Everlane Cotton Poplin Culotte Review

When I think of culottes, I think back to my awkward tween years when I had no sense of fashion (since I went to a school that had uniforms), and so my mom would buy my clothes for me.  And her style back then was all about culottes.  So I basically wore what she wore which meant culottes during the summer months when school was out or on weekends.  And it looked a lot like this:

*cringe*

Ever since those days I've had quite an aversion to culottes (even the word culottes makes me cringe).  But when Everlane came out with their modern take on the culotte for 2016, I thought it was at least worth trying (plus if it worked out, I thought it would be a great alternative to jeans in the summer.  I mean who wouldn't want to look stylish and feel like they're wearing PJs at the same time?).

So I gave it a shot.  But I forgot how much shorter I am than the models on Everlane's site:

Lol, they're almost long pants.  I'm not sure what you call this style but they look like harem pants without the tapering at the ankles.  The waistband on these pants are elastic which means they're comfortable but also looks more casual.  The poplin is crisp but wrinkles easily so again you'll be spending some time with your iron to make these look good.  Also the poplin is kind of thin so make sure you're wearing underwear that won't show VPL.  

Ah well at least I tried something new, but I think I'll be sticking to my shirt and jeans.

Everlane Linen Scoop Neck Tee Review

Hi guys, just a quick Everlane review for you today.  I wasn't originally planning to try out Everlane's linen scoop neck tee because the scoop neck looked so huge on the model, but since I was pleasantly surprised by Everlane's linen dolman tee dress, I thought why not give this style a try too (plus I'm a huge fan of Everlane's striped linen fabric).  I ordered this in a size small and it fit perfectly!

I'm a huge fan of this top.  Like I had mentioned in the dolman tee review, the linen material is lightweight without being sheer.  It's the perfect material for the summer.  As for the style of the tee, I like the scoop neck and probably because I'm a bit heftier (in a good way) than the model from Everlane, I think the linen hangs nicely and the neck doesn't look overly large.  In general I think this tee is a winner.

The Ultimate Everlane Review {Updated October 2023} with links to 150+ reviews

Since I've accumulated so many Everlane reviews, I thought it's about time I sat down and organized them into the best (or at least my favorites), the honorable mentions, the mediocre (the "meh") and the not so great items I've purchased.  I'll keep updating this post periodically as I get more and more Everlane reviews up on the site so keep checking back!

{And go here if you want Everlane Reviews sorted by clothing category}

My Favorites

(In no particular order)

Everlane Modern Point Review: still looks great and is getting even more comfortable with each wear

Everlane Cashmere sweater review, the Donegal cashmere sweater review

Modern Ankle Boots review

Anorak review

Slim Crew Shirt

Linen Dolman Tee Dress

Street Sandals: My favorite Everlane shoe so far

Cotton Striped Tank Dress

Cotton Poplin Collarless Shirt Dress

Modern Oxfords

Stretch Ponte Skirt

Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew Sweater

Leather Foldover Crossbody Bag

Fisherman Cotton Zip Pullover

Wide Leg Crop Pant

Modern Loafer Mule

Dipped Zip Tote

Relaxed Linen Shirt

Form Slide and Form Crossover Sandal

Cotton Collarless Belted Shirt Dress

The Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Pull On Skirt

The Day Heel

The Cotton Two Pocket Shirt

The Waffle Knit Cashmere Crew

The Cotton Long Sleeve Crew (and the 2018 version which is a tad bigger)

The Day Market Tote

The Double-lined Silk V-neck dress

The Kick Crop Jeans

The Modern Utility Jacket

The Day Heel Mules

The Linen Oversized Collarless Shirt

The V-Slingback

The Easy Chino

The Denim Skirt

The Polka Dot Shirt Dress

The Form Bag

The Texture Cotton Crew

The Boss Mules

The Soft Cotton Square Crew

The Cotton Linen V-Neck

The Day Tote Mini

The Easy Chino Shorts

The Straight Leg Crop

The Honorable Mentions

Cotton tees (of all styles): I'm personally a big fan of these casual and affordable shirts, but if you're looking for a really high quality tee then Cuyana or Grana are actually a bit better. The Everlane tees tend to have wrinkled and creased collars over time and if you get one snag, it will become a pretty big hole fairly quick.  Also some colors (like the dark gray and the micro striped tees) which are made in Vietnam (the others are made in LA) tend to shrink.  But like I said I'm a big fan because they look ok and I use them for work (and get grease stains or holes in my shirt all the time, so I don't feel as if I wasted a ton of money on these when I have to add them to my rags collection).

Everlane silk sleeveless top: I like the quality of their silk (though I think Cuyana's is better, but with everlane you get a better value).

Everlane Street Shoes

Everlane Modern Loafer

Modern Zip Backpack

Ponte Collection Short-Sleeve Dress

Boxy Striped Tee

Marled Wool Chunky Knit Crew Neck Sweater

Street Fleece Bomber

Street Ankle Boots

Square Silk Shirt

Swing Trench

Cotton Muscle Tank

Modern Babo

Indigo Linen Shirt Dress

Cotton Poplin V-neck Tank Dress

Linen Collarless Square Shirt

Everlane Linen Scoop Neck Tee

Gia Collection Tank Top

Cotton Poplin Cutaway Tank

Leather Card Case

Japanese GoWeave Back-Zip Tee Review

Luxe Drape Scoop Neck Tee

Pima Stretch Turtleneck

The City Anorak

Premium Ribbed Cashmere Sweater

E2 Bomber Jacket

Cashmere Crop Square Mockneck

The Silk Shell

The Pocket Tote

Stretch Ponte Crop Pants

Linen Shirt Dress

Japanese GoWeave Mini Slip Dress (black only, white is meh)

Bridge Sandals

Beach Collection Canvas Backpack

Beach Pullover Hoodie

The Street Nylon Fanny Pack

The Editor Heel

The Lightweight Puffer Jacket

The Italian Go Weave easy pants

The Day Glove

The Soft Cotton Popover Shirt

The Cotton Notch Collar Popover Shirt

The Japanese GoWeave Short Sleeve Mini Wrap Dress

The Linen Muscle Tank

The Cashmere Rib Round Crew

The Renew Lightweight Puffer

The Wool Academy Blazer

The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirtdress

The Cotton Weave Picnic Dress

The Linen Pant

The Day Crossover Sandal

The Linen Picnic Top

The Mini Form Bag

The Cotton Linen V Neck Sweater

The "Meh"

Petra Tote:  I originally loved this tote, but this tote doesn't age well.  It stiffens over time and starts to feel rubbery (I think for a really great simple leather tote, Cuyana's Leather Tote might be better).

Everlane Crew Neck Sweatshirt and Short-Sleeved Sweatshirt

Chunky Wool Knit Cardigan

Chelsea Boot

Pima Cotton Stretch tee: I originally liked this top but found that I never wore it because it was so fitted.  I prefer Everlane's other cotton tees over this one.

Street Fleece Pants

Italian Slingback Sandals

Relaxed Poplin Shirt

Go Weave Cropped Trousers

Micro Stripe Tees

Poplin Shirt Dress and Poplin Square Shirt

Linen Crew Neck Sweater: I originally liked the sweater, but I never wear it because I don't think the style is as flattering as I first thought.  I like the linen tees from Everlane much better. 

Cotton Poplin Square Shirt Dress

Twill Shirt Dress (aka Camp Dress)

Gia Shorts

Cotton Poplin Sleeveless Shirt Dress

Modern Smoking Loafer Review

Linen Muscle Tank

Luxe Drape Muscle Tank Dress

The Pleated Skirt

The Cashmere Sweatpants

The Stretch Ponte Pants

Square Zip Wallet

The Pointed Slide

The Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress

The Oversized Blazer

The Short Puffer Jacket

The Modern Boyfriend Denim

The Cotton Long Sleeve V-neck Crop

The Mid-Rise Skinny Ankle Jean

The Wool Cashmere Waffle Square Crew

The Form Two Strap Sandal

The V Heel

The Square Toe Slingback

The Boss Loafers

The Oversized Alpaca Crew

The Cashmere V-neck Midi

Not So Great

(But this is according to my body shape and personal taste so take it with a grain of salt)

Everlane's French Terry Sweater

Clean Edge Tee

Sweater Tee

Scuba Sweatshirt

Luxe Double Knit Mockneck and Sweater Dress

Waffle Knit Turtle-Neck

GoWeave Track Pants

Slide Sandals

Cotton Poplin Culottes

Premium Cotton A-Line Tee Dress 

Silk Wide Leg Pants

The Cashmere Sweatshirt

Wool Cashmere Rib V-neck Cardigan

The Linen Sleeveless Shirt Dress

The Soft Wool Rib Crew Sweater

The Soft Cotton Square Cardigan

Cuyana Classic Zip Around Wallet and Leather Envelope Clutch Reviews

Hi guys and we have another review (well actually 2 reviews) from a fellow blog reader today!  Thank you to Linda for her awesome review of Cuyana's leather zip around wallet and the leather envelope clutch.  I never really thought about Cuyana's clutch, but after reading her review I'm very tempted to get one for myself!  So without further ado, in Linda's words:

I decided to order the Cuyana classic zip around wallet to replace a Tory Burch wallet that had worn out. I had ordered the Everlane slim zip wallet as an option but ultimately decided to return it because I was worried that the smooth-grained leather would be scratched too easily (I don't baby my leather goods as much as I should). I decided on the Cuyana wallet first because I had heard great things about the quality of their leather goods, and second because I wanted a simple, classic wallet with the option to monogram.

I waffled over color and monogram options for awhile but in the end decided to go with a very timeless option: black leather (lined in bright red), with my initials in monogram. 

Size-wise, this wallet is about the same size as the Tory Burch wallet, and comparable to other zip around wallets I've looked at. It fits a TON of stuff - far more spacious than the Everlane option. I've crammed mine full, with many ID cards, credit cards, receipts and so forth, and it still never feels bulky and the slots haven't stretched out too badly. I also love that it has the separate coin compartment in the center - super functional and easy to use.

Pros: 

- Quality: Like other Cuyana products, the leather is super soft and smooth. I've had this wallet for about six months now, and even carrying it in my backpack every day to and from work, it barely shows any signs of wear; a few smudges here and there, but nothing a quick wipe with a damp cloth or leather conditioner won't remove. 

- Size: The perfect size if you are a chronic hoarder of IDs, credit cards, loyalty cards, receipts, etc. but still want to look chic and pulled together!

- Color and monogram: I love the wide variety of chic color options this wallet comes in; if I were more carefully with my purchases, I would have loved the stone or blush options. Also, the stamped monogram is totally worth the $10, in my opinion, as it's held up really well with no signs of wear. 

Cons:

- Nothing comes to mind!

Overall, I am extremely happy with my purchase, and I can see this wallet lasting me for years. I've received many compliments on it, and I'm planning on purchasing more as gifts for dear friends in the future!

I purchased the Cuyana leather envelope clutch in pebbled black leather. I wasn't really considering any other clutch options like this one, as I was really looking for something structured and simple for upscale evening events. I already have an oversized black leather slouchy clutch from American Apparel, so I wanted something on the other end of the spectrum of black leather clutches. (I'm not very adventurous in my accessorizing - thus, all the black leather!) 

Pros:

- Quality: As expected, the quality of this clutch is just beautiful. This leather seems firmer and more durable than that of the wallet, funnily enough given it's more of a special occasion item rather than an everyday item. The magnetic closure is well-made and holds the bag closed with a comfortable amount of resistance when opening. 

- Size (weight/shape): This clutch is very lightweight, as it doesn't have any hardware or decoration, and it's the perfect depth for slipping under your arm if you're carrying a drink or shaking someone's hand. 

Cons:

- Capacity: This clutch is really meant to hold just the bare necessities, as the magnetic closure won't shut if the clutch is too full, and there's only one card slot in the back. For an evening out, I can comfortably fit a lip product, my iPhone 6, a small Altoids tin, and my room key/ID/credit card in the card slot - that's it. The lack of capacity was a bit surprising to me at first, but I like that it forces me to streamline what I bring. That being said, if you're looking for more capacity, I'd consider the convertible clutch.

It doesn't appear that this specific option is available any more, but looking at the current options, both the black shimmer pebbled leather and the black pebbled/smooth leather clutches look pretty similar and both are gorgeous, of course.

Gender differences at work

Today I want to break up the parade of reviews by sharing a post from one of my favorite bloggers, Ceely from Running off the Reese's (I guess she's technically a 'fitness blog' since she talks a lot about her workouts, but really she just blogs about her daily life).  I've always admired Ceely from afar not only for her honest and skilled writing, but also her no-nonsense manner.  And well, she just recently wrote one of my all time favorite posts about women in the workplace.  She hits the nail right on the head when she describes how women take on more than their fair share of work, oftentimes without speaking up for what they deserve (a promotion or a raise).  I've mostly had female bosses in the past and now I'm my own boss so I don't have as much experience with these situations, but as a people-pleaser I know the dilemma that she and other women in her workplace face.  Anyways, she explains it a lot better than I ever could so go take a quick read about it here.

P.S. I also just recently finished the book The Confidence Code, which looks at the reasons why women might be less assertive than men in the workplace (from our DNA, hormones, to upbringing and society).  I really liked all the scientific studies as well as personal stories that the authors include.  I wouldn't say this book is life-changing but if you ever struggle at work to speak up or ask for promotions, this book offers some tips.

P.P.S Like I said, I never really faced any discrimination or had an unfair share of work piled on me, but just recently at the Airstream garage I had a man come up to me, see me working at my desk and say "I'll come back when the boss is in".  I mean wth?!! I am the boss....Except I just said "sure" and went back to work.  I know I should have corrected him, but at the same time I didn't want to deal with the sleezeball.  At least when I told my husband, he recognized the discrimination and we had a good laugh about it.  And the guy never did come back.

P.P.P.S. Here's a fascinating podcast about how to solve the problem of the gender pay gap (and it's not just about legislation or about women speaking up for more money).  It's a really interesting one from one of my favorite podcasts, Freakanomics Radio.

Everlane Cotton Poplin V-Neck Tank Dress Review

Last week I reviewed both Cuyana's poplin shirt dress and Everlane's poplin square shirt dress.  And today I'll be reviewing the poplin dress I liked the most, Everlane's cotton poplin V-neck tank dress in washed black.  I ordered this in my usual Everlane size, size 2 and it fit perfectly (I'm usually a small or size 4 in dresses).

I would say this is the most fitted dress I've tried from Everlane thus far.  Everlane really likes to make boxy or loose fitting dresses that mostly look good on those with nice long legs.  But this tank dress was just right for my pear-shaped body.  The fit is a bit looser around the middle and narrows a bit near the legs.  I like the v-neck which doesn't show too much skin, and this dress also comes with pockets (side note: I love when dresses come with pockets but I don't really ever use said pockets.  I guess I just like having the option).  

I guess my only gripe with this dress is that at times, there's some weird bulging that does around my butt area (see pics above).  But that's a lot more noticeable in the pictures than in person.  In general, this is a great LBD for summer (IF you can handle the upkeep of poplin.  Like reader Colleen had commented in the Cuyana review, if you're going to keep the nice crisp look of poplin better be ready to spend some dough at the dry cleaners or get friendly with your iron).  Since neither of these things are an option in my current simplified-Airsteam-living, I passed on this dress and sent it back.  But if you're willing to put in the effort this black poplin tank dress could be the right simple dress for all occasions!

Cuyana Turkish Cotton Robe Review

Happy Monday guys and hope you all had a good weekend!  Today we have a Cuyana review from reader Susy (who awesomely answered my call for some help in reviewing Cuyana items).  So without further ado, here's her review on Cuyana's Turkish cotton robe:

"I was interested in this robe first because I keep seeing Turkish cotton towels popping up all over Instagram. I have one Turkish cotton towel and I adore it, so based on that and my trust in the Cuyana brand, I went ahead and ordered it. 

The website says that if you prefer a looser fit, move up a size, so while I normally would have ordered the S/M, I went with the L/XL. As you can see in the pictures, it's definitely oversized. I'm 5'6" and 125 lbs, so I felt extremely dwarfed in it. But that's the relaxed look I was going for, so I'm okay with it. 

The pros: the cotton / bamboo mix feels light in the summer and slightly heavy in the winter. The material itself is pretty thin, but no thinner than any other Turkish towel. I love the casual elegance and the wonderful drape it provides. I've washed it a couple times on cold delicate and hung to dry and it comes out looking just as good at ever. I'd say the fabric has a semi-dry hand feel (a term I learned from Everlane!).

The cons: the fabric has started to pill slightly around the seams. This is a minor thing compared to how I feel about the robe as a whole, I was just surprised because in my experience, Cuyana products are made to last, and I didn't really think this was a garment that would pill. So I just hope it doesn't get any worse or that I can use a sweater stone on it.

Overall, I use this robe every morning after I shower and I just love it! It's the perfect addition to elevate your normal routine."

And if you want to read more from Susy, go check out her blog AUSENNS and her insta account @susyolivia.  Thanks again Susy for your review and if anyone else is interested, I'd love to get more reviews on the site!

Everlane Cotton Poplin Square Shirt Dress (vs. Cuyana Poplin Shirt Dress)

Everlane seems to be really into the square style this summer with the release of their silk square shirt, their poplin square shirt and now their poplin square shirt dress.  I wasn't planning on trying out their poplin square shirt dress since I haven't been a fan of the square-style (to me, these square shirts just seem way too big to be flattering).  But when I decided to try out Cuyana's poplin shirt dress (which I reviewed this past Wednesday), I figured it would be good to see how Everlane's version of the poplin shirt dress compared.  And well...

meh, I didn't love it.

I think it's probably due to the fact that I have short legs and a pear-shaped body.  So the pleats and the extra wide material at the hips makes me look even more pear-shaped.  Also, if you get the white poplin, it's quite sheer.  I think if you have a more boyish figure, like the Everlane model, the dress could be super flattering.  I did like that this dress had pockets, unlike the Cuyana poplin shirt dress.  

Also, if you're wondering the poplin material of the Everlane dress is great but if you're looking for really high-quality poplin then the Cuyana shirt dress is a clear winner.  Cuyana's poplin (made in Turkey) is thicker, smoother and feels nicer than Everlane's.  But you're also looking at spending almost twice as much on the Cuyana dress than on the Everlane dress.

And here's Grechen's take on the Everlane poplin shirt dress but in the dark blue color (which I think looks great on her though she purchased it for her sister). 

Cuyana Poplin Layered Shirtdress Review

About a month ago I posted a quick poll asking readers what they wanted to see reviewed next from Cuyana.  And one of the top choices was their poplin layered shirtdress.  So here I present the Cuyana poplin shirtdress review.

When I first saw their layered shirtdress I was intrigued by the different design.  I love the addition of a slight tail in the back as well as the layers at the side slits.  But when I tried it on I felt a bit like I was wearing a old-school nurse's dress.  All that was missing was the little nurse cap with the red cross on it.

But I have to admit, this might be because I ordered a small instead of a medium.  On the model on Cuyana's site, the shirtdress fits looser, though if you look at my pics above you can see that when I wear the shirtdress there's less of a tail than in the pictures from Cuyana (as in the back-end on the model's dress is a lot more pronounced).  Which makes me think that the shirtdress I got is a bit different than the one on the site.  Either way I probably should have sized up to a medium (or it's an indication that I should get off my butt and work out at least once in a while, but that's another story).

Anyway I did like the shirtdress, but just not on me.  But here's what I liked about it:

~ The poplin from Cuyana is hands-down the best poplin I've tried on so far.  Not that I'm a poplin connoisseur, but the poplin from Cuyana is thicker and smoother than the poplin from Everlane. Cuyana's poplin has a beautiful sateeny sheen to it.

~ I like the double layer on the bottom half as it ensures that you can't see your underwear underneath (well for nude and light colors).  This also removes the need for a slip underneath.  The single layer of poplin on top is a bit sheer but just wear a nude bra and it'll be fine.

~ I love the details like the hidden buttons and the layered slits.  I also like the 3/4 sleeves.

But like I said I didn't love it so I sent it back.  Stay tuned since my next Cuyana review will be on something that I loved and kept (hint: it's another silk item).  As always my reviews are not sponsored and if you want to read more Cuyana reviews, you can find them here.

Grana (Japanese Denim) Slim Boyfriend Jeans Review

Hi guys and here's another quick Grana review today.  So far I've found that their silk tank is ok but not as good as the silk from Everlane or Cuyana, but Grana's pima cotton shirt is awesome and I already ordered more.  Today I'll be reviewing their japanese denim slim boyfriend jeans.  When I first put in my order a couple weeks ago, they were all sold out of the high rise skinny jeans and their slim jeans in my size so I went with what was left, their slim boyfriend jeans.  I'm not usually a fan of boyfriend jeans since I try not to add bulk to my lower half of my body since I'm already pear-shaped.  But I was willing to try it out and I was pleasantly surprised.

First a quick note on sizing: these jeans run big.  I'm not sure if it's Grana that runs big or just this style.  But I'm usually a 28 in jeans (size 4 in Everlane), so I ordered a size 28 in the dark wash and a size 27 in the light wash.  As you can see the 27 fit better in both the waist and thigh/butt area.  

As for the Japanese denim, I really loved it.  It's a very stiff, non-stretchy type of denim.  It's the kind of denim you find in vintage Levi's.  So true, there's not a lot of stretch so it can be a tad uncomfortable in the beginning but I liked that it kind of held my thighs in, sort of like stiff Spanx.  Grana's japanese denim is so refreshing after years of wearing super stretchy jeans.  This is good ole' fashioned denim.

I should note that reader Ximena commented that for her, Grana denim was itchy.  I didn't find it to be itchy at all, but it could be due to a difference in the style of jeans.  I could imagine that if I was wearing their skinny jeans, that the rough material would be a bit scratchy.  But in the boyfriend style, I think the looser fit means the denim isn't hugging your legs and so there's no itch.

So in the end, I kept the light wash jeans though I haven't been wearing it since the temps around here have been in the high 90's.  So I guess I'll be putting them aside until the fall.

If you're interested in trying out Grana's jeans for yourself, they retail for $49 (which is crazy affordable compared to designer denim) and this referral code will get you 10% off your first order.  Stay tuned for a couple more Grana reviews and in the meantime read up on past Grana reviews here.

P.S. If you're wondering why Grana can keep their prices low they explain it all here.

Have you guys heard of The Sweethome?

If you're a regular reader of Temporary-House Wifey, I'm guessing you're a fan of reviews.  Well, if you are then you need to know about The Sweethome!  It's basically a review site for everything except clothes.  You can find reviews on all things home related, about travel gear, electronics, and pretty much everything else.  And the best part of the reviews, is how thorough they are and their transparency (for example they disclose why the reviewer is an "expert" in that field, ie why they are qualified to do the review).

So why am I bringing this up?  Well, as my husband and I adjust to life in an Airstream we are continuing to purge items that we don't use and are really starting to enjoy the relatively few items we are left with.  And as we take a look at some of these things we use on a daily basis, we are starting to see how some of these items are not as great as they can be.  Take for example, my small saucepan that I used every morning to boil my egg (and pretty much use to cook everything with).  I had an old aluminum pot that I've had for 8 years, and my husband had for 10 years before that.  It still works as a pot but after all these years it's probably leaching aluminum into the food.  So now it's about time to replace it, with something I can use for another 20 years of my life.  And so I went to The Sweethome to research their picks for the best saucepan and went with their upgrade pick, the All-Clad Saucepan and I couldn't be happier.  I love this saucepan and even though it's heavier than my old one, I can cook anything in it and know that my food isn't reacting with the pot.  Since then I've tried a bunch of products off of their "best lists" and find that for the most part what they say is true (though of course I'm not the one comparing all the different items, but at least when I try their top pick it's better than the thing I currently have).  Though I'm tempted to buy a ton of things off their lists, I'm currently just replacing things that need replacing (like pillows and towels) or buying things I don't own but need (like steak knives).  And just in case you guys were wondering, The Sweethome is not sponsoring this post.  I'm just a fan of their thorough and extensive reviews.    

Have you guys tried anything recommended by The Sweethome?

Cuyana Summer Hat Review

Now that I live in a much hotter area I find that my skin, which is accustomed to the summer fog of SF, needs to adjust to the strong summer sun rays of San Jose.  Not only am I starting to reapply sunscreen on my face throughout the day and wearing sunscreen on arms and legs, but I'm also finding that wearing a summer hat can make a huge difference.  This is especially true when you know you're going to be out in the sun almost all day.  My new favorite item this summer is Cuyana's summer hat.  I've always wanted a good Panama hat but with it's wide brim, this summer hat is even better at keeping the sun off my face

I'm not really a hat person (the whole story about that here) but something about the wide brim and fedora shape made me want to try out this hat.  Plus I know when I order something from Cuyana, it's going to be a quality item.  And this hand-woven hat from Ecuador did not disappoint (also when I compared this hat to a straw hat made in China, the quality of the Cuyana hat is by far better, with a tighter weave of the straw but at the same time a lot more flexible).  First a quick note on the sizing, follow the instructions on their site and measure your head right above the eyebrows.  My head size was right around 56.5 so I sized up and went with a 57, and it fit great (I also wanted to go a bit larger so that I wouldn't have to deal with squeezing my head into the hat and then getting that hatband mark around your forehead when you take it off).  Since I did go up in size I had to be a little more careful about wearing the hat on windy days.  But a quick google search of "how to keep your hat on during a windy day" revealed a tip of sewing an elastic band into the hat:

When wearing the hat, pull your hair through the band and the elastic goes behind your head, sort of like a headband (and make sure to use an elastic that matches your hair color so it's camouflaged).  Or if you're too lazy to sew, two small safety pins do the trick as well.  This way if the hat flies back, it's still secured by your hair.  No more looking like a fool chasing my hat around on a windy day, lol.  Also now I know I won't accidentally lose this hat, making this a quality piece worth spending some money on ($75 for a straw hat is nothing to sneeze at).  But if you're looking to add a few quality items to your wardrobe, then this summer hat is the last summer hat you'll need to buy.  Like Cuyana says, buy fewer but better.      

Grana Pima Cotton Tee Review and Pima Cotton Dress Review {updated Dec 2017}

If you read my first Grana review on their silk tank, you know I wasn't really a fan.  But I'm so glad I ordered a bunch of different items, because I have to say their Peruvian Pima cotton shirts are pretty great.  I ordered the pima cotton shirt in a medium size because judging from their website, the shirt looked fitted.  On top of that, I knew that Grana is a Hong Kong company and for the most part, sizes at Asian clothing companies (like Uniqlo and Muji) tend to be on the smaller side.  And I'm so glad I went with my gut since the medium was perfect (and to compare with Everlane and other clothing companies, I'm usually a small).

I ordered the black v-neck pima cotton shirt and the material is great.  This is probably the thickest peruvian pima cotton shirt I've ever tried.  It's not the usual thin cotton you think of when talking about pima.  The Grana shirt is fitted but also quite stretchy.  I like that it's not oversized like Everlane's shirts.  Actually the Grana shirt is a better everyday work shirt for me since I don't flash everyone when bending over, which usually happens when I'm wearing Everlane's shirts.  So for my next order from Grana, I'm definitely going to add some more Pima cotton shirts! 

I also ordered this pima cotton tank dress from Grana in a size medium. I didn't bother taking any pictures in it because it was waaaaay too tight.  Even though I ordered both the shirt and the dress in a medium, the dress felt more like a small (or even an xsmall).  However, the cotton material for the dress was the same thick, stretchy cotton used in this shirt.  So I guess the tank dress is meant to be a bodycon dress best suited for those skinny model types.

Anyway if you're interested, check out Grana for yourself and use this link to get 10% off your first order (a referral code) and definitely add some pima cotton shirts to your order.  As always reviews are not sponsored.  And stay tuned for more Grana reviews.

P.S. They also now have pima cotton slub shirts that look pretty good.  I'll try to order some when I get a chance.

{Dec 2017 update: So I recently ordered another Grana pima crew neck tee, thinking it was going to be the same as usual.  But it wasn't!  Grana has changed their tee so that it is now much thinner than their old tee.  Also the sizing has changed so that I am no longer a medium, but a small in these new pima tees.  Their new tees are made from "lightweight jersey fabric (50/1)" and I'm not a fan.  But if you like thinner tees then this might be for you.}

Everlane Gift Card Giveaway Winners

And the winners of the Everlane gift card giveaway are:

Gery who plans to get the linen dolman tee dress and Lucy who wants to get Babo shoes.  Gery and Lucy please email me!*

And thank you to everyone who entered!  I promise many more future Everlane gift card giveaways to come!

*Please email me at Temporaryhousewifey@gmail.com to claim your giftcard.  If the prize remains unclaimed for 48 hours, I will announce a new winner.  

 

Everlane Street Sandal Review

If you've been following my instagram, you probably know that I've been wearing my Everlane street sandals everywhere.  As soon as I tried them on, I knew I was in love.  If the Everlane slides were one of the worst shoes they've ever made, then their Street Sandal is quite possibly one of their best.  These are the perfect summer shoes I've been waiting for from Everlane.

I purchased both the black and sand colored street sandals in a size 8.  Size 8 is my normal size for Everlane, and usually with their shoes like the modern loafer, modern point, and even the modern ankle boot, they feel a bit narrow.  But these in a size 8 might be a touch on the bigger side (and more like the sizing of the Modern Babo).  But they still felt great and there wasn't any rubbing or even a hint of a blister from day one.  These are definitely my kind of shoes.

The shoes are constructed with two thick leather bands over the foot and an elastic band at the heel.  I actually really love that they made it an elastic band since it allows the shoe to move securely with the foot.  I could run in these and not be afraid they would go flying off.  But at the same time, if I'm in a rush or feeling lazy I could just slip my feet into the sandals and step on the elastic and the shoe still stays on securely (I'm thinking that after the elastic gets worn out, I could just remove it all together and still have a good-looking functional shoe).  I also love that these shoes are super light due to the white foam-like soles.  Also the shape of the white foam soles provide a bit of arch support so I can walk in these for hours without any arch pain.  

To be honest, there are no cons to these street sandals in my book.  I know shoes can be a tricky thing, so I'm not going to say that these are for everybody.  However I think they are definitely worth trying since for me, I found them to be my dream shoes.  So much so that I went and bought another pair of the sand street sandals when they were restocked.  It looks like they may be out of stock again, but a restock is expected June 5th.  Oh and I forgot to mention that these don't come with a protective plastic layer so be careful when trying them on just in case you don't end up loving them.

Also just to note that the sand colored street sandals will get dirty pretty easily.  Both the white band and white sole will become a shade of light gray.  But I actually think it adds character to the shoes (a bit like a patina you get on light colored leather bags).  But if you're the type that wants to keep your shoes looking pristine, then the black pair will definitely keep their look longer.  As always, reviews are done on item purchased myself and aren't sponsored.  Check out Everlane's items here (referral link) and all my other Everlane reviews here.  Thanks for reading guys and don't forget to enter my $50 Everlane giftcard giveaway!

Everlane Slide Sandals Review

When I wrote up my review on Nisolo shoes, reader Lia had mentioned that Everlane shoes tend to be made for looks and aren't very comfortable to wear.  Well she just perfectly summed up Everlane's slide sandals.  They are quite possibly the least comfortable shoes I've tried from Everlane thus far.  Here's why:

~ No padding or cushioned foot bed so they're quite uncomfortable to walk in

~Very smooth and slippery bottoms

~Though the leather is high quality, the slides themselves have a very heavy sole so the leather ends up tugging on the top of the foot when walking

I ordered these in my usual Everlane size of 8 (normally I'm usually a 7.5 to 8).  Garance Dore (one of my all-time favorite bloggers) best described the experience of trying to walk in these types of shoes in this post about her new mules (it's hilarious!).  Anyways I'm working on writing up a review of Everlane's Street Sandal (spoiler: which I love love love) and in the meantime check out all my other Everlane reviews here.

Blogiversary Everlane Giveaway! {Now Closed}

When I was an avid blog reader, and before I was a blogger myself (which was almost a 7 year period) I honestly kind of cringed at the word "blogiversary."  It seemed like a self-satisfying pat on the back.  But now that that it's my first blogiversary, I find myself wanting to mark the occasion (and really, to keep up a blog for the first year isn't always the easiest, especially when you start and have only your mom occasionally reading your blog).  So I was wrong to think of blogiversarys as ego-stroking occasions.  Instead it's a chance to thank the blog readers (you guys!) for supporting me with your time, your comments, and your clicks.  And what better way to support those who read my reviews (which are predominately Everlane reviews), than a chance to win a couple Everlane gift cards (which are also thanks to you).  And since Everlane is now offering free shipping internationally for 2 weeks, this is the chance to thank all my readers from Singapore to Sydney to London (ok well truthfully the bulk of my readers are from NY and SF, lol).  

But anyway here's the deets on the giveaway:

Up for grabs are two Everlane gift cards, $50 each.  

Enter by leaving a comment telling me what you would purchase from Everlane if you win.  

The giveaway will close on Wednesday June 1st, so you have a week to enter.  If you're chosen, I will email you a digital Everlane gift card for $50.  Two winners will be randomly chosen.  And if you are an international reader, you'll have 4 days before Everlane stops international shipping to put in your order.  Thanks again to everyone who reads this blog.  I am so grateful for your kind comments and continued support!

{edit: Also I forgot to add that since I'm not collecting emails for this giveaway please come back June 1st and I will announce winners as a post.  If you don't collect within 2 days, I'm going to announce a replacement winner just to be fair.  Thanks!}

Grana Silk Review (and Grana vs. Everlane vs. Cuyana Silk Shirts)

Happy Monday guys!  And here's a review that some of you have requested: a review on Grana silk.  So for those of you who are unfamiliar with Grana as I was, Grana is a bit like Hong Kong's version of Everlane.  Their mission is to make quality clothing and sell it directly to consumers, thereby keeping prices reasonable.  Their basic model below:

When I first hopped onto their site, I immediately thought if Everlane and Uniqlo had a baby, it would be Grana.  It's the combination of Uniqlo's styling and Everlane's concept.  But Grana has a wide selection of items to choose from, whether it's denim from Japan, linen from Ireland, and cotton from Peru.  So I ordered a little bit of everything to try them all out, but today I'm starting with the silk since that was item that readers asked about most.

If you haven't read my first review of Everlane vs. Equipment vs. Cuyana silk then check it out becuase I go into the differences in types and quality of silk, and it'll probably help with some of the terminology coming up.

So here are three black silk items from Cuyana (top right), Everlane (top left), and Grana (bottom half).  The first picture is in indirect light and the second is in full sunlight.  

When laid in this way you can't really tell any differences.  But here are the same three but with my hand under one layer so you can somewhat see through the silk starting with Grana, then Everlane, and last Cuyana.

Grana

Everlane

Cuyana

Can you see that the Grana one is ever so slightly more see-through and a different texture than the Everlane one?  And the Cuyana one is a lot more opaque than both the Grana and Everlane silks.  So here is my impression of Grana's silk:

~ Grana feels like the lowest quality silk of all the shirts I've tried so far.  I think Everlane and Equipment are at about the same level of quality, but Grana is a step below.  Grana's silk feels the least silky, the least smooth and the least soft.  It also seemed the thinnest.

~ To find out about the momme weight of their silk, I emailed Grana and was told it was 16mm, which would put it exactly the same mm as Everlane's silk.  However the difference in feel between Everlane and Grana must mean there is a difference in the thread count (or something but I'm not sure what).

~ And to try to rule out some bias (since I know how much each of these shirts costs), I had my husband do a blind feel test.  And he knows nothing about silk but based on what he thought was the best feel, he rated Grana the lowest, Everlane next and then Cuyana as the best (he was completely on his own and I did not say anything to bias his opinions).

To incorporate findings from my last silk review which included Equipment, here's my current silk standings (not really to scale except to say that Everlane's and Equipment's silk were very similar):

As for the actual tank top I purchased from Grana, I ordered a size small.  As you can see both the arm holes and neckline are super oversized (so you better be sure you wear a cute bra underneath since it will most likely be peeking through).  If I were to order a silk top to keep I might even go with an XS on this.  (For reference I'm 5'4" and wear a small/size 4 on most tops).

So even though the silk was a slight disappointment, I'm not giving up hope on Grana yet.  I still have yet to try their other items.  In the meantime if you want to try out some of Grana's item for yourself (though at this point I would recommend spending the extra $$ and going with Everlane silk if you can), here's a referral link to get you 10% off your first order (and full disclosure, I get $20 if you order from that link which of course I'll use to review more of their items).  

P.S. By the way, their silk just happened to be the first product I reviewed and one out of two things I didn't love.  I also ordered their pima cotton shirt, their Japanese denim and their Irish linen and loved them all.  Those reviews coming soon.  So don't write-off Grana just yet!

{August 2016 edit: I have since reviewed Grana's newest silk offering, their V-neck tank and slip dress, and those are waaaay better than the silk top reviewed here.  Grana's georgette satin is as good as Everlane silk at about half the price.  Read the full review on Grana's V-neck tank top here.}

{December 2016 edit: here is a comprehensive list of all my Grana Reviews.  Grana is quickly becoming one of my go-to brands for well-made basics!}

Nisolo Smoking Shoe and Elizabeth Slide Review

So after I wrote up my TOMS-fan-girl post, a reader left a comment letting me know TOMS aren't really doing as much good as they advertise (but they at least gotta be better than stores like Aldo or Nike right?  Ahh just trying to justify them).  Anyway I read through the link she sent (also here if you want to take a read), and though I was bummed about the news about TOMS (and I decided that now I know, I should change my shopping habits accordingly), I saw that they cited Nisolo as a shoe company that does it right (they work directly with shoe-makers in Peru and provide fair wages).  I've seen the name Nisolo pop-up once or twice before so I decided to try them out.  And here's the tl;dr version of this review: as much as I would like to love them (because of their mission statement and social work) I can't really get behind their products (yet).  I'm not trying to be unkind but I gotta be honest here, their shoes weren't that great for me.  Let me explain:

The first pair I tried were the Smoking Shoes.  I got them in a size 8 and it fit well (I'm normally a size 7.5 but have widish feet so I usually size a half size up on leather shoes to avoid the whole breaking in process).  I love how they look and I like the padded inner sole and the arch support.  But the problem was where the inner beige leather meets the outer black leather shoe.  The edges were uneven and scratchy, and it would irritate all around my foot with each step.  Also the leather quality itself on this shoe was not that great (but that could just be because I've been spoiled by the Italian leather shoes from Everlane?).  The quality of the shoe overall just wasn't up to par (or they just need better quality control).

The second pair of shoes I tried were the Elizabeth slides.  They are perfect for that 70's look that seems to be going around these days.  So here's my problems with these shoes:

- Well first, I ordered a 7.5 (because on their site they warn that the leather will stretch out so size a half size smaller than you normally would-so for me that's true to size since I always size a half size up for leather shoes).  But they gave me a 7.  And on top of that I wasn't careful enough when trying on these shoes so I ended up scuffing the bottom (which is a light beige leather).  So I'm going to have to keep these and the moral of the story is if the bottom of the shoe is a light color try it out on carpet only.

- And the leather on these also didn't feel like the best quality either and I'm not sure how much they'll stretch out.  When I get a chance (and when my freezer clears out), I'm going to try the same freezer method I tried on my Everlane modern loafers.  But as it looks now, the slide is a bit small for me.  Since I'm keeping it, I will see if the leather truly does stretch out or not.  And at least there's no bit of stitching or leather that irritate my feet on these.  

Ah well, my final verdict for Nisolo: even though the company really seems to care about their social mission, they will need to improve their overall quality of their products before I can truly become a fan.  This isn't to say they can't improve their products with time (or that other styles of their shoes might be of better quality, since the slides were definitely better made than the smoking shoe).  

Also read here another blogger's review on Nisolo (and a different sort of quality problems she faced (and remedied)).

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

Everlane Linen Dolman Tee Dress Review {updated June 2017}

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner guys!  I have finally found a dress from Everlane that I 100% love!  So far I have been a big fan of Everlane's tees, some of their shoes and their anorak.  And now I can add this linen dress to the list.  I got this dress in a size small (for reference I'm 5'4" and usually wear 4-6 in most clothing lines).  This is the ideal summer dress in that the fabric is super light without being sheer.  Linen really is suited for those 80 degree temps in the summer.  I love that the dress doesn't cling and the overall length is perfect (except try not to raise both arms straight up in the sky because you would definitely be flashing some underwear).  So other than doing the wave at a stadium, this is perfect do-anything, dress-up or dress-down dress.  And even though I love the dress in solid colors too I think stripes are the best.

It was ever so slightly scratchy when I first put it on, but softens with washing.  And take care not to put in the dryer but hang dry it (that's what the washing label says).

And here I am styling it with my Cuyana summer hat, Nisolo slides (review coming soon), and Mansur Gavriel mini lady bag.  As usual reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and Everlane's items (referral link, thanks again guys for your support!).  

{June 2017 update: So I've had this dress for about a year now and I've been super careful not to put it in the dryer, so I'm puzzled that when I brought it out to wear again this season this dress is about 2 inches shorter than what I remember (and from what I can tell from these pictures).  So I must have dried it in the dryer at least once.  But anyway the point is that this dress has definetly shrunk and it also did not keep it's shape.  I'm not sure if this is a good buy after all...}