Weekend Update/ Ramblings

You might have seen this on my Insta-story but I got it from @shaymitchell and I just really love this.  I'm thinking of taking parts of it as a mantra to keep reminding myself from over consuming.  I especially like to think of passing my treasures to others, which is where I am in consumption journey right now.  I've gotten rid of almost all the junks, and now everything I own has some sort of meaning or sentiment behind it (or is at least some sort of monetary value).  So that means less trips to Goodwill to donate and more of being able to sell my stuff (either online or at Crossroads).  Anyway I'm also going to start doing an informal closet inventory every month to keep track of what's coming in, what's going out and what I want to add. Hopefully this extra layer of thought will help me be more mindful when it comes to my clothes.

That quote above also reminds me of a line from a podcast I listened to recently that I loved (I recorded a clip on my insta-story): "Our lives is what we pay attention to and you're only going to remember what you pay attention to.  And so every time you're making a decision in the moment on what to pay attention to, you're making a broader decision about how you're spending your life [so do you want to be spending it on Instagram?]."  Anyway I liked that podcast so much I went ahead and bought her book and it's my first summer reading assignment to myself.  I'm sharing excerpt of the book on my insta-story so if you're interested head over there.  And yes the irony is not lost on my that I'm encouraging you to use Instagram to help quit using Instagram (and other addictive apps) on your phone.  But in the end, your phone and Insta are just tools that can do more good than harm if you are mindful of your usage.

Also, did you see Tina Fey's interview with Letterman on his Netflix special "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction?"  My favorite part was when she was describing how having diversity (in this case women) in the room is where we all need to start.  She was describing how SNL chooses the scripts for the faux-commercials they run, and how the men in the room initially rejected a "Classic Kotex" commercial because they didn't think it was funny when in actuality it was very funny.  And it wasn't because they were being sexist on purpose, but to them it genuinely wasn't that interesting.  That script was only accepted because Tina fought for it, but without representation (if another woman wasn't in the room) it would've been rejected.  Anyway this was a terrible retelling of it but go watch it if you haven't.  This is just another reminder to me that we need to have all kinds of people from all walks of life in the room if we want to keep getting better at what we're trying to achieve.  I sometimes think it's mind-boggling that humanity as a whole has been limping along and functioning at a tiny fraction of human capability (mostly male capabilities, and white capabilities in the the western world) because we exclude so many minorities from having a voice/the ability to make a difference.  But I finally think the internet is leveling the field a bit and we're starting to make progress.

And in the world of plastic, it's finally everywhere and it's the beginning of the end folks.  Indonesia is trying to reduce their plastic use with religion (Go Islam!  I wonder if there are any Christian passages religious Americans could use to promote sustainability), while some of us Americans are trying to reduce plastic by making it "uncool" (which is comparatively weaker motivation IMHO).

Second Paula's Choice Review: Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50, Clear Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30, Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster

*This review is unsponsored and I purchased all items myself.  There are some affiliate links below where I would earn some cents per click.

So this is my second review of Paula's Choice skin care items, and like I mentioned in my first review I AM ADDICTED to their stuff lol.  I tried to wait until I ran out of items before buying more, but the thing about skin care (and what makes the industry so lucrative) is that there are always new things to try that you've never tried before.  And there's always that hope that this one new thing added to your skin regimen would change your life (well at least your skin) and it'll be that one item you swear you would take with you if you were stranded on a desert island.  Okay, well maybe that's asking too much of skin care, but I gotta say Paula's Choice products, more than any other brands', make me believe in skin-changing miracles lol.

1) Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50

I purchased this (along with the second sunscreen moisturizer I'll be discussing below) when I ran out of my daily sunscreen that I was purchasing from SkinSalvation.  Since I've always had highly blemish-prone skin I'm very picky about my daily morning moisturizer.  It needs to not only not clog pores but it also needs to have sun protection in it.  I've realized the number one thing that keeps me from breaking out is proper sun protection (I'm pretty sure it has to do with keeping the damage and inflammation as well as oil production under control).  I wasn't sure if either of Paula's Choice moisturizers with spf would work so I got two with the intention of returning one (thanks to Nordstrom's awesome return policy).  I really like that this Resist moisturizer has spf 50 and since my night-time moisturizer (from the first review) is also part of the Resist line, I thought it would work for me.  And it does!  This moisturizer is really great: no sunscreen smell, high spf, and a good medium-light texture.  I actually prefer the second sunscreen more so I decided to keep this one as my back-up, gym-bag sunscreen.  

2) Clear Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30

So out of the two sunscreens this one is my favorite because it goes on super duper light.  Since my Suntegrity tinted sunscreen (which I wear as my daily makeup) is kind of thick and shiny, I prefer the lightness of this fluid (and it really is a fluid, not a lotion) as my first layer after toning.  I think it also works better with my naturally oily skin.  Also this one worked great in Hawaii where the high humidity and the hot sun make my sunscreen work extra hard.  Seriously no complaints about this spf fluid and I definitely will be re-purchasing this when it runs out.

3) Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster

So even though the last Paula's Choice booster didn't work for me, I was not scared off from trying more.  I was especially interested in hyaluronic acid because of how it helps to build up collagen to minimize wrinkles (or in my case sunken acne scars).  It's no miracle worker (and I don't need to take it with me on a desert island) but I do think it's been helping keep some moisture to my skin without added oiliness or greasiness that other thicker lotions have.  And I have seen some positive changes (I think my skin looks a smidge plumper overall) so it's encouraging me to keep going (I've used maybe a third of the bottle by now).  I definitely plan to rebuy this one as well when I run out.  

Anyway I'm very happy with these recent Paula's Choice items but like I've said in the past, everyone's skin is different so I can't guarantee it will work for you (so purchase it at Nordstrom's where they let you return opened items).  Anyway I'm going to try to not buy any more skin care items for right now since I still have a lot but I'm not making any promises.

Everlane Choose What You Pay (CWYP) Sale

Ok ok I normally don't do this, but since there are several things that are on sale at Everlane that I would actually recommend I just wanted to let y'all know in case you're interested.

1) The Foldover Crossbody bag

Reviewed here.  I use this bag a ton when traveling.  It's the perfect bag that lays flat at your side when you're carrying just essentials, but it also expands to fit quite a bit!  Plus the leather on this is so nice and surprisingly durable.

2) The Day Magazine Tote

Reviewed here.  So I have the Day Market Tote, but I really love the hardy leather that these totes are made of.  It can take a lot of abuse and it's the most used item in my closet.  This Magazine Tote is the perfect size for those who don't have to carry as much but still want a really useful daily tote.

3) The Modern Point 

Reviewed here.  This is probably my oldest and most worn shoe from Everlane.  It was one of the first things I reviewed!  It has worn in well over time and it's easily my most comfortable loafer type shoe I have.  I really loved this white and black version when it first came out and now it's finally for sale.

4) The Cashmere Crew

Reviewed here awhile ago.  I really liked this striped version when it came out this past winter and it looks great on Helen here.  If you've wanted to try Everlane's cashmere before, this is probably the best deal you'll find.

5) The Modern Tassel Loafer Mule

So I have the Modern Loafer Mule, which I reviewed here.  This is the same thing with an extra tassel on top.  I really like my loafer mules because I find Everlane's regular loafers to be too narrow for me, while these mules accommodate my wide-ish feet.  They are kind of heavy with a tendency to clomp so they're not made for extensive walking.

Tomorrow, all of these will be consolidated on the CWYP page and I have a feeling Everlane will be making an announcement (so some of these will sell out fast).  Also I used affiliate links in this post (and thank you to everyone who clicks and purchases through my links!  I am always very grateful for your support!).

P.S. Also don't let Everlane make you feel any guilt about choosing the lowest price to pay.  I think this Choose What You Pay scheme feels gimmicky in the marketing sense and I have no qualms paying the lowest price (especially since we're doing Everlane the favor here of buying stuff they made too much of, so their excess is their mistake).

2018 Grana Silk Dresses Review: Tea Dress and V-Neck Shift Dress

So I know I've said in the past that I'm not going to be reviewing any more items from Grana (due to their decline in quality and customer service towards the end of 2017).  Also the ethics of Grana is a little gray to me since they used to talk more about their manufacturing standards (I used to think of them as the Hong Kong version of Everlane).  But these days I don't find anything about it on their site anymore.  However, I've accumulated a lot of store credit through the use of my 10% off referral link (thank you and I'm super grateful for everyone who's supported me by clicking on my referral links!).  And well, even though I'm trying to consume less, I can't let all the credit go to waste (it feels like wasting free money that I earned).  So I decided to try a couple silk and linen items from Grana.  I'm going to do a bulk review of them starting with the 3 silk dresses (I got all of them in a small and I'm usually a size 4-6).  

I went down the path of Grana again because I have a wedding to attend to later this year and when I saw Grana's new silk dress options I wanted to give them a shot.  In the past, I found their silk dresses (especially this one) to be of superb quality and have worn them to a wedding or two in the past.  I still have those dresses, but I wanted something a little more dressy.  So the first one I tried was their Tea Dress and I love it!  I love the deep V in the front (which is great for a small-busted gal like myself) and the flutter of the ruffled silk hems.  I also appreciate the sleeves to hide my triceps.  The dress is a very flattering A-shape and I love that you can wear a regular bra with this dress.  

{Wearing: Grana silk tea dress, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Valentino small lock bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

As I've said in the past, Grana has downgraded the silk they use (everything used to be double lined in 14mm silk, now it's a single layer of 16mm silk or with a 10mm habotai silk lining--more on that in a bit).  For their Georgette silk satin, which is what this dress is made out of, they went from 22mm silk satin to 19mm Georgette silk.  You can definitely feel the difference in the quality and thickness, but since this dress is lined (by 10mm habotai silk) it's not that big of a deal.

{Wearing: Grana Silk Tea Dress, Valentino Rockstud Kitten Heels (reviewed here), Chanel crossbody bag (similar here)} 

I really like this black version, so much so that I went ahead and got the blue version since I think the light blue might be more wedding appropriate.  The blue one is still fully opaque since it is double lined in silk.  What do you think, black or blue?  

{Wearing: Grana Silk Shift Dress, Rothy's (reviewed here), Valentino small lock bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

I also ordered Grana's V-Neck Shift dress (in small) because I wanted to compare to Everlane's double-lined silk v-neck dress.  They look similar but appearances can be deceiving!  First of all, the small was definitely too small for me since you could see my belly pooch.  But then the arm holes, shoulder, and neckline was way too loose.  Also the v in the back goes down really low and so you can't wear a conventional bra with this.  All in all, this dress was bad on me. Everlane's version, which you could get for $50 cheaper is waaaaaay better.  The Everlane dress fits better, plus it's double lined in 16mm silk.  Grana's is 16mm silk, lined with 10mm habotai silk which just feels thin and cheap.  Grana, if you don't go back to your quality from before I don't think you're gonna survive!

Well at least I found their tea silk dresses to be the perfect one for a California wedding.  But to be honest I'm not sure how often I'd re-wear this.  And in general I do feel like Grana's quality and designs have gone down since they first started.  There's also no mention of their founders and ethics on their site anymore. 

P.S. I no longer have any Grana credit left (we used it to buy up some tees for my husband), so if you read the comments below, I can no longer offer to use them.

Everlane Try-on Review: The Denim Short, The Linen Relaxed Long-Sleeve Tee, The High Rise Twill Short, The Cheeky Straight Jean

So I finally did it.  I finally went to the Everlane store in SF.  I know I've said in the past I was disappointed in Everlane's lack of transparency to third party agencies but I just can't quit Everlane.  At least not cold turkey (with some credit in my account) because I am addicted.  So I thought if I tried on everything I wanted at once in their store, I'll at least save on the resources required for shipping and returning items.  It's a slightly more responsible way of shopping Everlane.  And also when it comes to my acquisition of new clothes, I'm going to try to be more mindful and keep it under 5 items total a month (still a lot I know but I gotta start somewhere because I'm definitely getting more than 5 things a month currently).  So here are some of the things I tried on but didn't buy.  I did buy 2 things but I'll do a full review of those once I put them through their paces.  

First up is the denim short in vintage dark blue (and worn with the linen muscle tank).  I would say that the short is true to size (I got my regular size of 28, I'm usually a 4-6 in pants and am 5'4") and since this is 100% cotton (unlike their jeans which are 98% cotton and 2% elastane) I don't think this will stretch out that much with wear.  So if I were to get this, I would have stuck with my usual 28 (plus I like my shorts to stretch out a bit and sit more loosely at the waist and use a belt if I need it).  But I didn't get it because I wasn't a fan of how the crotch area kind of bags out in a V (which is also why I didn't like Everlane's modern boyfriend jeans).  It's not so noticeable when my legs are apart but if you stand straight with your legs together, it just feels like there's excess material poofing out at the crotch.  It's no big deal but just a personal preference.

Then I tried the linen relaxed long-sleeve tee with these shorts.  I like their linen muscle tank and I've liked their linen knit dress in the past so I thought I might like their long sleeve version.  But nope the linen quality on these are not great and it's scratchy as hell on the arms.  That's definitely a deal-breaker for me.  Also this gray and white one was a tad sheer.  I should also note that my linen knit dress has stretched out over time (even though I lay to dry after every washing) and it's kind of a shapeless sack on me now.  I probably wouldn't purchase a dress in this linen material from Everlane again.

I also tried on the high rise twill short in size 6.  I probably have gotten away with a size 4 and it would have been perfect but I really wanted to try this color on and they only had a 6 on the rack in store.  Since these shorts are 95% cotton and 5% elastane, they will probably stretch out with wear and get pretty loose at the waist.  These shorts also had a bit of the poof problem at the crotch.  They also flared out a bit at the leg opening which I liked since it could accommodate my thicker thighs.  They're good shorts and if I were to choose between these or the denim one I think I might choose this one since the crotch didn't bag out as much on me.  But in general I have 2 pairs of shorts that I love and wear often and that's good enough for me.  

And last but not least is Everlane's cheeky straight jeans.  This is the only jean style from Everlane I had yet to try because I was getting pretty disillusioned by how poorly all their jeans fit on me (a lot of their styles just work better for taller girls).  Before this one, my closest favorite was the Kick Crop.  And then I declared I had enough pants earlier this year and that I would stop trying-on and buying pants.  So when the Cheeky jean came out I told myself I didn't need it (and I don't).  But since I was in the store I decided to try them on and oh man, these are THE ONE.  And by that I mean, these are the Everlane jeans made for me.  I love that the jean is fitted but not skinny and somehow these are the only Everlane jeans I've tried with zero v-shaped crotch bagginess.  Also the jeans made my butt look good, which also never happens.

I'm 5'4" and I'm wearing the ankle length pair since I have short legs.  I probably would hem them another inch or so since I like my jeans to show some ankle.  I'm wearing a size 28 here and I would probably keep it true to size since my thighs are on the bigger side.  But since they are 98% cotton and 2% elastane, they will loosen with wear.  If you want more of a fitted look (but not quite the skinny jean look) then I would probably size down.  If you want more of the mom jean look then stay TTS.  Here are Andrea's and Leah's reviews of these jeans (Andrea sized down but Leah didn't).  But in the end I didn't buy these because I said I had enough pants and I wasn't lying.  Also it's summer now in Cali and it's hot, so even if I did purchase these I probably wouldn't wear them until the fall.  If Everlane still has these around at the end of the year I might considering buying these to replace my Mott & Bow jeans (my current mom jeans).  But till then, no more buying pants for me!

Have any of you guys gone to the Everlane store (in SF or NYC) before?  I can't help it but I loooove their store and it just makes me want to buy more Everlane.  Anyway I'm going to try to save up all the things I want to try from them and just visit their store instead of all the buying and returning I do.  I know I have to do better!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

It's the end of May so how did my Meditation May go?  Well I was doing really well the first couple of weeks but then I went to Hawaii for a bachelorette party and well, I forgot to meditate lol.  Once I got back I tried to get back into it but like being off a diet, it's hard to get back to it.  But I plan to continue and really try to make this a full-time practice and not just a one month try-out.  It's hard to explain but I feel so much more gratitude and wonder for my daily life when I meditate and I also feel like I get a lot more creative ideas.  In general I think life with meditation is better than without.  

And speaking of diet, after my eat-anything-and-everything diet in Hawaii, I realized my body is just not built for that kind of abuse anymore.  I need my daily dose of greens and to minimize my sugar intake as much as possible.  I also watched The Magic Pill on Netflix (I know I already talked about it but I love this documentary) and it's convinced me to eat only meat from grass-fed or pasture-raised animals.  Humans evolved to eat animal meat so animal protein really does give us a lot of health benefits.  But I totally get the reason to go vegan, especially in the US with the inhumane factory farming of animals.  But pasture and grass fed animals are part of the cycle for healthy farming and for a healthy earth.  What's unhealthy is this messed-up system of putting all the animals in confined spaces and feeding them corn.  I don't know who came up with that stupid idea but it's killing us and our land.  Anyway, grass-fed beef might sound like an expensive indulgence and sure it can be at WholeFoods.  But Trader Joe's and Sprouts both sell grass-fed ground beef frozen (the TJ ones come from New Zealand, which makes me think do we not have enough of a supply from our own land instead of shipping it across the globe? ).  In the mean-time I'm going to try to go more vegan/vegetarian when I eat out to minimize eating factory farmed animals.

Some interesting things I read this week: I personally wasn't a fan of Vitner's Daughter (because of the smell) but now I'm a huge fan of the founder after reading her story here; and I've always been a fan of APC and enjoyed what its founder had to say here.

Jamie and the Jones Review: The Staple Basic Split Tee in black raw silk

Hi guys, and another Jamie + the Jones review for you today.  This is my 3rd J+J item, but my first one purchased secondhand (from eBay).  Like I said in the past, I love buying slow fashion secondhand because not only do you pay less and not have to wait for it, but you can also get a good sense of how an item wears over time.  I was worried the raw silk would pill like crazy and be extra "nubbin-y" after washing and wearing, but after trying this secondhand raw silk tee I've found that isn't the case.  In fact, the texture stays fairly the same when I compare my yet-to-be washed blank canvas tee with this used staple basic split tee.  In fact, I'm really loving the texture and easiness of this black raw silk tee because it's different from cotton but isn't as fussy as most other silk.

{Wearing: Jamie + the Jones raw silk split tee, Frame jeans (similar here), Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here, reviewed here)}

I'm wearing a small here and I think it's the perfect size.  It's meant to be a bit oversized but the split stops right at my waist which is great (don't want to be flashing belly).  I don't own a lot of tunic-type long tops because I feel like it makes my petite frame look even shorter.  But I think in this case the split helps the shirt from being too overwhelming. Also the neckline is on the larger side and helps balance it out.

I also like that I can tuck the front half in easily for that half tuck look (though TBH I don't know how often I would really wear it this way).  I also like that the longer length covers my butt so if I decide to wear this with leggings, it would look appropriate as well.

In general, I'm a huge fan of this tee since it's like a classic black tee with a twist.  I also love the that I don't have to hand wash this.  I think if you're a fan of black tees (or any tees really) but want something other than cotton, J+J's raw silk ones are a good choice!

P.S. For all those wondering about the M.Gemi promo code giveaway, I've closed the contest and emailed all the winners.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

Everlane Review: The Soft Cotton Popover Shirt

When I got Everlane's linen collarless shirt (which I loved, review here), I was super excited to also try their soft cotton popover shirt because I'm all about collarless right now.  I looked up a little history of the collarless shirt (also called the Grandad collar shirt) and it supposedly originated with blue collar workers who couldn't wear ties, which could get caught in machinery.  And so maybe it totally makes sense that I'm attracted to this kind of shirt (since nowadays I work in a garage and not in an office).  I love that there are no collars to get makeup on when I bend down.  This is the main reason I bought 2 Everlane linen collarless shirts (one in white and one in black).

So I thought the soft cotton version would work well with my lifestyle too.  And well it does, but I pretty much purchased a size way too small.  I'm usually a size 4, but I didn't want it to be too oversized so I consulted their product dimensions and bought a 0 *facepalm*.  I really should have bought a 2.  So now the fit is a bit weird and y'all agreed with me on Insta-story too lol.

But one person did say the shrunken shirt was more like a Korean- way of styling and I can see that (also a bit of a Commes des Garcons to me). 

I like how soft the shirt is.  It feels like a soft vintage shirt that's been washed and worn for years, and to me it's much more preferable to stiff cotton poplin.  Also the soft cotton doesn't wrinkle as easily.  But it does feel a lot thinner than normal stiff cotton and so I'm not sure how well it will hold up in the long run.

But in the end, I decided not to repurchase it in a size up mostly because of the price.  This one shirt is $75, which seems like a lot for a cotton shirt.  Everlane' modern utility jacket (reviewed here) costs only $3 more at $78 and I feel like you're getting a lot more bang for your buck on that piece.  I'd be more willing to buy and keep this is it was closer to $65 and I might just wait and see if this goes on their "choose what you pay" sale.

{Wearing: Everlane soft cotton popover shirt, Elizabeth Suzann linen Clyde, Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here, reviewed here)}

Oh and one other thing about the sizing: I noticed that the 5'10" model on the Everlane site is wearing a size 0 and yet it does not look extra short on her.  I'm only 5'4" and it looks way shorter on me.  Hmmm...ah well like I said I'd get a size 2 if this ever goes on sale.  But really since I don't need it (and since I already have 2 collarless shirts from Everlane) I have no plans to rebuy it.  However, if you're looking for a wrinkle-resistant, less stiff and very soft cotton collarless shirt for the office, this might be a good option for you.  Just get it true to size or one size down if you want a more fitted look.

P.S. I went to the Everlane store yesterday to try on some things and so this is me wearing the gray version of the popover shirt in size 2.  Size 2 is definitely a better size for me (and that's still one size smaller than my usual size 4), and I noticed the gray version is quite sheer.  So I think I prefer the blue and white striped one.  

Weekend Rambling: Some thoughts on diversity

A recent trip back to my hometown made me think about diversity when it comes to my own life.  I'm half Japanese and half Chinese, and in Hawaii where the almost half of the population is Asian, that's a pretty mundane mix.  And Hawaii has a lot of mixed race people (called hapas) so you would think it's a pretty diverse place to live.  There's even a song that makes fun of all the races and is super racist (there's a feeling in Hawaii of "nah, we're not racist" though a lot of racist remarks are made as jokes here.  Definitely a gray area).  But there aren't a lot of Black or Hispanic people there (and there's quite a bit of racism to those minorities from old-timers there I think).  But in general, there's an "aloha spirit" there and less racism than the mainland (that's the continental US).

I personally don't think I'm racist even though most of my friends were Asian in Hawaii and are Asian now.  But in college my best friends were a half-black gay man and a half-hispanic bi-man.  We were a really diverse group because our whole dorm floor were friends.  When I make friends, it's really just about who ends up being in my near vicinity I think.

But I've come to realize that if you don't seek out diversity in your daily life, it's easy to surround yourself with what you're used to.  For example, I never watched "black movies" because I didn't think they were of interest to me.  I don't really relate to black culture and used to view the "flamboyance" and  bravado of black culture as a bit irritating (a stereotype, I know.  And I'm coming from "diminutive" Asian culture so it's even more of a contrast).  But recently I watched "Girls Trip" and loved it and of course "Get Out" was great if not bizarre.  I need to seek out those movies and watch them instead of defaulting to white movies all the time (have yet to watch Black Panther but since I don't go to movie theaters, I'll have to wait until it's on HBO lol).

Also sometime last year I noticed my Instagram was all White and Asian bloggers.  I thought that might be because I don't really relate to the colorful or street style of most black bloggers.  But again I was wrong.  There are minimalist and and fair fashion black bloggers out there, but you have to seek them out (my faves are Tigertemi and TheOxfordist).  Then I started seeking out other black women on Instagram (my faves are Elaine Welteroth and Tracee Ellis Ross).  Technically the last two are mixed race, which I also think is the way to progress.  We need people who understand both cultures to help bridge it for the rest of us (other examples including Obama and Meghan Markle).

Anyway this is just some stream of consciousness writing so if I've offended anyone or got something wrong, I apologize.  I also have racist tendencies that I need to realize, address and fix all the time.  But sometimes having discriminatory thoughts doesn't make us a racist.  It means there's work to be done and progress to be made.  And as Maya Angelou said, when we know better then do better (also make sure to watch her documentary "Still I Rise"--it's so beautiful!).

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.