What I Bought: So Many Pants.

I mostly wear pants these days and I realized that I didn't have much variety in my closet. What I do have is many pairs of jeans and a couple of pairs of pants that really should be filed under "athletic wear pretending to be work-appropriate." So,  I went on a tear and bought three new pairs of pants. Also, fine, one of the pairs I bought is jeans but they're really good. Shush. 

To start, I bought these jeans from Madewell but didn't really love them on me so I returned them and on the way back to my car I fell into EverEve and bought this pair of cropped pants by Kut From the Kloth:

I don't have an outfit photo yet but I am here to say that these are good and comfortable and I highly recommend them. They aren't life-changing but they are easy and they look cute with both Birkenstocks and boots. 

Then Marianne bought these Everlane jeans and y'all, I had to have them too because I am an enormous copy-cat, yes, but come on, these are great:

They are VERY high waisted on me but I love the weird hem and the wide-leg  sailor flair. I just NEEDED THESE JEANS. I'm happy to say I love them though I did go up a size because they run a little bit small. This is what they look like on half of me:

So cute. They come right up to my boobs and sitting down is sort of challenging but I still love them. I'm kidding. Mostly. Since I was already ordering the jeans, I also ordered these tencel utility pants because they looked like a great spring/summer option and y'all, they are so good. They are definitely a more relaxed style than I usually wear but I love how the material feels - weighty and flowy at the same time. I wore them twice during my recent work trip to Hawaii:

Hey, look, an actual outfit! I mean, it's a crumbled end-of-the-day outfit, but still. These pants run true to size, just FYI. I'm wearing them with my two-tone Birks, a Madewell tee and my AYR button up. 

So, three pairs of pants, one actual outfit photo. I'm doing great. 

Review: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater.

OhhhhKAY. I am seriously sorry it's taken me a million blog years to actually review this dang Quince cardigan but I've been busy taking really terrible photos. Like, this first pic was just to show my friends how f'ing crazy oversized the size medium was and clearly was not meant for public consumption but I already sent the sweater back so here we are: 

This is the Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater in size medium. It's weighty and ridiculously soft but oversized to a point of being ridiculous. I look like I'm being eaten alive by cashmere: 

But, it was so soft and cozy and such a good cold-weather WFH piece that I exchanged it for the small (in the charcoal grey because...reasons. I don't know.). I'm way happier with this one:

It's still perfectly oversized and delightfully unflattering but it doesn't feel overwhelming and the sleeves are the perfect length for me. If you have long arms, the sleeves might be short if you size down too much, just FYI. Also, it's holding up fine and isn't pilling much so far. (I maintain that all cashmere pills, it's just a matter of time.) If you're curious about the rest, I'm wearing my cardigan with these Madewell jeans and this Quince top. My boots are Pikolinos Granada and they're from my favorite local comfort shoe store because that's my life now. They're cute, though, right?  

One last look at the cardigan, which even in the size small buttons up with plenty of room to spare:

I doubt I'd ever wear it like this but it's nice that I can if I feel like it. Finally, I wanted to share my best recent Etsy purchase:

This labradorite beaded necklace is my most-worn piece of jewelry right now! It's beautiful and subtle from afar, but the stones have nice fire to them. Plus, it's really well-made and came with the nicest note from the artist, MyszkaJewelleryLdn.

That's it! A full review, a terrible pic with no makeup, and a mini outfit post to boot. I really give it my all, don't I? Honestly, though, this Quince cardigan is such a nice piece - good quality cashmere at a great price. If you’re new to Quince and want $20 off a purchase of $50 or more, please feel free to use my referral link! (Full disclosure: I also get $20 in credit and then use the credits to buy more stuff to review!) 

Review: Madewell The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean

Madewell is currently having their Insider event which means 25% or 30% off everything. (Including leather jackets, just FYI!) I needed absolutely nothing so I immediately bought the Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean in two sizes because the reviews seem to think they're both true to size and also run small. Cool. I posted a quick photo in an IG story and y'all loved them so I thought I'd do a proper review. 

Short version: I love them. They're a great entry level wide-leg jean if you're still struggling with how to handle the newer denim silhouettes. Here you go:

As for the sizing, I got the Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg jeans in size 29 (my usual Madewell size) and size 30 for size comparison. Now, the 29 I could get on and get buttoned but whooo boy they were really tight in the waist. Now, they might stretch out a bit but these jeans are 99% cotton/1% stretch and have some weight so it's a risk to assume they'll stretch out enough. The size 30 (which I'm wearing in the pic) fit perfectly and they fall just right:

 It's a bit of adjustment to get used to all that leg but they're cool as hell, right? And on sale! Highly recommend if you need a denim refresh. 

PS. I'm also wearing an AYR tee, a great Lauren Ralph Lauren belt, and my new Birkenstock Boston clogs. 

Reviews: Madewell Perfect Fatigue Shorts, AYR Tees and Deep End Shirt.

Almost all the clothing I’ve bought this summer has been easy and comfortable because I'm just not going to wear uncomfortable clothes anymore. I've mostly been looking for elevated basics, including some nicely cut t-shirts and at least one pair of casual-but-not-sporty shorts. I struggle with shorts - denim cut-offs are classic and fun (this is my favorite pair) but not always appropriate and definitely not comfortable for all day sitting. Also need at least a 4’-5” inseam or get the fuck out of here, you know? My thighs will chew up and spit out your sad little 3” inseam. I’m old! Give me some inseam! But not too much inseam! Anyway, I stumbled across this pair at Madewell and was like, these would be perfect if they had one and a half more inches of inseam and lo, Madewell has given me ONE AND A HALF MORE INCHES:

This is the Madewell Perfect Fatigue mid-length short! Listen, I know I’ve worn more flattering things in my life but I love a good pair of shorts in the summer and these have a satisfyingly high waist, a nice a-line flair to the leg, big pockets (the rear pocket fits my phone!) and just enough stretch to keep things comfortable. Plus, they come in two really good colors. I obviously bought the green and I am waiting for a sale before I buy the purple. (Update: code SUNDAZE works for 25% off!)

I’m wearing the shorts with my AYR The French Fry tee which is probably my most-worn striped shirt of all time. Yes, it’s too expensive but... I think it’s worth it based on how often I’ve worn it. I also bought a couple of the Sno Cone tees which are fantastic if you want a slightly cropped tee to wear with your high-waisted things. Here it is untucked so you can see where it falls on me:

Not so cropped that skin is showing, but cropped enough to give you a clean line, if that makes sense, and you can still tuck the front. I have it in a medium (which I’m wearing in that photo) and a large in the blue stripe for a bit more slouch. I also tried the All U tee but returned it because it wasn’t super special and was a little low cut for my prudish ways. So far, my AYR tees have stayed soft and the necklines have held their shape, so I am sold on paying up a bit for really nice tees that don’t lose the will to live after one season (looking at you, Madewell Whisper tee.)

Finally, I decided that I had to try the shirt with the cult following - the Deep End oversized cotton button up. Here it is right out of the packaging:

I am not generally a button up shirt kinda person but something about the crisp-yet-casual nature of this shirt really appealed and I wanted a few tailored pieces for work. I got a medium in white cotton (it also comes in linen and in a stripe) and it fits perfectly in an oversized way, meaning, I can button it up over a tank without any kind of gaping and it falls nicely without catching on my hips. I could definitely size down to a small, but then it wouldn’t be oversized. I’m still figuring it out but I do like it as an airy cardigan alternative:

Not bad, right? I'm wearing it with my excellent Madewell Emmett wide-leg crop pants! I posted about these on IG and they're currently sold out in the green but come in a few other colors. They're good! True to size and great for summer. 

What have you bought this summer that you really like? Do tell. 

Review: Madewell Oversized Leather Jacket vs. Quince Motorcycle Jacket.

Alternate title: A Tale Of Two Jackets. So! Last week I ordered two leather jackets purely for blog science because how else will we know? I've been extremely curious about Madewell's Oversized Washed Leather Jacket, and since it wasn't excluded from the most recent sale, I ordered the fatigue green version when it was 30% off.  I'd also read the glowing reviews of Quince's $150 Leather Motorcycle Jacket and it was back in stock, so I ordered that in the burgundy color. Let's start with the Madewell jacket:

Okay, right out of the box I was super into the color. The photos of this jacket on the Madewell site are terrible and don't do it justice at all. It's like they don't want you to buy it! The pics of the black version are way better but that dark green with the brass hardware? So good. 

The washed leather is lightweight and already has a broken-in feel and the hardware felt substantial. I ordered a medium based on reviews because I wanted it big enough to wear a light sweater underneath but not so big that it swallowed me up. The sizing was perfect for me - slightly oversized feeling but not too big. The sleeves were surprisingly short for a leather jacket which worked for me but if you're tall this might be an issue.

I do love that this jacket isn't cropped but it also means that it's a lot of jacket just hanging around when unzipped. I wasn't sure if I loved the look on me but that color! So good. Then I tried to zip it up. It's big enough that I could easily zip it...if the freaking zipper worked. Womp.

I spent a lot of time trying to zip that dumb jacket up and the zipper would not budge. I read back through the reviews for the black version and apparently this is a really common issue for this jacket. For something that costs $500+ retail, the zipper should work, right? I ended up returning it. 

Now, let's look at the Quince motorcycle jacket:

I mean, hello baby. This jacket is gorgeous. The color is ridiculously good and I don't even think my photos do it justice. This is a pretty traditional moto style jacket in buttery leather with silver hardware. It comes in three colors but I chose the burgundy because it looked like a color that would work well with my wardrobe and obviously I think it's beautiful. (Plus, I already have a black leather jacket.)

The leather is very soft and pretty thin, so it's not the quality of, say, an AllSaints jacket, but for the price it is a surprisingly nice jacket. I ordered a large because I wanted room for a sweater (my AllSaints Dalby is very fitted) and I wanted to be able to comfortably zip it up:

No problem! I could probably wear a medium if I wanted a more fitted look. The belt is attached but the hardware is lightweight so it's not too annoying to have the buckle end flapping around. The zipper is likewise not super heavy duty but it works just fine and overall I am really pleased with this jacket. 

I mean, for $150, are you kidding me? Of course I'm keeping it. I'm happy to answer questions about either jacket! Please comment below. 

If you're tempted and want $20 off your first purchase, please use my link. (Full disclosure: for each purchase through my link I receive credits to spend which allows me to try and review more stuff. I paid for a portion of this jacket with credits, so thank you to those of you who used my link!) 

PS. My shoes are the Madewell Harper Mule and my jeans are an older pair of Madewell Boyjeans. 

Review: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Sweater.

Hi! Now it's my turn to beat you over the head with this Quince sweater. Yesterday I posted a reader review comparing this sweater with one by Jenni Kayne (unfair! Stop making me want expensive things!) and today I'm showing you my Quince cashmere Fisherman sweater with which I'm quite pleased:

First of all, I don't have a Jenni Kayne sweater as a comparison but this Quince sweater feels light and soft like a cloud. I was delighted when I first saw it. I sized up to a large because I wanted it to be slouchy and over-sized and that's what I got. It looks 800% better if you do a little half tuck:

So slouchy and soft and comfy! The sleeves are extra long but the body is kind of boxy and hits me at the hip (I'm 5'5") so if you're tall, this one might not work for you. As for the knit, I'm a delicate flower who finds all versions of wool/cashmere/alpaca itchy but I wore this one for a good half an hour without a tee underneath and wasn't bothered. This has never happened! (I'm still probably going to wear a tee underneath though, so if you have any liner tee suggestions, please let me know.)

I'm wearing the sweater with an older pair of Madewell Boyjeans that I completely love. This current version is probably the most similar. I'm also wearing my new M.Gemi shearling and suede clogs which I bought recently on Poshmark. They are A DELIGHT. M.Gemi is currently only stocking the back strap version but Madewell has a shearling lined clog and if you're feeling spending, there's a really nice pair by Rag & Bone. (Is anyone else weirded out by the clogs with shearling on the outside? I mean, yes, SO CUTE but how do you clean them?) On to details:

Hello, I need a bang trim. This is just to show you the sweater knit up a bit closer. I'm wearing my Gorjana Compass Coin necklace all simple-like. Now, this crossbody bag of mine:

It's by Elliott Lucca and I thrifted it to sell on Poshmark but now I'm wavering. Do I keep it or sell it? It's kind of cute and the color is interesting, right? For something similar I like this Frye crossbody but I'm also kind of into this MZ Wallace quilted bag and ugh, how cute is this Hammitt crossbody? Yes, I know it has a face. Anyway, I have the Elliott Lucca bag listed but I'm wavering. Anyway, aren't my clogs cute? They bring me stompy, shearling-lined joy. 

PS. If you're new to Quince and want $20 off your first purchase, please use my link. (Full disclosure: for each purchase through my link I receive credits to spend which allows me to try and review more stuff!) 

Reader Review: Quince Cashmere vs Jenni Kayne Cashmere

Hi all! Blog reader Robyn was kind enough to update me on her recent sweater purchases and review them for us. She bought the Jenni Kayne Cashmere Fisherman Sweater and the Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman sweater that's supposed to be a very good dupe. Here's what she has to say:

Ok so I got both sweaters and I’ll get right to the punchline: the Jenni Kayne is far superior, DAMMIT. It’s lofty and exquisitely soft and the color is rich and beautiful:

Here's a closeup shot of the knit:

The Quince sweater *looks* identical in terms of knit and cut, but it’s thinner, a bit itchy (though I have super sensitive skin so YMMV), and just looks cheaper in general. I got the cream color and I could see my bra through it:

And a closeup shot of the knit:

Still, if you’re on a budget it’s not a bad choice, particularly, I’d suspect, in the darker colors. I got a small in both brands and the Quince was maybe a smidge bigger, but just a smidge.

I also ordered the baby alpaca cardigan from Quince and it is DELICIOUS. So soft, not itchy. Recommend 💯 

Thanks, Robyn! She's got a great recipe blog for high altitude cooks and you can also find her on Instagram @butterandair and @robyn_nicoli

Just FYI, I also ordered the Quince cashmere fisherman sweater and I'll be posting an outfit tomorrow with my thoughts! If you've never shopped Quince before and want $20 off your first purchase, please use my link (full disclosure: for each purchase I get credits to spend.) 

Monday Shopping Report: Madewell and Evereve.

When I joke about being the worst blogger it's only kind of a joke because, y'all, I am the WORST blogger. I had very high ambitions this weekend - a trip to the best mall to try on all the things at Madewell and Evereve and take good photos and show you what's good (or bad.) Such ambition! Here's what always happens: I get in the dressing room and start trying things on and go snow-blind and forget to take photographs and then panic and try things back on and forget again. It's too stressful in there! Like, I bought two things and didn't take photos of either of them! Literally the worst. Anyway, I did manage to take a few photos, so here you go:

I went to Madewell first because everything is 20% off right now and I was very intrigued by the Mid-Rise Stovepipe jeans, which I'm wearing above. I liked them (size down btw) but they're cropped and the hem hits me at a weird place. I'm also wearing the Lightspun Renwood Button-Back Top in a very pretty pale purple that drained all the color from my skin. (Spring colorways are not my friend.) Super cute, but not for me. 

I asked if there were any other mid-rise jeans available and the sales assistant gave me a pair of the The Mid-Rise Perfect Vintage Jean in Enmore Wash which is a great light wash for spring (go with your normal size.) I liked them so much I forgot to take a photo but I actually bought them so they'll make a blog appearance soon. Then I went to Evereve and they love-bombed me with a million things to try on and it was overwhelming:

Eep, I know. But don't worry, you don't get to see most of it because, as previously noted, I'm the worst. For instance, that grey Varley tunic in the middle? I tried it on and didn't take a photo. It's on sale and very tempting but the fit was too much on me. (However: my white Varley Cleon top is now $34! Go! It's great! Size down!) I also tried on some black Vuori pants that I found underwhelming, so don't worry about those either. 

I really loved these Kut from the Kloth Mom Jeans but I'd literally just bought a pair of jeans (see above) so I wasn't as tempted as I might have been. They're good though, right? The brown Korke-Ease clogs were brought to me to try on with the jeans and they're super cute, if not quite my style. I want a pair, but maybe in black instead. These are also good!  

I also I tried on these Paige wide-leg cropped jeans (Marianne declared them "advanced") which were a size too big but I was kind of into them anyway. The Rails blouse I'm wearing with them had a great print but that high neck is just not for me. Here is a detail shot of the jeans:

Fun, right? They could be interesting. Ugh. I also tried on the Paige Wide Leg Carly pants and wasn't into them:

The black tank dress hanging behind me is Varley, I think? I can't find it online. It was unremarkable. Here I'm wearing the Paige jeans again with the pale gray version of my favorite Vuori top (which I wanted but did not buy) and I want you to take note of the green jacket hanging behind me:

It's the Vuori Military jacket and it's fantastic, so of course I forgot to take a photo of me wearing it. I totally bought it though, so you'll see it soon on the blog. It's really good - aside from being cute as hell, it has lots of pockets, is water-resistant and has hood that stows in the collar. 

So, really what I needed from this trip (other than photos for the blog) was a few cute tops or a good dress for spring but what I bought instead is a pair of jeans and a jacket. The heart wants what it wants I guess. 

Review: That Perfect Striped COS Tee.

This wasn't really meant to be an official outfit post but I got a few questions about this COS tee I bought recently and I wanted to show you how it fits. I have a lot of striped t-shirts and I'm always looking for the next one. I want a comfortable-but-not-unflattering fit and a cool detail doesn't hurt either. COS is a European company with a minimalist, androgynous look that appeals but doesn't always work on me. Anyway, this tee is a winner and I am delighted with it:

I'm wearing a size medium and it's perfect. It's a pretty long tee so harder to do a French tuck but I still managed. Oh, I also bought a short sleeved version in black, but I'll save that for another post. I'm wearing my striped tee with my old Madewell skinny jeans which unfortunately aren't available anymore but this pair looks really similar and this pair is on sale. 

I think I like it best untucked and might try it with leggings and a heeled boot or sneakers next time. I I love that the sleeves aren't very fitted so it has just the right hang. But my favorite thing is the contrast color neckline: 

Such a great detail! I'm wearing it with my Gorjana Parker necklace and my little bird skull pendant from Paxton Gate. It's still freaking January, so I can't just go out like this. I threw on a very old Athleta long hoodie:

Sadly, they don't sell this style anymore (whhhyyy) but this Cozy Karma style looks appropriately butt-covering and cozy. I'm carrying my Clare V Midi Sac (so many on sale at NR!) and wearing my beloved Blunstones that I reviewed here. 

Review: All The Madewell Pants!

Hey friends, Marianne here, trying on all of the pants at Madewell. Okay maybe not ALL of them, but after our fall wanty post I decided to just do the thing—just order 4 pairs of pants and see if I can find the elusive non-denim, non-skinny fall pant. Spoiler alert: I was successful! Giddy up.

The ones that are for someone, just not for me:

The Drapey Track Trousers. I am not sure why these are called “track" trousers? Is it the elastic waist? Anyway, the good: I like the color and the fabric. But this cut just isn’t for me, I think it would be cuter on someone shorter. They are too short and kind of boxy on me. Pass.

The ones I am pretty sure I’ll love when I get the right size:

The Griff Tapered Fatigue pants. These are SO GOOD. At least I think they will be. In spite of reviews saying to size (way) down, I ordered my usual jeans size in these and they are huge. But they are so great: the fabric is super soft but thick enough to be flattering, they have the perfect taper, perfect shade of fatigue green, and they have button tabs at the waist so you can adjust them if they stretch a little. I can’t wait to get these in the right size and wear them to death.

The ones that I’m torn on:

The Slim Emmett Tapered pants. Every time I try these on I change my mind. Do I like them? Are they flattering? Are they going to stretch out (these are my regular size, I tried a size down and they were TIGHT). Right now I’m leaning towards returning but possibly reordering if they go on sale. Only problem is, they are already starting to sell out in some sizes. I feel like these are the pants a ton of women are going to be wearing this fall. Should I be one of them???

The dark horse winner:

The Dunaway Paperbag pants! Who freaking knew? These give me all the vintage vibes I love but can’t usually pull off. This isn’t really the right shirt for these pants, but I wanted to be consistent. These are so soft and lightweight, have a great drape, and I love the color. I just have to figure out the best top to wear with them, but these went straight into my closet.

So what do you guys think? The Paperbag pants and (fingers crossed) Griff fatigue pants are obvious winners, but I keep coming back to those Emmett pants. They keep selling out in my size, am I going to regret returning them? Should I wear them around my house a bit before deciding? Has anyone else tried them and if so, did they stretch out on you? Help!

PS. My clogs are Sangren and my blouse is Vince, but isn't available anymore. This one has a similar pattern and this one is Vince perfection.