Everlane Review The Form Two Strap Sandal

If there was one Everlane purchase I regret this year it would be this Form Two Strap Sandal.  I purchased the Form Sandals last year in the plum color (now on sale at Everlane), and though I wore it a lot I always thought it was on the ugly side.  So when I saw Everlane's new sandals for this summer, I impulsively purchased them thinking they would be my new leather sandal for the summer.  I especially liked the green fabric stripe on the larger band (it looked a tad Gucci-esque to me) and I loved that they added a rubber layer at the bottom so that it's grippier than last year's version.

But here's the thing, I also purchased a pair of Birkenstocks (similar) in May after swearing never to be caught dead in them...ever.  But when I was in a Nordstrom Rack in Hawaii (tagging along with some friends), I tried on a pair.  And ohhhh maaaaii they are so comfortable.  It was kind of love at first wear.  So with two new sandals in my collection, sadly these Everlane ones got neglected.  As I mentioned on Monday, I've worn my Birkenstocks so much that they made it into my top 10 most worn items (so far I've worn them 23 times since May).  On the other hand, I've only worn these Everlane sandals a grand total of 3 days (woomp woomp).

So I don't know if I can honestly recommend these Everlane sandals.  Compared to the Birkenstocks, the sole feels a lot thinner while the straps aren't nearly as comfy.  However, aesthetically, I really like the look of these sandals.  But for me, that's no longer enough (I'm firmly in the old lady camp of comfort over looks).

But if you are interested in these sandals, they are true to Everlane size (which for my slightly wide feet is a half size bigger than my normal size, ie I get a size 8 in Everlane but 7.5 in most other shoes).

Anyway since I'm not wearing these sandals and they're just sitting around in my closet, I figure someone else could get better use out of them.  Like I said, I've only worn them 3 times.  So you can find the for sale here.

P.S. My Everlane giveaway for a $50 gift card ends today on Instagram so enter here if you haven't yet! :)

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Clyde Billow Skirt in Flax Linen

Alright so I have to admit that the first time I tried on this Clyde Billow Skirt from Elizabeth Suzann I was not a fan.  It felt way too voluminous and I thought it made my mid-section look puffy because the skirt billowed out (well no duh, it's in the name).  I have never owned or worn a skirt like this before in my life.  It almost felt like a costume skirt from a theater piece.  But when I polled this skirt on Insta-stories, so many people specifically DM'd me to tell me that they liked it (and that I should keep it).  And so with some peer pressure and enabling, I decided to give this skirt a good shot (plus I knew if I ended up really disliking it, I could always sell this skirt on the secondhand market with just a small loss).  The second time I wore it I liked it a little bit better.  And now?  I loooooove it.  Funny how that happens.

{Wearing: Grana silk cropped tank (sold out, reviewed here), Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Billow Skirt, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here)}

Here are some of the things I love about this skirt:

- First and foremost it's a really well-made skirt with a ton of linen material.  Linen isn't heavy (and I wouldn't call this skirt heavy), but with the amount of linen used in this skirt, this skirt is substantial.  Seriously, I don't think any other brand would use so much material for just one piece of clothing.  

- And all that linen is what makes the billow of the skirt, which makes it so fun to wear.  What girl doesn't like twirling around in a voluminous skirt?

- The flax linen material is so gorgeously textured and 100% opaque.  Also due to the billowiness and the slight wrinkliness of this linen, any dark spots or stains are hard to see (which happens a bit for me whenever I brush up against something in the Airstream garage).

- Like all my Clydes, I love love love the pockets.  These skirt pockets can hold anything and everything.

{Wearing: Only Child Alta top in raw silk (review coming soon), Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Billow Skirt, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Celine Small Cabas Phantom (similar here, reviewed here)}

I'm wearing a size small here (I'm a 28 waist and a 37 hips, usually a size 4-6).  The first time I wore it I had to shimmy it over my hips a bit.  But after washing and wearing for a month the elastic waistband loosened enough so that it's not as tight over the hips.  I'm 5'4" and find the length a tad long and so I wear heels with this skirt to keep my legs from looking stumpy.  I might try to take the hem up a tad just so it's a tad shorter than the current midi length.

I think part of the reason I didn't like it at first, was that this is also not my usual style.  I don't normally wear big puffy skirts.  So this could just be another example of how slow fashion changed my style.  But now I love it because this skirt feels so unique and special.  Also by pairing it with more cropped tops or tucking in a shirt, I think it balance out the volume on the bottom.  

{Wearing: Clare V tee, Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Billow Skirt, Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Celine Nano Belt Bag (similar here)}

Also, the puffiness of the skirt goes down a bit once you wash it and don't steam press out the wrinkles.  The photos above, where I'm wearing it with the Alta top, is the skirt right after washing (though I hung it to dry).  So it's a tad wrinkly but also when I wore it, it felt less voluminous (and I prefer it that way).  The one thing I noticed about really good linen is that after you wash it, you don't need to press it.  There's not major wrinkles and instead the linen just looks textured and casual.  In fact, I think it's better to leave it slightly rumpled.  

So what do you think?  Did I make the right decision to keep it?

The Stylebook App 6 month recap: What did I wear the most so far this year

Wow can you believe it, half the year is over already?  Spring has come and gone and we are now in full summer mode!  Well I did a recap of what I wore the most after the first 3 months of the year, so I thought I would do another one for the 2nd quarter of the year.  I really loved writing that first post since it helped me 1) be mindful of what I'm actually wearing in my closet and 2) helped me realize that even with a ton of clothing, I only really wear the same stuff all the time (so maybe I don't need so much clothing?).  Well I at least do not need to buy any more clothes for the next several months, especially since I got an influx of new things in June and don't know when I'll get those wear counts up!

Anyway just like last time, I'm not going to count the bags here since they're used on the daily and I also don't log my tees on the app since I wear them all the time as well (and treat them somewhat like undershirts).  So as you'll see the things that end up being worn and logged the most are my pants and shoes.

1) Vince Blair Sneakers (similar here): Still holding the number one spot.  I guess when you end up wearing it almost everyday in the winter, it keeps its number one position.  I rotate shoes more in the summer, so the wear count for each shoe is less.  I'm just a summer shoe kind of person, while I don't really care in the winter so I wear the same darn thing.

2) Elizabeth Suzann Linen Clydes (reviewed here): This is hands down my favorite pair of summer pants.  The linen breathes and I never sweat in these.  And I also love that they're high waisted and cropped at the ankles.  When I first got it, I wore it everyday for weeks.  Even though it cost a pretty penny ($255), I'm down to $5.20/wear which isn't bad at all.  Compare that to the Zara stuff that I bought impulsively for $40 and $50, which are still at $10/wear and $25/wear respectively.  Aaaand I'm already ready to get rid of the Zara stuff.  This really shows me that it's not how much something costs so much as how many times are you really going to wear it.

3) Frame Denim (old, similar here): Also still holding on to it's position, which isn't surprising since like I said before it's my favorite pair of jeans.

4) Everlane Street Sandals (no longer available, reviewed here): This has been my favorite summer shoe for the last 3 years running and I'm on my second pair, having worn the stuffing out of my first pair.  This time I cut off the elastic before it got all gross and dirty so now I can slip my feet in and out easily (but the 2 leather straps keep it secure enough to keep on, even when running).  I actually have one more pair of this exact shoe ready for when this second pair putters out.  Yep, that's how much I love this simple-looking lightweight shoe.  And it's no wonder that these were in my lowest cost per Everlane post here.  It'll probably show up on that list for this year as well.

5) Birkenstock: I recently purchased this shoe in May after resisting wearing Birkenstocks for years.  I've always viewed these shoes as very granola and a tad ugly.  I didn't want to follow the trend but in the end resistance was futile.  And there's a good reason these shoes are so popular, they're comfy as heck.  And it shows since I've worn them 23 days already in a month and half.

6) Everlane Day Heel Mule (reviewed here): This shoe is my current favorite pair of heeled shoes.  I wear it constantly and it shows on the app, though not on the shoes (these still look great due to the awesome leather quality).  Now that these shoes are broken in a bit (it took about one day of 4 hours of wear), they are hands down the comfiest heels I own.  Plus I love that I can just slip in and out of them without having to fuss with straps or buckles.  I've worn these shoes everywhere and plan to wear them even more (and just yesterday I even talked about getting a second pair in the natural suede).

7) Rothy's Pointed Flats (reviewed here): Another summer shoe has made the top 10.  I've worn these everywhere as well and are my favorite pair of closed toe flats.  They're the perfect summer shoe since they breathe pretty easily and are easy to wash.  I've washed mine already and yep I can attest they're as good as new when you do.

8) Everlane Modern Utility Jacket (reviewed here): This was my spring jacket this year.  It really was the perfect light spring jacket, especially for my job since I needed all the pockets for walkie-talkies and other Airstream gear.  Can't wait to bust this jacket out again in the fall!

9) Everlane Long Sleeve Cotton Crew Sweater (reviewed here):  And this was my spring sweater this year.  It was the perfect layering piece and it fit under my Modern Utility jacket.  This was my go to combo all spring.

10) Everlane Wool-Cashmere Sweater (no longer available, reviewed here): This sweater was in the number 3 position (with 16 wears) back in March.  I haven't worn it since then but because it was my most worn sweater in the winter it's still holding on to the top 10.  

So what lessons have I learned from the last 3 months of keeping track of what I wore?  Well first of all, the items that can be worn over multiple seasons are the ones that are naturally worn the most and so you get the best bang for your buck.  Also new items that become fast favorites also are worn the most.  And again this exercise has driven home to me the ole' 80/20 rule: I wear 20% of my clothes, 80% of the time.  But of course a girl always wants to have options so I plan to keep the rest of my clothes around (especially now that I have a closet to actually fit them all in).  But in general this logging of things I wear is a really useful way of making sure I'm being mindful of wearing what I buy.  And since I'm having a No Buy July, I plan to get my wear counts up even more.  Anyways can't wait to see how the next 3 months play out!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Had some Airstream retrievals in Napa this week and Oxbow is my fave spot to grab lunch

How was everyone's week?  Mine was pretty uneventful other than a fun BBQ with friends on the 4th of July, oh and also playing a new board game with friends (we played Puerto Rico, have you played it before?  It was fun if not a tad long).  Anyway it was very weird not to post all week on either this blog or on Instagram.  I thought I might catch-up on posts during this hiatus but nope, I hardly wrote anything and it felt kind of nice.  Also it was nice to take a break from Insta (though I did a couple Insta stories, but that's fun for me).

So one week into No Buy July, and I already want to buy stuff (*facepalm*) but instead of buying it I will just talk about it here.  First up is the new line of cropped tees from Everlane.  I know I don't need any of these, nor does Everlane have the best quality tees.  But they would look so cute with my high-waisted Elizabeth Suzann (ES) Clydes, my linen skirts and even my new Dune pants from Only Child.  But I will resist.  If there's any available in August I might think about it (though I originally planned for a no buy July and August, I'm rethinking that August bit).  I also want to get Everlane's Day Heel Mules in this natural suede color.  I really love my cognac Day Heel Mules (reviewed here)  and I've worn them a ton now (okay well 23 days so far to be exact, and they are now at $6.73/ per wear).  But I don't like how the cognac color is a tad too warm to go with my ES linen Clyde skirt or my notPerfectLinen skirt.  So I think this natural suede color would be the perfect cool-toned neutral to go with my other cool-toned clothes.  And lastly I just saw this cute belt bag from a Parisian brand named celine lefebure and I really love it.  The brand is a small one and their site doesn't go into their ethics too much except to say the bags are made in Italy.  I probably won't get it since I'm not sure how practical such a small bag is, but I can still admire it from afar, lol.  But these are all things I don't need so I will wait and see if I still want them at the end of the month.  Anyone else doing a No Buy July and how's it going?

Also anyone planning to do the summer 10x10 challenge?  I usually skip the summer version because in the past I've pretty much worn just a tee and jean shorts all summer (plus it's peak season for the Airstream biz).  But this year I've got my ES linen clyde pants and skirt, my notPerfectLinen skirt, my Only Child alta top and ES petra top so I feel like I've got a ton of fun options.  So it's about time I finally participated in the summer one.  It starts July 27.  Anyone else with me?

Weekend Update/Ramblings: 10 Things I'm Grateful For RN

While I was searching for an old review on the blog, I found this old post and read through all the things that I was grateful for last May.  Well it's probably a good reminder to catalog the things we are grateful for every once in awhile.  Plus it was pretty fun for me to read back through it.  So please excuse this indulgence while I catalog what I'm grateful for this year.

1) Yoga.  Last year it was swimming, this year it's yoga.  I've been doing it 2-3 times a week for a couple months now and I'm starting to see my strength build.  Plus it's been a great way to get some meditation time in as well.

2) Hiring another hand at the Airstream garage.  Not only am I not cleaning Airstreams this year but I'm also doing less prep work and tours.  This also means I've been putting more time into the blog and I think it's showing.  

3) You guys, my readers!  I can't say this enough, but thank you guys for your support.  Seriously I don't know how long I would be writing this blog if no one read it.  

Pasture-raised chicken necks, from my local farmers market, for chicken broth.  It was only $3 a package!

4) My Instant Pot.  I probably cook with it 1-2 times a week and it's been great for getting me to eat more whole foods and buying less take out.  Here's my laziest recipe: 1lb frozen pasture-raised ground beef with about 2 cups of water in the instant pot for 25 minutes (natural release) to get a block of cooked ground beef with some beef broth.  Save the beef broth (or drink it right then, very delicious!) and then take out the ground beef.  Throw in pasta with sauce and pressure cook it for 12 minutes (depending on what kind of pasta but I usually go with some curly macaroni type).  When that's done throw chunks of ground beef back in and mix.  One pot pasta plus natural beef broth.  I also do the same with frozen or fresh chicken but instead of taking out the chicken broth, I leave it (but take out the chicken) and add rice and cook rice in there for some chicken rice.  You can also add veggies in by keeping the pot warm with the sauté function and throwing in spinach or something.

5) Saturday's farmer's market (this was on the list last year too).  I love my local farmer's market (we just finished up cherry season and now it's peach/plum season).  Even though I'm moving about 25 minutes away, I think I'm going to keep driving down every once in awhile to get my fix of fresh fruits, vegetables, grass fed beef and pasture raised chickens.

6) Moving into a house and getting a bloffice.  I'm definitely going to miss trailer life but I won't miss everything about it.  I plan to write more about this transition when we finally move in fully (which won't be for another couple of months).

7) But in the meantime, I'm also very grateful for the current trailer we live in, our Rockwood.  This was a peek into tiny living that I could do indefinitely really.  And I am very grateful for the current trailer park (well it's more like an RV resort) we live in. Surrounded by nature and with the view of trees and endless golden grass outside.  (P.S. This is also why California burns)

8) My Elizabeth Suzann Clydes.  I have three Clydes now: the linen pants, the canvas pants and the linen skirt.  I love all three though I wear the linen pants the most.  Seriously my bottoms (as in pants and skirt) game has been vastly improved since last summer (which consisted mostly of jean shorts).

9)  Friends and family (that's gotta be on every one of my gratitude lists).

it doesn't have to be white privilege, it's just privilege

10) My privilege.  Ok I know that sounds super snotty but the truth is I'm privileged because I was lucky enough to be born into a family that has supported me (and still does tbh) financially as well as emotionally and mentally.  I don't deserve it any more than the next guy.  I recently watched a new documentary on HBO called "It Will Be Chaos" about refugees and asylum seekers and it made me sad but also so grateful.  I'm so very lucky to not have had the kind of struggles these refugees face.  I know I should do something with this "privilege" and I'm thinking about it.  Giving money doesn't seem like enough.  You can't pay your way to ending these problems, though of course it helps.  But I want to do more.

Thanks for reading through all this and just to let y'all know I'm going to take a week break from blogging.  Things are picking up at the Airstream biz so I haven't had time to do as much writing.  So instead of putting out posts just to keep up with some kind of self-imposed schedule, I'm going to let myself have a break and I'll be back with more reviews in a week.  And hope you guys all have a great 4th of July!

2018 Celine Medium Strap Wallet Review (vs. 2013 Celine Zip Around Wallet) {Updated January 2021}

Hi guys, so for my bag-people readers this one's for you.  My high-end bag and SLG (small leather good) addiction doesn't normally translate to the ethical fashion world, except I hope for the most part Celine and other brands I support are paying their workers fairly.  H&M they are not.  But I get it, I'm lucky and most people are not looking to buy Celine wallets.  However, if you're looking for a bag or wallet to be a workhorse for years (if not decades) then I recommend getting luxury accessories secondhand.  That's how I got my 2013 Celine zip around wallet (from my favorite secondhand seller, Fashionphile).  And well I'm doing this review for you today to let you know that used can definitely be better than new.

So I got my new medium strap wallet from my mom as a birthday present (I'm so grateful!).  I've been wanting a new wallet because even though I love my pink zip around wallet, I really wanted a bill fold to hold cash.  I don't do well when I have to neatly tuck my bills in a gusset, which is what I was doing with the zip around wallet, because I'm not neat (maybe my new blog name could be The Messy Blogger lol).  I hated fumbling and unfolding all my cash, especially since most of the time the bills were crumpled.  So when I saw this medium strap wallet, I knew it was the right one for me.  It has more than enough card slots for me plus it has a bill fold.

But here's the thing, in this day and age of a highly competitive market, even Celine has taken to cutting some corners.  One of the biggest difference between my 2018 wallet and 2013 wallet is that the card slots of my 2018 wallet are no longer all leather like they are in my 2013 wallet.  Celine has taken to making the slots (at the bottom where you can't see it) out of nylon.  My 2013 zip around wallet is all leather.  It's not a big deal but that's a sign of a loss of quality.  Also the leather quality of the zip around wallet is all around better.  I've only had the strap wallet for a couple months and already there's quite a bit of scratches on the soft leather interior. 

But in the end, I really like my new wallet for the added functionality.  However, I'm keeping the pink one as a back-up for it's durability.  But either way I'm set in terms of wallets for at least a decade now so this should be my last review of wallets ever (I hope!) lol. 

Also here's my original review of the 2013 zip around Celine wallet and how it compared to Everlane's.

And you can find my other Celine reviews here.

{January 2021 Update: I still have my strap wallet and I love it! It hasn’t worn much and I’m impressed how well its held up. A winner for sure!}

Unsponsored notPerfectLinen Review {Updated June 2019}

Hi guys and here's a review of this Marseille linen skirt from a new-to-me slow fashion brand called notPerfectLinen.  If you're not yet familiar with them, notPerfectLinen is a small family run Lithuanian business that sews ethically-made garments out of Oeko-tex certified linen.  Each garment is made to order like other slow fashion brands (and so like other slow fashion brands, they have crazy long lead times but more on that later).  You can find their items on Etsy.

I heard of notPerfectLinen (nPL) through the slow fashion grapevine lol.  Since I've been purchasing and blogging about Elizabeth Suzann for a bit, other readers have asked me what I thought about them.  But I waited a bit to purchased because even though I'm a huge fan of Etsy (mostly for fine vintage/antique jewelry), I've never purchased clothing from the platform before so I was a bit cautious because of potential sizing issues.  But when I wanted to add a linen skirt to my wardrobe, I knew I had to try their version.  Also since skirts are more forgiving when it comes to sizing, this was the perfect chance.

{Wearing: Everlane Notch Collar Popover Shirt (reviewed here), notPerfectLinen MARSEILLE linen skirt, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Smaaks Amsterdam bag}

So what do I think about the linen quality of notPerfectLinen?  It's really great.  It’s slightly less in weight than Elizabeth Suzann linen, but nPL has the added benefit of being Oeko-tex certified.  {June 2019 Update: And for those who are wondering about how the linen quality from NotPerfectLinen compares to other brands like Linenfox, Elizabeth Suzann, and Everlane check out my ethical linen comparison post here.}

I'm wearing a size S/M here and I'm 5'4" with a 28" waist and 37" hips.  I usually wear a size 4-6 on the bottom.  And I think I got the perfect size.  It's not loose at all nor is it too tight, so make sure you double check your measurements with their sizing guide that's listed.  The color that I ordered is called "light elephant gray" and it's a bit more gray than the color on their site (but I love it).

The waist is just an easy elastic waist and the skirt goes down to past my knees.  If I were to order it again I would probably ask for a custom length that's a tad shorter (currently it measures 28.5" from top to bottom).  The nice thing about it being made to order is that they allow for customizations (I think you can just add it to the comment section of your order).  

This skirt comes with pockets and I really love the brass snap buttons.  I could unsnap the bottom ones if I want more leg showing.  Also the brass buttons help weigh down the skirt so it doesn't fly up with a gust of wind (of course if it's super windy, good luck and you probably shouldn't be wearing a skirt lol).  I was, however concerned that the pleats at the waist would add bulk to my hips but it doesn't really.  I think the linen material keeps it from getting too bulky.  Also wearing your top tucked into the skirt helps to define the waist more and keeps it slimming I think.  In the outfit pics below I'm wearing the skirt with some cropped tops and I think it looks pretty good there too.  I also wear heels with this most of the time to prevent a cankle-y look (which happens a lot for these midi lengths on me).

So right now their lead time is 4-6 weeks and when that happens they tend to shut down shop until they're caught up again.  I think that's a great way to keep people's expectations in check.  They open up shop again when they've caught up, and right now it looks like that's going to be July 2nd.  Shipping is about $8 from Lithuania and that's beyond reasonable.  It does take about another week or so for shipping to the US, but if you've already been waiting 4-6 weeks, what's another week?  Yes that may seem like a long time to wait, but guys it's worth it!  Quality items that you've mindfully chosen for your closet should take time, and when it comes you'll love it even more because you waited!

Everlane Review: The Japanese GoWeave Short Sleeve Mini Wrap Dress

So don't tell me I look good in this dress.  I mean I appreciate any and all compliments (of course) but for this one instance let's just say it looks so-so because I ended up returning this Everlane Short Sleeve Mini Wrap Dress.  I was very torn about whether or not to keep it, and more so after a poll on Insta-story had 89% of the voters saying keep it.  But in the end, as they say, you gotta do you and "me" is not this dress.

But man, I could see this being me some day!

{Wearing: Everlane GoWeave Wrap Dress, Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Celine Nano Belt Bag}

This would be "office worker Elaine" who's efficient, no-nonsense and makes the big bucks (lol, all 'not me' attributes at the moment).  But as it stands, I'm really a garage-working blogger so this dress would only see the light of day on rare occasions (maybe a bridal shower or a fancy dinner).  And not to say that all my clothes need to be workhorses but I have enough special occasion dresses (including the Grana dresses I reviewed couple weeks ago), so I don't need another one.

Anyway for those who do work in an office or more formal environments, I would recommend this short sleeve wrap dress.  The mini version works great for petite gals like myself (I'm 5'4"), while taller people could probably rock the regular length.  I'm wearing my regular size 4 here and it fits great! 

The design on this dress is awesome with an inner tie and an outer tie, so it'll never accidentally unwrap.  I also really like that the sleeves overhang a bit to minimize the tricep area.  The material works great for this dress but having owned Japanese GoWeave before, I know this triacetate doesn't breathe.  So this dress is best suited for air conditioned offices or cooler climates. 

But another reason I ended up returning this dress is because triacetate is quite a toxic material to make and also won't biodegrade like a natural fiber.  So I would only feel worse keeping this around in my closet, not being worn and then knowing how this toxic-to-make material will fill a landfill indefinitely.  Nah, I rather send it back (and never get Japanese GoWeave again) and let Everlane sell it to someone else so they can have that "problem."  

Anyway I can't say I exactly recommend this dress, though it is a good dress.  But if you're going to be wearing it a lot to work and it fills a need in your wardrobe then I would say it's probably worth it.  

P.S. See more in the comments (in response to Renee from goblinshark) for some better links with the specific chemicals it takes to produce triacetate!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

A shot from my visit to a Tiny Home Festival last weekend.  Wearing my Whimsy+Row top with Elizabeth Suzann canvas Clydes

So I had mentioned in the past that I was going to keep track of my purchases this month because I started to feel the overconsumption creeping back into my life.  And holy moly, did I really go overboard this month!  I blame it partly on free stuff from Everlane and West Coast Craft, but trying to stick my 5 item/month budget was not possible this month.  So here's the quick update of what entered my closet this June: 1) Everlane (EV) linen tank, 2) EV denim skirt (both technically purchased in May but came in June), 3) Elizabeth Suzann (ES) Clyde skirt (purchased in April), 4) Dolan dress from Anthro (gift credit), 5) ES petra crop (from @selltradees), 6) EV easy Chino (gift), 7) EV notch collar shirt (gift), 8) Only Child Alta top, 9) Only Child dune pants (in the process of exchanging), 10) Whimsy and Row recycled raw silk top.  I sold an Everlane tee, my Jamie and the Jones Blank Canvas top (since I got 2 raw silk tops from West Coast Craft I decided to sell the one I don't wear as much), a Steven Alan tank, an M.Gemi sneaker, and my first Away suitcase (because I got a second one in black last month and it's so much sleeker).  So 5 things out, 10 things in?  And I like to think I'm a minimalist, lol, I must be delusional.  Anyway this is just to say it will be a no buy July (and I'm thinking of making No Buy July a thing every year just because it rhymes lol), but also a no buy August.  Instead if there's anything I want, I'll put it on a list to purchase at a later date.  And since I finally will have a bloffice (blog office), I'm going to get a couple more things up for sale on my Closet Sale page starting next week.

Also I should confess that I fully regret purchasing the 2 Zara items last month (so all of you that disapproved, you were right).  One of the items (the one I like more) has already gotten a rip in the wash somehow, while I don't reach for the second item because the polyester in it makes it scratchy.  So no matter what an outside app tells me, Zara and other fast fashion brands are not better to me than Everlane.  At least Everlane clothes are mostly made with natural fibers (with a few notable exceptions) and they last me a really long time (I have yet to get a rip like the Zara item).  And then when I'm ready to let something from Everlane go, the quality is still good enough for reselling and there's usually someone who wants to buy it (and that's not true for most of Zara's stuff).  I'll be lucky if I can offload Zara at Crossroads (after I mend the rip of course).  It crossed my mind that this last visit to Zara was like sleeping with an ex long after you've broken up.  You think it's for good time's sake but then you just regret the mistake.  Because you know, there was a reason you broke up in the first place, right?

Everlane Review: The Cotton Short Sleeve Popover Shirt

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

Hi guys and welcome to my review of the second item I picked out from Everlane's June line-up of releases.  The first one was the Easy Chinos that I reviewed here (and I noticed are all sold out in the ochre color I featured--did I do that?  Or am I just getting a big ego lol >.<).  The second item I picked out was this cotton notch-collar popover shirt.  I chose it because I tried Everlane's soft cotton popover shirt and loved it (though I didn't keep it since it was pretty expensive for a shirt).  This version is $20 cheaper and has short sleeves which are perfect for hot summer days!

I went with the classic white color because I wanted a simple crisp white shirt and I'm happy to report this top is fully opaque!  The material is a sturdy lightweight cotton that does wrinkle a bit, but nothing my handy dandy travel steamer can't fix in a jiffy.  I love this popover style without buttons because it makes the shirt easier to tuck in and there's also no gaps where the shirt pulls away from the buttons.  And the notch collar is a subtle but cute touch on a fairly plain white shirt.

{Wearing: Everlane Notch-Collar Popover Shirt, Everlane Denim Skirt in Indigo Rinse (review coming soon), Everlane Day Heel Mules (reviewed here), Celine Seau Sangle bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

I'm wearing a size 2 here, which is one size down from my usual 4.  And the shirt is still a bit oversized.  If you're looking for a fitted button-down type of shirt this isn't it.  But I actually like how it falls away from the body since it helps balance out more fitted bottoms like this Everlane denim skirt.  Also the sleeves were a bit long on me so I rolled them up once.

When I first took a look at this shirt in person, it reminded me of my school-girl uniform I had to wear during elementary school (yay for private Episcopalian school).  It was a shirt just like this with either a skirt or a jumper.  And so that thought must have stuck with me when I first styled it with this skirt:

{Wearing: Everlane Notch Collar Popover Shirt, notPerfectLinen MARSEILLE linen skirt (review coming soon), Everlane Day Heels (reviewed here), Smaaks Amsterdam bag (should I review this?)}

Doesn't that looks like some kind of school uniform lol?  

Anyway this shirt is being released today and thanks to Everlane for gifting it.  But more importantly thank you guys for your continued support of my reviews!

Also, this recent article about the classic white shirt is an interesting read if you've got the time.

Hawaii Goods Giveaway {Closed}

Hi guys, so when I went back to my hometown last month I picked up some of my favorite items so I could do a giveaway as a thank you to all of you guys who support me with your time and your clicks!  I really appreciate your comments, messages on Instagram, and taking the time to read my opinions here!

In this giveaway: 1) My favorite hot sauce made in Hawaii, and coincidentally hot sauce number 5 on the YouTube show "Hot Ones"; 2) My favorite cuticle cream also made in Hawaii.  It's made of natural ingredients (though sorry about the plastic); 3) A reusable drawstring bag made by mom from Hawaiian kapa-cloth-patterned material (I use these bags whenever buying bulk or for fruits and veggies instead of plastic bags); 4) Stainless steel straw and 5) Island Bamboo utensils.

So not quite a zero waste giveaway but almost.  Anyway if you're interested in winning this little package, just enter the form below.  I will only email you if you win and don't plan to use your email otherwise (email marketing is not my thing).  Open to international shipping.  Giveaway ends in one week!

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Marlena Midi in Heavy Weight Cotton Knit from the Alabama Chanin collab

I hadn't planned on purchasing anything from the ESxAlabama Chanin collection, but when I just happened to be online when the collection was released I couldn't resist!  I thought why not try it since I have the opportunity and I'm glad I did!  I decided to get the Marlena midi in the plum color in a small.  What do you think?

I actually really like the look of the dress though I'm not usually a fan of sleeveless dresses nor of midi lengths (though I've increased my number of midi dresses and skirts with my ES purchases).  Since I'm only 5'4", I definitely need to wear heels to pull this look off (the last picture of this post is without heels and you can see how without them, my legs start looking cankle-y).  I'm pretty much decided that I'm going to take this to a tailor and shorten this dress though (and I'll update it with more pics after).  I think it'll look a tad better on me if it was just below the knees.  But for this post I wanted to show you the dress as I bought it.

The cotton material from Alabama Chanin is really thick and substantial which is great for a a more body hugging dress like this.  The cotton is thick enough that you can't see any VPL.  The cotton reminds me of the kind of thick cotton used on some french striped long sleeve shirts (like this one) but this version is softer and stretchier.

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann x Alabama Chanin Marlena Midi, Everlane Day Heel Mules (review here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here, review here).

I like that this dress is reversible though I prefer the crew neck side since I'm not a huge fan of the seam running down the middle in the front when wearing the v-neck side.  But it's a cool option to have and I could see it being a fun way to mix it up when traveling and you have limited wardrobe options.

Anyway the last I heard from ES about this collection, it should be re-releasing in July (though not a concrete timeline).  They had some delays since it took longer than expected to get their material order from Florence (yep that's where they're getting this organic cotton material from).

As for me, I wore this out on several occasions and loved it.  It's definitely something you can dress up or dress down.  And like I said I'll be taking it to a tailor to shorten because I think it would like a tad better on me with it shorter.

What do you guys think?  Anyone else order something from the ESxAC collection?

Weekend Update: We're Moving Into A House

You might have caught it on my Insta-story, but we're going to be moving into a house!  So actually this is a house that my mom purchased as a place for her to stay when she's in California (currently she still lives in Hawaii) and she's planning to live part time in both places.  I'm very excited to be moving back into a house, though I really do like living in a trailer.  I'll miss trailer life for sure.  But I'm willing to give it up if it also means I get to have a blog office (which I'm calling a bloffice).  Currently my stuff is split between the trailer and the Airstream garage and I do most of my blog work at the garage.  Nothing wrong with that but I can't wait to have a designated space for all my clothes and a chance to see it all in once place so I can organize it better.  

I also look forward to but also dread having to fully furnish a house again.  When my husband and I first bought a place, we decked it out and bought a lot of stuff.  When we downsized to a trailer, 85% of that went to Goodwill and it made me realize how much stuff I had purchased in just 5 years and how much money I wasted.  This is what probably fueled my mindful consumption goals (not that I'm there yet, but I'm working on it).  For this house we're hoping to buy just the essentials and to purchase some things secondhand (though I'm wary of secondhand furniture in general because of an incident with bed bugs once on the East Coast--seriously it made me think it was not worth getting secondhand furniture).  So we'll see.  I'm okay if the house looks sparse because who knows, if I can't handle living with my mom again, moving back into the trailer is plan B.

This also means I'll be changing my blog name at some point (hopefully by the end of the year) since I won't be a wife in a temporary-house anymore.  I've been thinking about a name change for awhile now since I'm not really a fan of this current name.  It was just something I came up with because this blog was going to be a log for my year as a temporary housewife.  I'm really not the housewife type nor does it reflect what I'm really blogging about (fair fashion, zero waste goals, mindful consumption goals, etc.).  Don't know what I'm going to change my name to yet but I'm open to ideas!  

Summer Sun Protection Plan

Hi guys, and can you believe it?  Another summer is upon us!  Last year I reviewed some items I use to protect myself from the harsh San Jose sun.  I still use those, but I've also added some other SPF items to my routine.  So I thought I would share with you my whole sun protction lineup that I'm using for 2018.

1) Paula's Choice Clear Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30

As I mentioned in last week's post, I've added this as my first base layer of SPF for my face.  It's a super light liquid that absorbs quickly into the skin and it's perfect for those prone to breakouts like I am.  Love love love this new addition to my routine.

2) Deborah Lippmann's Rich Girl Hand Cream

I mentioned this in a weekend update post once I think, but I'm now on my second tube of this.  Like I said before I love the SPF factor of this hand cream as well as the lavender smell (it doesn't smell like sunscreen at all).  I keep this in purse at all times and usually apply while driving (I really want to keep sun damage on the tops of my hand at a minimum but since I'm always driving and towing Airstreams, my hands get a lot of sun exposure).  And the best thing about this lotion?  It's a twist top tube so it makes applying with one hand super easy and you can never lose the cap (it really is genius!).

3) Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen in the color Light

I reviewed this last year and my love for this BB cream/tinted sunscreen is still going strong.  Even though it goes on a tad greasy/shiny, this protects my face from sun damage all day even when I sweat.  And again no breakouts.  I don't usually wear this at night or for my going-out makeup but it's perfect for my day-time routine.

4) ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15

This is another new item I added this year.  I've used Fresh sugar lip treatment SPF lip balms in the past but they always melt and get gooey in my purse (and then when you apply it ends up going on real thick because it's melted).  So I decided to give this Ilia lip tint a try this year.  It's my first time using this brand, which uses mostly organic and natural ingredients and so far I love this lip tint.  It gives a touch of color without being overpowering and it doesn't melt and go soft!  

5) Cover-up/Sunscreen for your body

So I rarely wear sunscreen on my body because I'm not a huge fan of the greasy lotion feeling on my arms and legs.  And so instead when I'm out in the sun I'll wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants.  My current uniform is a tee with my Elizabeth Suzann linen Clydes and I wear an Everlane work shirt button-down to cover my arms.  When I went to Hawaii and spent time on the beaches I did wear sunscreen and I made sure my sunscreen was reef safe (Hawaii's going to be banning the unsafe ones this year).  That means you want to avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone (I just remember it as avoid the ben-zone), octinoxate (less commonly found), or the words BP-3.  Most sunscreens have oxides as their active ingredient and those are reef safe.  Of course this doesn't pertain as much if you're not going swimming in the ocean, but I think in general it's probably better to stay away from such chemicals.  Mineral sunscreens are the best but they usually go one quite white and chalky.

Anyway hope this post gives you some ideas on how to stay protected under the sun.  Sun damage is no joke guys!  Plus less wrinkles and sun spots in the future is reason enough for me to make sure I stay protected!  Also here are some other tips about SPF that I just learned about.

West Coast Craft Try-On: Ozma, Mohinder, Babaa, Hopp Studios, Whimsy & Row, Only Child Clothing

West Coast Craft is a large maker's fair that's held twice a year and it's the perfect opportunity for someone interested in the slow fashion (like myself) to check out a bunch of brands without having to wait or waste packaging materials with shipping and returning.  So even though it was a busy Saturday and SF is an hour away, I got my butt over there bright and early!

The first booth I hit up was the Ozma booth.  I've heard of the brand before from Grechen and was very interested in trying out their jumpsuits.  However the booth was packed so all I did was feel their fabrics and looked at their clothes on the hanger.  My first impressions of their clothing was that 1) a lot of their clothes are made for tall people and that 2) their linen quality was not great.  Not that I'm a linen expert, but I've started judging brands by their linen quality because it's something a lot of brands use for their clothing and it's something I have a lot of.  Elizabeth Suzann is my gold standard for linen (theirs is by far the thickest and most substantial linen I've worn).  The Ozma linen was close to that of Tradlands, which I didn't really like at all (it was super stiff and thin).

The next booth, right next door was the Mohinders booth.  I remember a couple people recommending their shoes in the comment section of one of my reviews so I thought why not?  I'm wearing a size 8 here in the Mohinders and I would say they run fairly true to size (there's no half sizes so I sized up).  They were also quite comfy but in the end I decided to pass because I already have too many shoes.

Next I tried Babaa sweaters, which are cotton sweaters made from Spanish cotton in Barcelona.    There's only one size for the cardigan and their rep told me the sweater will relax and start forming and slouching according to your body.  The sweaters were pretty cute but for $200+ I rather save my pennies.  Plus it's summer and I wouldn't wear something like this for months, so no point buying it now.

Then I went to the Whimsy+Row booth.  They're a brand from Los Angeles, that's a lot like Reformation in that they take deadstock and turn it into new clothes.  Yes it says recycled on their tags, but after talking to them it's just recycled in the sense that it's deadstock.  But I do like their style a lot more than Reformation because it skews more minimalistic and simple.  I'm trying on their Flora pants in twill which is their version of the high-waisted wide leg pants.  I loved it except I'm trying not to purchase any more pants this year.  However, I did pick up their Lilah top in deadstock raw silk and will do a full review of that later once I put it through its paces.

Next I tried Hopp Studio shoes, which I heard so much about from Michelle, so when I passed by their booth, I had to stop by.  I loooooved their flats here because not only was the shoe really light weight but the whole sole was bouncy and so so so comfy.  Now I know why Michelle loves this brand so much.  I'm a 7.5 in these shoes so I would say they run TTS and they're great for those with wide feet like me.  I also loved that these flats have a little bit of a platform.  Seriously if I was in the market for a really comfortable, work appropriate shoe I would definitely buy these.  But as it stands, I have too many shoes and I'm not on my feet all day so I can get away with the casual shoes and heels I have now.  Since Hopp Studios make all their shoes at the SAS factory (which by the way is in the US so all these shoes are USA made), you know these shoes are super comfy (because SAS is basically made for old people who you know don't have the tolerance for uncomfortable shoes).  I also met the founder of Hopp Studios who was a super nice Asian woman!

Aaaaand I saved the best for last.  90% of the reason I went to West Coast Craft was to try on clothes from Only Child.  Andrea has reviewed them in the past and they've been on my radar for awhile now (especially since they're located in Oakland, which is technically local for me).  I met Haley, the owner, and she is the sweetest (check out her instagram stories for her try-on videos, which I love)!  I went there specifically for the Alta top in eggshell raw silk and at first there weren't any in my size so I was super bummed.  But she found some not hanging on the rack and I finally got the Alta top that I have been wanting for awhile.  I got them in a XS/S.  I'll be doing a full review of them later but you can see me wearing them with my new favorite Everlane pants here.  I also splurged on the Dune pants in linen in the color rust.  I love these pants because they have the elastic in the back so these high-waisted pants have no waist gap.  Plus it makes the front of the pants look super smooth, which is awesome.  I'm wearing a size 2R here (in the pic below I'm wearing the dune pants with the Charlie top in linen) but I think I need to size up to 4 because they are super tight on me (and 4 is actually my normal size, but they didn't have any in stock at the time so I went and bought the 2.  What I really should have done was buy the 4 online but you know in the heat of the moment...*facepalm*).  Hopefully she'll let me do the exchange and then I can do a full review of them once I wear it for awhile.  Oh and the linen she uses is good.  They're pretty much the same as the linen from Elizabeth Suzann, so Only Child meets my gold standard.  I should also mention that the raw silk they use is also of the same high quality as the ones Jamie and the Jones uses.  All in all I'm in love with Only Child and I'm planning to get more of her pieces in the future!

In the end, this is what I ended up buying.  My limit of 5 items of clothing per month has been blown for June so it will be a no buy July and probably a no buy August.  I've purchased a lot of things these last couple months so it's time to take stock of my closet again.

Everlane Review: The Easy Chino {Updated December 2020}

So after three years of blogging about Everlane I've finally made-it made it.  For the first time ever, Everlane gave me a sheet of all the things they are releasing in June and let me choose what I wanted to review!  So y'all this is my first post with a gifted item and I'm not ashamed. And these pants, called the Easy Chino which are being released today are another reason why I love Everlane. 

I was a bit hesitant at first about ordering pants from Everlane because historically they've never worked out for me (seriously not once for the last 3 years except for maybe the Cheeky Jeans).  So I was worried that I would try them on, hate them, and then have to figure out a polite way to tell my contact at Everlane that I'm returning the pants.  Because seriously a pair of $55 pants for free is not worth the integrity of this blog that I've spent 3 years to build up.  But man oh man I got lucky because I really truly love these pants.  

{Wearing: Only Child Alta Top (review coming soon), Everlane Easy Chino pants, Everlane V Slingback (reviewed here), Polene numero un bag (reviewed here)}

I was first drawn to these pants because they have the same silhouette as my all time favorite pants, Elizabeth Suzann's Clydes work pants.  Plus elastic waistbands are my jam. I got this in my usual size 4 (I have a 28" waist with 37" hips) and I would say they run true to size.  I might even be able to go down to a size 2 since I have so much give at the waist and room at the hips, but then I think the fit would be much more snug.  As it stands with the size 4, the fit is as easy as the name suggests.  The cotton fabric is soft and not overly crisp so it doesn't wrinkle like crazy (it’s 98% cotton with 2% elastane).  I wore these pants all day on Sunday and the fabric relaxed a bit but because of the waistband it doesn't really sag.  Also the shape of the pants falls away just enough so that it doesn't hug your butt.  So you don't have to worry about VPL (though I probably wouldn't wear super thick undies like my Thinx with these pants).  

As for how they compare with my Clydes?  The Easy Chino's aren't as high waisted as the Clydes and the waistband isn't as thick or as snug.  Also the Chinos are a tad on the longer side for 5'4" me, so I rolled up the bottom hems twice (I have to get my Clydes in 4 short).  I think the butt area of the Everlane Chinos are more flattering since the Clydes tend to balloon out more at the butt.  And of course the Chino material is completely different and much thinner than the linen and cotton canvas the ES uses for their Clydes.  But the Chinos make for a great cotton summer pant (since I find the gen 4 cotton canvas way too thick for the hot summer months here).  I'm just really excited to pair these pants with all my other tops and see how this ochre color goes with everything (it's first pair of ochre bottoms)!  Also the ochre color in these photos are way more orangey than in real life (sorry I tried correcting it but didn't know how to make it more brown colored).  Also I really like these pockets.  Of course they're not as big as the pockets on the Clydes but they're still pretty deep and I can fit my iPhone in it.  I love these pants so much I'm thinking of getting them in black (but that might be over-consuming Elaine talking so I'm going to sit on it for a bit and think about it).  

But I'm very happy to be able to recommend these pants that are being released today!  If you've been thinking about a pair of Clydes or something similar but don't have the budget for it, I do think these pants are an excellent dupe as easy elastic band pants!

P.S. Okay I bought the black ones too.  I know I know I need to consume less but I can't help it, I love these pants!  I'll be mindful and not get the ones in Stone because TBH I love that color too!

P.P.S. For those wondering about the rise on these, they sit at my belly button and it measures 10.5".  For comparison, my ES linen Clydes have a 12" rise.

Update: Hi guys so these pants are quickly becoming my favorite pair. I wear them constantly and have been washing them a lot, and I have started to notice a bit of fading and wear on the waistband. This is probably because I dry them on normal high heat, which is not recommended. If you want to keep your pants looking good, I would recommend hang drying (which is what I’m going to start to do to keep these pants nice). Gotta take care of our most loved clothes, right? Also I got another pair in black and they do pick up and show dog hair like crazy just fyi!

{December 2020 Update: So I’ve been wearing these pants for about two and a half years now and I still love them. They are probably my best purchase from Everlane ever. They continue to be my go-to pants (especially during this pandemic). They’ve faded a bit and the elastic has loosened a tad as well, but they work out perfectly since I’m a solid size 6 now. I’m happy to see that Everlane continues to stock these pants and have expanded the sizing and colorways (darn I wish I had snagged navy before they sold out).}

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.