My first capsule, part two: Still in Progress

So this is what my capsule wardrobe (aka my Airstream closet) looks like at the moment.  At first I was a bit stressed out trying to make it 'perfect' but then a cold front hit and I had to go digging back into the bins to pull out a couple sweaters.  And that's when I decided, well it's my capsule wardrobe and I'm going to do it the way I want.   That means I'm not going to stress out about having the perfect number or selection of clothes and instead let my capsule have more of a 'flow' to it.  That means if I need something then I will let myself go back to storage and pull out what I need.  Then that item will have a place in my capsule closet, thus the space for a couple more hanging items and the nearly empty shelf for dresses.  I'll fill it as I need.  Also whatever I don't pull to use in my capsule for the warm season will be up on the chopping block.  I kind of see it as a 2 closet system and whatever doesn't get moved to the primary closet will be sold or donated.  And for the most part, my going out clothes (ie blogger clothes) will stay at the garage and not be included in my Airstream capsule closet since I pretty much live at our workplace and I usually leave to go to events/dinners from there and not the Airstream (logistically it makes sense since the garage is closer to the city than the RV park we live in).  So this may not be a fully enclosed capsule collection but that's okay with me.  Whatever works and makes me happy right?

P.S. And since I'm a total newbie at this capsuling thing, here's a link to an expert capsuler so you can get some real tips on how to do this: 

P.P.S. I'm happy to report that thus far my renewed shopping ban for March has been going very well.  No new things in!  In April I will go back to my original rules of allowing myself to thrift shop as well as try out Everlane and Grana items purchased on credit (thanks to everyone who has supported me on this!)

My first capsule wardrobe, part one: The Current State of my Closets

Ok ok I'm finally going to get on the capsule bandwagon.  I'm not sure why I was/am so resistant to the idea (actually I think it's because of that feeling of restriction and limitation), but let's face the facts: 1) I need this in my life, especially due to my shopping addiction (and thanks to Lia and Rebecca B. who really encouraged me to give this a try as a solution) and 2) uhh my life was actually meant for capsule wardrobes, I mean c'mon I live in an Airstream.  I guess in a sense I was kind of living with a capsule wardrobe (as in my everyday work clothes were at the Airstream), except I was also living out of bins that are stored at the Airstream garage (and that's where most of my "blogger clothes" live).  What am I talking about?

This:

Literally my secret hoard

There you have it.  My secret's out: I'm a slob with hoarding tendencies (I used to joke I'm one catastrophe away from full hoarder status, but I probably shouldn't joke about things like that).  But let me tell you, the key to hoarding well is storage and stacking.  Anyway I also have another closet at the garage:

I'm part of the lean(ing) closet movement, lol.  Anyway that's an old Ikea closet storage I built by myself (and subsequently built wrong).  I definitely had some bars and screws left but didn't want to start all over so I just left it like that.  Who knew it would be the miraculously leaning closet?  Currently it's holding most of my outerwear and half of my husband's clothes. (I'll take a better pic of the lean once an Airstream moves out of the garage).

 And just so you can get the full picture, here's my Airstream closet:

So that's my baseline.  I'll be moving into a different Airstream (for our business) so we're going from 28' to 27', which is a slightly different layout.  That means I'll be getting a very slightly larger closet, but it also means that this is the perfect time to plan out my capsule wardrobe for the warmer seasons.

Part Two will be about how I fare in the process and what I end up choosing!

Elizabeth Suzann Review Georgia Tee {Updated May 2018}

So back in February when I said I cheated on my shopping ban, it all started with this one top from Elizabeth Suzann.  This is the Georgia Tee in linen.  I had been wanting this specific top in this specific color since December and when I saw it pop up on eBay I let myself buy it under the guise that it could technically qualify as a trade (just like I would trade clothes at Crossroads, which I did allow in my ban rules), meaning I sold some stuff on eBay that would more than cover the cost of this purchase (plus that money was just sitting in my paypal account so....).  Anyway I bought it and I don't regret it one bit, even if it meant I broke my ban.

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Tee, Grana silk ankle pants (review here), rag & bone booties, Mansur Gavriel mini lady bag (review here)}

The Georgia Tee has proven to be everything I dreamed it would be.  I know that's quite a statement about a linen top.  But maybe that's the quality you get when you purchase something that is made thoughtfully by a skilled artisan.  The Georgia tee comes in OS-, OS, and OS+ and here I'm wearing it in OS.  It's such a universally flattering shape that I'm pretty sure almost everyone can pull it off.  On me, the Georgia tee is the perfect cropped length, and it has a wide neckline so I feel it makes my neck look longer without cutting deep in the front.  And my favorite thing about this top is the sleeves: I love how they perk up at the ends.  It really minimizes the chicken wing (tricep) area.  

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Tee, Grana silk ankle pants (review here), Everlane modern point shoes (review here), Valentino glamlock bag}

And the washing and care for this is super easy.  Just wash cold and I steam out the wrinkles with my handy dandy travel steamer (which I love so much that I think I might do a separate review devoted to this indispensable tool).  As you can see, so far I've only paired this with my Grana silk ankle pants (because they go so well together), but stay tuned for more outfits incorporating this top!  

{May 2018 Update: After consulting my resident Elizabeth Suzann expert Lydia (Liz's friend and first hire), she has identified this item was a signature piece from the SS14 signature collection.  So Gen 2.  Also have had this for a year and I still love it and wear it often!}

Supergoop! Review of Barre to Bar Beauty Set

Just a quick beauty review for you today.  I had mentioned that I'm in the search for a good sunscreen that won't melt off my face in the summer, won't break me out and also gives me some coverage to even out skin tone.  This search has been harder than I anticipated due to my super sensitive skin (if I don't break out, sometimes I get a rash, but most of the time I just break out).  So when I saw this Supergoop! Barre to Bar set I though I would give it a shot (I kept seeing the brand in magazines and such so I finally caved into the marketing).  I love trying little sampler sets like these since it allows me to try it without committing to the full size.  So here's a quick rundown of each product:

The Daily Correct CC Cream in Light/Medium: in short, a dud.  It was greasy and gave my skin a pinkish tint (obviously not a match for my asian skin tone).

The City Sunscreen Serum: I loooooove this!  This is probably the only thing I would rebuy out of this whole kit (and probably the only thing I will use up).  This is a super lightweight sunscreen with zero sunscreen smell and no greasiness.  Also doesn't break me out.  This could become my everyday go-to sunscreen for under foundation (if I don't find a good tinted sunscreen).

Perk up lip and cheek treat: I didn't really like this for my lips and I never used it for my cheeks.  The taste/smell is subtle but slightly of sunscreen (it's SPF 50).  I prefer to use my RMS lip shine in sacred even though it doesn't have SPF.  We'll see, I might keep giving this a chance.

Defense Refresh Setting Mist: I originally loved this product thinking I could just wear my regular foundation and then use this as a setting mist to provide extra SPF coverage.  However after using it for a week, I'm not a huge fan.  First, you can definitely tell there's alcohol in their formula (especially if you don't shake it as well as you're supposed to) and that alcohol can definitely cause a sting near your eyes even if you have them closed.  Also the mist doesn't really give you all that much SPF coverage since it's really just tiny droplets of SPF (you'd really have to spray it on good for actual SPF coverage I think).  And lastly I sprayed these on my arms in an attempt to use up the product and got it all over my car's black leather interior.  That stuff is hard to get off, lol.

So final verdict?  Don't buy this set but do check out that serum if you're looking for a good everyday base sunscreen.  Thus the search for a sunscreen with coverage continues, though I am now a huge fan of that serum (I use it under my usual SPF 15 lotion for extra coverage).  In the meantime I'm trying out several products form Bella Cuore and will let you know what I find!

Everlane Review Wide Leg Crop Pant {Updated October 2017}

When Everlane came out with these wide leg pants I was super excited since I was just beginning to warm up to the Jesse Kamm pants look.  Now I totally understand the value of Jesse Kamm's clothing but I just can't drop that kind of dough on a look I'm not sure I would like on myself (though I love it on bloggers like Lee).  So I was thrilled when Everlane made a look-a-like pants (though if I was Jesse Kamm I would be more than a bit miffed at the copycat).  And well, at this rate, high-waisted wide-leg pants might be my thing.  I've been wearing these cropped pants consistently (since I got them hemmed) and I'm in love.  In which case the real deal Kamm pants may be in my future.

In these pictures (both top and bottom pics) the pants are unhemmed (and for reference I'm 5'4" but with short legs).  And in both pictures I'm wearing Grana's silk V-neck cropped tank (review coming soon).  I ordered the bone color up top in size 4 and the black ones below in size 6.  I usually say I'm a size 4-6 in Everlane pants, but lately the 4's have been bit too tight for me (damn that full year of no exercise) and the white pants in the size 4 was no exception.  The size 6 only felt a smidge bigger when I originally tried them on (ie it was still fairly tight at the waist).  But after consistent wear, the waist does stretch out and now the size 6 feels a bit large at the waist (so much so that a now belt helps keep the pants in place), which makes me think I probably could have gone with the 4 and let it stretch out.  Then again, it was pretty tight when I first tried it on.  I guess if you're between sizes like me, size up for comfort (but size down if you want your butt to be more pronounced in your pants and you don't mind the initial constriction).  Oh and the white pants are fully opaque so no VPL here (I think I was even wearing my Thinx in these pictures and you know how thick those are).

Since these pants were not cropped on me, I decided to go get them hemmed so that it would be as how Everlane intended, cropped.  I arbitrarily went with 2 inches (since that is how many inches I hemmed my Grana silk culottes) but now I'm thinking I should have gone one more inch shorter.  Pictures below of the hemmed pants (and Grana silk PJ top, review coming soon).

A little bit more about the pants: the material is a cotton twill material with a bit of elastane for stretch.  The twill has tiny grooves that if you spill something on it, it's pretty hard to get out without a thorough washing.  Also the wide legs are a bit pesky when using the bathroom (you gotta be extra careful they don't touch the ground-it's all about rolling them up as you take them off.  TMI?  sorry, lol).  The waist is super high and contrary to the quote on Everlane's page, these pants will feel really constricting after a big lunch (so much so I had to un-button the pants for awhile right after eating).  But despite these minor things, I loooove these pants.  I love how free and unconstricted my legs feel.  And I love how I feel instantly chic for wearing a silhouette that not everyone is wearing yet.  As I said in the past I'm so over skinny jeans and pants and I'm so ready for wide leg pants in take over my life.  So now the real question is, should I let myself rebuy the white version?**  Ahhh so tempting!

Anyway here are Grechen's review of these pants (and her second take here), Andrea's review, and Lee's review.  You can find these pants here (referral link, thanks for your support guys!), and you can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

** Ok this is when my "slow my roll" rule has to kick in (as in I said no more additions to the closet in March) so I'll have to pass on the second wide leg crop pants.  I will put them on my current wish list (thanks again for the idea Liz!)

{October 2017 update: So from March to September I hardly wore these pants because for some reason the proportions didn't feel right.  So then I thought it might be because it didn't feel tight enough in the waist and that if it was a bit more fitted, it might be more flattering.  So I purchased a second pair in a size down (so a size 4) and have found that the fit is better and so is the proportions.  Also the new batch of wide leg crops seem to be a bit less stretchy and doesn't get baggy after extended wear.  You can see me wear the new pair of wide leg crops in navy here.}

For the love of clothes (and accessories)

Snapshot from the Chanel store in Ala Moana, Honolulu

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my consumption habits, especially due to my shopping ban resolution this year (and my failure of keeping said ban).  To be honest I haven't always been so fashion/style-minded (remember that story about wearing the same jeans and sweaters all throughout grad school).  But my consumption habits have really sky-rocketed since starting this blog.  At first I felt like I had to consume to have something to blog about.  If I wasn't writing about something useful, some kind of new information, why would people even stop by to visit?  But last year, it really morphed into its own beast.  I was getting boxes almost on the daily.  And here I am trying to espouse conscious consumption, minimalism, and intentional buying.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Instead I was buying all these new items "for the blog" but not really using them.  And even if I am purchasing the bulk of my items from companies that care about their workers and the quality of their items, there's just no way one person could effectively wear every single item I was purchasing.  And on top of that I had my "uniform" so I wasn't even wearing over half of my "blogger clothes".  All of this is starting to feel more disingenuous to who I am and what I believe in (which really is buy less, buy quality, and use well).  I don't know what the solution here is, except to slow my roll (which is what I keep repeating, I know).  The ban has helped on that some.  On the bright side, I feel like I'm getting to know my style better so I really hope that after distilling my current style this year, I'll only be adding things periodically to keep it evolving.  But sometimes I wonder if I'll ever break out of this crazy consumption cycle?

P.S. Thank you to everyone who commented with encouragement and with super helpful tips on my "Failure in Feb" post.  I feel more determined than ever to make this shopping ban work.  Also thanks to you guys I'm going to be committing to doing a capsule wardrobe (which is what I should have been doing ever since I moved into an Airstream) so stay tuned for that!

Grana Silk Mini V-neck Slip Dress Review

*I should mention that this post was sponsored (yay for my second free shipment from Grana), but I originally had purchased a black version of this myself already.  But it was very nice of them to let me try the blue version for free.

Hi guys, it's been awhile since my last Grana review but if you've been following my Instagram you know that's pretty much all I've been wearing everyday (mostly those silk ankle pants).  It's a bit early to be wearing this dress (the temps here have been in the 50s and 60s) but I just can't wait for spring and I really love the color of this dress (so spring like!).

So for those who've read my other Grana silk reviews, you know I love love love Grana's items made from their 22mm Georgette satin (over their 14mm crepe de chine).  And so of course I love this dress as well.  As usual with their 22mm satin the material is super smooth, thick, and feels durable.  

I'm a huge fan of Grana's regular v-neck slip dress (review here)  but I always thought that midi length was just a bit too long for my short-ish frame.  So I was really excited when they came out with this mini version.  And boy, I was not let down.

Just like their regular version, this mini version is made from double layers of their georgette satin so no VPL here.  But I should note that for me anyway, the double layer ends right before the start of the side slit on the leg so the inner silk layer ends right at my butt (which isn't a bad thing, but sometimes you can see where that inner layer ends.  Also I have to be careful when bending over).  And for a mini dress the slit doesn't go up too high, which I prefer.

As for sizing, I'm usually between a small and a medium in Grana, but went with the small here since from past experience the chest area of the silk slip dresses tended to run large.  It fit fine except was a tiny bit snug in the butt area (but that's my fault not the dresses, lol).

Anyways since it's a bit too cold still to wear the dress as is, I tried some outfit variations below.  What do you think of the light blue and rust orange?  I kind of like the combo!

Anyway if you're interested in the dress you can find it here and if you're a first time buyer, you can get 10% off your first purchase with this link.  And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Shopping ban progress report: Failure in February

The bag that I desperately whined and weaseled my way to (I used everything in my persuasion arsenal for this one and then felt dirty after, lol)

I literally acted like an addict all February.  I wheedled my way to my drug (stuff, more specifically bags), and really bent some rules along the way (ok ok 'broke' is probably the more accurate word here).  Also I justified buying swimsuits because now I'm trying to swim on a regular basis, but I didn't need to go and buy 8 items from Patagonia (darn that sale).  I'm going to be honest here and say I most definitely failed.  And now I'm really starting to think I have a problem.  I think I might be addicted to shopping (friends who know me well will probably say 'no duh' at this point).  I know I love shopping but always told myself I can stop anytime I want (and isn't this what all addicts say).  And lo and behold I don't last more than 6 weeks.  And when I was trying to reduce my spending on my closet, I found that I ended up spending a lot more on makeup and skin care (but hey on the bright side I did find Bella Cuore).  It's like I need to buy something every once in awhile even though I have waaay too much of everything.  Well a shopping addiction probably isn't the worse thing in the world (#firstworldproblems), but an addiction to anything can be bad news.  At this point I feel like I need to do this just to prove to myself that I can.  So back on the shopping ban wagon I go and no more trying to get others to do the dirty work for me (ie buy me gifts, lol)... though March is my birthday month.  Ah well, at least no more buying things off of eBay just because I have money in my paypal account.  And definitely less spending on skin care and makeup products (but I'm on a hunt for a good tinted sunscreen with coverage or foundation with sunscreen that won't melt off my face come summer...so that quest is still gonna happen).  Also no more stuff from Everlane and Grana for the time being because I'm still behind on my reviews.  I'm not going to get any more stuff until I'm all caught up and have literally run out of things to write about on this blog (I still have to do my review of the Everlane wide leg pants and a bunch of silk items from Grana as well as their active wear).    

Beauty Discovery: Bella Cuore

Two months into my clothing (and accessories) shopping ban, I find that my shopping for skin care and makeup has gone up quite a bit.  It might be due to the fact that my skin has been really terrible lately (hello zits) or the fact that right now beauty is something I'm allowing myself to spend money on (and so all my time spent shopping for clothes has gone to shopping for makeup).  But on the bright side of this increased beauty shopping is that I've discovered more natural products and I've found this great new online shopping mecca for high-quality natural beauty products: Bella Cuore.  

I originally stumbled onto the site while looking for Vitner's Daughters Active Botanical Serum (I kept seeing it everywhere and when Lee from Style Bee swore on it's awesome-ness I finally decided I needed to check it out myself).  And this site doesn't charge tax (at least for California, so that's an almost 9% savings right there).  But that magical elixir is 185 buckaroos, and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend that much money on something I wasn't sure my skin can handle (as I've said before I have the most awful sensitive and acne-prone skin).  Enter Bella Cuore: they allow you to pick 5 samples of pretty much anything on their site (of course they have some rules to ensure no one abuses their sample system--no complete freebees here).  But it at least allows me to patch test it to make sure I either love it or if it's foundation if it matches my skin tone.  How great is that?  They also have a point system that allows discounts for future purchases (unlike Sephora rewards where you get more free samples of things you probably won't buy anyway).

So far I've only tried the Suntegrity tinted sunscreen (which has medium to light coverage, hardly any scent and most importantly doesn't break me out) and I think I'm going to order the full product.  I'll do another full report once I've tried everything and let you know what I thought of each product.  In the meantime check them out here and get your own sample kit!

Everlane Fisherman Cotton Zip Pullover Review

Finally an Everlane review on something I ended up keeping and loving!  May I present Everlane's Fisherman Cotton Zip Pullover.   One thing you can always say about Everlane's sweaters is that they keep their knits pretty interesting.  Most of the time those interesting shapes don't really work too well with my body (case in point: Everlane's premium ribbed cashmere), but not this fisherman sweater.  I think for the most part it's a pretty standard mockneck sweater, except when it comes to the knit details.  I love the knit lines that extend down the arm and that extends from the mockneck.

Also the zipper adds a fun detail, and I find it useful at times too (like those times I start heating up and a mockneck is just too warm, unzip and now you can get some ventilation through the collar).  The works out perfectly for me since I dislike turtlenecks and sometimes feel constricted even with a mockneck.  Oh, but I should say there are times I find the zipper rubbing against my neck and I feel annoyed so I unzip it.

So far I've been wearing it about 2-3 times a week for the last couple weeks and there's no pilling or excessive stretching out.  Just to note I ordered this in my normal Everlane size of small (I'm usually a size 4 on top).  If you're looking for something a little more classic from Everlane, than this cotton fisherman sweater is the perfect spring time transition piece.  

Find all Everlane items here and all my Everlane review here.

Life Currently...

Thanks to everyone who have inquired about my knee injury and wished me speedy recovery.  It's progressing nicely, though I find that there are other strained muscles due to my stiff knee (just yesterday the muscle on the outside of my thigh started cramping up and before that I had a short bout of plantar fasciitis).  Guess that's what happens when your leg is out of whack.  But on the bright side, this injury has restarted my swimming practice (which really is a great whole body workout).

Anyway for those who follow my instagram/insta stories, you know I went home to Honolulu for a week.  Well my dad got hit by a car while crossing the street (in the crosswalk I might add), and had to have surgery on his leg.  Then a blood clot from the injury traveled to his lungs, putting him in critical condition.  He also had a bit of bleeding in the brain, which the blood thinners for the clots would adversely effect.  It was a scary time, but he is in the clear and on the mend.  He left the hospital yesterday for a skilled nursing facility since he has months of rehab before he can walk again.  You never know when something catastrophic can happen so I feel so very lucky that things are looking good for him.  Interesting to note that my chronically introverted dad is now a friendly extrovert and can't seem to stop talking.  I wonder if it was from the bleeding in the brain or the near death experience.  

While I was home, I also got an early birthday present (the Micro Celine Belt Bag) which I insta-storied (thanks for letting me share that with you guys).  You'll probably see it featured in a lot of posts to come since I am obsessed with this bag.  So nope, I haven't technically broken my ban but at the same time I'm weaseling into getting others to buy things for me so I don't think that's quite fair.  I also purchased new swim wear since I'm justifying them as new workout clothes.  So this month overall feels like I'm fudging.  I'm going to go back to a strict ban of no new items, and I think I might also be slowing my roll on items for review (since I'm still behind and still feel like I'm getting something new every week--which defeats the purpose of a ban).

Anyway the first 2 months of this year has not been good on my and my family's health.  But I hope things just get better from here!

P.S. Oh and one of my best friends fell off his bike and got a mild concussion so yea there's something strange going on here with all these physical injuries.  Let's hope we all got it out of our system this year and everything else is smooth sailing *knock on wood*

Everlane Review Stretch Ponte Crop Pants

As some of you know I've already reviewed Everlane's Stretch Ponte Pants so I wasn't really expecting these stretch ponte crop pants  to be all that different, just shorter.  But actually the cropped version of these pants fit quite differently than the regular ones and I think that's mostly due to the change in their sizing (they went from a S,M,L system to numerical sizes).  I'm usually between a 4 and a 6 and I got a M in the regular stretch ponte pants but they were a tad big.  So I went with the 4 here and probably should have gone with the 6.

And due to the fit these weren't the most flattering pants.  But like I said with the regular ponte pants, these are probably best layered with a long tunic or sweater since it's very unforgiving to bumps and panty lines.  But I did like the length of the cropped pants and the way they taper at the ends.  

But in the end I decided to return it since I'm so over tight/fitted pants.  I've been living in my straight-leg jeans from Frame as well as all my Grana silk pants, and I've been relishing the loose flowing feeling from the culottes and the general un-sausage like feeling of my legs.  So actually when I tried these on I felt so constricted.  But if you're looking for a good alternative to leggings, this would be the perfect winter time substitute (since they're much warmer than regular leggings and more structured too).

And you can read Grechen's review of these same pants here.

Mansur Gavriel Review Mini Sun Bag

One of my last impulse purchases of 2016 was this Mansur Gavriel Mini Sun Bag.  My fever for Mansur Gavriel had cooled down quite a bit by the beginning of 2016, and I only had one MG bag in my collection (the mini lady bag, which I love but also found I wasn't using as much as I had hoped).  So I really shouldn't have been buying more MG bags, but I just felt a structured bag was missing (yes, missing!) from my closet.  I once owned the Saint Laurent sac de jour in small but ended up returning it because it was super heavy for such a seemingly simple looking bag.  I wanted something similar but lighter.  Enter the MG Sun Mini Bag.  

I decided to get it in the vegetable tanned leather, even though Mansur Gavriel has so many more leather options now (tumbled! patent!) since I knew their veg tanned leather is the most structured and well suited for this kind of bag.  Also the cheaper price point definitely didn't hurt.

The bag comes with two large compartments separated by a zippered section.  This bag fits quite a bit (though not my laptop without sticking out over the handles).  I love that it comes with a long shoulder strap (a must!) but that's also removable (and also adjustable).  And the best thing about this bag is the overall lightness (like all of MG bags).  There's nothing worse than a bag weighing 1-2 pounds empty!

For reference, the brandy mini lady bag on the left and the sun bag on the right.

And back to back.  You can see that they're quite similar in size, with the mini sun bag being slightly deeper than the mini lady bag.

At first, I wasn't really a fan of the leather string tied in a bow in the front, though now it's growing on me (at first it seemed too cutesy).  But other than that I can't find anything wrong with the bag.  So if you're looking for a well-made lady-like structured bag, this Mini Sun Bag might be the one for you.  You can find it here at Mansur Gavriel.

P.S. When I went to the MG site for that link above I just noticed that they no longer carry the mini sun bag in veg tanned leather in this style.  The veg-tanned sun bags now only have 1 large compartment and it's not lined in canvas.  They either have it coated in matte red or blue or have it uncoated.  And now there's only a single interior slim pocket, no zippered pocket.  As they have it now, I think I prefer this version with the lined canvas since at least there's a zippered pocket to contain all your loose items.  It looks like the calf-leather version still comes lined (but the calf leather version is 1) more expensive, 2) a bit heavier overall since the leather is thicker and heavier, and 3) likely to wear faster where the top handles meet the bag (I used to own the MG crossbody in calf-leather and used it a lot over a year.  By the end of the year the leather where the straps attached to the bag were all cracked and worn.  From what I understand (thanks to a reader!) that only happens to chrome-tanned leathers not veg-tanned leather).  But the new version of the sun bag does have that pop of color, which is what attracted me to the MG tote a couple years ago.

Grana Review Silk Collarless Shirt

So I realize I'm a bit late in the game on this review since Grana has had this item forever and I've already wrote many many reviews of Grana's silk items (and have firmly established that I love their 22mm Georgette Satin over their 14mm crepe de chine).  But I saw an outfit on Pinterest the other day of a fairly masculine look consisting of a navy silk shirt and some loose fitting dark denim pants.  So I tried recreating it with Grana for the top and bottom.  What do you think?

{Wearing: Grana silk collarless shirt, Grana slim boyfriend jeans (review here), Everlane Modern Oxfords (review here), Mansur Gavriel Mini Lady Bag (review here)}

Personally, I kind of like it.  

As for the actual silk collarless shirt, I think it's just alright.  In fact this shirt might be my least favorite silk item from Grana yet.  That's probably because this shirt is only a single layer of their crepe de chine silk, as opposed to their silk ankle pants which is a double later (and I looooove their silk ankle pants). 

In the winter I find that when I layer this shirt with a sweater, the silk has some crazy static and really clings to my body (I should probably research how to prevent that, but then I just end up wearing cotton and wool sweaters so don't feel the need to look into that).  I think at this point I'm seriously all talked out about silk, especially Grana's 14mm crepe de chine.  But ironically I find myself wearing their silk ankle pants and silk culottes almost daily.  Plus I got another (sponsored) package from Grana of their new silk items (the joggers, the vest, and their mini v-neck slip dress) so I'll be talking about silk some more.  So guess I'm not quite done yet!

But if you're interested in this shirt or some of Grana's other silk items (which are better trust me), first time buyers can get 10% off their purchase with this link (and thanks for all those who support/supported me by clicking the link!)

The Wallet On Chain (WOC) Bag: Chanel vs. Gucci

I realize I'm occupying a strange space where I love and want to promote ethical clothing brands but at the same time I (somewhat irrationally) love expensive luxury hand bags.  I'm the girl who shops at Barney's and Goodwill on the same day (yes I've done that before).  But hey, if I love a handbag and use it for years and years then (like I said before), at least it counts as slow fashion.  Unfortunately I cannot say that this Gucci chain wallet falls under that category (but fortunately I have a lot of interest from people who are willing to take it off my hands).  But anyways I'm getting ahead of myself here.  Today I'll be reviewing the differences between my tried and true Chanel Wallet on Chain (WOC) and my relatively new and trendy Gucci Chain Wallet.

First up, the workhorse of my bag collection, the Chanel WOC.  This bag is the best compact bag I've ever used.  It fits a set of unbulky keys, some lipstick, your phone, and maybe a slim wallet.  But it also has card slots and a zippered pocket if you want to go sans wallet (and if you have a non-plus size iphone, you can fit it into the zippered pocket which is a really secure way to carry your phone--especially in a crowded Vegas nightclub where theives literally will steal your phone out of your flap-type bags.  Seriously it's happened to 3 of my friends on separate occasions).  Though the bag looks tiny, there's a fairly wide gusset (maybe about 1.5 inches or so) and so there is enough space to fit the essentials.  There is also a slim pocket near the front that I use to hold tickets or other flat items that need to be readily accessible.  I would say the best thing about the WOC is the deep flat zipper pocket that runs the whole length of the purse (which can be accessed by the zipper right above the Chanel emblem).  Also if you don't want to wear this cross body, you can slo double up the chain so that it fits neatly under your arm.

I've taken this purse everywhere and it's really held up well.  Partially I think because this is caviar leather without the quilted diamonds (lambskin will wear faster since it's more delicate and the quilted diamonds will eventually deflate, making it look more used).

As for the Gucci Dionysus Chain Wallet, well it was an impulse purchase of the worst kind--from overexposure to trends via instagram and blogs.  The bag itself isn't bad and in fact it's larger than the Chanel WOC so it does fit quite a bit.  There's more card slots than I know what to do with and there's a zippered pouch as well for your phone or other small valuables.

I guess what it comes down to is that I'm not even a fan of Gucci style (usually a 70's over the top kind of style).  But I kept seeing it everywhere and that made me want it.  And I had a bit of credit so I decided I "deserved' a splurge.  But well I never really loved it so I never really used it.  And now I know when it comes to bag choices I need to be aware of why I want certain items.  I have to ask myself, "do I want this because it fits my style/ fills a gap in my closet/ I have a real need for it/ I can use it in a multitude of ways?"  Well that's how it would work in theory anyway, lol.

Ah well, lessons learned I guess.  My head still gets turned by bags daily, but at least I'm on this self-imposed shopping ban so I have to slow my roll.  I definitely need this spending detox!

Everlane Review The Pocket Tote

The other day when I was looking to get Everlane's crop stretch ponte pants (review on that later), I needed one more item in my cart to get the free shipping so I decided to try out Everlane's Pocket Tote (I mean why not, and I'm a bag gal after all).  And well what do you think?

{wearing: Everlane Fisherman cotton pullover (here), Frame denim (similar here), M.Gemi The Docente shoes (review here), and Everlane pocket tote}

It was fairly big and could fit quite a bit.  In the pictures above I'm just carrying my 13" MacBook inside.  The bag comes with a large outside pocket (convenient for carrying your phone and other things you reach for frequently).  Inside the main zippered compartment is another zippered pocket perfect for keys.  My main pet peeve about this bag is that the bottom has no structure.  So as you can see the gusset is sagging in the above pictures.  I'm curious to know how Everlane fudged their video of this Pocket Tote, since it looks like the guy is only carrying a laptop and another pouch, but his tote doesn't sag.  It looks like there might be something stiff and rectangular at the bottom of the bag to hold it's shape (I used to do this with my Louis Vuitton speedy bag back in the day--I just used a piece of cardboard so that the bag keeps it shape).  Maybe you could do something similar here if you're so inclined.  As for me I decided to pass on it since I didn't love it and I didn't really need another tote in my life.

As always, this review is unsponsored and you can find all my other Everlane reviews here. 

M. Gemi The Dolcetto Review

Hi guys, so if you saw my Winter 10x10 Challenge, you've seen me try on M.Gemi's the Dolcetto.  And I know they're too big >.< which is such a bummer because I was really looking forward to rocking out these shoes outside of my little photo studio here.  I even tried adding some shoe inserts like these.  But sadly, I still cannot walk in them.  So let this be a warning that M.Gemi shoes are wildly inconsistent in size so always try them on a clean floor so that you can exchange them later (something I sadly didn't do carefully enough with these shoes).  I even used M.Gemi's size finder and that didn't ensure I bought the right size.  So in general I would say M.Gemi shoes run big.  For reference I'm a size 7.5 with widish feet (I'm usually a 8 or 8.5 in Everlane shoes), and I purchased these shoes in a size 38.

But other than the size issues I do like the look of the low block heel.  It has a bit of the matronly look, but when paired with modern silhouettes I think it looks pretty interesting.  Plus I'm a fan of the stability of the block heel.  The front of the shoe is also quite wide, which works in my favor.  If you're interested and want $50 off your first M. Gemi purchase, email gardner_maureen@ymail.com to get your coupon code!

Grana Review Racerfront Bikini Top and Bikini Brief

Since I started swimming as a workout at my new gym (ok well I've only gone once so far at the time of this post, but technically it's true I've started) I've been on the look out for some good swim wear.  All my swimsuits are 5+ years old and aren't really suitable for a swim workout (they're better for lounging around on the beach).  So I decided that I'm going to fudge on my shopping ban a bit and let myself purchase these necessities.  Well, I remembered that Grana came out with some swim wear this past summer season and if I purchased through Grana, I'm not technically breaking my resolution.  A win-win.

Except it wasn't.  I'm going to keep it brief here but Grana's swim wear is just not my kind of swim wear.  Basically all their pieces are unlined.  It's just one thin piece of the material they call "Italian Sensitive" for both their tops and bottoms.  For the top that means you can definitely see the nipple and I'm not of the 'free the nipple' camp (I mean you're welcome to free yours, but I rather not).  They try to conceal it with the band that goes right across the chest, but it just seemed weird to me.  As for the bottoms, I tried them on with underwear but I suspect that without it there's a high probability of camel toe.

For reference I got the racerfront bikini top in a small and the bottoms in a medium.  Anyway as much as I love Grana, swim wear is definitely not their forte.  I ended up breaking my ban by buying my much needed swim wear from Patagonia (which turned out fantastic--perhaps a review for another time).  But do you guys know of a company that ethically makes awesome swim wear?

Grana Review Silk Bomber

When I reviewed Everlane's E2 Bomber here, I extolled the virtues of a bomber jacket without any embellishments.  So I was pretty excited to see an all silk bomber jacket on Grana's site and knew I had to try it out (and thanks to all those who click on my referral link, I could)!  

So first a note on size.  I'm wearing a medium here and you can see that it's still quite cropped and fitted on me (for reference I'm 5'4" and usually a size 4 on top).  Since it's so cropped and fitted, it would be challenging to wear anything thick and warm underneath the bomber (here I'm wearing Everlane's silk shell).  If you're wearing this in a colder climate then you would probably have to wear a thick jacket or coat on top of the bomber.

The silk that this bomber is made from is their 22mm georgette satin, so it has a heavier weight and more of a sheen than Grana's 14mm silk (this is my personal favorite of the two types of silk Grana offers).  This is the same silk used on their V-neck slip dress and their silk culottes.  Because of the silk material, this bomber is quite unstructured (especially compared to Everlane's bomber which was super structured since it had a light filler layer.  I personally prefer a more structured look to a bomber so I wasn't a fan of this look.  But on the plus side, the bomber is also lined with silk on the inside so you it does feel like you're wearing a kind of sumptuous kimono.

This silk bomber is probably best for those who live in warmer climates or as a substitute for a cardigan inside the office.  But true outerwear this is not.

But if you're interested you can find the Grana silk bomber here, and if you use this referral link you can get 10% off your first purchase.  And for all my other Grana reviews, click here.

{wearing: Grana silk bomber, Everlane pink silk shell (reviewed here), Everlane stretch ponte pants (reviewed here), M.Gemi Felize loafers (reviewed here), Valentino Glamlock bag}

M. Gemi Review The Docente

Ever since I hit gold with M.Gemi's the Felize (review here) I've been trying various other M. Gemi shoes (the Stellato and the Dolcetto).  But I haven't fallen in love like I did with the Felize.  Well now I can add one more style of M.Gemi shoes that I absolutely adore: the Docente.  Maybe it's because I keep seeing those Gucci slides everywhere online (those with the fur and without the fur), that's making me think I need something like this loafer mule in my life (because I did write that post saying how ridiculous slides/mules are for walking).  And true, when I wear these I feel like I'm wearing bedroom slippers and the sound of my clopping when I walk can be obnoxious (especially with my recovering knee injury it's more like a clop-CLOP-clop-CLOP).  But I don't care, these shoes give me style, or at least I feel it does and that's all the matters right?

{wearing: Everlane fisherman sweater, Frame denim (similar here), Loewe hammock bag (here), M.Gemi Docente shoes}

Sizing with M.Gemi has been a bit tricky to figure out since depending on the style of shoe, the sizing varies quite a bit.  I'm a size 38.5 in their Felize shoes (I'm usually a 8 to 8.5 in Everlane, 7.5 in shoes that are wider up front), but I ordered this in a size 38 since they were out of the 38.5 at the time.  And as you can see my foot just fits these mules (not even a cm to spare).  I'm also hoping as I wear these shoes more often, the leather will stretch and my foot might slide in more.

{wearing: Everlane fisherman sweater and cropped stretch ponte pants, Kara backpack (similar here), M. Gemi Docente shoes}

Anyway these shoes are selling out fast (with only one size left in this black color), so I decided to bump up this review even though I have several other M.Gemi shoes that need to be reviewed.  If you're interested and want $50 off your first M. Gemi purchase, email gardner_maureen@ymail.comto get your coupon code!