Everlane Review The Waffle Knit Cashmere Square Crew

As I've mentioned in the past, this is my third winter of Everlane cashmere.  The first year I purchased a couple $125 sweaters (my favorite being this cropped cashmere crew reviewed here).  Then last year I purchased Everlane's $100 cashmere crew sweaters (which are awesome but quite boring) as well as the cashmere cropped mockneck (review here) and premium ribbed cashmere (review here), both of which I returned.  So you would think I can't possibly need any more cashmere in my life.  BUT when Everlane came out with waffle knit cashmere square crew, I couldn't resist!

First a note on sizing.  The square style that Everlane loves never seems to fit my body very well.  I've done square shaped tops and sweaters, and nothing flatters.  But since this waffle knit only comes in the square shape I really had no choice.  Knowing how oversized the square tops are, I ordered this in one size smaller than my usual (so I got an XS instead of an S).  And I actually really love the fit now.  It helps that the cashmere is so soft and drapey that it doesn't hold the square shape stiffly (which is the problem I had with some of their square-shaped button down tops that made me feel like I was wearing a sail).  Also because I went a size down, the sweater feels a bit more cropped, which I love.

zoomed in for texture

I also really love the details of this sweater, from the waffle texture to the split side and split sleeve detail.  My other favorite Everlane sweater (the ribbed wool cashmere sweater from last year) that I get compliments on all the time also has this split side detail and I think it helps us petite girls get more visual length to our short legs.  The cashmere, of course, is super soft and yummy (more so I think because of the waffle texture).  I'm not sure how it will wear (whether or not it will pill more than their regular cashmere sweaters) so I'll update this review in a couple months and let you know.

{Wearing: Everlane waffle knit cashmere square crew, Everlane Italian GoWeave Easy pants (will review soon), Everlane Day Heel and Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

The waffle knit cashmere is more expensive than their regular cashmere, but if you already have one of their $100 cashmere sweaters, I do think it's totally worth it to splurge on this waffled version.  The extra texture from the sweater plus all the extra details make it stand out.  

As usual this review is unsponsored (though this post does contain affiliate links).  Thank you again to all first time Everlane buyers who purchase through my referral link for making these reviews possible!  And you can find all my other Everlane reviews here (which I recently updated!).

P.S. It's been a couple months since this article about Everlane came out from The New Yorker, but if you haven't read it yet it's quite interesting!

Grana Silk Blazer Review

Hi guys and finally back to reviews!  As you can see I took these pictures while on the road so you have a stunning vineyard in the background instead of the usual boring gray walls of my garage/workplace.  I wore this out while wine tasting around Paso Robles (and a quick note: if you think Napa wine tasting is great, Paso Robles is even better!  Especially if you like dark and spicy reds!  They do great zinfandels and cabs, and I think the California central coast wine makers are quite underrated!).  Anyway back to the review of this silk blazer from Grana.  I originally purchased the sleeveless silk blazer from Grana (review here) and though I wore it for a Fall 10x10 challenge, I never really wore it after that.  The silk combined with the fact that it's sleeveless made it pretty impractical.  So I decided to go for their sleeved version and I love it 10 times more.

{Wearing: Grana Silk Blazer, Grana Silk Drop Shoulder Tee, Frame denim (similar here), Everlane Day Heels, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

The blazer is made from 22mm Georgette Satin silk on the outside and 18mm satin silk for the lining (yay for double layered silk!).  And as I said in the past, the georgette satin is my favorite of the two types of silk that Grana uses since the satin is smoother and thicker.  And I really love the weight and smoothness of this silk blazer!  Like the sleeveless blazer, this one also has pockets though they aren't super deep.  I love the shawl collar and the way they have a separate panel of silk for the bottom so that it gives the blazer some shape overall (take a look at the pic below to see what I mean).  So even though this blazer is long and I'm short, I don't think it overwhelms my petit frame like some other oversized blazers.

Oh and I'm wearing a size small here (for reference I'm 5'4" and about 125 lbs).  

For $199 this is a pretty pricey piece but for the quality that you're getting it's worth it IMHO.  And you can get 10% off your first Grana purchase with this link (thanks for your support guys!).

And speaking of blazers, has anyone tried out Everlane's new oversize wool blazer?  I'm interested in trying it out but I'm thinking it's going to be too long for my petite frame.

Shopping Ban update for October

from a store in DTLA

So another month of this so-called shopping ban and another failure to add to the books.  If you've been following my Insta-story, you know we've been doing about 2 weeks of traveling with our Airstream.  And most of the time we're glamping at campsites (side note: I got a request from a reader to do a post of my top glamping spots in California so that'll be up soonish), but we had a couple days in LA (which IMHO is the shopping mecca on the west coast).  I browsed around DTLA (downtown LA), which back when I was going to UCLA was deader than dead.  Now there's a ton of cool stores like Vrai and Oro at the ROW at DTLA and COS stores (the big sister to H&M).  And well of course if I'm looking, I'm going to be tempted to buy, and buy I did at both of those places (oh and at the new Bridge & Burn store in LA too).  I was especially guilty about buying stuff at COS since they're fast fashion and I was on track to a completely fast fashion-free year.  But I can no longer claim that prize.  Ah well, guess it just goes to show that I'm weak when it comes to clothes.  

On a related note, I'm really trying to view my collection of clothes and what I wear daily as just a facet of my self expression and not such a main focus of my life.  I want to do great things while looking stylish, I don't want to just look stylish (and by 'great things' I mean anything meaningful acts big or small).  And lately I feel like my clothes have been more of a focus than my actual actions, so I might take a step back and try to focus more on doing rather than accumulating.  If this sounds vague and confusing, it's probably because I don't feel very clear on it myself.  

Anyway two more months to go, and the most consumeristic time of the year so we'll see how I weather that.  Though come January I'm totally going to let myself try some new Elizabeth Suzann items since I've been dying to try them since month one!

Good West Co Bag Giveaway Winner is...

one of my vacay pics!

Sophia P!  Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and for Cheryl for reminding me to post this lol!  Sorry for the delay!  We've been on the road for the last couple of weeks and so as you can see my blog writing has fallen a bit by the wayside.  Anyway fresh reviews will be coming up very soon and another giveaway is already in the works.  So stay tuned for that!

MOO Custom Business Cards and Greeting Cards Review

*This is not a sponsored post and I purchased all cards with my own money.  

There are some things I use so often in my life that I forget how awesome it is and worthy of a review.  And Moo falls into this category.  We’ve been using Moo business cards for GoSilver and have re-ordered them multiple times.  Their business cards are made from high quality card stock and the photos printed on them are crisp and have beautiful colors.  I love that you can choose the specific shape, size and finish of your cards.  They even have recycled cotton cards (made from cotton tees) and fancy cards with gold imprints.  For our business we order cards with the rounded corners (because it loosely resembles the shape of an Airstream) with a matte finish.  But I have to say the best thing about these cards is that we can print out these beautiful photos of our Airstreams on one side (and you can do a variety of pictures in one order).

We also love it since the site is so easy to use.  Creating personal business cards is a cinch (lol, do people even say ‘cinch’ anymore these days?).  And you can keep all your projects saved so that when you run out, reordering is a breeze.  We loved our business cards so much that we also ordered greeting cards from them as well.  

And lastly their customer service is amazing.  When one of our orders never got delivered (even though it said it was delivered on the tracking), the people over at Moo expedited a replacement order with no questions asked!  

So if you're interested in getting some quality custom cards (and maybe even Christmas or other greeting cards) from Moo, use this referral link to get 20% off our first order (thank you for your support!). 

Everlane Review Modern Boyfriend Denim Jeans

Ok so I have to admit that as much as I love Everlane, I'm not in love with their new and much heralded denim collection.  First of all, I have way too many skinny jeans and I think in general I'm kind of over the skinny thing so I stayed away from that silhouette.  Currently I'm loving styles with looser or straight legs and that's why I love my Frame straight leg jeans and my Mott & Bow slim boyfriend jeans so much.  And I was hoping I would love Everlane's Modern Boyfriend jeans the same way, but to be honest I don't.  

For some reason the proportions don't seem right to me.  It could be my short legs, in which case I could just hem it and that might fix my dissatisfaction.  But my real qualm with these jeans is the crotch area.  For some reason it balloons out a bit and at the same time there's a V-fold right at the crotch.  And I'm pretty sure it's not a size issue since the jeans fit perfectly at the waist.  I also noticed the ballooning effect on Andrea and Jamie, which makes me think it's the jeans and not me.  I think it might be the 10" high-rise waist.

{Wearing: Petit Bateau striped top (similar here, Everlane one here), Everlane Modern Boyfriend denim, Everlane Modern loafer mules, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

Lol the thumbs up was me asking my husband if he liked the jeans.  

As for sizing, I went a size down for these Modern Boyfriends on the advice of other reviews.  I'm usually a size 28 or a 6-ish on the bottom, and I ordered these in a size 27.  Like I said the waist fits just right so I'm pretty sure I got the right size.  Since these jeans are made from 98% cotton and 2% elastane, there's minimal stretch going on.  So while these jeans fit well when standing, it does feel a tad constricting at my natural waist when I sit down, but I'm sure it'll stretch out a bit with wear.  

I'll try hemming these and we'll see if I like them better.  But at the moment I find myself reaching for my Mott & Bow jeans more.  Since the denim on both felt very similar I checked the specs and it looks like both brands use a 98% cotton and 2% elastane mix.  In general I like the mid-rise of the Mott & Bow jeans (reviewed here) and the slightly slimmer legs.  But we'll see, I'll update this review once I hem these Everlane jeans.

Did you guys buy the new Everlane denim and what do you think?

Plaine Products Review

*I purchased these items myself and this review is not sponsored, but this post contains affiliate links so if you do purchase I will be rewarded (I'm trying to earn enough so that I can purchase enough Plaine Products for my Airstreams!)

I first heard of Plaine Products from Leah over at StyleWise and since I was in the market for some sustainable and natural shampoo and conditioner I thought I might as well try them out.  During that time I also tried out Akamai products (review here) and the Plaine Products were the clear winner for me.  Here's why: the shampoo and conditioner didn't clog my pores (sometimes I get inflamed zits around my hair line with certain products) and it also calmed the crazy dandruff and inflamed scalp from a bad bleach job (remember that ugly yellow hair from last year)?  The fact that the products are sulfate-free, vegan and they have a zero-waste program that allows me to return empty bottles is just a bonus (ok a really big bonus, but really if the products were bad this bonus wouldn't make me want to re-buy it).  But luckily these products are awesome.  I'm already out of the shampoo and am currently waiting for it in the mail!

If you're interested, you can find the list of ingredients here.  As for the smell of the products, all three products smell to me 'minty-botanical' but it's a very mild scent (their bottles describe it as 'rosemary, mint, vanilla').  The shampoo and body wash are my favorite, while the conditioner is good but not the best I've tried (I guess I'm used to those really chemically-laden stuff that make your hair feel as soft as silk).  The conditioner consistency isn't super thick but at the same time my hair is now used to it and doesn't need those thick conditioners.  The shampoo, which I love, cleans my thin hair without stripping it of oils (in fact there are days I can use just the shampoo without the conditioner and my hair still feels rather soft, but I'm not sure if those with thick hair will have the same result).  The body wash is also really awesome and lathers easily.  But I like that all the products are color-safe for my dyed hair and again they don't break me out.  It's perfect for those with sensitive skin like me.

I love their stuff so much that as I mentioned above, I would love to be able to stock all our Airstreams at GoSilver with their products.  So if you do purchase through my referral links to Plaine Products, thank you so much for supporting my goal!  

Grana Review Poplin Drop Shoulder Shirt Dress

This has been the summer of finding great striped shirt dresses.  First Everlane came out with my all time favorite shirt dress, the Cotton Collarless Belted Shirt Dress (reviewed here).  And now Grana has come out with a new poplin shirt dress, which I also really love (and is their best shirt dress ever produced IMHO).  I know in some places it's quite late in the season to be talking about poplin, but I'm behind on my reviews so please excuse the less than ideal timing.  Anyway may I present to you Grana's poplin drop shoulder shirt dress!

{Wearing: Grana poplin drop shoulder shirt dress, M.Gemi The Docente, and Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

I'm wearing a small here and it fits perfectly.  I like the sleeve length but prefer to it roll up.  I also love that the back is longer than the front, to make the dress a bit more interesting.  The dress hangs away from the body so it's great for hotter temperatures.  The cotton material is soft and on the thin side (much thinner than the Everlane dress mentioned above).  The thin cotton material does wrinkle easily though, but it's not too noticeably because of the striped pattern.  

This dress reminds me of Everlane's cotton poplin shirt dress (reviewed here) and I'm wondering if Grana might be taking some styling cues from Everlane.  I have to say Grana's styles have improved in general.  Anyway if you're interested, you can get 10% off you first purchase with this link here and you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Everlane Review Cotton Long Sleeve V-Neck Crop

Hi guys, happy Wednesday!  So when I ordered Everlane's Cotton Long Sleeve Crew, which I reviewed last week (here), I also decided to try out their Cotton Long Sleeve V-neck Crop.  I usually like their cropped items better since I'm petite with short legs.  However I found their Crew Neck sweater to be slightly cropped and the perfect length, while this V-neck crop was a bit too cropped for me.  This cotton sweater probably would have looked better with Everlane's wide leg cropped pants (or another similarly high-waisted pants).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Long Sleeve V-Neck Crop, rag & bone cutoffs (similar here), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules, Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite}

In the Cotton Long Sleeve Crew review I had mentioned how soft and stretchy their cotton material is, and of course the same holds true for this sweater.  But that's the only thing I liked about this sweater.  I didn't like the cropped length on me nor the super wide v-neck.  Both aspects make it more difficult to layer something underneath.  In the end I returned this sweater and kept the crew neck one.

I'm debating on trying out Everlane's luxe wool crew sweater too since I really love the crew neck style and I've never tried their luxe wool (100% extrafine merino wool) before.  Has anyone bought one?  And what do you think?  Or did you guys buy their $100 cashmere?  This is my third season of Everlane cashmere and I'm debating whether I should buy another one.  If I do it would be this crew neck one in the donegal pattern (update: of course it's now all sold out in my size so maybe I'll pass on the cashmere this year afterall).

P.S. I actually just bought the waffled cashmere because it's a new offering from Everlane this year and because it's waffled cashmere!  I'll try to get a review up as soon as I get it, which will probably be in a couple weeks since I'm also hitting the road again in our Airstream this week for the next 2 weeks.  Follow along on my Insta-story to see all the places we go on our roadtrip!

Grana Review Silk Flat Front Ankle Pants and Grana has changed their silk!

So this might be old news for some of you (that Grana has changed the silk of most of their items).  But for those who don't know yet, Grana is now using 16mm crepe de chine silk which is 2mm thicker than their original 14mm crepe de chine.  BUT (and this is a big but here) they are no longer doing double layer silk.  So it might seem like one step forward but it's actually two steps back.  And the perfect example of this is what they did to my all time favorite Grana product: the silk ankle pants.  

So the original silk ankle pants (which they still have so go get those while they're still available!) is made of double layered 14mm silk.  I reviewed those pants here.  Now they have the new silk flat front ankle pants which are almost like the original in style, except they have a flat front. And they are made of a single layer of 16mm silk.  You can definitely tell the difference, the biggest one being that now you have very obvious VPL with the single layer flat front pants.  

Ok so not a flattering picture but just wanted to show proof of the VPL (though I'm sure most of you would have just gladly taken my word for it).  

{Wearing: Tradlands The Faroe top (reviewed here), Grana Flat Front Silk Ankle Pants, Everlane The Day Heel, and Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

On the positive side, I do like the cleaner look of the flat front pants (instead of the pleats of the old silk ankle pants).  They're able to achieve the flat front but keep the waist band elastic by having a non-stretchy flat waistband in the front.  In general, this does make the pants a bit more fitted and tight.

As for the silk material I can't tell the difference between the 14mm silk and the newer 16mm silk.  But I definitely miss that extra layer of silk.  I think my perfect pair of silk pants would be the styling of this flat front silk pants but in the double-layered silk.  And well I don't think that's going to happen because a reader had emailed Grana asking them why they went with a single layer for most of their new silk offerings.  They replied because now that they're using a thicker silk material it's adequate for a single later.  Eh, I don't think so Grana.  Until it goes back to double layered silk, I don't think I'll be purchasing any new silk items from Grana.

But if you want to purchase any of their remaining double silk items (check the 'Details & Care' section, it will tell you if it's double-layered or not) and you're a first time Grana customer you can 10% off your first purchase (referral link).  And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

Good West Co. Basket Tote Giveaway

{Wearing: Tradlands the Skipper top, Everlane wide leg crop pants, and Everlane day heel}

Hi guys so here's the giveaway I've been talking about!  I purchased this lovely Good West Co. Basket Tote from Amy, who hand makes them all in San Francisco.  I really love the look of this bag but have found that I never reach for it.  So I want to give it to a reader who can hopefully use it more than I have.  It's made from veg-tanned leather, which I've protected with Chamberlain's Leather Milk no. 3 (from this post), thus the slightly darker color than the one on the Good West Co. website.  But it's basically not used and has been sitting on my coat rack for the 9 months.

Anyway if you're interested in winning this beautiful bag just enter the form below (your email address is just so I can contact you if you win and I promise not to spam you).  Also this giveaway is not affiliated or sponsored by Good West Co.

Giveaway ends 10/31 and winner will be announced 11/1

Everlane Review Cotton Long Sleeve Crew {Updated November 2018}

I purchased this Everlane Cotton Long Sleeve Crew quite awhile ago, thus unfortunately most of the size and colors are currently gone (well this pink one is gone-gone but you can sign up for the waitlist on the other colors).  So I apologize for waiting so long to review this.  I've tried many Everlane sweaters over the years (just take a look at the sweater section of this post), and lately a lot of them have been a no-go for me.  But I do have to say this cotton long sleeve crew is one of my favorite sweater styles to come from Everlane, and it's because even though it doesn't look cropped on their website it actually is slightly.  It's the perfect length!  Also, the crew sweater isn't large and baggy unlike their Soft Cotton Square Crew (I've tried enough square styles from Everlane to know that it just doesn't do my petite frame any favors).  I really love the fitted and shorter length of this regular cotton crew (I'm wearing a size small here).

Wearing: Everlane cotton long sleeve crew, Coach belt (similar here), Mott & Bow jeans (reviewed here), Everlane Modern loafer mules, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)

Also the cotton material of this sweater is super soft and stretchy.  It almost seems too stretchy so I'm sure that's why they recommend hand-washing and laying flat to dry.  And come to think of it, this is probably the softest cotton sweater I've tried from Everlane so far (of course their cashmere is the softest sweater).

This cotton sweater is the perfect transitional piece between seasons, and though this pink color probably works better for spring rather than fall I don't mind.  When the temperatures start falling, I look forward to layering this under a bomber jacket, which I'll be able to do because of the slightly cropped length.  I love it so much I'm thinking of getting it again in the khaki green color when it restocks (in Feb!).  But until then I'll cherish this pink one I have.  

You can find all my other unsponsored Everlane reviews here and first-time Everlane customers can support me by purchasing through my link here (thank you!).

Feb 2018 update: They're back guys after being gone all winter!  I just purchased the khaki one and the navy/white striped one.  The khaki one isn't here yet but the I've been wearing the navy/white striped one and it's bigger than this pink one even though they're both smalls.  The new cotton sweaters are slightly more oversized than the original.  I could never wear this pink one with low rise jeans since it'll show my midriff but this navy/white one doesn't

Also I'm going to have to say I can't attest to the quality of these sweaters.  This is all the loose threads after several months of light wear:

I swear I'm not like brushing up again barb wire or anything.  This is from usual wear and tear but I think the cotton threads on these might not be the best quality. 

Anyway we'll see how this navy/white striped one fares but I just wanted to give y'all the full picture here.  Anyone else have issues with these cotton long sleeve crews?

{Nov update: So I ended up donating this sweater because I couldn’t handle all the loose threads and purchased the navy/white one, which I did a separate review of here because it was a totally different sweater. Same name but different in size, shape, and quality. The second batch was made much better and I haven’t had any quality issues with it. This is the batch that is currently on sale here.}

Shopping Ban Update for August and September & Giveaway Etiquette Questions

wearing Everlane Modern Oxfords

It's almost mid-October, which means this horrific year is slowly coming to a close.  I pray that we can ride out the rest of this year sans any more tragedies.  On a much more frivolous note, this also means this silly little shopping ban of mine is almost over.  TBH I've been so busy in August and September that I haven't had much time to go shopping!  No time?  No temptations!  (Well I went once to a mall to pick up some AirPods and though I was tempted by some sales, I was able to resist.  And speaking of these AirPods, they are amazing!  Finally some bluetooth wireless earphones that work seamlessly and also don't fall out of my ear.) 

I have, though inadvertently accumulated a lot of new clothes from all the reviews I've done.  I need to do a closet clean out and sale but again, no time.  I'll probably get some kind of sale up over the Fall (or later in the Fall, possibly winter if I can't get my act together).  Also I plan to do some giveaways but let me ask you this: is it rude to give away slightly used items like this Good West Co bag that, truth be told, have only been used with my outfit shots and a post about leather cleaners?  I do think this is a really lovely bag with gorgeous leather (and handmade in San Francisco by a really wonderful woman who I've met!), but it just doesn't get used since I have too many other bags.  I could try to sell it online, but I much rather give it to a reader.  What do you think?  

Prepare yourself!

source

Lately I feel like I've become disaster-numb (or maybe just desensitized). I'm so overwhelmed with all that's going on in the world that I rather put on blinders, like the kind horses wear, and just focus on my own issues.  But what kind of way is that to live?  I donated some money to the Red Cross (I mean that's the least I can do), but somehow it doesn't feel enough.  Side note: how depressing is it when you go to the Red Cross donation page and there's a drop down menu of all the disasters you can donate to.  Is that going to be the norm now with climate change?

Anyway sorry to be Debbie Downer this morning, but I bring this all up because while I feel pretty powerless to impact any meaningful change in the lives of the hurricane victims, it has also made me want to prepare for any possible disaster that could come my way.  When I was working for Los Angeles County we used to have earthquake drills and they emphasized the importance of an emergency supply kit (which you need to have at home, work, and in your car).  So before I go on writing more reviews of possible clothes to buy (which let's be honest, we all really don't need more of), please instead buy or source these items and make an emergency supply kit:

*kit list obtained from this government source with added Amazon links (some affiliate, not all) to make for easier purchasing

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation (and I personally would think it might be best to pack a small bottle of household bleach to sanitize water for dire situations, or funnel some bleach into a smaller droplet bottle for easy packing but just dilute it so that there's no possibility of it reacting with plastic)
• Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert (this one has solar charging options, battery options, along with a hand crank, plus a flashlight, USB charging port to charge your phone, and it's the highest rated one on Amazon.)
• Flashlight (the radio above has a flashlight attached so I would consider this optional or add extras for additional family members)
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries (AA, AAA, D)
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
• (not on their list but I would add hand sanitizer, right?)

That's the basic list.  Here's additional items you might also need:

• Prescription medications
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
• Glasses and contact lense solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container (I would add this to my basic kit for sure)
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

It may seem like a hassle to get all of this ready and then to have multiples for 3 different locations (and TBH I only have one of these kits so far).  But your future self might greatly thank you someday.

And in the meantime, I'm also getting a closet sale together with all proceeds going to benefit hurricane victims, but I'll let you know when I've set it all up!

SiZUU Review The V-Neck Tee {Updated March 2018}

*I received this item free to review and thus this is a kind of sponsored post

So I have this one friend, Vickie (hi Vickie if you're reading this lol) who I consider to be the stylish one (you might see her corgi puppy on my Insta stories from time to time).  She has a closet to die for and actually she's the one that put the idea of blogging into my head.  Anyway I tell you this, because whenever Vickie notices one of the many items I review, I know it's a good one.  She doesn't do it very often so whenever she does, it's a keeper.  And well, she noticed this drapey v-neck tee from SiiZU.  

This tee is 100% modal, which is a first for me.  If you're not familiar with the material, it's made from beech fiber and it's eco-friendly since a lot of the chemicals used in the process can be recycled and reused.  There's a super brief explanation here from SiiZU and a more comprehensive one here.  Modal is considered a semi-synthetic.  Most of my tees are 100% cotton so it's really nice to change it up with a tee that has some drapey-ness to it.  The material is super soft but thin (in some pictures you can kind of see the outline of my bra).  In this black color it's not really noticeable.  

{Wearing: SiiZU v-neck tee, Coach belt (similar here), Mott & Bow jeans (reviewed here), Everlane modern loafer mules (reviewed here), Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Universite bag (reviewed here)}

I'm wearing a size small here and it fits perfectly.  I love the sleeve length and its slightly dolman shape.  There was however a slight chemical smell to it when I first tried it on but went away with washing (make sure to machine wash cold and lay flat to dry).

Anyways if you're interested you can find this tee here and my other SiiZU review here!

March 2018 update: I have to admit I did not wear this tee after this review and this fell under the "worst" category in this blog post about the best and worst things I got for free to review.  I will have to say, do not buy this tee unless you don't mind synthetic fabrics like modal.

Some real talk about sponsored posts

So let me just start off by saying the words 'real talk' coming from a blogger is a bit of a pet peeve of mine.  Because really it should all be real talk (ie real opinions, the truth, etc.).  There's just some real talk that's more frivolous than other topics (for example clothing reviews vs. other serious topics, which I rarely discuss on this blog because if you want to depress yourself go read the news.  You come here for a brief respite from the news, amirite?)  So this is the only time you will ever see the words 'real talk' on my blog because friends, it's all real here.

So let's then talk about sponsored posts.  Earlier this summer I wrote this post asking if gifted items would constitute a sponsored post.  I was seeing conflicting messages across blogs, with some bloggers saying a gifted item isn't a sponsored post.  But that didn't quite feel right for me since 99% (well more like 95% now) of my reviews are unsponsored, where I purchased items with my own money or from earned credit.  So to get an item completely free out of the blue, well those items have strings or expectations attached.  And that's different from the items I don't get for free.

But I think I've figured it out guys: it all depends on the blogger (well, duh you might say).  But really, I pride myself on my honesty and I try my very best to limit bias whenever I can (due to two years of studying Epidemiology where bias and confounding were our bread and butter of analysis).  And for me, having a point person from a brand checking-up on me with expectations means I'm going to have bias in my reviews. I can see the good and bad in every garment I review, and TBH I'm probably accentuating the positive in sponsored reviews (I mean how can I not, for one I got it for $0 and two I have someone from the brand reading and 'checking' my writing).  There might be other bloggers who can keep the bias out of their reviews and say that bad along with the good, but if I being honest with myself I have a hard time saying something bad about a gifted item.

So you've probably seen it but I've decided the best disclaimer to work for me is to say that a review on a gifted item is a type of sponsored post.  That's the truth that feels the most honest to me.

Everlane Review The Cotton Two-Pocket Shirt

It is a very very rare occasion that I love something from Everlane so much that I've purchased a duplicate.  I've only done it once before and it was for their linen dolman tee dress (reviewed here, no longer sold), which I only repurchased because it was on a 'choose your price' sale {and I'm so glad that I did since I accidentally put the first one in the dryer and it shrunk}.  Well here's repurchase number two: Everlane's cotton two-pocket shirt.  I bought one in black and another one in ochre (and now that I look they no longer have the black one).  

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Two-Pocket Shirt, Marine Layer denim skirt (similar here), Everlane modern loafer mules (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 bag (similar here)}

I have been looking for a shirt like this all summer for work.  As you know, I work in a large garage (with Airstreams) and am frequently outside.  And during the summer months I need a cover-up that I can quickly put on to cover my arms from the harsh San Jose sun.  But I also want it to be lightweight and not too close to the body.  It's as if Everlane read my mind because not only does this cotton button-up drape away from the body but it also has two large pockets to hold all the things I need while working (usually a pen, a walkie-talkie, and other odds and ends).  Above is how I styled the shirt before heading out for a casual dinner.  Below is a picture of me after a long day driving Airstreams up to Sebastopol and setting them up for a wedding delivery (this is how I really look 90% of the time).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Two Pocket Shirt, rag & bone denim shorts (similar here), Adidas Adilette Cloudform slides (similar here), Hermes Lindy 30 bag (similar here)}

Not the best outfit photo but I just wanted to show you guys how I really wear it all the time.  Also a note on sizing, I went with a size 2 (my usual everlane size is 4) since this shirt looked so oversized and I didn't want to be really swimming in it.  It works well except maybe the sleeve length is a touch short but I don't mind since I usually roll them up anyway.  You definitaely want to size down with this shirt, but it also looks like there's not a whole lot of sizes left.

As usual this review is not sponsored but first time customers can support me by buying through my referral link (thanks!) and you can find all my other Everlane reviews here.

Tradlands Review The Skipper {Updated March 2018}

*I received this item as a gift to review from Tradlands and thus this is a type of sponsored post

'alright 'alright 'alright (said with Matthew McConaughey's voice in mind).

via GIPHY

Lol, ok so I'm not quite sure why this popped into my head for this review but I'm going with it (it was either this or the millennial "OKOKOK").  I guess it just sums up how I feel about this whole outfit and especially this Tradlands button-up that they affectionately named The Skipper.  Now Tradlands are known for their excellent button-up shirts, made ethically and with women in mind (no gap between the buttons at the chest area--though TBH I don't have too much of an issue with this normally since my chest area is quite minimal, lol).  So of course I had to try one of their button-downs.  I was drawn to this one since it reminded me of Aloha shirts from my childhood (also known as a Hawaiian shirt but locals never use that term, just the tourists).  Though this one from Tradlands looks more like an Aloha shirt, but I'm not one to wear big florals.  I prefer the subtle yet playful print of the sailboats on this shirt.

{Wearing: Tradlands' The Skipper, Everlane Wide Leg Crop Pants (I got a new pair sized down and it fits much better, but now I just have to get it hemmed again), Everlane The Day Heel, Good West Co bag}

But that's not even the best thing about The Skipper (lol that's fun to say and reminds me of Gilligan's Island, which I used to watch all the time on Nick at Nite).  Anyway the best thing is that this shirt is soooooo soft.  Probably one of the softest cotton button-ups I've ever tried.  It feels like a vintage button-up that used to be my mother's and was handed down to me.  It's hard to believe it's a brand new shirt.

I'm wearing a small here and I love the fit.  The rest of the shirt is quite slim (much like The Faroe was), and so it's easy to tuck in.  And yep even if it's fitted, true to their word, the shirt has no boob gaps.  I know people are already getting ready for fall (and the temps have cooled down in Cali for now), but I have a 'luau' to go to in October where I'm planning to wear this.  And I'll probably be layering this with some sweaters so even though it's a late season acquisition, I think I'll be getting some mileage out of it yet.

March 2018 update: I still love this shirt and it fell under the "best" category in this post about the best and worst items I received free for review.

SiiZU Review The Hella Top {Updated March 2018}

*I received this item free as a gift and thus this is a kind of sponsored post

Hi guys, so I'm super excited to share with you guys another ethical brand that focuses on organic fabrics and sustainable production methods: SiiZU!  I originally heard of them through Andrea so when they contacted me asking if I was interested in reviewing their stuff I was totally onboard.  Andrea goes over a lot about their ethical production practices and sourcing of only 100% natural fabrics, but if you want all the details you can find it on their page here. 

What I really love about SiiZU is that for a company that focuses on the ethical production of clothes, their garments are not granola!  They have a style completely different from a lot of the other ethical clothing brands, which IMHO usually range from granola/hippie to (at the chicest level) a 'Gentlewoman' sort of style (Everlane fits in here), or just minimal basics (like Grana).  But I find SiiZU's style to be a bit more on the trendy side, and that's probably because they're based in NYC.  And I think this Hella Top is the epitome of a non-granola garment (and I love that it's still made from 100% organic cotton).  If you think you can't get a good-looking ethically made trendy ruffled top, then SiiZU has just proved you wrong.

{Wearing: Hella Top from SiiZU, Everlane Ponte tube skirt (review here), Everlane Day Heel (review here), Hermes Lindy 30 bag (similar here)}

Now if I worked in an office, this is totally what I would wear.  And surprisingly, my whole outfit above can be considered ethically made from the SiiZU top to the Everlane skirt and shoes, and with my used Hermes bag.  Of course, there's shades of ethical clothing and some might not consider the leather products ethical or sustainable, but at the very least this is not a fast fashion outfit.  And I love that it looks so chic!

So a little bit more about this Hella top.  I'm wearing a size small here and it's a perfect fit.  I think it looks best tucked in since this top is so voluminous (I think a slim bottom half is the right proportion here, thus I paired it with Everlane's tube skirt).  And I just love how the ruffles in the back hit right at the high waistline.  Also I didn't experience any boob gap with this button-up (though I'm small busted so I don't have as much of a problem with this usually).  Seriously I've been trying to find an ethically produced ruffled top and I could not have found a better one!  

Anyway if you're looking for chic and stylish ethically and sustainably produced clothes, go check out SiiZU!

March 2018 update: I have to admit I only wore this one more time after this review and this item fell under the "worst" category in this blog post about the best and worst items I received for free to review.  I have to say that SiiZu is not a brand that works for me personally.  I don't think their garments are of a high quality and something I would wear consistently.

Tradlands Review The Faroe {updated March 2018}

* I received this item free as a gift to review from Tradlands so this is a kind of sponsored post

** This also means I've finally 'made it' as a legit blogger because I have the utmost respect for all the bloggers Tradlands chooses to sponsor including Andrea and Grechen!

So right before I left for Burning Man I got two offers of free items to review and feature on my blog (so you can understand why I was in full commodification mode).  But man oh man I was super excited when Tradlands asked me if I wanted to review a couple of their items because like I stated above, I really love all the bloggers Tradlands partners with and I felt so honored to be asked.  {And if you're not familiar with Tradlands, they're an awesome company that makes clothing ethically and sustainably.  You can read more about this slow fashion brand here.}

As soon as I hopped over to their site, I knew which item I really wanted to review, and it's this Faroe linen top in a light indigo color.  I just love linen for the summer and I really like the casual yet sophisticated cut of the top.  The sleeves are the perfect length to hide my farmer tan and I love the slim silhouette of the rest of the top.  I'm wearing a small.  The length is a bit long for my 5'4" frame, but I like the tunic-y look here (also it's hiding some major VPL going on with these new Grana flat front silk ankle pants--review coming soon).

{Wearing: Tradlands Faroe top, Grana silk flat front ankle pants, Everlane Day Heel and Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

As you know I love to compare fabrics between brands and this year I've tried a lot of linen items, so I feel fairly qualified to give you my linen quality rankings.  My all-time favorite is still Elizabeth Suzann's linen (reviewed their Georgia Tee here), but I have to say Tradlands comes in second, followed by Everlane and then Grana linen.  The Tradlands linen is super thick and feels really durable, but also smooth and not too scratchy.  It's not quite soft, but I think that's going to come with time and multiple washings (and I'll be sure to update these rankings if they change after washing this Tradlands top a couple times).

Right now California is still hot as heck so I'll be wearing this for at least a couple more weeks if not more.  But this is definitely one of my top favorite linen tops I've tried this year and right now it's on sale (in fact their whole clearance section looks super awesome).  

Update: I washed this shirt and it came out super stiff (seriously like cardboard).  I think it might be my least favorite linen item.  I've never had a linen item like this before and I am qualifying my review by saying buyer beware on this one.

March 2018 update: Because of the reason stated above, this specific item for Tradlands has fallen under the "worst" category in this blog post about the best and worst items I received free for review.