is Madeline! You've been emailed your $50 gift card. And thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway (and also thank again to everyone who filled out my survey!).
Blog
Moving from conspicuous to conscious consumption and doing reviews along the way. Find plenty of unsponsored reviews of Quince, Everlane, Grana, and Cuyana on the site! I'm working towards a minimal waste lifestyle, and oh yea I love bags >.<
Everlane Review Wool-Cashmere Waffle Square Crew Sweater and Mid-Rise Skinny Ankle Jean
Hello and welcome to the first Everlane review of 2018! I rarely combine multiple items in a review but I think I'll save you and I a little time but starting to do combos when necessary (especially for Everlane items because TBH I'm ready to start reviewing other ethical brands).
So first off, this foldover crossbody, also from Everlane, is new to me but I have purchased and reviewed this purse in the past (review here). But I returned it since the natural leather color, though gorgeous, was a bit to fragile for my liking. So when I saw Everlane release it in this new beautiful burgundy/oxblood color, I knew this was the purse I was waiting for!
{Wearing: Everlane wool cashmere waffle square crew, Everlane mid-rise skinny jean, Everlane modern points, Everlane foldover cross body}
Ok now onto the new stuff. So first up is Everlane's wool-cashmere waffle square crew, which I got in XS (this is a size smaller than my usual Everlane size). I decided to go with the smaller size since the sweater looked quite bulky on the model on the website. And even with the XS sizing, the sweater felt big and puffy on me (and frankly felt unflattering). Also something about the collar made me think of a clown collar. But on Instagram a lot of you actually liked the look of the sweater:
This was one of the few times I think my opinion deviated from you insta peeps. And I was torn about keeping it or sending it back, but in the end I didn't love it so back it went (I try my best to follow my rule of don't love it, don't keep it). Also the sweater wasn't as comfortable as my favorite Everlane wool-cashmere sweater from last year (the one that made it on my Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post). The neck was a bit itchy on this new one and I wonder if it's because they added nylon to the fibers to the trimmings (I'm assuming neckline, hem and sleeves) this year. Either way I'll be sticking with last year's wool cashmere sweater since it's still got plenty of life left!
I also decided to try out Everlane's mid-rise skinny ankle jeans even though I've sworn off buying any more skinny jeans for the time being. But I guess I drank too much of the Everlane kool-aid and felt like I needed to at least give them a shot. Well I gave them a shot and promptly returned them (yep, just reaffirming my need to stop buying skinny jeans). I got them in my regular size (28) and found they fit TTS. The ankle length was perfect for my 5'4" frame. If you're in the market for a pair of skinny jeans, these Everlane ones are not a bad place to start.
Oh and I also found that at least initially these black jeans are a lot stiffer than their modern boyfriend jeans in mid-blue (which I reviewed here). It's probably the copious amounts of dye needed to get this jet black color that stiffens the denim. Anyway I think I'll stick with my decidedly un-skinny Frame denim and Mott & Bow pair that I'm constantly rotating (seriously I'm only rotating between 3 pairs of pants currently and am debating on selling all my other pairs since I'm not wearing them).
Anyway as usual you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here and if you're a first time Everlane buyer I would greatly appreciate your support by purchasing through my referral link here!
P.S. Speaking of the Everlane kool-aid, there's one blogger who's definitely not drinking it anymore. Grechen certainly gave me some food for thought on her post here!
Happy MLK, Jr. Day!
For those of you in the U.S. with the day off, Happy MLK, Jr. Day. To be honest I never really took the time to celebrate this day before, and in the past just treated it as a lucky day off. But at a time when many people in the U.S. are made to feel like second-class citizens (like the whole population of Puerto Rico) and African Americans are still discriminated and shot at by our own police, I feel it especially important to remember of all that MLK, Jr. stood for and how he got his social progress.
So in celebration of the day and the man, may I suggest watching David Letterman's Netflix Special, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, featuring a great interview with Barack Obama. Also learn a little bit more about MLK, Jr. himself here.
Cuyana Review: Le Sud Leather Travel Bag {Updated August 2021}
*This is not a sponsored review and I paid for this myself
I've had this Cuyana Le Sud Leather Travel bag for some time now but I really wanted to put it through its paces before giving a review here. But having traveled with it to Tahoe, LA and Hawaii I feel like I can give a fair review now.
First off this design comes in two sizes. This larger travel bag size and a smaller Le Sud Leather Satchel size. This larger one goes for $375 while the smaller one retails for $295. Just make sure if you order this, you order the right one since in stand alone pictures they look identical.
So what I love about this travel bag:
- There are a ton of pockets inside the bag (which is lined with black cotton canvas). There's a slot for your laptop and then there's two big zippered pockets. On the outside there's a pocket that closes with a magnet which I slide my phone into for easy access.
- This bag measures 13 in. x 18 in. x 7.5-9in (9 at top, 7.5 at base) so it's a large bag and it can fit a lot! When coming back from Hawaii I had to let out the top (by unbuckling the side straps) and even though it didn't look as chic, it did the job of holding all my extra stuff
- The leather isn't too heavy
- The short straps were long enough to put over my shoulder (though the long strap was pretty useless when the bag was heavy)
What I didn't like about the bag:
- For the price point and what Cuyana stands for, this bag did not feel luxe. The pebble leather is probably very durable for traveling but the texture was rubbery and it wrinkled like in the picture above. TBH it looked like cheaply made-in-China leather.
- The way it slouched over my suitcase was not cute. I wish it came with horizontal straps on the other side so I could slide it over the handles of my suitcase. Then I didn't have to use the straps to hold it into place. Also if the bag was even slightly off centered, the bag would fall off the top and then start dragging on the floor while still hooked onto the handles. For $375 I would hope for more on my travel bag.
- The zippers were rough and jaggedy so I had to be careful when taking things in and out of the bag and pockets.
So the big question, would I buy this again? Nope. For the price I would want a better travel bag. Something chic, durable, but also more functional and luxe feeling. Ah well, I'll be using it until I find something better but for now it will do.
To be honest, I'm actually over Cuyana. I know they have a good message and are supposed to feel luxurious but their products haven't really stood up to scrutiny these days (like their linen top I reviewed this past summer). Everlane's leather goods feel more luxe and they're at a lower price point.
Anyone have any suggestions for travel bags that they swear by?
{August 2021 update: I sold this bag awhile ago and I just wanted to let you know the best travel bag I’ve found so far is Everlane’s Renew Transit Weekender. It’s lightweight, very durable, and can be easily organized. I love it! I’ve also come to realise that all-leather bags aren’t great for traveling—they’re just too heavy.}
Thank You Giveaway {now closed}
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took my little survey. I got way more responses than I expected (so it's going to take me awhile to organize all the data). But hopefully I can start implementing some changes and write more posts that you guys are interested in. Anyway as a thank you, I wanted to do a short giveaway for a $50 Everlane (digital) gift card. About 90% of you guys said that you enjoy reading my Everlane reviews here so I figured it would be a useful prize to win. To enter just fill out the form below.
Giveaway will end on 1/16 and winner announced 1/17. And no you don't have to have done the survey to enter, but it's not too late to add your own thoughts about the blog here.
Unsponsored PACT Organic Cotton Underwear Review {Updated July 2020}
lol you'll never see me up here in my undies so here's the picture of the model
*This is an unsponsored review and I purchased these items myself
I apologize if this is TMI, but I've been wearing the same undies from Victoria Secret since my college days (um over a decade now). Some of them have holes in them and some have period stains (too much?), so I finally decided I needed to be an adult and replace them. And PACT apparel, with their GOTS and Fair Trade certifications and use of organic cotton, has been on my radar for some time. When their Black Friday Sale came around I jumped at the chance of getting their 2-pack undies for $10 (normally $23). I tried out their classic bikini and their lace waist brief. The punchline of this review: I loved them both and can't wait to slowly convert my whole underwear drawer to PACT!
I purchased all my underwear in medium since that is the size I wore for my Victoria's Secret undies (I'm usually between a size 4-6 in pants, currently a 6 lol). But I found the medium for PACT is larger than for VS, so these undies have a bit of a granny panty look on me. I don't really care since it's underwear, but I think my true size is a small (this is especially true of the lace waist brief which I found was bigger than the regular briefs).
The underwear itself is made of very soft and smooth cotton. The elastic bands are comfortable and have a good amount of stretch to them. The lace waisted briefs are also really comfortable and well made. I'm not sure what else to say but these are good practical underwear and feel of a much better quality than my VS ones. But the true test is of course how they wear over time. I'll periodically update this post and let you know!
Since the retail price on these PACT undies are quite a bit more than VS ones (because the VS ones are produced via slave labor), I recommend waiting for their sales (and a friend informed me that they sometimes can be found on sale at Whole Foods Market). Or if you're a first time buyer, here's a referral link for 20% off your first purchase (and thanks for supporting my dreams of converting my underwear drawer to PACT)!
P.S. I also got an offer for free socks from PACT with purchase (I just had to fill an online form with my purchase number), and true to their word I got them in the mail about 2 weeks later. Score!
{March 2019 Update: So I would be remiss if I didn’t update this review to let you know that it seems like the quality has gone down a bit for some of their undies. I no longer buy the classic bikinis because it doesn’t seem to last very well. The cotton gets stretched out and doesn’t feel as substantial as the lace waist briefs. I have only been purchasing the lace waist briefs recently}
{July 2020 Update: I’ve been using exclusively PACT underwear now for over 2.5 years and I still love them. As I noted above, I stopped buying the classic bikini so I can’t speak to their quality. But I’ve noticed the some batches of the lace waist briefs also had a momentary decline in quality (sometime in mid to late 2019). Yet the newest batch that I got are great.}
Zero Waste Review: Marley's Monsters Washable Sponge and Organic Bamboo Facial Rounds Review
First of all thank you to everyone who's taken my little survey so far. I've been reading them through as I get them and it's given me a lot to think about. I'm super excited to see how this space will change with all the feedback! Thank you thank you thank you!
Anyway onto the review:
*This review is not sponsored and I purchased all items myself
Welcome to my first review of the year! Since one of my resolutions is to make my life more zero waste, here's my first zero-waste promoting review: reusable sponges and facial rounds from Marley's Monsters! I first heard of this brand from Andrea and I knew I wanted to try these ethical items made in Oregon. Well I've been using both items for three months now and I love them!
I purchased the organic bamboo facial rounds and chose them over the cotton ones because not only does bamboo have natural antimicrobial properties but bamboo is also a more sustainable resource than cotton. And seriously I wished I had switched over to these much sooner when I think of all the cotton (and plastic wrappings) I've disposed of in the past. These bamboo rounds are better than disposable cotton pads since they don't soak up as much toner/makeup remover as cotton balls and thus more of the moisture transfers to your face. Just make sure you wash them all before using (even though it says pre-washed it's better to wash it again yourself) and use a laundry mesh bag so you don't lose any rounds! Seriously if you're using cotton pads morning and night, please do yourself (and the environemnt) the favor and switch over to these!
As for these washable sponges, I love them for the most part. I love that these are reusable so I'm not constantly throwing away plastic sponges, and the graphics are cute. The scrub side does a pretty good job at scrubbing away dried food bits and probably best of all, these sponges never get that gross moldy/bacterial smell even after weeks of use (due to the mildew resistant center). Oh and I used to switch out my sponge whenever it started getting really gross since I disliked throwing them away frequently. But now I can just throw them in the wash so I switch out my sponges weekly. My only gripe with these sponges is that the middle mildew resistant cloth gets bunched up in the wash and then come out lumpy. So they're never as good as new after washing. Also these sponges don't hold soapy water as well as their disposable counterpart. But overall these are minor details and my three sponges are all going strong after 3 months of use. I'll let you know when they finally go ka-put.
Anyway I'm quite happy with both of my purchases and if zero waste is this easy, why would I live life any other way (lol, but I know it's not always this easy. Sometimes zero waste comes at the cost of convenience. But is ruining our environment worth having the minor conveniences? Nope. ) Anyway a zero waste lifestyle might take an initial investment but the act of reusing will cut costs in the long run, and I can't wait to use these Marley Monster items to peices!
P.S. I just watched Captain Fantastic (free on amazon prime) and talk about some zero waste inspo!
P.P.S I just got a good question from Sandy about whether or not makeup washes clean from the facial rounds. TBH I usually use it for toner but for the occasional times I used it to remove eye makeup it washed back to white. To remove a full face of makeup I usually use these.
I get by with a little help from my friends...
Hi guys! So in order to keep this blog relevant and useful for you guys I was wondering if you could take a quick poll below (ie also your chance to let me know what to buy and try for reviews in the future). Thank you for all those who come here to read my reviews and all my other random ramblings.
Possibly my last GIFs for awhile depending on how this survey goes!
My Resolutions for 2018
First of all
So even though I usually fail my resolutions and rarely succeed 100%, I like to make resolutions every year as a way of continuing to improve myself (or to at least try). Last year I only shared my shopping/clothes related resolution with you guys since this is a style/clothing focused blog. But I've come to realize that I might as well share all my resolutions with you guys in order to try to keep myself accountable and in case there are others trying to make similar changes in their life (like exercise and/or diet). So here are all my resolutions for 2018:
1) Continue my YES workout regimen
So this was something I started in 2017 and want to continue doing in 2018. YES stands for Yoga, Elliptical and Swimming. Ever since my skiing accident in late January last year, I've had to do low impact workouts because frankly my knees just can't take it. I find a combo of these 3 types of workouts keep me fit but also keeps my head clear too, especially in times of stress. I try to workout 3-4 times a week and do at least one of each per week (though to be honest, when busy season rolls around it becomes more like an EYE workout regimen, lol).
2) Stop binge drinking
Ok so I'm not an alcoholic here (or at least I don't think I am and this resolution is going to prove/disprove that). But I got a pretty bad concussion while out drinking with my sister in law in November, and was informed by my doctor that binge drinking is drinking more than 3 alcoholic drinks every 2 hours and drinking more than 7 per week (for women). I'm definitely a heavy social drinker and I've come to realize that even though I don't drink as much as I used to, I still qualify as a binge drinker. So this year I'm making an effort to give my liver a break.
3) Shop ethically as much as possible
That means trying to make do with what I already have, borrow if I don't have it, or buy it second-hand. I'll still probably be doing Everlane reviews (since that's what I love), but I will also explore other brands/makers who produce clothing and accessories ethically/transparently/consciously. This also means a ban on fast fashion. But who needs fast fashion when there are so many exciting indie designers making things responsibly (ahem Elizabeth Suzann and Only Child).
4) Consume consciously/ Begin my zero waste makeover
So I've started going down the zero waste path by cutting my plastic bag usage and buying these washable sponges and bamboo facial rounds (review coming soon). But I definitely need to do more when it comes to this department. I'm also planting a garden (and compost) to reduce my reliance on bagged greens, which I eat daily for breakfast. For 2018 I'm going to look for other ways to reduce my waste and dependency on plastics, and I'll blog about my adventures/discoveries along the way. Also if you're a zero waste practitioner, I would love to hear your tips and most useful zero waste advice!
Alright resolutions set! What are some of your resolutions for the new year?
My 2017 Resolutions Recap
Failure. That is the theme for my 2017 shopping ban resolution. Complete and utter failure. It was supposed to be nothing new except for items that I could get on credit in order to continue my reviews. But it was impossible to continue to get new items from Everlane and Grana, and not to want to buy other things. So I let myself slide to buy anything secondhand and justified it as "I'm still shopping ethically" though I went a little nuts and purchased several used bags from Fashionphile (though I also sold several bags to make it an equal 'trade'). And even though it's still shopping ethically, I lost sight of the fact that it was a shopping ban period. And then in October, I went and shopped at COS (a big sister store to H&M) and that broke all the rules. I was on track at being able to at least say in this post, "I didn't shop any fast fashion this year" but not anymore.
So what can I say? Well at least I never purchased anything from Zara, Madewell, J.Crew, H&M, Uniqlo and Nordstrom Rack this year. In the past they have been my go-to stores, and even when I started this blog reviewing Everlane, I still shopped at these fast-fashion purveyors. So at least I can say that. I may have failed to be anti-consumerist and minimalist, but I guess for the most part (except for COS) it was an ethical second-hand only shopping year. Baby steps right?
Also I succeeded for the most part in some of my other resolutions that I never listed out here (like exercising) so you know all is not lost. I have a better feeling about 2018 in general and I'll be talking about my new resolutions soon. But excuse me while I finally purchase the Elizabeth Suzann clothing (Clyde pants and the Clyde Jacket) and Sevilla Smith shoes (well maybe) I've been eyeing all year!
Away Luggage Review - The Bigger Carry-On Suitcase {Updated February 2021}
Taken by a friend and my attempt at a blogger shot. Remind me never to do shots that angle from the bottom up because hellloooo double chin >.<
One of my friends calls this the basic blogger suitcase and he's right. Every large blogger/Instagrammer I know has gotten one of these things for free. Unfortunately I'm a small-beans blogger so I had to buy my own. But on the bright side, I then get to say whatever I want about this suitcase without any pressure. So here goes my unsponsored and hopefully unbiased review of Away's Bigger Carry-On suitcase.
So I purchased this suitcase because my dog Hachi, one day out of the blue decided to pee on my Samsonite soft body suitcase (like this one), and I could not get the pee smell out. It was time to buy a replacement. And since I've never owned a hard case suitcase before, and because everyone and their mother seemed to have an Away, I got it in my head to try it out. And I have to say I'm not disappointed.
Inside there is a zippered compartment, which is meant for bulky items, while the other side with straps over a mesh pocket is meant for clothing. I really like the compartments and the zippered compartment, which you can see holds my hotel slippers that I carry with me every time I travel. The top right zippered pocket holds the included laundry bag (love!).
On the outside, there's a place to secure your zipper up top and the two usb charging ports are located underneath the handle. This is definitely the best feature of the luggage. It was nice to be able to add some extra juice to my phone while I was waiting at the gate. The battery came pre-charged but it comes with the necessary charging cords (though you still have to provide your own usb phone charging cords). And some of you may have heard but airlines will start banning suitcases with batteries like these that aren't removable. Luckily, the battery in Away suitcases are removable and they provide you with the screwdriver necessary to remove it {update: I was just informed in the comments below that all Away suitcases purchased from November 2017 on have a pop out battery so battery removal is even easier. Dang I wish I had waited for that!}. And since it is removable, the Away carry-on will still be allowed as a carry-on (but you will probably have to remove it from checked baggage). So just make sure you carry that screwdriver with you at all times, just in case (I leave it in the mesh pocket with the charging cord and my hotel slippers)!
I also loved that the suitcase was pretty lightweight and the wheels roll super smoothly. They also have a lifetime warranty on the hard shell, the zippers, wheels and telescoping handles.
But here are the things I didn't like:
- When you have the suitcase on its side (like in the pic above, see especially the right corner side), the heavy compartments compress the zipper area making it hard to unzip. It's slightly easier to start unzipping while it's still standing on its wheels, and then tilt it down to unzip the rest. I'm not sure if other hard top suitcases are like this? Also the black plastic-y leather material surrounding the zipper feels cheap and I'm not sure how well it's going to hold up with heavy usage.
- The telescoping handles are on the thin side and so it's not as sturdy as say the handles on a Rimowa suitcase (luckily my friend had a Rimowa on this trip and so I got to do a side by side comparison of the two). But when rolling the two, there's not a huge difference (and I definitely wouldn't pay an extra $400 for the Rimowa now having tried both).
So having tried out the Away Bigger Carry-On, would I buy it again? Yep I would. I love the charging capability and the really smooth wheels. And for $245, it's about the same price as a Samsonite but less than a Tumi or Rimowa. The big test, of course is how it will stand up to traveling and heavy usage. Well I'll be taking several trips in December and January so I'll update this post after all my travels and let you know how the Away fared! In the mean time if you'd like to try it yourself, Away has a 100 day return policy and you can get $20 off your purchase (of $125+) with this referral link (thank you for your support!).
{May Update: So after taking it to Hawaii and back, along with a 10 day trip to Europe I can say this Away luggage has held up excellently. The trip to London, Paris, Amsterdam were a good test of the luggage since I had to wheel it around multiple train stations and airports. The handles, wheels and zippers are all still holding up. Would I buy it again? The answer is still yes! Also in the comments below someone asked me if the Bigger Carry-on is allowed as a carry-on in Europe and the answer is yes you can get through security with it but if the plane is full, the airline might make you check it in. I traveled mostly by train so it was great and our last flight from AMS to Heathrow wasn't full so I could put it in the bin sideways. If you're going to be traveling a lot in Europe I think the Carry-On is a better size. But we all have different experiences and here's another blogger's review of the Bigger Carry-On vs. the Carry-on and her experience in Europe}
{September Update: So I took this old Away suitcase to the shop to get the battery changed out to the ejectable one, and the ejectable battery system is genius! It’s so easy to remove your battery now, which is also great if you just want a lighter suitcase. I really think Away has made a great carry-on suitcase and I liked it so much I got a second one for the hubby!}
{September 2019 update: When I needed to get a large suitcase for my 1 month trip to Hawaii, I purchased the large Away luggage and I love it. I’ll let you know how it holds up since this one will always get checked-in and we’ll see how it handles all the abuse!}
{February 2021: As you can imagine, I haven’t taken a lot of trips lately but I do have to say the large Away suitcase has held up really well. I stuffed both my bigger carry-on and the large suitcase to the brim for our 4 month stay in Hawaii with family and had no problems. Both were easy to wheel even when overstuffed and the zippers held up fine. You can see below the two Away suitcases along with all the other rag tag luggage we brought to Hawaii (we basically used every single one we had to move for this brief time). Also you can see I’ve got a second Bigger Carry-on in Black (this one already came with ejectable battery). I gave my older gray one to a friend.
Merry Christmas!
Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane {Updated Jan 2018}
I've been reviewing Everlane for some time now (almost 3 years!) and have thus accumulated a lot of Everlane items. These are my Everlane items with the lowest cost per wear (basically the stuff I wear the most). Oh and I was going to try to calculate the cost per wear on every item but it got to be complicated, especially for the seasonal items. So this post will be sans the actual numbers. Without further ado (in order from oldest to newest items):
1) The Modern Point
These are by far my oldest Everlane shoes (I got them 25 months ago) and they're still going strong! They have gotten better with age, with the soft leather now molded perfectly around my foot. My modern loafers are long gone, but these are my go-to pair of pointed flats. You can find the review for these here.
2) The Anorak (no longer sold)
So I purchased this 20 months ago and it has been my go-to every time it rains. Unfortunately, Everlane has changed their anorak so that they no longer sell this one but instead offer the City Anorak. I reviewed that anorak and compared it to the original in this post here.
3) The Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew
This has been my everyday sweater for the last year during the winter and spring seasons. I love the vertical stripes, which help make me look a tad longer and the thick wool-cashmere blended knit. I'm not exactly sure why I reach for this sweater more than my Everlane cashmere sweaters, but I do think that the wool blend makes this sweater less warm than the 100% cashmere ones (which I prefer for the California winters). Also I think the 100% cashmere sweaters are tad more fragile and pill easier than this wool blended one. Everlane is still selling this sweater (though in limited sizes), and they also came out with some new ones in the wool-cashmere blend like this (crazy high) turtle neck one and this cardigan (which I kinda love). I recently got the waffled wool cashmere sweater and will review that soon (spoiler: I'm on the fence about it). You can read my original review of this sweater here.
4) The Dipped Zip Tote (The Twill Zip Tote)
Everlane no longer has the one I use (the black on black) but they do have the gray twill with black or navy dipped bottoms. I've been using this almost daily as my work bag (except for the short time I used the canvas backpack as a work bag in the summer) and I love it! The dipped bottom makes a huge difference in keeping the shape of the bag and I recommend only buying the dipped versions (I tried the regular pocket twill tote and whenever I put anything in it, the bottom would sag out thus changing the shape of the bag). My only gripe with this bag is that it picks up dog hair like crazy and you can see it on the black canvas. If I were to purchase this again I would definitely go with the gray twill versions so you can't see the hair as much. For my original review of this tote, go here.
5) The Day Heel
These heels have been my go-to pair of heels ever since I got them, and you can tell since they pop up on my blog allll the time. I love the soft leather and the block heel. Recently, though, I wore them for a 4+ hour shopping trip (with constant walking) and they did give me a blister on my pinky toe of one foot (so the toe box needed some breaking in for me) and there was some rubbing on the heels (but no actual blister formed). But I still love these shoes and now I know just not to wear them when I know I'll be walking miles. I did stand around in them for 4+ hours once and it was fine. Read my original review of these heels here.
6) Not pictured: The Street Sandals
Well these sandals are not pictured since I ended up having to throw them away this year after constant wear for about 2 years. I seriously loved them to death. They are the most comfy pair of shoes I've ever owned and wore them everywhere. For the second year of wear, I cut off the elastic backing since it was getting super dirty, and I actually really loved the look without them. I already have a back-up pair ready to go as soon as the summer months roll around. You can find my review of these shoes here.
7) Not pictured: Waffle Knit Cashmere Square Crew
Since this is my newest favorite edition I can't exactly say it has low cost per wear yet. But it's definitely my favorite of the season and I've been wearing it at least 2-3 times per week. My review of it is here.
{Jan 2018 Update: so I re-purchased the street sandals (#6) above when Everlane had their "Choose what you pay" sale and don't remember the leather being so stiff. If you're finding that the leather is too stiff I would recommend softening it with a little Chamberlain's Leather Milk No. 1 or no. 6 (reviewed here). Not only will it protect your leather sandals a bit more in the rain but I suspect the leather has dried out since these sandals were first released, thus making it stiffer. Also until the leather is stretched out I would recommend putting these strips on the places where the sandal rubs (for me it's on the top of my foot where the larger strap meets the foot).}
Everlane Review The Editor Heel
Hi guys, and another Everlane review for you today! When it comes to Everlane shoes, I pretty much try everything they come out with (except for their boots since I have my trusty 'ole black rag & bone pair). But I'm always down to try a good pair of kitten heels, so I couldn't wait to try Everlane's Editor Heel. I first saw them over at Mademoiselle, who featured them before their official release and they looked so good on her!
I ordered them in my usual Everlane size of 8 (I'm usually between a 7.5 and 8 but size up to 8 for Everlane because I find their shoes to be on the narrow side). And for once, the size 8 was too large. You can tell in the pictures below that I have quite a gap at the back between my heel and the shoe. Because of that I can't give an accurate description of how the shoes fit in general (like I'm not sure if I had gotten the right size whether or not the heel would pinch). Also the width felt generous, but again the shoe was too large. So I would say make sure you stick with your normal size on these shoes (or go down half a size from your usual Everlane size).
I did notice that the shoes are slightly lighter in color than in Everlane's pictures on the website. I prefer the lighter color since it makes it more of a nude on me. I also really liked the squarish toe box but pointy toe. Their shape is super flattering!
In the end, though, I returned these shoes and decided against ordering another pair in a smaller size. Since I already have a favorite pair of kitten heels (these Valentino rock studs) and a heel I would wear for more casual occasions (Everlane's Day Heels), I figured I didn't need another pair of heels.
Grana Review Cashmere Boyfriend Cropped Crew Neck Sweater
One of my first cashmere purchases from Everlane was their cropped cashmere crew neck sweater (reviewed here), which I love and still wear regularly today. Since then I've tried a ton of cashmere items from both Everlane and Grana, but I always go back to my cropped cashmere sweater. The last two winter seasons, Everlane has come out with cropped cashmere sweaters but it wasn't with the crew neck (there's the mockneck version and this year's v-neck version). But I've come to realize that the plain 'ole crew neck is what works best for me. So I was eager to try Grana's cashmere crop neck sweater released this year.
As I've said in the past, Grana's and Everlane's cashmere is pretty much the same excellent quality (soft and lightweight) and in a blind touch test, I can't tell the two apart. So really it comes down to a difference in the styles of sweaters offered. I wasn't a fan of Grana's regular cashmere styles last year (except for their cashmere long cardigan), but this year this cropped crew neck is my new favorite.
{Wearing: Grana cropped crew neck sweater, COS pants, Celine Seau Sangle Bag (reviewed here), Everlane Day Heels}
I'm wearing a small here (my usual Grana and Everlane size) and it fits perfectly. I really like how the front is a bit shorter than the back so it looks more cropped from the front (Everlane's crop sweater was also styled this way). This sweater probably works best with high-waisted pants since it is quite cropped.
So if you missed out on Everlane's crew neck crop sweater from 2015, then I would highly recommend this version from Grana. It's pretty much the same sweater.
As usual this review is not sponsored but made possible by all those who purchase through my referral link here (and you get 10% off your first purchase through the link). And you can find all my other Grana reviews here.
Also I wanted to let you guys know that for 2018 I'm planning to stop doing Grana reviews because I've decided to focus more of my time on styling what I already own and starting a journey towards a zero waste lifestyle. Also with the quality of Grana items decreasing (single layer silk, expensive cashmere sweaters that don't hold up (unlike this one), a change in their pima cotton tees) I'm less motivated to try things from them. So I think I will end my Grana reviews for now on this high note!
P.S. I found this great comparison post of current Grana and Everlane cashmere by Ashley here.
M.Gemi Promo Giveaway Winners!
Thanks to everyone who entered and congrats to Sandy, Irene, Lori, Janet, Virginia, Suegene, Page, Rachel, Elizabeth, Alex, Unnati, Surekha, Sooji, Vickie and Ashley (there were more than 15 so a random drawing was done). You have all been emailed your $50 promo codes!
My tips on better skin for the acne prone
I don't really talk about this on the blog very much though I have mentioned it from time to time, but I grew up with acne. I had full on, zits covering every part of my face from age 10 to my late 20's (almost 2 decades folks!). I went on Accutane twice in my teens and then Spirnolactone in my late 20's (which I think is the thing that helped finally clear my acne). Don't get me wrong, I still get pimples (especially those hormonal ones around my chin), but I don't call that acne. And even though that sucked majorly and did a number on my self-confidence, I'm just grateful it wasn't scarring cystic acne (I only have tiny scars which at my age now just look like enlarged pores) and I'm grateful I had the means to fight it with derm appointments and medication. It also meant I got pretty good with makeup early on and I really took my skincare seriously from an early age. Well I'm bringing this all up now because for 6 months out of this year I had zero zits. I may have had inflamed pores that went down within a night, but no pimples that needed concealer and no heavy foundation. I thought I was cured! But nope, with a change in season and a change in my routines, I have zits again. So what are my personal tips on better skin?
1) Exercise regularly
Sorry I wish I could just say, 'buy this product and all your skin care woes will be gone'. But of course health comes from the inside and that means exercise. The key to clearer skin for me is definitely exercise, specifically something like yoga that also helps me meditate. (I pair that with swimming for the cardiovascular benefits).
2) Lay off the sugar and dairy (and gluten - see the comment below!)
Of course along with exercise, diet is a big deal. A little bit of the bad stuff is ok but really stay away from these because it can cause inflammation, which in my former public health career I have learned is the root of modern chronic diseases (heart disease, pulmonary dieases, etc.) as well as annoying things like acne and allergies.
3) Take a daily probiotic
Again this is an inflammation issue. Gut inflammation from all the junk food we eat can cause inflammation so taking care of our gut with a probiotic really does help. This is the closest to a magic pill for health that I can think of. I usually get the ones in the refrigerated section of Sprouts/WholeFoods, but I've also recently tried these LoveBug Probiotics which I love since I don't have to keep it refrigerated.
4) Proper skin care routine
I always always wash my face at night and in the morning. And if there's one product I swear by it's this Elemis SOS Emergency Cream. Yes it says emergency but everyday is an emergency when you have zits. I usually spread a thin layer all over my face and when I wasn't getting zits but slightly inflamed pores, this would make it go down in the night. Really I swear. I discovered it through one of those interviews on into the Gloss and I'm so glad I did! Other products I use come from a boutique skin care spa in San Francisco that specializes in acne called SkinSalvation (if you have issues with getting clearer skin and you live in the SF Bay Area, go to them! They are worth it!). I use their charcoal cleanser, sterilizing tonic, and spf15 lotion (not listed). I also use their wash cloths to remove makeup. And during the day I use this Suntegrity 5-in-1 moisturizing sunscreen in light (it's like a BB cream). I buy most of my products (other than the SkinSalvation ones) from Dermstore and really love their selection and service (if you want $10 off your first purchase of $30 drop a comment below and I can email you a link).
Like I said right now I'm back to getting zits on my chin and that's because I've completely stopped exercising for 2 months and been eating poorly. And I can tell on my skin and just my body overall. I hope to get back to the pool and yoga mat this week. Anyway I hope this helps anyone with problem skin and just remind yourself it's just a zit and NBD.
And now I really should be thinking about wrinkle prevention and spot brightening. Does anyone have any products they swear by for this?
Hermes Lindy 30 Review {Updated May 2018}
So some of you might remember that I purchased a used Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here) from Fashionphile several months ago or you might have seen it in almost all of my pictures since then. Well finally here's the review of the bag after heavy use for about 3 months. And guess what? I love love love this bag. Contrary to what you might think, it's not because it's from Hermes and it's the most expensive bag in my collection (well retail, not what I paid for). I really love this bag because it's not only super useful but also so well made! You would hope so from bag that costs so much, but if my decades-long journey through luxury-bag-land has taught me anything, that's not always the case.
When I reviewed Loewe's hammock bag I had mentioned I really love Hermes' Lindy bags, and when I finally got my hands on the Lindy I had expected both bags to feel the same in terms of functionality (both are bags with a strap connecting the two handles of the bag). But the Lindy is above and beyond a much more useful and well-made bag. It's really all in the details! Let me count the ways I love this bag:
1) The 30 size is perfect to fit everything I need to carry everyday. It can fit more if I wanted to, and then the bag would look much more duffle-y and less slouchy. My usual items include a wallet, coin purse, sunglass case, keys, phone and some reusable bags. If I wanted to, I could even fit my to-go coffee cup in there (empty of course).
2) The two handles are my preferred way to carry the bag and the rolled handles are comfortable when carrying the bag in the crook of my arm. But if I want to be hands free, then the strap is the perfect length for slinging over my shoulder. The Loewe bag also uses the same system but I sometimes find the long strap too long and gets in the way. Also the Loewe hammock bag doesn't have rolled handles and the handles are too short to carry the bag in the crook of my arm.
3) There are 4 really functional pockets, two inside the bag and two outside. The two outside ones are the perfect size for my iPhone 7+ and it's deep enough so my phone doesn't fall out ever. And now I probably spend 30 minutes (cumulatively) less everyday searching for my phone.
4) The Taurillon Clemence leather is super scratch-resistant but also really slouchy and perfect for this kind of bag (if I ever get my hands on another Hermes bag though I would probably go with a different kind of leather that's stiffer than this one, but for this bag it's the right kind of leather).
5) The closure to the bag is super secure, with the two zippers and a turn lock. When going into large crowds I know my stuff will be safe. But on the flip side it's so secure that sometimes it's hard to get get stuff in/out of the bag easily, and that would be the one and only drawback to this purse. So after some inquiry over at the purseforum, I've learned that most Lindy owners never really secure the zipper ends with the turn lock, and for me personally I just usually leave one of the zippers open for easy access.
As always I only recommend buying bags used from a reputable source and my go-to is always Fashionphile since they really know their handbags and sell only authentic ones (also they allow returns as long as you don't remove their tags so it's a great way to online shop for preowned luxury items without committing!). Also since I waited for this to go on sale, I was able to purchase it for half the price of retail. And when I got it, I could hardly tell it was used. There's so much life left in this bag! I can see why Hermes is such a sought after brand: their bags are well-designed and made to last a lifetime. Anyway sorry if you've been sick of seeing this bag in all my shots, but it is easily my favorite!
{May 2018 Update, my love for this bag is still going so strong! I still find the bag super useful and even with daily wear the bad still looks great! Here are some current Lindy offerings from Fashionphile if you're interested! And here are some recent pictures of me carrying it:}
Everlane Review Lightweight Puffer Jacket
Last week I reviewed Everlane's short puffer jacket (review here), which I loved but at the same time had no practical use for (especially since I already have several puffy winter jackets). And this week I'm reviewing the other puffer jacket that I ordered, the light weight puffer jacket.
First a note on sizing, I ordered a small here and it fit perfectly. I would say it runs true to size and would advise sizing up only if you want to layer thick sweaters underneath (but in these pictures I am wearing a tee and Grana's cropped cashmere sweater and everything still fits just fine).
I actually really liked this puffer jacket since it is indeed very lightweight. The insulation was just the right amount of puffiness and it definitely kept me warm in Tahoe's mid-40-degree weather. It has zippered pockets that are easy to slip your hands into and the main zipper was alright (though not as heavy duty as the zipper for the short puffer jacket and it was a tad hard to zip up at times).
{Wearing: Everlane lightweight puffer (in small), Frame denim (similar here), Ugg snow boots (similar here)}
This jacket really reminded me of a Northface jacket, just sans branding (which I prefer). I only wish it did come with a hood since I would normally wear a jacket like this in the rain and a hood would be useful.
I think this would be a great alternative to a traditional NorthFace jacket if you're in the market for one. However, I already have a jacket very similar to this one from Arc'teryx (this Atom Hoody jacket) which I bought several years ago and love. So I'm not in the market for another lightweight puffy jacket, thus I ended up returning this one. {Quick note about the differences between the Everlane puffer and the Arc'teryx one: Everlane uses a Primaloft filler while Arc'teryx uses Coreloft and from what I can tell the Coreloft is lighter and more compact but is just as warm if not warmer. But then again the Arc'teryx jacket is over double the price of the Everlane one.}
Anyway like I said, if you're in the market for a new lightweight puffer, this ethical option is a really good one (as long as you don't mind that there's no hood). But if you already have one, there's no need to go out and buy this one.
As usual this Everlane review is not sponsored and I am only able to do these reviews because of your support-purchases through my referral link (thank you!). You can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here.
M.Gemi $50 promo code giveaway {Closed}
Hi guys! So thanks to all those who used the link I emailed them to purchase M.Gemi shoes, I received $50 promo codes myself. Well, since I can't stack the codes and there's no way I'm buying 15 pairs of shoes from M.Gemi, I'm going to give them to you guys. So if you're interested, just enter your info below and I'll email you the promo code (which by the way you can't combine with any sales). If more than 15 people enter, I'll do a random drawing. If less than 15 enter, you all get one! Giveaway ends Dec 13 and winners will be emailed with their codes on Dec 14.