Vince Blair Sneaker vs. M.Gemi The Cerchio and M.Gemi promo code giveaway {Closed}

If you've been following along for awhile now, you know that my Vince Blair sneakers (similar here) are my favorite and thus one of my most worn items so far this year (I purchased it in January of this year).  Well I haven't mentioned that I've actually had the M.Gemi Cerchio for about 8 months now and it's been worn once and has been languishing in its box ever since.  And I would feel remiss if I didn't review these shoes before sending them off to their new home (via eBay).  

First a note on sizing, M. Gemi sizing is all over the place so I try to pay attention to their sizing chart every time I order.  I got the Cerchio's in a size 38 (and I'm usually a size 7.5 to 8 but with wide feet).  They run wide so for me I found them TTS.  

So here's my problem with the Cerchio's: they are quite heavy due to the thick rubber soles but the elastic on the top of the foot isn't enough to keep them comfortably on the foot.  I end up clomping around.  Also the thick rubber soles are quite stiff and inflexible.  It's too bad too since I really like the look of the woven leather.  They also have good arch supports which is better than the Vince Blairs, which are quite flat.  

But here's the nice thing about the Vince Blairs, and what makes them my favorite slip-on sneaker: the Blairs have a thinner and more flexible sole combined with a well-placed, large piece of elastic on both sides of the foot to help the shoe grip the feet better.  I seriously walked miles and miles with my Blairs and had zero discomfort from the get-go.  Also I found that even though I have a high arch, I had no arch pain either.

As for the Vince Blairs, I got them in 7.5 and found that they fit perfectly.  I've seen reviews of these shoes saying they're a tad on the larger side so size down (which to me I guess means take the smaller of my two sizes).  You might find that you will have to go down a full size down from your normal size for a better fit.

I wear these slip-on sneakers without socks so yep, it can get a tad smelly inside the mostly-leather interior of the Blairs.  So I don't plan to wear these in the summer and will probably go with my Rothy's (reviewed here) or my Everlane Street Sandal (no longer sold).  I'll also be looking into a shoe deodorizer like this (though I'm not a fan of the plastic here) or maybe something like this.  But I found this to be a perfect California winter shoe with the leather keeping my feet warm but not too hot.  And it shows, since I've worn it 52 days so far this year (making it my #2 most worn item) and getting my cost per wear down to $2.11 (I got them at Nordstrom Rack so I paid about $110 for these shoes which normally go for $195).  So yes, these might not be an "ethical" pair of shoes but for me they are so worth it!  

Anyway onto the giveaway!  I've got a bunch of $50 M.Gemi codes lying around and since I'm not really interested in buying anymore shoes from them, I hope some of you guys could put them to good use.  I have 9 codes to giveaway and to enter just fill in the form below.  Giveaway will end in 1 week and you will be emailed the codes if you win!

Everlane Review The V Sling Back

I wrote this review before I had my Everlane bubble burst that I wrote about here (and I can't say they are unethical, just not as transparent about their ethics as their marketing makes you believe.  And in the end, I do believe that they believe their factories have fair labor practices and I do think that some of their products are of a great quality with a decent price point though definitely not all their products.  I do think their shoes and handbags are better made than some of their clothes).  I'm still planning to review all the items I got or are getting from Everlane, but have decided to stop reviewing their stuff when my Everlane referral credits run out.  I won't reinvest more money into Everlane to do reviews but will work on styling what I currently have and wearing/rewearing items to the max in order to be more sustainable and ethical with my closet.  So here's this review without further ado:

Sometimes you look at a shoe online and you just know that it’s for you.  Well that’s how I felt about these Everlane V Sling-backs, especially the woven pair in the light leather.  So I was really happy to find out that not only do these sandals look as exactly as I had imagined but that they are also comfortable and very wearable. It’s funny that Everlane would choose to market the Day Glove so hard, but then release nothing about these sling-backs (and as you recall in my Day Glove review, those didn’t work out as well for me as it did for most of the other bloggers Everlane gave the shoes to).  This V slingback shoe is worth way more hype IMHO even though a lot of you guys don't agree lol.

As for sizing, I would say they run true to size.  I got my usual Everlane size of 8 (I’m usually a 7.5-8 in shoes).  I think the woven leather and elastic backing make sizing particularly forgiving in this shoe.

Anyway I’ve been admiring for awhile now the high-vamp V-shaped shoe trend like these but even though at times they look a little alien-like to me.  But I appreciate how different and modern it looks, as well as the fact that this type of shoe shows zero toe cleavage (yep not really a fan of toe cleavage).  That’s probably why I was so excited for the release of these shoes.  I love that this is a more muted take on the high-vamp V-shaped heel.  I also love that this is a flat rather than a heel (though it seems like Everlane is working on making a heel version and a mule version of this--pictures from their insta-story).

The sole of the shoe is made from a synthetic plastic called tunit.  I first learned about it through Everlane’s insta-story when they previewed the shoe.  Even though it’s not replaceable like leather soles, it’s meant to last and give a little more grip.  However, it’s not the same as the rubber sole of the Day Glove, which I found had a little better grip.  I do still end up sliding a bit in these shoes and plan to take it to my shoe guy to see if they can put a thin rubber outsole like they do for heels (and I hope this will make the shoe last a bit longer as well).  Also the sole is rather stiff and not as flexible as the Day Glove.

Even though the woven leather pair is quite a bit pricier than the suede pair (and quite a bit more than most of Everlane’s shoes), I think it’s totally worth it.  The quality leather is woven beautifully and the inside of the shoe is lined with leather (which as you can see above, Everlane claims will make the shoe less sweaty in the summer though I would think it would make it sweatier).  But the leather lining means the shoe is a delight to wear.  I also love that that the woven texture stretches to accommodate my wide feet without showing the bumps of my toes (unlike the Day Glove).  Also unlike the Day Glove, there’s no stitching at the vamp of the shoe (top of the foot), so even though I have feet with a high profile (thanks for teaching me Alexandra!) there’s no rubbing there.  And lastly, I’m so glad that they put a thick stretchy elastic at the heel (unlike with the Editor Slingback), so the shoe comfortably stays on my foot.

You can read Jamie’s review of the suede V sling-backs she got from Everlane (love that beautiful rust color, though I’m not a fan of suede shoes in general).  Anyway I hope to wear the heck out of these shoes this summer and I’ll update this post with how the shoe ages.  I am a little concerned about the fragility of the soft woven leather, but we’ll see how they hold up!

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Bel Skirt in Flax Linen

So you know how I was saying I'm at my enough point with pants?  Well I've now moved onto finding that point with skirts.  I think I've been watching too many of Jamie's Provenance Insta-stories over at AnnStreetStudio because I'm jonesing for a long linen skirt, which is a style that I've never even contemplated before.  Plus I'm a huge fan of skirts in the summer (who doesn't want to go pants free when it's hot?) and seeing as I'm now in my mid-thirties, I'm now looking for skirts that cover up my legs (plus this means I can prolong not shaving for even longer).  But at the same time I don't want to look Amish, which is why I've stayed away from long skirts most of my life.  

Since I had so much success with Elizabeth Suzann's linen Clydes (reviewed here), I thought I would try out their line of skirts as well.  I ordered the linen Clyde Billow Skirt in flax (which will probably take another several weeks before that's shipped).  But in the meantime I found this ES Bel Skirt in linen on eBay and snatched it up right away to try it out.  Like I said before, finding ES secondhand is seriously the best (it's a tad cheaper and there's none of the wait!).  This skirt is Gen 3 and a size small (for reference I'm 5'4" and usually size 4-6).

So what do you think?

{Wearing: Jamie+the Jones Blank Canvas Top in slate (reviewed here), ES Bel Skirt, Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here)}

I probably could have style this a bit better by wearing a fitted top instead of this voluminous J+J top, but I was going for that easy country look.  My husband called this a "maid" look lol.  To me, this skirt definitely went into Amish territory.  First of all, the length is a tad too long for my 5'4" frame (but the current Gen 4 line comes with variable lengths, in which case I probably would have ordered a short small).  I could probably hem this and it would be more of a midi length on me and more flattering.  However I'm not going to bother because I'm also not a fan of the fact that there are no pockets on this skirt.  Pockets are a must for me at work (which is why I'm such a fan of the Clyde pants), and for any bottom to earn their place in my wardrobe it must have a pocket (unless it's like a fancy-ish item meant for going out, then pockets are just a nice-to-have).  But since I'm looking for a skirt I'll be wearing weekly if not daily, I'm going to need pockets. 

The outfit does look better with the top tucked in, so I would probably make an effort to keep the waist defined whenever wearing this skirt.  And though it doesn't look so voluminous here, the skirt definitely felt really bulky at the hips.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm more pear-shaped so the skirt feels bigger around there or if it's just how the skirt is made (I looked at some of the reviews on the ES site and it seems that I'm not the only one who feels like it's too big at the hips).  I also can't take wide strides in this skirt, though I can still take medium ones.  The reviews on the ES site says the new Gen 4 skirts allow for slightly larger strides than previous iterations.  I think if this was a bit more of a true midi length for me, I would be able to take larger steps.

What I do like about this skirt though is the beautiful flax linen.  It feels thick and substantial and even though the flax is a really light color, the linen is 100% opaque.  You can't even tell I'm wearing black underwear here, but it also helps that the skirt falls away from the body. 

I do think this is a beautiful skirt, but this one just isn't meant for me.  The no pockets thing are a deal breaker for me.  But I think this would definitely work better on someone who is 5'6" or taller.  You can find this skirt for sale here and in the meantime I'll be pinning all my hopes on the ES Clyde billow skirt to fill my daily skirt needs *fingers crossed*.

P.S. Here are some pictures with a more fitted top.  I'm still not in love with this even though a lot of you guys voted it as a 'keeper' in my instastory.  And that made me pretty conflicted, but in the end I decided if I don't feel like myself in this skirt, then it's totally ok to let it go to someone who will love it more.  So yep, still decided to sell it.

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I've looked at the Good On You App before, but I took a closer look at it this week.  I know in the past other bloggers have discounted Everlane as an "ethical" brand because it's rating on this app is "Not Good Enough".  Here's an article that spells out Good On You's evaluation process.  So TBH I kind of discounted the app (like "what do you mean Everlane is not good enough?!"--that was the fan girl in me talking lol).  But then I checked the ratings of Zara and H&M, both of which are better than Everlane's at "It's A Start."  So does this mean I'm better shopping there?!  This was messing with my head a little since my whole thing for the last couple years was No Fast Fashion.  I addressed it in an Insta-story to Everlane but got no response from Everlane (though the Good On You App noticed and replied to me).  Also after that morning I went shopping at Zara for the first time in years.

And it finally dawned on me that instead of having a black-and-white view of "this brand is ethical and that brand is not ethical", the most sustainable and really ethical way to shop is to treat each new item as a valued treasure that's meant to be used well.  In a sense it doesn't matter where you bought it from, as long as you don't over-consume, the quality feels good, and it's something you use well.  For example, if I got 30 Everlane things that I used only once but only 1 Zara thing I used 30 times, then the more sustainable and ethical way is the latter.  Or in other words treat that Zara item as you would that Elizabeth Suzann item (which I know is easy to say but harder to do).

As for my shopping experience in Zara, it was pretty interesting to say the least.  I tried on a lot of things and bought two.  I do think another way to be a more mindful and ethical shopper is to only let yourself buy two things max at one time, whether it's cheap or not.  It's hard to use your clothes well if you end up getting a bunch of new things at once.  Anyway back to Zara, I noticed that most of the clothes I had picked out where labeled as made in Morocco.  A bit of research shows that Inditex did try to hold Morocco manufacturers to some ethical standards (though I don't know if they were successful or not) and that even though Morocco is a major hub for fast fashion in general, at least their workers are paid more than those in Southeast Asia.  Anyway I purchased 2 items, both made in Morocco.  One was a 100% linen tank and the other was a cotton blend jacket (blended with a synthetic so I was really iffy on this but let myself buy it--I hope I don't regret it).  Also as I was shopping in Zara, I realized that my wardrobe in recent years (since ceasing to shop at fast fashion stores) has become a lot more plain.  I don't mind since I like simple clothing, but sometimes it's nice to have a bit of embellishment or lace details.  And finally, I don't know if it's because I chose what felt to me to be quality garments, but Zara isn't as cheap as I remembered.  Two items cost me almost $100!  I guess that is more reasonable than a jacket and top from Everlane, which would probably be closer to $150.  But still Zara isn't dirt cheap, which hopefully means they are paying their suppliers and factory workers more than they used to (but who knows).

As for my future with Everlane, I'm not too sure.  I still love their stuff but I might have to shift my thinking and lump them in with Zara and Uniqlo.  I do feel a bit betrayed by the fact that a third party rates them below fast fashion brands in terms of ethics because Everlane's whole spiel is based on ethical manufacturing.  It's not like Zara and Uniqlo try to pass themselves off as "better" or more ethical, but here's Everlane saying they're better when they are actually worse in terms of proving their ethics!  Here are more articles showing Everlane is not what they say they are: this one is my favorite, one from the New Yorker (which made me realize almost all their popular shoes are rip-offs from other designers. This article sites the Day Heel as a copy of Maryam Nassir Zadeh's pumps), and this one.  I have a couple more items coming from Everlane to review and I really wanted to get their denim skirt (thats coming soon).  But after that I might cool it with them since if I lump them in with Zara, I couldn't imagine buying 5 items from Zara a month so I shouldn't do the same for Everlane (though I did only keep 2 of those items).  Maybe in general I should just limit purchases to 2 a month in general (so max 24 items of new clothing a year, which is more than enough really).

Lola Tampons vs. Cora Tampons Review

In my quest for trying to buy better in different aspects in my life (and I know I'm very lucky for the privilege to be able to pay more for things that I think are better), I decided to try out Lola Tampons and Cora Tampons.  Now I feel like a lot of you out there reading this would tell me that a better period product instead of tampons (with plastic applicators), is the menstrual cup.  And believe me, I tried.  Actually I tried two, one from Luna and one from Diva Cups (both in their smallest sizes).  But unfortunately for me I bleed way too heavy and have a narrow canal so not only do I leak with the cups but I can actually feel the cup press on me internally (it doesn't hurt but there's an uncomfortable pressure).  Couple that with major cramps, and I can't handle it.  And then on top of that every time I took out the cup, I made a mess (though I'm sure I would have gotten better at it with practice).  Lol, sorry if this is TMI, but it's just to illustrate why I just can't deal with menstrual cups.  I'm all for saving the environment, but sorry I can't give up my tampons.  When I'm feeling bad from my period, I just want to be comfortable.

So I've been using Playtex tampons for forever and a day, without ever thinking about the brand or product much.  Then the other day I heard about Cora Tampons, which then led me to Lola.  I decided to try Lola first since they are a bit cheaper than Cora ones ($0.50 per tampon vs. Cora's $0.67-$0.92 depending on the subscription).  But both offer the same thing (organic cotton feminine products) and have a charity arm (Lola donates feminine products to low-income women in the US while Cora donates abroad).  So yes even though Lola tampons are more expensive than Playtex ones, I'm happy to pay a bit more for the organic cotton and for the donations Lola gives.  But only if they are as comfortable as my Playtex ones.  And I'm happy to report, they are!

I personally like plastic applicators, though I think I will make the switch to cardboard (for the environment and all).  But I like that Lola allows you to customize each box to tailor it to your specific needs.  I'm a heavy bleeder so I don't really need any light tampons (and I usually use my Thinx on the light days).  I also don't like their Super+ ones since they're quite large and uncomfortable for me, but I do like them for the heaviest nights (since I don't move around and won't feel them, but during the day and moving around I find them a tad uncomfortable).  So I usually have a mix of regular, super, and a couple Super+ thrown in.  It's great that you can edit your box and the shipping dates really easily from your account on their website. 

The only negative thing I have to say about them is their shipping speed.  My order shipped on March 8th and I got it on the 21st (which by then I already had my period so I had to go out and buy another box of Playtex again).  So I've learned to have at least an extra months supply on hand when timing the shipping from Lola.

Now I didn't order Cora tampons online (so I can't speak to that experience), but I was able to find some at my local Target.  One box of 32 tampons (16 regular and 16 super) was selling for $10, which makes it $0.31 per tampon and cheaper than buying either Lola or Cora online.  To be able to compare apples to apples, I purchased the plastic applicator tampons from Cora.  And they are the exact same product guys.  So it makes me wonder if there's only a handful of places making organic cotton tampons and both Lola and Cora source their products from there.  According to Cora's website, these tampons are made in Ljubljana, Slovenia.  If Target keeps stocking Cora tampons, I might make the switch since it's more cost-effective.

So I'm not advising everyone to go out and buy Lola or Cora tampons because you really have to do what works for you and your budget.  But I just wanted to share my experience with these new brands.  As for the feeling of organic cotton vs. processed and bleached cotton tampons, I don't really feel any different (well not yet anyway, but if you think how some drugs can be absorbed through the vaginal membrane, why couldn't chemicals from your tampon be different?).  Anyone else try out Lola or Cora and what did you think?

Everlane Review: The Linen Sleeveless Shirtdress

When I saw this linen sleeveless dress on the Everlane site, I already kind of knew it wouldn't work for me.  But something about the blue stripes and how it just screamed "summer" when it was still below 60 degrees here in SJ drew me in.  It was a dress that I wanted to like.  Well, as suspected it doesn't really work for me.  And I'm not the only one who thought so.  90% of you guys said to send it back in my Insta-story poll.  One person even said the dress reminded her of a hospital gown lol. 

As for me, I don't mind the blue stripes, but I think the A-line shape and the weird below-the-knee-but-not-quite-midi length is not doing my 5'4" frame any favors.  Also I know I said I would swear off sleeveless dresses in a past Everlane review and these pictures just reaffirm that to me (ie disliking my triceps right now).  In general this dress feels very blah to me though I would say it's better than Everlane's shirtdress I reviewed 2 years ago (which looked like an old-fashioned men's nightie on me).

{Wearing: Everlane linen sleeveless shirtdress, Etsy shop French Basket round purse, Everlane Street Sandals (sold out)}

As for sizing, I got this in my usual Everlane size 4 and I know it was the right fit because the chest and shoulder area fit perfectly.  But the rest of the dress sort of balloons out.  Also this light colored dress was a tad sheer and you could see the outline of my white undies through this dress.  So all in all this dress is a no-go for me.  TBH it doesn't even look that great on the tall and skinny Everlane model so I'm not sure who it would look good on.  I wouldn't be surprised to see this end up in Everlane's 'Choose What You Pay' sale some time this year.

Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Midi Dress in Silk

Just like I said in my Elizabeth Suzann Georgia dress review, I love getting ES secondhand since I don't have to wait for production and I get to see how an item wears over time.  Well this ES Georgia Midi dress (link is to new Gen 4 version) is definitely old, in fact it's a Generation 1 version (so probably from around 2013 I think).  And you know what?  It feels as almost good and as new as my Generation 4 silk Georgia tee (I won't say it's equal but you'll see why in a bit).  And actually this is a piece of ES history since I purchased this from Liz's friend and first hire Lydia thru Instagram (and I still learn about archival ES pieces from her since I'm still fairly new to ES).  So this is a very special dress indeed.

First a note on sizing, this dress is an OS, which I thought I might be too long for (5'4") but I have found that it's the perfect size.  On the hanger, this dress looks large and I was pretty sure it would look blah on me, but in fact when I wear it, I find it's anything but!  And I think a large part of that is due to the fluidity of the silk.  I added a lot of similar pictures to this post because I feel like depending on the wind direction and my stance, the dress looks different each time.  And yes, at times I think I look a tad big in this dress (especially in static pictures), but that doesn't bother me because I don't feel big in it.  In fact, I feel quite chic and a tad artsy, lol.

{Wearing: ES silk Georgia midi, Everlane Day Heel Mules, Celine Seau Sangle bag (reviewed here, similar here)}

The silk of this Gen 1 dress is not as thick and luxurious feeling (since it's 18mm) compared to the 23mm of Gen 4 silk (for reference Everlane and Grana usually use 16mm silk).  But since it's such a loose and flowy dress, the extra thickness isn't quite needed.  Also the Gen 1 neckline is a lot larger than the Gen 4 Georgia neckline.  But I don't really mind since the extra room around the neck prevents me from choking myself in the front when I sit down (which is the problem I had with the regular Georgia dress, but that's also because that was an OSM which I found is too small for me).  I think the Gen 4 neckline is better though if you don't want to show your bra straps (which happens time to time in this dress).

All in all, I really love this dress.  It's perfect for buffet lines as well as nice dinners out.  The silk material is what makes it so versatile.  I don't think I would get this Georgia midi dress in any other material (like linen), because any material that's stiffer will make the dress more voluminous (and to me, less attractive).  Also I think the midi dress works for me even though I'm on the petite side, because of the fact the dress is slightly shorter in the front than in the back.  And thus there's enough leg showing to help make it look slimming (and also a heel helps, preferrably in a nude color).

Anyway I'm so happy to have this newest ES addition to my closet!  This dress is really fueling my addiction for ES even more.  For me, this midi dress is my modern day take on the Hawaiian mu'umu'u which I'm totally comfortable with (coming from Hawaii).  So be prepared to see this dress all summer (and maybe even layered in the fall)!

Weekend Update/ Ramblings

So the other day at the Farmer's Market I purchased some local honey to try to help alleviate my springtime allergies (when I asked on Insta-story about whether taking bee pollen capsules would work some of you guys suggested eating local honey).  So we'll see if that works.  But I also watched the honey episode of Rotten on Netflix (if you haven't watched it, please do because we all need to know this stuff!) and so it made me realize that being able to talk to the bee keeper about his bees and where his hives are located is super special.  So yes I'm willing to pay more for legit local 100% pure honey, which I know is unadulterated by synthetic crap.  I'm so grateful that my local farmer's market is so awesome.  Seriously you can buy pretty much everything there from grass fed beef to responsibly caught fish from Santa Cruz to even goat meat.  

Speaking of Netflix documentaries, I also just finished watching The Magic Pill, which basically gives evidence for the dangers of low fat high carb diets and instead promotes a high fat low carb diet (also known as a ketogenic diet).  And I gotta say they turned me into a believer.  After having done the South Beach Diet in my youth (and losing quite a bit of weight) and doing the Whole30 diet a couple years ago (where I felt amazing after and realized that dairy was not doing me any favors), I have to say low-carb, full healthy fats and whole foods are the way to go.  Processed food and sugar are unfortunately killers.  Also if you are looking to lose weight, forget the gym and just work on your diet (of course exercise helps but without the right diet you still won't lose that belly pooch).  Currently I'm doing a Whole7 and it might be placebo but my allergies have gotten better (starting from day 3, I stopped taking benadryl at night which I was taking to be able to breathe without allergy caused congestion).  Or it could also just be nearing the end of allergy season (because once summer hits, I'm good). {Update: If you've been following along on my insta-stories, I ended up doing a Whole5.5 because I hate being the one with dietary restrictions when out with friends and also the wine was too good to pass up.  I however did again have to go back to benadryl at night so I'm back to no sugar and alcohol for the time being}

As I mentioned in last week's post, I'm trying to do Meditation May right now where I meditate everyday in May (no matter how long and no judgements on the quality of each session).  And so far I'm loving it.  I try to knock it out first thing in the morning (instead of staring at my phone first thing in the morning I meditate right there in bed, I lay there focusing on my breathe) or I do it while I'm stuck in traffic (which makes traffic so much more pleasant and I become a much nicer driver).  And already I feel like I can see results.  For example, one of my Instagram post got waaay less likes than usual and subsequently less traffic to one of my Everlane review posts.  And it started to get me down, but then I just went "Wait a minute, who cares!  The purpose of Instagram is to build a community and to be able to communicate with like minded people.  So what if your likes are low?  Fuhgettaboudit!"  And you know what, just like that it was no big deal as it should have been.  Also I've been feeling daily bursts of utter gratefulness, which I'm pretty sure comes from the meditation practice.  It just makes me wonder what a daily meditation practice for a year could bring (would I be a changed person?  Perhaps maybe even enlightened?! lol probably not).

Anyway I hope you guys are all having a good weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there as well as all those who nurture and mother their fellow humans.  I think this world could use more loved and cared-for people and that begins with mothers and nurturers.  So let's celebrate them and show them our gratitude everyday, but especially today! :)

Valentino Lock Small Bag Review

I know that the slow/ethical fashion community and luxury bag community doesn't really intersect and that this review is not of interest for the majority of you (and TBH I'm losing interest in having a high-end bag collection myself.  I guess slow fashion really has changed my style lol).  But since I've had this Valentino Lock bag for quite a number of years, I thought I might as well write a review and put it out there on the interwebs in case someone is considering this bag.  For the rest of y'all, please feel free to skip this review and tune back in a couple days when I get back to my regularly scheduled review of ethical items.  But for those who do want to know more about the Valentino Lock bag, let me tell you this: don't buy it! 

I purchased this bag quite awhile ago to match my Valentino Rockstud shoes (I know, so boring to match my shoes and bag).  And for awhile I was happy with the combo.  But sadly, unlike the shoes which I still love, the bag has hardly been used and I'm quite out of love with it.  And here's why: 

- The leather is super delicate and fragile so any sort of graze can scratch the leather.  Also resting the bag on anything that protrudes out can indent the leather.

- And at the same time the decorative studs that protrude out of the bag can damage any other bag that's stored in the vicinity of this one (so it's a general pain in the butt to store away in the closet).

- The space inside the bag is tiny!  I can barely fit a mid-size wallet in there with my phone.  Forget fitting in my bulky keys.

- And because the look is so unique it's never going to be a classic.

So really this bag only looks nice but it's not really functional.  If I ever wrote a best and worst luxury bag purchases post, this would definietly be on the worst list.

P.S. I decided to sell this on Fashionphile because 1) it was really selling on ebay and 2) I wanted to be able to write about the experience of consigning with them.  So stay tuned for that post!

Unsponsored Rothy's Review: The Point

I am so very lucky to have friends who really know my taste and what I like.  And I am extremely grateful for one friend who not only paid attention to what I like but also read through a bunch of my shoe posts to figure out my shoe size and nailed it (thanks Samm!).  Seriously how lucky am I?  And best of all, she got me Rothy's the sustainable shoe made from recycled water bottles.

At first I was skeptical of Rothys because of its heavy marketing on Facebook and other social media.  But much like Away, this is one of the brands that I found that are worth the hype despite the heavy advertising.  Who knew wearing recycled water bottles could be so comfortable?

So first a note on sizing: I'm usually a 7.5-8 in shoes (and an 8 in Everlane).  And with Rothy's I am an 8 as well (so as most people commented below go a half size up from your regular shoe size).  The shoe does look extremely narrow out of the box but the knitted plastic fibers quickly expand and form around your feet for the perfect fit.  Everlane may say they have the "Day Glove", but for me, these are the true Day Gloves (as in the form around your foot and you can wear them all day).  I had zero problems with fit or chaffing, and no blisters since day 1.  The knitted fibers are soft and flexible.  In fact the whole shoe is quite flexible.   

I also love that these shoes have a good rubber sole to prevent any slipping and how lightweight these shoes are (true you can't resole them, but they will last you a long time and you can recycle them--more on that below).  But best of all, these shoes dry very quickly if they get wet.  I wore these during my Spring 10x10 (all looks here), and one of those days required a rainy-day site visit to some Airstreams sitting in the middle of some wet grass.  My Rothy's got soaked, but since I didn't have a change of shoe I just kept wearing them.  By the end of dinner though my Rothy's were pretty much dry.  I was amazed.  When I look at their About page, I see why my Rothy's were able to dry so quickly: they are purposely made that way so they can be machine washable.  I haven't washed these yet, but I'll update this post when I do.  But this means these flats are the perfect summer flat since I can easily wash them when they start to smell.

Above are some pics from my Spring 10x10, and as you can see these look good as an office flat or a casual flat.  I love their pointed toe design which helps to elongate the leg.  Also unlike a lot of other pointed flats, the point on these are quite durable and so even if you stub the point into things, they look untouched (this is definitely not true of pointed leather shoes).

The only con to this shoe is that the inner sole is not glued to the shoe so at times the sole might come off with your foot if it's sticking to it.  Nothing major, but sometimes annoying when trying to get your shoes off in a rush.  Also even though this shoe doesn't come with arch supports I've found that I don't have any problems (despite having high arches).  So maybe something in the design helps with that.

I really really love this shoe and am tempted to get another pair.  But seeing as how I'm trying to be more mindful of what I buy, I really don't need multiples of the same shoe (especially since these heather gray ones are perfect with pretty much everything in my closet).  Instead I'll wait until these are super beat up, then I'll recycle them (yep Rothy's has found a way to semi-close the loop on their products--they don't recycle them into other shoes but at least they use it to make other goods), and then purchase another pair.  If you're interested in a pair, here's a referral link for $20 off your first Rothy's purchase (thanks for your support!).  Who knew recycled water bottle shoes could be so pricey.  But quality usually comes with a matching price tag, and guys, these shoes are worth it!  

P.S. If you're in the SF Bay Area, they just opened a new store on Fillmore in SF.  I'll have to check it out the next time I'm in the city!

Everlane Review Linen Oversized Collarless Shirt

Ah, another season of new linen offerings and this is my third year of Everlane linen shirts.  I know, I'm like the Goldilocks of Everlane linen tops.  First there was the collarless linen square shirt 2 years ago (which I never kept because I disliked the volume of the square shape), and then there was last year's classic relaxed linen shirt (which I just sold on my Closet Sale page).  Now there's this year linen oversized collarless shirt, and like they say third time's the charm, because I love love love this shirt.  So much so that I went and bought the black version of this after wearing this white shirt one day.

{Wearing: Everlane line oversized collarless shirt, Elizabeth Suzann Linen Clyde pants, Everlane Day Heel Mules, Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here)}

But first a note on sizing: I'm usually a size 4 in Everlane tops but when I saw the words 'oversized' I went a size down because I prefer my shirts to be more fitted.  And I have to say the size 2 is perfect.  Everything is still loose around the chest and shoulders but not overly so.  I decided for the black linen version to size down even smaller to a 0 since I felt it could be even more fitted, but for the white one the 2 is small enough (any more fitted and I'm afraid you can start seeing my bra through the shirt).  I'll update this review when I get the black 0 and let you know how it fits.

But as it stands, the white in size 2 is still opaque enough that you can't see a nude bra through the material.  You can kind of see the outline of my black pants in the picture below but that's no biggie.  

So what makes this linen shirt so perfect for me is the collarless-ness.  I sold last year's version of the linen shirt (with a collar) as well as my two Grana linen shirts with collars because I kept getting make-up on the white linen collars and I hated that.  This collarless version is awesome since I don't get any makeup on it but it still has the easiness of a white linen button-down.  It's a combo of Everlane's linen shirt from 2 years ago (collarless, square) and their shirt from last year (collared, not-square).

Here I am trying the half-tuck look.  I don't think I'm a fan or can quite pull it off, lol.  What do you think?

Anyway I'm thrilled with Everlane's newest iteration of the linen shirt.  As usual Everlane's linen is good (though not as thick as Elizabeth Suzann's).  The texture is still quite soft and smooth.  Can't wait to try out the black linen version and I'll update this review once I get it.

Has anyone else tried this year's linen shirt and what did you think?

P.S. Got the black version in size 0 and I still love it.  The fit again is still good and not tight at all around the shoulders or chest.  Still love this collarless shirt and so glad I got it in both black and white!  But I think for the best proportions, just one size down from your normal Everlane size is best.

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Taken on Monday for my quick night in the city to see Dave Chapelle + John Mayer

So I've decided that I am not going to buy any more pants this year.  I'm good with my 3 jeans and 2 Elizabeth Suzann Clydes so I'm calling it.  No more pants (not even just to review).  I think one of the keys to contentment is knowing your "enough" point, and I'm there with pants.  The linen Clydes are as close to my unicorn pants as it's going to get and I'm good with that.

I did however buy a new spatula (whoop-di-doo, lol) since one of our Airstream customers ruined one.  So I gave the biz the spatula I was using and then bought this.  Even when replacing something as mundane as a spatula, I want to make sure it's sustainable and most of all not plastic if I can help it.  This teak one may not be as flexible as plastic, but I'm happy that when I'm done with it I can just dig a hole and bury it and eventually it will decompose back to the earth.  So I wouldn't advise getting rid of all your plastic, but when the occasion presents itself to replace something that was plastic with something that isn't, take that opportunity!

Also for the month of May I am trying a new thing, and I'm calling it Meditation May.  Basically I'm going to try to meditate every day for at least 5 minutes (up to 20 min hopefully).  I haven't done a meditation practice for years and I think going back to it is going to be generally helpful.  I'm also going to stop looking at my phone first thing in the morning.  I know it's a terrible habit but I always indulge myself.  However, I think it ends up being a huge time suck first thing in the morning.  And lastly, I'm trying to cut out excess processed sugar from my diet this month in anticipation for a Hawaii vacay for a bachelorette party (and also technically a trip home for me).  It might seem like a lot of new habits (well anything more than 1 seems like 'a lot' to me) to tackle in one month, but I'm hoping the meditation will be a keystone habit to get me recharged and changing things around!

Oh and I read this post from the Luxe Strategist that I very much relate to.  I spend money on things when I know I'll get good use out of them and use them frequently (like my bags and Elizabeth Suzann items) or if they're my unicorn (again bags and Elizabeth Suzann).  I also just love how she explains everything so clearly and then gives her examples!

Paula's Choice Review: 2% BHA liquid, Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer, and Resist C15 Booster

*This review is not sponsored and I purchased all items myself

So I mentioned using the 2% BHA liquid here and touched upon my history with Paula Begoun of Paula's Choice (if you don't want to go back and read it, I basically said that I grew up with her book The Beauty Bible and thus I trust that she is making these products because she really knows her stuff and not because she's trying to make a quick buck).  Paula also has a fairly well respected site that reviews beauty products called Beautypedia.  So knowing all this I don't know why I didn't try her products earlier.  I guess a part of it was just being dazzled by the bigger and flashier brands.  But once I tried the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, I was a convert.  So here are reviews of the first three items I've tried thus far.

1) Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid: So this was the first time I used BHA, which is a type of chemical exfoliant.  I've used Salicylic Acid before for my zits with mixed results.  So I didn't think this would work for me.  But I gotta say it has really turned my skin around.  It does help with the zits but more importantly, makes my skin really smooth.  2% may not sound like a lot, but for someone like me with really sensitive skin, 2% is enough.  I actually use this 2-3 times a week instead of daily since when I used it daily I noticed some irritation.  I've also noticed when I do use it consistently it helps with the redness of my skin.  I also tried the 8% AHA gel sample that came with this and found that it did not help my skin and I prefer the BHA more.  Both AHA and BHA are chemical exfoliants that do slightly different things.  Read here if you want to know more about it.  For $29, this is a great price for a really awesome product!

2) Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with retinol: This was the second product I tried from Paula's Choice (I tried both this one and the BHA liquid above on a random instagram story recommendation) and I again I was wary since I've tried retinols in the past (good for acne and wrinkles), but they've always irritated my skin too much.  Looking at the ingredient list, I'm not sure how much retinol is in there but I think it's pretty minimal since I can handle using this daily.  And again this lotion makes my skin feel so smooth.  This has become my new daily moisturizer replacing the Elemis SOS cream I mentioned before.  The Elemis cream didn't break me out but I didn't think it was improving the texture of my skin like this one does, and this moisturizer is $33 compared to the $85 for the Elemis one.  It was kind of a no-brainer for me to switch.

3) Resist C15 Super Booster: So I tried this out on a recommendation from a reader after I talked about the BHA liquid in the Weekend Ramblings post.  Sorry Sooji, but it didn't work for me >.< . About 3 minutes after I tried it, my skin got bright red and it started burning (and it was only on the right side of my face even though I spread it evenly on both sides--weird, right?).  I guess it just goes to show that what works for one person doesn't work for everyone since our physiologies are all different (which is why when you read my beauty reviews, take it all with a grain of salt).  Luckily I purchased it from Nordstrom and was able to return it.  But this hasn't stopped me from wanting to try more of Paula's stuff!  However, I'm going to hold off until I use up some of my other beauty items since I am trying to be more mindful of what I buy.  When I use up a bottle of something, I might see if I can replace it from one of Paula's skincare lineup.  

Anyway, if you've been looking for a gentle way to smooth out your skin and build some collagen, I recommend trying the Skin Perfecting BHA liquid and the Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer.  They are great for acne-prone sensitive skin like mine and definitely worth a shot.  But buy it from Nordstrom's where you can return it though, just in case ;)

P.S. I have to eat my words above.  I have learned by now that it's in my nature to go a bit overboard when I find a brand or product that I like (for example: Everlane) so I have purchased another 6 items from Paula's Choice (2 of which replaced my empty sunscreen, 4 of which are totally brand new products I've never used before and doesn't replace anything *facepalm*).  Again I will review when I've used them all for a bit.

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Georgia Dress in Silk

I find that the best way for me to try out Elizabeth Suzann pieces is to buy half of them new and the other half used from eBay, Poshmark, or Instagram.  I actually really love buying my ES stuff used because not only do I not have to wait months for a piece, but I also get to see how the item wears over time (without actually having to put in the time to do all the wearing).  Then I can say with a better degree of certainty if a garment holds up well or not.  Plus secondhand ES is always a smidge cheaper (though not by a lot and ES clothing is probably one of those things that hold their value even better than most designer clothes).  This ES Georgia dress in silk crepe was my second ES eBay purchase (the first one being the linen Tilda's reviewed here).

This was my first time purchasing a dress from ES so I wasn't sure about my size.  I'm an OS in the Georgia silk top, but I'm 5'4" so I thought the OSM might work for me.  Well I really liked the look of it, but I think the Georgia dress in OS would fit me better.

I'm pretty sure this is a Generation 3 Georgia dress, though I can't be certain since I bought it secondhand.  This is for sure not the current Gen 4 since the neckline is wider and feels different from my Gen 4 silk Georgia top.  Like I mentioned in that review, ES uses a silk weight of 23mm which is thick enough to feel substantial.  Since the dress is made of a thicker silk and flows away from the body, you don't have to worry about VPL.  I also really like that the back is a tad longer than the front to help cover your butt, but it also makes your legs look longer in the front.

But this is what happens when I raise my arms:

{Wearing ES silk Georgia dress, Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Chanel crossbody (similar here)}

Guess I can't participate in a "wave" in a stadium with this dress, lol.  I don't like not being able to raise my arms in a dress, though I don't know how often I need to raise both arms like that. But still, for a dress to have a place in my closet, I need to be able to move freely in it.  Also because of the shorter length, when I sit down, there's not as much fabric as I like under my butt and thighs.  And then sometimes as I sit the collar comes up in the front and I end up choking myself.  So this is definitely too short for me.  I would probably recommend this for truly petite people around 5'3" or shorter.

{Wearing (for my Spring 10x10): ES Georgia Dress, ES linen Clyes, Rothy's (review coming soon), Polene numero un bag} 

The shorter length does make for a good tunic length though if I wear it with pants.  But I'm not really a dress over pants kind of gal.

So even though this particular piece didn't work for me, I would definitely buy the Georgia dress in OS, in either silk or linen.  But I'm not in a rush to acquire one just yet since I also purchased the Georgia silk dress in the midi length secondhand from Instagram (will review that soon).  And with 2 Georgia tops and 1 Georgia midi dress, a short Georgia dress would be nice to have but not a need. 

Everlane Review: The Editor Slingbacks

Ever since I saw the Paul Andrew Rhea slingbacks on Shopbop (over a year ago) I've wanted a shoe just like it (but I wasn't about to drop $500+ on a pair of shoes).  So I was super excited when Everlane previewed their Editor Slingbacks on their site, though I have to admit, it felt kind of Zara-y since Everlane's version does look a lot like the original Paul Andrew ones.  But there are only so many ways you can do a simple black slingback right?  Well I would have kept these ethical versions with no qualms if only the sizing had worked out.

But I should have learned my lesson from trying the Editor heel (reviewed here) that my usual Everlane size of 8 is too big for this style of shoe.  Or rather, the width is perfect for me (and my wide feet) but by sizing up, the length of the shoe ends up being too long, and in a slingback like this, you really do need to have the perfect size for the shoe to stay on.  But man oh man I really wanted this shoe to fit.  

Though even if the shoe had fit, they weren't that comfortable to walk around in.  The soles were pretty flat and stiff, while the slingback really didn't do much to keep the shoe on your foot (though of course having the perfect size here would have helped).  I do think the design of the Paul Andrew Rheas is much better at keeping the shoe on your feet, with the suede wings coming up around the ankle with a large elastic right at the heel.  But I guess that's what you would be paying $500 for.  

I think both the Editor heel and the Editor slingbacks would be better suited for those with narrower feet and who work in an office environment.  Since I have neither narrow feet nor work in a carpeted and air-conditioned office, these shoes are definitely not suited for me.  So back they went (and don't worry I wipe down my concrete floors before taking the pics above so the shoes are still pristine).  Also I have a new pair of pointed flats in my life that I love (Rothy's, which I'll review soon) so I'm good in the pointed flats department!

*This post is unsponsored but I use affiliate links where I earn cents for each click.  I do not earn any money if you choose to buy anything on this site, unless it's through my referral links, like this one for Everlane (well it's technically Everlane credit, not cash), which helps me do reviews more like this one.  Thanks again for your guys' support!

P.S. Here's an update of how these shoes wear from Jamie.  The thin strap in the back does get stretched out with wear so it won't fit the same as when you first try it on FYI.

Weekend Ramblings: ISO (in search of) zero-waste & better lip balms and lip sticks

Well it all started with the beginning of allergy season, also known as mouth-breathing season for me.  Ever since my move from SF (where my allergies were fairly mild) down to south of San Jose (surrounded by farm land), my allergies, specifically nasal congestion, have been severe.  This is my third year down here and I've got my allergy-alleviation routine down pretty good: neti pot (I like this ceramic one), Zyrtec, and nasal spray.  But overall, I still end up breathing through my mouth a lot more in the spring and this leads to dry lips (especially this year with weird cold fronts coming through every other week).  

So short story long, I've been focusing a lot more on lip care recently.  I usually use this YSL tint-in balm for the day (side story: when I first discovered these 4 years ago I went a little nuts and purchased at least 20 different colors of these, but when they got old they got really dry.  But I love the lipstick case-- such a sucker for packaging >.<  So I've kept them hoping to use them.  But you'll see below, it looks like I might have to throw them out--what a waste!).  I also purchased this Moisture+Tint Chapstick impulsively at the check-out line and have been using this when I can't find my YSL one.  At night I've been using this RMS lip balm and a lip balm with a coconut oil base made by my friend.  And they've been working well enough.  (Another side note: I know I said in the past that I love the RMS lip shine, but I've come to realize that pots of lip balm where you have to use your fingers or a lip brush to apply, just doesn't work for my lifestyle.  I need something that I can swipe and go.  So for the most part I only use the RMS lip balm at night and the lip shine has been sitting in my bag untouched.)

But the other day I was thinking how ugly the chapstick container is and how I have so many beautiful lipstick containers lying around (like those YSL ones mentioned above).  So I thought why not switch the containers so I can use my daily lip balms in a prettier container?  A quick google search told me to put both lipsticks in the freezer and with some gloves or wax paper, you can wiggle out the lipstick from the container and presto chango!

Well it worked brilliantly for switching my chapstick with this Rodin lipstick.  But certain brands, like YSL and Chanel, make lipstick tubes with no bottom.  Instead the soft cream lipstick is held into place from the sides by some circular prongs.  So it's pretty near impossible to switch those, which means all those YSL and Chanel lipstick tubes just have to be thrown away (whoomp whoomp).  But I was able to switch out my friend's homemade lip balm with an old Shu Uemura lipstick (yay, some fancy looking homemade lip balm).  I also take the extra step to use a hair dryer to melt down the balm a little bit, tap the bottom on the counter so the liquid settles, and then when it cools the balm will fit better into the bottom of the new lipstick case (again thanks Google and YouTube for the tips).  

All of this led me to think, it would be great to have a product like Plaine Products, for refillable lipstick/lip balm.  And when I put this on Insta-story I got several people suggest Kjaer Weiss lipstick.  So I looked them up and was this close to buying it, when I thought I probably should try to find a review of this somewhere since Kjaer Weis lipstick is expensive!  And I'm so glad I did because this is one of the top reviews I found from an Asian blogger in Australia (who by the way reviews a lot of natural and organic products).  As a reviewer myself, I appreciate a good review and well she is good.  She's very thorough and when she describes how the lipstick goes on, I know exactly what she's talking about.  And bonus that she's Asian so I can see how it would work with my skin tone.  So her verdict about the Kjaer Weis lipstick: it's dry.  So nope, I'm definitely looking for something that will moisturize.  Plus even though it's "refillable", it's not zero waste since the cartridge the lipstick comes in is still thrown away (see pic below).  And I'm looking for a model where you don't throw anything away.  Hourglass lipsticks were another suggestion, but again when you're done with the lipstick you throw away the cartridge.

So here are my solutions for when I run out of my current stash (which TBH is going to probably take awhile, I mean when was the last time you used up all your lipstick/lip balm?):

1) Buy Burt's Bees lip balms and tints and put them into the containers I have now (cuz you know I want to keep it pretty).  And then recycle the Burt Bees containers through their recycle program.

2) Or make my own lip balms, put them into the current lipstick tubes (sanitized between usages) and re-use the plastic lip balm tubes as molds (so I can use them indefinitely without getting germs on them).  I saw this kit on Etsy and I really want it so I'm leaning towards this method lol.

What do you think?  Which method do you think is better?

Everlane Underwear vs. Wama vs. Lively vs. Naja (vs. PACT vs. Hesta)

Lively, Everlane, Wama

*This review is unsponsored though I purchased the Wama underwear at a discount and used my referral credit to purchase the Everlane underwear

I've become quite the underwear tester these days, or maybe it's just because there are a lot of ethical underwear on the market today.  Well I've reviewed PACT in the past (which I loooove love love) as well as Hesta (which I don't like).  Today I'll add Lively, Everlane, and Wama to my ethical underwear reviews.

Lively Underwear

First up Lively, which quite frankly doesn't really fall under "ethical" IMO, even though they have their own factory where they can "extend [their] company values and standards to our LIVELY factory family" (taken from their website).  When I asked for further details about their production practices, this is what I got:

Our supply chain is supported by a world class manufacturer that has been in the business for over 60 years! They are experts and engineers in this category of business, which is why we partner with them as it is important for us to have not only a well designed product, but one with amazing quality. 

Our manufacturers have partnered with us to ensure that our LIVELY ethos holds true to the factories and workplace in which we produce. They built a factory dedicated to LIVELY that we have owned for 4 years; it is brand new, full of light and a beautiful place to work in southern China. We meet and exceed fair labor practices and wages. The staff of thirty is comprised of mostly women who have the finest workmanship and passion for their craft. We know that in order to make a great product, everyone involved in the LIVELY brand has to be happy in the work they do and we want them to be #livingLIVELY!

So yes technically they can be considered ethical, but something about their copy here seems fake (like really, the factory women have a passion for making underwear?).  Anyway either way I won't be purchasing underwear from them again since theirs are made from rayon and spandex (all synthetic) and I like my underwear to be 100% cotton.  Also the instructions for washing call for hand-washing and there's no way I'm hand-washing these undies every time.  Fit and feel were okay.

Everlane

Ah, the much marketed Everlane underwear.  I purchased the black bikini undies in medium (I'm a size 4-6 on the bottom but prefer my underwear to be on the loose side--nothing worse than an underwear band constricting my belly).  And well, they're good.  I can wear them all day without giving them a second thought (a sign of good underwear since you're not supposed to have to think about or deal with undergarments).  In fact, they feel pretty much the same as my PACT bikini underwear.  Everlane's is made with 92% supima cotton and 8% elastane while PACT is 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane.  So if I have to choose between the two, I'm going to stick with my PACT since those are made with GOTS certified, fair trade organic cotton (for almost the same price as the Everlane ones, and the PACT ones do go on sale periodically).  Conventional cotton (even the supima kind) rely heavily on pesticides and fertilizers that pollute the waterways and the environment, so whenever I can, I try to purchase organic cotton preferentially.  As much as I love Everlane, PACT is still a clear winner for me on this item (you can read my PACT review here).

Wama

Now here's something different in the ethical underwear department: underwear made from hemp from Wama.  Well 53% hemp, 44% organic cotton and 4% spandex to be exact.  These are not your everyday underwear.  The material is a lot thicker and feels more substantial but still very soft.  It's like the light sweater of undies, but don't worry it won't make your bum hot since the material is quite breathable.  Right now they only come in a boy short form, which I'm not a huge fan of (I just prefer plain 'ole bikini bottoms).  Also because of the thicker material it will show some VPL with some of the clingier fabrics and form fitting bottoms.  But if you're a boy shorts kind of gal, this brand is definitely worth a try.  Since they're quite pricey, use TEMPORARYHOUSEWIFEY20 to get 20% off your order until May 31st.  Also check out Leah's review of them here (and learn more about hemp production as well)!

Naja (not pictured)

When I did the Naja bra review, I also ordered one pair of their cheeky knickers (which are basically boy shorts to me).  These are made with 94% "Peruvian" cotton and 6% elastane, and claim to "save the environment" because they digitally print the designs on the undies (opposed to dying them I guess).  The fit on these were not great (kept giving me wedgies-- not fun) and the designs are all pretty weird and ugly.  And then they're $22 a piece so I'm going to say just pass on these.

Conclusion

So which is the brand I'm going to replace all my ratty VS underwear with?  You probably guessed it, PACT!  Can't beat comfort and organic cotton.  Next I'll be trying PACT's organic cotton tees and do a PACT vs. Everlane vs. Grana vs. Cuyana vs. Amour Vert tee review so stay tuned for that!

Everlane Review The Day Glove {Update June 2019}

* I received these shoes free as a gift from Everlane so this is a type of sponsored post

So the Day Glove.  Everlane has put in a lot of marketing dollars in this one, as evidenced by even reaching out to small-beans bloggers like myself and giving me a free pair to try before their release.  I'm very stoked that this is my first totally free item from Everlane (not counting what I purchase through referral credits).  But I'm going to try not let that bias my review here since you guys come here for the truth (or at least my truth, lol).  So what did I think of this shoe?  Unfortunately this particular "Day" shoe isn't the one for me.  

First a note on sizing: I got my usual Everlane size of 8 (I'm usually a 7.5 in most other shoes).  I do have wide feet and thus have had issues with Everlane's narrow shoe sizing in the past.  But I think the Day Glove can accommodate wide feet since I had no problems with the width in these shoes.  No, my problem might be a puffy top of the foot, so I had some issues with the edge of the shoe rubbing there.  Also on the right foot, I had some rubbing that led to a small blister (but not the kind that bubbles and pops).  I could keep wearing it fine as long as I had a bandaid there.  And I was still able to comfortably climb the ladder up to the roof of my new trailer home, which was my version of Everlane's "Day Glove Dare" (see the top pic of me and my Day Glove chilling on the roof).

I also had a problem with sweaty feet in these shoes.  Even though there are two air holes in the arch area, it doesn't help in 80 degree weather.  With 100 degree weather coming up in a couple of months, I probably won't be wearing this shoe very much (and I can only really wear it in the winter here in San Jose).  Instead I'll be wearing my favorite summer shoe, the Everlane street sandals  (I'm on my second pair, and I've cut off the elastic to make it even better).

The nice thing about these shoes are the rubber sole (which is a first for Everlane shoes) and the padded insole.  I usually need arch supports in really flat shoes but found that my arches were fine in these so I think the insole has enough structure to be comfortable.  I also liked the look of these shoes, and in this pink color it reminded me of cute ballet shoes.

I just think in the end, this particular Everlane Day shoe doesn't work for me personally.  I much prefer Everlane's Day Heel Mules (reviewed here).  But I do think everyone is different, and this is by no means a bad shoe.  This shoe will probably work best for those who's feet are not as wide and puffy (fat?) as mine.  As for me, I won't be wearing these so I'm going to sell it here with 100% of the profit going to International Rescue Committee (a new refugee charity I'm going to concentrate my dollars on since writing this post).

{Update: as Henny mentioned in the comments below and as Grechen mentions here these shoes look a lot like the Martiniano Glove Shoe, which makes this the second shoe that I know of that Everlane has "ripped off".  I'll be reviewing the first shoe that I know of on Monday--it's the Editor slingbacks reviewed here.}

{June 2019 Update: I finally bit the bullet and tried the Martinano Glove Shoe that “inspired” Everlane’s Day Glove. You can read that comparison review here.}

Unsponsored Jamie + the Jones Review: The Blank Canvas Top in Raw Silk

So another Jamie and the Jones review for you today.  This was the second item in my first order from J+J (the first was the heavy weight T sweater reviewed here).  I gotta admit, at first I wasn't a huge fan of this J+J Blank Canvas top in raw silk.  Or at least I wasn't a fan of the shape and cut of Blank Canvas (but I love the raw silk material, more on that in a bit).  However I included the top in my Spring 10x10 Challenge, and after styling it a few ways I looooove the top!  Funny how some items of clothing grow on you, even if you don't like them right away (and to me that's also the beauty of the 10x10 challenges because they can clarify those feelings for you).

{Wearing: J+J Blank Canvas top, Everlane ponte skirt (similar here, reviewed here), Everlane Street Sandals (reviewed here), Celine Seau Sangle bag (similar here and here, reviewed here)}

When I first tried on the Blank Canvas top, I didn't like how cropped it was.  I do have a fairly long torso (well compared to my legs) so it might be extra short on me (I got this in a size small).  But I can only wear this top with really high-waisted bottoms.  My favorite bottoms to pair with this is my Everlane ponte skirt (reviewed here, shown above) or with my ES Clyde pants (shown below).  And even with high-waisted bottoms, if I raise my arms, you can still see my midriff.  I also didn't like how wide the boatneck was and so my bra straps sometimes showed.  

But once I started wearing the top for my 10x10, I fell in love with the way it draped.  Also I really love the longer sleeves that make my arms look skinny.  And most of all I really love this raw silk material.  The nubbiness doesn't bother me and I love how the raw silk feels substantial and less delicate than regular silk.  It's somewhere between cotton and silk.  So far I haven't tried handwashing it yet so I'll update this post when I do.  But as recommended in their care instructions, I'm trying not to wash it very often.  

So even though J+J's sweater didn't work for me, the top is a winner.  So much so that I'm already planning my next purchase in raw silk! Any advice on which style of top I should try next?

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Also this week, we picked up our new house!  Gradually moving in as we speak :)

The other day I thought, it doesn't matter if you shop fast fashion or ethically, if you have the problem of a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear you're doing something wrong.  Not to sound braggy and obnoxious (though I will), but I haven't had that problem in years.  Instead my problem would lean more towards the "you've worn this 4 days in a row already (usually a jeans and sweater combo), it's time to wear something different."  But I guess I never have that "nothing to wear" problem anymore (oh and I definitely used to) because I've spent time honing in on my style, and Kondo-ing the sh*t out of my closet multiple times.  So I really am left with my favorites.  And I've learned how to mix and match those favorites (the 10x10 Challenges really help with that) so that it's easy for me to throw on an outfit and head out the door.  Of course if you don't want to spend as much time as I do thinking about clothes, then yes you probably will have that nothing to wear dilemma until you come up with your own uniform/formula.

I guess I'm really lucky that my style aligns with Everlane a lot and I find their pieces to be my basic building blocks.  And I know a lot of slow fashion peeps think Everlane is getting to be fast fashion but I think they are the bridge between brands like H&M, Zara (the truly fast fashion ones) with brands like Elizabeth Suzann and Jamie+the Jones (the really slow ones).  They fill a niche where they have enough production to be able to have a large inventory (thus helping with the ease of buying and returning) and yet are manufacturing their clothes with ethical standards in mind.  I read this interesting article which states eco-friendly brands don't provide the price point and ease of purchase that Millennials look for when buying clothes: Kambara said the disconnect between Millennials shoppers wanting to buy and not buying eco-friendly fashion “is the lack of fashionable eco-friendly choices that also meet their ease, price/value and uniqueness tests. There are only a handful of eco-friendly youth-oriented brands — such as Anek, Everlane, Nudie Jeans, Patagonia, People Tree, Reformation and K.O.I. — and none have the scale or variety of fashion offerings to meet Millennials’ requirements for ease, price/value and uniqueness.”  I guess brands like Elizabeth Suzann and Jamie+the Jones can only appeal to those who can afford it, who are patient, and who are conscientious to the slow fashion cause.  But I do think Everlane (and Reformation, etc.) is a step in the right direction.

Also a quick review on this GuppyBag from Patagonia that's supposed to collect all the microfibers from your machine washable synthetic clothes.  Well it's useless so don't buy it!  I've used it at least 5-6 times and have never seen/collected any microfibers so I think it's a great idea but it doesn't work.

P.S. I wrote this earlier in last week and just now read this post from a blog I've been following for awhile, and it really resonated with me.  I think if you're "your own design advocate" as well as "buying for your lifestyle" as she advises, you really do start making your closet work for you.