I finally did it!

The pie I've been obsessed with all week

Hi guys, so there have been a couple of you asking for an email subscription option for the blog (as in, whenever there's a new post out, it goes directly to your email inbox).  And well it took me several months but I finally sat down and figured it out.  I'm technically a millennial so I should know how to do these kinds of things, but man it was pretty technical and I hit some roadblocks. But anyways, it's up!  So if you would like to get an email every time there's a new post (usually Mon, Wed, Fri) please subscribe below.  Cross my fingers this thing actually works out (and please let me know if it doesn't, thanks!).

P.S. I know other bloggers are talking about sales too but seriously, this is probably the best time to try out stuff you've been eyeing.  I just purchased a bunch of ethical undies at PACT (trying them out for the first time).  Grana is also having a 20% off sale until November 30th!

Grana Review Silk Drop Shoulder Tee

First off, I just want to say please excuse these crappy photos of the crystal-clear lake behind me but of blurry me.  I just like the lake scene behind me so much (and am a lazy blogger and don't want to reshoot these outfit photos, lol).  As you can tell, this was taken back when I was still on my road trip. This probably doesn't look like the best outfit for lake-side glamping, but we were actually on our way to do some wine-tasting (and I threw on the Grana silk blazer later, which I reviewed here).

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Grana recently changed their silk so that they no longer do double silk (boo) so I'm not planning to review too many more new silk items.  But I ordered this along with the silk flat front pants to get an idea of their new silk selections.  And I have to say I don't hate this silk tee.  In fact, I think it's one of my favorite silk tees I've ever tried (and let me qualify this by saying I don't actually try out a whole lot of silk tees because really it's not my thing.  I prefer all my tees to be cotton).  What do you think?

{Wearing: Grana silk tee, Frame denim (similar here), Everlane Day Heels, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

I'm wearing a small here and I really like the fit.  It's loose but not oversized.  What I love most about this tee is that the thicker georgette satin is on the top half while their 16mm crepe de chine is on the lower half of the tee.  It's like color-blocking but instead it's really texture-blocking.  The two different textures keeps the tee interesting, while at the same time the thicker satin on top keeps you from seeing the outline of your bra (which happens to me quite often with regular crepe de chine silk tops).  And by keeping the crepe de chine on the bottom half of the tee, it drapes really well at the hips and you can easily tuck in the tee.  I also really love the sleeve length and the fact it hides my flabby chicken wings (triceps) well.

I wasn't expecting to like any more of Grana's silk items since they changed it up, but I really do love this tee.  For $65 it's a bit pricey but it's also 100% silk so that's understandable.  If you're interested, first time Grana customers can get 10% off their purchase with this link and you can find all my other Grana reviews here.

How To Buy Authentic Luxury Bags Used {updated April 2019}

Chanel purse purchased from Fashiophile, one of my oldest purchases from 2013

{May 2020 Update: I’ve written an updated post called Tips for Buying an Used Luxury Bag. It’s a bit different from this one so check it out if you’re interested.}

If you've been a long time reader or follow my Instagram, you know that I'm a huge fan of used/secondhand/preowned designer bags and watches (actually I'm a fan of used clothes too, but I already talked about that when I wrote up my guide to thrift shopping here).  But today I'm focusing on purchasing preowned designer accessories.

Celine wallet purchased from Fashionphile

I've always loved designer accessories, especially handbags.  I don't know why but ever since my first coach wristlet in high school, I can't get enough.  My mother, who always views my expensive handbag purchases as a waste of money, can't understand it and thinks I'm just trying to show-off.  But I really don't feel that way.  I just love beautifully made handbags (they're like works of art!) and they are the perfect finishing touch on an otherwise simple outfit (the kind of outfits I like the most).  Plus rather than buying a $100-$300 handbag that I wouldn't be able to resell for any kind of return, I buy $1000 handbags that I can resell for almost as much (and well if I buy it used, I usually pay less so that when I resell it, I rarely lose money).  So if I'm being smart about it, I actually lose less money on a more expensive handbag and there is always someone willing to buy it from me.  And on occasion I sometimes make money.

I'm sure not everyone shares my love of bags, but for those who do, my secret to my handbag "collection" is that it's predominately secondhand and it's always evolving so that the actual number of purses in my possession at any one time is manageable.  And I'm always quick to sell a bag (usually on eBay) once I find that I'm not using it as much as my other bags.  

Anyway here are the two ways I buy secondhand designer handbags:

1) eBay: my go-to place to sell and my former go-to place to buy.  I no longer really buy from eBay anymore because there are just SO MANY fakes in the world these days.  When I did buy from eBay, I made sure that A) the seller is legit {usually indicated by a massive amount of positive feedback and also you can sometimes find threads on the PurseForum of legit eBay sellers} , B) I always double-checked with the authenticators on the PurseForum {go to the specific brand you're buying and find the "Authenticate This" thread}.  I used to buy Chanels on eBay and would use Etinceler Authentications to ensure those really high ticket items were legit.  They cost money, but they know their Chanels and trust me, it's worth the peace of mind.  (Another one I've heard of but have never personally used is called Authenticate4u.com).  {update: I just used Bababebi.com to authenticate a pre-owned Hermes purchase and found her services to be quick and professional.  Since it's not listed on her site, I'll let you know here that it's $65 for an email authentication and $80 for a certificate of authentication.  She is the main authenticator on the Hermes thread so if you're ever in doubt about an Hermes purchase and can't get it authenticated on the Purse Forum (I've noticed they're kind of cracking down on authentication abuse), then it's very much worth it to get your expensive Hermes purchases authenticated with her.}

Balenciaga Work Bag from Fashionphile

2) Fashionphile: I know I've talked about this site already, but really I love their service and their commitment to authentic items.  I also love the fact that every single bag in their inventory goes through a rigorous authentication process. Not to say Fashionphile sometimes doesn't get fooled by fakes, but their return policy is more than generous (free returns as long as the tag is still attached and up to 30 days).  I once bought an Hermes wallet that seemed a little fishy to me, and since that was my first impression I just returned it.  I mean if I don't feel like it's authentic (even if it might be real), I might as well return it. The return policy is also key when you realize that the purse is just too used for your liking (for the most part Fashionphile's descriptions are very accurate and many times I find the quality better than described, but sometimes you just don't realize how bad of a perfume odor is on a bag until you get it).  Also Fashionphile has been around for a long time with a great clientele of sellers as well as buyers. Neiman Marcus also recently invested in them so you know they’re legit!  On top of all that, if you buy a bag from them but realize in 6 months that the bag is not for you, they have a BuyBack program which will give you 70% of the item's purchase price.  This is a great option for those who don't resell on other platforms.  I've done this before with a couple of my purses, though to be honest I love most of the items I've purchased from them and thus didn't want to sell it back after just 6 months.  Of course all of this good stuff does come with a price: Fashionphile's prices are higher than what you would find on eBay.  But in return, you can count on getting authentic designer items that you will love (and you don't have to do all the legwork yourself to confirm authenticity).  {Also I should note that when I bought my Cartier watch from Fashionphile, they were still using an outside authentication expert, WatchFacts, and they would be a good source to authenticate any expensive used watch you might buy elsewhere).  

My latest purchase from Fashionphile, Hermes Lindy 30 and Hermes twilly

Oh and another thing about Fashionphile, you can keep track of your favorites by clicking on the heart icon.  And sometimes when you miss out on a purse, but the buyer decides to sell it back to Fashionphile after 6 months, the bag automatically is included on your favorites list again.  Also, for the most part I purchase my bags from fashionphile when it's 10%-30% off their already discounted prices by waiting for the markdowns (the date of which is conveniently shown to you once you favorite an item).  And their last call section (which are items discounted more than 30%) has some really really good deals!

Anyways I know designer handbags are not for everyone, but for me I just can't seem to quit them. So I might as well buy them used, since not only is it good for the environment but also for my wallet. 

{Update: And if you want to know what it’s like to sell with Fashionphile, you can read all about my experience here.}

Everlane Review The Italian GoWeave Easy Pant

When I saw these Everlane GoWeave Easy Pants I immediately thought of my favorite Grana silk ankle pants (reviewed here) since they both have that easy silhouette and that ever-expanding elastic waistband perfect for the buffet line.  I decided to order a pair in what's quickly becoming my go to color of this season, navy (get ready for lots and lots of navy folks).  

First a note on sizing: I ordered a size 4, which is the smaller of my two usual sizes (I'm usually between a 4 and 6 on the bottom).  And the 4 fit perfectly.  The pants fit just right at the hips and waist with some room to spare.  So these definitely run a tad large.  Of course the pants were a tad long for my short legs (I'm 5'4" but my legs are more like that of a person who's 5'1").  What do you think? 

{Wearing: Everlane waffle knit cashmere square crew (reviewed here), Everlane GoWeave Easy Pant, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here).}

I don't think it looks bad at all.  And if I worked at an office I would most likely have kept the pants and worn them often.  But since I work in a garage, the most practical pair of pants for me are jeans (especially since these easy pants are dry clean only, which is not so easy IMHO).  Also these pants are 100% wool so they'd be better suited for those AC-blasting offices.  

I have to say, of all the various GoWeave trousers I've tried from Everlane (like this one and this one), these are the clear winner.  Also I only just recently noticed but there's a big difference between Everlane's Japanese GoWeave (made from triacetate) and their Italian GoWeave (made from 100% wool).  Also the Japanese GoWeave should be hand-washed and not dry cleaned while the Italian versions are dry clean only.  Oh and just to note, if you're sensitive about itchiness from 100% wool items, then these might not be for you since there is a very slight itch to these pants.

Overall I'm really loving this head-to-toe Everlane office look, and I think Everlane is really stepping up their design game (quite possibly because of the former Creative Director for COS, Erica Bay who unfortunately left the company in February of this year.  But that's more than enough time for her to have put some good designs into the works for Everlane).

Anyway if you're an office worker looking for something easy (but don't mind dry-cleaning), then these pants might be for you!  And you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here.

Damsel x Adina Reyter Bezel Lariat Giveaway

You're a blog reader, I'm a blog reader, and like many who read blogs I sometimes get carried away consumeristically (made-up word, I know) when my favorite blogger features cool stuff (I find this to be especially true during the holiday 'buy buy buy' season).  And well sometimes I love something on the blogger but not on myself.  Case in point, this necklace which was made in collaboration with one of my favorite bloggers, Damsel in Dior.  

This is a beautiful necklace but I find it doesn't really fit my style very well.  I think it might be a bit too sexy for my simple and tomboyish taste.  Plus to be honest I find myself having to untangle this necklace from time to time and that's just too much upkeep for me.  So I've decided to do another giveaway so that one lucky winner can win this 14k gold (not gold-filled) and white sapphire lariat necklace.  You can read all the details about this necklace here (which is sold out).  As you can see from the website, this retailed for $398 so at the very least if you win it and don't want it, feel free to pawn it!

To enter, fill out the form below and follow me on Instagram at temporaryhousewifey (I feel like I should at least try to make you guys work for it, lol).  If you already follow me on Insta, awesome (and you don't need to do anything else)!

Giveaway ends 11/27 and winner will be announced 11/28.  This giveaway is not sponsored nor affiliated with Damsel in Dior or Adina Reyter.  Contest is open internationally (though no guarantees on safe delivery and delivery time since I'll just be using good ole' USPS).

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.