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Moving from conspicuous to conscious consumption and doing reviews along the way.  Find plenty of unsponsored reviews of Quince, Everlane, Grana, and Cuyana on the site!  I'm working towards a minimal waste lifestyle, and oh yea I love bags >.<

The Winter 10x10: The Clothes and Looks 1 & 2

Hi guys so now that I'm on my shopping ban, it's really about working with what I've got now (and boy I've got more than enough so really it's not any sort of deprivation at all).  But I'm jumping on the 10x10 bandwagon and doing this challenge along with Andrea from Seasons +Salt (who really motivated me to do this lol, thanks Andrea) and spear-headed by Lee from Style Bee and Caroline from Un-Fancy.  What is the 10x10 challenge?  It's taking 10 items of clothing (well 8 items of clothing and 2 pairs of shoes) and making 10 outfits that you wear over 10 days.  {Ok so I'm going to cheat here because I took all 10 outfit photos in one day because I had to set up a temporary photo studio in the Airstream garage that I could only leave up for 1 day.  So I may or may not recreate these outfits over the next 10 days.  Oh, but the M.Gemi shoes are totally out, i.e I can't walk in them lol, so I won't be wearing those shoes over the next 10 days.  And I'm coupling up the looks so the series will only last a week instead of two--gotta get back to my back-logged reviews ya know.}

So without further ado here are my 10 items:

1) Steven Alan plaid shirt (old) {Similar here}

2) Grana Mockneck {review here}

3) Everlane Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew {review here}

4) Rag and Bone military jacket (old) {somewhat similar here}

5) Everlane Anorak {review here}

6) Grana Silk Ankle Pants {review here}

7) Grana V-neck Silk Dress {review here}

8) Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Jeans {similar here}

9) Everlane Modern Oxfords {review here}

10) M. Gemi The Dolcetto {here}

 

First a note on why I chose these clothes.  Well I tried to add as many of my favorite Grana and Everlane pieces since I do so many reviews on their clothing and I truly stand behind my reviews and their products.  Also wanted to add some old pieces, the things I'm debating on whether or not to keep (and after this 10x10 I fell in love with them again so they're definitely keepers).  And then I went with a neutral color palate of black, navy, and gray (with the only patterned item being the plaid shirt).  And I went with neutral shoes (and yes the M.Gemi shoes are too big for me.  A separate review on them will be coming soon.) Last but not least, I really played around with my bags since I'm also going to be culling my collection and I wanted to see which ones were my favorites--still debating on this.

Look 1

Wearing: Grana Mockneck, Grana Silk Ankle Pants, Everlane Anorak, and Everlane Modern Oxfords {bag: Loewe Hammock}

Since it's raining like crazy here, I decided to add my favorite rain jacket to the 10x10.  I've been wearing it constantly anyway so it made sense I include it.  I probably won't be wearing the Modern Oxfords around the rain though--trying to keep them from getting too dirty.  I don't have proper rain shoes so I've been wearing my M.Gemi Felize loafers.  It keeps out most of the rain most of the time.  And if you're wondering, yes that's a new Loewe Hammock bag (I also have the light blue one, but I'm going to be selling that one since I don't love the light blue color).

Look 2

Wearing: Grana Mockneck, Grana V-Neck Slip Dress, M.Gemi The Dolcetto {bag: Valentino Rockstud}

I know I know the shoes are too big.  I definitely had the feeling of "little girl playing dress-up in mommy's shoes" when I was wearing these and taking pictures.  Probably because I could only limp around in them.  But these are my first pair of block heels and I really wanted to see how they went with my outfits.  So please just ignore the ill-fit for the rest of the pictures, thanks lol.  

These looks together can be title "One Mockneck, Two Ways" or maybe "Mockneck Day To Night".  What do you think?

P.S. Like my new studio set-up?  I figured it was time I got some well lit pictures and since it's been raining constantly in California there's no way to take pictures outside.  My photo studio set-up makes me feel like a semi-professional :P

Everlane Reviews By Clothing Category {updated May 2022}

So the other day I wanted to see how Everlane's square poplin shirt had looked on me so I went to my Ultimate Everlane Reviews page.  But I found that it was quite difficult to navigate so decided the best way to organize all the reviews might be by clothing category.  So without further ado here are all my reviews organized by clothing type (and I'll be updating this regularly as well).

Shoes

Everlane Modern Point Review

Everlane Modern Loafer

Everlane Street Shoes

Modern Ankle Boots review

Street Sandals

Modern Oxfords

Street Ankle Boots

Modern Babo

Chelsea Boot

Italian Slingback Sandals

Slide Sandals

Modern Smoking Loafer Review

Bridge Sandal

Form Crossover and Form Slide Sandal

Modern Loafer Mule

The Pointed Slide

The Day Heel

The Editor Heel

The Day Heel Mule

The Day Glove

The V Slingback

The Form Two Strap Sandal

The Editor Slingback

The V Heel

The Square Toe Slingback

The Boss Mules and Loafers

The Day Crossover Sandal

Renew Sport Sandal (2021)

Forever Slip on Sneakers (2021)

Leather Platform Sandal (2021) 

Bags & Leather Goods

Leather Foldover Crossbody Bag

Modern Zip Backpack

Leather Card Case

Petra Tote

The Pocket Tote

Dipped Zip Tote

Square Zip Wallet

The Beach Collection Canvas Backpack

Street Nylon Fanny Pack

The Day Market Tote

The Form Bag

The Mini Form Bag

The Day Tote Mini

Renew Transit Weekender (2021)

 

Tees & Tanks

Slim Crew Shirt

Cotton tees (of all styles)

Boxy Striped Tee

Cotton Muscle Tank

Everlane Linen Scoop Neck Tee

Gia Collection Tank Top

Cotton Poplin Cutaway Tank

Luxe Drape Scoop Neck Tee

Pima Cotton Stretch tee

Pima Stretch Turtleneck

Micro Stripe Tees

Clean Edge Tee

The Silk Shell

The Linen Muscle Tank (2018)

The Linen Picnic Tank

 

Silk & Linen & Poplin & Other Blouses

Everlane silk sleeveless top

Square Silk Shirt

Linen Collarless Square Shirt

Relaxed Poplin Shirt

Poplin Square Shirt

Japanese GoWeave Back-Zip Tee Review

Relaxed Linen Shirt

Cotton Two Pocket Shirt

Linen Oversized Collarless Shirt

The Soft Cotton Popover Shirt

The Cotton Notch Collar Popover Shirt

 

Dresses & Skirts

Cotton Striped Tank Dress

Cotton Poplin Collarless Shirt Dress

Stretch Ponte Skirt

Ponte Collection Short-Sleeve Dress

Indigo Linen Shirt Dress

Cotton Poplin V-neck Tank Dress

Poplin Shirt Dress

Cotton Poplin Square Shirt Dress

Twill Shirt Dress (aka Camp Dress)

Cotton Poplin Sleeveless Shirt Dress

Luxe Drape Muscle Tank Dress

Luxe Double Knit Sweater Dress

Premium Cotton A-Line Tee Dress

The Pleated Skirt

Japanese GoWeave Mini Slip Dress

Cotton Collarless Belted Shirt Dress

Linen Shirt Dress

The Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress

The Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Pull On Skirt

The Double-Lined Silk V-neck Dress

The Linen Sleeveless Shirtdress

The Japanese GoWeave Mini Short Sleeve Wrap Dress

The Denim Skirt

The Polka Dot Shirt dress

Cashmere V-neck midi

The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirtdress and Picnic Dress

 

Pants & Shorts

Street Fleece Pants

Go Weave Cropped Trousers

Gia Shorts

GoWeave Track Pants

The Cashmere Sweatpants

Cotton Poplin Culottes

Stretch Ponte Pants

Stretch Ponte Crop Pants

Wide Leg Crop Pants

Silk Wide Leg Pant

The Modern Boyfriend Denim

Italian GoWeave Easy Pants

The Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans

The Kick Crop Jeans

The Easy Chino

The Linen Pant

The Easy Chino Shorts

90’s Cheeky Straight Jeans (2021)

A-line Denim Short (2021)

Curvy 90’s Cheeky Jeans (2021)

 

Sweaters & Sweatshirts

Everlane Cashmere sweater review, the Donegal cashmere sweater review

Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew Sweater

Marled Wool Chunky Knit Crew Neck Sweater

Premium Ribbed Cashmere Sweater

Everlane Crew Neck Sweatshirt and Short-Sleeved Sweatshirt

Chunky Wool Knit Cardigan

Linen Crew Neck Sweater

Everlane's French Terry Sweater

Sweater Tee

Scuba Sweatshirt

Luxe Double Knit Mockneck

Waffle Knit Turtle-Neck

Cashmere Crop Square Mockneck

Fisherman Cotton Zip Pullover

The Beach Collection Pullover Hoodie

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

The Cotton Long Sleeve V-neck Crop

The Waffle Knit Cashmere Crew

Cashmere Sweatshirt

Wool-Cashmere Waffle Square Crew

Wool-Cashmere Rib V-neck Cardigan

The Texture Cotton Crew

The Cashmere Rib Round Crew

Soft Wool Rib Crew

The Oversized Alpaca Crew

The Soft Cotton Square Crew

The Soft Cotton Square Cardigan

The Cotton Linen V neck

 

Outerwear

Anorak review

The City Anorak

Street Fleece Bomber

Swing Trench

E2 Bomber Jacket

Short Puffer

Lightweight Puffer

Oversized Blazer

The Modern Utility Jacket

The Renew Light Puffer

The Wool Academy Blazer

 

Grana Review Silk Ankle Pants Review

Still catching up on all my Grana reviews here so bear with me as I post several Grana reviews in a row.  These silk ankle pants have been making their rounds around the blogosphere with mostly favorable reviews so I thought I might as well try them out as well.  These ankle pants are made of Grana's 16mm crepe de chine, which I'm not really a huge fan of (I much prefer their 22mm georgette satin which is what their v-neck tank and slip dresses are made of).  But at the very least, these are made with 2 layers of silk which makes the pants feel much more substantial.  Also because of the double layer of silk, there's no VPL which is also a win in my book.

First a note on sizing, I ordered the pants in medium short because although I'm 5'4" I have the legs of a short person.  I love that Grana sizing comes in short, regular or long so you can really find the fit that works best for you.

Anyways I love love love these pants.  They're super comfortable and they feel like PJs really.  I wore them for the 20+ hours plane rides and layovers that it took to get to Thailand and they were perfect (very little to no wrinkling!!).  Felt like PJ's but didn't look as shabby.  These are now my go-to airplane pants.

The only annoying thing about these pants is that with prolonged wear, the elastic band sometimes twists.  So every now and then you have to straighten the elastic out.  But other than that a pair of quality silk pants for $69 is totally worth it.  If you're interested in getting your own pair, this referral link will get you 10% off for first time customers.  And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

And here are some other blogger's opinions of these silk ankle pants: Capsule Closet, Karen Cheng, and K is for Kani.

A New Year for Temporary Housewifey

Sunrise from my bedroom window in Honolulu (thanks to jet lag)

Sunrise from my bedroom window in Honolulu (thanks to jet lag)

Happy New Year y'all!  In Japanese culture (p.s. if you're wondering I'm half Japanese and half Chinese though I am much more attuned to my Japanese side), New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are two of the most important days out of the year.  There's traditions to close out the year (like eating soba noodles at midnight for long life) and rituals to ensure the coming year is a good one (eating a special soup for good luck and going to the temple to pray for a good year).  As for me, I've always welcomed the officialness of the new year with resolutions.  In the past I've been quite hit or miss with keeping resolutions.  Some years I vow to go the gym and eat healthier and like many people I don't even make it past January before I quit.  Other years I've been able to follow through the whole year.  But to be honest sometimes those resolutions start feeling like a ball and chain rather than a healthy commitment, which is probably why I haven't made any resolutions for the last several years.  

But for 2017 I'm starting to get that itch again to make a couple resolutions and to stick with them.  And now with you guys as my witness I feel an extra motivation to keep them for the year.  And so here's my resolution as it pertains to my closet and consumption in general:

For 2017, I will not spend any money to purchase any new clothing.  

So what does that mean specifically?  Well I'll continue to do Everlane and Grana reviews thanks to the referral credit from the support of you guys (I also have some left over M.Gemi and Cuyana credit from returns).  And I still have several items left over from 2016 that I never had a chance to review yet.  So the reviews will still keep going but most likely at a much slower pace (I mean reviewing a new item of clothing 3 times a week isn't really sustainable is it?).  I'll probably focus a bit more on finding my style through 8x8 challenges (it's like the 10x10 except I decided to exclude shoes from the equation and make 2 less looks).  I'll also review things that I already have and love (anyone interested in reviews on new vs. vintage Chanel bags?) and reviews on things other than clothes (like Pottery Barn towels that are seriously the best I've ever tried).  I'll also talk a lot more about my Airstream life and living in a tiny space.  

But basically I will not buy clothes or shoes in 2017.  I will however let myself trade clothing at my favorite Crossroads if I feel like my wardrobe needs a refresh.  In the meantime I'll also be downsizing my closet (or rather the 5 large plastic bins I currently keep all my non-daily clothes in which is stored at the Airstream garage).  Oh and I won't be buying any new bags, jewelry or other accessories.  It's a complete ban on buying things for the closet.  I definitely have more than enough so it's about time I took a look at or at least use everything I have before I acquire any more.  What do you think?  Am I biting off more than I can chew?

Grana Review Chunky Rib Knit Merino Boyfriend Crew Neck Sweater

Every Fall/Winter I seem to have  sweater of the season.  Last year it was my gray Everlane cashmere crew neck.  This year it's this Grana chunky rib knit sweater in merino wool.  You know I'm already in love with Grana's merino wool (review of Grana merino wool cardigan and merino wool mock neck), but I have to say this is their best merino wool product yet.  And that's because this sweater is super thick and waffle knit, but they still use their super smooth and soft wool fibers.  There is 0% itch here.  I've been wearing it alone (and it's perfect for those high 50 to 60 degree weather) or under my Everlane anorak when it's raining or a bit chillier (that anorak is a beast at keeping in the warmth even though it's super thin).  (I recently just posted a pic on instagram of this combo-- I really love the similarity in color but difference in textures).  My outfits are almost boring because I've just been throwing this sweater on almost every day.  But even with almost constant wear, there has been zero pilling.  It's some kind of amazing magic lol.

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As for sizing, I went with my usual rule of thumb for Grana: if it says "boyfriend" I get a small (if it doesn't I get a medium).  But you can also check their fit finder since they usually take thorough measurements of each garment (scroll down to the bottom of the pop out).  Also like almost all of Grana's sweaters, this one is also fairly long so I wear it with the bottom hem folded over like in the pictures above.

Anyway here are several more outfits with this sweater.   The one on the right is for the the review of Grana's cashmere joggers (spoiler: which are better than Everlane's cashmere sweatpants).  See, I have been pairing this sweater with almost everything.

Anyway if you want to get this sweater for yourself, you can use this referral link to get 10% off your first purchase or if you're a repeat buyer use the code ELAINExGRANA for 10% off (good til 12/31/16).   And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Valentino Rockstud Heels & Rockstud Flats Review

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Hi guys and hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  Back with a review today (this one's for you Edwina), but it's not quite the same as my usual reviews since this is a bit of a high-end item.  But if these shoes were made in Italy and I'm assuming by skilled craftsmen (as most high-end luxury items usually are--though now that I research it, Valentino really needs more transparency about their production because I can't find anything on it).  For me these are definitely considered slow fashion since I've had the same pair of Valentino rockstuds (the 2.5" kitten heel ones) for over 3 years and I've worn them to pretty much any function that requires dressy shoes (basically to every wedding and holiday party in the last 3 years along with some Vegas nightclubs).  And because these are high-end luxury shoes they have held up like a beast.  Seriously, Vegas nightclubs are not a good place for shoes (people stepping on your feet and drinks spilling all the time).  But they look almost as good as they day I bought them.  The elastic for the small buckles are still holding up, all the leather is still good and no major marks on them (but that's also because I went with nude patent and it's fairly hardy compared to the regular leather).  

And because I loved them so much I purchased another pair, a flat version (I think I'm getting old because I can't even handle kitten heels if I have to wear them for over a couple of hours).  And to be honest, I love these flat versions even more.  They are way more comfortable and less prone to blisters than the kitten heel version (3+ years and I still get blisters in the kitten heels sometimes--usually when I have to walk a lot).  I know the age of the Valentino rockstud may be fading (it was trendy for quite a long time) but I don't really care.  I love these shoes for how they look, not just because they're "in".  Sometimes, under certain lighting, these shoes look super blingy and sparkly.  Just what you need in a party shoe.  

As for sizing, I'm usually a 7.5-8 (I wear 7.5 in TOMS, 38 in M.Gemi shoes and 8 in Everlane shoes) and I'm a 38 in these Valentino rockstuds.  The flats are definitely more forgiving than the kitten heels when it comes to my wide feet.

I also love the nude patent because 1) it goes with everything and 2) like I said above, the patent is more forgiving in terms of stains or marks

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Some pictures of the kitten heel version above and below.

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 I also once owned a pair of the 4" heel versions in black patent (pics below) but I couldn't handle the 4" heel.  I am just not a heel kind of gal (to me it's foot torture akin to foot binding--it serves no purpose other than to give women pain but be aesthetically pleasing).  So I sold them awhile ago and they found a happy home.

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But if you've ever contemplated splurging on these heels, trust me they are worth every penny.  And because these shoes have been my only pair of party heels for the last 3 years, I think the cost per wear is somewhere in $50 range (that's not great, but also beats buying $80 Aldo party shoes 3 years in a row and then donating them to Goodwill. Plus how many wears can an Aldo shoe really take?).  I see it that at least this way, these party shoes will last me several more years  and each year I'm not contributing to the pile of party shoes that end up in landfills.  These may quite possibly be the last pairs of party shoes I'll ever purchase.  Now that's slow fashion.

P.S. I'm curious to know how do you guys feel about luxury items.  Yes, they're ridiculously priced but at the same time they are made by skilled craftsmen who should be paid fairly well (I mean I'm sure Chanel pays more than minimum wage right?) and they're made to last.  Luxury items can also be mended and rejuvenated (like bag spas for handbags and cobblers for shoes).  Plus most authentic luxury items can be resold and used lovingly by a number of people before they're chucked. So can they be considered ethical and sustainable?

Everlane Review E2 Bomber Jacket {Updated October 2017}

Merry Christmas Eve Eve y'all!  I'm currently traveling in Thailand but I have a back log of reviews to get done so the review train must keep on chugging lol.  Anyway about bomber jackets: I love the look of them but am always annoyed by the over-embellishment on most of them (for example this one or this one).  So I was really excited when Everlane came out with a super plain one as part of their E2 collection.  {Speaking of the E2 collection, did anyone else purchase anything from this collection?  Personally, I found a lot of the looks hard to pull off unless you're super tall and skinny.}  Anyway so here I am wearing the E2 bomber:

What do you think?  I'm a little "eh" about it.  I don't hate it but I don't really love it either.  I think the main reason why I don't love it is because it's "lightly filled for warmth" as Everlane puts it, but it makes this jacket bulkier.  In San Jose, I don't really need too much extra warmth so I actually prefer the bomber I purchased a couple months ago that's just one layer (also the lighter jacket allows me to layer my cropped sweaters underneath).  But other than that I can't find any real fault with it.  I ordered it in a small and it fit well in the both in the sleeve length and overall length.  But I just wasn't loving it (ya know?) so I ended up returning it.  

{Update: Looks like they brought the bomber back for this year with a slight change in the pockets, but I love their new colors especially this maroon one!}

Grana Review Merino Wool Mock Neck Sweater

I'm a huge fan of Grana's merino wool when I first tried out their merino rib cardigan so I was definitely looking forward to trying out their merino mock neck sweater.  As I've said before, I'm not a fan of turtlenecks so I was very curious how this mock neck would turn out (it's my first!).  And well, I love it!

First a note on sizing.  I find myself continuously going back and forth between small and medium in Grana sizes.  It's kind of a crap shoot but for the most part I guess depending on the fit on the models.  If it's an oversized fit like a "boyfriend" fit I will go for the small, but if it looks fairly trim on the model then my go-to size is a medium.  I ordered a medium on this one and I would say it's a good fit.  Also this way I can wear a tee under this sweater (and possibly a collared button-down, which I did in the picture below--I guess it kind of works).

Trying to style it with a collared shirt, the mock neck ends up hiding it

Trying to style it with a collared shirt, the mock neck ends up hiding it

Anyway I love love love this sweater.  The merino wool is smooth and silky and feels a lot more lux than its $59 price tag.  Seriously this is a great deal.  The wool is on the thin side like the merino wool cardigan I reviewed so you definitely want to use this as a layering piece.  If you're a first time buyer use my referral link here to get 10% off your first purchase (if you're a repeat customer, from now until Dec. 31st get 10% off your order with the code ELAINEXGRANA).  And you can now find all my ordered Grana reviews here.

M. Gemi the Stellato Review

Hi guys and here's another unsponsored M.Gemi review for you today.  As you know I love M.Gemi's Felize loafers (so much so that I now have 2 pairs of these)!  But I wanted to try something different so today I'm reviewing M.Gemi's Stellato flats.

First a note on sizing.  The sizing for the Stellato flats are completely different from that of the Felize loafers.  I'm a 38.5 in the Felize loafers, as recommended by M.Gemi's fit finder, and they fit perfectly.  So I just assumed I was the same size in the Stellato.  Nope, not even close.  These shoes were too big for me and I really should have gotten a 38.  So learn from my mistake and do the fit finder for each pair of M.Gemi shoes you buy.  The size they recommend will vary.  

Now other than the size issue, these shoes were pretty awesome.  The leather is more like Everlane's modern point and not Everlane's modern loafer.  The leather is a bit stiffer than the Felize so it might take a bit of breaking in.  The bottoms of these shoes are also a tad slippery so I would add these anti-slip sole pads.  The back of the heel also pinches a bit but nothing heel grips can't fix.

To be honest, I prefer my Felize loafers a lot more than the Stellato just because the Felize took zero effort and time to break in and gave me zero blisters.  But I can't say the same is true for the Stellato.  So I guess the lesson learned here is that all M.Gemi shoes are not equal (in both size and comfort).  

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

Grana Review Silk Cashmere Oversized Crew Neck

*sponsored post*

Hi guys, so here's my second sponsored post from Grana.  I reviewed Grana's Silk Cashmere Tee, which I loved so when they asked what other items I wanted to try out, I couldn't help but me tempted by their long sleeve version of the top.  And just as I loved the short-sleeved tee, I love their long-sleeve version as well.

Like I said before the silk cashmere material is super luxe: it's smooth and silky.  I did notice though that it can be prone to static in the dry winter weather so I've been wearing a cotton tee underneath to keep it from sticking to my body.  I ordered this in a medium, which is the perfect size if you want to layer something underneath.  

What do you think of the color?  I'm a little bit eh about it which makes me think I'm just not a pink kind of person?  But other than that, I really love the fit and fabric.  I have to admit that Grana makes some of the best basics and I like knowing they value fair labor conditions and labor rights.  If you take a look at my Ultimate Grana Reviews Post, you can see that currently the "Not So Great" section is empty and that's because to be honest there's nothing that I've disliked from Grana (...yet anyway lol).  

So if you're interested in trying out this top or anything else they offer, you can use ELAINEXGRANA for 10% off your order and free shipping (for both old and new customers) by the end of the year and if you're reading this in 2017, new customers can use this referral link for 10% off your first order.

Everlane Review Leather Foldover Crossbody Bag {Updated August 2018}

You know I'm a huge bag lady so when Everlane came out with a line of new leather bags, of course I had to try it out and review it.  Well if you're looking for a luxurious and sumptuous leather simple crossbody then I think you might really like this one.  And I would say for $30 more, Everlane's foldover crossbody is a better choice than Cuyana's crossbody pouch, especially if you need to carry a bit more than the essentials.

So let's talk about this beautiful bag.  First off, the leather is amazing!  Super buttery and soft.  This leather is different from Everlane's Petra line of leather bags since these bags were made in Spain while the Petra bags were made in Italy.  The Spanish leather feels softer and more porous and not quite as hardy as the Italian leather, but it does feel more luxurious and probably won't have the same problem of stiffening up over time that the Petra leather has.  This does mean though that the crossbody might be more prone to scratching and color transfer (for the natural color one specifically).

The bag itself is super lightweight but still large enough to fit your essentials and then some.  In the pictures below I'm carrying my sunglass case, wallet, and keys.  And even though it may look bulky from the back, it looks good from the front because the foldover flap hides much of the bulk (and this is why it's better than Cuyana's crossbody pouch IMHO).  I like that you can access items from the zipper under the flap, instead of having to use the top zipper and reaching down into the bag every time you want to grab something (Everlane's video of the bag shows the functionality of the 2 zippers).  The strap of the crossbody is also easily adjustable (though not removable, which would have been a cool feature to allow it to become a clutch as well as a crossbody).

In the end though I returned this particular purse because for the life of me, I will not be able to keep this purse from getting dirty.  However if you do like the natural color, I reviewed several leather cleaners and protectors for Mansur Gavriel bags and it might be a good resource on how to protect this crossbody.  Also just to note that this leather is more like the calf-skin than the vegetable-tanned leather that Mansur Gavriel uses.  

Anyway I'm still in love with this bag and I think I'll get it in the navy leather.  But first I need to take an audit of all my bags (actually Grechen has really inspired me to take a closet audit in general).  So until then I'm going to hold off on repurchasing this bag.  But if you're interested in this beautiful leather bag (and really it's amazing).  You can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

{2018 Update: I actually repurchased this in the oxblood/burgundy color and love it!  It's my go-to travel bag since it can lie flat but still hold a lot of things if you need it to.  You can see me wear it around Europe here during my winter 10x10 challenge}

Kara Backpack Review

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I purchased this Kara backpack from Shopbop (during their awesome sale FTW) mostly so that I could use it for my month-long road trip.  And what a great backpack it was for traveling.  Actually I would gander that really any backpack is a great travel bag.  But I especially love the simplicity of Kara bags.  

Here are some of the other things I love about this backpack:

~ It can fit my DSLR along with everything else that I needed for traveling

~ The adjustable straps were super comfortable even though they are on the skinny side.  I never found them digging into my shoulders

~ The large zip compartment made grabbing things super easy

~ Fully lined on the inside with a zipper pocket

~ An outside compartment where I could easily slip in my phone and sunglasses.  That pockets had a fairly strong magnet closure and faced my back so it was quite secure

~ The pebbled leather makes it super easy to maintain, even in such a light color.  I never had to worry about getting color transfer on the leather or about getting it wet (in fact for the last half of the trip through Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, BC, the bag got rained on a ton of times and I just had to wipe off the water and it was fine

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Some things that could be improved:

~ Maybe a higher quality zipper or at least 2 pull zippers that can zip from either side.  Due to the shape of the bag and the stiffness of the zipper, at times it was hard to do a quick zip up if I was in a rush

~ I was bit annoyed that the small handle at the top of the backpack kept folding down instead of standing upright (but this is minor)

~Also when carrying heavy things, the backpack wouldn't really hold its shape (like in the picture above)

~ I really wish this was ethically produced in the USA, but it's made in China

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Anyways I love the look and utility of this bag so I'm definitely going to keep it around and use it for travel.  

P.S. And congrats to Phoebe for winning my artisan-made goods giveaway!  And thank you to everyone who entered!

Everlane Review Premium Ribbed Cashmere {updated Dec 2017}

Hi guys, guess what?  I finally invested in a tripod and a camera remote so now I can stop taking those crappy mirror photos for all my reviews.  About time right?  When I see how much better the colors are in these photos (below), it made me think why haven't I done this sooner?  Now it's time to improve my blogger modeling skills, lol.  

Anyway onto the review.  I purchased Everlane's premium ribbed cashmere sweater because I was curious to see how it compared to their ribbed wool cashmere sweater and their regular cashmere crew neck sweaters.  Well the premium ribbed cashmere is exactly as it sounds: a thick wonderfully soft and luxurious 100% cashmere cocoon.  And for $235 it better be, right?  When I put it on I loved how it felt.  There's nothing that beats super thick cashmere sweaters.  It was as thick as their ribbed wool cashmere and since cashmere is warmer than wool, this one layer kept me super toasty.  This is hands-down the best feeling cashmere sweater I've ever tried.

But sadly, I was not really a fan of the fit.  I didn't like how the cropped sweater flared in the front and kind of comes up like an upside down V right at the belly button.  Plus the super wide sleeves and shoulders added a lot of bulk on top (I felt like I had football player shoulders going on).  The proportions didn't look right to me, and I'm thinking it looks best on tall people with long legs (like the Everlane model).  And for $235 I have to love everything about the sweater to keep it.  So I ended up returning it (but of course now it's out of stock in all sizes so I'm having some regrets...).  But I have a ton of new awesome sweaters to keep me company (but my top 2 favorites right now is Everlane's ribbed wool cashmere crew neck and Grana's cashmere long line cardigan).

As usual this review is not sponsored.  You can find all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews here and you can find Everlane items here.

P.S. You will still see some reviews with mirror selfies since I don't always publish posts in chronological order.  I try to mix it up so it's not like 10 Grana reviews in a row and then 10 Everlane reviews in a row.

{Dec 2017 update: You can find this year's premium cashmere sweaters here and it's also $37 cheaper this year!}

Paying It Back Blog Sale

Hi guys, so I'm trying something new here again on the blog.  I talk a lot about "getting" on this blog (as in getting and trying new things from Everlane and Grana).  And I've been super blessed to have enough financially to start this blog and also super duper blessed to have you guys support my reviews with your clicks on my referral links (seriously I wouldn't be able to review even half of what I do if I had to pay for everything out of pocket).  So I've decided to give back with a "Paying it Back" blog sale.  So from now until further notice, 100% of the purchase price of each item on my blog sale over at TemporaryHousewifeyCloset will be donated to a non-profit organization.  So that means if you've been wanting to try some Grana cashmere, not only can you get it for half the price but now that money is going to be helping someone else as well.

Now about the choice of who to give it to.  That's been on my mind a lot and I've been reading Erin's post here and Leah's post here about organizations to give to.  And with the coming of Trump's pick of Scott Pruitt (a oil lobbyist and climate-change denier) as head of EPA and with incidents like this, I decided to go with EarthJustice as my current non-profit of choice.  So anytime you purchase anything from my blog sale, the money will be going to fighting legal battles to keep our Earth from getting too polluted (though really I sometimes feel like we're fighting a losing battle here, but we have to try, right?).  

And to purchase from TemporaryHousewifeyCloset, message me through Instagram or email me directly at Temporaryhousewifey@gmail.com.  And just to let you know the instagram feed in the sidebar on the right doesn't update so please go to the instagram page to see what's still available.  I'll try to add more things over the weekend but I'll be leaving for Thailand and then Hawaii until January so any purchases after 12/12 will have to be shipped in 2017.  Thanks again for all your support guys and let's see where this endeavor leads!

Grana Review Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater

Here's yet another Grana cashmere review for you guys today.  As you know I love the quality of Grana's cashmere, so it's been mostly about trying their different sweater styles.  So far I've done a Grana cashmere tee review, a Grana cashmere boyfriend v-neck sweater review, and a Grana cashmere longline cardigan review.  Today I'm reviewing their crew neck sweater.  

First a note on sizing: I ordered this in a medium because it looked quite fitted on the model (compare this to the boyfriend v-neck sweater in which I ordered a small).  And the medium fit just right, and maybe even on the snug side, especially around the hips.  The sleeves and the sweater in general were also a bit too long for my liking. 

Like the rest of Grana's cashmere sweaters, the quality of the cashmere is excellent.  But my main gripe about this sweater is that I expected this color (called Heather Blush) to be more like the dusty rose like in their website pics.  But when I got it, it's definitely more like a dusty salmon.  A bit too much orange for my taste.  I also think I prefer Everlane's cashmere crew neck sweaters because they're not quite as fitted and a bit more cropped than Grana's.  

Anyway this review is unsponsored and all opinions are my own.  You can find Grana items here (10% off your first Grana order with this link) and all my other Grana reviews here.

Also here's one of my favorite bloggers, Andrea talking about her first experiences with Grana.  So stoked to know that other people love Grana too!

ThirdLove Bra Review

Let me just start off this review by saying this is a completely unsponsored post.  I purchased this bra from ThirdLove to try out (especially since I've been bombarded by their digital marketing).  But really I was in the market to buy a new bra (I've been using Wacoal bras but I've been finding that the bra straps always seem to be sliding down and I've had fit problems, especially as the bra gets old and stretched out).  So after reading a bunch about ThirdLove, I though I might as well give them a shot.  And I definietly did not want to buy a bra from Victoria's Secret (in general, I find their ads and 'fashion show' objectifying women to be more and more offensive these days.  We are all wonderful, miraculous women not mere sex symbols, ya know?).

When you get to the ThirdLove site, you can take a simple fit finder test.  It's not wholly scientific but hey at least it does the job.  The bra that they recommended to me, the 24/7, came in exactly a size that worked.  And I've been wearing it for several days now and I find it super comfortable and best of all, the straps don't fall down!  There's a bunch of small details that make this bra super comfortable: memory foam cups, those special straps that don't fall down nor dig in, and a clasp that's got a padded layer underneath so you can't even feel it).  They also have an iphone app that lets you take a picture of your boobs from the privacy of your own home and they'll size you (and don't worry the app doesn't store any images). I clicked on their "try before buy" option so that I paid $2.99 upfront for shipping, and if I didn't like it I could just return it within 30 days for a minimal upfront cost.  Now that I'm in love with these bras and plan to keep this one (not to mention buy several more), this first one will set me back $68 (not crazy expensive but not cheap either).  Well they do say invest in good bras, so for me this is totally worth it.  

The Ultimate Grana Review Post {updated December 2017}

{I am no longer doing Grana reviews as of 2018.  I explain why here.}

I've done one ultimate Everlane review post, so here's one for Grana!  Now you can find all my Grana reviews in one place and I've ordered them according to what worked out best for me (from Favorites to Honorable Mentions to Meh and finally to the Not So Greats).  Of course, everything is according to my body type (5'4" and a size medium in most things, except size small in 'boyfriend' fit items) so things might fit differently for you.  And I'll be periodically updating this post with new reviews as they start accumulating.  So please check back once in awhile (and if you're looking for a particular review, just use the search bar on the right).  And for all first time customers, get 10% off your first Grana purchase with this referral link (which makes it possible for me to review all these items for you so thank you all for your support!)

My Favorites

Pima Cotton tees in all styles {update December 2017: they have changed their pima tees so that I no longer like their new tees (indicated as 50/1 jersey in the description).  My favorite was their old line of pima tees which were thicker and felt like they were made with higher quality.}

Georgette Satin V-Neck Silk Tank

V-neck Silk Slip dress

Pima modal slouchy tee

Silk Cashmere Oversized Tee, Silk Cashmere Oversized Crew Neck

Grana cashmere in general but not all styles

Merino Rib Cardigan

Cashmere Long Line Cardigan

Merino Wool Mock Neck

Chunky Rib Knit Merino Boyfriend Crew Neck

Silk Ankle Pants

Pima Waffle Boyfriend Crew Neck Sweater

Silk Culottes

Italian Oxford Boyfriend Shirt

Silk Mini V-neck Slip Dress

Silk V-neck Cropped Tank

Silk Jumpsuit

Linen A line Dress

Silk Blazer

Silk Drop Shoulder Tee

Poplin Drop Shoulder Dress

Cashmere Boyfriend Cropped Crew Neck Sweater

 

The Honorable Mentions

Japanese Denim: Slim Boyfriend Jeans

Linen Boyfriend Shirt version 1 and version 2

Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater

Cashmere Joggers

Silk Long Sleeve Pyjamma Shirt

Silk Sleeveless Blazer

Linen Tee

Linen Sleeveless Shirt

 

The Meh

Silk Tank and other 16mm Crepe de Chine silk items (including the silk racerback camisole)

Pima Cotton Slub Tee

Japanese denim boyfriend dress

Cashmere Tee, Cashmere boyfriend V-neck sweater (due to fit, not the cashmere which is great)

Silk Bomber

Silk Collarless Shirt

Silk Joggers

Linen Joggers and Silk V-neck Cropped Tee

Silk kimono blazer

 

The Not So Great

Racerfront Bikini Top and Bottom

Pima Racerfront Maxi Dress

Cashmere Textured Sweater

Silk Flat Front Ankle Pants

Grana Review Cashmere Longline Cardigan

Hi guys, so I'm super excited to be bringing you this Grana review today because guess what?  This is my first sponsored/partnership post on this blog!  Yep, this is my first (of three total) free items I've been gifted from Grana!  I guess I'm excited about it because it kind of feels like Grana has seen all my hard work on this blog and are now acknowledging it.  But this doesn't mean I'm going to be a sell out and just post reviews on whatever I get free.  {Actually I've been offered a free bag and watch so far from two different brands which I've turned down just because it wasn't something I would purchase for myself.  But you know I purchase Grana for myself all the time so it was kind of a no-brainer to agree to this partnership.}

So I'm finally wading into sponsorship territory but don't worry, I'm going to continue to be true to myself and to you guys because honestly, it's more important for me to keep the integrity of the reviews on the blog than to get free stuff.  Coincidentally I recently read a great blog post on Style Bee about the whole blogging and sponsorship issue (which is definitely worth the read if you have time) and agree with a lot of the points Lee brings up.

Anywho let's get to the review.  So as you know I love Grana cashmere but haven't yet found a style of sweater from Grana that I love (I tried both their cashmere tee and their cashmere boyfriend v-neck sweater).  But this cashmere longline sweater is the one!  I love love love it (and I swear it's not because I got it for free, though it definitely made it a bit sweeter, lol).  I originally wanted to try it out because I was inspired by Andrea's post here on Seasons and Salt (I guess this makes me a copy-copycat).  

This cashmere cardigan is just the perfect, simple long black cardigan that I've been missing in my closet.  There's no buttons or any other closure on this cardigan, which makes it feel even more clean and simple (which I prefer).  And when I wear it, I feel like I'm wearing my comfy and cozy bedroom robe, so it's the perfect thing to throw on as you rush out the door.  I got this in a size small and it's just right, especially the sleeve-length which hits me right at the wrist (I find that a lot of long cardigans have sleeves that are too long for me so I have to push them up all the time).  I also love the side slits and the two pockets in the front.  

Anyway if you're interested in this cardigan, use the code ELAINExGRANA at checkout to get 10% off your and free shipping (this applies to all buyers, not just first time customers unlike the referral link).  The code is good until the end of December 2016.  (note if you've happened upon this review after December, first time customers can still use this referral link to get 10% off their order.}

{edit: Also if you're wondering what the main differences are between this cardigan and Grana's merino wool cardigan: the cashmere cardigan is thicker/warmer and also longer.  The merino wool cardigan has a more drapey front opening, while the cashmere cardigan has a very simple front opening.}

Grana Review Donegal Cashmere Boyfriend V-neck Sweater

Hi guys, so if you haven't read my first Grana cashmere review you can find it here (but here's gist of it: Grana's cashmere = Everlane cashmere in quality and similar in price so it's really about what style you prefer).  So today I'm trying out Grana's boyfriend v-neck sweater in a small.  Also I chose the donegal wool to see how it measures up with Everlane's donegal wool sweater from last year.

So first, donegal cashmere in general is not as soft and is a bit scratchier than straight cashmere because of the flecks of different colored wool.   This is true for both the Everlane and Grana donegal cashmere.  But the Everlane donegal wool had multi-colored wool specks that were more pronounced so I think it was a bit more interesting than Grana's donegal wool which is just black flecks.

Everlane on the left and Grana on the right

Everlane on the left and Grana on the right

So I got the boyfriend v-neck sweater in a small because the sweater is meant to be oversized.  And I'm glad I did because the sweater was quite large on top around the chest.  But it also narrows quite a bit at the hips.  The boyfriend sweater is also quite long, so I think the best way to wear it, especially for a short-ish person like myself, would be more like the Grana model with the bottom of the sweater pulled up to the waist and having the sweater double-up at the waist.  If you wear it like I am below, the sweater has to stretch across the hips, which is both uncomfortable and unflattering.  To be honest I'm not a huge fan of this style of sweater since it's kind of shapeless on top. 

But if you're interested you can purchase the sweater from Grana here (and get 10% off when you use that link, but for first time customers only).  And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

A different kind of post about Black Friday shopping from a blogger & a Giveaway! {Closed}

So the holiday season has begun, eh?  Well like most people of my generation, I'm tempted by all the deals on Cyber Week (yep it's no longer just for Monday, it's going on all week folks) but not so much for Black Friday (being amongst a mad consumeristic mass of people?  No thanks).  But as I mentioned in a previous post, this year I'm going to try to do things differently: commit to purchasing items that are from ethical/sustainability-focused brands or directly from craftsmans/artisans.  

So with that in mind here are some of the items I've purchased for myself from artisans in the past which I'll be purchasing for my friends as gifts because I really loved their products (as for my favorite ethical brands you know them: Everlane, Grana, Cuyana, and Amour Vert).

In no particular order (the links to each business is in the header btw):

Little Seed Farm- Goat's Milk Soap

(Made in Wilson County, Tennesse)

Ever since a trip to Tennessee several years ago I've been hooked on these natural soaps from Little Seed Farms.  Run by a husband and wife team, all soaps are hand made from goat's milk produced on their farm (every box has a picture of a different goat from their farm) and includes only the gentlest ingredients like olive oil and coconut oil.  My favorite scents are rose, lavender, and rosemary mint.

Salt Farm-Black Truffle Salt

(Made in San Diego, California)

Currently I'm going through my 4th large bottle of this and my addiction is still going strong.  I add this to everything I would normally add salt to (like a soft boiled egg, an avocado, or a steak) and it makes everything taste 10 times better.  I've tried other black truffle salts before from both Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table and this is hands down the winner (though I have to say I did pick up a bottle of black truffle salt in Italy and I would say that was equal to if not a bit better than Salt Farm's but that was just a unicorn really).  Unlike other black truffle salts, this has 10% black truffle (it's usually 5% or made from "black truffle flavorings" whatever that means).  If a $40 bottle of salt sounds ridiculous (it did to me too but really this lasts a very long time), they also have a set of 3 small salt vials.  They also do other gourmet salts which I found to be equally tasty and of high quality.

Missionary Chocolates- Vegan Truffles

(Made in Portland, Oregon)

So I'm not even a vegan guys but these chocolates are amazing.  Better than most non-vegan truffles in fact.  I recently discovered them during our short stay in Portland during our road trip and I loved them so much I brought back boxes and boxes for friends and family.  While I was there picking up my 10 boxes, I had a great conversation with one of the chocolatiers (since he was hand packing each box, it took a good 20 minutes or so) and learned more about this small company, and let me tell you they do this as a labor of love.  My favorite flavors were the peppermint, the meyer lemon explosion (soooo goood), and the simply espresso.

Amelia Samari- The Basket

(Made in Hawaii)

On a recent trip home (Honolulu) I stumbled upon these baskets at a local shop (Mori Hawaii, which btw I love love love) and was stoked to find that the maker, Amelia had just put up a new website so that you can order these baskets directly from her with your custom color choices.  I ordered several baskets in various color and sizes and they are the perfect thing as a catchall for odds and ends.  Instead of using plastic trays (which would persist in the environment long after I'm done with them) I prefer these hand sewn rope baskets, which are surprisingly sturdy.  And despite the fact that these baskets are custom made, they aren't ridiculously priced.

Giveaway time!

Anyway as a thank you to all my readers this year I'm doing a giveaway of all 4 items mentioned above (specifically 1 large bar of soap, the small vial of black truffle salt, a box of truffles, and a small basket).  The giveaway will end on midnight Sunday December 11 and one winner will be announced on Monday the 12th (I'll email you directly).  To enter just 1) follow me on facebook (TemporaryHousewifey) or Instagram (@TemporaryHousewifey) and 2) fill out the form below: {side note:  Oh and if you're already following my facebook page or Instagram then just fill out the form, thanks guys!}

I hope your shopping today is both enjoyable and mindful!