2024 has been a banner year for buying bags for me. I finally let myself buy the bags that I want, and yes I may have gone overboard (especially thanks to a newfound Hermes addiction). So amongst all the bags in my collection, which one did I use the most? Here are my top five:
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Moving from conspicuous to conscious consumption and doing reviews along the way. Find plenty of unsponsored reviews of Quince, Everlane, Grana, and Cuyana on the site! I'm working towards a minimal waste lifestyle, and oh yea I love bags >.<
Unsponsored Andie Swim Review: The Malibu One Piece Swimsuit For Long Torsos
This review has been a long time coming considering I bought this Malibu swimsuit from Andie Swim back in September of last year. But I’ve used it a handful of times in Hawaii as well as more frequently these days as the weather has warmed up. So it’s high time I talk about the first one piece swimsuit that has ever fit me as an adult.
So as the title of this post indicates, I have a long torso. I’ve always stuck with two-piece swimsuits because whenever I wear a a one-piece, the front pulls down or the crotch rides up, and it’s always uncomfortable. So when I saw Andie Swim advertise their swim suits for long torsos I knew I wanted to give it a try. I chose the Malibu one piece because of the high neckline (with the option of leaving it unbuttoned if you want it lower). But at least with the higher neckline I don’t have to put as much sunscreen on my chest. I also like the thick shoulder straps though it will make a bolder tan line.
As for the fit, I got a medium (I’m usually a size 8-10, though small-chested) and it fits well. I love the ribbed fabric since it holds me in but also smooths out any lumps. And yet it doesn’t feel constricting and it’s quite comfortable. Also the interior bra is super sturdy.
My only complaint is that with the black suit, I end up “staining” the suit with sunscreen (which doesn’t always fully come off in the wash). So I ended up getting a white one! I’ll of course update this review with my thoughts on the white Malibu swimsuit once I wear it around (I worry it’ll be sheer but I’m hoping not!). But if you’re interested in trying out something from Andie Swim, this referral code will get you $20 off your first purchase (and it will also give me $20 off another future purchase, so thank you).
Bags I've Sold Without Fully Reviewing: Ree Projects, La Portegna, Kieselstein-Cord
In the past I would never have sold a bag without doing a full review of it here on the blog. But in the last couple of years I’ve started to let things go without a review. Is it laziness? Perhaps. It’s probably also a sign of overconsumption (I’m getting bags faster than I can review them). Though if they were all stellar bags I’d definitely be reviewing them, so maybe I’m just in my phase of not wanting to review bags I didn’t absolutely love. Anyway without further ado, this is a brief review of three bags that I sold (mostly on Fairly Curated closet) did not fully review on the blog.
Read MoreJune 2024 Recap
June was a busy month with school ending and the beginning of our packing to move!
Read MoreQuince Kids Clothes Review: Girls Dresses
It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed kids clothes because I tend to mostly purchase from Hanna Andersson. But lately I’ve noticed that their quality has gone down though the prices are the same (if not higher). And PACT, my other go-to for high quality kids items, are no longer doing kids clothing. So I decided to check out Quince since they’ve really expanded their line of kids clothing in the last year.
Read MoreVintage Hermes Vespa PM Bag Review (and Comparison to the Hermes Evelyne III PM)
My very first bag I got from an Hermes boutique (with no prior spending or purchases might I add) was the Evelyne III PM in the Etoupe Taurillon Clemence leather. You can read my Hermes Evelyne III PM review here. Any-who, I ended up selling that bag on eBay (at a $1000 loss I think), which is a shame. But I figured lesson learned and I didn’t go in to an Hermes boutique for another couple of years. But currently I’m in the grips of an Hermes obsession and I have this vintage Vespa bag to thank (that and the Havane Picotin 22 I didn’t buy at the RealReal). And who would have guessed it would be the Evelyne’s close cousin that would get me back under the Hermes hypnosis.
Read MoreLoewe Dice Pocket Bag Review
I purchased this Loewe Dice bag as a souvenir from Japan back in November of last year. And I have not used it once in the last six months, which should tell you a little something about the bag. Sure I’ve stared lovingly at it countless times, but I haven’t actually put things in and taken it out of the house.
Read MoreMay 2024 Recap
Did
Strawberry Picking: For the first time in California we went strawberry picking! It was a Mother’s Day activity and we had a blast. We went to Creswell Family Farms, which had a ton of ripe strawberries, and we picked about 6 pounds! I thought that would last us weeks but it turns out we ate them all within a week lol. Since the farm is only 40 minutes or so from our house, I hope we make this an annual thing!
I’ve been watching mostly YouTube lately so I haven’t watched as many tv shows or movies lately. But I did finish Palm Royale on Apple TV. I liked it but mostly watched it for Carol Burnett (I love her and wow she’s still got it at 91). It’s got some absurd and slightly cringey moments but that all comes with the Kristin Wiig territory. And speaking of absurd, I also watched the movie Biosphere on Hulu, and that one was so weird (it’s about the last two men on Earth after a doomsday event) but also so entertaining. And of course I binge-watched Bridgerton season 3 part 1 (kind of grateful that they split it into two parts so that I didn’t just stay up all night finishing the series like last time 😂).
Updated the following blog posts: The Row N/S Park Tote review, Loewe Flamenco Bag Review, my Longchamp Le Pliage XS review, and my Quince Fine Jewelry Review (added some more ring reviews).
Sold my Margaux 15 and small Park tote from The Row (along with some other bags). As much as I love the look of both the Margaux 15 and the small Park Tote, neither worked for my lifestyle. And as much as I prefer the Margaux 15 over an Hermes Birkin, neither are practical bags TBH (everytime I see a photo of Jane Birkin with her Birkin she’s always carrying it in both arms like an overstuffed pillow, which seems to me be an odd way to carry a bag though I guess it beats carrying a basket?). Anyway I might regret it later but I just have to remind myself I don’t have space for bags that I don’t use.
Bought
Secondhand Hermes Mini Clic Chaine d'Ancre Bracelet: When I went to sell some things at the RealReal this month, I earned en extra $250 worth of credit that I put towards this bracelet. Like I said I’m really on an Hermes kick, specifically over the chaine d’ancre motif, so this navy blue, gold, and silver bracelet is the perfect addition. And it’s extra sweet when I only had to pay the tax.
Sophie Buhai Horsebit Ring and Monica Vinader infinity necklace from the RealReal with credit: This is my first time trying either brand, and I got sterling silver pieces from both. I have to say I was very impressed with the Sophie Buhai ring. The quality is the same as Hermes’ sterling silver but the price point is slightly less (not by a lot and if you’re looking to resell the Hermes branded silver pieces will do better). I was not as impressed with the Monica Vinader necklace. I found the silver to be less substantial and less smooth, and the clasp is really hard to open/close. From my first impressions with these items I probably would be less likely to purchase another Monica Vinader piece though I’ll gladly pick up another Sophie Buhai item if I find it secondhand.
Secondhand medium Park Tote from The Row: Yes, I purchased another used Park Tote from my favorite Japanese reseller Brandear. I decided to sell the small Park Tote because even though it was fun to use it a couple times, it just isn’t practical for my lifestyle and I felt a little too big to be carrying such a small bag. My newest medium is in the color taupe, which is perfect for the summer!
Dunst Classic 28 Leather Bag: I got this from Ssense, along with the Nothing Written Classic Golf bag that I mention in my “Returned” section below. Dunst is a Korean brand that makes both clothing and accessories that are simple yet trendy. Their Classic 28 bag looked like it could have been made by The Row, but with a much gentler price point (around $240). And for that price you can’t expect amazing quality, but the leather is decent enough (fairly scratch resistant and well structured) and the stitches and overall build is clean. But of course it’s not The Row, and that’s why I’m also comfortable throwing on the hodgepodge of key chains.
Gift
Quince Stainless Steel Apple Watch Band, Japanese Damascus Steel paring knife, Jean Dubost Laguiole steak knives: Again I bought all these using credit from referrals (thanks again to all those who purchased through my link in the past). I got the stainless steel Apple watch band in silver and gold in hopes of matching the gold of my Apple watch, but sadly it did not. I also found the watch band to be quite heavy (on the plus side, if you don’t mind the weight it’s a very solid watch band). It also comes with tools and instructions so you can adjust the sizing yourself. But since I knew I would never use such a heavy watch band I sold it on. As for the Japanese Damascus Steel paring knife and Jean Dubost Laguiole steak knives (now back in stock), I loved both and they’re reviewed in my Quince Home Goods review here.
Vintage Box Kelly 28 in dark blue: For Mother’s Day my family gifted me this bag (though it wasn’t a surprise because I sourced it 😆, again from Brandear). I used to have a Kelly 32 in black box leather in my late 20’s and never used it much (those were my Balenciaga days). But I’ve always wanted a Kelly 28. Box is not my first choice, however it is one of Hermes’ heritage leathers and is quite beautiful. As a newly minted Hermes collector, I feel like Box is a must have (along with every other leather Hermes I suppose 😂). But I appreciate that Box leather is one of the lighter weight leathers out there (I’m all about the light bags now). I also love that this bag is in a dark blue color and not a black, so it makes it a touch less formal. Anyway full review to come of course!
Returned
Nothing Written Brown Classic Golf Bag (mini is linked here): I got this bag at the same time as the Dunst one with the intention of trying both but keeping just one. Nothing Written is another Korean brand that makes fairly classic clothing and accessories. When comparing the two bags (the Classic Dunst with the Golf Bag) the leather on the Golf Bag was more plastick-y and less like leather. I also opted for the Classic Dunst bag because the Golf Bag straps can’t fit over the shoulders (no more hand-carry bags unless it’s Hermes—I’ll allow it for them 😂).
Hermes Osmose Ring: This was one of the first things I wanted from Hermes since I’m on a huge sterling silver jewelry kick right now. But unfortunately it wasn’t available at the store and it sold out online in my size before I was ready to commit. But when I saw my size pop back up I jumped at the chance and ordered it, thinking that I can always return it for a full refund (because it’s an online purchase). Well I got it and it was just too chunky for me. I couldn’t myself wearing it all the time, which means it’s not worth keeping IMO. So I returned it immediately using Hermes’ FedEx label. But sadly it never made it back to their warehouse and it’s “out for delivery” since May 7th! My guess is FedEx stole it (I dunno about FedEx these days… but that’s another story). Anyway I emailed Hermes two weeks later and have not heard back from them. I of course will follow-up until I get a resolution but I’m currently out $800+. This is the last time I’ll purchase anything from them online (or if I feel like I must I’m never returning it with FedEx, I’ll return it for store credit at my local boutique).
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Merit Beauty Review: Solo Shadow, Instant Glow Serum, and Day Glow Highlighter
My last unsponsored Merit Beauty review got the attention of the folks over at Merit and they kindly gifted me with the following items for review. However I was not paid for this post and as usual all opinions are my own.
Read MoreThe Row Margaux 15 Bag Review {Updated October 2024}
Thank you to all of you guys who have requested this review and waited patiently for it! Unfortunately even though I love this bag I haven’t used it very much so I didn’t think I could give it a fair review. But I’m not sure when I’d be consistently using this bag and the fact that I haven’t really used it might be a great data point as well. So without further ado…
Read MoreQuince Review: Home Goods {Updated September 2024}
I’ve been putting off this post for so long because there’s just so many of Quince’s home goods I’ve tried since I first purchased from them back in 2019. And sitting down to write my thoughts on all of them seemed like a daunting task. But since I’ve collated all my thoughts on other Quince items (see my Quince Fine Jewelry Review, Quince All Things Linen Review, Quince Bags Review, and Quince Shoes Review) I figured it’s about time I put together my thoughts on Quince home items. So without further ado…
Read MoreApril 2024 Recap
This is a Hermes heavy post, so if that’s not your thing please skip those parts. I’ll be back with a comprehensive Quince home goods review post next week!
Read MoreAugustinus Bader Review: The Eye Cream and The Eyebrow and Lash Enhancing Serum
I have been a long time fan of the Augustinus Bader Rich cream and have tried a bunch of items from the brand because of that (see my all my Augustinus Bader reviews here). And even though their prices are exorbitant I’m always intrigued by their new products and want to give them a try. The Eye Cream and The Eyebrow and Lash Enhancing Serum were the next on my must-try list, so what did I think of them?
Read MoreVegamour Review
As some of you guys know I’ve been dealing with some substantial hair loss in the last several years. So I was very excited when Vegamour reached out and asked if I wanted to try a couple of their products for review. All items reviewed here have been generously gifted by the brand but of course all opinions here are my own and I was not paid for this review.
Read MoreOld Celine Large Trio Bag Review
I’m writing this review about 13 years too late considering this Celine Trio bag came out in 2011 😂. But I did get some interest from people who are still toying with the idea of getting a Trio bag, so this one is for them!
Read MoreDr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm Review {Updated June 2024}
I wasn’t really going to write a full review about this Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm since I mentioned it in my monthly recap. But I was complimented the other day by a worker at BlueMercury on how great my skin looked. And since I never (NEVER) get complimented on my skin, I have to chalk it up to how good this product is.
Read MoreLoewe Mini Hammock Hobo Bag Review
Thank you to all those who’ve been patiently waiting for this review of the Loewe Mini Hammock bag. As you can see from these photos, I purchased this bag in late Fall and have been using it off and on for about four months now. I used to have the original Loewe Hammock bag (review of it here), but ended up selling it because I didn’t really use it. I think I stopped using it because of the way it aged and the fact that the bag is so open. So how would I compare that to the new Mini Hammock bag?
Read MoreMarch 2024 Recap
In March we did a quick trip back to our hometown and I did a bit of birthday shopping!
Read MoreNeiwai Review: The Barely Zero Classic Wireless Bra 2.0
Here I am with another bra review because honestly I only buy two a year and wear them out by the end of they year. And instead of re-purchasing the same thing I like to see what else is out there in the market. I first heard of Neiwai amongst friends two years ago when one friend got it as a White Elephant gift and all my friends kept stealing it from each other. Huh, is it that good?
Read More2024 Loewe and Bottega Veneta New Bags Try-On, plus Hermes in Hawaii
I was lucky to try on some new bags over at Loewe and Bottega Veneta a couple weeks ago and I put a little poll up on Insta asking if you guys would prefer my opinions on Insta stories or on the blog. And I’m pleasantly surprised that you guys said on the blog (I guess you long format people are my people 😂).
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