Gifted Everlane Items: Where Are They Now?

So I rarely see other bloggers talk about what happens to their gifted items. I guess we are supposed to assume that each piece that we raved about when we first got it, is still an amazing workhorse in our closet. But we all know that’s not true because that’s not true about most items that enter our wardrobe (gifted or not). Also I’m sure bloggers don’t want to look a gift-horse in the mouth (I had to look that idiom up to get it right and what an interesting phrase) and burn bridges with future sponsorship/gifts. Buuuut since I’m not looking for any sponsors or gifts this year I’m going to tell it to you straight: not all the gifts I got from Everlane were a winner. Here’s a list of things I was gifted and what were the winners and losers.

Winners

Everlane Easy Chinos (reviewed here): These were easily my favorite pair of pants from Everlane and I wore them a ton. They made it to my most worn items of 2018 list as well as lowest cost per wear Everlane list. Can’t wait to wear them again post pregnancy!

Polka dot shirt dress (reviewed here): I really love this dress and the cupro material, and the only reason why I stopped wearing it was because the baby bump was making it a tad too short. But again I plan to rock this once my body shrinks back to it’s normal size.

Renew lightweight puffer (reviewed here): This was my last gifted item from Everlane and I’m glad I was able to try it out. I love how lightweight it is but still keeps me warm. I can no longer zip it up currently but that hasn’t stopped me from wearing it layered over sweaters or with a scarf.

Losers

The Academy Blazer (reviewed here): As much as I wanted to love this blazer, I think I just have to admit I’m no longer a blazer-wearing person. Also the shorter style just isn’t as on trend or as cute as the oversized one. I sold this on eBay and kept the $65 to go towards my hospital bills (I was feeling a bit poor at the time so I sold a bunch of things to go towards the hospital bill).

Short Sleeve Popover Shirt (reviewed here): As much as I liked the shirt in theory, I ended up not wearing it as much as I had hoped. I think in the end it reminded me too much of my Episcopalian school uniform (from when I was in K-5) and I never felt stylish in it. Also the collar kept getting makeup on it which is a pet peeve. Also sold it on eBay.

Mixed Bag

Day Glove Flats (reviewed here): I think I was one of the very few people that didn’t love love these flats. Even in the review I disclosed the fact that I ended up selling these (and donated the sale money) due to the fact they gave me blisters. But every time I see a pair on Insta or on a blog I get a twinge of regret and wonder if I should’ve just slapped on some bandaids and worked harder to break them in. I’m debating on repurchasing these or possibly going for the original Martiniano Glove shoes that these are “inspired by.”

Form Bag (reviewed here): This was something I boldly asked Everlane for, without them asking me if I wanted anything that month. And I was super thrilled when they said yes. But I put it in this mixed bag category here because even though I still love it (love how it looks and how I can carry it), I find that I don’t wear it as often as I thought I would. It might be because I’m still sans baby so I can get away with carrying small bags (which I rather do since they’re lighter and don’t get in the way). I’m keeping it around since it’s a great mid-size bag and am hoping it would work as a minimal diaper bag.

What I have left

And I think that’s it. I was gifted about one item per month from about March to October, so a total of 7 items. I’m extremely grateful to have had this partnership, especially when I think about all the winner items I keep wearing on repeat (or will get to wear once baby comes). Currently I’m putting a hold on the partnership since I’m trying to decrease my clothing consumption and also because I don’t want to be buying things for my pregnant body, just in case I don’t wear them once my body settles back to its “regular” shape (in whatever form that’s going to be—I’m trying to keep expectations low lol). So I might hit them up later to see if they’d be interesting in partnering again, but if not that’s okay too. I’m just grateful for the things I did receive!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

If you have Amazon Prime, please do yourself a favor and watch Generation Wealth. It touched on so many topics revolving around how our society views money from the greed culture, porn culture, and the all-around misconception of money (and having more) being the end-all be-all. I’m going to watch it at least one more time because I feel like I haven’t fully absorbed it all yet. And then I’m going to go back to Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth to remember how to overcome that materialistic greed ego within me and to remind myself of what happiness really is (for me that starts with being present with gratitude).

Speaking of gratitude, I’m very grateful for a reader who emailed me this week making me aware of some of the negative self-talk about my body on this blog (e.g. when I say my short stubby legs). I’m pretty self-deprecating in nature and this kind of talk doesn’t really bother me (my legs are short, so what?) but I can see how it’s not healthy nor is it helpful. I do believe in dressing proportionately for my petite stature so I don’t like when clothes cut off at awkward places (like tops right at the hips or midi dresses right at the calves) but I should be aware it’s the clothing and not me. So I just want to apologize to all those who’ve noticed my negative self-talk because I really don’t have anything to complain about (I love my body just the way it is and for the miracles it can do—like make a human for goodness sake). And thanks to K for bringing this to my attention!

Rothy's $200 Giveaway {closed}

via

It’s that time again where I’ve accumulated enough Rothy credit to do another giveaway! My two pairs of Rothy’s (the original points and my newer sneakers) are both going strong so there’s no need for me to get more. So as a thank you to all my readers (and a happy Valentine’s day), I want to pass along the promo code! To enter the giveaway just fill out the form below (one entry per person please). Giveaway ends on Wednesday the 13th midnight and a winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day.

Hatch Maternity Review: Is it really worth it?

Hatch was one of those brands I heard about even before I got pregnant, so when I did get pregnant I decided I wanted to try them out to see what all the hype was about. But have you seen their prices?! Their tops range in the $100s while their bottoms and dresses are in the $200s. And I could not just see myself spending that much on maternity clothes, even if their slogan is For Before, During, and After. Who are we kidding, I won’t be wearing maternity clothes after the baby is born, I’m going to jump back into my Elizabeth Suzann Clydes and Everlane-everything-else. So The RealReal to the rescue (you can read about my TRR purchasing experience here). So by purchasing Hatch items secondhand on TRR, I was able to try out pants and 2 dresses for about $40-$60 apiece.

{Also I should note that I purchased and tried a pair of Hatch leggings that I reviewed (and compared to with Storq, PACT, and Target’s). You can read that review here. I got the Hatch leggings in a size 2 and found that it was a smidge too small for my third trimester body even if they were under the belly leggings and I’m usually a size medium.}

{Wearing: Hatch Nantucket Dress, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine soft cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

So I’m not even going to show you the pants because it was dang awful. The fit was bad, the material was bad, everything was bad. But I will show you the two dresses I tried on. First up the striped Nantucket Dress, which I kind of loved until I took outfit shots with it. I’m a bit too short for this dress and it makes my legs look stubby especially from the side and back because of the dipped back hem. Wearing heels would make this dress fit better proportionately but I’m not about to wear heels when pregnant. And since I didn’t love it, back this dress went. But the construction was really good and it was made from a very thick and sturdy 100% cotton material. This particular dress was made in New York and thus presumably made ethically (if following US law) though not all of Hatch’s current items are (more on this below).

The next dress I tried on was an older silk piece from when Hatch was an offshoot of the Hatch founder’s first line, TwoBirds. I’ve noticed that most of the offerings on Hatch currently are blended with plastic (polyester) which makes the garments cheaper to produce. But the prices are still quite high for garments blended with such “fillers”. Since shopping mostly ethical and slow fashion, I’ve really paid attention to fabric content and only buy clothes made of 100% natural fibers (cotton, silk, wool, etc.) since not only does that mean the garment is of a higher quality, but they are also fully biodegradable at the end of its life (100% natural fibers are also more expensive so you’re getting better bang for your buck). There are very few pieces in Hatch’s current collection that’s 100% silk so I jumped at the chance to try this very old Hatch piece from The RealReal.

I would say the silk quality here is pretty good, at about the same level as Cuyana’s silk items (but not as good as say Elizabeth Suzann’s silk). This item was also made in New York. But I’ve noticed that many pieces from Hatch’s current collection are no longer made in New York, and instead are made in China (so I don’t get why such the high prices like this dress, the one Meghan Markle wore). A polyester viscose dress made in China at most cost them around $30 to make (loosely based on Everlane’s transparent pricing of their triacetate dress here), so charging over $200 seems excessive.

Anyway I liked this silk dress for the interesting details of the sleeves and the quality of the silk even though the overall shape isn’t the most flattering. But layered with some of my other ethical pieces, I was able to transition it in a winter outfit below:

{Wearing: Grana cropped cashmere (sold out, similar), Hatch silk dress, PACT leggings (reviewed here), Vince Blair Sneakers (similar), Celine Soft Cube Bag (similar, reviewed here)}

So would I recommend Hatch clothing for expecting mothers? No, to me it’s not worth the price. Like I said before getting it secondhand makes it slightly more worth it, but I think there are other maternity clothes designers out there that produce better items at better prices (especially since Hatch is not necessarily producing their items in a social or environmentally responsible way—which you know is important to me). I think when you buy something from Hatch, you’re paying a lot for the brand name and not for the quality and design of the product. Stay tuned for another review of a maternity brand that I liked much better and found to be of a better value!

Have you guys tried Hatch and what did you think?

Everlane Try-On: The Cashmere V-Neck Midi Dress

First of all, I just want to say please excuse the quality of the photos in this post. I had just gotten out of the hospital and was preparing for a big move so I didn’t really have time to style photos or even do makeup (thus the headless shots). I hope to be getting back to better quality photos soon. Anyway I had ordered this cashmere V-neck midi dress from Everlane back in November because I wanted a warm and stretchy dress. I sized up to a medium to accommodate the growing bump but I feel like I could have gotten away with the small (it just would have been more form fitting). Also because of the bump the midi length gets shortened a little to be just below the knees for me, which I think is a good length for this kind of dress. Without the bump, the dress would probably be more of a true midi length and thus make my legs look stumpier without heels (though the pointed flats of my favorite Everlane Boss Mules helps lengthen the leg a little).

So why is this post just a try-on and why didn’t I keep it? In the end I decided that the size was a tad too large and I wasn’t sure I would wear it post pregnancy. Also a dress like this has very limited layering options and it’s just too warm for California winters. If I got overheated in this I would just have to grin and bear it. So as much as I love the look and feel of this sweater dress, the prudent thing to do (especially if I’m trying to keep my closet minimal this year) was to send it back. This might be better for those who have to brave snowy winters and frigid temperatures.

Anyway that’s the last Everlane review for awhile since I’m on my one-purchase-a-month resolution now. But I still have some other reviews left from my last December purchases. Also moving away from the clothes-reviewing-posts has helped me come up with some future posts that I think you’ll find interesting and helpful (I hope), so stay tuned for those!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Happy February y’all! Did January feel as long for you as it did for me? It’s hard to believe that just a month ago I was in the hospital discussing with doctors about the potential for an early C-section delivery. And since then we’ve moved to a new city and I’m looking at a C-section on my actual due date. I feel so very grateful on how things have turned out thus far. The C-section is scheduled for about a month from now and sh*t’s getting real! I have a ton of appointments and education classes lined up with Kaiser, so I’m lucky to live only 5 minutes away (for the week of Feb 11 alone I have appointments scheduled on 4 out of the 5 weekdays, including a tour of labor and delivery on Valentine’s day-lol how romantic). Also recently I got my style groove back, despite feeling like an absolute whale, thanks to Rent the Runway (more about that at the bottom of this past week’s post here). I’ve come to realize, it doesn’t really matter what your shape is, there’s ways to be stylish no matter what and it’s just about having the mindset to try and care. And no it doesn’t pay to care all the time but making an effort once in awhile is a good mood booster, especially when you feel like you’re in a rut.

On the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) front, we’ve really worked to cut down on our spending despite the move and buying a couple new pieces for the new apartment. But we didn’t get much, just a shoe bench and some shelves from Wayfair. We also installed some light fixtures we got from Lowe’s and it’s made a huge difference in the space. We realized too that it’s worth spending some money on things that you use daily (like light fixtures) and save in areas that are temporary/intangible (eating out, movies, etc.). Now we’re looking into investing our savings into ETFs/mutual funds that will give us that 7% annual return (the cornerstone of FIRE). Also we recently watched this video to keep the FIRE inspo going.

Some inspiration from Instagram this week:

I like the message and all, but then when it comes to what are some actionable steps (which I asked in the comments but didn’t get a response), I’m kind of at a loss. I guess it takes political activism but I’m not too sure where to start and voting alone is not enough. I did look up how to reduce income inequality and really it’s all about policies, changing laws and tax systems—all of which the US is currently not doing.

Some things I read this week: This post by Jess for Less is a great primer in thrifting and this article about the Kardashians makes me sad/angry (imagine if they put their power behind sustainable or ethical fashion instead of items that fuel fast fashion).

Maternity Leggings Review: Storq vs Hatch vs PACT vs Target vs Uniqlo

L to R: Uniqlo, Target, PACT, Hatch, Storq

Since the majority of my pregnancy is during the Fall, Winter and Spring months I needed some leggings to keep me warm under dresses (I’m just not a fan of maternity pants/jeans, though I did purchase a pair of overalls that act as go-to my jeans). I’ve just been on a waistband ban since pretty much the beginning of the pregnancy and have been wearing dresses as long as I could get away with them. But with the cold weather I need some leggings and so I tried a bunch out, both maternity and not. And here’s a comprehensive review of them all:

First of all there are two kinds of maternity leggings: over the belly and under the belly types. Over the belly is great when you want a bit of extra warmth and support around your mid-section. But for me personally, I like the under-belly types since I’m just not a fan of anything putting pressure on the belly. Also some leggings can technically be worn alone as pants, but the ones I wanted were more like opaque tights that I could wear under dresses. So without further ado…

Storq Basic Leggings ($60) made of 92% modal and 8% spandex

For a full review of them, go here. But a quick summary: these are great over the belly leggings if you’re tall (at least 5’6” and above). Otherwise the legs are way too long and the torso portion comes up to right under my bra (and there’s a seam that goes up that irritated my belly every time I wore them). However if you are tall and are looking for a pair of super soft, stretchy, fully opaque and ethically-made over the belly leggings these are probably your best bet.

Hatch Premium Leggings ($128) made of 88% nylon and 12% lycra

These are under the belly leggings that are thick enough to wear alone as pants if you choose to do so. They run a tad small and the size 2 (medium) was a bit tight for me though I’m normally a medium. I also found that the waistband folds and bends, which is a pet peeve of mine. At $128 these are the most expensive of the bunch, and I think the worst value. They weren’t the softest and I found they had a bit of a scratchiness to them. They are however made in New York and so if we assume they are following all US laws (and why not), then they are ethically made and workers are paid a fair wage. This is also presumably why they are the most expensive.

PACT Leggings ($30) made of 92% organic cotton and 8% elastane

These are not maternity specific leggings but since I knew I was looking for some under the belly leggings, I thought these might work. So I purchased them in a large (I’m regularly a medium) and I think they work fine. Since they are on the thicker side, you can wear them as stand alone pants and they are fully opaque. I did find the large were a bit too big in the leg area for me and they bagged a bit, but they weren’t too long (I’m 5’4”) so they’re probably too short for those who are a bit taller and want to keep their ankles covered. As for me, I found them to be the perfect length and they hit right at the ankles. The seams are a bit more noticeable than the Storq leggings and the PACT leggings aren’t as soft as the Storq ones, but for half the price I found them to be of pretty good value. So far these have held up great though I’ve heard mixed reviews about these leggings and some people have found that they don’t last very long (I personally don’t wear leggings all that often, maybe about once a week max and these aren’t my favorite so I’m probably not wearing them more than once a month right now).

Target Isabel Maternity Leggings by Ingrid & Isabel ($20) made of 87% polyester and 13% spandex

I decided to try these undoubtedly unethical line of leggings because after doing some research on the internet, a couple of mommy forums were raving about how great these leggings were. And as much as I wanted to stick to ethical clothing during my pregnancy, I wanted to keep an open mind about what’s out there (who knows, maybe the cheapest option really is the most comfortable). Well even though these leggings promised to be seamless they weren’t. I definitely felt the large seams running up and down my leg and that made it uncomfortable. Also I tried both the over the belly and under the belly versions of these and both were too long in the legs for me. The material for these were the most athletic and had a sheen to them, which is not what I was looking for in my leggings. In the end I returned them and at least I know I wasn’t missing out.

Uniqlo Heat Tech Leggings ($14.90) made of 38% polyester, 32% acrylic, 21% rayon and 9% spandex

So these were my go-to pair of leggings I was wearing under dresses and skirts pre-pregnancy and are several years old. I don’t know why I just didn’t try these out first since I already had them, but for some reason I had it in my head that maternity leggings had to be over the belly. Only after trying out the various leggings up top did I realize that I, one, dislike over the belly leggings and that, two, these heat tech leggings worked just as well during pregnancy (I just have to roll over the waistband a couple times to make them fit under the belly). And this was the most ethical and cost-effective solution since I’ve already had these for several years. Too bad I only discovered this after already going through all the ones above facepalm.

Ah well so lesson learned: try what you have first (the first lesson in ethical closets, right?). So that’s what I recommend: if you already have a favorite pair of leggings, see if they work for you by rolling the waistband to make them under the belly leggings (especially if you’re only briefly pregnant in the winter/spring months). If not, then depending on your height and what you may need I recommend either the Storq ones or the PACT ones.

P.S. I’ve just recently tried these faux leather leggings from Ingrid and Isabel (through Rent the Runway Unlimited and these are not the Target line but their own branded leggings) and I have to say I love these under the belly leggings. They’re very thick and warm and if you’re wearing a maternity tunic, it’s sort of like wearing pants. The medium size is very true to size and fit me perfectly. If you’re looking for something that’s a bit more than your regular ‘ole leggings I highly recommend these!

What I've Been Wanting In January

So as I had said I would in my New Year’s Resolution post, I collected all the things I’ve been wanting to buy this month and instead of impulsively buying anything, I waited and am allowing myself to buy one thing at the end of the month. Well this is my list for January:

(from the picture above, starting from the top and going clockwise)

J&M Davidson Gabby bag: Love this simple, clean looking bag in beige. I had never heard of this British brand before but stumbled upon them on Instagram. I love their quality-looking bags and the fact that their bags are lined in napa leather (something only high end designers usually do). But by waiting til the end of the month to purchase (and not sure I would have purchased anyway since they are not transparent about their production methods and ethics) it’s now sold out. So I’m glad I don’t have to think about that one anymore.

Tome Striped Shirt from The RealReal: I heard of TOME through a blog post about high-end sustainable brands and it really piqued my interest in their environmentally and socially conscious business. Plus I’m a sucker for stripes and so this quite affordable shirt from The RealReal has been on my wishlist this whole month. But I’m a little hesitant to pull the trigger since I really don’t want to be buying clothes for my current prego figure, only to not have it work out later this year. So I’m going to hold off.

Article & Goods No B2 bag: I also stumbled upon this leather camera bag whilst on Instagram (this is why Insta is so bad if you’re trying not to consume so it’s a good thing I have my resolution in place). This is a unisex brand, based locally in San Francisco, while all their leather goods are handcrafted consciously in China. I definitely fell in love with the brand’s mission and the founder’s story (his mother was a garment factory worker). Because of their small production practices, all their items have been sold out all month so that saves me as well.

Mansur Gavriel Ocean bag: So I no longer own any MG bags, but that doesn’t mean their newer styles like this Ocean bag (and most recently the mini travel bag below) doesn’t turn my head once in awhile. I probably won’t seriously buy anymore MG bags but I can still admire them from afar.

Mejuri Single Mini Hoop: So I’ve started wearing huggies on my ears since it’s the most comfortable earring to wear when side sleeping (thanks to pregnancy). I’ve been wearing these gold and diamond huggies I got in December from Saks Off Fifth but I have a second hole on my left ear lobe that could use this Mejuri single hoop. I think the plain gold along with the diamond and gold huggie would be a cute combo. Also this single hoop is so affordable for 14k gold (granted it’s tiny). Plus this fairly transparent brand has been on my radar for so long (due to ethical influencers) and I really want to give them a try.

So what did I buy?

None of these!

What?!

I know! This exercise in waiting and collecting a list of things to buy has really helped from impulsively purchasing anything. It’s kind of amazing. And yes I still want some of these things (like the earring and the Article & Goods bag), but I can wait. So instead of buying any of these things I decided to spend $120 for a Rent The Runway Unlimited subscription for a month (right now they’re going for even cheaper, for $99 darn it!). I decided to try out this service because in my ultra prego state (8 months + fibroids that make me look like I’m carrying twins) I’ve only been wearing 2 things: my maternity denim overalls from Gap and my Elizabeth Suzann Georgia Midi dress (what a lifesaver!). And in general I felt like I’ve been in a style rut, but I’m not about to splurge on new clothes. So what better than to rent, and RTR offers rental of maternity clothes! Anyway once I’ve tried out the service, of course I’ll be doing a review and will let you know if it’s worth it.

So how’s your new year’s resolutions going? For those doing the #byebuychallenge on Insta, were you able to go without buying?

P.S. Also I was tempted by Everlane’s texture cardigan this past week, which I wrote about in my weekend update. I’m actually really glad I set this resolution into place because I feel like the cardigan would have been something I really wanted in theory but would not have worn as much in practice.

Ethical Chambray Shirt Round-up

A round-up like this is a first for me on this blog, but since it was requested by a new reader I thought “Why not?” (so Dr. Nguyen, this one’s for you! lol). But actually I found this to be a fun exercise in really flexing my ethical brand knowledge. After years of personally reviewing ethical brands and reading other blogs that review these brands, I even surprised myself with how many great brands I could talk about here. Now I normally don’t feature items I haven’t tried on myself, however these are all ethical brands that I’m either familiar with or have seen other bloggers’ reviews of them and they have all been vouched for by trustworthy sources. I’m not much of a chambray shirt person myself (or a button-down shirt kind of person in general) but if I were in the market to buy one, these are the ones I’d look at:

Everlane

Duh, I have to start with what I know best. I haven’t personally tried this particular Relaxed Jean Shirt ($60) but I’ve tried a ton of other Everlane’s button-down tops and can vouch for their generally good quality (especially when it comes to their cotton and linen versions, not so much their old silk versions). This is a chambray shirt at its simplest and most classic form.

Tradlands

Another tried and true ethical company that gets a lot of attention in the ethical blogosphere is Tradlands and their version of the chambray shirt is called The Clare ($167). I’ve tried their items in the past and really loved the quality of their cotton button-down shirt (reviewed here). Yes the tops are pricey, but the quality is unbeatable and so is their attention to detail. Also here’s a great review of some of Tradlands tops from Andrea, one of my favorite bloggers. P.S. If you’re an XXS you can score a great used one on Slowre right now!

Power of My People

I haven’t personally tried this ethical Canadian brand but I’ve heard a lot of good things about them from numerous bloggers, and have been tempted get something from them myself. Their version of the chambray shirt, called The Wordsmith ($85.84), is a beautiful steel blue color though not a traditional chambray look. They also have a chambray-looking shirt called The Pillar ($139.30) that’s actually 100% linen and probably a great summer option. Though I can’t personally vouch for this brand, all these trustworthy and excellent bloggers can: Lee from Style Bee, Grechen from Grechen’s Closet, and again Andrea from Seasons+Salt.

Bridge and Burn

I really love this ethical, small-production Oregonian brand and I’ve been a past Bridge and Burn customer so I can vouch for the quality of their items. I personally purchased a dress in this material (reviewed here) and love it for the summer. It was super lightweight, soft, yet felt durable. It’s not your traditional chambray material but this Japan-made fabric is not only of premium quality but also a fun take on the usual chambray.

ABLE

If you’re looking for a short-sleeved version then look no further than ABLE’s (note: this referral link is for $20 off) classic chambray shirt called the Pilar Popover ($98) made in Mexico. I haven’t yet tried this brand though they’ve been on my radar for quite some time now and I’ve been itching to get something from them (I probably will this year, but since I’m on my one-new-item-only-per-month resolution, it’s probably going to be later in the year). I love that this company focuses on creating jobs for women in developing countries and their products are pretty classic as well. Some bloggers that have reviewed them include Caroline from Un-Fancy, Lee from Style Bee and Andrea from Seasons+Salt.

kowtow

If you’re looking for another untraditional take on the chambray shirt then kowtow has a really sleek looking black version for sale on their site right now ($109). Kowtow is an ethical brand I heard of through Grechen of Grechen’s closet and they’re a bit more obscure though upscale. You can also find their stuff on ASOS or on the Garmentory. They like to use high-quality organic materials and are very transparent about their production practices in other countries (mostly India). I can’t wait to add a kowtow piece to my wardrobe this year (like this dress or this dress) but probably post pregnancy!

Anyway I hope you enjoyed my first ever round-up. I know I enjoyed the challenge. I kind of felt like someone’s online ethical style consultant/online personal shopper. If you guys don’t have the time or just don’t want to do the research about an ethical option for an item, I’m open to suggestions for more round-ups! Just leave a comment below or let me know on Insta :)

Weekend Update/Ramblings

It’s been 1 week since the move and we’re still living in boxes but otherwise I feel good. I love our new apartment and how cozy it feels. Also our new location is fairly convenient and I can walk to a lot of places if I wanted to. I look forward to exploring my neighborhood more this year! Also another aspect of apartment living that I’ve noticed recently is the whole elevator vibe thing, which is new to me since I haven’t lived in an apartment complex in a long time nor in one this big. As an introvert I would rather not see anyone in the elevator, but even a brief pleasant exchange, a smile or hello with your apartment mates in the elevator can really lift the spirit. While being in an elevator with unfriendly or unhappy people can also send out a negative or heavy vibe (which I most likely encounter during the hours of 6-7pm from tired people coming back from work). What interesting social creatures we humans are, lol.

Anyway as you can see this is going to be more of a rambling post than anything. So please excuse me while I ramble on about Everlane’s texture cotton cardigan (aka the babaa knock-off). When I first saw this in their Coming Soon preview I was like “uh-oh, this is going to conflict with my new year’s resolution of only 1 new closet item at the end of the month.” Because of course who wouldn’t want the cheaper version of the cardigan that every ethical closet blogger has? But after reading Karen’s review, I’m not so sure I would have loved it. First of all it is 27% nylon (so over a quarter of it is made of plastic—I guess Everlane’s promise of no new virgin plastic in their products really is going into effect 2021 and they’re in no rush to make changes just yet), which I know is to keep the costs down and would help retain the sweater’s shape when using cheap cotton. But it is an inferior product to the 100% premium cotton babaa knits made with consciously harvested spanish cotton. Also at the end of its life, the babaa one is fully biodegradable since even the buttons are made of recycled cotton fiber, while you know that the over-quarter-plastic Everlane one will not fully biodegrade). Anyway I’ve been lucky enough to try the babaa cardigan before (thank you West Coast Craft) and I can attest to the quality of these really heavy cotton knits.

I can see how an item like this gives Everlane a “fast-fashion” reputation because right now they seem pretty Zara-like when it comes to this cardigan. And yes even though the styling looks the same, the cardigans themselves don’t look the same (the Everlane one looks flimsier and thinner). It seems to me that the whole point of buying ethically is to buy less but better (consume slowly and consciously), but this cardigan is just a substitute for those who want the look of the trend. If you really were going to consume ethically, then wouldn’t saving up all your pennies to buy the one coveted cardigan you’ve always wanted and that you’ll treasure forever be the way to go? You know the babaa sweater is not going to be in the donation pile anytime soon. But I get it, not everyone can spend several hundred dollars on one item of clothing (especially if its a trend or if they don’t know it will suit them). Also I can see the merit of the Everlane sweater being thinner so less bulky than the babaa one (I personally passed on the babaa at the time because I thought it was too bulky). Well it seems a bit of a gray area to me but I do expect to see this cardigan pop up more on Insta and other blogs and for it to be sold out in a month. Also if it weren’t for my resolution I know I would have tried this out to review so who am I to judge?

P.S. I found this post about the ethics behind purchasing fast fashion secondhand and liked some of the issues it raises. What do you think: is it ok to buy secondhand fast fashion?

My Unsponsored Experience Selling/Consigning with The RealReal Part 2: Commission, payments, and how it compares with selling on Fashionphile

So Part 1 of this post can be found here. This is a continuation because otherwise it would be one darn long blog post.

Ok so once your items reach the warehouse, they’re evaluated and processed. Jewelry takes a bit longer since a GIA specialist takes the time to look at each item. Clothes are processed much faster. And like I said in the last post, all selling prices are determined by them, so really only sell things you don’t care about. For my clothes, I had a current/elliot button down that I couldn’t sell that I got $26 for (this is the take home amount) and a Tory Burch dress I bought at crossroads for $42 sold for $80 so I got $40. So yep, they initially take a 50% commission off of what you consign (yikes, I know!). Only when you sell $1500 worth of stuff with them (of which you see $750), will your take home percentage bump up to 60% (so they take 40%). For items that they sell for over $1000, they take only 30% (which is great if you have valuable jewelry or purses—this is a standard commission rate across most consignment sites for high value items, including Fashionphile). I was able to surpass the $1500 in sales (since I was selling mostly jewelry), so my commission rate is now down to 40% but I have to reach $10,000 in sales for it to bump down to 30% (highly unlikely). But that 40% commission rate is good until 11/30/20. So you can see how they incentivize you to consign with them.

Oh and I should note for jewelry, unless it’s a well-known brand they will sell your items for much less than what you initially paid for them (I know this since I also decided to sell some items of jewelry that I purchased myself and regretted since I never wore them). But like I said, it’s better to have some cash in the pocket than to see these unused pieces staring back at you from your jewelry box. Of course if I still had the receipt and box for a piece of jewelry purchased from a reputable site (like Blue Nile), I was able to sell them via my eBay shop and recoup much more of the initial cost.

Payments

So payment happens at the 15th of the following month. I chose to be paid by check, though now you can do direct deposit (which wasn’t an option when I started selling them last year). Also, if you shop a lot TRR, you can choose to receive it as TRR credit and get 5% more of your selling price. That might be something I try out when I have a fairly low selling month (but for now I want the cold hard cash lol). The checks are cut in a timely manner and everything has been going fairly smooth.

Except…

Some of my jewelry items I sent in November were held in limbo by quality control. So for the longest time I saw two pendants and a ring not move along in the process. I finally contacted a consignment rep after a month and she has been able to push TRR team to get it processed. And she’s been periodically updating me through email which has been great (they finally are listed 6 weeks after arrival to their warehouse). And they gave me site credit for $50 because of the inconvenience so I’m pretty happy. So no, things weren’t 100% smooth but I don’t have any major complaints.

If your item doesn’t sell at all and you’re ready to take it back, you can just email their customer service and let them know you’d like the item returned. They pay for return shipping back. I have one rag & bone top listed since October so I might give it a couple more months before taking it back and tying my luck at Crossroads.

So how would I compare selling to Fashionphile (my other favorite consignment site)? Well if you’re selling a purse or designer jewelry, even though Fashionphile’s initial photo submission process is a bit more of a pain, at least you know what your payment will be before you send your item in. So you can make the choice whether or not it’s worth it to sell it. But with TRR, it’s really a crapshoot, and you’re most likely going to be way underpaid. Also Fashionphile will pay you as soon as they receive your item since they outright buy your item if it’s less than $5000. So for my high end designer items, I would go with Fashionphile (if I choose not to sell on my eBay store). But if you’re selling clothes or unbranded fine jewelry that you don’t really care about and just want to get some money for (and you don’t have an eBay store), then I would go with TRR. It’s convenient, easy, and about 80% of my stuff sold within the first 2 weeks. For anyone looking for an easy way to get rid of their stuff and earn some cash, TheRealReal is a great option!

My Unsponsored Experience Selling/Consigning with The RealReal Part 1: Why and How

So I’ve talked about purchasing from TheRealReal here (overall it’s a great way to buy some designer preowned stuff, despite the exorbitant shipping and returning fees). But what is it like selling on TheRealReal? I decided to test the waters for you guys so you don’t have to (and by the way this is not sponsored in any way).

But let me just first note that I’m a long time eBay seller and have sold most of my stuff on this platform (including really expensive bags) since 2005. And because I work hard to have a 100% rating with over 1000 reviews, I’m a pretty trusted seller. So my go-to will always be eBay first to sell items since they take the least amount of commission (about 10-15% depending on what you’re selling). Also I’ve sold a purse with Fashionphile before and you can read my experience with that here.

So why would I bother consigning with TRR? Well first I’ve been very lucky to have been handed down some fine jewelry from my mom and aunts, but they have no sentimental value for me. They pass it on to me to alleviate their own guilt of purchasing jewelry that they ended up not wearing. And I don’t want to be carrying around these items with me forever for no good reason other than that they’re worth something. For awhile I was taking it to my jeweler as scrap metal but the value I got from that was so pitiful that it really was a waste (part of the value of jewelry comes from the workmanship the jeweler puts into it). So then I decided to sell in on TRR, especially since I didn’t know the value of these items (are they 14k gold? 18k gold? is that a white sapphire or a diamond or just a crystal?). Since I didn’t have that info, listing through eBay would have been difficult. I also decided to sell some clothes that just weren’t moving on my eBay store. TRR has a much larger market than my one eBay shop so I figure why not try and see if it sells there.

So how does it work?

Well I like to use the app version of TRR for both my buying and selling (it’s a great app!). Just go to the consign tab on the bottom right and start listing what you want to consign (I use the self-service “Ship To Us” option instead of an appointment). All you have to fill out is the brand of the item (this is also where you will find out which brands TRR sells and which they will not. If your brand is not listed in their drop down menu, they don’t accept it). For fine jewelry you can select unbranded. Then you just select what kind of item it is and add item to the list.

Once you’ve added all your items, you submit your name and address and they will email you a packing list and free shipping label. Then you have to pack up your own items in whatever box you have lying around, stick the label on, and drop it off at your nearest UPS store. It’s super easy! (For awhile it was so easy I kept going through my jewelry drawer every week and finding more things to part with and sent off 4 shipments in November, probably wasting their shipping costs but hey they charge me an arm and a leg when buying. But also I wanted to break up the shipments in the off-chance that one of them went missing; I didn’t want all that valuable jewelry to get lost—but everything made it to their warehouse fine).

Anyway once it gets to their warehouse, it will show up as shipments received and they will send you periodic emails letting you know when your items are being processed. In the meantime usually a consigner rep will call and email you to see if you have any questions (I avoided all their calls but they’re readily available through email). So if anything doesn’t meet their standard (clothing with stains or jewelry that’s either too scratched up, made of less than 14K gold, or made from sterling silver—they only take brand name jewelry made of sterling silver like Tiffany’s) they will take the time to ship the item back to you for free.

Also they set all the prices so just be prepared to be low-balled. And yes sometimes the prices don’t make sense (but that means as a TRR buyer you can snag some real deals). But if these are items you wouldn’t have been able to sell yourself anyway, getting anything for them would be a win right?

If you’re still interested, part 2 is here and it details their commission structure, some of the difficulties I’ve had with them, and how it compares to selling with Fashionphile.

Weekend Update/Rambling

moving the dogs, lol

We made it! We’ve officially moved to Walnut Creek (on the fringes of the East Bay in the Bay Area). We’re still currently living out of boxes and getting used to apartment living. But we looooove apartment living—it’s like living in a trailer (which we did up until just last year), but with 5x the space. Yet, it’s not the 2000 sq feet of the house we just moved out of that was frankly too big for us. And even though we downsized, because of our many moves into and out of trailers, our actual trash and goodwill pile was quite minimal (which I was proud of). But the actual number of boxes and belongings we moved with us definitely does not qualify us as minimalist. So even after 3 years of trailer living, I can fill a walk-in closet and then some (also thanks to 2018 being the year of careless spending and gifted items). Time to downsize mindfully which for me means 1) selling it on eBay or on my closet sale page, 2) selling it through TheRealReal (which if you’re interested, I’ll be detailing for you the whole process this week), 3) selling it at Crossroads, 4) Donating, 5) cutting it up and making it into rags (in that order). I know everyone and their mom is Marie Kondo-ing their stuff right now and many are not in the market to buy (hello #byebuychallenge) so we’ll see how all the selling goes. Also note to self, not moving again for at least 5 years! I’m tired of moving!

Also I’m so glad we made it to Walnut Creek because now I’m okay with delivering the baby at any time now. We were worried that if I had another bleed episode before the move I’d have to deliver in San Jose and then our baby would be stuck in the NICU in San Jose (and we’d have to temporarily live back in SJ). But now everything’s set and I have all my doctor’s appointments lined up at Walnut Creek. It’s such a weight off my shoulders!

Anyway, no post tomorrow since it’s MLK holiday here in the US. But if you entered my Outdoor Voices promo giveaway (today’s the last day to enter), I’ll be emailing you with your $20 off codes but no announcements will be made in this space. Hope you are all enjoying your long weekend and see you on Wednesday!

What I took away from the book "A Life Less Throwaway" + Giveaway {Closed}

I was intrigued when I first saw A Life Less Throwaway featured over on Leah’s blog (or maybe it was Insta) and decided to add it to my list of “personal growth” books (I guess it would be growth by consuming less, lol). I didn’t know much about the book except from what I could garner from the title since I’m not familiar with the Buymeonce.com website. And no, it’s not about zero waste as I initially thought, but rather about buying to last. This of course is the goal for anyone looking for a more minimal and less wasteful life. And I think overall this book is great as a refresher or motivator for shopping less and making do with what you have. But there’s not really any novel ideas or any life-changing hacks. For those of us that’s been on this (very long) journey towards less stuff and more mindfulness, a lot of these concepts are things we are familiar with. However these principles below are some great reminders on the road to less.

1) Mindful Curation

Mindful curation “releases us from the trivial, the bland and the shoddy, and [helps us live] a life where our objects perfectly match our needs, pull their weight, reflect their our values and put a smile on our face.” This chapter was a lot about how to be mindful of our consumption as well as resisting advertising (the author has a background in advertising and lets us in on all the tactics companies try to get us to buy more). She advocates “fighting aesthetic waste by finding your true taste” by sitting down and thinking where your taste lies (modern, boho, colorful, simple?). She also talks about "ad blocking” when shopping by telling yourself “I have everything I need to be happy” while walking around the mall or browsing the internet. She also touches upon a capsule closet to resist buying fast fashion.

2) Finding Your Purpose

Of course one of the easiest ways to resist mindless consumption is to redirect your attention to your “purpose” in life. In general, she advocates doing other things you love instead of shopping though of course this is easier said than done. She suggests listing 12 things you’ve always wanted to do (some examples for me include doing more yoga, volunteering, reading more, etc.) and focusing on doing one a month. Or also writing a mission statement so that you can evaluate whether or not each purchase aligns with your mission.

3) Resist Impulse Purchases

And then she has a couple of shopping hacks to prevent impulse shopping. These include writing an unwish list (a list of things you will never buy), thinking about the use of results/use of items before purchasing, purchasing from a position of strength (when you feel great about yourself as opposed to when stressed or feeling low), knowing your shopping triggers, and purchasing with patience. Again all useful refresher points but nothing revolutionary.

The book also has some good resources on items that are meant to last (so what you should buy). And in general it’s a great refresher on working towards a more minimal life. If you’re interested in reading this book for yourself, I’d love to pass this copy onto a reader of the blog. So just enter the form below if you’d like this book and I’ll pick a winner and mail them this book! Giveaway ends next Sunday midnight and winner will be announced Monday!

Everlane Try-On: Soft Cotton Square Cardigan

I really really loved Everlane’s Soft Cotton Square Crew sweater (reviewed here) so when the black version of the crew neck sweater wasn’t available, I decided to try out the black version of their Soft Cotton Square Cardigan. It has the same soft cotton material and the same square shape so it’s bound to be just as great, right? Well…

I had originally had visions of the sweater looking like this:

And not this:

I think if I was wearing skinny jeans like the instagram pic, it would be pretty cute. Or maybe one of those pairs of snug fitting high-waisted jeans. Or I think the key might be to keep it unbuttoned for a cuter look.

Let’s just say it’s not doing my prego body shape any favors. While the soft cotton crew sweater has a great drape and tends to hide my prego belly, the cardigan seems to accentuate it. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not styling it well or because my current figure is not suited to this shape but I rarely found this cardigan flattering. At first I thought it was kind of cute but with more photo evidence, I decided it was not that cute.

{Wearing: Everlane Soft Cotton Square Cardigan, Hatch Nantucket dress, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here or here, reviewed here)}

In the end I was undecided but did think it wasn’t that cute while pregnant. And since I didn’t want to hold on to this cardigan in the off chance it’ll look cute once I get my usual figure back, I decided to just send it back.

Has anyone else tried this sweater and found it flattering? What am I doing wrong here?

Outdoor Voices $20 gift code giveaway {Closed}

Thanks to everyone who purchased through my referral code on my Outdoor Voices review I got a bunch of $20 off promo codes. Since I’m on my one-purchase-only-a-month resolution (and who are we kidding, I’m not currently working out), I don’t need any of these codes. So if you’re interested in $20 off your next Outdoor Voices purchase, just enter the form below and I can email you a code. Giveaway will be open for a week and winners will be randomly selected (but who knows, if not that many people enter, you might all get one).

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Jan 2nd I ended up back at the hospital due to another major bleed (the biggest one yet) which had me stay in the hospital for observation for 4 days (double my stay of last time). At the time I was quite bummed out, but instead of trying to just get through it, I decided to re-frame my thinking and make each present moment my friend (thanks to reading Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth at the time). And so I decided to think of it as a relaxing reading vacation with as much bed lounging as I wanted and some really good room service (the nicest nurses ever), though the food left much to be desired. And in the end I feel extremely grateful because 1) baby is fine and 2) this incident happened after our platinum health insurance kicked in. So yes, for the first week of working towards FIRE we probably spent about $3500 for our out of pocket max for the hospital bill, but at least it’s not the $7000 of last year’s bronze plan (ouch!). And in other news on the FIRE front, at least we minimized our eating out (yay for free hospital food), I didn’t shop (though I did spend time browsing what to add to my January list from the hospital bed), and we’re finally seeing the whole picture of our expenses through Mint.

This week we’re focusing on moving to Walnut Creek (that’s about 1 hour from our current home) and I’m busy packing (though I’m also trying to take it easy). It’s been an uber stressful time for us so please wish us luck that everything goes according to plan and we are able to make the move without a hitch.

And here’s another quote from New Earth to keep my (and maybe your) no-shopping resolve strong (and to hopefully lessen my time thinking about material stuff):

“One of the unconscious assumptions is that by identifying with an object through the fiction of ownership, the apparent solidity and permanency of that material object will endow your sense of self with greater solidity and permanency…The ego tends to equate having with Being. I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego lives through comparison. How you are seen by others turns into how you see yourself…You need others to give you a sense of self, and if you live in a culture that to a large extent equates self-worth with how much and what you have, if you cannot look through this collective delusion, you will be condemned to chasing after things for the rest of your life in the vain hope of finding your worth and completion of your sense of self there."

Unsponsored Storq Review: The Basics Bundle

All images including this one are from their site here.

This is my third review of Storq, the first two being a review of their Easy Pants (here) and their leggings (here). If you haven’t heard of Storq, you can read more about them here. But I like to think of them as the Everlane for basic maternity wear. They make quality clothing responsibly in factories in Los Angeles and China. Since they are direct to consumer, they’re able to keep their prices somewhat reasonable (especially if you compare them to maternity lines like Hatch!).

Technically I could have included the leggings in this review since it is part of their Basics Bundle but decided to separate it out since I plan to talk a lot about various maternity leggings and wanted to reference it specifically (I’m getting ready for a Comparison Review of Storq vs. PACT vs. Target vs. Hatch so stay tuned if you’re interested!). Anyway the other 3 pieces in Storq’s basics bundle are their T-shirt dress, white tank and pencil skirt. All of these pieces can be purchased separately but when bundled together you save about $14. So is it worth it?

Here’s what it boils down to, if you’re 5’6” and taller, I think this might be worth it for you. But for us petite gals, since this does not come in petite sizing you’re going to have to compromise on fit. Similar to what I said in my Storq leggings review, the quality is great but you have to make the fit work (so for the leggings I would bunch it up near the top of the thighs so it wouldn’t bunch up near the knees).

All items are made of 92% modal and 8% spandex which make them really soft and stretchy. They’re super comfortable and don’t feel synthetic-y even with all the stretchiness.

But if you don’t need or want any one of these three pieces, don’t get the whole bundle. Just get the pieces that you want. For me, some items were clearly a winner while the others did not work for me at all (and I ended up selling them off through eBay—which was pretty easy to do).

So let me start off with the pieces that I didn’t care for:

1) The white tank was just too sheer. You can see the bra outline and even your belly button. For me, I wear it as a layering piece under something else and would never wear it by itself. Also since it’s made for tall people, the torso is ultra long on me. I haven’t sold it yet but I’m considering it.

2) The T-shirt dress is also way too long for me. It becomes quite a midi dress on my frame and doesn’t look great IMO. Also the modal/spandex material is quite thin and can easily show panty lines, which I’m also not a fan of. I ended up selling this off on eBay pretty immediately.

Now onto the clear winner of the set for me: the pencil skirt. What makes this pencil skirt so great is that it is made with a double layer of the modal/spandex material so unlike the t-shirt dress there’s no VPL. Plus the extra layer helps hold in the belly better. I usually pull this skirt right up to the bra-line and it falls right at the knees. I also like the way the skirt tapers down a bit at the knees, which does make taking large steps difficult but gives the whole thing a nice silhouette (especially when wearing a bigger or boxier top). Also it’s basically seamless so there’s no rubbing point and I love that.

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

So for me, the Basics Bundle was not worth it. Also the fact that it comes in a plastic pouch is a turn off because really I don’t need another plastic pouch in my life (though I understand it’s reusable). I ended up giving it to the buyer of the t-shirt dress. But for me personally it was worth trying out this bundle since I’m able to write this review here lol. Also I love the pencil skirt and still use the leggings (for now, until I find one that works better for me). But for everyone else, I think it’s worth it to just pick and choose what you want and skip this bundle that really only saves you $14 (and who knows if you’ll use or like all the pieces).

P.S. That maternity leggings comparison post is here. And you can find all my other storq reviews here.

Lauren Manoogian Alpaca Sweater Try-On

My first encounter with Alpaca was Everlane’s alpaca wool blend sweater (which I reviewed here). But because it had such a high nylon content I, one, sent it back and, two, really wanted to try a sweater that was 100% alpaca (no plastic please!). In the Everlane review I went over why alpaca fibers are better than cashmere and why it’s now the luxury fiber for sweaters (cashmere is no longer a luxury because even fast fashion brands like Uniqlo churn out cheap cashmere (including Everlane’s $100 cashmere I’m sorry to say)—which is also harming the environment with its mass production). And well 100% alpaca sweaters have the “luxury” price tag to match (like this one, this one and this one). Trying to find a sub-$300 100% Alpaca sweater is pretty much impossible. So I decided to stalk my favorite clothing consignment site, TheRealReal and found one from Lauren Manoogian (that link is for the one I actually tried on in this review and there are similar ones here and here). I’ve reviewed one of her items before, where I talk about the ethics and values of sustainability behind her company (she’s not quite slow fashion, but almost). Her limited number of items each season aren’t cheap but they’re made to last. But the best way to afford her pieces is by buying them used!

{Wearing: Lauren Manoogian 100% alpaca sweater, thrifted no brand ponte pants, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

I was lucky enough to snag this 100% Alpaca sweater for about $128 (incl shipping) but had to compromise on the size (it’s a large). But I figured with my big ‘ole prego belly, the large would probably be a good fit. So what did I think of the sweater? Alpaca really is an amazing fiber! The 100% alpaca knit was super warm (even with the shortened sleeves) and the sweater was super thick, but still lightweight considering how thick the knit felt. There was zero itch and if you’re sensitive to wool, this is probably the best alternative since it’s still ultra warm. It’s not as smooth and soft as cashmere, but much thicker and better than regular wool. I can’t speak to how it wears and whether it pills or not since I ended up not keeping it (but alpaca is supposed to pill much less than wool and cashmere). But considering this is a used sweater, there was no pilling at all (but of course I don’t know how many times it was actually worn by the previous owner). It was around mid-50’s when I was wearing this sweater and even with the shorter sleeves, I was feeling almost overheated in it.

So why didn’t I keep it? I just didn’t think the shape and length flattered my body. The large overwhelmed by petite frame (I’m 5’4”) and I think it made me look shorter than usual. Of course it did accomodate my prego belly but I couldn’t really see myself wearing a sweater this long post partum, so I sent it back (and thus it’s available again on The RealReal site). I think if you’re taller than me (around 5’6” and above) then this sweater might be a better fit.

But my appetite to find a used 100% alpaca sweater is even stronger than ever. I’m on the hunt y’all! Anyone else try 100% alpaca and what did you think?

Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane 2018

Last week Friday I did a year in recap of what items in my whole closet that I wore the most and this week I wanted to see which Everlane items in my closet had the lowest cost per wear. I think it’s a good indication of what pieces from Everlane (my favorite brand) were really worth it. I did one last year for 2017 and you can see how much or how little that list has changed for this year (last year was just a guess since I didn’t have the Stylebook App yet). And this year I have the actual cost per wear!

1) Everlane Street Sandal (no longer sold): Reviewed here. This is my second pair of these shoes that I started wearing this year (you should have seen how beat up my first pair got! Those were included in last year’s lowest cost per wear Everlane post). And already this second pair is the lowest cost per wear Everlane item and also the only one under $1. I plan to wear them for another season so get ready to see the cost per wear on these go down to pennies!

2) Everlane Day Market Tote: Reviewed here and a 100 wears later post here. I already talked about them in last week’s most worn post and this was my number 1 most worn/used item. Seriously this tote is worth it!

3) The Ribbed Wool Cashmere Sweater (no longer sold): Reviewed here. This also appeared in last year’s post and also in this year’s most worn items post. I guess you can say this is my all-time favorite sweater from Everlane so it’s a shame they decided not to re-release it this past year.

4) The (original) Anorak (no longer sold): Reviewed here. Also on last year’s lowest cost per wear post since this is my go-to rain coat for almost 3 years running. This anorak is best for wet Cali winters where it’s actually not that cold since it’s quite a bit thinner than their City Anorak that they released a year later (late 2016). I love this rain jacket because it’s so lightweight and easy to pack into your bag, but it does it’s job perfectly. I usually layer sweaters underneath to keep warm.

5) Easy Chino (c/o Everlane): Reviewed here. Ah, my most favorite pair of pants from Everlane so of course it’s in my lowest cost per wear post. I wore them consistently since I got them in June (as a gift from Everlane so technically cost is $0 but I like to calculate it out as if I did purchase it). After multiple washings and dryings in the dryer, the edges of the elastic waistband are getting a bit worn-looking so I’ve started air drying them instead of putting them in the dryer (gotta make them last as long as possible!). But they’re starting to look like a favorite vintage pair of pants and I can’t wait to bust them out again post pregnancy!

6 and 7) Everlane's cotton two-pocket shirt: Reviewed here. This is one of the items I liked so much that I bought two of them and I guess I like them pretty much equally since they’re right next to each other in cost per wear. These are the perfect shirts to just throw over your outfit in the summer when you want to cover your arms from the sun but they don’t cling to you or make you hot. I wore them a lot when I was out and about or when driving. Plus the large pockets are handy when needing to stash something right away. Though I won’t be working the Airstream biz this coming year I can see them transitioning to the perfect breastfeeding top (button down but also cropped and boxy).

8) The Modern Utility Jacket: Reviewed here. This was my most worn jacket of 2018 because of its versatility and layerability. Also loved all the large pockets. I look forward to getting the cost per wear down even lower in 2019 (I foresee all those pockets being really handy for kid stuff).

9) The Cotton Long Sleeve Crew: Reviewed here. I originally loved this sweater so much that after my first purchase in 2017 (the pink one), I waited until 2018 to buy this second striped one. Well as you can see in the post, they actually changed their second run production to be a much bigger and looser of a sweater and I loved it even more. So it’s no surprise to see it on my list here.

10) The Day Heel Mules: Reviewed here. My most worn heels of 2018, nuff said lol

11) Waffle Knit Cashmere Crew (from 2017): Reviewed here. I loved this sweater in 2017 and I loved it in 2018 so it’s no wonder I was able to get the cost per wear down fairly low (considering it’s cashmere and a $155 sweater). I loved it so much that I bought their oatmeal colored version of this for 2018 (and have already worn it 16 times this winter season).

12) The Polka Dot Shirt Dress: Reviewed here. This was my first time trying the fabric cupro (made sustainably from cotton by-product), and I love it. I wore this dress from the end of summer into fall and with some layering, it was the perfect transition dress. The cupro breathes but also keeps you warm. And it feels like silk without the wrinkling and high maintenance upkeep. I stopped wearing it just because with the growing baby bump, the front became a bit too short for my liking. But I can’t wait to throw this on post pregnancy!

And there you have it folks, my current lowest cost per wear Everlane items. I plan to continue to track this year after year and I’ll be able to see which favorites I keep wearing (and thus really lowering the cost per wear). What were some of your lowest cost per wear items in 2018?