linen skirt (review coming soon), Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Smaaks Amsterdam bag (should I review this?)}

Doesn't that looks like some kind of school uniform lol?  

Anyway this shirt is being released today and thanks to Everlane for gifting it.  But more importantly thank you guys for your continued support of my reviews!

Also, this recent article about the classic white shirt is an interesting read if you've got the time.

Everlane Review: The Easy Chino {Updated December 2020}

So after three years of blogging about Everlane I've finally made-it made it.  For the first time ever, Everlane gave me a sheet of all the things they are releasing in June and let me choose what I wanted to review!  So y'all this is my first post with a gifted item and I'm not ashamed. And these pants, called the Easy Chino which are being released today are another reason why I love Everlane. 

I was a bit hesitant at first about ordering pants from Everlane because historically they've never worked out for me (seriously not once for the last 3 years except for maybe the Cheeky Jeans).  So I was worried that I would try them on, hate them, and then have to figure out a polite way to tell my contact at Everlane that I'm returning the pants.  Because seriously a pair of $55 pants for free is not worth the integrity of this blog that I've spent 3 years to build up.  But man oh man I got lucky because I really truly love these pants.  

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

I was first drawn to these pants because they have the same silhouette as my all time favorite pants, Elizabeth Suzann's Clydes work pants.  Plus elastic waistbands are my jam. I got this in my usual size 4 (I have a 28" waist with 37" hips) and I would say they run true to size.  I might even be able to go down to a size 2 since I have so much give at the waist and room at the hips, but then I think the fit would be much more snug.  As it stands with the size 4, the fit is as easy as the name suggests.  The cotton fabric is soft and not overly crisp so it doesn't wrinkle like crazy (it’s 98% cotton with 2% elastane).  I wore these pants all day on Sunday and the fabric relaxed a bit but because of the waistband it doesn't really sag.  Also the shape of the pants falls away just enough so that it doesn't hug your butt.  So you don't have to worry about VPL (though I probably wouldn't wear super thick undies like my Thinx with these pants).  

As for how they compare with my Clydes?  The Easy Chino's aren't as high waisted as the Clydes and the waistband isn't as thick or as snug.  Also the Chinos are a tad on the longer side for 5'4" me, so I rolled up the bottom hems twice (I have to get my Clydes in 4 short).  I think the butt area of the Everlane Chinos are more flattering since the Clydes tend to balloon out more at the butt.  And of course the Chino material is completely different and much thinner than the linen and cotton canvas the ES uses for their Clydes.  But the Chinos make for a great cotton summer pant (since I find the gen 4 cotton canvas way too thick for the hot summer months here).  I'm just really excited to pair these pants with all my other tops and see how this ochre color goes with everything (it's first pair of ochre bottoms)!  Also the ochre color in these photos are way more orangey than in real life (sorry I tried correcting it but didn't know how to make it more brown colored).  Also I really like these pockets.  Of course they're not as big as the pockets on the Clydes but they're still pretty deep and I can fit my iPhone in it.  I love these pants so much I'm thinking of getting them in black (but that might be over-consuming Elaine talking so I'm going to sit on it for a bit and think about it).  

But I'm very happy to be able to recommend these pants that are being released today!  If you've been thinking about a pair of Clydes or something similar but don't have the budget for it, I do think these pants are an excellent dupe as easy elastic band pants!

P.S. Okay I bought the black ones too.  I know I know I need to consume less but I can't help it, I love these pants!  I'll be mindful and not get the ones in Stone because TBH I love that color too!

P.P.S. For those wondering about the rise on these, they sit at my belly button and it measures 10.5".  For comparison, my ES linen Clydes have a 12" rise.

Update: Hi guys so these pants are quickly becoming my favorite pair. I wear them constantly and have been washing them a lot, and I have started to notice a bit of fading and wear on the waistband. This is probably because I dry them on normal high heat, which is not recommended. If you want to keep your pants looking good, I would recommend hang drying (which is what I’m going to start to do to keep these pants nice). Gotta take care of our most loved clothes, right? Also I got another pair in black and they do pick up and show dog hair like crazy just fyi!

{December 2020 Update: So I’ve been wearing these pants for about two and a half years now and I still love them. They are probably my best purchase from Everlane ever. They continue to be my go-to pants (especially during this pandemic). They’ve faded a bit and the elastic has loosened a tad as well, but they work out perfectly since I’m a solid size 6 now. I’m happy to see that Everlane continues to stock these pants and have expanded the sizing and colorways (darn I wish I had snagged navy before they sold out).}

Everlane Try-on Review: The Denim Short, The Linen Relaxed Long-Sleeve Tee, The High Rise Twill Short, The Cheeky Straight Jean

So I finally did it.  I finally went to the Everlane store in SF.  I know I've said in the past I was disappointed in Everlane's lack of transparency to third party agencies but I just can't quit Everlane.  At least not cold turkey (with some credit in my account) because I am addicted.  So I thought if I tried on everything I wanted at once in their store, I'll at least save on the resources required for shipping and returning items.  It's a slightly more responsible way of shopping Everlane.  And also when it comes to my acquisition of new clothes, I'm going to try to be more mindful and keep it under 5 items total a month (still a lot I know but I gotta start somewhere because I'm definitely getting more than 5 things a month currently).  So here are some of the things I tried on but didn't buy.  I did buy 2 things but I'll do a full review of those once I put them through their paces.  

First up is the denim short in vintage dark blue (and worn with the linen muscle tank).  I would say that the short is true to size (I got my regular size of 28, I'm usually a 4-6 in pants and am 5'4") and since this is 100% cotton (unlike their jeans which are 98% cotton and 2% elastane) I don't think this will stretch out that much with wear.  So if I were to get this, I would have stuck with my usual 28 (plus I like my shorts to stretch out a bit and sit more loosely at the waist and use a belt if I need it).  But I didn't get it because I wasn't a fan of how the crotch area kind of bags out in a V (which is also why I didn't like Everlane's modern boyfriend jeans).  It's not so noticeable when my legs are apart but if you stand straight with your legs together, it just feels like there's excess material poofing out at the crotch.  It's no big deal but just a personal preference.

Then I tried the linen relaxed long-sleeve tee with these shorts.  I like their linen muscle tank and I've liked their linen knit dress in the past so I thought I might like their long sleeve version.  But nope the linen quality on these are not great and it's scratchy as hell on the arms.  That's definitely a deal-breaker for me.  Also this gray and white one was a tad sheer.  I should also note that my linen knit dress has stretched out over time (even though I lay to dry after every washing) and it's kind of a shapeless sack on me now.  I probably wouldn't purchase a dress in this linen material from Everlane again.

I also tried on the high rise twill short in size 6.  I probably have gotten away with a size 4 and it would have been perfect but I really wanted to try this color on and they only had a 6 on the rack in store.  Since these shorts are 95% cotton and 5% elastane, they will probably stretch out with wear and get pretty loose at the waist.  These shorts also had a bit of the poof problem at the crotch.  They also flared out a bit at the leg opening which I liked since it could accommodate my thicker thighs.  They're good shorts and if I were to choose between these or the denim one I think I might choose this one since the crotch didn't bag out as much on me.  But in general I have 2 pairs of shorts that I love and wear often and that's good enough for me.  

And last but not least is Everlane's cheeky straight jeans.  This is the only jean style from Everlane I had yet to try because I was getting pretty disillusioned by how poorly all their jeans fit on me (a lot of their styles just work better for taller girls).  Before this one, my closest favorite was the Kick Crop.  And then I declared I had enough pants earlier this year and that I would stop trying-on and buying pants.  So when the Cheeky jean came out I told myself I didn't need it (and I don't).  But since I was in the store I decided to try them on and oh man, these are THE ONE.  And by that I mean, these are the Everlane jeans made for me.  I love that the jean is fitted but not skinny and somehow these are the only Everlane jeans I've tried with zero v-shaped crotch bagginess.  Also the jeans made my butt look good, which also never happens.

I'm 5'4" and I'm wearing the ankle length pair since I have short legs.  I probably would hem them another inch or so since I like my jeans to show some ankle.  I'm wearing a size 28 here and I would probably keep it true to size since my thighs are on the bigger side.  But since they are 98% cotton and 2% elastane, they will loosen with wear.  If you want more of a fitted look (but not quite the skinny jean look) then I would probably size down.  If you want more of the mom jean look then stay TTS.  Here are Andrea's and Leah's reviews of these jeans (Andrea sized down but Leah didn't).  But in the end I didn't buy these because I said I had enough pants and I wasn't lying.  Also it's summer now in Cali and it's hot, so even if I did purchase these I probably wouldn't wear them until the fall.  If Everlane still has these around at the end of the year I might considering buying these to replace my Mott & Bow jeans (my current mom jeans).  But till then, no more buying pants for me!

Have any of you guys gone to the Everlane store (in SF or NYC) before?  I can't help it but I loooove their store and it just makes me want to buy more Everlane.  Anyway I'm going to try to save up all the things I want to try from them and just visit their store instead of all the buying and returning I do.  I know I have to do better!

Everlane Review: The Soft Cotton Popover Shirt

When I got Everlane's linen collarless shirt (which I loved, review here), I was super excited to also try their soft cotton popover shirt because I'm all about collarless right now.  I looked up a little history of the collarless shirt (also called the Grandad collar shirt) and it supposedly originated with blue collar workers who couldn't wear ties, which could get caught in machinery.  And so maybe it totally makes sense that I'm attracted to this kind of shirt (since nowadays I work in a garage and not in an office).  I love that there are no collars to get makeup on when I bend down.  This is the main reason I bought 2 Everlane linen collarless shirts (one in white and one in black).

So I thought the soft cotton version would work well with my lifestyle too.  And well it does, but I pretty much purchased a size way too small.  I'm usually a size 4, but I didn't want it to be too oversized so I consulted their product dimensions and bought a 0 *facepalm*.  I really should have bought a 2.  So now the fit is a bit weird and y'all agreed with me on Insta-story too lol.

But one person did say the shrunken shirt was more like a Korean- way of styling and I can see that (also a bit of a Commes des Garcons to me). 

I like how soft the shirt is.  It feels like a soft vintage shirt that's been washed and worn for years, and to me it's much more preferable to stiff cotton poplin.  Also the soft cotton doesn't wrinkle as easily.  But it does feel a lot thinner than normal stiff cotton and so I'm not sure how well it will hold up in the long run.

But in the end, I decided not to repurchase it in a size up mostly because of the price.  This one shirt is $75, which seems like a lot for a cotton shirt.  Everlane' modern utility jacket (reviewed here) costs only $3 more at $78 and I feel like you're getting a lot more bang for your buck on that piece.  I'd be more willing to buy and keep this is it was closer to $65 and I might just wait and see if this goes on their "choose what you pay" sale.

{Wearing: Everlane soft cotton popover shirt, Elizabeth Suzann linen Clyde, Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here, reviewed here)}

Oh and one other thing about the sizing: I noticed that the 5'10" model on the Everlane site is wearing a size 0 and yet it does not look extra short on her.  I'm only 5'4" and it looks way shorter on me.  Hmmm...ah well like I said I'd get a size 2 if this ever goes on sale.  But really since I don't need it (and since I already have 2 collarless shirts from Everlane) I have no plans to rebuy it.  However, if you're looking for a wrinkle-resistant, less stiff and very soft cotton collarless shirt for the office, this might be a good option for you.  Just get it true to size or one size down if you want a more fitted look.

P.S. I went to the Everlane store yesterday to try on some things and so this is me wearing the gray version of the popover shirt in size 2.  Size 2 is definitely a better size for me (and that's still one size smaller than my usual size 4), and I noticed the gray version is quite sheer.  So I think I prefer the blue and white striped one.  

Everlane Review Linen Oversized Collarless Shirt

Ah, another season of new linen offerings and this is my third year of Everlane linen shirts.  I know, I'm like the Goldilocks of Everlane linen tops.  First there was the collarless linen square shirt 2 years ago (which I never kept because I disliked the volume of the square shape), and then there was last year's classic relaxed linen shirt (which I just sold on my Closet Sale page).  Now there's this year linen oversized collarless shirt, and like they say third time's the charm, because I love love love this shirt.  So much so that I went and bought the black version of this after wearing this white shirt one day.

{Wearing: Everlane line oversized collarless shirt, Elizabeth Suzann Linen Clyde pants, Everlane Day Heel Mules, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

But first a note on sizing: I'm usually a size 4 in Everlane tops but when I saw the words 'oversized' I went a size down because I prefer my shirts to be more fitted.  And I have to say the size 2 is perfect.  Everything is still loose around the chest and shoulders but not overly so.  I decided for the black linen version to size down even smaller to a 0 since I felt it could be even more fitted, but for the white one the 2 is small enough (any more fitted and I'm afraid you can start seeing my bra through the shirt).  I'll update this review when I get the black 0 and let you know how it fits.

But as it stands, the white in size 2 is still opaque enough that you can't see a nude bra through the material.  You can kind of see the outline of my black pants in the picture below but that's no biggie.  

So what makes this linen shirt so perfect for me is the collarless-ness.  I sold last year's version of the linen shirt (with a collar) as well as my two Grana linen shirts with collars because I kept getting make-up on the white linen collars and I hated that.  This collarless version is awesome since I don't get any makeup on it but it still has the easiness of a white linen button-down.  It's a combo of Everlane's linen shirt from 2 years ago (collarless, square) and their shirt from last year (collared, not-square).

Here I am trying the half-tuck look.  I don't think I'm a fan or can quite pull it off, lol.  What do you think?

Anyway I'm thrilled with Everlane's newest iteration of the linen shirt.  As usual Everlane's linen is good (though not as thick as Elizabeth Suzann's).  The texture is still quite soft and smooth.  Can't wait to try out the black linen version and I'll update this review once I get it.

Has anyone else tried this year's linen shirt and what did you think?

P.S. Got the black version in size 0 and I still love it.  The fit again is still good and not tight at all around the shoulders or chest.  Still love this collarless shirt and so glad I got it in both black and white!  But I think for the best proportions, just one size down from your normal Everlane size is best.

Everlane Review: The Editor Slingbacks

Ever since I saw the Paul Andrew Rhea slingbacks on Shopbop (over a year ago) I've wanted a shoe just like it (but I wasn't about to drop $500+ on a pair of shoes).  So I was super excited when Everlane previewed their Editor Slingbacks on their site, though I have to admit, it felt kind of Zara-y since Everlane's version does look a lot like the original Paul Andrew ones.  But there are only so many ways you can do a simple black slingback right?  Well I would have kept these ethical versions with no qualms if only the sizing had worked out.

But I should have learned my lesson from trying the Editor heel (reviewed here) that my usual Everlane size of 8 is too big for this style of shoe.  Or rather, the width is perfect for me (and my wide feet) but by sizing up, the length of the shoe ends up being too long, and in a slingback like this, you really do need to have the perfect size for the shoe to stay on.  But man oh man I really wanted this shoe to fit.  

Though even if the shoe had fit, they weren't that comfortable to walk around in.  The soles were pretty flat and stiff, while the slingback really didn't do much to keep the shoe on your foot (though of course having the perfect size here would have helped).  I do think the design of the Paul Andrew Rheas is much better at keeping the shoe on your feet, with the suede wings coming up around the ankle with a large elastic right at the heel.  But I guess that's what you would be paying $500 for.  

I think both the Editor heel and the Editor slingbacks would be better suited for those with narrower feet and who work in an office environment.  Since I have neither narrow feet nor work in a carpeted and air-conditioned office, these shoes are definitely not suited for me.  So back they went (and don't worry I wipe down my concrete floors before taking the pics above so the shoes are still pristine).  Also I have a new pair of pointed flats in my life that I love (Rothy's, which I'll review soon) so I'm good in the pointed flats department!

*This post is unsponsored but I use affiliate links where I earn cents for each click.  I do not earn any money if you choose to buy anything on this site, unless it's through my referral links, like this one for Everlane (well it's technically Everlane credit, not cash), which helps me do reviews more like this one.  Thanks again for your guys' support!

P.S. Here's an update of how these shoes wear from Jamie.  The thin strap in the back does get stretched out with wear so it won't fit the same as when you first try it on FYI.

Everlane Underwear vs. Wama vs. Lively vs. Naja (vs. PACT vs. Hesta)

Lively, Everlane, Wama

*This review is unsponsored though I purchased the Wama underwear at a discount and used my referral credit to purchase the Everlane underwear

I've become quite the underwear tester these days, or maybe it's just because there are a lot of ethical underwear on the market today.  Well I've reviewed PACT in the past (which I loooove love love) as well as Hesta (which I don't like).  Today I'll add Lively, Everlane, and Wama to my ethical underwear reviews.

Lively Underwear

First up Lively, which quite frankly doesn't really fall under "ethical" IMO, even though they have their own factory where they can "extend [their] company values and standards to our LIVELY factory family" (taken from their website).  When I asked for further details about their production practices, this is what I got:

Our supply chain is supported by a world class manufacturer that has been in the business for over 60 years! They are experts and engineers in this category of business, which is why we partner with them as it is important for us to have not only a well designed product, but one with amazing quality. 

Our manufacturers have partnered with us to ensure that our LIVELY ethos holds true to the factories and workplace in which we produce. They built a factory dedicated to LIVELY that we have owned for 4 years; it is brand new, full of light and a beautiful place to work in southern China. We meet and exceed fair labor practices and wages. The staff of thirty is comprised of mostly women who have the finest workmanship and passion for their craft. We know that in order to make a great product, everyone involved in the LIVELY brand has to be happy in the work they do and we want them to be #livingLIVELY!

So yes technically they can be considered ethical, but something about their copy here seems fake (like really, the factory women have a passion for making underwear?).  Anyway either way I won't be purchasing underwear from them again since theirs are made from rayon and spandex (all synthetic) and I like my underwear to be 100% cotton.  Also the instructions for washing call for hand-washing and there's no way I'm hand-washing these undies every time.  Fit and feel were okay.

Everlane

Ah, the much marketed Everlane underwear.  I purchased the black bikini undies in medium (I'm a size 4-6 on the bottom but prefer my underwear to be on the loose side--nothing worse than an underwear band constricting my belly).  And well, they're good.  I can wear them all day without giving them a second thought (a sign of good underwear since you're not supposed to have to think about or deal with undergarments).  In fact, they feel pretty much the same as my PACT bikini underwear.  Everlane's is made with 92% supima cotton and 8% elastane while PACT is 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane.  So if I have to choose between the two, I'm going to stick with my PACT since those are made with GOTS certified, fair trade organic cotton (for almost the same price as the Everlane ones, and the PACT ones do go on sale periodically).  Conventional cotton (even the supima kind) rely heavily on pesticides and fertilizers that pollute the waterways and the environment, so whenever I can, I try to purchase organic cotton preferentially.  As much as I love Everlane, PACT is still a clear winner for me on this item (you can read my PACT review here).

Wama

Now here's something different in the ethical underwear department: underwear made from hemp from Wama.  Well 53% hemp, 44% organic cotton and 4% spandex to be exact.  These are not your everyday underwear.  The material is a lot thicker and feels more substantial but still very soft.  It's like the light sweater of undies, but don't worry it won't make your bum hot since the material is quite breathable.  Right now they only come in a boy short form, which I'm not a huge fan of (I just prefer plain 'ole bikini bottoms).  Also because of the thicker material it will show some VPL with some of the clingier fabrics and form fitting bottoms.  But if you're a boy shorts kind of gal, this brand is definitely worth a try.  Since they're quite pricey, use TEMPORARYHOUSEWIFEY20 to get 20% off your order until May 31st.  Also check out Leah's review of them here (and learn more about hemp production as well)!

Naja (not pictured)

When I did the Naja bra review, I also ordered one pair of their cheeky knickers (which are basically boy shorts to me).  These are made with 94% "Peruvian" cotton and 6% elastane, and claim to "save the environment" because they digitally print the designs on the undies (opposed to dying them I guess).  The fit on these were not great (kept giving me wedgies-- not fun) and the designs are all pretty weird and ugly.  And then they're $22 a piece so I'm going to say just pass on these.

Conclusion

So which is the brand I'm going to replace all my ratty VS underwear with?  You probably guessed it, PACT!  Can't beat comfort and organic cotton.  Next I'll be trying PACT's organic cotton tees and do a PACT vs. Everlane vs. Grana vs. Cuyana vs. Amour Vert tee review so stay tuned for that!

Everlane Review The Day Glove {Update June 2019}

* I received these shoes free as a gift from Everlane so this is a type of sponsored post

So the Day Glove.  Everlane has put in a lot of marketing dollars in this one, as evidenced by even reaching out to small-beans bloggers like myself and giving me a free pair to try before their release.  I'm very stoked that this is my first totally free item from Everlane (not counting what I purchase through referral credits).  But I'm going to try not let that bias my review here since you guys come here for the truth (or at least my truth, lol).  So what did I think of this shoe?  Unfortunately this particular "Day" shoe isn't the one for me.  

First a note on sizing: I got my usual Everlane size of 8 (I'm usually a 7.5 in most other shoes).  I do have wide feet and thus have had issues with Everlane's narrow shoe sizing in the past.  But I think the Day Glove can accommodate wide feet since I had no problems with the width in these shoes.  No, my problem might be a puffy top of the foot, so I had some issues with the edge of the shoe rubbing there.  Also on the right foot, I had some rubbing that led to a small blister (but not the kind that bubbles and pops).  I could keep wearing it fine as long as I had a bandaid there.  And I was still able to comfortably climb the ladder up to the roof of my new trailer home, which was my version of Everlane's "Day Glove Dare" (see the top pic of me and my Day Glove chilling on the roof).

I also had a problem with sweaty feet in these shoes.  Even though there are two air holes in the arch area, it doesn't help in 80 degree weather.  With 100 degree weather coming up in a couple of months, I probably won't be wearing this shoe very much (and I can only really wear it in the winter here in San Jose).  Instead I'll be wearing my favorite summer shoe, the Everlane street sandals  (I'm on my second pair, and I've cut off the elastic to make it even better).

The nice thing about these shoes are the rubber sole (which is a first for Everlane shoes) and the padded insole.  I usually need arch supports in really flat shoes but found that my arches were fine in these so I think the insole has enough structure to be comfortable.  I also liked the look of these shoes, and in this pink color it reminded me of cute ballet shoes.

I just think in the end, this particular Everlane Day shoe doesn't work for me personally.  I much prefer Everlane's Day Heel Mules (reviewed here).  But I do think everyone is different, and this is by no means a bad shoe.  This shoe will probably work best for those who's feet are not as wide and puffy (fat?) as mine.  As for me, I won't be wearing these so I'm going to sell it here with 100% of the profit going to International Rescue Committee (a new refugee charity I'm going to concentrate my dollars on since writing this post).

{Update: as Henny mentioned in the comments below and as Grechen mentions here these shoes look a lot like the Martiniano Glove Shoe, which makes this the second shoe that I know of that Everlane has "ripped off".  I'll be reviewing the first shoe that I know of on Monday--it's the Editor slingbacks reviewed here.}

{June 2019 Update: I finally bit the bullet and tried the Martinano Glove Shoe that “inspired” Everlane’s Day Glove. You can read that comparison review here.}

Everlane Review The Day Heel Mule

I am a huge sucker for Everlane shoes (as evidence by all my Everlane shoe reviews) and there are a lot of times I really love the look of the shoe but it fails me in terms of fit and comfort.  And this is usually because Everlane's shoes have run pretty narrow in the past.  But I'm happy to report that this is not the case for the Day Heel Mule!  In fact, I've worn these so many times since I got them that they're now the second most worn shoes in my closet this year (after my Vince Blair sneakers).

First a note on sizing: I got this in my usual Everlane shoe size of 8 (I'm usually a 7.5-8), and I found that they fit perfectly with little or no gap between my heel and where the shoe ends.  The forefront of the Day Heel Mules are a good width and so even though I have a slightly wide foot, I have no issues.  

These are made in the same factory as the regular Day Heels (in Montopoli in Val D’Arno, Italy) so the fit between those and the mules are very similar.  I really like the sizing of the shoes from this factory (as say compared to the factory where the Modern Loafers are made) because they tend to keep the width of the shoes pretty normal.  The leather of the Mules is also the same soft and beautifully supple leather as the regular Day Heels, but that also means that the shoes are prone to nicks and scratches.  I decided to go with the only leather option (in the color cognac) because I'm not a fan of suede.  So if you like the Day Heels, you'll probably like the Day Heel Mules even better (well if you like the style) since it wears pretty similar except with the mules you don't have the scrunched up leather at the Achilles tendon like the Day Heels do (I found that when I walk around in my Day Heels a lot, that part of the shoes rubs my heels and makes it a tad painful).

{Wearing Left: Everlane Modern Utility Jacket (reviewed here), Frame denim jeans (similar here), Everlane Day Heel Mules, Polene Numero Un bag (reviewed here) // Wearing Right: Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Dress (review coming soon), Chanel crossbody (similar here)}

I included these shoes as part of my Spring 10x10, and I got to see how really versatile they are.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of the cognac color, it actually went with a lot of my outfits because I think the color is neutral enough.  The 2 inch block heels were also just enough height to help elongate the leg but still really comfortable to walk around in.  I did go shopping in them once and after a couple hours I did find that the pinkie toes on both of my feet were a bit pinched and red but I didn't get any blisters (and now that the skin there has hardened a bit, I no longer have that same problem).  And the only other issue I found is that the smooth soles can be a tad slippery so something like this would help.

I love that the shoes are a perfect match to my Celine Seau Sangle (similar here, reviewed here) in the picture above.  

Anyway if you are in the market for a good pair of leather mules, I have to say that these are a huge winner for me and definitely worth trying out.  I'm so in love with them that they may have become my favorite pair of shoes from Everlane ever and I wouldn't be surprised to see them on next year's Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post (this was this past year's post).

Anyone else try the mules and what did you think?

Everlane Review The Modern Utility Jacket

*unsponsored

Back in January, when I wrote up the review for the Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Jacket, I was left searching for a good work jacket with pockets.  A reader had suggested Tradland's Chore Coat, and I was considering it but procrastinated on buying it (since I was already buying too many things).  But then I saw that Everlane was going to come out with a coat with pockets and decided to wait for their Modern Utility Jacket to be released.  And boy was I not disappointed!  It's as if Everlane read my mind (or my blog) and made the perfect work jacket for me (lol, though I know that's not possible considering the lead time it takes for production).  But really, this jacket is everything I wanted.  

First a note on sizing: I got this in my usual Everlane size of small (I'm 5'4" and usually a size 4 on top) and it fit well.  It's a tad long for my petite frame so the jacket does look better on me when it's open and unzipped.  The small is still a bit oversized and it's large enough for me to fit a sweater like Everlane's Long Sleeve Crew underneath (which I usually do pair together when it's a bit chilly).

{Wearing: Everlane Modern Utility Jacket, Frame straight leg jeans (similar here), Everlane Day Heel Mules (review coming soon), Polene Numero Un bag (reviewed here)}

Here are all the things I love about this jacket:

~ 4 big pockets with gussets that can fit bulky items (like a walkie tallkie) and that have snaps to keep the pocket secure.

~ The twill material is super sturdy and substantial but still lightweight.  This is exactly the kind of material I think of when I think of a "utility jacket."

~ I love that there is both a zipper option and a snap option.  I rarely like to zipper up all the way, but it's a great option.  The snaps are large, well-made and easy to use.

~ Another great option to have but that I don't use is the drawstring at the waist so that you can cinch it in for a better silhouette.  Since this is my work jacket I don't really care too much but I might try it out the next time I have the jacket closed so that I look less blocky.

~ And I love that the collar stands up but it stays away from my face and chin so that I don't get any makeup on it.

{Wearing: Everlane Modern Utility Jacket, Elizabeth Suzann Silk Georgia Dress (review coming soon), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules (review coming soon), Celine Seau Sangle bag (similar here and reviewed here)}

I can't think of any cons to this jacket (so far but of course will update this post if I do).  Also just to note, the color of the jacket on Everlane's website is a touch more brown than IRL.  I've worn this jacket 10 times in about 3 weeks (where 1 of those weeks was really hot so there was no need for a jacket).  I've also used this jacket in my Spring 10x10 and I love it even more every time I wear it.  This is the best LSJ (light spring jacket, term learned from Grechen) I've ever had and one of my favorite items from Everlane this year.  If I wasn't working on mindful consumption, this jacket would be something I would buy multiples of in different colors because I love it so much (but as it stands, I know I only need one so I will only buy one lol).

Everlane Review The Kick Crop Jeans

When it comes to Everlane bottoms, I feel like quite the Goldilocks.  I have tried many many pants and jeans from them and have yet to keep one long term (the only one I committed to was the Wide Leg Crop pants, which I ended up selling several months later).  I have also tried every variation of their sustainable denim with no success.  So I would love to say that I've finally found my pair of Everlane pants, but sadly no I did not end up keeping this one either.  But I've finally figured out why because TBH, these kick crop jeans are probably the closest pair of ideal jeans I've ever tried from Everlane.  But the reason Everlane jeans don't work for me is the rise.  I have realized I'm just not a high-rise jeans person, I'm a mid-rise jeans person (and I will only tolerate high-rise pants if they have elastic waistbands like Elizabeth Suzann's Clyde Pants).  When I wear high-rise pants, I'm tempted to undo the button every time I sit down, much like men un-button their blazer button when they sit (if only this was acceptable for us to do, lol).  

Too bad too since I really like the look of these jeans:

{Wearing: Everlane old cropped cashmere (similar here), Everlane Kick Crop jeans, Everlane Day Heel Mules (review coming soon), Polene numero un bag (review coming soon)}

The jeans run TTS and are a great option for those with short legs since you can cut the hems yourself to your desired length.  And I think even if you cut off an inch or two it doesn't change the flare of the jeans too much (here I'm just folding up the hem to my ideal length).  I also really love this classic blue jean color and found that this is a lot softer than the all black denim I tried in the mid-rise skinny reviewed here (those jeans didn't do it for me since I'm abstaining from buying more skinny jeans at the moment).

{And oops a note on sizing since I forgot but Joy was so good to remind me in the comments!  So I'm usually a size 4-6, and have been getting Everlane jeans in 28 (except for the modern boyfriends where I sized down like a lot of folks).}

Anyway if you're a petite person looking for a good pair of high-rise pants, these jeans are definitely worth a try.  Has anyone else tried the new kick crop and what did you think?

P.S. Here's another review of the kick crop from one of my favorite Aussie bloggers!

Everlane Review The Double-Lined Silk V-Neck Dress

Back when double-layered silk came out on Everlane's site, I was like "Yes, finally!" since Grana has been doing it for awhile and all my favorite silk pieces are double-layered.  But I never purchased it since I already had so many silk items that I honestly wasn't wearing (mostly due to the upkeep).  But when I saw this dress was on sale (aka 'choose what you pay') I thought, why not?  And for those interested, it's still on sale at 45% off the original price.  For $69, if you're in the market for a good silk shift dress I think this might be the one for you.

{Wearing: Everlane double lined silk dress, Everlane modern oxfords, Everlane Day Market Tote}

First a note on sizing: I ordered this in a size 6, which is one size up from my usual Everlane size of 4.  I wanted a loose fit overall but I think I could have gone with a size 4 as well.  

I really love that Everlane chose to do this as a double layer of silk since it prevents VPL and makes it feel so much more substantial than a single layer.  I also love that the dress has a v-neck with thick straps at the shoulder instead of a strappy dress like Grana's since it allows me to wear a regular bra underneath.  Everlane's and Grana's crepe de chine are both 16mm, which is on the thinner side of well-made silk (Elizabeth Suzann uses 23mm and Cuyana uses 25mm silk), but since this is double lined, that actual momme weight of the silk is not as important.  But I did find that it wrinkles pretty easily (as soon as I sat down to tie my shoes I got some wrinkles).  And my only other complaint is that I wish it had pockets, though that's a nice to have, not a need to have.

But in the end I decided to return it because 1) I already don't wear any of the silk items I have in my closet and 2) I definitely don't need another black dress and 3) until I hit the gym seriously or do some pilates to firm up my triceps, I'm going to stay away from acquiring more sleeveless dresses.  But there's nothing wrong with the dress itself and for $69 it's a great deal (even Grana's silk dresses start at $79 and theirs is only double-lined at the bodice now, not the whole dress anymore).  I told myself that if I sell a couple of my silk items and this Everlane dress is still available I'll let myself repurchase it.

Anyone else try this dress and what did you think?

Tale of Two Totes, Part 2: Everlane The Day Market Tote {Updated February 2019 with a comparison with the Everlane Day Square Tote}

If you're wondering about the title, I called this two-part-post series as "Tale of Two Totes" because I started using both this Everlane Day Market Tote and the Celine small cabas phantom (reviewed here as Part 1) at pretty much the same time.  Both are really great totes but very different.  I use the Celine tote as my everyday personal bag, while the Everlane tote is my work bag (having replaced my Everlane dipped zip tote, similar here).

Everlane Day Market tote vs. Everlane Twill tote

I decided to upgrade my twill tote to the leather market day tote because I found the twill tote a bit too small for my work needs.  I originally liked that the twill tote could be fully zipped, but for my day-to-day work life, I don't really need a zipper with my tote. Instead I needed a tote that could handle all the things I pile into it.  And the Day Market Tote does that perfectly!

The leather on this Market Tote is interesting.  I own a lot of bags and haven't really had a bag with this kind of stiff but lightweight leather before.  The leather of this tote most closely resembles the vegetable-tanned leather of the Mansur Gavriel tote (with the difference being the MG tote has that patent leather-type of colored interior).  The MG tote is also a bit shinier and stiffer than the Everlane tote.  The Everlane tote is unlined with a flat (and rather useless) pocket on one side.

When I asked Everlane for more information about their leather, I got this very informative response:

We source our leather from cows killed for meat, so the material we use is a bi-product from the meat industry. Instead of letting that material go to waste, we are using it to create bags and shoes. I believe it is sourced from exclusively adult animals.  We label it Italian leather because it is tanned in Italy. We use both vegetable tanning and chrome tanning in the processing of different products. In the case of chrome tanning, we use only chemicals that have passed all environmental compliance laws currently in place. To the best of my knowledge, we chrome tan for our more brightly colored leather products, and vegetable tan for the rest.

I think if you're debating between this tote and the Mansur Gavriel tote I would definitely go with this one.  Not only is the sourcing of the leather for the Everlane bag more transparent and ethical but I think the quality of the Everlane tote is better too (especially in light of all that I learned from this blog post).

{Wearing: Everlane Double-layered Silk v-neck dress (review coming soon), Everlane Day Market Tote, Everlane Modern Oxford (reviewed here)}

More good things about Everlane's Day Market tote:

- If you love that leather smell on bags, this tote is for you.  For some reason the leather on this still smells like leather even after a month of daily use.  

- I love the large flat handles that don't dig into your shoulders

- This bag is super sturdy and can stand up on its own, but it's still super lightweight

Everlane's website description recommends treating the bag before first use, and I would agree that's a good thing to do.  Being the lazy blogger that I am, I did not (though I could say it was for the sake of seeing how this bag will stand up without leather treatments), and now there are several scratches and gouges.  Compare that to my Celine tote (which I've been carrying for longer) that doesn't have any marks on it yet.  So if you dislike marks on your bag, you might be better off with something that made of soft pebbled leather (like the one from Cuyana).

Right now this tote in this navy color is sold out, though other colors are available.  And if you're a first-time Everlane customer, please help support the blog with a purchase through my referral link so that I can continue to write a plethora of Everlane reviews (and thank you to all of those who used my link in the past for your support!).

{December 2018 Update: For those wondering how this bag has fared over 100 uses you can read my updated post here. This has been my most used item in my closet and one of the best totes I’ve ever used!}

{February 2019 Update: And if you’re looking for something more everyday and not quite as large, Everlane has come out with the slightly smaller sized Day Square Tote. The Day Square Tote dimensions are 16 1/2" W (top) x 14 1/2" W (bottom) x 13" H & 9 1/2" handle drop while the Day Market Tote reviewed here is 19" W (top) x 16 1/2" W (bottom) x 13" H & 9 1/2" handle drop. So the Square Tote has the same height and strap drop but is slightly narrower. If I was given a choice today I might go with the Square Tote since I’m more on the petite side and I find the Market Tote to be quite wide. But I don’t need two of these bags so I’m working towards 200 wears with my Market Tote!}

Everlane Review Cotton Long Sleeve Crew, 2018 released cotton sweater

I wanted to write a second post on Everlane's long sleeve crew because after my first review here I ordered this sweater again (in stripes this time) after waiting almost 6 months.  And I feel like they are 2 totally different sweaters.  See what I mean:

First purchase (pink sweater) on top and the new purchase on the bottom, both smalls.  Also I did dry clean the pink sweater once so I'm pretty sure it's not a matter of shrinkage from washing.  I actually prefer the fit of the newest batch since the first one was too cropped for me (and I kept flashing my midriff to people).  The newest version is larger all around and slightly wider too (and more like Everlane's favorite square style).  

The first run production have white labels while the second run production (with the bigger fit) has large gray tags.

{Wearing: Everlane long sleeve crew, Frame denim (similar here), Everlane Street Sandals}

Also I noticed that from the get-go I didn't have any problems with loose threads on this striped cotton sweater.  So overall I'm loving Everlane's cotton sweater more than ever.  Now if the weather would just cooperate and get warmer so that I can wear it more often.

Did anyone else try Everlane's long sleeve crew?  The first or second production run and what did you think?