Review: Helly Hansen Boyne Parka.

Hello! At last count I have ordered three (3) different Helly Hansen raincoats in an effort to find one (1) that I 100% love without hesitation. The first one was the Welsey II trench which I reviewed here, but I've also included a couple of updated shots in this review for the purposes of comparison and also because I don't think my original photos are very good. I also ordered the Lyoness II coat somewhere in there and didn't bother to review it before returning because it wasn't a good fit. 

NOW. Now we are at coat #3. This one is the Helly Hansen Boyne Parka and I linked it last week in my Nordstrom Rack post before immediately buying it: 

Y'all. I'm just going to spoil this review by saying THIS IS THE ONE. It's so good. I love the color and the length and fit is perfect. For reference, I'm wearing a size medium. The color (unfortunately named "beluga") suits me as well. 

The best part? it has the benefit of being lightly insulated with PrimaLoft. It's not winter-coat level insulated but it's also not a thin raincoat either, so a perfect in-between kinda thing. I also love that, while waterproof, it doesn't look like a raincoat. And it's got style: 

One of you also has this coat and we were bitching on IG about the strings in the back (like, why?) so I did some research and here's why. I love that the look was co-opted by the Mods in the 1960s! So cool! So fashion. Now, let's get practical. This hood, you guys:

Yes, I look like a dork but the hood is good and really deep AND it has an extension piece that folds forward. I don't intend on wearing this on a fishing boat so I don't know that I'll ever need that much hood, but I like it. 

I also love the dual pockets - fleece-lined side pockets to keep my hands warm AND big front pockets with a snap for my giant iPhone. Ideal. Honestly, the only thing I don't like about this parka is the lack of an interior zip pocket. All coats should have one! All the damn men's coats by Helly Hansen have one! The patriarchy doesn't want us to have inside pockets and it's really irritating. 

The light was weird when I took these but here's a closer look - the color is a really good greyish-army green. Now, for comparison, the Welsey II trench:

I really like a lot of things about this trench coat but looking at the photos it's clear to me that it doesn't fit me well at all. I think I was just enamored with the copper zippers. It's also a damn mess if you want to leave it open: 

...but that is pretty much what you deal with when you go for a double-breasted style. I love a trench, but for my purposes I much prefer the Boyne parka. 

It also comes in a very on-trend mustard brown color and is available in plus sizes! Nordstrom Rack has some other HH styles that are well-priced as well. (And thanks, of course, to my best Philadelphia friend for introducing me to this brand!) 

Weekend Window Shopping: J.Crew Sale Craziness.

Woot, J.Crew is having a really good sale, y'all. They're offering 40% off full-price and 50% off sale with code GOBIG. There are a ton of exclusions b/c J.Crew is a bad boyfriend, but still! My favorite Going Out Blazer is included in the sale, as is the very popular Sadie Sweater-Blazer. Here are some other things I would very much like in my closet:

Oooh, y'all. It is DEFINITELY gin cardigan season. I love this chunky monkey. 

This herringbone car coat is just quite the perfect thing and feels very London to me. 

OH YEAH. Things were feeling a little sedate there for a sec. Fixed it. 

So simple, but so iconic. I unapologetically love this. 

Whee! I can't wear this amazing color, but I hope you can. (It comes in red too!)

Listen, you definitely need one really crazy statement necklace in your wardrobe. Because:

This is a very basic black dress. Add that necklace or those leopard boots? You are FASHION.

Oh jeez. Why you gotta be like that, J.Crew? I HAVE BAGS I AM GOOD. 

We Discuss: Want vs Need

M: I just got a $100 Zappos gift card. This is the universe telling me to buy the furry Arizonas, yes?

A: Yessssss

M: I ordered them immediately

A: Excellent. There’s nothing like a free money purchase

M: I mean I still had to pay $50

A: Shhh

A: I’m getting a state tax rebate check in the mail today so I ordered another Helly Hansen to try

M: Ha! You are hilarious with this raincoat journey

A: I must know all. For blog science.

M: Ordered at 5pm and they will be here tomorrow. Damn

______

M:

A: Love! Did Zappos walk in and put them on your feet for you?

M: Basically

M: I am Team Birkenstock obvi but can’t decide if these are for outside of the house

A: Oh, I would

M: I will

M: Chris made a face

A: Haaaa

A: Boys don’t know

M: So true

A: I still want shearling clogs

M: They are so good

A: I also want Everlane The Day Glove flats

A: I also want burgundy Madewell boots

M: Heh

M: I have bought the two pairs of shoes I wanted for fall and feel pretty good

A: Please note: I don’t NEED ANYTHING.

M: I still want my perfect turtleneck and a solid black pair of skinny jeans with no holes. Maybe coated

A: Madewell has the coated jeans again! Also, these:

M: Cute!

A: Love. Do not need.

M: You don’t but they are cute

M: I mean I don’t need jeans except I truly have like one pair of non distressed denim

 A: Black jeans are my work trousers these days.

_____

M: I definitely painted my toenails in the Target parking lot this morning so I could wear my new shoes

A: That seems risky

M: Quick dry polish

A: I would have gotten polish all up in that shearling and there would be crying and scissors involved

M: Oh I took them off to paint!

A: I meant when I put them back on

M: Yeah I drove with the air blasting on my bare feet and they were dry when I got to work 😂

A: Living dangerously! But your feet look real cute.

A: I love that you were like, “I don’t know if I’m wearing them out.”

A: *immediately wears them out*

M: Heh

A: Birkenstocks have completely ruined me

M: Same honestly

A: I’m okay with it, I just wish their boots were cuter

M: Me toooo

A: They sorta look cute but when you see the overhead shot, it's a hard no:

M: Yeaaaah no

A: A line has to be drawn somewhere!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019 That Time I Won A Contest, Part Two.

Is this an obnoxious thing to write about? I hope not. I just thought it would be fun to tell y'all, my Internet blog besties, about the crap I got with my Poshmark contest winnings. Part one is here, and now I'm going to tell you about part two.

I have always thought that windfalls, birthday money, etc should be spend frivolously because we're mostly a practical bunch, right? So, it's a bit of a thrill to just buy something because you love it, not because it's in any way necessary. Like this:

Generally, my style is not very girly - I don't love florals or ruffles or super bright colors but there's always an exception to the rule and mine is Liberty of London. I "hearted" this Liberty Alphabet wristlet pouch on Posh a while back because it's my initial! How could I not? I doubt I would've bought it with my own money, but with prize winnings? Absolutely.

This wristlet is not very practical but it is REALLY cute and it sparks joy for me. The reverse side is dark Iphis print with the truly insane flowered initial on the front. I'll use it when I travel to keep all my charge cords stowed away together and it can double as a evening clutch bag. (An idea I stole from Marianne, obvs.)

Because I feel like we should all have fun zippered wristlet bags, I found a few more that I thought looked really good. This cherry red leather option from Aimee Kestenberg is gorgeous and such a great deal:

This Madewell pouch is perfectly minimal and looks very sleek with a gold monogram:

This J.Crew pouch is basically just amazing and also 40% off:

And this excellent suede/glazed leather Lodis wristlet is actually two pouches that detach, so you can be stylish and crazy organized:

That's all I got! Next week I'll tell you what I spent the rest of my winning on and then I will shut up about it.

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Nordstrom Rack Fall Shopping.

Nordstrom Rack is a favorite of mine and I'm really glad there isn't a store nearby because I would be IN TROUBLE. It requires some digging, but the website always has some great stuff. I went in looking for some good fall-to-winter options and here's what I found:

Oooh, cashmere cardigan. Basically the gin cardigan of our dreams. Wear this to work if you must, but really we recommend wearing it on the couch all cozy while drinking gin and watching your favorite trash television. Ain't you fancy. 

Here's my pitch for coated black denim jeans- they're like those faux leather leggings you kinda want but aren't sure you can pull off. These? You can definitely pull off and they look like leather jeans which is badass. 

These Blondo booties are adorable, come in three colors and they are WATERPROOF. I KNOW. 

Speaking of waterproof, I am still on the fence about my recent raincoat purchase and might also buy this insulted version to compare and contrast. For science. 

This is a leather Botkier tote that also comes in olive green but I audibly gasped when I clicked on this color. Beautiful. 

I have lots of scarves but I really want a big plaid scarf this fall. Like this one. Maybe exactly this one.

Marianne loves J.Crew pajamas and this cheerful flannel set is basically the best. I mean. 

Listen, these Ugg slippers are the last slippers you'll ever need. Just don't wear them out of the house because it's a slippery slope. 

Weekend Window Shopping: It's Sweater Weather!

Okay, I am SURE it is sweater weather somewhere, if not here. Hmph. I am eager to burn all my summer clothes and start wearing cozy knits but since I can't, I am window shopping instead. Here is a collection of sweaters that I think are worth consideration:

       

         
       
     

Stuff I Like (And One Thing I Didn't): Watching, Reading, Wearing, Spinning

Hey, it's October but we're setting heat records over here in Virginia (97 today! Great!) so what can you do? I would certainly like to be all, "It's decorative gourd season, motherfuckers!" but we're not quite there yet. Still, here's what I've been liking this fall because I guess that's what it is:

This Show That Is London Candy
I save certain shows to watch while I'm doing cycling workouts on my stationary trainer because otherwise I'll die of boredom/sadness. I just finished the new season of Veronica Mars which I implore you not to watch if you haven't already. It's...not good. I am still mad about it. Anyway, lately I've been watching Four Weddings and a Funeral, a Hulu show (loosely based on the movie) created by Mindy Kaling, who I love. The best thing about the show is definitely Brandon Mychal Smith who is also my favorite part of You're The Worst. This show is not going to win any awards but it's fun London-based candy and has a cameo of the best/worst person from the movie.

This Book About Things I Knew Nothing About
I've been reading a really great book! It's Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, a novel about about Japanese–Korean culture and Japanese occupation of Korea and World War II. Sounds heavy, right? It is but it's also a beautifully written story about women and their (often deeply unfair) lives through all this. I'm enjoying the departure and love learning more about cultures I'm pretty unfamiliar with. I recommend it. PS. Marianne is reading The Gown by Jennifer Robson and really loves it. (I am going to read it next, so I'll report back.)

This Lipstick You Probably Need
While in an airport recently stewing over a canceled flight, I succumbed to the airport MAC store conveniently placed there for rage-purchases. I bought a lipstick without even trying it on and thankfully it's really great. I even threw out one of my very, very old lipsticks by Origins that makes Marianne cringe because holy shit, when did you buy that. (Um.) ANYWAY, MAC Party Line is a bright but deep berry-red color with a semi-gloss finish (get away from me with that matte crap) that cheers up my whole face without being too crazy or intense. It's a good one.

The Salad Spinner Of My Dreams
There is nothing worse than a bad kitchen tool, am I right? When I moved in with my guy we had two of everything and we both had shitty salad spinners so we kept his, which was a mistake. It's THE WORST and I finally threw it on the donate pile in disgust. After quite a bit of research, I ordered this one. It is such an upgrade! It's big and sturdy with a locking lid and a pour spout! I am just so into it. Maybe you don't think you need one? I use my spinner for way more than lettuce - it's great for drying chopped broccoli, brussels sprouts or any other veggies you roast, because the key to crispy roasted vegetables is no moisture. Also, it's great for getting all the grit out of kale and for drying delicate herbs like basil. You definitely need this if you cook a lot, is all I'm saying.