Some thoughts on Instagram

Recently I read this blogpost (this one is so thorough and I learned quite a bit) and this rant/blogpost about the shadiness of some people's instagram practices and I just wanted to add my 2 cents to the noise (mostly because I don't have a review prepared for you today, but also because it's been on my mind lately).  So first off, a full confession: when I first started using Instagram, I had no patience and I purchased followers (I know, I'm horrible and I'm cringing as I write this).  But let me tell you it's not worth it at all!  Because 1) it translates to low engagement (I don't have the number of likes and comments I 'should' for my follower number; and 2) it does nothing to actually improve your account (because only good content will attract followers.  Just having followers does not lead to more followers); and 3) when Instagram's mysterious algorithm kicked in, I swear it hurt me more than it helped.  But yes I bought 500 followers (for only $4.99!) because I was insecure as a blogger and needed some quantified validation.  If I could take it back I totally would.  So having learned that lesson, when I learned about bots liking/following/leaving generic comments on other accounts, I steered clear (even though I was a tiny bit tempted for a moment because I was desperate to try to get to over 1000 followers).  And in the end I'm glad I did because just like buying followers, buying bots to do the work for you is empty, all fluff.

The real point of instagram as a social platform is to make the connections and talk to people you normally would never have access to talk to.  That's what makes instagram worth it for me.   If you're trying to build something up just to make money and get sponsorship, then Instagram is just an empty marketing tool that loses all its wonderfulness (but yes, if you do 'make it' in instagram, it for sure is quite lucrative).  Once I stopped obsessing over the number of followers and likes (which up until 1000 followers I was obsessed with), Instagram became a lot more enjoyable.  Nowadays I use it as a way to let people know what my current blog post is about.  And true, my content on Instagram isn't super breath-taking or even that creative but I'm okay with that.  But I love talking to people through the comments or DM on Instagram.  So if you ever have any comments/questions/judgements, please make sure to drop a line!

Also currently I'm obsessed with Instagram stories (I pretty much watch it everyday) and my favorites accounts are @evachen212 , @annstreetstudio , @eggcanvas , and @stylescrapbook.  Anyway what are some of your thoughts on the current state of Instagram?

P.S. I do feel like the more I'm on Instagram, the more I feel consumer burn out (especially when I catch bloggers' haul videos from fast fashion stores).  And then sometimes I feel discouraged that I'm feeding into the whole frivolous consumer culture, but I guess that's a discussion for another time.

Everlane Review Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Pull On Skirt

So when I first saw Everlane's Clean Cotton collection of dresses it was this Crop Tank and Pull-On Skirt that caught my eye.  I just really like the look of the matching two piece outfit and even though I'm not a fan of the midi length (because I don't really have the height for it), I decided to try it out anyway.  And I ended up loving the whole outfit!

This would be the perfect outfit for a more casual wedding or a cocktail party.  I don't really have an occasion to wear this dress to, but I just loved the way it looked so I decided to keep it.  I'm wearing a small for both the crop tank and skirt.  

The only negative thing I have to say about the crop tank is that it's a row of buttons in the back to close so it is impossible to put this on by yourself (someone has to button you in).  Also the skirt is a tad long for my 5'4" frame, but it's not too bad so I don't plan to shorten it.  Oh and just like I complained in my review of the Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress, this clean cotton material wrinkles like crazy so make sure you have your handy dandy travel steamer ready.  But for this outfit, I'll put up with a bit of maintenance.

I also tried out the crop tank with Everlane's wide leg crop pants and I loved the look (sorry forgot to take a pic).  The fact that this crop tank is a bit structured means it'll work with a lot of high-waisted bottoms.  The skirt is a tad less versatile but if you like the voluminous 50's skirt look and feel (like I do) then this is a really great skirt.  Anyway if you're interested you can find all of Everlane's items here (referral link) and all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

Vintage Chanel Caviar Leather vs. New Chanel Caviar Leather (and my Chanel experience in general)

Black Medium Caviar Chanel Flap Bag from 2013 next to a Navy Small Caviar Flab Bag from 1999

So I've been very fortunate in my life to own a lot of different Chanel bags.  Back in 2008 when the economy was on the skids, pre-owned Chanel bags were considerably cheaper than today.  I also took part in the Bing and eBay program that gave cashback to up to 30% of the purchase price (so thank you Bing for making Chanel bags even more affordable back then).  I used the PurseForum and Etinceler Authentications to ensure I was getting the real deal, and many times I would sell the bag back on eBay having already made money off the bag with the cashback deal.  This was when my Chanel obsession was at the max and I had a revolving closet of Chanel bags.  I'm not saying this to show-off but rather let you know that I know my Chanels.  And these are some of the lessons I've learned from this experience:

1) Caviar leather is always better than lambskin if you want to keep your Chanel looking as good as the day it was purchased.  Lambskin may scream luxury to some people but it's a pain to keep nice.  And even if you baby the hell out of your bags, the quilted squares will eventually deflate and this is especially true for lambskin.  Here are some other bloggers take on caviar vs. lambskin: 1, 2, 3.

2) The jumbo and maxi Chanel flaps are heavy (especially if you get the jumbo in a double flap, so I went with the single flap).  But even the single flap jumbo will be enough weight to dig the chains into your shoulders and leave a mark after prolonged usage.

3) And vintage caviar leather is better than new caviar leather.  The picture above is of my 2013 black caviar in medium next to my 1999 navy caviar in small.  I really should take a macro photo of the two leathers so that you guys can really see the difference (but I'm a lazy blogger, so only if people really want it will I bother, lol).  But the 1999 caviar leather is shinier and stiffer while the newer 2013 caviar leather is more matte and softer.  I tried to see if anyone else wrote about this online (but really couldn't find anything) but the 18-year old vintage Chanel is just a lot more durable than the 2013, making me think that Chanel went with a lower quality leather supplier for their caviar leather in recent times.  I hardly use the black medium flap bag because even without use I can feel that the leather where the CC buckle is, is starting to cave in a little.  So I keep it in its box, stuffed to keep it pristine (which is not the way I like to be using my bags.  Since this was a gift from my mother I'm trying to keep it as pristine as possible but TBH if I had just purchased this myself I probably would have sold it by now).  I really only use my navy flap bag because it's resistant to scratches and I can throw it around without having to worry about dents in the bag.  I think well-made luxury items should be used constantly since they're supposed to handle that kind of usage (and the really well made stuff just get more beautiful with time right?).

Anyway, this is to say I think my Chanel phase is pretty much over (good bye Chanel years, hello Hermes years--juuust kidding I don't have the budget for that yet).  I still have these 2 flaps and my Chanel WOC (wallet on chain-also in caviar and my other Chanel workhorse), and also a wallet I plan to sell.  But that's it!  And I think a large part of it is because my last new Chanel bag (this 2013 black flap) is clearly not as good as my old stuff.  Just because it's a Chanel and it cost a lot of money doesn't automatically mean quality anymore.  So when buying a Chanel, go ahead and be very very picky (you should be for that price point).

P.S. I don't know what 2017 caviar leather is like so it may have gotten better, or I may have just gotten a bad batch back in 2013.  But in general I prefer early 2000 caviar leather flap bags (my long gone jumbo was this type of caviar leather too and it was great).

Shopping Ban update for July

Building Block Mini Rucksack in Concrete

Fail.  July was a complete fail when it came to the shopping ban.  It all started with some 'window shopping' when I had about 45 minutes to kill in San Francisco.  I was meeting up with friends for dinner at Hayes Valley and so when I got there early I thought I would browse.  Nope there's no such thing as window shopping and harmless browsing when you have a shopping addiction AND it's sale season.  I caved and bought this backpack from Building Block (at a killer price, but still I shouldn't have).  And then you know that feeling where you've already off the wagon, so you might as well try to get away with more?  And then I saw an Hermes Lindy 30 (like this one) for a great used price at Fashionphile and justified it by saying I already sold 2 bags (the Mansur Gavriel Lady bag and the Goyard tote) so it's like a 'trade.'  Well yes and no.  I still need to sell a couple more bags to make up the difference which I'm in the process of doing.  So I'm basically downsizing my purse collection to trade it in for one Hermes, so that's a good thing right?

I guess the upside of this shopping ban, even when I do fail it, is that I'm at least not tempted to shop the online sales.  I used to get a real feeling that I'm missing out when I don't shop the sales.  But I've realized that I'm probably not going to buy anything life-changing at a sale (and most of the time I end up buying mediocre stuff because it's on sale).  So nowadays because I'm on this (supposed) ban, I tell myself not to waste any time looking online (and TBH it mostly works except instead I find myself spending more time on sites like Fashionphile that sell used items).

Anyway I'm going to keep on trying (try, try again amrite?) and we'll see how the rest of the year goes with this shopping ban.  

Everlane Review The Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress

Hi guys and like I promised, back to a review today!  Well when I got Everlane's cotton collarless belted shirt dress (review here) I thought I was done buying Everlane dresses because I had found The One (Dress).  But when their Clean Cotton line of dresses came out, I couldn't resist not trying them out.  I was initially drawn to their Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Clean Cotton Pull-On Skirt combo (which will be reviewed next), but decided to try out this Clean Cotton Cross Back Dress as well.  

First a note on sizing: I ordered this in my regular Everlane size of 4 and I found that it ran true to size.  It was a bit snug in the waist though so if you're in between sizes, I recommend sizing up.  The size 4 fit perfectly but I struggled to get the zipper all the way up by myself.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm on the chubby side of size 4 or because the zipper is placed in an awkward location between the elastic waist band and ending just below the arm pit (but not all the way up to the arm pit area, which I think would have made getting into and out of this dress a tad easier).

Anyway what do you think?

I don't think it looked that bad, but in the end I returned this dress because of two reasons.  One: the pleats under the waistband caused the dress to poof out in the front, and for me personally I dislike that (that's also why you see me holding down the front of the dress in the second picture).  I have a hard enough time trying to keep my figure slim, so I'm not really a fan of clothing that gives me extra volume in the midsection.  And two: the awkward zipper placement and the cross back means having to get in and out of this dress by pulling it over your head and it was really difficult for me (I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong but yeah I was struggling).  

Also, I'm not a huge fan of this cotton/elastane material.  It's a lot like their cotton poplin and wrinkles tremendously.  The pictures above were after I "ironed" it with my favorite travel steamer.  And even with the steaming, the dress looks a bit wrinkled to me.  This is a high-maintenance material.

If you'd like an excellent second opinion about this dress, Grechen got the same one and you can read her review about it here.  Anyway my favorite Everlane dress of all time is still their cotton collarless shirt dress, but I did end up keeping the Clean Cotton Crop Tank and Pull-up Skirt, so a review of that soon.  And you can read all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews, like this one, here.

Cartier Santos Demoiselle, Tank Francaise, and Ronde Solo De Cartier Watch Review

Hi guys so this is a semi-review of my three different Cartier watches, as requested by a reader.  To be honest, I love the look of watches but I no longer wear a watch at all times, since nowadays I usually use my phone to tell time.  But ever since I went to a De Young Museum exhibit about Cartier (like this one), I've viewed Cartier as my watchmaker of choice (talk about great marketing). 

I purchased my first Cartier watch on eBay many years ago.  I took quite a gamble with it since I didn't know anything about how to tell authenticity.  But I found a Cartier Santos Demoiselle Watch with all the papers and boxes from a reputable seller so I took a chance (which to be honest I probably would not do today, just because of the sheer number of fake goods floating out there on eBay).  As soon I got the watch, I took it over to Cartier for a full servicing and there were no red flags so I got lucky.  This watch measures 20mm x 28mm and is my only watch with both gold and steel, which makes this the watch I use on my fanciest occasions.  And actually I didn't realize that Cartier no longer sells this model (at least online, but I haven't stepped into a boutique in ages so please correct me if I'm wrong) until I wrote up this review.  So I guess if you want to get this same model then you might need to look for it used (which is what I had to use for the link above).

Since the Santos Demoiselle was just a bit too fancy for my everyday wear, I started lusting for a more everyday kind of watch.  So my next purchase was the classic Cartier Tank Francaise (similar here) in stainless steel and in the small size (measures 20mm x 25mm).  And as you can see in the very top picture above, the Tank Francaise is pretty much the same size as the Santos Demoiselle.  I prefer the smaller sizes because my wrist is kind of small to begin with.  I purchased this one through Fashionphile and authentication was verified through WatchFacts so I felt pretty reassured that this was an authentic purchase.  I love that this watch is super simple and classically Cartier.  I'm not a huge fan of heavy watches and this one has a good heft but I don't find it too heavy at all (but the Santos Demoiselle is definitely lighter but consequently daintier).

And my third and thus far final Cartier watch purchase was the Ronde Solo De Cartier watch (similar here) which I bought directly in a Cartier boutique.   After wearing my Tank Francaise consistently for over a year, I kind of wanted a round watch and a non-metal band because some days I just wanted a really light watch.  So I went with the Ronde Solo in the smaller size (29mm) and alligator skin strap.  And well not to say I regret this purchase, but I slightly do.  And this is mainly because the alligator strap closes like a snap bracelet (it's not the normal belt-like closure for most leather watch bands).  And I just have the hardest time opening and closing the snap, and I've even snapped a bit of skin in there once and it pinched like a mofo.  So unfortunately I don't wear this watch as much as I would like, considering this is the lightest watch out of the three.  Also to be honest, if I hadn't purchased this myself from a Cartier boutique I would think this watch could be a fake because it's casing is super light and not hefty at all.  Anyway I plan to change the strap on this to the bracelet version and see if I might wear it more often.

Like I've stated in the past, I prefer to purchase most of my luxury goods secondhand because not only do they come at a better price, but luxury items like these are meant to last so they hold up really well.  And as you can see, the only watch out of the three with any regrets is the one I purchased directly from the Cartier boutique.  But (and there's a big but here), purchasing used can be a risk since there are so many fake Cartier watches out there.  So I recommend purchasing through a reputable reseller who will stand behind the authenticity of their pre-owned goods (like Fashionphile or TheRealReal), getting a second opinion on authenticity (like at WatchFacts), and then lastly getting it serviced at a Cartier boutique. 

Anyway if you have any specific questions about this watch just leave me a comment and I'll try to answer them!

P.S. If you’re interested I also wrote a Cartier Small Love Bracelet review here.

Not a review

What?! No review today?  Lol, things have been hectic lately so I'm barely able to write my 3 reviews a week.  And sadly, I wasn't able to keep up so there's no review for you today.  But I hate to miss a day (not that I keep an editorial calendar, like I was told a good blogger should), so here's just a short post to let you guys know a little bit more about me. 

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Past life: I have a Masters in Public Health, specifically in the field of Epidemiology (which is the study of the spread of diseases).  So when I say I believe in science, I am a 100% devotee of the field, though I know science isn't the end all and be all.  And I still believe in spirituality and intangibles that can't be measured (12 years of going to an Episcopalian school, with chapel once a week, instilled my respect for religion).

Favorite personal development books: I still love Daring Greatly and 10% Happier and plan to reread these soon.

My uniform this season: Grana and Everlane tees and rag & bone jean cutoff shorts

My daily wellness habit: I take a probiotic every morning.  Ever since a particularly nasty food poisoning episode (where I spent all day at the ER and had to get IV fluids and antibiotics) my gut health hasn't quite been the same.  But I find I'm less susceptible to minor cases of food poisoning and I generally feel healthier when I take care of my gut.  Currently I'm trying out LoveBug probiotics and they're working great!

Current workout: I've just started doing yoga again after a year hiatus (my favorite is Vinyasa or flow yoga), and it's been the perfect workout to get some meditation time in as well as really use my muscles.  I feel like even my posture has been slowly getting better because I'm working all the muscles in my back now.

Always in my bag: This Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl Hand Cream is a necessity.  Since my job requires me to be in the sun a lot or driving, this hand cream with spf 25 helps protect my hands and arms from sun spots and wrinkles.  Plus it's a twist to open the top so I can apply it with one hand while driving.  And it smells lovely (like lavender), not like sunscreen at all.

Ok I guess that's it for now!  I'll be back with my regular reviews on Monday again :)

Grana Review Silk Jumpsuit

So let me start off this review by saying I'm not a silk jumpsuit kind of girl.  In fact I usually avoid jumpsuits and rompers in general because I really dislike having to strip all the way down to use the bathroom (talk about inconvenient).  However thanks to you guys, I have a small bank of Grana credit and so I decided to try some things outside of my comfort zone.  Also I'm a fan of Grana's silk (mostly because they always do a double layer of it), so I thought "why not?" And I'm so glad I tried it out because I love it!

Wearing this jumpsuit got me feeling all kinds of sassy:

Lol, I'm literally strutting here.  I just wish I was wearing heels with this but these neutral flats from Vera Wang (somewhat similar here) are not bad.  Also I love my small Celine Trotteur (similar here) with this jumpsuit since the thin bag strap goes with the straps that criss-cross the back.  The silk jumpsuit gave me a whole 70's disco vibe while I was wearing it.

I got this jumpsuit in a small and it fit perfectly.  There's a side zip that makes it easier to get on and off.  Each strap is also adjustable so that you can control how low the v-neck is in the front.  The waistband is elastic with a drawstring so you can tighten or loosen the waist how you like.  In general I found the proportions just right for my 5'4" frame.  As I said earlier, this is made from double layer of silk (their 14mm crepe de chine, which I've heard from a reader is easily hand washable).  I'm wearing both a strapless bra and a thong here to minimize the bumps and such from underclothing (this will definitely give you VPL if you're wearing normal underwear).  The bottoms of these pants feel like a slightly tighter version of their silk ankle pants, which I love (reviewed here).

I really love that one piece of silk clothing can make me look so polished and put together, so that I only have to think about my shoes and accessories (which is admittedly my favorite part of planning an outfit).  For $129 it's a bit on the pricey side, but for a whole outfit made from 100% silk I don't think it's all the bad.  Anyway if you're interested you can get it 10% off with my referral link (first time customers only) and you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Everlane Review The Beach Pullover Hoodie from the Beach Capsule

*This is an unsponsored Everlane review

I've already reviewed the canvas backpack (here) from Everlane's Beach Capsule, and this beach pullover hoodie is the second item I purchased from that collection.  I was drawn to the thin stripes and the cropped length, even though its the dead of summer and 90 degrees.  I could see myself wearing this in the fall when the weather cools down or if I actually went to a California beach, which are usually windy as heck.  

What do you think?

{Wearing: Everlane beach hoodie, Marine Layer skirt, Everlane street sandals, and vintage Chanel flap bag (similar here)}

I paired it with a skirt, but the hoodie looks pretty cute with shorts too.  At times I feel like the boxy cut isn't doing my short figure any favors.  But I still like the casual look.  I'm wearing a size small here and found it large enough because of the oversized fit.  But I did find the neck hole to be quite tight (and it was a bit of a pain to get it on and off without smearing my makeup all over the inside of the hoodie).

The cotton material itself is not super soft nor stretchy.  I think if it's thrown into the dryer there's a chance it'll stretch out due to it's lack of elasticity (so I'll probably be hang drying this one as well as washing it on a delicate cycle in a mesh bag like this one).  Now that I think of it, the material is very similar what Everlane used for their Breton striped oversized tee, but the cotton of this hoodie feels a tad thinner.  For $38 this is a pretty good price for cotton hoodie, but the true test will be how it holds up after multiple washes.  Since I'm planning to keep this one, I'll update the post later with what I find.

Anyway you can find all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews like this one here.

Grana Review Pima Racerfront Maxi Dress

I was really tempted not to write up the review of this pima racerfont maxi dress since it's just not flattering on me, and I didn't want to have to put up pictures of me modeling it.  But in the end I decided I couldn't let my vanity stand in the way of doing right by you guys, which is to warn you that unless you have a really banging body do not buy this dress.  

I first decided to try out this dress after seeing it on two girls on Grana's Instagram stories.  It looked great on them, but it's probably because they're about 10 years younger than me (and thus are a spring chicken to my summer chicken).  I mean I've been working out consistently for 3 and a half months now (and by consistently I mean swimming, elliptical or yoga 3-4 times a week) and I feel like I've lost some weight (though I don't know for sure since I've long since stopped torturing myself with the scale).  And I also feel healthier so I know it's working.  But now that I'm firmly in my mid-thirties there's just no amount of working out (that I'd be willing to do) that will give me my working-out-body of my twenties.  And by that I mean, I now have a round mid-section that isn't going away.  Please observe:

And to be honest these pictures actually look better than real life (seriously those shadows are doing me some favors).  And no, I'm not pregnant, though I'm sure if I wore this dress around some might think so.  Anyway the problem with this dress is that it's super tight and clingy and made with only a single layer of cotton.  I think the model in the Grana pictures must be going commando because in real life you can really see every bump and outline in this dress (or they just photoshopped it out).

I even sized up to a medium for this dress knowing that it's on the clingy side.  But nope it still didn't work.  Anyways like I said, unless you've got nothing to hide I wouldn't buy this dress.  But if you are model material, then this is the perfect dress to show-off your assets.  Plus it's super soft and stretchy.  There's also a side-slit to make it easy for walking.  For reference I'm 5'4" here and the dress just grazed the ground.  Anyways hope you guys found this review helpful and you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Everlane Review The Pointed Slide

*This is an unsponsored review and I was able to order these shoes with credit from all those who purchased through my referral link (so thank you again for all your support guys!)

For years and years now I've been wanting Jenni Kayne's mule slides, ever since I saw them on Garance Dore's site (I just checked the date on this and can you believe she first wrote about them 4 years ago?!).  And I almost bought a pair from Vince once, similar to this one.  But I never could quite pull the trigger.  So when these Everlane pointed slides came along I was definitely curious to try them out but by this time I've been regularly using the M.Gemi Docente slides for awhile and the Everlane modern loafer mules.  Could I really fit another pair of mules into my life?  Well a good friend was really curious about how these Everlane slides were, so Vickie, this review is for you, lol.

First a note on sizing, I got these in my usual Everlane size 8 (I'm usually around a 7.5-8 in shoes but always go with the bigger size when dealing with Everlane).  And I found them to be snug but not too narrow.  With a little bit breaking-in I can see that these shoes will start fitting like a glove.  As with most of Everlane shoes (except for their form slide sandal and form crossover sandal) there's not a whole lot of arch support, though the insole is slightly padded.

What do you think?  I kind of felt they were like my princess flats because of the lovely rose pink color.  

But here's the thing, the tops of these shoes pull the top of your feet whenever you walk.  And they rub the tops of the foot in such a way that I can imagine getting a blister there after a bit.  I was really conflicted about whether or not to keep these shoes, but in the end I returned them since I already have 2 pairs of mules and I knew I would only wear these on date night or other infrequent occasions (and I already have my favorite pair of special occasion shoes, similar here and reviewed here).  {And if you're wondering, I took care to wipe down the cement floors before taking these pictures, though I'm pretty sure they'll be going to Everlane's next Worn Once event}.

Even now when I look at these shoes, I'm still conflicted about whether or not I should have kept them.  I definitely feel some pangs of regret.  But with the credit of the return, I was able to order Everlane's Day Heels, which I missed out on the first time around.  So at least I get to see what all the hype is about.  Anyway you can find all of Everlane's items here and all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

P.S. I don't read Everlane's own reviews posted on their site since I don't want it to muddy my own honest reviews.  But I did look at them after I wrote this up and I'm not the only one that has the pulling at the top of the foot.  Another reviewer got blisters at the arch, eesh.

Shopping Ban Update For June

My thrift shopping haul: Marine Layer skirt, Current/Elliot denim shirt, SuperDry khaki shirt, Madewell tee, and Bateau Petit tee

So you know how back in May I was like, oh this shopping ban is a piece of cake?  Well of course as soon as I say those words, my raging consumption addiction comes back to bite me in the butt.  So I let myself go thrift shopping at Crossroads to satisfy that craving.  It's not ideal to be adding new items to the closet (especially when a lot of other conscious consumption bloggers were doing a no-shop June) so I did feel a bit guilty.  But then I told myself hey at least I'm funding a system that recycles clothes and keeps them from the dump.  And technically I didn't even spend money since I had enough credit from "trading" in my clothes to cover the cost of the new-to-me duds (with some credit left over).  I guess this is the best way for me to manage my shopping addiction while still following my rules for an ethical closet (which is summed up really well in the picture from this post).  I'm tempted to call it right now and say it was just a 6 month shopping ban, but ah well I'll keep trying.  But really, I can't wait for this ban to be over, though I have a feeling I won't be hitting up the malls right after it (at least the urge for that has really left me... or so I think until I prove myself wrong again of course, lol).  In the meantime the downsizing of my closet and the honing of my style continues.

P.S. Those who follow my insta-stories know I got a new used bag, after selling off several from my collection.  Currently feeling a bit guilty about it but at the same time I'm justifying it as a 3 bags out, one bag in sort of deal (and really I did get such a good deal on this pre-owned bag).  But since this is a July purchase I'll deal with it in my July post lol >.<

P.P.S I've just read this article and it describes me pretty much to a tee.  I like well-made items and I like these items to be also made at least ethically if not also sustainably.  And I'm super lucky enough to be able to afford to buy these kinds of goods so that's what I choose.  Yes, buying sustainable and ethical items can sometimes be expensive but buying fast fashion in bulk can be equally expensive in my opinion.  Those items don't last, nor can they really be traded for new to you clothes at a place like Crossroads (and forget trying to sell them on places like eBay).  Buy quality items from consignment stores and not only are you helping to maintain the resell market but you're not lining the pockets of polluting corporations.  Ok ok I'll get off my soap box now lol.

Purse Organizer Review {updated}

*This is an unsponsored review.  I just love this organizer so much and I want to share it with you guys!

Hi guys so this is a bit of a departure from my regular fair fashion reviews, but this purse organizer from Amazon has changed my life recently.  I first purchased it a year ago when I saw it recommended on another blog to try out with my Goyard St. Louis tote (similar here and which I reviewed here).  The organizer didn't really work with the Goyard tote since the tote was too tall (or maybe the organizer too short).  But the organizer did help the bottom of the tote keep its shape.  Anyway now with that tote gone, I decided to try it out with my Balenciaga Work bag.  I got fed up with constantly rummaging through the bag looking for stuff, and it started becoming a Mary Poppins sort of bag (with all kinds of random stuff just floating around on the bottom).  

And look how it looks now:

I love that the organizer gives the bag some structure.  And that the organizer itself is super lightweight (maybe a couple ounces in weight).  The organizer's dimensions are 12"x5.4"x8".  This organizer would also be great for the Louis Vuitton Neverfull or any medium to large tote.  I also love that I can just pull the whole thing out and can easily switch it to another bag (it only takes 1 second) . 

I've had other small bag organizers before but they never really worked out because I always found the side pockets and interior pockets to be too slim or narrow (I mean how many pockets do I need for pens and lipsticks, really?).  But the pockets on this organizer are super roomy, both on the outside and on the inside (where there's two large zippered pouches).

Anyway if you're looking for a purse organizer, better than all the others, I can't recommend this one from Amazon enough. 

{Update: Just wanted to note that if you're using a bag lined in black (like a Balenciaga) , you might want to get the brown nylon version of this bag organizer since I've been struggling to see the pockets with the black in black.  Also I wanted to say I'm super proud that blogger Grechen, whom I really respect, has found this bag organizer a 'game changer' (her words)!  I'm so stoked that my recommendation was a hit!  She blogged about it here, here, and here.  If she says it's good, you know it's a good thing!}

Mott & Bow Jeans Review {Updated March 2018}

*These jeans were gifted from Mott & Bow for review and this is a type of sponsored post

Hi guys, I just want to start off today's review by thanking all of you guys for your support, whether it's clicking on my referral links or by giving me a few minutes of your day by reading my reviews.  I never thought I would get to this point, where brands would give me something free in exchange for a review (from out of the blue, I'm not counting Grana since I've purchased their items before for review)!  I know I'm still small beans in the blogging world but I'm just super grateful for any beans at all, lol.  

I guess I feel this gratitude especially since I'v been seeing Mott & Bow jeans on my radar (mostly those FB ads) and have been curious for awhile to try them out now.  But with my shopping ban and the fact that I don't have the use for more jeans, there was really no reason for me to buy a pair to try them out.  But fortunately for me, they reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try a pair and I couldn't say no.

Since I'm no longer loving the skinny jeans look (plus I have way more skinny jeans than I need), I decided to go with slim boyfriend style in the Benson color.  Also since the length was a bit too long for my short legs, I decided to cut the bottoms so that there's a distressed frayed look instead of neat hems.  I would say this kind of frayed hem style works really well with the thick denim material Mott & Bow chooses to use.  And the denim is the just right amount of stiffness with just the right amount of give (about 2% elastane).

{Wearing: Grana linen sleeveless shirt (review here), Mott & Bow Slim boyfriend jeans, Everlane canvas backpack (review here), Everlane form slide sandals (review here)}

I've tried really stiff jeans in the past (most recently Grana's Japanese denim which I reviewed here), but I just couldn't get used to the extreme stiffness of those jeans.  For soft, stretchy denim I usually go for Frame jeans like this and this (usually in the skinny jean style).  But if you're looking for a good pair of mid-weight denim with a tiny bit of stretch but not much, then I definitely recommend these Mott & Bow jeans.  I think they are a quality pair for a decent price.

As for the transparency and ethical qualities of this brand, to be completely honest, I'm not too sure.  They are made in Honduras, which does have some sweatshops.  But the founder is also from Honduras and they have a family-owned vertically integrated system, which would lead me to believe that working conditions aren't horrid.  But of course I don't know, so I sent them an email asking them but specifics.  We'll see if they get back.  In the meantime you can find all of their jeans here.

{Update: I received a kind email from Mott & Bow with all the details of their factory.  "Alejandro Chahin's family owned facilities in Honduras called Intermoda. His family have been in the denim business for over thirty years and have extremely clean and comfortable working conditions - air conditioning throughout, the best lighting and cleanliness for safety. Many of the employees at the facility have worked there with Chahin's family for over 25 years, which really reflects the respect they receive. And wages are completely fair across the board."  So there you have it folks a fully transparent and ethical working conditions, quite similar to Everlane!}

{March 2018 update: I am happy to say that I still wear these jeans regularly and thus they fall under the "best" category in this post about the best and worst things I received for free to review.}

Grana Review Silk Kimono Blazer

Hi guys, so I've tried Grana's silk sleeveless blazer (reviewed here) in the past and found myself liking it (especially after using it for my Winter 10x10 challenge).  So when I saw that Grana came out with a new silk kimono blazer I was intrigued to try it out.  I ordered this in a size small since it looked like it was already quite an oversized fit (as kimono type garments tend to be).  But I found the small to be a bit tight around the shoulders, though everything else was large and oversized.  

{Wearing: Grana silk kimono blazer, Grana linen sleeveless shirt (reviewed here), Mott & Bow Jeans, Everlane modern loafer mules, vintage Chanel flap bag (similar here)}

The silk is as usual for Grana, a really nice 22mm Georgette satin (my favorite) so it's shiny and smooth (like a kimono silk should be).  I also like that this "blazer" has pockets.  But in general I'm not really a fan of the look.  I don't think the oversized kimono look works for my shorter and wider frame.  

Anyway you can find all of my other Grana reviews here and get 10% off your first order with this referral link!

Cuyana Review Linen Off-The-Shoulder Top

Hi guys, here's something you don't see very often on this blog: a Cuyana review!  I reviewed this linen off the shoulder top as a request from a reader who wanted to know how Cuyana's linen compared to the linen items from other brands in my closet, which includes Grana, Everlane, and Elizabeth Suzann.  In past reviews I ranked Elizabeth Suzann linen the best, followed by Everlane and then Grana.  Well it's hard to rank Cuyana in this line-up because all their linen items are only 49% linen and 51% viscose.  The linen blend that Cuyana uses is way softer than any normal linen fabric but I'm not a fan of viscose, (also known as viscose rayon) which is highly toxic to the environment during it's production process.  Frankly I'm disappointed that Cuyana would use such an unsustainable material for their clothes and it doesn't seem like this peice of clothing would fall under their "fewer, but better" motto (I don't see how adding viscose to linen is making it better).

{Wearing: Cuyana off the shoulder linen top, Marine Layer denim skirt, Everlane modern loafer mules, Goyard St. Louis GM tote (similar here)}

But as for the top itself, I ordered a small and found it still quite big.  It's definitely an oversized fit.  Also I'm not a huge fan of off the shoulder tops since they don't ever stay off the shoulder on me (for the pictures I didn't even bother with trying to get them off the shoulder since that's not how I would wear it in real life).  The tulip sleeves are a cute touch though.  

The linen material is very soft and unlike linen at all.  There's no crispness to it, and if I wanted something this soft I would probably go with cotton or tencel.  If you can't already tell by the tone of the review, I returned the item since it's not something I would wear and I'm trying to add mostly natural sustainable fabrics to my closet (or if unsustainable like leather, only purchase it second-hand).

Anyway you can find all my other unsponsored Cuyana reviews like this one here.

Everlane Review Beach Collection Canvas Backpack

I was born and raised in Hawaii and yet I'm not a huge fan of beaches (I know, what's wrong with me, lol).  But because I grew up with Hawaii beaches, they've become my standard when I think of beaches (I think it makes me a beach snob).  So imagine my surprise and disappointment to find California beaches to be too cold for swimming, filled with kelp, and generally unlike the beaches of my childhood.  Lucky for me, like I said, I'm not a fan of beaches so my disappointed wasn't all that great.  Anyway I bring this all up because Everlane's beach capsule collection was definitely made with California beaches in mind and not really Hawaii's.  Why else would they have cotton long-sleeve sweatshirts if not for the cold and windy beaches of (especially) Northern California {P.S. I also ordered this sweatshirt so stay tuned for that review}.

Anyway as soon as I saw this canvas backpack in Everlane's beach capsule I knew I wanted to try it out right away.  Something about the casual easiness of it all was super appealing.  I could imagine throwing a towel, water and some snacks and hitting the beach.  But of course I don't do beaches, so instead I decided to try it out as my summer work bag.  As much as I love my Everlane dipped zip tote for work, I'm also carrying around my old black Balenciaga Work bag (not for work but for daily life) and two black bags over each shoulder is maybe a bit too somber for the summer.  So this canvas backpack is the perfect summer holdall!

I love that this backpack has two deep front pockets to hold water or sunscreen.  They're deep enough so nothing falls out.  There's also a small interior pocket near the short handle, but I've had small things fall out of that when the backpack isn't fully secured, so be careful of that.  the canvas straps are comfortable enough but I only really use it to carry my backpack from the Airstream to the car, and from the car to the Airstream garage (and back).  I'm a car commuter so really my work bags don't actually get worked, which is a good thing because I'm not too sure if this backpack is meant to get worked.  I've been using it for about a week now and have noticed that the black screen-printed bottom gets scuffed pretty easily.  Unlike the dipped zip tote (which has a thick plastic-like coating on the bottom), this backpack only has a thin screen-printed bottom (like a screen printed shirt).  But I don't really mind since scuffs don't really bother me (it adds to the wabi-sabi of it all)

{Wearing: Everlane backpack, Grana linen sleeveless shirt (review here), Mott&Bow jeans (review coming soon), Everlane Form Slide Sandals (review here)}

The backpack encloses with a drawstring and snap enclosure.  There's a handle on the back that you can kind of hold the backpack with (but it's pretty awkward) and the straps are adjustable.  This would be a pretty good beach or pool bag (as long as you don't get it too close to water since it's not exactly waterproof though it is water resistant), or even just a summer picnic.  Honestly this bag holds a lot (more than the zipped dip tote).  And the canvas itself is a quite sturdy so there's minimal sagging from all the things in your bag. 

If you're looking for an awesome casual lightweight backpack, made responsibly then I think this one might be the one for you.  I'm going to keep using it as my workbag throughout the summer and will check back in with an update on how it wears.  As usual you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews, like this one, here.

Goyard GM St. Louis Tote Review {Updated Feb 2018}

My two loves: Airstreams and bags

I don't know a whole lot about Goyard and I'm not a super fan of the brand or anything but when I sold my Louis Vuitton Neverfull (because I wasn't a fan of the super rigid leather straps), I decided to replace it with this Goyard St. Louis tote (similar here).  Even though I waxed on and on about used bags last week, I actually got this one brand new at the Goyard store in San Francisco mostly because the prices for the secondhand totes weren't that much cheaper than the original price and because the SF store was so close (this was before I moved down to San Jose).  Also it was most definitely a bit of an impulse purchase because I was in the store.

Anyway I decided to go with the GM size (the bigger size which is 23"x 13"x 7") because I wanted this to be more of a travel bag, and I think it's not too big for my 5'4" frame.  The things I love about this tote: A) super lightweight coated canvas (bags that are light as a feather are a must when traveling); B) The flexible leather straps are thin but don't hurt my shoulders; C) The way the top corners can fold in to make the tote smaller when carrying less stuff.

But in the end I don't really carry this bag as much as I want to because the Goyard tote corners and strap glazing are notoriously fragile.  Plus I'm not a fan of how soft the canvas fabric is, so much so that it can't stand up on it's own (it just wrinkles into a pile really).  And in the end I don't think I'm much of a tote person in general (if I have to carry a lot, I rather carry a backpack).  Oh but I do love my Everlane dipped zip tote (reviewed here), which I carry daily as my work tote.

Anyway so I decided to sell this tote to fund a future bag purchase.  Since I rarely used it (seriously only like 5 times), it doesn't make sense for me to keep it.  And I might as well sell it while it's still in pristine condition.  

{Update: Yep I sold it and actually only "lost" $200 on it so at least these bags have very good resale value.  I consider the $200 the cost of using the bag and learning my lesson about expensive totes.  From now on I think I'll stick with more reasonably priced totes, since tote bags are meant to be workhorses and carry loads of stuff.}

Grana Review Linen Sleeveless Shirt

*I received this item free for review from Grana and is a type of sponsored post.  I also have a few affiliate links in this post

Hi guys, finally a Grana review for you today after that parade of Everlane reviews.  To be honest, some of Grana's new summer items haven't wowed me as much as other brands, but this linen sleeveless shirt is definitely an exception.  I was lucky enough to get this free from Grana to review, but I'll try not to let that color my honest opinion of it.  I really like this top and I'm 99% sure it's because it's awesome and not because I got it for free, lol.

First a note on sizing, I got this in a small and I think it's the perfect fit.  Like I always repeat in Grana reviews, go to their size finder on their website and look at the measurements every time you order a new piece since their size finders have really precise measurements (and their sizing can be sometimes a bit all over the place).  I did find that the small in this does show a bit of midriff on me but that's because I have quite a long torso.  But I don't mind since the cropped look helps to lengthen my short legs.

I also love that this top has a pleat in the back that allows the top to poof out a bit.  It gives the top more volume, which I love.  The linen, as usual for Grana linen is on the softer side and this works great for this cropped top (I think if it was stiffer, it might actually be too much volume).  And even though it's a thinner linen, it's not too sheer (nothing a nude bra can't handle) because the top does fall away from the body and isn't fitted.

What do you think?

{Wearing: Grana sleeveless linen shirt, thrifted Coach belt (similar here), Mott & Bow jeans (review coming soon), Everlane canvas backpack (review coming soon), Everlane Form Slide sandals (reviewed here)}

I actually really like the look here with the casual loose jeans and slide sandals.  Also this linen top will really help with that "farmer tan" I'm starting to get across my triceps (ugh).  I'm going to need to even that out asap.

Anyway I highly recommend getting this summer top!  I think it'd also look really cute with a high-waisted denim skirt, or I might try pairing it with some overalls.  First time Grana customers can get 10% off with this referral link here, and you can find all my other Grana reviews here. Thanks again for all your support guys!

Everlane Review The Bridge Sandal

And so the Everlane review train keeps on chugging along!  There's a lot of new items coming from Everlane this summer that I've been super excited about.  First it was their Form Sandals (review here) and then it was their cotton belted shirtdress (review here).  And when I saw these Bridge Sandals on their Coming Soon page, I knew I wanted to try them out right away (especially since they are reminiscent of a certain Hermes Oran sandals that seems to be a blogger favorite right now).

First a note on sizing, I purchased these in my usual Everlane shoes size of 8 and I would say they run true to size.  Also true to general Everlane shoe sizing, these run narrow (like Everlane Modern Loafer kind of narrow).  And the vegetable-tanned leather that these sandals are made of are quite thick and very stiff.  It would take quite a bit of pain to stretch out these leather sandals if you have feet that are not narrow.  The Bridge Sandals are not at all like the beautiful stretchy Napa leather that the Form Sandals are made from.  Interestingly enough both the Form Sandals and these Bridge Sandals are made in super tiny factories in Florence, Italy, but they're different factories.  And you can tell because these sandals are nothing alike.  

Also unlike the Form Sandals, these Bridge Sandals have zero arch support.  So if you plan to walk more than a block or two in these sandals, be prepared from some arch pain.  In the end, I had to send these back because even though I really love how they look, they're just not made for my feet.  Give me Everlane's Form Slide Sandal any day (and actually I've been wearing them pretty much everyday).

As usual this is an unsponsored review and all purchases are made possible from referral credit earned from awesome readers who click my link here.  Also you can find all my Everlane reviews here.