Grana Review Denim Boyfriend Shirt Dress

Ahh the season for denim is pretty much over so this review will be pretty useless except maybe for those in Australia (hello Sydney-based readers--all 200 or so of you lol).  Oh well better late than never?  So I've tried Grana's Japanese denim jeans, which I liked (but to be honest I don't wear as often as I thought I would because I'm just so obsessed with Frame denim right now plus I've discovered I'm not much a stiff denim kind of gal).  But when Grana came out with a line of Japansese denim dresses, I knew I had to give them a try.

So what did I think of the dress?  Well I loved the denim material of the dress.  It's super soft and lightweight.  And overall the dress is really comfortable and versatile.  But I'm not sure I would wear it very often because this dress is quite short (I ordered this in a small).  I'm 5'4" and though it looks like a suitable length in the pictures, when I raise my arms the dress hem line goes up to my butt.  If I had to reach for something overhead I'm pretty sure I'd be flashing everyone my undies.  

So I guess in the end I would only wear this dress if I knew I wasn't going to be doing anything active (so that rules out daily work).  The dress also comes with it's own denim tie belt (as seen on the model) but I think I would rather wear a waist belt to make the dress a bit more interesting.  Also, if this dress is worn as a transitional piece for autumn, it could look cute with tights or leggings (in which case flashing people becomes a little less of a concern).  And on the plus side, the dress comes with pockets.

Anyway if you're interested in trying the dress for yourself, this link gets you 10% off your first Grana purchase.  And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Everlane City Anorak Review

Earlier this year I reviewed Everlane's original anorak and I loved it.  It was probably one of my favorite pieces at the time and was super useful for a very rainy spring in the SF Bay Area.  So when I saw that Everlane came out with another version of their anorak I knew I had to give it a try.  Well the City Anorak is completely different from Everlane's original (and made in different factories as well).  If you found Everlane's first anorak to be thin, flimsy, and not very waterproof then their new City Anorak was made for you.

The main difference between the two anoraks is that the city anorak is much much thicker and more heavy duty.  And the thicker material seems more waterproof than the original (which is more like a thin nylon).  Compared to the original anorak, the City Anorak would be something a fisherman could wear during a storm at sea or at least something that could handle any rain that comes your way.  

Anyways here are all the differences that I could find between the 2 anoraks:

~ the City Anorak is a lot warmer (because of the thicker material)

~ the City Anorak there are 2 zippers so that you could partially unzip the bottom (the old one only had one), and the new anorak has sturdier zippers as well

~ because of the heavy material, you can't really cinch the waist of the city anorak like you can the old one even though it has the drawstring in the middle

~ the old anorak had a more interesting cut and overall design.  The City Anorak is a much simpler shape

~ the old anorak navy blue is a duller/dustier color, while the new anorak in navy blue is a much brighter blue

So if you're looking for a heavy duty, sturdy raincoat then Everlane's City Anorak is the one for you.  As for me, I actually prefer the older flimsier nylon version because it's a lot more lightweight to pack and it's a good layering piece for those California rainy/misty days.  I don't really need a heavy duty rain coat in my life and I really don't need 2 Everlane anoraks.  

All my other Everlane reviews can be found here and you can find Everlane's anorak here. 

Everlane Review Pima Stretch Turtleneck

I'll say it up front: I dislike turtlenecks and having grown up in Hawaii,  never had to wear them.  But this year, turtlenecks seem to have a bit more of an appeal to me so I decided to try it out (I think it's Andrea's expert layering of her turtleneck over at Seasons+Salt that got me interested).  And if you're looking for a great layering turtleneck then Everlane's pima stretch turtleneck fits the bill.    

I got the white turtleneck in a small, knowing that it was going to be on the tight and clingy side (I tried Everlane's pima stretch tee before so knew it was going to run small).  And just like the pima stretch tee, the turtleneck version is super soft and stretchy.  The white is a bit sheer so you can see even a nude bra, but that shouldn't be a problem when you're layering it. The neck portion of the turtleneck is also quite clingy (it doesn't quite look like the turtleneck on the model in the Everlane pics where the turtleneck looks like it flares out), and since I didn't like that constricted feeling around my neck I'm wearing this turtleneck with the neck part folded down.  I guess I'm still just not a turtleneck kind of gal.

Anyways you can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

Grana Pima Modal Slouchy Tee Review

My love for Grana's pima cotton shirts are still going strong, so when I saw that they added a line of pima modal slouchy shirts I knew I had to give them a try.  And I wasn't disappointed: Grana made another excellent tee.  

The pima modal slouchy tees are very different from the original pima cotton tees in several ways:

~ The sizing on the slouchy tees seems to be bigger.  I ordered my usual medium (I'm usually a size 4 or small on top but have consistently ordered mediums in Grana's tees for a looser fit), but the medium in the slouchy tee is too big.  I think I could get away with a small on this.

~ The slouchy tees are way thinner than the original pima cotton tees.  If you like your shirts soft and thin, then this is definitely the tee for you.

~ I also like the wider neckline and slightly longer sleeves of the slouchy tees as compared to the original pima cotton crew neck tees.

If you're looking for a soft thin shirt like those from higher priced brands than you need to give Grana's slouchy tee a try.  For first time customers here's a link to get 10% off your first purchase at Grana.  And checkout my other Grana reviews here.

Unsponsored VRAI (formerly known as Vrai & Oro) Review {Updated January 2021}

I don't talk a lot about my jewelry obsessions here on the blog, but I luckily come from a long line of jewelry lovers (some of my most prized possessions were handed down to me by my grandmother).  Recently, after discarding a bunch of my fashion jewelry during my move into the Airstream, I've decided to no longer purchase cheap mixed metal or gold plated jewelry.  Cheap jewelry is pretty much an equivalent to fast fashion for me since I only wear them once or twice.  I find that I'm not good at putting on (or taking off) jewelry every day.  If I'm going to wear something, it has to be something I can wear 24/7 (as in during showers, swimming, or manual labor with the Airstreams), which means the only pieces I really wear are the ones that are solid gold.  So when I stumbled upon VRAI (formerly known as Vrai & Oro), I was interested.  Vrai & Oro is trying to do what Everlane does for clothes: make things ethically, with transparency and simplicity.  

source

Now they don't tell us exactly how much it costs them to make their jewelry but it does seem that there is a minimal mark-up to their jewelry as they claim.  For example their diamond bezel necklace (with a 0.1 carat diamond) goes for $260 (in 2021 it is now $325) while Tiffany's diamond solitare (0.08 carat) goes for $800 (in 2021 it is now $950).  Having owned both, the only real difference I would say is that the chain from Vrai & Oro is slightly daintier (ie has less total gold in it).  I also ordered Vrai & Oro's vertical bar necklace (no longer sold) and their diamond bezel bracelet.  I'm a huge fan of their simple styling and the quality of their products.  So if you're interested in quality solid gold jewelry (in white, yellow or rose gold) then definitely give Vrai a shot (plus they have a 30-day return policy if you're not satisfied).  And as usual this is a completely unsponsored review! {January 2021 update: And they now have a VRAI promo referral link which will give you $75 off your first purchase (and I would also get $75 off so thanks for tempting me to buy more of their stuff lol—this Tetrad ring is calling my name).}

P.S. If you're interested in something on their site that's sold out, click on the link to leave your email to notify you when the product is back in stock.  I've noticed that they will offer the item first to those on that waitlist before they show that the item is in stock (ie I was able to purchase the vertical bar necklace even though it said it was out of stock on the website).

P.P.S Another bonus of buying solid gold as opposed to gold-filled is that you can always sell off your real gold jewelry if you want/need to lol (though for not nearly the same price for what you bought it for).

P.P.P.S Also I purchased their thick band ring (no longer sold) and their baguette diamond bezel ring.  I love both rings but especially the thick band ring which is wide but actually quite thin and lightweight.  The diamond baguette ring is cute and dainty but there's no actual sparkle to the diamond due to the cut (some people may prefer that though).  But I also find the setting to have quite sharp corners and you have to be careful not to scratch yourself with the ring when wearing it (I've already done that twice).

{January 2021 Update: It’s been over 4 years since I’ve written this post so I thought I would update it with thier new name (now only VRAI), their new prices (which of course went up in 4 years), the updated names of their products, and some new links. I’ve also since added affiliate links but have not changed any opinions of their products or their brand. Since this post I purchased a pave ring about 2 years ago (also no longer sold) and that’s actually the only Vrai piece left in my collection (the rest I was able to sell quite easily on eBay). I also want to add the Vrai now only use sustainable man-made diamonds thus reducing their need to mine the earth for their raw materials and their carbon footprint. Of course there’s some controversy over these “synthetic” diamonds but I think it’s a step in the right direction. Also just because they’re man-made it doesn’t make their jewelry cheap.}

Please note that this portion of the post contains affiliate links that could result in my earning a small commission - at no extra cost to you - if you click and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

Grana Review Linen Boyfriend Shirt 2.0 {updated March 2017}

When I reviewed Grana's linen boyfriend shirt back in August, blog reader Lauren left a comment that Grana had just recently revamped (and raised the price) of their linen boyfriend shirts.  So this review of Grana's linen boyfriend shirt 2.0 is for you Lauren, and sorry it's so late (I mean it's pretty much autumn already, lol).  BUT, I have to confess I never really wear linen and so I sold the first linen shirt on Slowre so unfortunately I will have to rely a bit on memory (and my old review) for comparison.  

So one of the first differences I noticed about Grana's new linen is that this linen seems a bit thinner than their old linen boyfriend shirts.  Thus this white linen shirt is a bit sheer (you can pretty much see the outline of my nude bra).  I also noticed that Grana's new linen is no longer made by Baird McNutt like their old version, which probably accounts for the difference in the feel of the linen.  I would say their new linen feels softer but is that because it's thinner than the old linen?  But overall I can't actually say that the quality of their new linen is better.

On the other hand, I can say that the fit of the new linen shirts are better.  I again ordered a small like last time and even though the fit was a bit large, I wasn't swimming in the shirt like last time.  In general I liked this shirt well enough and so I plan to keep it until next summer and see if I can put it to good use (in my head I've already moved on to sweater weather planning).

As usual all reviews are not sponsored.  If you're interested in Grana's linen (or some of their other items), get 10% off your first purchase with this link and you can find all my Grana reviews here.

{March 2017 update: Actually I ended up wearing this linen shirt quite a bit over the winter since I went on 2 tropical holidays, one to Thailand and one to Hawaii, and this shirt was my go-to for both trips!  I found that the linen softens with time and it's the perfect breathable top for hot and humid weather.  Unfortunately I seemed to have lost it during my last trip so I just repurchased the white one and also got the dark blue one for this coming summer.}

Everlane Stretch Ponte Tube Skirt Review

Last year I was a huge fan of Everlane's ponte collection short-sleeve dress, so when I saw that they brought it back this season as a skirt, I knew I had to at least try it out.  And I'm so glad that I did!  This ponte is the perfect material for a tube skirt.  

I once had a black tube skirt by American Apparel (actually I still probably have it in one of my many boxes of clothes in storage >.< ) but I find that that cotton tube skirt worked best in my 20's when I was a lot thinner.  Now that I work out less, it's harder for me to pull off that skirt.  So I'm really glad to have found Everlane's ponte tube skirt.  The ponte material is thick but stretchy so for the most part it won't accentuate every bump.  There is slight VPL if you're wearing thick underwear but for the most part it's not really noticeable.  And even though I'm not a huge fan of Everlane's choice of elastic waist for some of their bottoms, it works with this skirt (and it does make it super comfy).  I also like the length of this skirt on my 5'4" frame.  Plus for $55 this skirt isn't that ridiculously priced (like their pleated skirt for $88 or the ponte pants at $78), but then again it only cost them $17 to make it...

Oh, and a note on sizing: I ordered this in a medium since I didn't want it to be too tight (I'm usually size 4-6 on the bottom).  And for the pics above I paired it with my favorite (and only) Clare V shirt, Saint Laurent bag, and Everlane's modern oxfords.

You can buy this skirt here and find all my other Everlane reviews here.

P.S. I ordered Everlane's pleated skirt, pima stretch turtleneck and their new anorak so reviews on those coming soon!

A Quick Getaway to AutoCamp Russian River

If you've been following my instagram stories, you probably saw some gorgeous Airstreams on there last week.  Well to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary, my husband and I went on a quick getaway to Automcamp in Guerneville, CA. You would think that since we already live in an Airstream that something like an Airstream hotel wouldn't be a big deal for us.  But since we love love love all things Airstream, when we saw a kickstarter campaign for Autocamp Russian River we jumped at the chance to try it out.  And boy, I'm glad we did!  I definitely have some new #AirstreamGoals now.

Their new midcentury modern clubhouse is so gorgeous.  Luckily we were there on a Monday so we had most of the space to ourselves.

Guerneville is in the Russian River Valley and is super close to primo Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards.  We were on a tight schedule so we only had a chance to visit Gary Farrell, but their wines were amazing and view unbeatable.  Guerneville is also 30 minutes away from the dramatic California coastline.  Wine and beaches are just the thing for a vacation!

And here I am with my one trendy off the shoulder top I purchased earlier this summer, which I hadn't worn since this getaway.  Does anyone else have issues with these tops?  This one annoyingly does not stay off the shoulder and I keep having to tug them down.  Ah well now I know and I'm glad I only bought one of these things.  I wonder if it's worth keeping around until next summer.  Or is it soooo 2016, lol.

Everlane Modern Oxford Shoe Review

So if you've read my review of Everlane's Modern Smoking Shoe, you know I wanted to love it but didn't.  Well for Everlane's Modern Oxford, I didn't think I would like it but I actually loved it.  It just goes to show that you can never really tell about something until you try it on.  

I didn't expect to like Everlane's oxfords mostly because I'm a fan of the slip-on type of shoe (like Toms and M.Gemi's Felize Loafers).  In fact the only shoes I have with laces are my running/gym shoes, until now that is.  But I fell in love with these oxfords as soon as I laced them up and took my first couple of steps.  First of all, these shoes are probably the second most comfortable shoe I've ever tried from Everlane (the first being their Street Sandals;  but these are the most comfortable closed-toe shoes).  The oxfords are hands down way more comfortable than their Modern Loafers or their Modern Point shoes.  And that's because they widened the toe box area (which is consistently where my wide feet have issues).  

The shoes seemed to have pretty good arch support and I would say the only minor irritation with this shoe is the stiff leather tongue at the top of the shoe that kept poking the top of my foot (but this will eventually go away when I break them in some more).  Also I'm wearing these pedi socks to prevent any blisters or from the shoes from smelling (a note on these socks: I have a hard time finding no-show socks that stay on my foot but these are amazing--but I would advise not putting them in the dryer since they will shrink a little).

I also love love love the blush color.  It's the perfect nude shoe to help those with shorter legs like me since it doesn't visually cut you off at the ankles.  I styled it above with my favorite pair of wide-leg jeans from Frame (similar here), a Clare V shirt, and LV bag for my masculine look and with Grana's slip dress and a Gucci bag for my feminine look.  I love that these shoes could pretty much polish off any outfit (probably even my usual uniform of cut-off shorts and a tee).

Oh and just a note on sizing, I ordered my usual Everlane shoe size of 8 (I usually wear a 7.5-8 in shoes) and they fit perfectly.  Currently Everlane is out of most of the sizes in the blush oxfords but it looks like they'll be restocking them at the end of October.  As usual this review is completely unsponsored, and you can find all my other (unsponsored) Everlane reviews here.

M. Gemi Felize Loafers Review {Updated August 2017}

I've always wanted a pair of Tod's Gommino driving loafers ever since I saw a particularly chic classmate of mine from grad school wear them.  But at $495 a pair, it seemed quite a bit for a pair of shoes I wasn't sure I could pull off (they seem a bit of a granny shoe).  So when the Felize loafer kept poppin up on my radar (damn you Facebook ads and sponsored posts by other bloggers), I knew I had to try them out.  At $178 a pair and Italian-made, these shoes are in my comfortable price-point range (much like Everlane's Italian made shoes).  So here is my totally unsponsored review of M.Gemi's loafers.

Because I kept seeing sponsored blog posts and Facebook ads for M.Gemi, I originally felt that these shoes must be a gimmick or not that great (or why else push so hard on the marketing?).  BUT I was pleasantly surprised to find these shoes to be AWESOME!  

But first a note on sizing.  I ordered these in a 38.5.  I'm usually a size 7.5-8, and always an 8 in Everlane's narrow shoes.  M.Gemi has a great fit finder link on their site that will help you find the right size, and I have to say they're pretty accurate.  

Ok back to the awesomeness of the shoe!  This is a really well made Italian leather loafer.  I chose the bright blue color (because why not, plus I wanted to be the least granny-ish as possible).  But I love that they have so many colors for this one style (which also comes in suede now).  What I love most about this shoe though is that it's fairly wide especially near the front of the foot.  No squeezing or rubbing since the very beginning, so that means no breaking-in period.  I wore this out the door the first day I got it and haven't had a blister yet (compare this to Everlane's modern loafer which still gives my blisters a year later, which is why I'm probably going to be selling it soon).  

I also love the black rubber nubs on the bottom of the shoe (which come up on the outside of the heel in a very Tod-esque way).  The black grippies (as I like to call them), prevent the shoes from being too slippery (a problem with almost all of Everlane shoes, but it does cause some squeakiness on smooth concrete floors) At the heel inside the shoe there's a bit of suede to keep the shoe from slipping off (and prevents blisters).  

The only negative thing about these shoes is the lack of arch support.  But that can be easily remedied by hidden arch supports like these.  But other than that, this shoe is wonderful.  I'm excited to try out some of M.Gemi's other offerings.  

{Updated Aug 2017: So I've had these Felize loafers for over a year now and since I'm still getting people finding this post (hiya newcomers), I thought I might as well let you know how these shoes are wearing.  So after I got these blue ones, I bought the antique pink in suede and then another pair in regular leather in the light beige color.  I trashed the blue ones walking around in wet weather and on muddy forest floors (I know these are city shoes and not outdoor hiking shoes.  Let's just say I loved them so much I forgot that they won't work for all occasions).  I never really use the suede ones since the suede gets so dirty quickly.  So I end up wearing the beige ones the most.  They've stretched out and formed around my foot so it's a bit lumpy looking (not a smooth round edge) from my toes (maybe I have a weirdly shaped foot?).  Anyway my love for these are still going strong and they're the perfect shoe for fall (as long as you have a mostly dry autumn).  Also they are the perfect driving loafer since the nubbies grip the pedals easily and they're just so comfy overall!}

If you're interested and want $50 off your first M. Gemi purchase, email gardner_maureen@ymail.com to get your coupon code!

Everlane Review Luxe Drape Cropped Scoop Neck Tee

Last week I reviewed Everlane's luxe drape muscle tank dress (which I thought was so-so).  But I think Everlane's luxe drape crop scoop neck tee is more like something I would wear.  This 100% lyocell tee is super soft and I love the way it drapes. This tee is a good option for those who like a tee that looks and feels better than the cotton tees from Everlane.

First off, I got this in a size small which fit perfectly (I'm usually a size 4 on top).  I thought the cropped fit was just right on my 5'4" frame: it hit right at the belt line.  It wasn't actually all that cropped  (I guess because I'm short-ish).  I also really love the length of the sleeves which slims down my "chicken wings" (aka triceps).

The luxe material itself (the lyocell) is super soft and silky.  But the washing instructions are hand-wash cold, which is again something I'm not into.  I was really on the fence about whether or not to keep this top, but with the washing instructions and a $35 price tag for a tee (plus with an overflow of tees in my closet already), I ended up not keeping this one.  

If you want to see what this top looks like in the lighter colors, Grechen does a review of it here. 

As usual all reviews are not sponsored.  You can find all my other Everlane reviews.

My Favorite Phone Accessory

Since I'm a reviewer at heart, I would be remiss not to review one of my favorite phone accessories in recent memory.  So here it is, ta-daaaa:

What is that you ask?  Just an ugly black button on the back of my phone?  Well yes, but even better it pops out!  Lol, so I got this PopSocket after I saw it on my friend's phone, and what I love about it is that it allows me have a better hold on my phone (I no longer need to curl my fingers over the edges of the phone nor do I have to rest it on my pinky).  It doesn't seem like a big change, but trust me it's a much easier way to hold a phone (especially those 6+ iPhones).

Other Pros:

~ It can also be used as a stand to prop your phone up

~ Also can be used to wrap your earbuds around so no more tangled cords

~ Really easy grip for selfies especially

~ And it pops back in so when you're not using it, it's really quite unobtrusive (about 5mm).

~ Theoretically they're easy to remove and reattach (even though I haven't tried it yet).

~ And they have a bunch of different designs to choose from

~ Plus for a fidget-er like me, its addictively fun to keep popping the socket, lol

I was always thought the plus series of iPhones were way to big to hold comfortably so I I stuck with the regular sizes even though I would love a bigger screen and carry my phone around in my bag (as opposed to a pocket).  So a plus sized phone would be perfect for me, but especially now that I can use my popsocket.  Trust me, it's worth the $10.  And of course as usual this review is not sponsored, it's just something that I love and want to let people know about!

P.S. I've removed this popsocket numerous times now, and currently it's sticking directly onto my iphone sans an iphone cover but there's never a sticky residue left.  Also it's really easy to get it off and on, with the help of a butter knife (just wedge it underneath the socket to get some leverage and then use your fingers to gently unstick the rest).

Another Season of Fashion Week

SOURCE

If you're a fan of fashion bloggers, you're probably aware that it's fashion week again in NY (to be followed by all the other fashion weeks of course).  And now with Snapchat and Instagram stories, we get to see what the bloggers are seeing.  But I don't know if I'm just getting older but I'm getting more and more disinterested and jaded about fashion weeks.  I'm just not in the mood to look at clothes 1) I would never wear, 2) could never afford to buy, and 3) probably wouldn't come in my size (that or I would need to shorten everything).  Sure it looks all glam and who doesn't like to look at what some designers are creating but I find that it's really quite irrelevant to my daily style.  I guess you could argue the whole "high fashion becomes mainstream fashion after a couple of months" (ala The Devil Wears Prada).  But these days I try not to follow the trends (well I purchased one of those trendy off the shoulder looks this summer but just didn't find a time and place to wear it.  I think the look just isn't for me).  And I'm always tempted to try some of these trends (interesting bell sleeves are calling my name right now), but more often than not those trendy pieces come from fast fashion and once that trend is over a lot of those pieces will end up at Goodwill or landfills.  And if I'm trying to keep my purchases sustainable and socially-conscious I really don't want to give my money to those kinds of stores.  So in the end I guess what I'm trying to say is it's okay not to pay attention to fashion weeks and still love fashion (and follow trends that are produced in a conscionable way that suit my style, thank goodness there's Everlane).  Also let's just pay more attention to all the different forces in our lives that stimulate creativity to our style (which isn't to say I still won't troll Shopbop for trendy pieces (mostly) made in the USA or Netaporter for some inspiration).

P.S. Having just finished all 3 seasons of Penny Dreadful + the current Netaporter edition of Edit has got me thinking I need to dig up my favorite velvet dress and add some Victorian-esque ruffles or lace to my life (which is coincidentally everywhere on the blogs--ah well guess I'm susceptible to the trickle down effects of fashion weeks and bloggers afterall , lol).

P.P.S. If this post sounds a little convuluted and confusing I apologise.  I guess it reflects what I feel about Fashion Weeks (ie I dislike it but end up following some trends anyway). 

Everlane Luxe Drape Muscle Tank Dress Review

Hi guys, it was a brief hiatus but we're back on the Everlane review train (also I've updated my Ultimate Everlane Reviews page with the latest reviews if you want to take a peek).  Today we have the Luxe Drape Muscle Tank Dress.  I recently reviewed Everlane's linen muscle tank and I came to the conclusion I just wasn't a muscle tank kind of gal.  So for the same reasons I'm not a huge fan of this dress either.  But to be honest I'm not a huge fan of this material either for a dress and here's why:

Cons:

~ The Luxe material is very thin so 1) you can definitely see some VPL if you're not wearing the right underwear and 2) there is a slight sheerness (the kind where if you are standing with your legs apart you can see through the dress a bit).

~ The Luxe material also hugs all the curves (or you could call them love handles)

However, if you're less on the curvy side and have some good underwear, you might like this dress because:

~ The Luxe material is quite soft and smooth.  It feels really nice to the touch.  And it only requires washing on delicate (yay no hand-washing required).

~ The length of the dress is nice and would show off your toned arms (if you have 'em)

~$35 gets you a whole dress (vs. $30 for just the top).  This might look really cute layered with tights, boots/booties, and a blazer or a sweater for the fall.  It's a pretty good foundation piece.

Oh and I should mention I ordered this a size up from my usual (I got a medium instead of a small) because it looked like the small might be too fitted for such a thin material.  And I think I got the right size, but this dress just isn't for me.  Anyways if you're interested, you can purchase the top at Everlane.

An Introvert (in an Airstream) at Burning Man

The temple at BM 2016

If you've been following my Insta stories, you know I went to Burning Man (BM) last week.  Words can't really describe my experience but as a blogger, I feel I should at least try.  So here goes nothing...

This was my first burn and as a BM virgin, I wasn't sure what to expect but if I'm being honest I semi-expected to dislike it.  I'm not a fan of heat, dust, desert weather, and large groups of people.  But being in the RV business on the west coast, you are definitely going to be sold out during BM week and we wanted to know what BM was like to better prepare our Airstreams and customers for the experience (plus my husband has been dying to go to BM for awhile now).  So we got vendor tickets and were super lucky to make friends at RV-rental school (yep it's a thing), and so we had a camp to join.  From the very first this camp was some of the kindest and generous group of people we've ever met.  Little did we know that BM attracts such like-minded generosity in general.  

And if I had to distill my first experience of BM into one  word it would be generosity.  There is a spirit of generosity there that I haven't yet found anywhere else.  Of course you could say it's because money has no value out on the Playa (that's the land that BM is on-- a dried lake bed).  Plus BM is all about the gifting economy: if you're an artist you gift your art; or camps gift food and drinks (yep all alcoholic beverages are free); or some camps bring fun games and such.  But that's just the beginning.  There's a generosity of spirit, a tolerance for everything, and a celebration of all the quirks found in humanity.  There's no judgement (or at least no judgements expressed).  Everyone there was being as open-minded as they personally could be.  It's a safe place to express whatever you want, whenever you want.  

And this generosity ties into the BM principle of radical inclusion (there's 10 principles of BM).  Everyone is welcomed at BM, even an introverted city-girl like myself.  BM is really what you make of it, and so for me I needed a day to stay indoors and practice my own creative craft (writing).  And I appreciate BM more for it.  I didn't have to be a partyer (though if you are, BM has some of the best variety of parties I've ever seen) to have a great experience.  I just had to be myself (in my Airstream).  There's some Burners (that's people who live the BM way) who think going in an Airstream, hooked up to a generator, and staying indoors with air-condition as not a true BM experience.  But this is just who I am and what I need.  And then if I can go out to the Playa a happier and more giving person myself, then I think it's exactly what BM is about.

crazy dust storms means full protective gear

Now I'm a huge fan of BM and can't wait to go back.  I'm already planning out how I'm going to deck out my trike (yep I'm going to get a tricycle for next year since I've only learned how to ride a bike a year ago and can't really bike for the life of me) and I l already have a wishlist on Amazon for costumes.  And I'm already thinking of all the ways I can gift on the Playa next year (I'm playing with the idea of something to pass out on my trike).  So if you ever have a chance to go to Burning Man, take it!  I promise at the very least you won't regret it.  

Minimalism, styling, and a purse collection

Two of my favorite style/ethical fashion bloggers Andrea from Seasons+Salt and Grechen from Grechen's Closet started a really interesting dialogue about minimalism/capsule wardrobes and being a fan of clothes and fashion (if you haven't read their posts yet, def make some time to).  It does seem impossible to love fashion and practice minimalism at the same time.  Andrea has some great tips on her post, which I agree totally help finding that balance between practicing what you like (styling) but at the same time not going overboard.  

To me it's about finding what is your point of "enough".  Now you might find this ironic coming from a person with a pretty extensive purse collection.  I've always been a fan of handbags (ever since my first Coach clutch in high school).  I've definitely struggled with minimalism here (and continue to do so) since I'm always falling in love with new bag styles and brands (hello Mansur Gavriel).  My love for purses is unexplainable (especially to my mom who views it as a real waste of money).  But it's like asking a runner why he loves running or a writer why she loves writing.  It's just hard-wired in us.

This was my half of my bag collection before I moved into an Airstream

I used to feel so guilty about the privilege of buying expensive designer bags (and still do) but at the same time, could not stop myself from obsessing and purchasing new bags.  But as I get older and see that this purse love is not going anywhere, I've learned to accept that it's part of who I am, my style, and it's my hobby.  But I now live in an Airstream, with the closet the size of half a linen closet.  So not only do I want to practice minimalism, I need to.  Which means my purse collection has shrunken quite a bit and to me, that's my "minimal".  It may not look like your minimal (or any normal person's minimal) but that's why we each have our own point of "enough".  And this point will ebb and flow due to circumstances and life events, which is only natural.  But I agree with Grechen, you should never have to deprive yourself for the sake of minimalism.  Just do your best finding what's enough for you so that you can live a life focusing on who and what you love.

P.S. So in practice minimalism+tiny closet+bag collection means I end up selling a lot of my bags through eBay as soon as I find that I no longer love or need it.  This allows me to buy and keep what I love while trying to cut down on the excess.  If you're ever interested in a bag I have for sale on there just shoot me an email and I can always give you a blog reader discount ;) (and of course all my bags are authentic-- fake bags are a true waste of money).

P.P.S I also did try the whole bag renting thing (via bag borrow or steal), but I have to say its not for me.  It's just not the same when you know its not yours to keep.  I buy plenty of pre-owned bags and don't mind that.  I think it's the fact that you're just keeping it for a certain period that makes you not get attached to the bag.  Or maybe when you spend a lot of dough, you automatically will cherish the bag more?

Everlane Linen Muscle Tank Review

So this post for Everlane's linen muscle tank has been sitting in my drafts section for awhile now so it's about time I post it (before summer ends!).  I'm a huge fan of Everlane's linen scoop neck tee and their linen dolman dress, so I definitely like the type of linen they use, which is the same for their muscle tank.  The linen is thin but of quality and at first a bit scratchy but softens after the first wash.  

I ordered this in a small, and as you can see it's a bit more fitted on me.  I think if you want the looser look like that of the Everlane model, you should size up from your normal Everlane size.  In general though I wasn't a huge fan of this top mainly due to the really small neck-hole and the sleeveless look (which is duh what makes it a muscle tee).  So now I think I'm just not a muscle tee kind of gal (probably cuz I'm lacking in the muscle department, lol).

Grana Review Pima Slub V-Neck T-Shirt

I've had this Grana pima slub tee for awhile now but it somehow got lost in the mix of all the things I wanted to review.  If you've read my Grana pima cotton tee review, you know I love love love that tee (and I've purchased multiples of them).  And well, I like the pima slub tee but I wouldn't say love.

First off, I purchased this in a medium, like I do all of Grana's tees (for reference I'm usually a small in Everlane or a size 4 on top).  And I think the medium is the perfect fit since I like my tees on the looser side.  

So the reason I love the pima tees more than the pima slub tees is that the regular tees are just a lot thicker and seem more durable.  Also since the cotton material is thicker the regular tees are less likely to wrinkle.  The pima slub tends to wrinkle more and as you can see in the pics below, the collar sometimes crinkles up a bit.  But the pima tee does have more texture if that's your thing.  

As for me, I think I'll be sticking with the regular pima tees (in fact I'm slowly starting to get rid of my Everlane tees through slowre since I just find myself always reaching for my Grana tees more).  If you want a set of your own Grana tees, use this referral link to get 10% off your first purchase!

Everlane Japanese GoWeave Back-Zip Tee Review

I know y'all have heard of buyers remorse but do you sometimes get returners remorse?  Well I definitely have a bit of returners remorse on this Everlane Japanese GoWeave Back-Sip Tee (and now this white version won't be in stock until November).  And here's why:

~ This Japanese GoWeave material is really awesome with a nice weight to it.  It's not sheer at all, with a nice smooth and soft texture.  Plus it doesn't wrinkle easily.  It's the perfect top for traveling.

~ There's a zip at the top and at the bottom with a gusset underneath so you can subtly change the style of it with a bit of unzipping (like in the picture below where I unzipped the bottom to make a little tail).

~ The sleeve length is perfect at elbow-length.

~ And even though it costs a bit for a top ($88), it also cost Everlane a bit to make it ($60) so the mark-up is actually quite minimal.

{Here I am trying to get away from the mirror propped up on a mattress, lol}

{Also for sizing I used my Everlane rule of thumb: if it looks a bit oversized, size down from my normal size.  So I'm usually a 4, but I got this in a 2.}

But in the end I returned it because 1) I can't keep a white shirt clean for the life of me and I don't know how this fabric will take stains (I have a feeling it's near impossible to get stains out of this); 2) related to that is the cleaning instructions: must be hand washed, not even dry cleaned; 3) this kind of top would be great if I worked in an office, but since I work in a garage, this top would be for "going out" occasions (ie relegated to a box, only to be worn once in a blue moon).  Ah, now I remember why I returned it and I have returners remorse no more (thanks blog post for reminding me, lol).  But hey if you live a different lifestyle and don't mind some hand-washing, like I said this top is pretty awesome.  

Grana Silk V-neck Slip Dress Review

So if you've read my review on Grana's silk V-neck tank, you know I'm a huge huuuuuge fan of their new georgette satin.  So it's no surprise that I'm also a ginormous fan of their V-neck slip dress.  And in fact I like the slip dress more just because it's an easy and super comfortable outfit in just one piece.  Add a cashmere sweater to this and you're ready for fall!

First off, I ordered this in a size small and it was the perfect size (I'm about a size 4).  I think my only negative about this dress would be the length.  It's a bit long for my 5'4" frame but it does look about right as a midi-length dress on me.  And I don't mind the extra length so much because there are some sexy slits on the sides that hit at just the right spot (about middle/upper-thigh).  If the slit was any higher it might be too scandalous for everyday wear.  But as it is, it's the perfect amount of modesty and feminine sexiness.  

I think my favorite thing about this dress is that the upper portion is just right for me.  I don't have any issues with the straps falling down (in fact I was moving Airstreams in the dress--ie hard manual labor-- and didn't have any trouble with the straps).  So this dress is perfect for us small-bust gals, but if you're on the larger side you might find it a bit tight on top and might need to go a size up.  The top portion is also double layered silk so it smooths any bumps you might get from an ill-fitting strapless bra.

I loved it so much I bought two, one navy and one black.  I had just gotten the black when Stephanie from @ifonlyihadsomewhere asked about it on intagram so I posted some pics on my insta story with it styled in that 90's look going around on the blogosphere.  All I need is a black velvet chocker and some round sunnies, lol.  (And yes, my mirror is propped up on a mattress.  A bit ghetto but storage for an extra mattress for an Airstream is hard to find so behind the mirror it goes!).  

So if you're looking for a high-quality silk dress that's super affordable ($80 for a silk dress!), then this might be the one for you.  I'm so in love with this I'm contemplating getting one more, buuut I need to slow my roll on these things.  How many silk dresses does one girl need?  Anyway if you're interested, you can get 10% off your first Grana purchase with this referral link and you can find my other Grana reviews here.