Unsponsored Dyson Airwrap Styler Review

So that pic is not the best one I probably could have taken of the Dyson Airwrap Styler but I just wanted to show you guys the dedication I had in using it consistently so that I could write a good review for you guys. I took this on my Airstream road trip, which meant during the times we were dry camping (ie had no electricity or water hook-ups) I ran a generator so that I could use this. Yes, running a generator for my hair dryer, lol I guess I’m that kind of “camper”.

Also I should just note here as a disclaimer that I’m not one to do my hair at all (I don’t even blow dry it, just let it air dry). So my skills with any hair tool is limited. In the hands of someone with more experience (ie does their hair every day), you might get different results. But this review is coming for a noob.

So after a good several weeks of usage here is my review of the Airwrap Volume + Shape Styler-For Fine, Flat Hair. They have three versions of this, and I got the one for fine, flat hair (the other one was for curly, frizzy hair and there is one with everything). I would have gotten the complete set (at $550 so only $50 more than the other two sets) but they were all sold out. First of all I love that this hair dryer is so light. It’s the lightest hair dryer I’ve ever used and feels lighter than my regular curling iron. But even though it’s lightweight, it really packs a punch. The hair dryer is probably one of the best hair dryers I’ve ever used and it dries my hair super fast (but of course I usually go for the $50 hair dryer and this is a $500 one).

The buttons on the main body are really easy to use one-handed so it’s super easy to turn it on and off. And the different tool heads/styling attachments are really easy to put on and take off. Now about each attachment:

The pre-styling dryer: Like I said above, it really heats up and dries my hair super fast. When I first started using it, I would accidentally dry my hair too much and it would no longer be damp enough to style with it. I can dry my hair (fine, flat hair) in about 5 minutes or less (depending how well I towel dry).

The smoothing brush: I really like this attachment when I just want to keep my hair straight. It really does smooth out my hair and takes out any frizzies. Also it makes my hair shine (maybe because it uses “negative ions” to help reduce static?). I like this better than a straightening iron since it doesn’t make my hair pancake flat.

The round brush: So this was the attachment I was most interested in because I love the look of my hair when the stylist uses a round brush for my hair, but I have the hardest time using a hair dryer and round brush at the same time when doing my own hair. I thought with this attachment everything would be in one lightweight piece so win-win. Well in all honesty it’s still hard to do. I can’t seem to get the hair to stay wrapped around the brush because the hot air is blowing out. And the results just don’t look the same. This attachment is a bit of a disappointment at this point, though it might just be due to my lack of hair skills. However I will say when I use these on my bangs, they turn out great and stay great for days

1.2 in curling barrel (one in each direction): And now finally to the attachment that this whole set is about, the self-curling curling iron effect. So the whole gimmick behind this dyson tool is that if you hold up a piece of hair, the dyson airwrap will pull the hair in and wrap the hair around the barrel on its own. It’s like magic right? Well, this is probably the most disappointing attachment of them all and if you’re buying this set just for this feature, I would say you’re better off just sticking with your good ‘ole curling iron. First of all, if you have a lot of hair, it will take you forever to curl your hair with this thing. It can only pull in small pieces of hair at a time. Even with my fine flat hair, it took forever to curl every bit of it. Second of all it’s not as easy as just dangling a piece of hair next to the tool because sometimes the tool wants to pick up only a part of it, or if you’re not careful it will pick up a different piece of hair. And lastly getting the tips to curl is also a pain. I know there’s a learning curve to all this but I’ve done it multiple times and I still have issues. TBH it’s not worth it for me at my skill level. Oh and with the hot air blowing out from the tool, it gives a blast of hot air to your scalp all the while. That’s nice for the winter but not great for the summer. The barrel itself gets pretty hot to touch though it won’t burn you if you accidentally touch it. Oh and lastly, the barrel on this is pretty skinny even though it says 1.2 inches, so you’ll get pretty small curls. I prefer softer bigger waves so I’m not a fan of this one. If I want to curl my hair I’m going to go back to my curling iron both because of the ease of use and for larger softer curls.

So in conclusion? I would not get this if you’re looking for the next newest and best curling iron. I mean if you do, get ready to put in some time getting this to work for you. However I’m actually a bit torn because I really do like the hair drying and smoothing brush attachments and I have hopes that I can master the round brush attachment too. I’m not one to curl my hair very often so I probably wouldn’t be using the curling attachments anyway but they’re nice to have just in case. As a multi-hair styling tool, I think this is a pretty good set. But is it worth $500? I don’t think so, but it would be a great tool at say $300. As for me, I’m going to keep trying it out and will update this review if I have a change of heart. Or if I give up, I might just sell it. We’ll see.

P.S. I should note that even with consistent use, I didn’t feel like my hair got scorched or damaged by this tool. I also don’t use any hair products since I don’t wash my hair everyday and don’t like getting pore-clogging products on my pillowcase. But anyway this is just to say, dyson does seem to have as they promised “intelligent heat control measures air temperature over 40 times a second to prevent extreme heat damage while styling.” Then again I don’t use this everyday, only when I wash my hair (which I can get by doing every 3 days after “training” my hair).

Weekend Update/ Ramblings

So we’re on our annual Airstream road trip, this time heading north for a short jaunt (we usually go for 4 weeks, but this year we’re so busy that we can’t go for nearly that long). Also we’re traveling in one of our smaller Airstreams this year (a 23 footer instead of our usual 28) since we’re anticipating some windy, narrow roads through the Sierra Nevadas. I did a quick tour of our temporary home on my Insta stories and saved it to the highlights if you’re interested. Also on Insta, I’m currently going through my 5th 10x10 Challenge (see it all here). You would think it would be old by now, but I still have fun and I learn new things about my closet/style during each round. It’s just a fun way to think about your clothes creatively.

When I read this from Garance this week it really struck a chord with me:

It’s common in the fashion world to accept gifts with a mix of recognition and obsequiousness. A lot of people actually live off those gifts. They haven’t bought any of the things they are wearing, they don’t pay for any of the 5-star hotels they come out of, and they’d never have the means to buy their own business class ticket.

But not only do they love benefiting from the gifts, they actually expect them and end up thinking that’s what they’re owed.

They end up thinking they’re rich. I know fashion editors who spend their entire lives going from one press trip to another, basically living their lives by proxy.

I always felt a little bit uncomfortable with this idea when it came to me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, because let’s face it: flying business class is a lot nicer than flying coach.

The problem is, of course, once you’ve been spoiled with privileges to the point you forget who you really are – a normal person with a normal salary – it’s like a drug: you’d do absolutely anything to not lose that privilege.

So then you lose all your critical thinking skills. When you’re not the one choosing what’s given to you and all you want are the trappings of a life of privilege (accompanied by the insecurity of knowing that deep down none of that really belongs to you), you end up putting up with anything just so the well doesn’t run dry.

But actually, saying no to extras when they don’t make sense, is not only the height of elegance – it’s also the only way to stay real.

And staying real is the only way to live.

Of course, I’m nowhere near that baller fashion status but I’ve been reviewing free things here and there, especially from Everlane (which is one of my favorites and has been for a long time). I do get to choose what I review and I have turned down things in the past. But sometimes I wonder myself if I lose some of that ‘critical thinking skills’ when it comes to their stuff. I mean do I love it more because it was free? Or do I not focus on the bad because I don’t want to lose the gifted items? It’s hard to tell because I still purchase and review items from them on my own, and I really do love the bulk of the things I get. I think if I ever get something gifted that I can’t write a favorable review on, I would probably send it back. I guess I’m thinking about my ReNew review from this past week because truth be told I don’t really need a second puffer (my first one is an old black Arc’teryx one though that one currently doesn’t fit me and this one does), but I did really want a light colored one. Also this is all in light of the idea that even though recycled plastic is better than not recycled plastic, it’s still not the best. No plastic is the best. And read this article if you want to feel even worse about recycling.

Also speaking of that Everlane puffer review, oh man so embarrassing to be talking about using less plastic and then to post a pic of me holding a disposable coffee cup with a plastic lid. I’m on vacation mode and tried to finish up that post, I totally missed the irony of it all. I’m usually really good about being zero waste when it comes to my routines like grocery shopping or at the farmers market. I guess I’m prepared for my usual but not usually prepared for everything. I do have a Keepcup for coffee to go but I rarely ever go to coffee shops so I forget to bring it with me. Ah well guess it goes to show I need to keep up the vigilance and diligence of being zero waste. I gotta do better!

And lastly, I didn’t have time to schedule any posts ahead of time for this trip so there’s going to be some radio silence on the blog for a bit (especially since I’m in and out of internet/cell service during this trip).

Everlane Review: ReNew Lightweight Puffer

* I received this item as a gift and thus it is a type of sponsored review, though of course all opinions are my own.

This year in general I’ve been trying to be better about my consumption and disposal of plastic (like a lot of you I’m sure). And like many of you, I try but also fail repeatedly. Like the times I’m super thirsty but forgot to bring my reusable water bottle or when the take out place puts all my food in plastic containers and bags. Going zero waste is hard and it’s not a one time thing. It takes diligence and perseverance. But it’s important. So I’m glad to see Everlane is trying to do their part by eliminating all virgin plastic from their supply chain, production, warehouses, and their office by 2021. It’s definitely a step in the right condition. And as part of that initiative, they released their ReNew line that uses recycled plastic in their line of puffers and fleeces.

Now this isn’t super revolutionary since Patagonia has been doing this for awhile now, but it’s nice to see another brand do it in their own aesthetic (because as much as I love the utilitarianism of Patagonia, they’re not exactly modern chic).

The puffer I requested to try out was their lightweight puffer in stone. I don’t normally go for white outerwear but something about the muted/faded white with the black zippers were calling my name. This is made from the equivalent of 15 recycled water bottles, which is less than I expected (especially when you compare it to the fleece that’s made from 35 recycled water bottles). But the point is that everything (except the zipper, which they’re working on) is made from recycled materials.

I ordered this in a size small, which fits me for now (but as I get more pregnant, I probably won’t be able to zip it up). And I would say it runs TTS. When I compare it to Everlane’s lightweight puffer from last year (reviewed here) I would say this year’s version feels slightly less puffy. I wonder if it’s the difference in the “Gold Luxe” primaloft vs. the recycled primaloft insulation). Either way I think it’s a good thing since I feel like if it was too puffy, this jacket would make me look like a marshmallow. Also the insulating temperatures for both the old and new jacket are the same, so the actual warmth factor probably doesn’t change. And since both the old and new versions of the jacket are made in the same Vietnamese factory, everything is pretty much the same same. Except of course this year’s version is made from recycled plastic. I like that the jacket also has a bit of a curved cut in the back instead of straight across to add some interest. I think if you’re looking for a nylon puffer with a hood, their lightweight half zip puffer would be a good option.

When Everlane sent the jacket, they also had some extra zero waste goodies that I look forward to using (especially the bamboo toothbrush since it is my first)! Also now I have a cute Everlane reusable bag to go along with all my homemade ones (seriously if you can only do one thing to lessen your plastic impact, grocery shopping with reusable drawstring bags for your produce makes such a difference). Also the poly bag that Everlane is now using is made from recycled plastic. I hate that almost all clothes we buy online comes in poly bags, but I get it: it’s meant to protect the clothes from damage. I save every single one of them and reuse it when I sell stuff on eBay. Not only does that protect the clothes I ship out but I guess it helps me feel better for reusing it. Also in some ways, I think I pass on the guilt and responsibility of having to consume and dispose of that plastic bag.

So if you’re looking for a puffer jacket or fleece this winter to fill a hole in your closet or to replace an old one, I think the Everlane ReNew line is a really great responsible option. However if you don’t need it, please don’t buy it. Another aspect of being a responsible consumer is to only buy what you really need, and consuming something just because it’s made responsibly is not actually the most responsible thing to do. As for me, this light colored puffer is something I can definitely use this year, and you’ll be seeing it a lot I hope (in fact I’ve added it to my Fall 10x10 so you’ll probably see some pics of it on Instagram).

P.S. Recycled plastic is good and all, but the best thing to do is not to use it at all. Treat it like gold and buy it sparingly because the reality of recycled plastic also isn’t that pretty. I just watched the documentary China Plastic and it’s so informative and yet so heartbreaking. If you have Amazon Prime, please do yourself a favor and watch it. Recycled plastic is not the solution, it’s just a band aid. No plastic at all when possible is the best solution— a lesson I know in my head and heart that I’m trying to put into practice on the daily.

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Silk Mara Jumpsuit

I am not a jumpsuit/overalls kind of person. Or at least I thought I wasn’t. But with a growing preggo belly, I am just firmly in the camp of no-waistband-land. Even if the waistband is made of elastic and pretty loose, I rather just not have something pressing against my belly. And so for the first 4 months of the pregnancy I’ve been happy enough with just wearing dresses. But now that the temps are cooling down and I’m less motivated to shave my legs, I finally caved and decided to give the good ‘ole jumpsuit a try. And you know what? I loooooove it and can’t remember why I resisted in the first place (actually I still can—it’s because of the hassle of going to the bathroom but more on that later).

I also decided to try out Elizabeth Suzann’s Mara Jumpsuit because I happened to find one on eBay. So at least I didn’t have to wait 4-6 weeks and I got it at a bit of a discount. They listed the size as a small at regular length and since I’m short (5’4”) I knew I’d probably have to get it altered. Well when it came, it was actually a small-tall but I figured I could work with that.

Here’s the before and after pictures of the alteration:

I had them take up the shoulders so it wasn’t as deep of a v-neck and hem about an inch off the bottom. And it worked out so well! The ES website does recommend getting a regular or even tall length and then hemming if you have a long torso (which I do). I can imagine paying $295 for this (and waiting over a month) and then paying more to have it altered is kind of a pain, but it could be worth it for a piece you’ll be wearing over and over. Though of course it’s even better if you can find it used.

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Mara Jumpsuit, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine soft cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

As for me I’m a convert! It feels like wearing like PJs and I’m going to be wearing this until I’m bursting at the seams. I also like that there is a tie to define your waist. You can either tie it in the front or the back (I usually prefer the back but I’m wearing it tied in the front below).

The silk material is awesome and thick enough not to show an VPL even though it’s only one layer of silk and there’s no lining. It also helps that this is a fairly loose and flowy style for the jumpsuit. I also love that I can wash this silk jumpsuit at home in the washing machine (on delicate and with the laundress delicate wash).

As for the going to the bathroom issue, I’ve learned that the best way to deal with this is a rolling of the material as you take it off so that there isn’t excess material dragging on the floor. Is it inconvenient? Yes, but it’s doable and something I’m willing to do for the freedom of no waistbands.

Also I love layering a top over the jumpsuit to change the look of the whole outfit. Is it even more of a hassle to take off another later when using the bathroom? Yes. Do I have to use the bathroom more often now that I’m pregnant? Yes. But is it worth it? Yes.

Everlane Review: The Cashmere Rib Round Crew

So far I’ve tried Everlane’s ribbed wool-cashmere crew —reviewed here (a favorite and probably most worn Everlane sweater) and their premium ribbed cashmere crew—reviewed here (highly overpriced at the time and sent back immediately). So I thought why not try their regular cashmere ribbed crew neck sweater, which is a new release for this year. I was debating on not getting it because I already purchased a second waffle knit cashmere crew in oatmeal (the first one I got was the navy last year-reviewed here- and that one was a favorite all winter/spring long). But there’s something about textured cashmere sweaters that I have a hard time passing up, especially when they come out in interesting colors like loden, a olive brown green.

{Wearing: Everlane cashmere rib round crew sweater (size small), Storq easy pants (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here—and now that I’ve broken them in, I’m so in love with them!), and Everlane Form bag (c/o; reviewed here)

Well I tried it and I was kind of eh about it. I polled it in my Instagram stories where 79% of you guys said to return it (though I wonder if I swayed it by stating I was eh about it). But to me it’s nothing special (unlike their waffle knit cashmere which has a split hem, split sleeves and varying textures from body to sleeve). To me, this rib sweater just looks like a plain classic menswear type of sweater. Someone else commented that it looks like it’s from the 90s and she avoids all clothes that look like they’re from that era because it reminds her of highschool, haha. As for me, growing up in Hawaii I never wore sweaters to highschool so there’s no such association for me on this one.

But if you’ve been looking for a menswear inspired cashmere sweater this one ain’t bad. The cashmere is really thick and comfy (much better than Everlane’s $100 cashmere sweater material) and I like that the crew neck is cut close to the neck. I’m wearing a small here, which is my usual size and it fits TTS (though the preggo belly does make it a bit more fitted in the midsection—that’s also why I rolled the hem under so that the preggo belly isn’t as accentuated). Also I’m 5’4” and I find that if I don’t roll the hem under, the sweater looks a tad too long on me, so it might be better suited for slim women over 5’5”.

Anyone else try it and what did you think?

Weekend Update/Ramblings

From last weekend’s trip to Tahoe

We’ll be setting off on a short Airstream trip soon so there might be some interruption on my regularly scheduled posts in the next couple of weeks. I don’t have any posts scheduled ahead of time because currently I’m writing them pretty much a day before they publish (coming off of our busy season, I don’t have a lot of time for the blog). But you’ll probably see our adventures on Insta-story and I’ll be doing the Fall 10x10: Ethical Preggo Style Edition starting 10/22 on Instagram.

I loved reading Grechen’s response to that “all ethical fashion looks the same” article and her definition of the responsible consumer. I’m all for responsible fashion! And Lee’s guide she released this week is super helpful for all those looking to redefine and revamp their closet!

Just keeping it short and sweet today! Hope you guys are having a great weekend!

All About My Ethical Black Tees: A comparison of Pact, Everlane, Grana, James Perse, Organic by John Patrick (and Amour Vert)

Black tees have always been a staple in my closet, as I’m sure it is for a lot of you guys. There’s nothing easier than throwing on a nice-looking black tee with jeans for a casual yet put-together look. But for something so simple, it’s been pretty hard finding the “perfect” one, especially in the ethical fashion space. So I thought I would do a quick review of the various black tees I have and how they’ve held up through the wears.

The picture up top is my current collection of black tees and from left to right and going from oldest to newest they are: Organic by John Patrick (organic cotton), James Perse (made in the USA), Everlane (responsibly made in LA), Grana (responsibly made in China), PACT (Fair Trade GOTS organic cotton).

Organic by John Patrick

So here’s the TL;DR version of this review: my favorite one out of those top 5 is the Organic by John Patrick. It’s is by far the oldest (at over 10 years old) and most worn out of all of them but has held up beautifully. Yes the brand and sizing tag fell off and I got a couple holes in the front from snagging it on something (but the holes haven’t grown even after another 5 years worth of washings). But this is one of those beautiful tees that just get better with age. It’s soft and feels vintagey and the black hasn’t faded too much considering its age. The neckline is still in good shape and there’s no fraying at the seams. Not coincidentally this is also the most expensive of the bunch. If you were to buy it brand new, you’re looking to spend about $84 (for one tee!). That’s a lot for a tee. I purchased this one one sale at Barneys for around $65 I think. If I were to purchase another one, I would probably stalk The RealReal for one (currently they have this navy one for $35 and this white one for $35).

James Perse

My second favorite tee and also second oldest is the James Perse tee. All their tees are made in the US (so if they are following US law, should be made under fair working conditions). James Perse has been a crowd favorite when it comes to casual upscale tees for awhile now. But they produce several different kinds of black tees and not all are equally good IMHO. I think the James Perse tees with a thinner collar at the neckline hold up better than those made with a thicker band (which tends to wrinkle). The ones I like best are I think the relaxed casual tees with a larger neckline (they run a tad small for me, especially since I like my black tees to be on the more relaxed side). The one in the picture up top is actually one I purchased second hand for quite cheap and it’s lasted me at least 8 years so far! And no holes yet in this one and the color hasn’t faded at all. I would also suggest buying these tees used because brand new they go from $60-$80 (and I find them pretty often at my local Crossroads thrift store).

Everlane

As much as I love Everlane, I don’t love most of their tees (which is too bad since that’s what they started their whole biz on). As you can see in the picture below, the collar of Everlane tees tend to get folded, wrinkled and generally mangled-looking. Also if you happen to get a small hole in your tee, you might as well throw it out because that hole will just grow and grow. Overall, the Everlane ones reads a bit like a cheap tee, especially since it also picks up a lot of lint. I’m slightly allergic to dog hair and so don’t like wearing a tee covered in the stuff (I know I have long-haired dogs so I should be okay with this, but I prefer the dog hair to come out with the lint in the dryer and not stay on my shirt). The one great thing about Everlane black tees though is that they keep their color and don’t fade. Also I will say that Everlane’s cotton crew tees keep the collar shape and are one of my favorite tees (though I like them in other colors since the other colors don’t seem to have the same lint problem as the black one does). I have several cotton crews and are a great choice when you want to cover up your chest to prevent sun damage.

Grana

So when it comes to comfort over looks, Grana is my go-to. These pima cotton shirts are super comfortable and are made of a nice smooth thick cotton knit. The collar stays nice and flat and these would be my go-to all the time if it wasn’t for the fading of the color. It does not look great after so many washes and wears. My heather gray tees in the same style though are still looking great and are my go to tees when I want to wear gray. These black ones have now been relegated to PJs.

PACT

This is my newest black tee and also my least favorite, and that’s because it is basically the lint catcher in the dryer. If I thought the Everlane black tee picked up too much lint and dog hair, this PACT one is ten times worse. The picture below is of the shirt fresh out of the dryer and there was zero lint on it when it went in. For me to be able to wear this, I would need to use a lint roller every time I clean it, which is just too much of a hassle. So that’s also why the collar still looks pristine. Sorry but I can’t speak to how it wears because I just don’t wear it.

I also added Amour Vert in parenthesis in the title because I also wanted to quickly touch upon their quality of black shirts as well. I no longer have the black tees from them because I found that I never wore them so I ended up selling them. The Amour Vert black tee I had was a black version of their Liv tee (similar here) which is made of 93% modal and 7% spandex. The quality of the tee was very stretchy and spring which did give it a nice draping quality (but in a way a synthetic blend tee does, not a good vintagey cotton tee drape). But I personally didn’t like the stretchiness and prefer my tees to be 100% cotton. Also as mentioned by Alice in the comments below, modal will pill after multiple washes so beware!).

Anyway I hope you found this little comparison guide helpful though it does seem to be a bit useless in telling you you need to spend more money for a good simple black tee. But I guess in this case you do get what you pay for. As for me I’m good with my collection of black tees for now, but if you guys have any recommendations for a 100% cotton ethical black tee I’m open to suggestions to add to this review!

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.

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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?