Everlane Review: The Linen Picnic Top

* This item was gifted to me by Everlane but all opinions here are my own.

I received this top from Everlane about a month ago but due to the weather (it’s been rainy and a bit cold) and a newborn sucking all my time/energy, I haven’t really had a chance to take it out for a spin. But I finally wore it a couple times this week so here’s the review! But I should also mention that I ordered this in my usual Everlane size of 4, but due to changes in my body (specifically my boobs) this top feels a smidge too small across the chest. So I can only guess that the sizing is TTS since my sizing has changed, but I can’t say for sure. Note: a size 4 has 35in chest circumference, while a size 6 is 36in.

So as much as I love Everlane, I hafta say that I haven’t been super excited about their new releases lately. None of it seems to fit my lifestyle maybe, or I might be getting over Everlane in general (*gasp* that seems like heresy coming from an Everlane addict like myself). But the one thing that caught my eye in April was this Linen Picnic Top. I wouldn’t necessarily go on a picnic in it, but I see how they came up with the name (it’s cute!).

It originally caught my eye because I thought I might be able to nurse in it (buttons in the front=breastfeeding friendly). But the buttons are hard to unbutton so they’re really there for the looks only. The straps are not adjustable (unlike their linen jumpsuit) so you’re kind of stuck with their standard lengths. But the straps are wide enough to hide bra straps so you can wear a regular bra with this top. For the size 4, I find that the straps are the perfect length (though like I said above, the top is a bit tight right around the chest area). This top probably works best for those with smaller chests in general.

{Wearing: Everlane linen picnic top, Everlane Easy Chinos (reviewed here), Martiniano Glove Shoes (reviewed here), Balenciaga Work bag (similar here)}

As for the linen quality, it’s good for the price: not too rough and not too thin. I would say it’s just a smidge below midweight linen. You can see how Everlane linen stacks up against the linen from other brands. Also don’t be fooled by how smooth Everlane’s linen is when you first get it (it’s extra smooth). Once you wash it a couple times it will roughen up a bit, but not overly so. But I would say for the price you’re paying, Everlane’s linen is a good value (unless you’re willing to wait over a month for something custom from Lithuania—see the link above for more details).

Also I didn’t get their linen jumpsuit, but I made a similar look with this top and Everlane’s linen pants (which I loooove, but I’ll do a full review of that later).

{Wearing Everlane linen picnic top, Everlane linen pants, Everlane Day Crossover Sandal (c/o)}

What do you think? Are you into Everlane’s linen?

Storq Review: The Caftan

Just going to do a super short review today since I wanted to mention how the Storq Caftan fit on me and how I liked it. Sorry it’s not my usual more comprehensive review, but I don’t really have the time for many of those these days!

image from Grechen’s blog here

So as much as I love my Storq nursing tank (reviewed here), Easy Pants (reviewed here, which I’m still wearing at least 3x a week at 9 weeks postpartum) and Storq pencil skirt, I have to be honest and say not all of their clothing works for me. I didn’t care for their T-shirt dress and their maternity tank top (reviewed here as part of the basics bundle). And well, I’ll have to add this caftan to the list of Storq no-go’s. I really wanted to like it because I loved how it looked on Grechen here. Also it’s such a great option to nurse in (there’s not a lot of maxi dresses made responsibly that you can easily breastfeed a baby in). But for some reason when I try it on, I look like I stepped out of a Mormon compound. Grechen and I are about the same height so how does it look so good on her? Maybe because she’s pregnant and I’m not? Maybe it’s the way she unbuttoned the top and tied the sash?

Anyway just for reference, I got my usual Storq size 3 (go off of their pre-pregnancy measurements not their pre-pregnancy sizes) and I think it fit well. The cotton is a super soft and comfy fabric, kind of like a lightweight flannel. I like the nursing option, the sleeves and the side-slits on the dress. But for some reason it just doesn’t feel right on me. After posting it on insta-story I got some tips to try rolling up the sleeves or going for a different shoe, so I might try those options when I get a chance and update this review. Or I might just sell it on eBay since I can’t return it (it was a sale item).

What do you think? What can I do to make it less dowdy?

P.S. Just to let you all know I’m current with all my reviews, which also means I don’t have any scheduled. So my posting might become more sporadic since I have to write whenever baby’s sleeping. But don’t worry if you don’t hear from me. I’m still going to blog when I can!

My Purse Collection Ranked

As you guys all know by now, I’ve been so fortunate to have had quite a few purses in my life. Lately I haven’t been buying and selling as many bags as I have had in the past (thank goodness) so my collection has been pretty steady. And since a reader asked me how I would rank the purses currently in my collection, I thought why not? So here are the rankings of all 20 bags that I currently own from least favorite to favorite.

20) Longchamp backpack: I purchased it on impulse last year and have yet to use it >.< . I’m not a backpack person but I thought it might be useful with a toddler or when traveling. I’m keeping it around just in case but if I don’t use it this year I’m selling it.

19) Everlane Form Bag (reviewed here): I never use it because it’s just too large for my needs. I much prefer the mini form bag (see #7) on this list. This bag is also on the chopping block.

18) Longchamp medium tote: I use this for times when I don’t want to carry the larger Longchamp tote, but tbh those occasions are kind of rare. We’ll see how long I keep this one.

17) Lululemon Crossbody/fanny pack (similar here, but mine is smaller and in black): I bought this bag a long time ago and it used to be my music festival bag. It can be worn both as a crossbody bag and a fanny pack, it’s waterproof, and it has a ton of pockets for organizing. I still sometimes use it for hiking or other times when I don’t want to have to worry about a bag. I’ll probably keep this indefinitely since I plan on it being the last fanny pack I’ll ever buy.

16) Longchamp Weekender: I used this as my hospital bag and plan to use this as my “personal item” the next time I catch a flight. Also just got this at the end of last year.

#15 and #13

15) Everlane Foldover Crossbody (reviewed here): I love using this crossbody when traveling since it’s pretty discreet yet can hold a ton of stuff if you need it to. It also can double as a clutch when going out.

14) PB 0110 Circle bag: I just reviewed this bag here and as much as I love this bag, there are so many more bags that I love before it so sadly it gets pushed down to number 14. And as much as I love the quality construction of the bag, the circular shape is just a trend, I know. We’ll see how long this ends up sticking around.

13) Balenciaga Work Bag: I used to have a lot of Balenciaga bags like this (it’s actually the bag that got me addicted to high end purses and started my former PurseForum addiction). I’ve sold them all a long time ago, but recently purchased this bag used on the Fashionphile (because of nostalgia and the fact that they go for such good prices now). I don’t think they’ll ever come back in style (they’re sooo 2000s) but I’ll always love them!

12) Hermes Bolide (reviewed here): I love this discreet Hermes bag and to me it’s the definition of understated luxury. But since it’s currently so low on my list here and it’s so expensive, I’ve decided to return it to Fashionphile using their buyback program. It just didn’t make sense for me to keep something that I didn’t love love love, especially since we’re trying to do FIRE.

#10 and #7

11) Acne Studios Musubi bag (reviewed here): I just got this bag at the beginning of the year (from TheRealReal), but this bag has made my top ten list. I love the sturdy leather, the great useable design, and its unusual shape. The more I use it the more I fall in love with it. Plus it fits a lot more than my usual “just essentials” daily bag.

10) Chanel small crossbody flap : I purchased this bag in London at the end of our Europe trip last year. This is probably the most useable Chanel I’ve purchased and I wear it often when going out. It holds just the essentials and can be dressed up or dressed down. And unlike the regular flap bags, which have a strap length that at the longest makes for a short awkward crossbody, the chain on this one is long and it’s a very comfortable crossbody length. Plus there’s a strip of leather that makes carrying it crossbody comfortable (instead of having the chain dig into my shoulder and leaving marks).

9) Longchamp large tote: This bag has been my travel workhorse over the last decade. I’m planning on replacing it with the weekender (see #16) since this tote is starting to wear out (the nylon corners are usually the first to go and mine are starting to have tiny holes in them). But I plan on still using it until pencils can fall out of the corners (like my friend’s longchamp tote).

8) Everlane Mini Form bag: This is my current obsession and also the newest addition to my collection. I just reviewed the bag here and I mean it when I said it was one of the best crossbody bags I’ve ever purchased.

7) Fendi By The Way bag: I recently reviewed the bag here even though I’ve had this bag for over 3 years and it’s the second oldest bag in my collection (the oldest being #9 above). Even though it was never a popular style, it works really well for my lifestyle (durable leather, easy to organize inside and multiple ways to carry it).

6) Everlane Day Market Tote (reviewed here): My most used item in my closet period. This is my work tote and all around “haul-anything” tote. You can see how it’s worn after 100 days of wear (and it’s taken a beating).

5) Chanel Medium Flap (featured in the post comparing vintage Chanel caviar leather to new Caviar leather): This was a gift from my mom on my 30th birthday so it’s the one bag I would never sell. And now I plan on passing it on to my kid eventually (hope she likes Chanel!). I only use this bag for special nights (mostly weddings).

4) Celine Small Cabas Phantom (reviewed here): This is my fancy tote that I treasure and baby. I use it when I want to look a bit more polished but still have to carry around a lot of stuff. I think a good dupe for it though is the Cuyana structured leather tote (I reviewed their original classic unstructured tote here).

3) Celine Nano Belt Bag : I’ve always loved the design and shape of the Celine Belt bag (and have purchased the Mini, Micro and now the Nano size—I’m like a crazy Celine Belt bag Goldilocks). I unfortunately sold my Mini bag before I started seriously blogging but I reviewed the Micro Belt bag here and did a comparison post between the Micro and Nano here. Now I have just the Nano and it’s the perfect size for my essentials without weighing me down!

2) Celine Soft Cube (reviewed here): This is the second most used bag in my collection after the Everlane Market Tote and it’s because the Soft Cube is a super functional bag. I like the crossbody strap (that’s a good length on me) along with the two top handles (which is how I carry it most of the time). The leather is durable and the inside is spacious enough for my essentials and then some. The only thing it’s missing are some legs to keep the leather bottom from touching the floor (not that I put it on the floor).

1) Hermes Lindy (reviewed here): This was my holy grail bag for over a decade, and I finally purchased it about a year and a half ago. And it was everything I had dreamt it would be. It’s my second Hermes bag (my first being a vintage Kelly that I had in my collection awhile ago), but I love it as if it was my first. This bag is a lot more functional for me than the Kelly was since the Lindy is a more casual bag. I love that I can carry it two different ways and even though it’s a high-end bag the leather is durable and not fragile at all. It’s the best of all worlds: functional, luxurious, and discreet.

Whew, that was some bag blog post! This is for all my bag-loving readers out there! I never really realized how many bags I had until I started to write this post, but 20 feels like too much. I think I’ll be selling some of those on the lower half of the list. How many should I cut my collection down to?

P.S. I found this old post with my old purse collection here. Not gonna lie, I definitely miss some of those purses!

Unsponsored Only Child Clothing Review: The Cove Pants {Updated December 2020}

I’m just like any other blog reader out there who are influenced by those sponsored posts. So even though I was trying to be good and add only one item of clothing to my closet per month, I added this Only Child Cove pants to my closet in March (along with the many other things I purchased that month) because of Andrea’s posts of these pants here.

I wasn’t even searching for wide leg pants but something about the way she styled those pants made me think I was missing a key piece in my wardrobe. Plus I needed some new pants in my life because even at 8 weeks postpartum, this belly is not going away on its own (P.S. Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding does not help you to lose weight—especially when eating like 5 lactation cookies a day lol. Also the fibroids are still in there and distorting my uterus). So instead of wearing the same pair of maternity overalls and storq easy pants over and over, I decided to let myself get a new pair of pants I could actually fit in. And boy, I have zero regrets!

{Wearing: Everlane cotton linen v-neck (reviewed here), Only Child Cove Pants, Everlane Street Sandals (no longer sold, reviewed here), Everlane Mini Form Bag (reviewed here)}

First of all I got a medium to accomodate my new pooch and I have no problems getting them over my hips and belly (this is a major reason why I can’t wear most of my Elizabeth Suzann items from pre-pregnancy even though those bottoms are loose-looking). I find the elastic of these Only Child pants to be less stiff (ie more stretchy) than the thick elastic on Elizabeth Suzann bottoms (which don’t stretch out as much but might last longer). I appreciate the quality elastic on ES bottoms but sometimes it’s too tight, and even pre-pregnancy I had to shimmy the pants over my hips. No need for shimmying in these OC pants.

I also got the Cove pants in the short length since I’m 5’4” and they hit right at the top of my foot. But since these pants are so wide in the leg, I wanted them to hit closer to the ankles. So I hemmed them by an inch and that’s what you see in the pics here (or rather my mom hemmed them lol).

And now that I look at them, I see that they’re pretty similar to the Florence pants from Elizabeth Suzann since I’ve hemmed them. The only real difference that I can see between the two is that the ES Florence pants come up a little shorter and they’re a tad snugger in the hips than the original OC Cove pants. But the linen quality (which even in this light flax color is fully opaque) between the two brands are similar (as discussed in this linen discussion here) and the price points between the two are pretty similar as well (with the OC one being slightly cheaper). I think if you want wide leg pants that are a tad snugger with a tighter elastic around the waist go for the ES Florence pants, but if like me you’re looking for loose pants that fit basically like PJs, then go for the OC Cove pants.

P.S. Also take a look at Lia’s comment below about the difference in the rises between the ES Florence pants and the OC Cove pants.

{December 2020 Update: So I’m not sure when OC added pockets to their Cove pants but they now have pockets! That really makes these the best pants and I’ve been wearing them a lot this past years (because hello elastic waistband lol). I also just wrote a post comparing these Only Child Cove pants to the Linenfox Ocean pants if you’re interested in how they compare.}

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Though it’s only been about 2 months since Emi has entered our lives, so many things have changed. In many ways I already feel like I’m not the same person I was before her—both a better and worse person. I’m just different. One of my “better” attributes is now I really don’t care about high-end purses as much. For almost 15 years, there’s always been a purse I wanted or something that’s on my list to purchase. But now all of a sudden, poof, that list has disappeared. Sure it could be the lack of sleep taking over (I’m more concerned of when I can squeeze my next nap in and not what to buy). But I’m hoping this feeling will be more permanent than that. And with these feelings I returned the Hermes Bolide (<— that’s the link to the same purse I returned, it’s back on sale and reviewed here). Or rather I sold it back with Fashionphile’s buyback program), and I feel great about it. No regrets! Sure I could have kept it to pass it on to Emi, but 1) I already have enough bags to pass onto her and 2) I don’t think holding onto material items with the intention of passing it on is always a good idea (your kids might not value what you value and so it’ll be like passing on physical baggage along with the emotional one). Anyway these thoughts are bubbling up because not only did I recently return the Bolide, but I’m working on a post ranking my purse collection per a reader’s request. And tbh I just don’t feel the love for these purses as I used to and I can see myself selling even more of my bags in the near future.

And speaking of having less, reading this post about minimalism and FIRE has me totally inspired to live with less. And this article is inspiring me to renew my efforts on spending less. Also I used to think most people spent without thinking twice (probably because my peers also appear to spend this way) but have come to realize that that’s a privilege very few people can actually afford. And those who do spend like that and are in the middle class are either being foolish (like I was) and/or buying on credit (even more foolish). The reality is, we all have to think twice before we spend our money.

Storq Review: The Nursing Tank

via because you’re not going to see a pic with me wearing this tank and breastfeeding >.<

*This was kindly gifted to me by Storq with no strings attached and in fact, no follow-up or pestering despite this review being several months after said gift. Seriously they’re so chill (which is a godsend for a newborn mom who’s also trying to blog).

Even before the baby was born I purchased nursing bras like these on Amazon, anticipating the need to breastfeed on the go or in somewhat public areas. It was a bit foolish in hindsight because now that I am breastfeeding, I rather just stay home to do it and schedule my errands around feeding time (luckily I have my mom here so I can do this, otherwise I definitely would not have this luxury). So I don’t really have a need for those nursing bras, nor did they fit. It took me years to finally get the right bra size and right bra (mostly thanks to ThirdLove and no thanks to Victoria’s Secret), and then pregnancy and breastfeeding up and changes my boob size. So of course ordering some bras blindly from Amazon didn’t work out. So I’m so thankful that the people at Storq reached out to me to see if I wanted to try something from their nursing line.

I know I said I would stop taking freebies from brands in exchange for reviews, but when Storq asks if you want anything it’s so hard to resist. Not only are their items ethically made in the US and China (much like Everlane), but their stuff is so practical and well-made! And since I returned the nursing bras on Amazon, I needed something on the rare occasion I was going to breastfeed in a public place. So I opted for their nursing tank.

Side note: I chose their tank over the bra because the C-section belt that the hospital sent me home with gave me a nasty rash and I really wanted a tank to cover that and my stretch marks. Also I figured a tank would be great to layer under button up shirts.

So what do I think about the tank?

Honestly, I love it. It’s made from the same modal and spandex combo material as my favorite Storq skirt (reviewed here) so it’s soft and stretchy. It provides enough support on top but it’s stretchy enough to accomodate my remaining belly. I love the clips at the top of the bra that make it easy for nursing. It’s an all around great basic tank.

And lately I’ve been using this nursing tank with my Willow breast pump (I decided to splurge on myself and give myself a little freedom when breast pumping. I’ll do a full review of it and compare it with the spectra and a medela later). And it’s been great: stretchy enough to accomodate the pumps but doesn’t stretch out and lose its shape.

Anyway if you’re looking for a great basic nursing tank or nursing bra substitute, I highly recommend checking out this one from Storq!

P.S. You can find all my other Storq reviews here.

P.P.S. Thanks to Allison for reminding me to mention Storq sizing. If you size according to their pre-pregnancy size, things will run a tad small. For example my pre-pregnancy size is between 4-6 and I’m usually a small, but I size everything from Storq in size 3 which is actually a pre-pregnancy size of 8-10. But I go based off of their pre-pregnancy measurements, which is accurate.

PB 0110 Review: The AB38 Circle Bag

Am I speaking in some kind of code? Lol, nope PB 0110 is just the name of the bag and accessories line founded by a guy named Phillip Bree. I first found this European brand through some of the fancier boutiques in San Francisco and noticed the quality construction of the bags. The leather on the outside was beautiful and the sueded interiors felt luxurious. I also loved their minimal but unique style of bags with no overt branding. But with prices starting in the $500 range, I wasn’t willing to buy and try them.

Then I wanted the Mansur Gavriel crossbody circle bag, but wasn’t sure spending $795 on a trend item was really worth it. So when I found the PB0110 circle bag on the RealReal for less than $200 (with some TRR credit), I jumped at the deal. Not only would I fulfill my desire for a circle bag, but I would get to finally try out this lesser known European brand.

First a quick note about their production practices. They don’t tout themselves as an ethical company per say but their values and production practices do qualify them as such (except if you don’t believe using leather can be ethical then they are not). Their main value is in making quality bags that are meant to be cherished and used for a long time. In fact, they have a blog called Beloved Objects that focuses on the founder’s and designers’ oldest and most cherished items. They want one of their bags to be your beloved object, and you can tell they make their bags to last. They source their vegetable tanned leather in Belgium in a factory that’s been tanning since 1873, their suede leather for the interior in Poland, their hardware in Italy, and their zippers in Germany. You can read all about their materials here. The bags are then made in multigenerational family factories in Poland (you can read about that here).

some outfit inspo with this bag

Now all of this sounds fine and fancy (and maybe justifies their high prices), but how does it translate to the actual bag? Having tried out their circle bag, I can say without a doubt that yes, these are quality bags. And it’s the details that make all the difference. Their zippers are some of the smoothest I’ve ever used on a bag, and it’s especially important on an awkward shape like the circle bag. No snags or stops when trying to zip this puppy up even when it’s full to the brim and with one hand. The suede interior is smooth and doesn’t flake off like in cheaper bags. And the outside vegetable tanned leather is stiff but still supple (and feels so much better than Mansur Gavriel’s super stiff vegetable tanned leather). Veg-tanned leather does scratch a bit more than chrome-tanned leather but the veg-tanned leather is meant to show a patina with time. Veg-tanned leather is also better for the environment (using tannins from natural sources like trees), and much harder to do, takes longer, and is usually done by hand. Veg-tanned leather is also hardier and more durable so it makes sense PB 0110 only uses the best veg-tanned leather for their bags (and it shows).

As for the actual bag itself, it’s called the AB38 bag because it was designed by their designer Ayzit Bostan (they name all their bags after the designer and a random seeming number). I love that this bag has a pretty unobtrusive top handle along with an adjustable crossbody strap. The inside has one small flat pocket that could maybe fit credit cards. Since there are no other dividers or pockets, things do get lost to the bottom pretty easily within the bag (like my keys). But I guess that sort of comes with the territory when using a trendy yet impractical shape like a circle bag. The zipper does come out pretty wide so it’s easy to fit things in, and it fits all my essentials (though the sunglasses case just barely). Overall I’m happy with my purchase and look forward to using this bag more this spring and summer!

I probably wouldn’t recommend buying PB0110 bags brand new since they’re an obscure brand with poor resale value (plus it’s better to buy leather items secondhand). Also since their items are meant to last it means that these bags are usually still in great shape when you find them pre-owned. The RealReal has a pretty good selection of them for sell here (and they even have this circle bag in black here) and the prices are even better when they go on sale!

Anyone else try a bag from PB 0110 and what did they think?

The Problem With Ethical Sneakers

What’s the problem with ethical sneakers? Other than how to style them without looking like an 80’s office worker ala Melanie Griffith in Working Girl?

The inspo for those Everlane sneakers

Actually that’s a problem I have with all sneakers but that’s a post for another time.

No, the problem with ethical sneakers is that they’re usually made by ethical companies with comparatively little experience in the sneaker-making business and that they’re usually made with natural rubber.

Let’s tackle the natural rubber issue first. I get why ethical companies like using natural rubber: because it’s not virgin plastic. Rubber is an organic material made from the sap of rubber trees and thus is biodegradable in its purest form. It’s the original elastic polymer before plastics came along. But the problem with rubber when its used for the soles of shoes is that it’s heavy, stiff, and makes for a clunky uncomfortable sneaker. This is true with the Veja sneakers (reviewed here) as well as Everlane’s sneakers.

But take this with a grain of salt because I’m an ex-runner so I expect my sneakers to be cushiony and lightweight—truly something that I can work out in. If you’re okay with skater type of shoes, then you might not mind a heavy stiff shoe with no cushiony support.

Also as an ex-runner I believe in the research and development that sneaker companies put into their shoes. And that’s why I have issues with ethical companies with little or no experience making sneakers, especially if people start working out in them. If you’re going to be putting miles on your sneakers, either by running, walking, or even jumping around, you want to be sure that those shoes were made for that. So even though sneaker companies may be using virgin plastic like no tomorrow, at least your legs and feet stand a good chance of being protected from injury (and sorry if it came down to my legs or the environment, I’d choose my legs each time). I would not recommend working out in either Veja or Everlane sneakers since they’re not made for that. Oh and please don’t hike in them either (at least not a serious hike—get dedicated hiking shoes for that and your future ankles will thank you).

Of course, if you're just wearing sneakers for light walking and as a fashion statement then wearing ethical sneakers is totally fine. In which case maybe you can give me some pointers on how to style them without looking like I’ll be changing shoes at the office.

via GIPHY

P.S. So my solution for adding sneakers to an ethical closet? Buy them secondhand from a store like Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange. The shoes you find in those kinds of stores are usually still in great condition and have lots of mileage left on them. Plus I always wear socks with my sneakers so it’s less gross to me to buy athletic shoes used (but smell the inside of the shoe first—sounds gross but it’s a must).

P.P.S I also read this article, which I found through Grechen, and it highlights the difference between an ethical fashion brand’s (Everlane’s) approach to sneakers and a sneaker brand’s (Adidas’) approach to a more ethical shoe. If I were to buy one, I would go with the big shoe brand with their large R&D budget. Now if only Adidas could use recycled plastic and then make a recyclable shoe. Maybe someday, though it feels like it’s a little too late for this technology already.

What I Wanted in April

I’ve discovered the secret of wanting and buying less: just have a newborn and get zero sleep so all that you want to do in your free time is sleep (and not browse shops online or swipe mindlessly through instagram). Unfortunately (or thankfully) it’s not a lasting solution to consumerism, but it did help me spend less money on my closet.

via

The only thing I really thought about buying was a straw Janessa Leone hat. I used to have the Cuyana one (reviewed here) but it didn’t wear well and the straw started to fray. But in general I find that I like the idea of hats (it’ll keep the sun off my face and look chic!) but that I don’t really wear them that often. So it’s not really worth splurging on (though I occasionally look at the RealReal for one since I have some credit there).

I did however add the picnic linen top to my closet since I was asked by Everlane if I wanted anything to review (alas I couldn’t resist the temptation after so many months of no gifted items). I was also gifted the new wedge shoes but I found them too uncomfortable so I sent them back. And I was gifted the new sneakers (“Tread by Everlane”) but found them uncomfortable too (they run small so I really needed a size 9, not my usual Everlane size of 8. And in general they’re a heavy, clunky shoe—boo). Also I have to mention they don’t look that great to me (I called them nursing shoes though the online consensus seems to be orthopedic shoes). So I plan on returning these as well.

So with some luck (and thanks to my new daughter) I was able to keep to my April resolution of only one new addition to the closet!

P.S. Though I should mention I didn’t do a great job with not spending money overall (dang it the FIRE lifestyle is so hard). Along with the Willow pump I splurged on another Augustinus Bader Cream (reviewed here) after I ran out of it this month, but this time I got the regular instead of the Rich Cream (though I’m regretting not getting the Rich Cream because I think it works better for me than the regular—anyway I’ve updated the AB Cream review with all the deets).

Everlane Review: The Mini Form Bag

After I reviewed the regular Form Bag from Everlane (here), Everlane released the mini form bag as a special invitation only limited release. Something about them trying to make it exclusive turned me off though. So I made it a point not to give it a second glance. But when they came out with a general release of them in new colors this spring, the Mini Form Bag in Bone caught my eye. I don’t normally buy light colored leather bags because I’m careless with my purses (they’re meant to be used right?). But knowing how hardy the leather on the regular Form Bag is I decided to give it a shot. And I’m so glad that I did! This bag has turned out to be one of the best small crossbody bags I’ve ever bought.

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Linen V-neck (reviewed here), Elizabeth Suzann Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here), Martiniano Glove Shoes (reviewed here), Everlane Mini Form Bag}

So just like the regular Form bag, the mini has a magnetic closure at the top, which makes getting into and out of the bag super easy. When it’s open, I can see everything in there in just a glance. This works great when you have just the right amount of stuff or less. But if you overstuff it, then the magnetic closure doesn’t close (which can be kind of annoying because it gapes wide open and now strangers can easily see all that’s in there too). But for me, this just means I have to make sure I carry only the essentials (phone, wallet, keys, some lip balms, small hand cream, and my sunglasses). Also for the most part when I carry all that, I have to make sure they’re arranged in a relatively neat manner (I can’t just throw things in willy nilly). So if you like carrying a lot of stuff, this bag is definitely not for you. But in exchange for sticking with just the essentials, you get a small sleek bag that tucks easily under your arm. And this also means the load you’re carrying is always light!

Like the regular form bag the strap is made of canvas, which I know some of you don’t care for since it makes the bag look cheaper. But in terms of functionality it’s awesome since it makes carrying the bag across the body super comfortable. Plus you can adjust the strap to the exact length that you want.

Inside, there’s one small flat pocket, which I thought was pretty useless when I first got the bag. But now I stash my coupons in there (because ya know, FIRE) and it’s great because everytime I open the bag I see them. So I haven’t forgotten to use a coupon since using this bag (I used to forget all the time since I’m not in the habit of clipping coupons).

And like I mentioned up top, the Italian leather that these bags are made out of are super durable and scratch resistant. I don’t baby my bags at all so I very rarely buy a super expensive bag in a light color. But these Everlane form bags are made out of a smooth and thick leather. Also with light colored bags, you want to be careful of color transfer, but I’ve had no issues with that with this one.

Seriously, if you guys are looking for a great light colored bag for spring, this Everlane mini form bag should be a contender! I can’t wait to rock this bag with my all neutral #stickofbutter looks this spring (lol if you don’t know what I’m talking about, refer to Andrea’s post here).

Veja Sneakers Review: The Esplar

via

Back in February, I had documented in my one week money diary that I had purchased these Veja Esplar Bastille sneakers from TheRealReal (cost on site $60, retails $165, but since I had TRR credit from selling it was $0—score right?). And I was soooooo excited to add them to my shoe collection because who wouldn’t want to wear stylish ethical sneakers? But unfortunately these did not work out for me—at all.

First a note on sizing, I got them in my usual shoe size of 8 (I used to think of myself as 7.5 because I was 7.5 in TOMS, but have come to realize that I’m pretty much an 8 and this is especially true after pregnancy). And they fit fine in both the length and width so I would say they are true to size.

I loooove that this company tries their best to make an ethical sneaker with the utmost transparency. They are very conscious about the materials they use and where they source it from. Their leather “doesn't come from the Amazon nor from an area that was deforested for cattle farming purposes” and their tanning is done under strict EU REACH regulations. The interesting detail on the heels are actually tilapia fish scales! And their rubber for the soles of their shoes are made of 20% natural rubber allowing them to help preserve the wild rubber trees in the Amazon (though I guess the other 80% is synthetic?). {Side note: I watched a pretty interesting documentary episode (episode 3) about rubber on Amazon show The Beast That Is The Global Economy.} . But this is all to say that Veja is really trying to make the most ethical sneaker out there.

Now if only they were comfortable.

Well this is just to say this particular model, The Esplar, is not. My main problem with the shoe is that the leather tongue is so stiff that it pokes into the tops of my feet. I’ve tried to bend it back or break it in, but to no avail. Also the sneaker is heavy, like the heaviest sneaker I’ve ever worn. I have to say Nike, Adidas, and a lot of other sneaker companies may not be ethical, but they know how to make a comfortable sneaker. Sadly, this Veja one might be the most uncomfortable sneaker I’ve ever worn. And there’s no point in buying something just because it’s ethical. It needs to be a good product as well.

But I’m not willing to give up on them yet. Their vegan models look more promising, at least the ones that look like classic New Balance shoes. Has anyone else tried these shoes or other Veja styles? Did you like them and would you recommend it?

An Everlane Sweater For Every Kind Of Weather

If you’re a long time reader, you probably know that I have a lot of Everlane sweaters. One of my very first reviews of Everlane was of their cashmere sweater (back in 2015!), and I’ve pretty much tried every Everlane sweater under the sun since then. Just check out my sweaters section of my collected Everlane reviews post. And I have to say that Everlane’s sweater game has just been getting better with time. I’m really loving the styles and fibers they have on offer currently, so I decided to do a little post highlighting my favorite Everlane sweater for every kind of weather (also it was an excuse for me to talk about sweater weather and be able to use these two words repeatedly). Here are my choices from warmest to coldest weather:

70+ degrees F weather: The Cotton Linen V-neck

Ok, so I know I just got and reviewed this sweater, but I loooove this sweater made for warm weather. Of course if it’s really hot, there’s no need for a sweater. But for a city like SF where there are micro-climates, layering is key and this sweater is the perfect little cover-up for mild days. This would also work for those who easily get cold in even slightly air conditioned rooms (though if you’re working in a cold office environment you’ll probably want the cotton sweater below). This sweater also works for those who want a bit of a cover-up from the summer sun but don’t want to slather on SPF.

65 degrees F weather: The Soft Cotton Square Crew

I reviewed this here and it’s my favorite 100% cotton sweater (especially for those who are on the petite side). This sweater is made from a good thick cotton knit that’ll keep you warm but not too warm. I liked this sweater so much I got two of them (one in ochre and one in navy) and I find I use them both a lot. They’re especially useful for me in air conditioned environments.

60 degrees F weather: The Waffle-Knit Square Cashmere Crew

When the temperatures start to dip, I look forward to breaking out my cashmere sweaters. And my favorite cashmere sweater from Everlane is the waffle knit square crew (reviewed here). I have two of these as well: one in navy from 2017 and one in oatmeal from 2018. The cashmere of these sweaters feel more substantial and quality than those of the $100 cashmere sweaters and I think it’s definitely worth the $55 price difference between the two sweaters. Also the waffle knit texture just adds more interest to every outfit you wear it with. I also love the split side detail (for easy french tucking) and the split sleeve detail. If you prefer more of a 90’s sweater look, the cashmere rib round crew (reviewed here) is also a great textured cashmere sweater.

55 degrees F weather: The Oversized Alpaca Crew

Even though I disliked the mix of nylon with the alpaca in this sweater (which I talked about in my review of it here), I kind of get it because 1) 100% alpaca is darn expensive and 2) 100% alpaca is hot as heck. Having tried one from Lauren Manoogian, a thick 100% alpaca knit is too hot for California’s winters and probably too hot to wear indoors. So this makes the Everlane alpaca blend sweater the perfect one for cold weather (though I’m sure for really cold and or/windy weather you’re going to want to layer this with a coat or jacket) without being too hot.

Anyway as we head into spring and then summer, sweaters will probably not be on your mind. But I felt like since Everlane’s sweater selection is so good right now, I would be remiss not to take the opportunity to write a post like this. Anyone else have multiple Everlane sweaters? About 90% of all my sweaters are Everlane and it seems like they’re getting better and better every year!

Cuyana Review: Oversized Alpaca Sweater

After reviewing my experience with Lauren Manoogian’s 100% alpaca sweater (my first time trying anything 100% alpaca) a lot of readers recommended I try Cuyana’s 100% alpaca oversized sweater. Side note: if you want to learn all the benefits of alpaca over wool or cashmere, you can find it in my Everlane alpaca review (which was my first time trying anything made with alpaca though it’s not 100% alpaca). But since I had just declared my new year’s resolution that I would only add one item to my closet a month (and also because I was getting more and more pregnant) I decided not to buy this. Luckily I was able to arrange a clothing swap with a fellow ethical clothing enthusiast in my neighborhood. So I was able to try it without buying it (I also got to try out her Vetta sweater for a month which I loved! I reviewed that here).

The version of the Cuyana alpaca sweater that she had was a limited edition red one that also came in the petite size, which is what I’m wearing here. They weren’t joking about it being oversized. I’m 8+ months pregnant and the petite size was just right, so I can imagine how big the normal sizes are (and actually that’s one of the common comments about this alpaca sweater that I’ve heard from people who’ve bought it). There are only two size options XS/S and M/L and I think even the XS/S would be a bit too large for my 5’4” frame. The petite would work best for me, though unfortunately they don’t make that size anymore (though you can sometimes find it on the RealReal here).

And how is the alpaca quality? The Cuyana alpaca sweater is much thinner than the alpaca sweater I tried from Lauren Manoogian. But that is actually a good thing, especially for California, since alpaca fibers are so warm to begin with. The Cuyana alpaca sweater will definitely keep you toasty even though it is short sleeved and looks more like a top than a sweater. Like the Lauren Manoogian sweater, there’s no itch to alpaca fibers and it’s super lightweight but keeps you extra warm.

I would consider this sweater if it came in the petite size in one of the neutral colors. But seeing as how big the XS/S size is, it’s not something I would buy right now (also since spring is right around the corner so I’m going to hold off on purchasing any cold weather clothing now). But if you’re on the tall side, live in a cold climate and are looking for a warm and high quality 100% alpaca sweater I would highly recommend considering adding this to your winter wardrobe.

Weekend Update/Ramblings and Everlane Try-on of the New Wedge

So Everlane reached out to me again to see if I would be interested in reviewing any of their April items, and even though I had said no more gifted items for review I caved in a moment of weakness (especially after seeing some of their new items for April) Free Everlane stuff is always hard to resist and having said no for several months, I indulged myself with a yes (also with spring here, all the new spring stuff has really made me wanting new things for the closet). The two things that caught my eye were these wedges, which they’re calling the New Wedge, and the linen apron top.

And aren’t these wedges cute? I love how they look and they give me some serious 90’s nostalgia (I lived in wedges all through middle and high school). And I love the springy pastel colors that they come in. Unfortunately though, they’re not comfortable, especially for those with wide-ish feet like myself. The top part was really snug and I know it would cause a blister in less than half a mile. Plus the wedge itself is heavy so it drags at the foot and pulls across the top, exacerbating the problem. This would be the kind of shoe I could create outfits with for the blog (or ‘gram) or wear out to a lunch/dinner date (with valet parking so no walking would be involved). And really that’s not my lifestyle anymore.

So after some thinking and an Insta-story poll I decided to send them back. This was the first time I’ve actually sent back a gifted Everlane item and was a bit nervous to see how the affiliate contact at Everlane would react, but she was so chill. And they sent me a return label so I could return it on their dime. It was so easy. And I’m glad I made the decision to send it back since 1) I didn’t want to spend time writing a negative review post about a gifted item (also I felt like that might jeopardize my relationship with Everlane), 2) I didn’t want to spend the time to sell it/get rid of it later, and 3) I didn’t want to create waste by using something I didn’t love. Also I made that new year’s resolution about only one new item in my closet per month and with these shoes it would have been two.

Anyway so there’s my two cents on these shoes.

In other news, my life is still revolving around breastfeeding and trying to produce more milk. All my current dollars have been spent on supplements (just purchased some Legendairy ones) and a new breast pump (I’m soooo excited to try out the Willow Pump—lol this is my life now). Guess I’ll be writing some mommy-blogger posts later when I review all this stuff >.<

Hermes Bolide 27 Review

2018 was a crazy year for me: We moved from an Airstream to a larger trailer to a house to an apartment, we sold our business, we got pregnant, and then I went in and out of the hospital a couple times and had several pregnancy scares. So that might also explain my temporary insanity when I impulse-purchased this very expensive handbag. I walked into the Hermes store in Palo Alto (just to browse lol) and picked up a Bolide 27 bag in epsom (a black one and not this one I’m holding) and just fell in love with the lightness of the bag, the usability, but also the gorgeously smooth interior leather and the hardy epsom exterior leather. I also loved that it wasn’t flashy and you wouldn’t know it was an Hermes unless you knew bags. I might also have been influenced by Shoko over at simplytokyo who loves her non-flashy Hermes bags and styles her Bolide 27 so beautifully.

Well whatever the reason (and this was before my one lengthy hospital stay and before we had discovered FIRE in December), this bag is in my life now. To be completely honest I still have mixed feelings about it because even though I love it, it’s also uber expensive and I really don’t need to be adding money to my bag collection right now (I should actually be liquidating and putting that money into ETFs and mutual funds lol).

This bag is the definition of understated luxury and there are several other brands that make a bag like this, from Louis Vuittons BB Alma to Linjer’s Crossbody Purse for much less than Hermes’ Bolide retail price of $6300 (I know, ridiculous right?!). No, I didn’t purchase this brand new, instead I got a used one that’s 9 years old and at less than half the price over at Fashionphile (in Epsom leather and in the color Bleu de Prusse). But still, I wonder if it’s worth it considering the more frugal lifestyle that my husband and I are going for these days.

On one hand, it’s a great bag that can fit all the essentials (wallet, keys, sunglasses, coin purse, lip balms, a reusable bag—though with all of that it’s quite full and causes some puckering because the bag narrows at the top). And I love it everytime I use it. Also it’s an Hermes classic that will retain its value over the years and hold up beautifully (even at 9 years old, this bag looks just as great as the new one I saw in the store). But on the other hand, I could get the same look for much much less.

I think the true test will be how often will I carry this bag in my new life post-pregnancy with a baby. I have a feeling not much, and if that’s the case I’ll probably sell it back to Fashionphile using their buyback program (TBH I’m getting more wary of ebay buyer scammers these days, especially when I’m trying to be frugal I can’t be out thousands of dollars). But until then (the buyback offer at 70% of the cost ends after 6 months), I’m going to use this bag a ton and keep trying to decide if I want to keep it. If you’re interested in this classic bag, I highly recommend purchasing it used from a reputable source instead of new. You can find a selection of Bolides at Fashionphile or TheRealReal.

So what do you think: keep or not?

{August 2022 Update: So I did sell this bag and I 100% regret it. Lol, I still miss it from time to time and tbh i was probably the best deal I would have gotten on the bolide. True, it didn’t fit everything but man, it was a beautiful bag.}

Weekend Update/Ramblings

All my children :)

Hello from a zombie mom of a newborn. I know there’s no rush to get back into this blogging thing but as I struggled to write my newest Everlane review post (about the cotton linen v-neck here), I felt like I needed to try to get back into a bit because I feel oh-so rusty. I’m sure it’s due to the lack of sleep combined with being out of practice with writing (it’s crazy to think I used to write 4 posts a week!), but the words aren’t flowing out as smoothly as I’m used to. I hope I’m not losing my touch (and I also hope you didn’t notice that much of a difference in my review post-birth).

Anyway my life is currently all about sneaking in naps whenever I can and increasing milk production. Women have said it before and they will say it til the end of time, but breastfeeding is hard! First there’s the whole getting your baby to latch thing (which when she’s cranky or hangry she has the hardest time doing). And then there’s the making enough milk thing. Currently my production is way down low (about half of where I need it to be) so we’re supplementing with formula. And yes I’m drinking the lactation tea, eating the lactation cookies (seriously the only guilt-free cookies I’ve ever eaten because you know it’s all in the name of making more milk), taking the supplements, pumping every 3 hours, power pumping once a day on most days, and doing some other tricks I learned from the lactation consultants. I’m not going to give up since some breast milk is better than no breast milk for Emi, but I might just be one of those low supply women (my mom also had low supply so she gave up after a week and I was a strictly formula-raised baby—it was the 80’s and hey I don’t think I turned out that bad). The only thing is formula is also expensive and if I can make the milk for free, that fits better with my FIRE goals lol.

Overall though I’m hanging in there (the nights where she cries on and off from 1-4AM are the hardest) but I’m super grateful for my small but mighty support system of my husband and my mom. Unfortunately my husband only had 2 weeks of paternity leave (yay that start-up life), but thankfully my mom has really helped out. Seriously having my mom here has been the best thing ever (I can take showers whenever I want, go grocery shopping alone, and my husband and I have already had a couple date nights). I don’t know how I got so lucky!

Everlane Review: The Cotton Linen V-neck Sweater

Hi guys and it’s been awhile with my Everlane reviews but here’s a fresh new one (I pushed up this new review since I got a lot of interest about this sweater on Insta but the posts after this will be back to those written pre-birth). Since I utterly failed at my one new item per month resolution in March, I just let everything slide and ordered two new items from Everlane in the last week of March (it’s like when you blow your diet so then you eat ALL THE FOOD). But oh it felt so good to scratch my Everlane itch and get this cotton linen v-neck sweater and the mini form bag. And it felt even better when I realized both items were clear winners for me (ah, there’s that Everlane that I know and love)!

First a note on sizing, I got this sweater in a small (my regular Everlane size) and I would say it fits TTS. The sweater is boxy and cropped, which is perfect for my post-pregnancy 5’4” frame (I love that it flows away from the body to hide my remaining belly pooch). It’s also the perfect loose spring/summer sweater to tuck into some high-rise bottoms (I can’t wait until I can fit into my jeans again).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Linen V-neck, Elizabeth Suzann’s Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here), Martiniano Glove shoes (reviewed here), Everlane mini form bag}

What I really love about this sweater though is the wonderful texture of the linen cotton combo knit. The linen makes it more lightweight and slightly rougher than a 100% cotton sweater. The texture isn’t soft and smooth but I wouldn’t say it’s itchy either. When you compare this to the the Everlane’s soft cotton square crew (reviewed here), this linen cotton version has a looser weave and is a lot lighter in weight. But both have a very similar boxy cropped shape with wide sleeves (except the cotton sweaters are crewnecks while the cotton linen blend sweaters are v-necks). I wore this cotton linen sweater in 73 degree weather and it was the perfect light cover-up and didn’t cause any overheating. The cotton sweater would have definitely been too warm.

My only concern is how this sweater will do over time and with multiple washings. The instructions say to handwash this, which I’m not a fan of doing. But I’d be willing to wash this sweater by hand because I love it that much. I’ll update this review after I wash it and let you know how it fares.

A close up of the weave

So if you’re looking for a good hot weather cover-up or a sweater for those slightly cooler summer days, I highly recommend this cotton linen blend sweater. And I definitely recommend getting it in this sand color (which is more cream than beige) since the texture will elevate your all neutral look (because you know that’s going to be the trend of the season). I have to say this is one of the better sweaters to come around from Everlane in recent times and I have a feeling it’ll go fast (the crewneck version is already sold out in the smaller sizes).

Has anyone else tried this cotton linen sweater and what did you think?

A Review of A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

There comes a book, once in a blue moon, that I become a little bit obsessed with (that I underline passages in, that I reread constantly) and it earns a permanent place in my bookshelf. In the past the books that have hit home include Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and 10% Happier by Dan Harris. Well for 2019, I think that book is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Now before you go and dismiss me as being totally woo-woo (or hippie, new age spiritualist, etc.) I don’t always agree with him 100% and I sometime think his overly flowery spiritual language can be sometimes hard to swallow. But there are plenty of gems in this book that I think are worth internalizing for a generally more content life. I’ve already quoted him here and here on the blog (pertaining to my/our overconsumption habits).

A lot of this book is about the ego, or what I like to think of as the monkey mind (that voice in our head that we 100% identify with as “me” but really is just that voice in your head. You are not your thoughts—lessons I learned from 10% Happier). I truly believe you don’t need to identify what is “you”, that there is no need for labels and such restrictive thinking. Humans are beautiful beings with many everchanging facets that don’t need to be nailed down with categories and labels. We just are. And the sooner we can identify the monkey mind/ego and let go of certainties, and instead be grateful and marvel in the present moment, the more content, generous, and loving we could all be. Mindful meditation definitely helps with this, though it’s no cure-all and there’s no ticket for a 100% happy life.

One more on our need to consume

Anyway this is just to say, this book has so many good points when it comes to this unconscious ego that we let rule our thoughts and our lives. Here’s one last quote about overconsumption:

“The ego identifies with having, but its satisfaction in having is a relatively shallow and short-lived one…The ego wants to want more than it wants to have. And so the shallow satisfaction of having is always replaced by more wanting. It is an addictive need, not an authentic one…Most egos have conflicting wants. They want different things at different times or may not even know what they want except that they don’t want what is: the present moment. Unease, restlessness, boredom, anxiety, dissatisfaction, are the result of unfulfilled wanting…[Nothing] will satisfy you, as long as the egoic structure remains in place. No matter what you have or get, you won’t be happy. You will always be looking for something else that promises greater fulfillment, that promises to make your incomplete sense of self complete and fill that sense of lack you feel within.”

On Complaining and Resentment

He also talks about the ego and how it needs to create stories about “the others” in order to uphold its own stories about being in the right and being superior:

“Complaining is one of the ego’s favorite strategies for strengthening itself. Every complaint is a little story the mind makes up that you completely believe in…When you are in the grip of such an ego, complaining, is habitual and of course unconscious…Complaining as well as fault finding and reactivity strengthens the ego’s sense of of boundary and separateness on which its survival depends…There is nothing that strengthens the ego more than being right. Being right is identification with a mental position—a perspective, an opinion, a judgement a story. For you to be right, of course, you need someone else to be wrong, and so the ego loves to make wrong in order to be right….You construct a conceptual identity for an individual or a group and you say: ‘This is who he is. This is who they are.’ When you confuse the ego that you perceive in others with their identity, it is the work of your own ego that uses this misperception to strengthen itself through being right and therefore superior, and through reacting with condemnation, indignation and often anger against the perceived enemy.”

He goes on to say that this kind of thinking is what creates and perpetuates wars. And for peace, we need to all recognize our egos and also to live in the present moment, to live in Being (his capitalization, not mine), to realize the “impermanence of all forms” and let go of the fears surrounding that. Yep it’s a lot to ask for and sounds like a great idea, but how to execute that? He advises some form of meditation, even if it’s just a brief breathing exercise everyday to bring you back into the present moment, to get the feeling of Being.

Anyway I could go on and on with quotes from this book but I feel like it would just bore you (I might already be boring you lol) so I’ll save it. But unlike my other book reviews, I won’t be doing a giveaway on this one because I’m keeping it! I don’t think this book will “Awaken your life’s purpose” as it promises on the book cover, but I think it has some great points on how to be more at peace with whatever is happening in your daily life. I read this while I was in the hospital and it really helped me find peace and even enjoy my time there a little bit, even though I didn’t want to be there (thus the pic up top). So whatever preconceived notions you have about Mr. Tolle and these types of book (I know I had tons), I highly recommend just trying it out because I think we all need a little time out and space from our monkey minds.

P.S. Re-reading this now, after having posted about my overconsumption in March has reminded me that my monkey mind pretty much took over last month. For April, I’m going to renew my efforts to identify when my ego is doing the decision making!

What I Wanted in March

It might be the changing of the season, some extra down time I had in the beginning of the month, or maybe it’s just that time of the year when New Year’s Resolutions tend to weaken and dissolve but I wanted a lot of things this month. I even purchased a couple things to try (like the Veja sneakers I talked about here) but returned them so it didn’t have to count towards my one item for March.

In general, I’ve been really into shoes lately. Probably because I’m still waiting to slowly fit back into my pre-maternity clothes so I’m not into clothes shopping and I already purchased a purse last month so that’s satisfied by bag cravings. So my eye has been wandering to shoes, which I haven’t purchased (and kept) in quite awhile (I think my last pair was the Everlane boss mules 6 months ago).

Jenni Kayne mules left, Martiniano shoes right

Speaking of those Everlane Boss Mules, when I wrote that review back in September, I had mentioned wanting these mules from Jenni Kayne. Well even though I still love my Everlane mules I’m curious to try the Jenni Kayne ones and have been looking at them more frequently in March. I’m not quite ready to pull the trigger yet (because $395!!). Plus the Everlane ones still satisfy me as a dupe so I held off. Also even though I purchased and returned the Martiniano Glove Shoes (which I reviewed and compared with Everlane’s Day Glove flat), I can’t stop thinking about them. I want them back into my life!

Another shoe I’ve been eyeing in March is Everlane’s square toe flat. Something about the grandma chicness feels so now.

I also really want the 90’s cheeky from Everlane (in vintage light blue in the ankle length), but I held off on purchasing it because I’m still waiting for my body to normalize after pregnancy. There’s no point in buying jeans that I may not be able to fit into. If they’re still available when I’m back to my normal size then I’ll revisit the option.

I guess I wasn’t completely bag-craving-free this month since I did want to add a couple bum bags (or fanny packs) to my closet. When I first saw this baggu one over at Grechen’s blog, I almost purchased it right then and there. But held off because I didn’t want to add a bag to my closet two months in a row. I also already have a really old black bum bag from Lululemon and if I haven’t used that one in awhile, I’m not sure adding another black bum bag is the right choice. I figured if I end up using the Lululemon one a lot, then I can justify upgrading to the baggu one. That’s the same thing I told myself when this Clare V belt bag also caught my eye.

The one item of clothing that I want, mostly because I’ve been craving springtime weather, is this linen jumpsuit from Linenfox. I reviewed their kimono top here, which I loved, and their linen quality is superb. So I can just imagine how awesome this dreamy jumpsuit would be for the warmer months. I also love the cute button detail in the back. If I do decide to get this, I’m going to wait until next month so that I can at least wear it right away by the time I get it (with about a month lead time, I’d expect to get it around May).

So what did I buy in March?

I re-bought the Martiniano Glove Shoes off the RealReal. I found them for $180 in one size bigger and decided to try them out. And well, since my feet swelled up after the c-section, they were the perfect shoes to wear for the multiple doctors appointments in the weeks following. They may be too big when my feet get back to a normal size but I was planning to add some orthotic insoles for my arches anyway and that would make them fit (I think). Also this way, my toes won’t be as visible through the thin leather. We’ll see after my feet go down in April if purchasing these shoes was a good or bad idea.

I also couldn’t pass up a pair of Martiniano Glove Heels that I found on ebay for $95… and a pair of pearl drop earrings I purchased on credit from the RealReal…and a pair of Chanel ballet flats also from the RealReal (but not on credit this time).

So as you can see my resolution was a total fail this month. I think it was a mix of surgery anxiety distraction and a “treat yo self” attitude because it was my birthday month (and I would be spending my birthday in the hospital so why not come home to presents I bought myself), and even a little bit of a “once I have a kid, I won’t be able to spend money on myself again” feeling. Anyway, all of this was purchased in the short 2 weeks before my c-section. But even though I failed my resolution, I refuse to give up. April is a new month and I’m going back to purchasing only one item again. Wish me luck!

Acne Studios Musubi Mini Bag Review {Updated January 2024}

So as I mentioned before, this Acne Studios Musubi Mini bag was my one purchase for the month back in February and I purchased it secondhand (and for 20% off) at TheRealReal. I’ve been eyeing this bag for over 6 months and I still loved the look, so I decided to go for it. And I have to say, I have zero regrets!

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I first was influenced to wanting this bag via Eva Chen’s Instagram (darn you Instagram) but when I polled y’all on stories only half of you guys liked it (which also truthfully sways my opinion). I myself was intrigued but wasn’t sure if it was cute or just too much. And I’m so glad I did hold off on impulsively purchasing right then and there because it gave me time to ruminate on it and now I know I really do love it. Also, during those 6 months, I got my favorite Celine soft cube bag (which I still really love but am currently letting it “rest” so I don’t wear it out too soon) and realized I love leather bags that look soft and pillowy. So I was pretty sure when I bought this in February that I would love it.

If I had a choice, I might have gone with the tan colored one, but since the black one was what’s available on TheRealReal, black it is! As for the quality of the calf leather of the Acne Studios bag, it’s really gorgeous. Comparing it to the calf leather of my Celine soft cube bag, I would say the grain of the Celine bag is slightly finer but not by much (but the Celine bag also retails for $700 more). And while the Celine bag is lined with calf leather, the Acne bag is lined with lambskin making the inside buttery soft but also helps keep the bag light (lambskin is lighter than calfskin).

Since I’ve been using this bag during the rainy California winters, I first protected it with some Chamberlains Leather Milk No. 3 (reviewed here). It gave the leather a slight sheen, due to the slightly waxy formula that’s meant to repel water, but the bag has held up in downpours with no issues so far. Also the durable calfskin has held up great with zero scratches or nicks.

The interior of the bag is divided into 2 sections with a zippered pocket divider. It’s perfect for keeping my things organized with my wallet and phone in one section, my keys in the zippered pocket, and everything else in the other section. The bag closes easily with snap buttons at the top, but I’m also not too worried about the security of the bag when wearing it over my shoulder or crossbody because the thick top handle tends to hide or cover the opening of the bag.

Currently all my bags have pretty thin crossbody or shoulder straps so I love the thickness of the Acne Studios strap and top handle. It makes carrying the bag super comfortable. Also the long crossbody strap is adjustable via some pegs on the sides of the bag that’s hidden by the mini knots.

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Having never tried Acne Studios clothing before, I wasn’t sure what to expect about the quality of these bags. But I have to say I’m quite impressed (and this is coming from a long time bag lover). These made in Italy leather bags are really beautiful and durable. Also the design is different enough so even though it’s a pretty minimal black bag, it’s not plain or boring.

Also the word musubi refers to my favorite rice ball snack (and in Hawaii, my favorite spam rice snack) which maybe makes me love the bag even more. But the word also works for the tying of the Obi sash on Japanese kimonos, which is what Acne Studios was referring to. Either way, I love this snack of a bag and can’t wait to get over 100 good wears with it!

{2022 Update: So I sold this bag to a good blogger friend Andrea last year and she reviewed it on her YouTube channel here. Here are my last pictures of it before I sold it:}

{January 2024 Update: Even though I no longer have this bag (and neither does Andrea, I helped her sell it to know of my readers here) I thought this review of the Musubi bag from a leather crafter was interesting.}