Everlane The Silk Shell Review

Sorry not the right color here, but I didn't have a chance to grab the images of their pink shell.

So interesting story about this Everlane Silk Shell.  I had no intention of purchasing this (much less in this color) except when I was scrolling through Everlane's page while in the security line at the airport I saw that there was a slight glitch on their mobile site.  They were selling this pink silk shell for $1!!! The next smallest size they had available was a size 8.  Now I'm usually a size 4 in Everlane so it made no sense for my to buy a size 8.  But I couldn't pass it up.  Plus I wasn't sure I would even be able to check-out due to the error.  But I was able to check out and I got my order confirmation.  At this point I was sure that Everlane would realize their error, apologize and refund everyone their $1 (and I was curious to see how they would handle the whole debacle).  But amazingly the price just changed back to what it should be ($65) and I received my item a week later.  It's pretty admirable for Everlane to follow through even though it was their mistake. 

And since I had it in hand I decided to try it out.  And guys, it fit.  It was a bit loose but it fit fine at the neck and arm holes (I for sure thought the arm holes would be way too big).  Which led me to think, "Wait, am I really a size 8 and have I been fooling myself to think I'm a size 4 all this time?!"  But then I realized, that the size 4 items fit me perfectly fine as well.  So does that mean Everlane's sizing variation is actually quite minimal?

{Wearing: Everlane Silk Shell, Everlane Stretch Ponte Pants, Everlane Modern Point shoes and YSL Universite bag}

I'm still not sure if I'll be keeping this silk shell but I'll at least try to incorporate it into some outfits before I decide.  I've never owned anything this pink before so it'll be fun to experiment and incorporate it into my decidedly neutral closet.

Anyways you can find all the rest of my Everlane reviews here.

P.S. Actually I decided to sell this over at TemporaryHousewifeyCloset for a really good price.  So Everlane's loss will be EarthJustice's gain, lol (and one lucky reader will get a new silk shell for a steal)

January: Progress... sort of

Hi guys!  This quick post is for those who are interested in my shopping ban and closet purge (and my general quest to downsize and simplify).  My current closet situation equals 5 large plastic bins of clothes, one and a half plastic bins of shoes, and a small closet with essentials at the Airstream.  

January's progress: sold 10 items of clothes, but kept 1 Everlane sweater (the cotton fisherman sweater--review of that coming soon), a PJ set c/o Grana, and one tee purchased on eBay with credit (eBay bucks).  So that's a net total of 6 items out of my closet.  Oh boy, I'm going to have to do better than that next month.  In February I plan to do at least one run to Crossroads and one to Goodwill so I'll be able to get that net total purge into the double digits there.

On the bright side, I have officially completed one month of the shopping ban (spent $0 on clothes and accessories).  Currently I'm still wanting Elizabeth Suzann's Georgia Tee & Clyde Pants and now also want Sevilla Smith's booties pictured (lol thanks to reader Sandy).

P.S. After writing about eating whole30 and vegan once I week I've promptly been on the opposite binge (half a pint of ice cream one day and half a bag of cheetos the next day, which meant 2 days of my stomach being out of whack).  I guess my stomach is getting old; it looks like I can no longer consume copious amounts of junk food without consequences.  Anyway the progress to improve my health starts today!

Grana Italian Oxford Boyfriend Shirt Review

I rarely say that something is missing from my closet.  Mostly because I have everything I want and need, but also because by saying something is 'missing' you're implying that you need to buy something (and when is an item of clothing a true need?).  But well, after getting some outfit inspiration from Pinterest I decided I was missing a good white collared button down from my closet.  Luckily I was able to find a great one from Grana (I've tried Everlane's button down shirts before but haven't found one that I truly liked--mostly due to their modern (odd?) cuts and silhouettes).  

This oxford shirt from Grana is everything I was looking for.  The Italian Oxford cloth is super thick and feels substantial (especially when compared to cotton poplin).  The quality of this shirt is excellent and the shirt is completely opaque.  I ordered it in a small (I'm 5'4" & size 4)  and it fit perfectly.  I can't wait to incorporate this new staple into my closet and try out some outfit ideas!

For first time buyers, you can 10% off with this referral link and you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

P.S. Here's a review of this oxford shirt and also my personal Grana fav (the chunky rib knit merino sweater) over at Lindsey's blog.

P.P.S.  Actually I know why I've never had a white button down in my closet before.  It's because I hate to iron.  But recently I fortuitously purchased this travel steamer and I love it!  Getting out wrinkles is as easy as boiling some water, lol.  I never knew I was missing a travel steamer in my life but man I really needed one {by the way those pictures above were taken before the travel steamer came into my life.}

Life Currently...

So for those who follow my Insta story, you might have seen that I was in a skiing accident last week and had to be ski patrolled down the mountain (which is not as fun as you would think--probably because I was in pain the whole time and those sleds have ZERO cushioning), and spent some time at the ski resort clinic.  It looks like it might be a small tear in one of my knee ligaments, which takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks to heal.  So I've been hobbling on crutches and basically been on my ass all week (bad for my waistline but good for Netflix bingeing).  

This has made me realize several things.  First, health is EVERYTHING.  I've never had any major injuries in my life (due to my severely cautious behavior) and so this is my first time even using crutches.  Not being mobile has made me realize all the things I take for granted when I'm healthy.  And I'm pretty sure if I was in better physical shape, I wouldn't have had this ski accident (my quad just wasn't strong enough to right my leg).  I've pretty much neglected my health for over a year, so this is the wake up call I need to get back to it.  At the very least I should be doing yoga (vinyassa is my fav) since it's good for both my mind and body (and being scantily clad in a hot yoga room at least once a week lets me see/feel the accumulated fat rolls and reminds me that I need to get in shape).

Second, I've realized I'm getting to a certain age where certain activities are not really worth it.  I don't really enjoy snow sports but have always gone along since my friends go.  Well no more.  I think it's time to end my skiing career, especially since I can't really afford injuries like these (knee injuries suck!). Also on the list would be activities such as bungee jumping or sky diving.  If I know these activities don't thrill me, I don't need to do 'em.

Anyways I'll probably be documenting more of my health and wellness journey since I'm simultaneously trying to shift some of my focus away from just clothes.  Speaking of which, Grechen's story about her journey to health is a total inspiration.  If she can be in the best shape of her life in her 40s, then it's never too late to start.  I guess it's just about finding the workout routine that works for you.

Also I found this Netlfix documentary, Food Choices to be a really persuasive argument for eating a plant-based diet.  Ok before you glaze over this part, hear me out lol.  I'm definitely not a vegetarian.  I love meat.  I love meat more than I love certain animals (like cows, pigs and chickens).  I mean I do feel bad for these animals but I can't say no to steak or bacon or fried chicken for the rest of my life.  BUT how much protein do we really need?  A lot less than you think and a lot of that can still be obtained from plants.  Plant-based diets are not only good for you but good for the environment.  So though I can't be 100% vegan, I've decided to at least 1) eat as much real food as possible (aka cut out the processed crap and eat mostly Whole30) and 2) start with one vegan day a week.  Anyways watch it!

Other Netflix shows I've watched: Ascension (loved it!), The OA (eh-it was OK), Frontier (I always love me an action-packed period drama), and Terrace House Aloha State (my friend Eric is on it!  It's MTV Real World Japanese -style based in Honolulu; it's quite tame and probably not for everyone).  Oh and I just finished watching Victoria on PBS (I pay $5 a month to PBS for access to all their shows through their app and it's so worth it!  Binge watching Masterpiece Theater is the best!).

Everlane Cashmere Crop Square Mockneck Review

I already mentioned these pants when I talked about my search for a dupe of Elizabeth Suzann's Georgia Tee to work around my shopping ban.  And so you already know that I ended up returning them.  But mostly because I already have a gray cashmere sweater from Everlane (their regular one) and I already have a gray mockneck sweater from Grana.  To tell you the truth I'm still a little iffy about this square mockneck from Everlane.  Some days I like the look (and want to repurchase it in a different color, maybe light pink), but other days I'm just eh about it.  What do you think?  Styled with the Everlane streth ponte pants (reviewed here) on the left and Grana silk ankle pants (reviewed here) on the right.

I ordered it in a small, my usual size at Everlane (I'm 5'4", size 4).  The cashmere from Everlane is smooth and awesome as usual.  I do love that the mockneck is not too tight and fits my thick neck.  The crop top works best with mid-rise to high-rise pants but I wouldn't say it's overly cropped.  Hmmm I really don't know.  What do you think?  Is it worth repurchasing?

{Find Everlane Cashmere mockneck here and all other Everlane reviews here}

Grana Silk Culottes Review

I explained my issues with culottes when I reviewed Everlane's poplin culottes so I was a bit skeptical about these culottes from Grana.  But since I had some credit (thank you guys for your support!) I thought, why not?  And well... I'm still a bit undecided but have warmed up to them and like them more than I thought I would.  Partially because I styled them a couple of different ways, threw some pictures up on instagram, and got some really good feedback on them (and a lot of likes, which is a sure feeling of validation lol).  

{wearing: All Saints cropped trench (similar here), Valentino glam lock purse (similar here) and rock stud shoes (here), Grana silk culottes}

I ordered these in a medium and they fit perfectly.  Since the waistband is elastic, I'm sure a small would have fit as well (but with a medium it feels like I'm wearing very comfortable PJs).  These culottes are made with the 22mm georgette satin silk (which I prefer over their 14mm silk used for their silk ankle pants).  These, like their silk ankle pants are also made from double layers of silk so there's 0% chance of VPL (and the shape of the culottes help with that as well).  The silk is so smooth, shiny and luxurious.  The pants are super flowy and to me, have an avant-garde look (well I at least feel a bit avant-garde when I wear these).

{wearing: Everlane ribbed wool cashmere sweater (review here), Mansur Gavriel mini lady bag (similar here), Valentino rockstud flats (here)}

I'm liking these pants enough that I'm thinking of giving the Everlane culottes another chance this summer.  But if I do try them again I would probably need to hem them to suit my short legs.  I'm thinking of hemming these as well.  What do you think?  Will they look better shorter?

And the outfit above got the most likes out of all the different ways I styled these pants.  Maybe it's because I paired a Comme des Garcons look with a Comme des Garcons Play tee (similar here).  Anyway I'm willing to give these pants a serious try in my current wardrobe, especially since I'm starting to really get tired of my skinny jeans.  I would say the only drawback to these pants is that you have to be extra careful when going to the bathroom because of all that extra flowy and silky material.  But other than that I'm really starting to warm up to this silhouette.  What about you? 

{You can get Grana's silk culottes here and get 10% off your first Grana purchase with this referral link here}

{All other Grana reviews here}

The Shopping Ban- Almost One Month In

Ever since I declared my shopping ban here, I've been eyeing these Clyde pants and Georgia Tee from Elizabeth Suzann (pics above).  My first solution was to find something similar that's already in my closet.  For the Clyde pants, I thought that Grana's silk ankle pants were close enough (with a somewhat similar silhouette), but I didn't really have anything similar when it come to the Georgia Tee.  So I fudged a bit and ordered two things from Everlane that could be possible dupes (I know I allowed myself purchases from places I have referral credit saved, but it did feel a bit like cheating since I am searching outside of my closet and ordering items.  BUT since this is only my first month of the ban and I'm surprisingly struggling a bit more than I thought I would, I'm being easy on myself).

I first ordered the cashmere crop mock neck (review on that coming soon).  I was hoping the squarish shape but the soft drapey fabric would mimic the Georgia Tee.  But nope, it didn't quite work out.  My second item was a repeat purchase.  I had already reviewed Everlane's poplin square shirt here (which I didn't really love), but I thought if I ordered it in a larger size and in a  different color it might fill the style void I was craving.  And it worked better than the sweater did but I still didn't love it.  And it still didn't feel like a dupe for Elizabeth Suzann's version.  I think it has to do with the unique shape of the sleeves on the Georgia Tee.

My military stance and my blogger stance ;P

I got some second opinions on Instagram; that was the first time I used it in that way: to get real-time feedback on the items I were debating on.  And I loved it!  I was pretty iffy on keeping both items, but after hearing your feedback I knew I should follow my gut and keep them only if I loved them.  And I didn't love them, so back they went.  Thanks again for everyone who left a comment and for your honesty.  Sometimes it's hard to have an objective eye about the stuff you want/own so it really helps when you get other people's opinions.

Anyways in the meantime I'll just live with the fact that I don't have a Georgia Tee in my life (which is really okay since I have something like 200 other tops in my life--of which I hope to cut down to 50).  Also my birthday will be here in a couple of months and if I'm still craving the tee then I know what to ask for as a present (ok ok I know I should be focused on purging not acquiring, but going from 100% to 0% shopping will take some getting used to).

Grana Review Cashmere Joggers

I'm so far behind on my reviews that unfortunately this item is no longer available online.  But let it be known that Grana once made cashmere joggers and that they are awesome!  I tried Everlane's cashmere sweatpants and though they were comfortable, they were quite unflattering. They were quite baggy and had no real shape to them.  But Grana's cashmere joggers don't suffer from the same problem at all!  They actually have some shape and I think that's due to a much tighter cashmere knit on these.  Also the waistband for the Everlane pair was just a drawstring, also made from cashmere so it could easily stretch out.  But the Grana pants have a proper elastic waistband along.  I also love how this Grana pair narrows at the ankles so it looks like a proper pair of joggers.   And of course Grana's cashmere is excellent so there's no itch at all.

Anyway if you ever have a chance to purchase these (whether second hand or if it restocks at Grana) then definitely go for it!  These are the perfect sweaters for your legs for a slightly chilly day.

Grana Review Pima Waffle Boyfriend Crew Neck Sweater

Aaaand I'm back with another review from Grana.  Like I said I still have a lot of items I purchased in 2016 left over to review so even though I'm currently on a shopping ban the reviews will keep on coming (for now anyway).  Today I'm reviewing Grana's pima waffle boyfriend sweater, which like most of Grana's other sweaters, I love!  

The waffle knit on this is super well done and the texture is just the right thing to elevate a boring black sweater.  The weave is super thick but because it's 100% cotton it's not super warm.  This sweater is probably best for the spring time or a cool summer in San Francisco, and not really for the winter months.  (For those dealing with cold winters, Grana's chunky rib knit sweater is a much better bet.) 

As for sizing, I ordered a small in this and it fit perfectly.  I also really liked the dropped shoulders on this sweater, which add a bit of interest to the sweater.  Again the sweater is a bit on the long side so I wear it with the bottom hem folded over like in the pictures above.  If you're interested in purchasing this sweater, first time buyers can get 10% off with this referral link.  And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Everlane Review Stretch Ponte Pants

I've never had success before with Everlane pants but a couple readers (thanks Page and Henny!) convinced me to try these stretch ponte pants.  And well...I like them but I'm pretty sure I'll like the cropped ones more (I purchased these before the cropped ones were released).  Take a look below:

{wearing: Grana chunky merino rib knit sweater (review here), Grana oxford shirt (review coming soon), Mansur Gavriel Sun bag (review coming soon), M.Gemi Felize loafers (review here & yep that's my third pair--I love them that much, lol)

I really like Everlane's stretch ponte material.  I have both their original dress version and their stretch ponte skirt.  So I was expecting to like their pants.  Which I do, except that the ponte material tends to cling or hug every bump and curve, so when these materials are made into pants you can see some VPL and general ab and thigh bulges (see pics below).  I don't have the same problems with the dress and skirt, probably because those clothes don't hug the butt and legs.  But this isn't as much of a problem if you wear longer shirts or sweaters, or treat these pants like leggings (which they basically are, just thicker than the normal leggings).  And on the plus side these pants are super duper comfortable and stretchy (great travel pants).  They're also quite warm, so they're perfect for the winter.

"Darn no thigh gap" 

"Oh VPL, the shame" lol

I purchased these in a medium and they were a tad loose on me.  The cropped version comes in sizes 00-12 so you can get an even better fit with those probably.  The pants have an elastic waistband with a button and zip closure.  Like I said I like these pants, but I'm looking forward to trying on the crop version (which I was able to get in black too--even better).  If you're interested you can find these pants here (referral link--thanks for your support!) and you can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

Winter 10x10: Look 11 & Recap

Hi y'all and happy Monday!  Do you guys have the day off today?  Well I kind of took a weekend off from blogging so this post is being written in real time today (ie Monday morning) so no time for edits (so please excuse any grammatical errors, lol).  Anyway that brings me straight to lesson #1 learned during last week's 10x10 challenge: I am not an everyday kind of blogger.  This post is a bit delayed because to be honest I think I have blogging fatigue.  Even with taking all of the pictures in one setting beforehand, trying to keep up with a daily writing schedule is just way too much for me.  So I'll be going back to the regularly scheduled Monday, Wednesday, Friday posting.

But what did I actually learn from this winter 10x10 challenge?

~ If you go through to all 10 looks you start coming up with interesting combos and this inspires you even more.  See Look 11 below, which is sort of the next progression from Look 10 from last week.  It's kind of a Southeast Asian military look, lol.

Look 11

~ Also I've learned that not all combos work.  Case in point:

Sometimes you have to try different combos, and if it doesn't look right to you (or feel right to you) don't force it.  Just try something else.  

~ I've also learned this challenge can help you remember why you've kept some pieces in your closet for years (ie the challenge can make you fall in love with your old clothes again).  The jacket above and the Steven Alan plaid shirt were not making it into rotation in my closet, but now I remember why I've held onto these items: because I love them and they truly feel like my style, no matter how old they are.  They're timeless when it comes to my style, so now I just need to make more of an effort to incorporate them back into my usual outfits.

~ Also doing this challenge with a community of people on Instagram is most of the fun.  The first time I learned about the 10x10, it had just completed so I tried it on my own (that's when I stopped at 10x8).  But this time around I was able to join along with others doing the 10x10 and it helps to motivate and inspire you to see everyone else tackling this challenge.

~ And even if I did this challenge at my own pace (#10x10x2, lol) and bent the rules, just doing this was worthwhile.  It really helped me look at my clothes a different way and come up with outfits I normally wouldn't have thought of.  So thanks #10x10!  I look forward to tackling you again in a couple of months!

Winter 10x10: Looks 9 & 10

Look 9

Wearing: Steven Alan plaid shirt (old) {Similar here}, Wearing Rag and Bone military jacket  (old)  {somewhat similar here}, Wearing Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Jeanes  {similar here}, Wearing Everlane Modern Oxfords {review here}, Bag: Saint Laurent Universite bag

Now this look is straight out of the late 2000's for me since I've had this combo since then (except for the oxfords and the saint laurent bag) and I used to wear it a lot.  This outfit brings me back because it was the time I started to really enjoy fashion and style again.  Before this period I had 2 years (in graduate school) when I only wore jeans, a tank top, and an Abercrombie + Fitch knit sweater.  I had several pairs of jeans, a ton of tank tops (the cheap Hanes ones from Target, also affectionately termed wife-beaters to some), and 4 knit sweaters that I rotated constantly.  It was my uniform.  And you know what, no one ever asked me why I kept wearing the same things (actually no one ever indicated they ever noticed I kept wearing the same thing).  It was kind of an experiment to me, just to see if anyone cared (and guess what, no one did lol).  By the end of the 2 years, all the sweaters had holes in them and I was fairly bored with this same style so I moved on and a got a bunch of expensive clothes like those up top (I guess you could say the pendulum had swung completely in the other direction).  And non-coincidentally this is also when my obsession with expensive bags began.

Look 10

Wearing: Everlane ribbed wool cashmere crew {review here}, Grana V-neck Silk slip dress  {review here}, Grana Silk Ankle Pants {review here}, Everlane Modern Oxfords  {review here}, (Bag: Goyard St. Louis Tote GM)

Now things are getting interesting, right?  Having run out of combos I've finally came upon the dress+pants combo.  And you know what, since both are black silk (and from Grana, though it's 2 different types of silk--read more about it in my review of the silk ankle pants), the look is quite cohesive.  It's sort of a take on the Salwar Kameez, the Indian dress and pants combo traditional in Punjab.  And with the simple Everlane grey sweater on top, I'm really liking this combo.  I have yet to wear it out (since it's been raining and I don't really want to be getting the silk wet).  But once I do I'll report back to let you know if I get any strange stares (not that I care as much as I use it as a barometer to what's considered 'socially acceptable fashion').  What do you think?  Could I pull it off?

And that's a wrap on my 10 looks.  But Monday I'll be back with a quick recap of the whole challenge, some things I learned, the looks and didn't work, and also my 11th look, which is the most interesting yet.  Have a great weekend guys!

Winter 10x10: Looks 7 & 8

Look 7

Wearing: Steven Alan plaid shirt (old) {Similar here}, Everlane ribbed wool cashmere crew {review here}, Everlane Anorak {review here}, Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Jeans {similar here}, Everlane Modern Oxfords {review here} (bag: Loewe hammock bag in aqua)

I'm already at Look 7 and I haven't worn these jeans yet.  That kind of blows my mind because I've been a true jeans and tee kind of gal (and I thought I still was).  But ever since I got the silk ankle pants and silk culottes from Grana (and really thanks to my explorations in style through blogging) I've been gravitating less and less to skinny jeans.  I'm going to call it, 2017 is the middle of the end of skinny jeans (I think the beginning really was in 2016 or maybe 2015).  And since the "river of rain" continues to flow across California (which I'm thankful for since it'll hopefully ease our drought here, but at the same time annoyed at because it foiled our Tahoe plans) this sweater plus anorak combo is easily my go-to outfit, even it I wasn't doing this 10x10 challenge.

Look 8

Wearing: Everlane ribbed wool cashmere crew {review here}, Grana V-neck Silk Dress {review here}, Rag and Bone military jacket (old) {somewhat similar here}, Everlane Modern Oxfords {review here} (bag: Loewe hammock bag in navy)

And for look 8 I'm back to my favorite silk dress from Grana and my rag and bone blazer.  I'm using the navy Loewe bag here and the aqua Loewe bag up top in Look 7.  I'm only planning on keeping one.  Which one do you like better?

Winter 10x10: Looks 5 & 6

Look 5

Wearing: Everlane Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew {review here}, Grana Silk Ankle Pants {review here}, M. Gemi The Dolcetto {here} (Bag: Celine small Trotteur)

I'm so glad that I'm doing this double time (on Intstagram I'm calling it #10x10x2, lol) since this is right around the time I start losing some steam.  That's probably why I only did a 10x8 (only made 8 outfits) during my last challenge.  But I've found out that when you keep going (and start running out of combos) interesting things start happening.  In fact I got so carried away during the photo portion of this challenge that I accidentally did a 10x11 and I have to say I really like outfits #10 and #11 even though they're a bit unconventional.  So stay tuned for that.

Look 6

Wearing: Steven Alan Plaid Shirt (old) {Similar here}, Grana Mockneck {review here}, Grana V-neck Silk Dress  {review here}, M.Gemi The Dolcetto  {here} Bag: Good West Co. {here}

I purchased this Steven Alan shirt right around 2005 from Barney's (super discounted of course).  I think it was the height of the Ashley Olson and Mary Kate fashion buzz (they came out with a fashion/art coffee table book) and they were wearing a lot of plaid at the time I think.  Well that's the vague memories I get when I look at this shirt.  I've purchased Steven Alan button downs since but I haven't kept any of them.  Only this first one.  It's still going strong and actually it's softened a lot over time.  Since plaid always keeps coming back (or maybe it just never really goes out of style?) I'll be keeping this one until it falls apart at the seams (and even then I might just repair it and keep on wearing it).  Sometimes you only need one of something, as long as it lasts.

Winter 10x10: Looks 3 & 4

Look 3

Wearing: Rag & Bone Military blazer {somewhat similar here},  Grana Mockneck {review here}, Grana Silk Ankle Pants {review here}, Everlane Modern Oxfords{review here}

Bag: Mansur Gavriel lady bag {review coming soon}

A little bit about this rag & bone blaze: it was the first expensive item of clothing I bought myself.  It's from the 2008 fall runway show from rag & bone, back when they were still making everything out of New York and before they even had their own brick and mortar store.  I purchased this piece at Saks, during their end of season sale, and it was priced $350 (down for $500+).  This is a girl who shopped mostly at outlets, Zara and H&M--so this was beyond a major splurge for me.  But I just fell in love with this special piece and had to have it (I'll have to show you why, the specialness is really the inside of the jacket where you can see the bones of the jacket--it's beautiful).  And I've worn the sh*t out of this jacket, and as you can see it's still holding up (but I definitely need to resew some of the buttons).  This started a long love affair with rag and bone but I'm sorry to say their quality has gone down quite a bit since they've started mass production (it's a mix between the US and China), and they even have outlet stores now.  This is one of the few things from rag & bone I still have left, but you know even 9 years later it 'sparks joy' in me and I can still style outfits with it.  

Look 4

Wearing: Everlane Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew {review here}, Grana V-neck Silk Dress {review here}, Everlane Anorak {review here}, Everlane Modern Oxfords {review here}

Bag: Mansur Gavriel Lady bag {review here}

I call this look my lady librarian look, lol.  I think it's because of the hem line of the dress, the oxfords and long drapey anorak.  Dresses are probably impractical in most places in the US in the winter, but for San Jose it's not that unreasonable.  Temperatures are usually in the 60s if its not raining, and if I get cold I can just wear some tights.  But for the most part I'm usually indoors 24/7 (from Airstream to Airstream Garage back to Airstream) so a silk dress is doable (actually I've moved a flat screen TV and Airstreams wearing this silk dress--the side slits make it super easy to walk around in.)  Probably not the most appropriate clothing for manual labor but something about using my muscles while wearing silk gives me a "I'm Carrie Bradshaw wearing a tu-tu in the streets of NYC" feeling (or a "I'm in a Vogue shoot because of this impractical juxtaposition of clothing and setting" feeling).  And I do get some stares but I don't care because I'm already feeling glamorous ;)

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)

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.

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.