My Winter Skin Care Routine (and no, you don't have to get all new products)

Lol too wintery a pic already?

I’ve talked about my summer skincare routine in the past (focusing mostly on SPF because that is of the utmost importance). But I’ve never talked about my winter skin care routine and actually before this year I never really had one. I just kept doing what I did during the summer, drier skin be damned. But this year, maybe because of the pregnancy, my skin is ultra itchy and dry so it’s time to take action. And by action, I mean adding two things to my usual routine.

{side note: if you’re interested in my usual routine for my sensitive acne-prone skin I detail it here in this post but here’s a quick rundown. AM: charcoal cleanser (SkinSalvation), sterilizing tonic (SkinSalvation), Moisturizer (in the summer it’s Paula’s Choice SPF Fluid (reviewed here) and I’ll review below what I’m using this winter), Suntegrity 5-in-1 moisturizing sunscreen in light (reviewed here). PM: Same charcoal face wash with microfiber washcloth to remove makeup, same sterilizing tonic, and Elemis SOS Emergency Cream. Yep that’s it. Nothing too fancy and using the same products mostly for morning and night.}

So as I mentioned above, the only real difference between summer and winter this year is the change-up in my moisturizer. I don’t need the double SPF coverage in the winter (the Suntegrity spf 30 is enough), but I do need extra moisture and the SPF fluid just doesn’t cut it. So lately I’ve been using Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Moisturizer in the morning and it’s so good! It’s made for dry sensitive skin and it really does work for my utlra sensitive skin. It doesn’t break me out and it has the added bonus of helping my Suntegrity tinted sunscreen go on super smoothly. Just this one change has really made a difference in how my skin looks and feels in the morning (I guess dryness really does affect the skin).

Another moisturizer that I’ve switched over to is the Curel Itch Defense Calming Body lotion. As much as I love the smell and luxury of my Le Labo lotion (which I now currently use instead of any kind of perfume), the Le Labo lotions just don’t cut it for the winter. Luckily I found these on sale at Target and decided to give them a shot. It’s such a good no-frills lotion that actually does what it advertises: prevents itchiness! Also the $7.50 price tag doesn’t hurt. I put this on right after getting out of the shower and then if I want a bit of scent I’ll add the Le Labo on top. Double the moisture!

And lastly this is more for the preggo people out there, but I’ve been using Earth Mama Belly Butter for my growing belly and it’s been so awesome. This all organic lotion helps prevent stretch marks and is super moisturizing without being too greasy. I originally tried the fancy Tata Harper Redefining Body Balm, also meant to prevent stretch marks, when I saw another preggo blogger using. But it didn’t work for me at all and gave me a small rash too. And for 12x the price of the Earth Mama one? No thank you! Luckily I purchased it at Sephora and was able to return it.

So anyway this is what has been working for me but I know everyone’s body chemistry is different so it might not be the same for you. But at least if you purchase things from Sephora or Nordstroms you can still return after trying (just keep the receipt!). And so if you find yourself with drier skin lately, it might be worth a shot :)

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Just loved this picture of a random couple enjoying the afternoon

I mentioned it in my most recent Everlane review (of the blazer, which I received as a gift), but I’m going to quit the free stuff for now (and yes even from Everlane). I’m getting tired of living in this gray zone of reviewing gifted items (it’s free so it’s automatically biased in some ways). I try to be honest in my reviews but how can you not love something a bit more when it’s 100% free? This doesn’t mean I won’t be reviewing Everlane things, I’ll just be buying them and only because I had already ordered two items to try before I made this resolve not to review so many clothes anymore.

But in general I’m also going to move away from review of things because I also feel like I’m getting to be material-centric and I’m also accumulating more things than I need. Also we might be moving again and downsizing to a small apartment so again I’m finding that I need to get rid of things. And you can’t believe how much stuff I’ve acquired just from running this blog. I need to get off this consumer hamster wheel.

Anyway, thanks to my work in breaking up with my iPhone (which I’m going to share soon), I’ve been reading a lot more. I’ve always loved the Personal Growth genre (ie the self-help section) and have been reading some good books about changing my life (or at least parts of my life). Instead of doing product reviews I think I might do some book reviews (but not of the boring type, but of this helpful personal growth type). Hopefully I can add some substance to this blog that’s not just all about stuff.

And some things I read this week: another good post by Talia about minimalism, loved this fabric guide from one of my favorite insta peeps Valentina, and this post by Leah of greenwashing at its worst is so good.

Everlane Review: The Wool Academy Blazer

*I was gifted this item by Everlane to review so this is a type of sponsored post though all opinions are my own.

Last year when Everlane first came out with their Oversized Blazer I was reluctant to review it at first because I used to be a blazer person when I worked in an office, but knew I was no longer a blazer person because I work at a garage. I did eventually review it here, so take a look if you’re interested in getting the Oversized Blazer this year (I’m pretty sure it’s the same one). And TL;DR of that review: the blazer is super oversized so even though I’m usually a size 4 in Everlane, the size 0 was a good fit for me even though it was still a bit long from my 5’4” frame. In the end I returned that blazer because it just wasn’t working for me.

But when I saw that this year that Everlane came out with a shorter blazer that they’re calling the Wool Academy Blazer, I really wanted to give it a spin even though I still work in a garage. But I felt like Everlane read my review last year and gave us a blazer option for us short gals. So I wanted to give it a shot. And you know what? It’s now my new favorite blazer and outerwear option for autumn.

{Wearing: Everlane Wool Academy Blazer, Splendid cotton dress (thrifted, similar here), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

Maybe I love a blazer even more this year because it hides the preggo belly somewhat or at least makes me feel more put together despite wearing loose clothing. Anyway I’m wearing a size 4 here and I find that it’s the perfect fit in both my arms, shoulders and length. So I would say it runs true to size, especially if you’re on the petite side.

The material is 62% wool and 38% nylon and it’s a nice weight without being too heavy (perfect for cooler Californian days). The inside is lined so there’s no itchiness. And I love the mini check pattern for adding some interest though still being quite subtle.

Even though I won’t be able to button the front at all very soon, I look forward to wearing this over all my outfits as a light coat until winter hits. It’s the perfect addition to add some prep to my step :)

P.S. For those of you feeling tired of the sponsored content on this blog, I feel you. As much as I appreciate Everlane’s occasional sponsorship, I’m starting to feel a bit “sponsored-out” so I’m going to cool it for the next couple of months and review my usual unsponsored items. I’m also in general going to cool it on reviews because I’m also feeling like I’ve been acquiring a bit too much these days (especially when it comes to clothes). So I hope you guys enjoy posts about matters other than clothes!

Also I’ll be skipping out on Friday posts for the next couple of weeks since I’m trying to put in more time on writing about other things (gotta admit reviews are easy but coming up with other interesting things to talk about is not as easy).

Unsponsored Storq Review: The Easy Pants {Updated April 2019}

When I first learned I was pregnant (and I got over the “oh sh*t” moment and finally got around to thinking about clothes), I knew I wanted to 1) not buy too many maternity clothes that will just last me for less than a year and 2) that I wanted to source them as ethically as possible. So my first order of business once the bump started being too large for my normal clothes, was hitting up my neighborhood thrift store and buying dresses in large. But there came a point where I needed to get pants that fit the bump and the ones at the thrift store weren’t cutting it. I also tried out maternity jeans purchased from eBay and I’m not a fan (jeans are just too constricting when all I want right now is loose and comfy). So with some direction from Constant Closet (seriously love her gram) and some other mamas and fellow mamas-to-be I took a look at ethical brand Storq.

If you haven’t heard of Storq yet, they’re like the Everlane of maternity clothes. Simple, yet modern basics made ethically in American and Chinese factories with a focus on worker safety, fair wages, and commitment to minimizing environmental impact. And they keep prices reasonable by being direct to consumer. You can read all about their ethics and mission here.

Sounds great on paper so how do their products measure up?

{Wearing: Everlane rib cashmere round crew (reviewed here), Storq Easy Pants, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Everlane form bag (c/o, reviewed here)}

Well the first thing I ordered was their Easy Pant because they look a lot like my favorite Grana Silk Ankle pants but in soft and comfy Supima cotton. I can no longer fit my Grana pants, so these cotton ones are the perfect alternative. The high-quality cotton is super soft and stretchy, with a really big elastic band that can accomodate my growing belly. Sometimes the elastic on my Grana pants flip, which can be annoying so I love that this never happens with these Storq pants. Also love that these pants have pockets (a necessity of course) and the slightly tapered leg. The pants were so comfy I even went hiking with them with no problems!

I’m 5’4” and I find that they’re the perfect ankle length on me (but I do wear them at the belly. If I wear them below my belly then the pants are a tad long and I'll probably hem them when the time comes to wear it like that). I’m wearing a size 3 here which is recommended for those who were a medium (size 8-10) pre-pregnancy. I got a size larger than my usual because my fibroids have made my belly bigger than the usual pregnant lady’s.

So if you’re looking for some stretchy and comfy pants from a company whose values align with yours, I can’t recommend Storq enough! I’ve worn these multiple times already and have included them in my Fall 10x10 Challenge (which is where I pulled some of these pics from). I look forward to wearing them throughout the pregnancy and even post-partum (I might actually never get rid of these super comfy atheleisure pants lol).

{April 2019 Update: I just wanted to let you all know that I’m still loving these pants post-partum. They’re perfect for the little belly I still have left. I now wear them above my little pooch which is lower than where the pregnancy bump was, and I find it super comfortable and yet flattering. Who knew I would get such great mileage from these pants? Also if you want to read my other Storq reviews (this one was my first) you can find them here.}

Weekend Update/Ramblings

How was everyone’s Halloween? I’m kind of the scrooge of Halloween and don’t ever really celebrate it (plus we’re almost always on our annual Airstream roadtrip, like this year so we’re never around). Maybe next year with a baby it will be different. Anyway only one review this past week—finally put some initial thoughts down about the Dyson Airwrap. Other than that, internet access has been sporadic so the writing has been too (but that’s actually been a good thing, finally getting some much needed digital detox sessions). Also with this road trip, I’ve finally visited all the National Parks within California. I’m thinking of writing up which ones were my favorite in a post soon.

There’s some big changes coming soon to our lives again (though nothing has been officially kicked off) and I’ll let you know when it all starts. But I’m both excited but quite anxious about it all. I know rolling with the changes is the best way to go through life so I’m just trying to view this as a great opportunity and not another upheaval of everything I know and am comfortable with. (And yes it has partially to do with the baby coming, but there’s more).

Anyway a post that I enjoyed this week was this one about not using fabric softener (I’ve never actually purchased or used fabric softener in my life. But yes to buying less chemicals that corporations try to tell you that you need). Also I really liked this post from Talia though I am one of those bloggers she speaks about that did get a gifted blazer from Everlane (after being a bit pushy and asking for it though—I learned from my Form bag lesson that ask and you might receive, lol). But I get Talia’s sentiments too because I’ve been "toiling” (ok I exaggerate, this blog is actually a joy) over this blog for 4+ years and am finally partnering with Everlane. While some peeps who spun up Instagram accounts this year are also getting free gifts (how did they get it so easy?!). This reminds me of a saying my mom likes (in Japanese): ue ni mo ue ga aru which translates to even the top have a top (meaning no matter how good you are there’s always someone better—lol depressing? maybe that’s why she also adds shita ni mo shita meaning even if you’re at the bottom, there’s always someone worse than you). Basically the lesson is the pointlessness of comparison. I just try to remember to do me and do what I enjoy. And gifts have less meaning compared to the real joy of being able to share my sentiments with you guys who come to my blog and actually care about what I have to say. So thank you if you’re reading this because you guys add meaning to my life! I truly appreciate it!

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.