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. 

Quince Linen Review: Short Sleeve Shirt, Swing Dress, and Linen Blazer.

I recently bought three items from Quince’s linen collection and thought I’d tell y’all about them. Just a note about sizing: I’m usually a size 8 and I'm wearing a medium for all of these items. I’m 5’5” so some of this is not great for the talls, though I believe extended, tall and petite sizing is coming. 

First up, this is the Linen Short Sleeve Shirt ($34.90):

I like this shirt! The color is very on-trend and I don't own anything like it. The fit isn't cropped, exactly, but it is on the short side and has a slightly boxy fit. This is what you wear when you really just want to wear a t-shirt but feel like you should make more of an effort. My only complaint is that I would like a fourth button. Seriously, why only three buttons? 

It's linen. Linen wrinkles. It's just what it does so don't fight it. (Honestly, the reviews complaining about this!)

I like how it looks tucked but it definitely requires a higher rise to successfully pull it off. My jeans are Mother The Weekender and I reviewed them here. 

Next up is this linen Short Sleeve Swing Dress ($59.90.) They also have a sleeveless version and both are Faherty knock-offs I believe. It’s made from the same nice European linen and the pintuck details are quite good. 

Unpopular opinion: It has pockets and I wish it didn’t because I don’t actually need extra bulk at the hips.

I’m wearing a medium and it fits fine but I’d love another inch of length. It’s also probably see-through in the lighter colors, so just be aware of that. Overall it’s a cute summer sack dress that I'll wear a lot. It's easy to wear, casual, and comfy. Just a note: I don't have Photoshop anymore so I can't correct the color! The navy blue color is not as saturated as it looks, this is more accurate: 

Finally, I bought the Linen Blazer ($69.90) which fits me pretty well in the medium. It’s oversized but I don’t think I could get the small around my hips, so the medium was definitely the way to go. 

I should've taken a picture with the sleeves unrolled, I guess, but I have short arms so sleeves are often too long for me. I like the sleeves rolled because Y'ALL I AM MIAMI VICE CASUAL. THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID IT. 

It doesn’t have a lining which is slightly irritating only because the underside flaps of the lapel keep popping out. A little stitch witchery should fix that though. Overall I think it’ll be nice for a summer layer - slouchy and elegant but still comfy.

My striped tee is the Sno Cone from AYR! I still think AYR tees are too expensive but I keep buying and wearing the hell out of them so I'm beginning to think they're worth the money.

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 $20 in Quince credit.) 

Review: J.Crew New Cocoon Coat.

Hi, guess who fell down the (diabolical spiral) stairs from my office loft and possibly broke her foot? This gal. I won't be able to do my normal outfit photos for a little while but the J.Crew coat I cyber-Monday ordered showed up and the show must go on. The J.Crew New Cocoon Coat in Italian stadium-cloth wool is both really kind of great and also not that great. Oh, J.Crew. Why can't I quit you:

I got the camel color in a size 8 and assumed it would fit because a good portion of the reviews claim it runs big. Spoiler: It does not run big. But, this is a nice coat. Is it a $375 coat? Absolutely not. Maybe back in the day when J.Crew quality was really good, but this is definitely a $150-$175 coat (and right now it's $154.50.) It keeps popping in and out of stock so if you want it, keep an eye out while it's marked down! I do love the style of it -  the double pockets, hidden zipper, and high collar are all really chic. This is a fashionable coat and feels like it would also be reasonably warm. 

However, it has no double zipper and no rear vent so when you zip it up it has to fit correctly and if I was a bit narrower in the hips/booty area, it would be perfect. I can zip it up without struggle but the pockets pull a little and it's definitely snug in the rear. I have not tried to sit down with it zipped up, is what saying. 

Hmmph. The fit isn't terrible but not super great either. I can't stand it when a coat is even a hair too tight so I'm going to return it. I don't know that sizing up will help because it'll probably be too big in the shoulders BUT I'm a masochist and ordered it in a 10 in the pale grey color anyway. I like the overall style enough to try-try again. Plus, it looks pretty cool unzipped and with a nice red bag and a giant grey boot, right? 

Outfit details: My bag is a Rebecca Minkoff Phoebe which is hard to find but this adorable red Minkoff bag is on sale and this one is also a really good deal. My non-medical boot is one of my new Blundstones! That review can be found here. The coat is here and there's also a version over at J.Crew Factory but I haven't tried it. 

Review: Calpak Luka Belt Bag and Luka Duffel.

Last month I posted that I'd been influenced into buying (with my own money) the Calpak Luka Belt Bag and matching Luka Duffel bag. Marianne bought both for a trip and liked them so I felt the need to copy her like the total creeper I am. But y'all, Marianne has a great instinct for the good stuff and she's rarely led me wrong. Here is my review of both with the caveat that I haven't actually traveled with either item as yet*:

Hi! HERE IS THE LUKA BELT BAG IT IS A BIG BABY. I've only had tiny belt bags so this one has taken a little adjustment. It has interior pockets and a large external zippered pocket. I really love the idea of having everything I need strapped to my body where I can access it, both in the airport and on the plane. Here's what fits in the Luka Belt Bag:

"But Adrien, I can't seeeeeeee everything." Okay, fine. Here is literally all my crap spread out for your amusement: 

In my Luka Belt Bag I have my Kindle (sans case), my cell phone, my little Liberty pouch for chapstick, tissues, tiny hand lotion, bits of lint, etc, Liberty card case, my passport, AirPods, AirFly, Advil, Mentos, and a Purell wipe because you just never know. Now, here's my Luka Duffel, which will be my carry-on (I am checking my suitcase, which is also by Calpak):

Now, I could've been a reasonable person and gone with one of the neutral colors but I love this bag in merlot  (Marianne bought both in dijon yellow!) and the colors they have are great, so why not get a fun color? This duffel is a perfect medium-sized bag and surprisingly light. It fits a lot and you can still shove it under the airplane seat. I love that it has shoulder straps and a longer crossbody option, and it also has a million pockets and a suitcase sleeve. I also like the optional shoe compartment (you can strap up the inner pouch part to get it out of the way if you're not using it), and it has a good, deep water bottle pocket. I don't love that the interior is black because it makes it harder to find stuff, but that's a minor quibble. Here's what I have in my carry-on bag: 

A big scarf, sleep mask, lightweight sneakers, Trtl wrap thingy, large Liberty pouch for all my charge cords, earbud case, and a baggie of essentials (hand cream, Shout wipes, contact solution, etc). I also bring extra contacts, my glasses, medication, and a change of underwear in case something goes wrong with my checked bag. I still have a ton of room left in the tote so I can do a little shopping on my trip without worry.

Here I am wearing the belt bag in a more hangy purse-like manner and holding the duffel so you can see how big it is. This is an experiment for me because I usually carry a backpack (and was tempted by the Calpak backpack!) but wanted something a bit bigger for my carry-on. Both the belt bag and the duffel are on sale right now and if you're new to Calpak you can use my link for $25 off your first qualifying CALPAK order of $150+. (I'm not sure if this works on sale items or not? Give it a try.) Full disclosure, I will also get $25 credit.

*We're going back to Ireland! I've written about our travels to Ireland here and here and here if you're curious.

OOTD Review: Quince Cashmere Batwing Sweater.

 Hello! I recently bought a Quince cashmere batwing sweater and here I am, ready to talk about it:

First, I had to dither over the sizing. Initially this sweater came in one size which made most of the reviews pointless. Now it's S/M or L/XL and after some consideration (and asking a friend), I went with the S/M which was the right way to go. I have narrow shoulders so I think the larger size would've driven me crazy. It should be noted that this sweater is slightly cropped, so unless you're wearing it with super high rise pants, you'll want to wear a t-shirt under it (I always do anyway.) 

It's definitely got a batwing! The more I wear it, the more I like it. It's the same nice cashmere I've experienced from Quince - not super heavy but soft and warm. I am wearing it over an Everlane ribbed cotton turtleneck that I thrifted. I don't generally love a turtleneck but I thought it worked well here and its fitted enough to be a good under-sweater layer. 

And oooh, I love this burgundy color. I kind of want this sweater in black too because I want everything in black. If you've never shopped Quince and want $20 off your first purchase, please use my link! (full disclosure: for each purchase I get credits to spend.) 

My jeans are my recently purchased Mother Weekender flares and I have no regrets. So soft, so comfy! (But, they're expensive and all the Madewell jeans are 40% off right now, just FYI.) I also pulled out my old Marc by Marc Jacobs hobo because it's just been sitting in my closet collecting dust. I've held onto it because it was a long-time favorite of mine and apparently they've re-issued the original Hillier! (I got my first Hillier back in 2010 and I wish I'd kept it.) Details: 

My soft soft sweater and my old Dean Davidson tassel necklace. There's not much like it but this tassel pendant at Target is pretty! 

Another look at my old MJ hobo - it's the Too Hot To Handle style and can definitely be found secondhand for not much money. My boots are an old pair by Madewell - this pair is similar (and on sale!) That's it for today! Just more jeans and sweater action, really. 

Review: Blundstone Women's Heeled Chelsea Boots

 Hello! Nearly two years ago I reviewed a couple of styles of Blundstone boots and kept the Classic 550 Chelsea which I still love and wear. They're great boots - rugged and comfortable and very PNW.  I got them in the rustic finish which is extremely rustic. So, while they're great boots, they're also super casual and I wanted another pair that was a bit dressier but could still take miles of walking in wet weather. 

Blundstone has a women-specific style that really appealed - the #1671 Heeled Chelsea boot. It has the same Blundstone look with a bit of a heel, a more refined toe, and a higher shaft than my classic pair. 

Look at my cute little Blundstone family! I'm a dork. Anyway, here's what they look like on my feet: 

I ordered the heeled boots in two sizes because Blundstone sizing is weird - half sizes are wider but not longer. I wear a 6/9 in my Classic boots but different styles run differently, so I got these in a 5.5/8.5, and a 6/9. The half size felt great overall except that my big toes definitely were hitting the front of the boot and that's the kind of thing that's not a problem until you lose a toenail. Nope. I settled on the 6/9 which has a bit more length and room for thick socks. These are my new Ireland boots! Now I just need to break them in, though so far they feel quite comfortable and my other Blundstones didn't require much break-in time so fingers crossed. 

The heel is pretty low but still enough to give you a bit of lift and dress things up a little bit. They still definitely have that Blundstone look with the pull tabs and whatnot. Some reviewers complained that they struggled to get these on and off, but I haven't had issues. (The pull tabs help, but I also don't have high arches.) Outfit details:

I'm wearing my Varley Cleon pullover (reviewed here) from last year. It's sold out but they have a similar tunic-length version and I also love this one with the big zip collar. I love an athleisure pullover - looks like real clothes, feels like a sweatshirt. I'm also wearing a pair of Madewell Perfect Vintage jeans similar to this current pair. 

I'm still carrying my Minkoff quilted Love bag every day and I especially love it with a casual look (which is good, because that's generally how I do.) I will probably post some more Blundstone outfits as I feel like this pair could be cute with dresses, leggings, etc. More to come! 

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.