Everlane Try-On: The Oversized Alpaca Crew

I ordered this shortly before my “no more reviews” resolve a month ago and it’s been sitting in my to review pile for awhile (and that is also how I know I ordered way too many things). But I finally got around to it and I’m calling this post a “try-on” instead of a review because I sent it back.

So before I got my hands on this, I talked to fellow Everlane enthusiasts and found the reviews to be a mixed bag. As for me, I liked it but at this point 1) I have way too many sweaters and 2) there’s no point in keeping this if I don’t like how it looks on me now (due to my preggo belly). I could see myself wearing this post baby but that winter is a long time from now. Also the fact that the sweater is a mix of nylon (30%) and wool (10%) is a turn-off.

{Wearing: Everlane Oversized Alpaca Crew, Storq Pencil Skirt (review coming soon, size 3), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

Because of the wool I did find the sweater to be ever so slightly itchy at the beginning but I’m pretty sensitive to that kind of stuff. But after awhile I think your body acclimates and I didn’t notice it as much. This is my first time trying alpaca and I find that the sweater is super lightweight and fluffy. The texture kind of reminds me of angora (rabbit fur) but without the itch and shedding that I’ve experience with angora in the past (like waaaay past).

I wish Everlane had made this as an 100% alpaca sweater because I want to be able to compare it to a 100% cashmere sweater. From a quick internet search I learned that alpaca fiber is more lightweight, warmer and pills less than cashmere due to longer more hollow fibers. Also alpacas are better for the environment because they’re soft-hooved and gentle grazers (this tidbit from Everlane). Anyway I’m definitely going to check out 100% alpaca sweaters in the future but for now I’m going to stick with the cashmere that I already have.

Did you guys try out the alpaca crew and what did you think?

Weekend Update/Ramblings: Ch-ch-ch-chaaaanges

Well I hope everyone had a beautiful and loving Thanksgiving weekend! We were welcomed by my friend’s aunty’s and uncle’s house again, which we are so grateful for since we have no family in the Bay Area.

Anyway I may have alluded to changes in our lives a couple weeks ago but didn’t want to delve into it until things were in motion (and now they are!). So we are getting out of our Airstream rental business. It was a wonderful passion project for 3 years, but now with a baby coming we need to get real and build a better financial base as well as get some premium health insurance. So the hubby and I decided to put our adult pants on, and go do the “responsible” thing and get a “real job”. Well he’s getting the real job and I’m going to be winding down the business and moving before the baby comes. Yep, moving again and I’m really living up to my blog name (lots of temporary homes!). Just 3 years ago we had a house near SF, which we sold to invest in this Airstream business. And then we moved into an Airstream for 2.5 years and then we moved into a bigger trailer for half a year, and then my mom purchased a house for us all to live together in in San Jose (you can see the move in my Insta-story highlights). Well long story short this house is too big for us and we cannot live with my mom (we learned the hard way). So we are striking out on our own into a modest condo in the East Bay (also to be closer to hubby’s work in the city). In 3 years we went from 2500 sq feet, to 225 sq feet, to 400 sq feet, to 2000 sq ft, now down to 1000 sq ft. I’m hoping the magic number for us is 1000 sq ft and that we will no longer be moving for awhile. I’m probably going to change the blog name next year too so I no longer “jinx” myself with a name that indicates temporary homes. Also I feel like the blog name doesn’t really represent anything that I talk about here. But blog changes will come in January once we are settled into our new place.

Anyway, loved reading this guide on how to wear linen in the winter by Lee (something I’m definitely going to try out this year) and these reminders on keeping your shopping and thus your closet at a minimum.

And finally I’m not into Black Friday shopping nor do I want to be a product pusher but I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention that my favorite silk Mara jumpsuit from Elizabeth Suzann is on sale now because they are phasing it out for a wide leg jumpsuit next year. Personally as a petite person I’m not a huge fan of the wide leg trend so I think the current Mara design is a huge winner (my review of it here). Also I feel like the shape is more of a classic that’ll last through the ages. In fact my secondhand silk version I got (which by the way was more expensive than this discounted price), has been my most worn item of clothing this past 3 months (at 14 times so far). I’m super tempted to get another silk version but I think I’m going to try out the linen one for some variety (but the silk is so dreamy). Anyway none of these are affiliate links and this is just a PSA for my fellow ES lovers out there!

P.S. I’ve added more items to my Closet Sale benefitting the Wildfire Relief Fund! Thanks to everyone who’s purchased so far!

Everlane Choose What You Pay Sale: Some of my favorites

I like to do this kind of post every once in awhile since 1) I know that even though Everlane is on the affordable side of the ethical fashion spectrum, not everyone can afford Everlane at full prices and 2) I do so many reviews that sometimes it’s hard to tell what are the real winners that I love and would recommend to my friends (ie you guys). Plus who doesn’t want to purchase a great quality item at a discounted price from a brand that cares about the welfare of their workers? So here are some of my picks that are currently available from their CWYP sale (and I always recommend paying their lowest price—don’t fall for paying for more out of any sense of guilt or obligation because who are they kidding, they’re trying to move these items out of their stock).

The Day Heel

You can read my review of them here. I love my pale rose Day Heels and wear them whenever I want to dress up a little and wear heels. There is a short breaking in period but after that, they’re so comfortable even for my wide feet. The block heels are perfect for stability and I love the casual rounded toe. They no longer have them in the color I have but that oxblood color (linked in the header above) is such a great color for fall/winter.

The Day Heel Mule

Reviewed here. So I mentioned this already but these are my go-to shoes when I want a little lift. I love these more than my Day Heels and these are the only heels I’ll wear interchangeably with flats. There’s a brief breaking in period with these but trust me, once you wear them for a couple hours they’ll be the most comfortable heels ever. They previously only had the suede version on sale but now they have these cognac leather ones for sale now too (and I think the leather version is way better than the suede one). They are my second most worn pair of Everlane shoes after Everlane’s old Street Sandals (no longer produced).

The V Sling Back

Reviewed here. These were my third most worn pair of Everlane shoes and my favorite summer sandals. Not only were they really comfortable but I got a lot of compliments on them as well. Also I favor the woven leather version over the suede even though they’re a tad more expensive because the woven leather version has give and thus are way more comfortable on my wide-ish feet (I tried the suede version in the V heels and found they had minimal give). If you live in California or another warm climate than the black version of these could probably take you through fall to early winter since the covered toes will keep your feet warm enough (and I wonder how they’d look with socks and ankle length pants—I might have to give that a try).

The Modern Loafer Mule

Reviewed here. I love my modern loafer mules and wear it pretty often when I know I won’t be walking around a ton (usually for short errands that involve driving). These would also make awesome office shoes since they look professional but they’re also slip on. I just wouldn’t walk around in them because they can be quite heavy and since they’re mules you do have to drag your feet a bit to keep them on. You know, you gotta do the mule shuffle lol. If I’m walking around a lot, my go to mules are Everlane’s Boss Mules (reviewed here) because they’re so much lighter and easier to walk around in. But I just really love the look of these modern loafer mules and they work so much better for my wide feet than the regular modern loafers.

The Soft Cotton Popover Shirt

So this is what I’ve been waiting for—this overpriced but good shirt to go on sale. When I originally reviewed it (here) I liked the shirt though I didn’t think it was worth the original $75 dollars (that’s only $3 less than their Utility Jacket that was so much more substantial and useful). And as I predicted, not a lot of people probably purchased it at that price. Well now it’s $53 which is a lot more reasonable for a shirt (though still a bit high). I originally tried a size 0 (which was way too small and smaller than my usual size 4—but it said oversized and I wanted a more fitted shirt). I then tried a size 2 in store and that was much better, so if you want a less oversized look I would go one size down. If you like the oversized look, stick with your true size (which is what I ended up doing when I re-purchased this because of my current preggo status). If $53 is still high for you, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the price go down further if you don’t mind waiting another couple of months.

And that’s it, that’s all I see on their current page that I would recommend. Yes, it’s a bit shoe heavy but I have to say Everlane makes some of the best valued Italian leather shoes. And though their original selections (ie the modern loafer) used to cater to the narrow-footed, the ones above all work with my wide and getting -wider-by-the-week feet (due to pregnancy).

Closet Sale to benefit the Wildfire Relief Fund

I have so much stuff. It’s a fact and I’m so lucky and grateful, but there are many people in California now with absolutely nothing due to the wildfires. I can’t even imagination the devastation of losing everything and so close to the holidays as well. I’ve donated already to the Red Cross but I felt like that wasn’t enough so I wanted to do a little sale on my Closet Sale page with all proceeds going to the Wildfire Relief Fund. I’ve started by listing fashion jewelry that’s too meaningful for me to throw in a bag for Goodwill. So I figured it would be a win-win-win by selling it to you guys at a good price, and I know it will go to a good home and be used, as well as donate more to another good organization to help the wildfire victims. Shipping is free (US only).

How I broke up with my iPhone

Our attention is the most valuable things we have. We experience only what we pay attention to. We remember only what we pay attention to. When we decide what to pay attention to in the moment, we are making a broader decision about how we want to spend our lives.

And with that quote, I knew I had to read this book, How To Break Up With Your Phone.

Ok so I didn’t really break up with my iPhone in that I no longer use it or that I went back to a 90’s flip phone (that would be too drastic lol). But I can easily say that after a cooling off period, I now have a much healthier relationship with my phone and subsequently I feel much more balanced than I have in a while. And not coincidentally I have recently decided to say no to any more gifted items and cool it with acquiring more items for review (though I’m finishing up my backlog of reviews still). I wonder if the lessening of my materialistic impulses are related to less social media and marketing exposure? I think so and that’s just one of several benefits I’ve found from being less addicted to my phone.

Another benefit has been a generally better attention span: I can finally sit down again and read a book for prolonged periods of time. I used to be a voracious reader but I haven’t really read anything except magazines lately. And everytime I started a book, I never seemed to finish it. Well now with more time and the retraining of my focus, I’m back to reading (and so get ready for some other reviews of book in the personal growth genre). And I also rekindled my love with my Kindle. I find I’m enjoying TV shows more now as well because I’m no longer multitasking or multi-screening while I watch (currently watching Homecoming on Amazon Prime and it’s getting good though it starts slow!). I also watch less TV because I’m not just letting the shows run on while I stare at my phone.

Anyway these are just a few of the benefits I’ve seen already in the 3 or so weeks I’ve started working on separating from my phone. And I’m hoping that this is just the start.

I highly recommend reading this book if you find yourself spending way more time on your phone than you’d like, if your attention span is not what it used to be, if you look at your phone first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, or if you find yourself feeling antsy when you’re away from your phone for prolonged periods of time (this was me to a T). But for those who just want to know what were some of the tips that made the biggest difference in my iPhone seperation read on:

Tip 1: Ask yourself “What do you want to be paying attention to?”

So of course relating to the quote above, but the important point about this is that you can’t just quit your phone for no reason. If you don’t have a plan of things you want to be spending your time on rather than staring at your phone, your motivation for less phone-time weakens. For example, the next time you find yourself with some time on your hands you might be tempted to go back to your tiny screen so instead have a game plan (like a book) waiting. She recommends writing a list of things you would do if you had more time. For me that includes reading, working out, cooking, spending time with friends and family, volunteer work and crafting.

Tip 2: Monitor your screen time

You need a starting point letting you know how bad is bad. My starting point was 7 hours and 45 min a day of screen time. Eeeek! The new iPhone iOS has Screentime built in now. I was at first resistant to setting it up because I just didn’t want to know (ignorance is bliss, right) lol. But you have to do this because you need to know. For those with androids, the book recommends an app called OFFTIME.

Tip 3: Changing habits by reorganizing your phone

So she recommends deleting social media for awhile but I just couldn’t. Of course I justified it by saying it was a tool both for my blog and for our Airstream business but really I’m just weak and couldn’t do it. But I did move it from out of my menu bar (the one that’s at the bottom of every screen page) and into a folder on my third screen page titled “UR Life=UR attention” (lol a reminder of that quote). And you can see all the other past and potential time suck apps included in that folder:

So now when I want to go to Instagram I have to take a couple more steps to open it up, which is the slight hurdle I need to pause and make sure that I’m going there with intention and not habit. I put my Google Keep app (which is my running checklist and notebook) in the place of where Instagram used to be on my menu bar. And the crazy thing was that for the first couple of days I would mindlessly click that app and then finding myself in Google Keep, and I’d be like “how’d I get here? why did I open this app” It was such a powerful habit that whenever I was bored and or needed a distraction, my thumb just automatically clicked that icon. I did it at least 5 times before my mind finally regained control of my thumb, lol. I also took out email from my menu bar because really I don’t need to be checking it that often. And lastly remove all notifications and badges from your phone—check your apps on your own time and don’t be constantly pulled by what’s mostly unimportant.

Tip 4: Use an app blocker for the apps you use most often

For me that’s Instagram. I was spending almost 10 hours a week on it! So I started by using an app blocker (for iPhones you can use Screentime, for android OFFTIME) and setting my limit at 2 hours for all social media (I know that’s still a lot but baby steps right?). And then gradually decreasing it. I’m currently at 1.5 hours, and most days I’m well within the limit. But days where I converse and message people, I hit that limit and the app tells me when I have only 5 minutes left. It’s a great reminder that you’re trying to limit your time on the app and if you absolutely have to, you can always ignore the limit and keep using the app.

Tip 5: No phone zones

We already had a no phone zone for the dining table but my husband and I decided that we would include the bedroom as a no phone zone as well. So now we charge our phones in the outside hallway. And that means if you need to check email or want to look at something on your phone before bed, you have to get up to do it. That barrier alone is so helpful in making sure we check our phones with intention. Also as the author suggested, I purposely don’t look at my phone until a designated a phone wake-up time. For me, that’s after breakfast (which I now eat with no distractions, I try to eat it mindfully and savoring each bite). Oh and use an old-fashioned alarm clock instead of your phone so you don’t have any excuse to reach for your phone first thing in the morning.

Where our phone sleeps

The rest of the book has a ton of great exercises and she also goes into meditation and mindfulness, which I love. But those 5 tips alone have made the biggest difference in my phone usage. I’m down to about 4 hours of cumulative phone time a week (and some of that includes “Other” things like Google Maps) and down to 8 hours of instagram a week. So I’m definitely still a work in progress. And that’s not to say I still don’t have mindless binges through safari or a shopping app, but at least I’m conscious that I’m doing it and choosing to do that over something else.

Week two progress

Week 3 progress

It’s a slow and steady progress and I hope to get it down to 3 hours a day with 7 hours a week on avg on Instagram. But like I mentioned above, I’m already seeing the results and feel so much better about balance and intentionally living my life. I have yet to put my time towards some of my other goals other than reading, but it’s at least freeing up my time for some of the big changes coming ahead. So maybe this holiday season let’s get ahead of this phone addiction and not let app engineers and advertisers monopolize our attention. Instead let’s give even better quality attention to our family and friends!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Reading books has come back into my life and it’s been such a joy. Currently I’m reading several books at once because depending on my mood, I want to read different things. All but one are non-fiction and are in the personal growth genre. Anyway as I’m still trying to hold strong to the “less stuff” resolve, I’m continuing to read Your Money or Your Life and came upon this great passage:

One of the pervasive assumptions is that growth is good. Our economy depends on growth to survive—and we, as Americans, have absorbed that growth ethic into our own aspirations for our lives. If we have one car, we need two. If we have one pair of pants, we need two; if we have two, we need three. We ignore intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth, having gotten stuck trying to continue to grow physically by adding more and more possessions…This ‘more is better, growth is good’ cultural assumptions breed in us subtle economic prejudices. We judge our own and others’ importance by material yardsticks.

Or in my case if I have three Everlane sweaters, I need five. And that blogger has the new Everlane coat? I need that too. Oh and I really aspire to have a Hermes bag collection like that CRA (Crazy Rich Asian) blogger. When I have that, I’ll be set. Yea rrrriiiiight >.< In my head I know better, but dang if social media doesn’t convince you otherwise. And what makes it worse is that I know I’m part of the system: that I do that to others and it’s not good. Like I said last weekend, ue ni mo ue ga aru.

I think I was feeding into this frenzy because I’ve been very focused on trying to grow my blog so that I can be a “successful blogger” and make a living out of my passion. But I’m starting to see that motivation is drowning me in stuff and on top of that I’m getting a bit too obsessed with the numbers (both for the blog and on instagram) and feel down when I don’t see growth. It’s all feeling very unhealthy, so I’m glad to be able to take a step back and reassess a bit more on where I want this blog to go and what I want to write about. Anyway if you see more reviews after this, know it’s because I ordered things before I had this change of heart and might as well review whatever I try. Also I’m not going to go on a shopping ban (because I tried that for a year and it didn’t work for me), so I’ll probably still be buying things. But I’m hoping it will be for things I really need and not just want.

Also I’m starting to see that I might not be able to make a living out of this blog, and that this will always be just a hobby. And that’s okay. I rather be doing me in a small beans kind of way rather than to morph into a product pushing blogger and not be living by my own values. If that means always having a “real job” so be it. Also I could probably live on a lot less than I do now and be more money conscious. So it’s not about making the money but instead saving the money. I’ll definitely try but man, do old habits die hard.

Everlane Try On: The Soft Wool Rib Crew Sweater

So I ordered this Soft Wool Rib Crew and another Everlane sweater before I decided to cool it with the reviews of new items, and you know how slow shipping can be so I just got them. And well since they’re here I might as well try them out and let you know what I think right?

So I initially fell in love with the sweater because of the white and black marl pattern. I’m such a sucker for that look, and I thought that the side slits up the front were an interesting detail. Buuuuttt…

Ok so I know the preggo belly does not help here and in fact the slits seem to make it worse. But is it no wonder that the Everlane styles the sweater tucked into the pants in the first picture on their site? But yes the sweaters is doing me zero favors here and you guys agreed:

Oh and I got my regular size small here and being pregnant I probably should be wearing at least a medium. On the plus side, the soft wool (which is 100% wool) was indeed soft and not itchy at all. Of course it’s no cashmere and for $15 more I would definitely choose their waffle knit cashmere (still my absolute favorite) over this sweater. Ah well I have enough sweaters as it is and I probably should be buying too many clothes when pregnant in hopes of wearing it later, so back this went!

Unsponsored Only Child Clothing Review: The Linen Alta Top {Updated March 2021}

I’ve reviewed the Only Child Alta top in raw silk (in size XS/S) before here, but I thought I would add a review of this linen alta top in size S/M too since it’s a tad different from the first Alta top I purchased. I originally got this during OC’s end of summer sale and so I’ve had this for awhile now and I’m finally ready to review! Also just noticed that Haley no longer stocks the Alta in linen since she’s moved onto the winter collection but I’m sure she’ll bring it back next summer.

{Wearing: Only Child Linen Alta top (S/M), over Elizabeth Suzann Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here), Arizona Birkenstocks, Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

So I’ve talked about OC’s linen quality before here and like I said in that review, they use the good stuff! Theirs is as good as Elizabeth Suzann and so this Alta top does feel a lot like my old ES Georgia tee (reviewed here). But the two tops are pretty different in shape. First the Alta top doesn’t have wing tip type sleeves like the Georgia, and the Alta top has a high-front, low-back parabola shape to is that I love. I also love that the collar line on the Alta is a bit more fitted.

Compared to my XS/S silk version, this S/M linen version is much less cropped and definitely more voluminous (which is perfect for hiding my preggo belly). Also the sleeve length is also better for me in the S/M (for reference I’m 5’4” and usually wear a size 4 on top).

So right now they only have this top in raw silk, wool or tencel (those wool and tencel ones look so dreamy!). But I look forward to wearing this in the winter anyway layered under jacket or maybe over some long sleeve tees. The fun thing about this top is that it can work a lot of ways! So even though I now have two Alta tops, each one feels so different and yet so versatile! Stay tuned on Insta and here for more ways to wear this top in the winter.

{March 2021 Update: I wanted to let you know that I ended up selling my linen alta top because as much as I liked it, I always ended up reaching for the raw silk version more. I think the linen was not drapey enough for an oversized top and I felt kind of like I was wearing a sail. So I decided to sell this linen version and I purchased the an Alta top in black raw silk in a size down XS/S. I have to say I’m very happy with my decision since I reach for the black raw silk Alta a lot. Now OC is phasing out the use of raw silk and makes their new Altas in a cotton/silk blend (which I’m curious about). Hmm I wonder if it’s time to think about trying another Alta? I’m becoming quite the Alta addict lol.}

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!