Bridge and Burn Review: The Linnton Navy-White Stripe Sweater

I purchased this Linnton sweater back at the end of summer when I wanted to use up some Bridge and Burn credit I had laying around from my return (I also purchased the Karmen dress which I reviewed here). But it was too hot to really wear the sweater so I wasn’t able to give a full review just then. But now with some trips to Tahoe under my belt with temperatures in the upper 50s I’ve had a chance to try it out. And this is a great cotton sweatshirt!

First a note on sizing, I usually wear a 4 or a small on top, but purchased this sweater in a medium and find that it fits perfectly. So I would say this sweatshirt runs a tad small. It’s pretty snug in the shoulder so I can’t layer anything other than a tee underneath. But even though it’s a medium, I find the length to be just right and not too long or cropped (for reference I’m 5’4”).

Lol, please excuse the Tahoe parking lot pictures but decided to take some shots of it “in the wild” so to speak. Also if you’re ever in South Lake Tahoe, one of my favorite brunch places is the Getaway Cafe!

{Wearing: Bridge and Burn Linnton sweater, Elizabeth Suzann Mara jumpsuit (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (review here), and Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

What I like most about this sweatshirt, which is hard to tell from these pictures, is that there’s a terry cloth-like texture to it. So it’s better than a regular ‘ole striped sweatshirt. I love mixing textures when wearing otherwise quite plain clothing.

Anyway if you’re in the market for a cotton sweatshirt with some texture I can’t recommend this one enough. However, if you have enough cotton sweatshirts, just go and enjoy an oldie but goodie :)

Céline Soft Cube Bag Review {Updated March 2022}

Hi guys and it’s finally here, the Céline Soft Cube bag review I’ve been promising for the last couple of weeks (months?). I purchased this bag through my favorite secondhand bag retailer, Fashionphile, using credit from a bag I sold to them (read about how that all works here). And I’m so thrilled that I was able to “trade-in” my rarely used Valentino glam lock bag for this Céline soft cube bag that I’ve been using almost daily since I got it! I had my eye on this bag for awhile now but I couldn’t justify purchasing it since I also purchased my Nano Belt bag (Celine Nano Belt Bag review here) this year. But I love my Soft Cube bag and it has quickly become a workhorse in my closet.

Lol posting this awkward photo since it captures the bag best

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Silk Mara Jumpsuit (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here)}

The bag measures 8.66 x 9.45 x 4.33 " so it’s not quite a cube, but of course it’s better this way (a real cube would be so awkward to carry lol). The shoulder strap is about a 21” drop and sadly it’s not adjustable. The inside has a flat pocket with two slots that are pretty small. They can hold credit cards/business cards and sometimes I stash receipts in them but I can’t fit my iPhoneX in it. I also sometimes but my keys in the pocket though it stretches it out.

Inside the bag feels pretty big and can easily fit my essentials (wallet, keys, phones, sunglasses) along with my reusable bags and other odds and ends. Because it’s just one large compartment, things sometimes do get lost on the bottom and it can feel like a bottomless pit. Luckily, the bag is small enough so that you’re not searching endlessly for stuff.

I’m not particularly careful with my bags and I find that the leather is quite durable. No scratches or marks on it. It’s more durable than the smooth leather of my Sangle or the Trio I had before that. Also on a new Soft Cube bag, the handles tend to stand up but with wear I’ve noticed that they fall to the sides when wearing the bag crossbody (which I prefer).

Overall, I feel like this is a great simple, no-fuss bag from (old) Céline (read all about my ode to them here). If you’re looking for a classic daily bag that can fit all your essentials and then some, I highly recommend looking into getting this bag! I’m not sure how much longer Celine stores will be carrying the old stuff, but you can sometimes find the Soft Cube bag on Fashionphile here or on The RealReal here.

P.S. For those wondering what it looks like on as a crossbody (for reference I’m 5’4”):

{2019 Update: I ended up using this bag so many times that I now have a 100 wears later post about this bag here.}

And if you’re interested, here are all my other Celine bag reviews.

Also for those interested in what it looks like over my shoulder, here is a recent picture:

2022 Update: It’s been 4 years since I bought this bag used and my love for the bag is still going strong. The soft cube has also remarkably held its shape and maybe because there are no hard corners to the bag, there’s zero corner wear. However, there’s some softening to the corners as it concaves a bit. But it’s a very subtle thing and the bag looks almost as good as the day I got it. This is by far my favorite handbag purchase of all time. You can see me wearing it most recently here in:

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I recently ordered this all-natural hand-made mid-century modern plant stand from Etsy and I loved how it came out (the pot itself is $6 from Ikea). Hook and Stem, which by the way has a ton of cute stuff, is a husband and wife team making hand-made wood objects out of their home in Canada. And when I asked them a question about what size plant stand to get they kindly offered to do a custom order for no additional cost. I guess that’s the nice thing about buying things made-to-order from a small business (plus there’s no excess waste of over-producing). All of their wood objects are made with no additional dyes and stains. Talk about looks good and feels good! I might get another shorter one to have two staggered plants. Also please notice how a new big leaf will be unfurling soon! My $7 Home Depot plant is one it’s way to becoming a $30 one, lol.

And I know this is a heavy note to leave on, but I think this post is too important not to share. One of my favorite and most respected blogger I’ve been reading for years shared her sexual assault story and it breaks my heart. But I think it’s so important to hear these stories because it’s more common than we think. I’m so extremely lucky that I’ve had friends who’ve watched out for me when I’ve been black out drunk and so I’ve never had to face such an ordeal. But this could have easily been my story because it can happen to any woman who was ever “foolish” enough to drink one drink too many.

Lauren Manoogian Review: The Tube Skirt {Updated February 2021}

This past post-summer sale season I got sucked into buying two things (which I was happy about for being quite minimal for me but also not happy about because I was trying to buy zero items), one of which was this Lauren Manoogian skirt (the other was the linen Alta top from Only Child). Here I was feeling all superior not partaking in the sale season frenzy and saying things like, don’t plan for Fall and instead live in the moment. But then after seeing Grechen’s notification post of things for sale at the Garmentory and specifically about this skirt, I succumbed to temptation >.< . I was especially tempted after seeing Grechen rock her version of this skirt here. This skirt was just made for Autumn!

I’ve been hearing about Lauren Manoogian around on the ethical blogosphere, and she’s known for her awesome knit pieces. She believes in sustainability and thus works with Peruvian artisans to knit pieces from consciously-sourced materials. The number of items she makes every season is limited, but you know they’re made well and made to last. You can read more about her ethics here.

{Wearing: Everlane Waffle Cashmere (review here), Lauren Manoogian Skirt (similar here), Everlane Day Heel Mules (review here), Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here, review here)}

You can no longer find this skirt for sale anywhere on the internet (this is a 2017 release). {2021 Update: LM has brought back the skirt in a similar style but with a side split now so it’s easier to walk in!}. But you might be lucky enough to score an LM skirt on eBay or some other secondhand site. And if you do, I highly hiiiighly recommend you snatching it up if you’re even a tiny bit interested. Because this skirt is so awesome. It’s a blend of pima cotton and merino wool, which means it’s slightly warm but not at all itchy. There’s also quite a bit of stretch, which is perfect for my pregnant belly. Also, that means it’s not that hard to walk in either.

I’m wearing a size 2 here, which is their medium. I also like that I can hike the skirt up to work with my cropped tops and show some ankle.

The one thing I don’t like about the skirt though is that you can see my panty lines with it, which is surprising considering it’s a knit. But since the tube skirt is so form-fitting, you can get some VPL if you’re not wearing the right underwear.

But despite that, I really enjoy wearing this sweater skirt! It’s the perfect comfy, stretchy piece to pair with my sweaters. Also the quality is top notch, and rest assured when you’re getting something from Lauren Manoogian, you’re getting a well-made item made to last!

{February 2021 update: It’s been over two years and this skirt is still going strong! It’s in excellent condition and I love it just as much as when I first purchased it. This skirt is a real classic!}

My Buying Experience with the RealReal {Updated Dec 2018}

*This is an unsponsored post but it does contain affiliate links

So I know I’m waaaaaay late to the game with the RealReal here, but for the longest time I had a bit of a bias against them because of some stories on the PurseForum of people buying fake bags on the RealReal (and since they have a no return policy on bags, some of them were in a pickle). So I kind of steered clear. But Fashion Week/Month on Instagram must have infiltrated my brain because I started looking for some designer clothes to augment my normal normcore/classic style. I first looked on eBay and there was nothing, but a quick google search led me to the RealReal. So I finally decided to try them out to buy some clothes.

First of all, I decided to shop through their iPhone app so I could scroll through on the go. And I have to say, their app is awesome. It’s so easy to browse, search and to save your favorites (your “obsessions” as they like to call it). I also love that you can save your specific searches (what they call “feeds”) and then easily browse them all from one page (with the newest items clearly visible across several feeds—genius!). For example one of my feeds is “Acne Musubi” (yep, I’m still eyeing this bag but I’m just biding my time with the hunt) and “Steven Alan: Women”. You can also refine the search by size and other factors to tailor the feed specifically for what you’re looking for. Buying through the app was also super easy. Just plug in all your info and done!

The shipping time varies depending on where you’re located. But since they have an east coast and west coast facility, some items will reach you sooner than others. I like how they will ship items separately just so you can get your items asap. I ordered some things on Monday and got them on Tuesday! The other half of my order is coming next week Monday. They’ll let you know when things ship but you don’t know what is in which box.

The items I got were in excellent shape and clean (seriously so much better than a thrift store). They all come with large tags which you only remove when you want to keep the item.

So here are some of the things I didn’t like about The RealReal:

1) $12 shipping and $12 returning!! Yep that’s an arm and a leg so you better buy all your items in one order for the month and one return. I kind of get it since they’re dealing with 2 warehouses and they’re shipping with UPS. But still, eeek!

2) And since returning is so expensive, I wish they would take more than just 3 pictures of each garment. Like at least the inside or tags, especially since Asian countries still make fake branded clothing and I need to see the tag to determine authenticity.

But overall, I think shopping at The RealReal for clothes is a great way to participate in the sustainable circular economy as well as give your wallet a break. And it’s especially great if you want to try designer clothes but aren’t sure how well they’ll fit into your current closet. At least you can experiment without a huge financial commitment! As for me, the more pregnant I get, the more I feel like wearing something other than my really classic clothes. For some reason I’m starting to feel frumpy in them, so now I want to try new things and have fun with my style!

{Dec 2018 Update: So I’ve been quite addicted to the realreal since this first post and have purchased a ton of stuff ($12 shipping and returns be damned). And that’s because I’ve found some really great Jenni Kayne items and Hatch Maternity items on there for a really good price. But I will say about 1 out of every 10 items of clothing I get have been covered in animal hair and not washed so I don’t even want to try them on. So their QC on some of these items are not as great as you want buuut it’s still worth it to me to be able to buy and try things without paying full retail or having to deal with individual sellers on eBay.}

DIY Opal Knotted Necklace (Irene Neuwirth Sweet Candy Necklace Dupe) Tutorial

This is for all those who were interested on my Insta-story in making this necklace for themselves:

It all started when I read an article about Busy Phillips’ rise on Instagram as the every-girl best friend, and so naturally I was curious to see what all the hoop-la was about. So I began to follow her too and I slowly became hooked on her Instagram stories. And this led me to Irene Neuwirth’s opal beaded necklaces like this one and this one, which Busy rocks on a daily basis (and seeing as she’s friends with Irene, she sometimes promotes them too). I was intrigued, but when I looked up the prices I could not believe my eyes (I felt like my eyes literally leapt out of their sockets, lol). These necklaces range from $5k-$11,000!! For something that looks like sweet candy necklaces, they sure do cost a lot! So forget it, I’ll never buy one. But I figured they can’t be that hard to make, and you know what? I was right!

Materials

The Beads:

So in general, opals are not cheap. But I found some of the best prices on Etsy by buying directly from suppliers in India. I purchased these green opal beads from this seller here. I purchased them for about $69 and there was an added shipping of $5 (they sometimes hike up the price but I’ve seen it stay at this “sale” price for weeks at a time so don’t purchase these beads for anything more than $70!). They came well packaged and delivery was quite quick, especially considering they were coming form halfway around the world. The quality was pretty good with some crap beads but the bulk of them were quite nice. These beads are about 3-5mm so they’re on the smaller side, which worked for me. But if you want larger beads, they have those too (they just cost a bit more). Since I wanted my necklace to be shorter than 16 inches, I was able to eliminate the crap beads and some small nice beads and still come out with a 15” necklace using only the best beads. Also since the knots add length to the necklace, your final product will be longer than the 16” if you do use all but the few crap beads.

For my second necklace, I decided to try a different seller (also from India) and I got these white opals here. I got a 16 inch strand for $80 and again “on sale” but that seems to be the normal price. I can’t yet verify the quality of the beads but they seem to have really good ratings on Etsy. I’ll update this post once I get my shipment.

The Silk Thread:

Following a Youtube tutorial (which I posted below), I purchased high-quality silk thread from this shop meant for beading and stringing pearls. This thread is great because it comes with it’s own needle and there’s enough thread to make 2 necklaces. I purchased the No. 1 size (0.35mm cord size) because you want to make sure the thread can fit through the bead (which for these opals from India are 0.4mm). And make sure your string matches your beads for a more seamless look.

The clasp and french wire:

I bought my sterling silver clasp from this Etsy seller, and found the quality to be so-so. If you’re only planning to make one necklace and thus only need one clasp, I think it’s a good price. There was nothing wrong with the function of the clasp, but it was slightly tarnished (which a silver polish cloth should fix). For my second (and third necklaces, yea I’m getting a bit ambitious) I bought clasps from this Etsy seller. Their clasps look nicer and cost only slightly more, but since they’re coming from Canada the shipping is more and thus the overall price is higher than the Florida seller. I’ll update this post about their quality when I get them.

You will also need french wire (explained in the video below) to cover where the clasps connect to the string of beads. I purchased mine here. And you want to get the thinnest silver one for this necklace.

Other Tools:

So the two other things the video recommends getting is a pair of thin tipped tweezers and this glue to ensure your necklace will never unravel. I definitely recommend getting the tweezers since regular tweezers won’t cut it.

How To

And here is this great video where I learned how to make this necklace:

And that’s it! It took me about 2 hours start to finish. I can’t wait to make my white opal necklace (maybe make it long like Busy’s?) and I also got material for another aquamarine necklace (my birthstone). I’ll take pictures and post them here when I’m done.

Total, my necklace came out to about $95 with some start-up costs. So it wasn’t exactly cheap, but at the same time it’s waaaaay below that several thousand dollar starting price of Irene Neuwirth’s versions so it’s worth it in my book. Plus the next one will be a lot less since I already have some of the materials (french wire, the tweezers, and glue). Anyway if you decide to make this necklace I would love to see your versions so please send pics through email or Instagram!

{Update: Sorry for those who were waiting for an update. I had a baby and moved so I didn’t have time to make the second necklace. But just to let you know the white opals from the second seller were crap so I recommend sticking with the first seller I bought the green opals from. As for the silver clasps from Canada they were great so I would recommend them. Anyway if I ever get around to making my second and third necklace I’ll let you know. I’m also considering selling this green one since I never wear any necklaces anymore with the baby pulling at it. I’ll update this post when I decide to sell it over at my closet sale.}

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I appreciate Lo’s post here about opting out of certain ethical/slow fashion community staples. I think I mentioned this before too but it’s easy to get sucked in to getting what a lot of major players in this community rave about. For me that would be Elizabeth Suzann items, but luckily her stuff works for me. But things I would opt out of include clogs (not a fan of wood shoes), the Baabaa cardigans (tried before and it looks so bulky on my short frame), wide leg pants (ditto what I said about Baabaa), Tradlands (I have more than enough button-downs), and Vetta (most of their items are made from synthetic blends). I feel like I could make one of those Instagram bingo thingies titled “Ethical Fashion Bingo” and I would include those things as well as Everlane, Ace & Jig, St. Agni mules, Nisolo, a GLDN necklace, Lithuanian linen, something thrifted, etc. What else would be on that bingo lol? (Side note: I wrote this up earlier in the week, but on Thursday this article came out and kind of expressed everything I was feeling perfectly. Plus their photo grid is a good start to Ethical Fashion Bingo).

Actually, I’m breaking from the usual slow fashion style and trying out more “out-there” pieces through The RealReal (and since it’s secondhand, it’s technically still sustainable fashion). I think it’s the combo of the pregnancy making me feel frumpy in normcore clothing as well as too much exposure to Fashion Month, but I purchased some items from Comme des Garcons and Sacai. Or maybe it’s the Japanese in me that’s making me want things from those kinda weird Japanese brands (I’ve also been on a Japanese TV series kick on Amazon—Tokyo girl by the way is a fun watch). Anyway I share my experience buying (for the first time!) from The RealReal later this week.

Oh and that Whole30 diet I talked about last week? Fahgettaboudit, lol. It was too much to expect myself to cut out all refined carbs when I’m pregnant (I mean I can’t even drink, eat sushi, sandwiches, or do anything else fun so at least give me the carbs right?). BUT, I decided to do a several days on and several days off kind of thing. So on most weekdays I’m going to cut out the refined white carbs and then on weekends (especially on those days I’m out and it’s harder to eat clean), I’m going to let myself indulge. And I’m tracking it all in my Notes app on my phone to see how many days on/off I go with the goal of more days on than off per month. I think that’s a much more reasonable goal, don’t you?

And lastly didn’t I say La Mer was largely hype (well at least for me). And now they’re getting sued for false advertising in China, lol. I mean a lot of skin care brands, if you get right down to it, over-promise results anyway. La Mer isn’t all that different, just more expensive and more hyped about.

3rd Quarter Closet Check-in: What are my most worn items so far this year?

I’ve really been loving my closet check-in posts, made possible by consistent use of the Stylebook App on my phone. So far I’ve done one for the first quarter and second quarter of the year. So what did I wear the most this summer (July to September)?

First Row (left to right):

Everlane Street Sandals: They were in my Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post last year and it looks like they’ll be on it again this year. These are my second pair, having worn the heck out of my first pair. There is an initial break in period when the leather is quite stiff, but I use foam stickers to pad the pain points until the leather softens up (I used to use Dr. Scholls foam stickers but they don’t sell those anymore so I now resort to these kiddie ones lol).

Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here and here): Not reviewed yet, but I will. Been using this bag for my daily essentials ever since I got is used from Fashionphile (with the bulk of the cost defrayed from trade-in credit). I’m really loving this dark green color this Fall.

Celine Nano Belt Bag (similar here in one size up): Reviewed here. I purchased the Nano Belt Bag size and sold my Micro Belt Bag size. In the review I share why I love the Nano more than the Micro, and it shows in my wear count too since I have never used the Micro as much as I have the Nano so far.

Everlane Easy Chinos: Reviewed here. I’ve worn and washed these so many times that the pants are starting to fade around the edges and I’m liking them even more. The size 4s still fit my pregnant belly even though the elastic is starting to get stretched to the max. These have easily become a closet staple and I’m going to try to get several more weeks of wear with them before I have to save them for post-pregnancy.

Second Row:

Everlane Day Heel Mules (now on Choose What You Pay Sale): Reviewed here. I did mention before that these are the only pair of heels where I will choose them interchangeably with flats. And that’s probably why the wear count on these are so high. Hands-down my favorite pair of casual heels ever.

Only Child Alta Top in Raw silk: Reviewed here. In just a couple of months this top had become part of my daily uniform. It’s held up well and easy to care for (machine wash at home).

Hermes Lindy 30 (similar here): Reviewed here. My daily bag when I’m feeling a bit more fancy but it’s still a workhorse that’s held up well.

Everlane V Slingback: Reviewed here. I love these woven sandals and it’s the perfect shoe when I want to be a little dressier than the street sandal but don’t want to wear heels. Also the pink works better with cooler-toned outfits than the tan of either the street sandals or the day mules. For such a light color, they’ve held up remarkably well.

Third Row:

Elizabeth Suzann Linen Clydes: Reviewed here. These have been my favorite pants all year but I started wearing them less in September due to the growing baby bump. I can no longer wear them (the high elastic waist is way too tight on the bump) so I’ve put them away for post pregnancy. Guess I’ll be seeing you next summer Clydes!

Elizabeth Suzann linen Georgia tee: Reviewed here. I love my Georgia tee but ended up selling it and keeping the Linenfox version because it fit me better. Thanks Georgia for the good times and being my introduction to ES!

Everlane polka dot shirt dress: Reviewed here. I love love love this cupro dress and also love that it was pretty good at hiding the baby bump during the first trimester. This is my go-to dress when my legs are shaved and I’m too tired to care what I’m wearing. I’m going to add tights when the weather gets cold and hope to continue to wear this throughout the year.

Arizona Birkenstocks: Not reviewed. So comfy I’m willing to forgive the granola hippie style of ‘em.

Fourth Row:

Everlane Form Bag: Reviewed here. This is my go-to work bag when I need to carry a laptop. I’ve been working from home lately (mostly thanks to first trimester nausea and exhaustion) so haven’t been using it as much I did my former work bag (the Everlane market tote below).

Everlane Collarless Belted Shirtdress: Reviewed here. This is my second favorite pregnancy summer dress after the polka dot shirt dress. Another easy outfit for days when I don’t want to have to think.

Everlane Market Tote: Reviewed here. My former work bag and if you take a peek at the picture at the bottom of the post, it’s been my most used item this year with 97 days of use! So far this bag has held up like a champ even though I lug my laptop in it for every one of those 97 days. I also don’t baby it nor have I conditioned it and there are only a few scratches and a couple slight wrinkles in the leather. If you’re looking for a lightweight durable leather bag, this Market tote can’t be beat! Could this be my future baby/diaper bag?

Celine Cabas Phantom (similar here): Reviewed here. I’ve been using this tote less since I plan to keep this bag for a really long time, and want to keep it in as good of a condition as possible. I only now use it when I go out and still need to carry a bunch of stuff. This is also a future going out version of the baby/diaper bag.

I really love these wear count check-ins since it helps me see if I’m really wearing all the things I reviewed and said were great. Plus it’s away of showing you guys that I put my money where my mouth is, lol. I’ve 273 days of continuous logging so far, which boggles my mind, but the Stylebook app makes it easy.

And what does my wear count look like cumulatively this year? Top 8 are the Everlane Market tote, Everlane Street Sandals, Celine Cabas Phantom, Elizabeth Suzann Linen Clydes, Vince Blair Sneakers, Frame straight leg jeans, Everlane Day Mules, and the Polene Numero Un bag.

RIP Céline

Rarely does high fashion news affect me, and I have long since stopped caring (long gone are my Vogue-reading days), especially since my world revolves around ethical fashion these days. But the ending of the Phoebe Philo era at Céline and start of Hedi Slimane reign at Celine is something I’ve taken notice of, especially since I’m a huge fan of the simple and elegant bags that Phoebe’s Céline used to craft. So please let me have this one indulgence in celebrating some of the bags that I currently love at Fashionphile that will now live in Céline history. Also if you’ve ever been interested in Céline bags, now is the time to get these since I have a feeling some people will be holding tight to their Céline classics and they’ll be less available as new Celine floods the market.

1.

3.

5.

7.

9.

2.

4.

6.

8.

10.

1. Small Belt Cabas Phantom in taupe: I reviewed the exact same bag here. This is by far my most useful and favorite Celine bag in my collection. I look forward to using this bag as a diaper bag in the future!

2. Small Belt Cabas Phantom in navy: So nice that I listed it twice :)

3. Small Ring Bag in dune: An older style from Céline and one I might add to my collection in the future.

4. Medium Classic Box Bag: I used to own this bag in light blue but ended up selling it to a blog reader who asked for it. In the end I’m not a structured purse kind of person and I already have two Chanels that fit the need. But I’m really tempted to get this one and sell a Chanel since it really is a beautiful classic bag.

5. Small Sangle in navy: I had the medium version of this bag but also just recently ended up selling it to a blog reader who asked (lol, I guess I have a hard time saying no). I reviewed it here, and as much as I loved the medium version of this bag I prefer my Cabas Phantom (1 & 2 on this list) and end up using that more. Since I didn’t need two large Céline bags I let this one go. But this smaller Sangle is kind of calling my name.

6. Large Trio Crossbody bag in beige: I used to have this bag in the smaller size and in teal color that never really matched anything so I sold it. I would definitely rebuy this classic Céline crossbody in the larger size and a more neutral color.

7. Zip Around Organizer Wallet: I have two Céline wallets, one of which I purchased from Fashionphile. I love their functional and sturdy wallets, plus they usually have an element of surprise—like this black one with a bright yellow interior. If I was in the market for a larger wallet, this is the one I would get. Also it’s on “last call” right now and selling for $275 (usual retail is closer to $900).

8. Medium Edge Bag in red: My friend has this bag and has been using it for ages, and it’s held up so well. Now that she has a toddler, she uses it as a diaper/baby bag and it surprisingly fits a lot and yet looks chic even when stuffed. I’m tempted to copy her and get this one for myself, especially for this really good used price.

9. Small Soft Cube Bag in navy: I just bought a dark green version of this bag used from Fashionphile (with trade in credit) and I looooove it. It’s the perfect everyday casual bag and I love the crossbody strap and top handle design. I’ll be reviewing this bag very soon so stay tuned!

10. Micro Belt Bag in gray: I reviewed this bag here. I recently sold it to purchase a nano version since this medium-ish size was a bit too large for my daily needs. But I still really love this bag and it’s the perfect practical bag for those who want to carry a bit more than just the essentials.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed my little ode to Céline here and I probably won’t be reviewing anymore Celine items, unless I buy one of these older bags. And if one of you guys do decide to get one of the bags I’m thinking about it here, I won’t be mad, lol (if I really wanted it I should have left it off this list or purchased it right away). But rather I’d be happy that you guys got a beautiful piece of Céline history at a really good price. And if you’re interested to see what else Fashionphile has you can see all their Céline items here.

P.S. This is not at all sponsored and in some ways it’s like a PSA for my Celine bag lovers out there. But these are affiliate links so if anyone purchases through this blog, thank you so much for your support! I really appreciate the small side hustle I am able to make from sharing my joys here :)

Everlane Cashmere Waffle Square Crew Update After 1 Year of Wear

I’m so excited that Everlane is re-releasing their Cashmere Waffle Square Crew again this year with two new colors. You can find my original review of it here. This sweater was hands-down my favorite and most worn sweater of last year. I even sold several of my other cashmere sweater since I found that I just weren’t wearing them because this is all I wore. And you can tell how much I love it but how worn it looks in just one year (though relatively, it’s not too bad):

As with any cashmere sweater, this one pills pretty easily. But that’s easily fixable with a hand dandy lint shaver like the one I have. Voila:

(ok so maybe it’s hard to tell in the pics, but the pilling is gone, but the sweater did pick up some lint)

And if you’re debating between this one and their $100 cashmere sweater, having owned both, I say don’t bother with the $100 cashmere. The knit is thinner on the $100 cashmere so the quality in general isn’t as great. Plus this waffle knit has the kind of beautiful texture you want in a cashmere sweater. This actually looks like it could be from Jenni Kayne (ok I know this is the second post where I rave about that brand but I loooove her Californian casual chic style!), but at less than half the cost.

I also love that this sweater has split sides to make a french tuck (a front tuck) easier and I love the added detail of a longer skinner sleeve hem with a split to keep it comfy at the wrists. Anyway I like this sweater so much I bought another one in this dreamy oatmeal color (which I now see is waitlisted). I know I don’t really need 2, but having one light colored one and one dark colored one is the perfect way to round-out my sweater collection! Also I’ll be able to update this post to let you know if they’ve made any changes from last year’s version of the sweater. {Update: I received the oatmeal waffle cashmere and yes it’s exactly the same style as last year. The color looks oatmeal in regular sunlight but also has a grayish tinge in other lights}.

Oh and in case you don’t want to go back and read the original post, I went with a size down in this sweater because I find Everlane’s “square” style sweaters to be on the oversized side and I prefer a more fitted look. It does make the sweater look a tad more cropped on me but since I’m petite anyway I think it looks great.

P.S. I’m not the only fan of this sweater. Last year, Andrea also wore the heck out of her gray waffle knit cashmere.

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I read this article the other day about how luxury brands in Italy are getting home-workers to sew their clothes at sweatshop prices. If I can’t even trust luxury brands anymore to pay their workers fairly (considering the ludicrous mark-ups they sell their items at), I guess I have to quit them too (or at least only buy them secondhand). Guess I’ll be sticking with secondhand, slow fashion brands, and Everlane for now. Oh and this post by Leah on why Everlane isn’t as bad as the Good On You App rates it nails the issue! This is definitely why I’m still an Everlane addict. And personally I cannot trust an app that rates Zara or H&M better than Everlane knowing that there are articles from this year that expose the abuses at some of their factories and knowing the quality of clothing they churn out.

In pregnancy news, I’m currently at week 16, but back when I was at week 14 I had a nurse practitioner tell me I look like 'I’m at week 20 because of my fibroids. The fibroids has basically taken over my uterus and poor baby is pushed up near my rib cage. All my prenatal health providers are 1) shocked at the size of fibroids and 2) worried about how the baby will develop (there’s a real possibility of her not having enough room to grow). There’s nothing I can really do about it , but in an effort to make me feel like I have some semblance of control over my body I’m back on the Whole30 diet (eating only whole foods for 30 days-no sugar, no gluten, no dairy, no soy). It might not do anything but I just feel like I need to do something, and several articles have cited sugar as source of inflammation as well as hindering liver function (both of which can help fibroids grow). And since the first month of pregnancy I’ve been eating a large amount of sugar daily (and it’s been progressively getting worse). At the very least this diet will be getting me to eat healthier and that’s not a bad thing. Wish me luck guys since the last time I attempted this diet change I only lasted 15 days >.< Also wish me luck that the fibroids will shrink fingers crossed

And finally, if you haven’t watched Maniac on Netflix yet, you’re missing out (ok, I’m a huge Emma Stone fan so I might be a tad biased)!

My Fashionphile Selling Experience {Updated September 2019}

I’ve talked about my purchasing experience before with Fashionphile, my favorite reputable source to buy secondhand luxury bags (I wrote about it here). But I couldn’t speak to the selling experience with them since I usually sell all my bags directly on eBay. I like eBay since it’s the platform with the lowest selling fees and I’ve been selling on eBay for years (and thus have enough feedback to be considered a legit seller). But when my Valentino purse (reviewed here) was not selling even after multiple price drops, I decided to finally try selling it on Fashionphile.

So the first step with selling with Fashionphile is to fill out their form and sending them some pictures of your item. Once you submit it, they get back to you in about 24 hours and they will let you know whether they will consign your item or if they will just buy your bag from you. They usually only consign higher ticket items like Hermes Kellys or Birkins, and they will usually do a straight buy-out for everything else.

If they decide to consign your item, then their fee is 30% of the selling price for under $3000 and 15% of the selling price for bags over $3000. They determine the sale price and if your item doesn’t sell, they reserve the right to put your item on sale (thus lowering the official sell price at the end). Also you don’t get paid until the item sells.

If they decide to buy it, then they will offer you a buy back price. You can get paid either by check or store credit. If you choose store credit then you get 15% on top of the buy back price. In the end they offered me a straight buy back and so I took it. It was about $200 less than what I was trying to sell it for on eBay, so I’m sure if I wanted to make more money I could have split the difference and sold my bag on my own for $800. But for the sake of research and to save me some time I decided to go with Fashionphile.

Once you get the buy back price, they send you a link where you commit to selling it to them and choose your payout method (check or credit). I went with credit since I purchase from Fashionphile all the time, plus I could get 15% more. Then from there you print out a shipping label that they provide and just drop it off at your nearest FedEx location. Once they get it, they send you the money. Seriously it was so easy.

So if you don’t have time or the right platform to sell your luxury bags and accessories I highly recommend selling with Fashionphile for the ease alone. Of course, it comes with a cost and you won’t be making as much money as you would if you sell it yourself. Based on that, I probably won’t be selling through Fashionphile any time soon, but if the stress of selling through Ebay ever gets to me (and believe me, there are some shady buyers out there so watch out), then I know where to turn to!

P.S. With my store credit I purchased a Celine Soft Cube bag, which I’ve been eyeing for months! And in the end I paid $180 out of pocket including tax and shipping because of the trade credit (and that’s for a $1700 bag). I’ve been using it non-stop and will review it soon!

{September 2019 Update: I reviewed the Celine Soft Cube bag here and used it so much I did a 100 wears later update post here. I also have tried selling with The RealReal which I wrote about here: Part 1 and Part 2. When comparing the 2 sites, I still prefer selling and buying high-end items on Fashionphile because you get the check really quick, Fashionphile will tell you exactly how much they will pay before sending the item in, and Fashionphile usually gives a higher payout. But The RealReal is the easiest if you don’t care how much you earn back on your stuff.}

Everlane Review: The Boss Mules and The Boss Loafers

The Boss Mules

As soon as I saw these Everlane Boss Mules on the Coming Soon page, I knew I would be trying them out. Actually I had been eyeing them since the summer when Everlane did a sneak peak of them on their Instagram Stories. And the reason why I was so excited for these shoes is that they look a lot like Jenni Kayne’s mules (similar here). I’ve always wanted her mules but couldn’t fathom spending $395 for them. But a dupe from Everlane that’s $140? Sign me up!

When I first opened the shoe box I thought, “Wow these look like witch shoes” because they were so pointy (and fyi Jenni Kayne’s version isn’t as pointy). But somehow when you wear them, the point doesn’t look as exaggerated. And in fact, the pointiness helps lengthen the leg and I really like how they make my short legs look a tad longer.

The heel of the mule is slightly padded so it feels pretty comfy and even though I have high arches, I had no problems with achy arches even after hours of walking. The front of the shoe has a suede type of material so it keeps the shoe from sliding off your foot (and it makes walking in it easier).

As for sizing, I found that they fit TTS (I’m usually an 8 in Everlane’s shoes). The width was a tad snug but nothing terrible and the length was just right. My toes didn’t feel squeezed in this at all. On the first day I wore them around for a couple hours and it did cause a small blister at the top of the knuckle of my big toe, but only on my left side. My right foot was completely fine. So for those with wide feet I do think this does need a bit of a breaking in period. Also it being a pointy shoe, if you jam that point against anything, the leather will scuff, especially in this softer pebbly matte leather.

But due to the fact that patent leather doesn’t stretch as well as regular leather I’m going to pass on the white pair of Boss Mules (which I originally really wanted and am actually still somewhat contemplating on getting). I really love the look of these shoes and I think the white ones would look so great with my navy and khaki colored pants, but I’d probably have to work on stretching out the left side shoe. Also the white will probably get so dirty and scuffed up, especially since I’m not particularly careful with my shoes and how I walk. These are all the reasons I’m telling myself to hold off on getting another pair of Boss Mules, but we’ll see how long my resolve lasts, lol.

The Boss Loafers

Now it’s a totally different story with these Boss Loafers. I kind of had a feeling they wouldn’t work with my feet because I have sizing issues with most of Everlane’s shoes from the Santa Maria a Monte factory (I explained it all here). And like most of the shoes from that factory, I found this one to be too long though the width is just right. In the pictures above, you can see how the shoes kind of gape at the back. Of course, I don’t have these issues with the Boss Mules because those don’t have a back end. But if you’ve had success with Everlane’s editor heels/slingback, Day Glove, or any of the other shoes from the Santa Maria a Monte factory then you probably won’t have a problem with these loafers. I really do like the taupe color and wish it came in the mule style!

Anyone else try the Boss Mules or Loafers and what did you think? And should I probably pass on the white Boss Mules?

Boody Underwear Review

via

So far I’ve reviewed Everlane underwear (spoiler: not a fan) and PACT organic cotton underwear (a fan but also understand why some people say it doesn’t last well) along with some other brands (review here), so I feel pretty well versed in the ethical underwear space. A couple people recommended Boody underwear in my ethical underwear review so I had to give them a try.

If you’re not familiar with Boody Wear, they are an underwear and active wear brand that makes all their items from organic bamboo (a rayon type material made from bamboo). Bamboo is a great sustainable plant that requires less water and less pesticides than cotton (they detail all the benefits of bamboo here). The process of turning bamboo into fabric is a fully closed-look system that recycles all water and chemicals used. To find out how they make this material, check out their page here. Boody Wear also takes their ethical certifications very seriously (and you can view them all here). Their products are made in Korea, and under the WRAP certification they ensure their workers are treated well. All-in-all this is one amazing ethical and sustainable company.

So how is their product?

It’s pretty dang good. So the bamboo material is unexpectedly soft and stretchy. It doesn’t feel like cotton at all, but more like a tight knit spandex/nylon type of material. It’s smooth with a bit of a slipperiness to it (but not as much as nylon). For those who like underwear that stays tight and lasts through multiple washes you’ll probably like Boody a lot more than PACT. But I like my underwear loose and less constricting as well as 100% cotton so I’m still a loyal PACT customer (though I find the lace bikinis are made much better and hold up better than the regular bikini bottoms).

I got the Boody Classic Bikini and found these to run on the small side (but like I said I don’t like my underwear to be constricting so I prefer a looser fit). The mediums fit me well (usually a size 4-6) though I might even go up to a large for a loose fit (the small was a no-go for me). I also tried their padded shaper bra, which I like because they’re like sports bras and the (removable) padding prevents any nipple outlines. For the bras I got a medium and they fit well (I’m a 4 on top).

Their items are machine washable and either lay out to dry or tumble dry low. So far they’ve held up pretty well!

Anyone else try Boody and what did you think?

Weekend Ramblings

A favorite slow fashion uniform (when I could still fit into this Clyde skirt)

Loved this post by Leah this past week because I totally get it. I even felt like slow fashion changed my style (though I think for the better since I feel more “me” than I’ve ever had before). But before blogging led me down this path i never would have looked at linen nor anything oversized (just slim fitting jeans, a blazer, and a tee for the old me). Yet now I have so many pieces that I love and could never part with (hello Elizabeth Suzann linen clydes and Only Child raw silk Alta top). But I get it, we’re in a niche community that makes very similar clothing (especially if you look solely at slow fashion). For me, the high-waisted wide leg look (ala Kamm pants and then later Everlane’s version) was my way of getting sucked into the community standards and trying to make it work even though it didn’t feel like me. Oh and I can also add clogs to that list. Part of it is of course having to try it out and seeing how you feel before you can decide whether or not you’re comfortable with the look. But if you are consistently feeling like it isn’t you, then there’s no point trying to fit the square peg in the round hole. Trying new things is part of the fun and leads to the evolution of your style. If you can do it ethically, sustainably or mindfully that’s what matters (but that’s an ideal that even I, or maybe especially I as a blogger, struggle with). Heck if you can buy a good quality piece that feels 100% you from uniqlo or j.crew and wear it 30+ times that’s better than trying to buy slow fashion items that you never wear.

Anyway changing topics, I’m currently watching The Miniaturist on PBS. If you love period dramas, this one is gooorgeous. Plus it’s set in Amsterdam during it’s golden age and I’m all about Amsterdam since my trip this past January. It comes out on Sundays but you have to wait until Mondays if you want to watch it online.

And lastly, I’ve been trying to read some old Kinfolk magazines that I purchased on a whim that have been sitting around the house ever since (Vol. 8 from 2013). And I read this one passage which I thought was perfect for the changing of the seasons:

We are creatures capable of awe and reverence. And we can position ours selves and our hearts to feel heavy and wonderful things. But to choose to see the beauty in the passing is no easy task. We must first cast off our illusions of control, and then we must take a step back and prepare ourselves for the full spectrum of pathos—love, beauty, loss… “Mono no aware” [Japanese, translation: the pathos of things] tells us to love now. Act now. Be here now. Invite our friends over, and stay up late. Because this time, this opportunity, this season will soon pass. Bask here while it is still possible… Our days ebb and flows. Our lives are a collection of seasons where tides approach and recede, and trees flower and wither. The green fullness of summer is made more precious by the skeleton branches of winter. So don’t fight time and don’t fight the season. Don’t keep things from ending, but celebrate them for the life they have now.

Everlane Try-on: The Square Toe Slingback

Hi guys so I tried this Square Toe Slingback from Everlane, hoping that this shoe would suddenly elevate me to cool-girl chic or that fashion forward blogger. But to be honest I mostly just hated the shoe. Ok, hate is a strong word, but I generally disliked it.

And one of the reasons was due to the fit. I got my usual Everlane size 8 but like the V-heel (which I reviewed here), the width was perfect but the the length was a tad too long on me (again my foot slips out from the slingback and I would need to add something like this to keep it on my foot). And I finally figured out that the shoe lasts that the Santa Maria a Monte factory (where these shoes are made) just don’t fit my feet. That’s why the Editor Heel (reviewed here), Editor Slingback (reviewed here), V heel (reviewed here), and Day Glove (reviewed here) all made at the same factory just don’t fit my feet (I’ve tried and returned all of those shoes). The one exception was the V sling back (reviewed here) but I think that’s because the woven leather is more forgiving than the regular leather. In general I find that Everlane’s shoes from their Montopoli in Val D’Arno factory (the Day Heel, the Day Heel Mules) just fit my foot better (these are some of my favorite shoes Everlane’s ever made). So I’ll probably think twice before ordering any more shoes that come out of their Santa Maria a Monte factory. But if any of those other shoes from the Santa Maria factory worked out for you in terms of sizing, this square to slingback should also work for your foot.

In general I found the square toe area to be kind of tight near the toes (my pinky toe was definitely getting squished). Also I have feet with a high profile and so the top of the shoes presses down and rubs against the top of the foot. This is also the same problem I had with the Day Gloves and thus I was one of the few who didn’t like this generally popular shoe.

I also found the leather on these quite stiff and I didn’t like how in just wearing them around the house for 15 minutes, some major pretty creases developed on the top of the shoe at the widest point. I love the soft and supple leather used on the Day Heels and Day Mules and these are nothing like that. But they’re not quite as stiff as the Modern Loafers.

And last but not least, I just couldn’t get used to the look of the shoe. As much as I know this is granny chic, I think my style in general is just more classic. So I love my classic Day Heels, Day Mules and V Slingback (I think this is the most granny chic I can pull off). But this trendy shoes is definitely outside of my comfort zone and something I’m not sure I could pull off.

Ah well at least I tried. And I also returned them because I wanted to save my credit for the Boss Mules that are coming out soon (sneak peek of a screenshot from Everlane’s insta-story awhile back):

P.S. Is it just me or does Everlane’s shoe design team seem to borrow heavily from the styles that can be found at Need Supply. First it was the Day Glove as a dupe for the Martiniano Glove Shoe. This square toe sling back looks a lot like the Yuul Yie Square Toe Slingback to me.

Weekend Update

As you might have noticed, there was no Friday review this week. The combo of the tail-end of our busy season at the Airstream biz + this pregnancy + buying less overall has meant that my reviews have slowed down, which I think is a good thing. It really isn’t sustainable to be buying 3 new items a week to review (even if some of it is free on credit or eventually returned because it doesn’t work out). I wonder if I should try to do a different kind of post on Friday. Though I feel like the things I want to talk about (living with less, zero or low waste, how to be productive, wellness, etc.) have all been done to death by a lot of other blogs. Would you guys be interested in hearing my (admittedly non-expert) take on these things? Maybe a post about saving money or investing money since I’m saving money by buying less (so what do I do with my savings?—so far pretty much nothing so I probably need to improve that part of my life asap).

Anyway I also wanted to mention last week (but since the post was long enough as it was, I decided to save this for later) but I had made my peace about not having kids a couple of years ago. I was sad for about a year when we tried and couldn’t get pregnant. I went to a fertility doctor where we went though the first round of blood tests/sperm tests and nothing was abnormal. The next steps were imaging and xrays, which we decided to put on hold since we were starting a business. I’m sure then we would have found out it was the uterine fibroids that was preventing the pregnancy. But then I decided that my line/my boundary at that time for how far I would go to get pregnant would be natural or not at all (no hormones, no IVF, no surgery, etc.) . I even wrote out a post titled “I probably won’t have any kids and I’m happy with that” or something like that—it was in my drafts folder and I couldn’t quite get it right so I put it on hold. But after reading both Grechen’s post and Garance’s post about not having kids, I wanted to tell my own child-free-by-choice story. I also read through this book of essays from authors with no children. And after all that I knew I could be happy even without a child. Of course, now I am pregnant and I’m also happy. But don’t let anyone tell you that your life is better either or way or that your happiness level depends on a child. You will find happiness no matter what because there’s a lot of things to be grateful for in living. And just because your life doesn’t look like everyone else’s, doesn’t mean it’s in any way less than.

Tata Harper Review: The Purifying Mask and the Clarifying Mask {June 2020 Update}

Let me start off this post by saying I’m not a face mask person. I have super sensitive acne-prone skin that freaks out with most face masks. The masks for acne usually dry out my skin and/or don’t do anything, while a lot of other masks I tried for even sensitive skin will cause my skin to burn or break out in a rash. And sheet masks? Forget ‘em, I’ve had too many bad reactions to even try those out again.

So I was really pleasantly surprised when I tried out a sample of the Tata Harper Clarifying Mask and I loved it. I had tried a Tata Harper serum once before (like 5 years ago when they first started having a buzz) and I hated the smell of it. So I promptly returned it to Sephora and have stayed away from Tata Harper since then. But thanks to influencers on Instagram (mostly Jamie from annstreetstudio) the Clarifying mask has been on my radar (this is the Tata Harper mask that makes everyone’s faces green). So when I saw the sample for offer I jumped at the chance to try it. And then it took me another month or so before I actually tried it. But as soon as I used it, I was a believer. No stinging, no tightness, and when I took off the mask my skin felt much smoother and softer. This is probably the only product where I’ve actually felt an instant difference.

Just one sample and I was a convert, so I spent some Citi Thank you points to buy the full-size jar. And since I had enough credit, I decided to try the Purifying Mask as well (more on that in a bit). I’ve been using the Clarifying Mask once a week now and I can say that any zits I do get shrink right away and don’t get further inflamed. My skin overall is looking clearer and smoother for sure. For once, all the claims for clearing up sensitive acne-prone skin is true.

Also I love that Tata Harper only uses non-toxic, 100% natural ingredients with no synthetics. The Clarifying mask has the following active ingredients:

-Alpha Hydroxy Acid Superfruit Blend: Provides chemical exfoliation to help minimize the appearance of blemishes and breakouts. 
-Quartz Sand Micro-Crystals: Provide physical exfoliation to soften and smooth the look of the skin. 
-Soothing Super Seed Blend: Helps calm and relieve the appearance of redness on the skin. 
-Raw Honey Enzymes: Simultaneously moisturize and cleanse the skin, helping pores appear clear and clean. 

And lastly, I know this Clarifying Mask is not cheap but it really does feel like the ultimate luxury when using it. The green glass bottle has a nice weight to it while the golden lid is super pretty. And even though the jars look small, there is a lot of product in there and I feel like it will last be months (I’ll update this post once I finish the jar to let you know how long it actually lasted).

Like I said above, I also purchased the Purifying Mask, which I also have been using once a week. Since both masks have an acid component (AHA) to help exfoliate the skin (thus limiting breakouts by clearing out dead skin from the pores) I only use them each once a week and I space it out by several days in between. I especially space it out since my skin is super sensitive, but if your skin is tougher you could probably do it three times a week. So the Purifying Mask is also meant to help clear acne prone skin and these are the natural active ingredients in this one:

-Lactobacillus: Thoroughly cleanses without stripping the skin or affecting the skin's natural balance.
-Brown Algae: Helps make the skin appear firm and lifted. 
-Prickly Pear Seed Oil: An excellent source of antioxidant vitamin E; improves elasticity for a youthful look. 
-White Clay: Helps cut through and remove buildup. 

However the Purifying Mask doesn’t say it’s for sensitive skin and it’s right. I’m using it because I have it, but I can’t leave the mask on for more than 8 minutes before my skin starts to feel like its burning (instructions say to use it for 10-20 minutes). When I take it off, my skin feels sensitive and is a bit red. But the next morning my skin is so soft, smooth and again I haven’t had a break out since using it. So I’m a bit torn about whether or not I want to keep using this Purifying Mask. This one definitely has some pros and cons.

But as for the Clarifying Mask, I’m sold. This is by far one of the best masks I’ve ever used and even turns a mask-hater like me into a convert.

Anyone else try the Tata Harper masks and what did you think? I also recently purchased two more Tata Harper products because I’m so in love with her stuff! What have you tried?

{June 2020 update: I wanted to add an update to this post since there have been some developments with the founder of this company liking racist comments on her Instagram as well as blocking anyone trying to have a discussion about racial injustice (or now just ignoring them). Thus I can no longer support this brand, not that I have been much. I haven’t re-purchased any of these masks, nor liked any of their other products I’ve tried (a body cream gave me a rash last year). Save your money and I recommend not purchasing from this brand.}

Everlane Review: The Texture Cotton Crew

As soon as I saw these Texture Cotton Crew sweaters on the Everlane site I knew I was going to be trying them out, no question.  I've been looking for a reasonably priced, ethically-made, good-ole chunky knit cotton sweater for seasons.  I liked Grana's wool version from several years ago though the 100% wool was a tad warm and it ended up stretching out to a potato sack shape from all the wear.  But also in general I find the wool chunky knits that come out (and Everlane has had several in the past couple of years), are all a tad too warm for the mostly mild San Jose winters.  And you know what?  This is the chunky knit sweater I've been looking for!

{Wearing on the left: The Texture Cotton crew with old Tory Burch skirt (similar here) and Everlane Day Heel Mules (review here); on the right: with Frame Denim (similar here)}

I'm wearing a small here, and I find that they run TTS.  I love that the crew collar is fitted but not too tight and definitely not a mockneck.  The sleeves are also at the perfect length.

The knit of these sweaters is thick but very tight.  And that's probably due to the 27% nylon content in these sweaters.  I'm not a huge fan of plastic-blended fabrics but in this case I can see why they chose to go this route.  With my experience with 100% cotton knit sweaters, even a light weave will stretch and bag out.  But I think the nylon in this will help to keep this sweater's shape even though it's a thick knit (which tends to be heavier and even more prone to stretching out).  In this case I'm willing to compromise to get the heavy knit sweater look of my dreams.

{Wearing the sweater with on Left: Grana Silk Full skirt, Everlane Day Heels (review here); and on the right: Lauren Manoogian Skirt (similar here), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules}

I really like the navy color, but since I already have a favorite navy sweater from Everlane I decided to try out the "surplus" color even though I'm not usually a fan of brownish sweaters (and I originally skipped out on the white because I can't keep anything white clean for the life of me).  But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the color irl is more green and it's a true olive (even the description on the tag says "OLV" which I'm assuming means olive so I'm not sure why they decided to call it surplus?).  But I love this sweater so much I'm super tempted to get it in the white (future spills be damned because wouldn't the white just looks so wintery and lovely?), but I'm going to wait until there's something else I want to get from Everlane so I can combine it for free shipping.  

{Wearing: Everlane Texture Cotton Crew, Grana Silk Ankle Pants (review here), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules (review here)}

Also I saw on the Insta-story of a fellow Everlane addict, Sally, that she tried the v-neck version of this chunky knit sweater and the V comes down quite low.  Personally I like to keep the neckline high so that I can wear a regular tee underneath and it wouldn't peek out from under the sweater.

Anyway I'll be periodically update this post to let you know how this sweater wears (will it stretch out?  will it keep its shape?).  Oh and this is a completely unsponsored posts (though there are affiliate links so thank you for your support!) because it looks like after my moment of assertiveness I might have stepped over a line or gone over an allotted budget.  Either way I was not offered any free gifts to review for August (too bad too since there's so many things I wanted to try).  Ah well easy come, easy go but I'm still an Everlane addict at heart and so these reviews will keep on coming!

P.S. I just wanted to add that I love that these sweaters look like these beautiful cashmere ones from Jenni Kayne but of course the Everlane ones are a quarter of the cost but also not made of cashmere.