Monday, March 25, 2019

Stuff I Like/Don't Like: A Few Recent Purchases.

Hi all! I've bought a few things lately, some good, some disappointing. Want to hear about them? OF COURSE YOU DO. (And if you don't, maybe just lie to me. Cool cool cool.) 



These awesome socks are awesome. 
I love a really good pair of socks (sorry, Marianne) especially for exercise endeavors. I hate cheap socks with their stupid seams and slippy ways and have been very happy with my Bombas. I strayed, however, and bought a pair of Balega socks after reading this review on one of my favorite new IG accounts. I am really impressionable, sure, but I was at a running store getting fitted for shoes and saw them hanging there and was like, yep, I'll take a pair of these too. They are so GOOD. Soft, huggy, just the right amount of padding and they don't budge. I don't know that I'm looking to replace my Bombas, but they definitely have competition. 



This drugstore mascara is good! 
L’OrĂ©al Unlimited mascara was a Marianne suggestion and I gotta say, it's good stuff. I love the funky bottle and the bendy wand and I'll admit I wanted it more when I found out it used to only be available in France. Shut up. Anyway, it's not holy grail for me but it is a very nice lengthening mascara and holds curl, which is key. Also, I am trying to be cool about the fact that my beloved Fairydrops mascara IS TOTALLY GONE FROM THE WORLD. What has happened? Did the factory burn down? Halp. 

And one that disappointed me. 
Marianne loves Thrive Causemetics mascara so I bought it hoping it would give me her long fluttery lashes. Alas, on me it's clumpy and heavy, ruining all my curling work. BOO. I think this is one for folks who already have long lashes which would not be me. 



This bra is stupid.
You guys, my bra situation right now is SUPER TRAGIC. I am wearing the same three sad Natori bras that I've had for a while and they are all stretched out and fall off my shoulders and I want to try something new. I went to Soma to get fitted because I thought maybe it was time to get a real grown-ass lady bra or two. But listen, they get you in there and they measure you and then throw, like, 30 bras at you and NONE of them fit your freak body and then finally one fits and you buy it even though it's mumsy and has three hooks in the back. It's like you have bra-related Stockholm Syndrome so you just buy it. Once you wear it IRL it makes you feel like the masthead of a ship (not good) and after the third wear it stretches out and starts falling down. OH MY GOD. So, all of this is to say that I do not like the Vanishing Back bra and I need recs. I've had one solid recommendation for Chantelle bras (maker of my favorite unders, which is coming up next) but I need a breather before getting fitted again. 

PS. Best unders ever
Just a note that my super-favorite (but expensive) underwear is on sale in a few colors at Dillards. I buy more every time I find them on sale because I they are the best. They also have a plus size version with a color on sale as well. 



It's time for new Birks! 
As you might have seen on IG, I tried on a couple of different pairs of Birkenstocks a few weeks ago because they sell out super fast and every summer I hesistate and then have to hunt down the pair I want and who has time for that. I tried on the super-cute Yao sandal (with rose gold buckles!) and some white Arizona sandals because I'm tired of envying Marianne's pair. The Arizonas won because they are SO comfortable but I also recommend the Yao for extreme strappy cuteness. I definitely have a Birkenstock problem, you guys. Sorry/not sorry. 

20 comments:

  1. I have had good experiences with the bra fitting ladies at Nordstrom. At my local Nordstrom they aren't pushy and good at recommending which bras I might like. Also of course the return policy is clutch, no sweat if you wear it a few times and decide you don't like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've done this a few times with varying results (mostly good.)

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am a BIG FAN of LeMystere bras. (I also love that I can almost always find them for not many dollars during Dillard's semi-annual sale.) I've got one that I've worn for three years, and it still functions fantastically.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i scrolled down really fast and thought the last headline said "it's time for new bikes!" and i was all OH YEAH! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. As a 32G, I am always on the lookout for a bra that doesn't look like a bandages and scaffolding mash-up. I try to branch out but I keep coming back to Wacoal Embrace Lace. I'm up to 6 of them in various colors. They fit well, look lovely and lacy and keep everything super supported.

    ReplyDelete
  6. When I’ve gotten fitted for bras, the ladies always want to put me in a REALLY small band size (like 30) which may technically be the right size but it inevitably feels like I CAN’T BREATHE and I’ve wasted decent money on fancy bras I end up hating.

    Recently I discover my Holy Grail bra at Nordstrom Rack, it’s the DKNY Fusion Perfect T Shirt Bra. Of course it is discontinued so I am trying to buy up all that I can find online! I’ve found it at Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th online for about $20. This bra is so comfortable, supportive, and smooth—truly the bra of a lifetime! Recommend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have the opposite problem! I have a small ribcage but the Soma lady wanted to put me in a 36 band which makes everything wide and crazy on me. Nordstrom has me in a 32DDD which is insane-sounding on the other end. I can't win.

      Delete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Have you tried Marie Jo bras? I used to wear Chantelle but have now switched to Marie Jo. My favourites are the Tom and Jane styles. These bras are expensive but will last for years if hand-washed. I thought I was a 34A (and the bras did sort of fit), but I finally went to a good speciality boutique where I was introduced to the Marie Jo brand and they had me try on a 32C and it was an epiphany. As the lovely salesperson explained - since the bras are so expensive, you want to be on the very last hook as the band will stretch over the years and you will need to move down the hook. Since the cups are sized proportionately to the band sizes, by going down on the band, you need to go up in cup size. A shocking 2 cup sizes in my case. A C cup is not necessarily going to be bigger than an A cup - because of the fact that they are scaled to the band size.

    Now that I know I am a 32C, I was also able to buy Natori bras online (the demure contour plunge) which I also like, but the Marie Jo bras are better.

    Bras are very personal so my personal favourites may not work for you.

    I also have a request. My apologies if you already have one and I missed it, but would you consider adding a search bar? I'd love to be able to search your past entries for reviews.

    Thanks for the fun reads.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't heard of this brand! I'll check it out, thank you.

      And there should be a search bar allll the way up in the top lefthand corner. You can also click on the hashtags at the bottom of each entry (though I'll admit I forget to add them sometimes.)

      Delete
  9. ThirdLove is expensive but...really comfortable, last a long time, and have a huge variety of sizing. Also, they're not hiddy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love my ThirdLove bra, I am planning to buy a few more.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've basically abandoned regular bras over the last couple of years in favor of bralettes. I was just so tired of the straps constantly falling down. I always pick the racerback bralettes so now I can just pull on a bralette over my head and the straps are NEVER in danger of falling down. I am fairly flatchested though so I don't know if they would work as well for ladies with a larger cup size.

    ReplyDelete
  12. For all-day wear especially, the Bali wire-free models are pretty great; the comfort of a t-shirt bralette with regular-bra-level steady support and a band that doesn't slide (the wide straps make a big difference regardless of cup size, too), e.g. https://www.thebay.com/bali-comfort-shaping-wire-free-bra/product/0600086119668

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like Fantasie bras, especially the the balconette (though it only comes in "nude" and "black")

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love my Balegas. No help on the bra front, though.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm back, because I forgot my favorite new bra: Icebreaker's Siren Bra. Supportive, doesn't show under most tops...and extremely comfortable. It's a great middle ground between a bralette and a t-shirt bra. Plus, it's merino, so it breathes. (Fear not: it is some sort of magic merino/nylon core hybrid, so it is not itchy.)

    ReplyDelete