What I Bought: A Pants Follow-Up!

A quick follow-up to my last post! I've been wearing my new olive green Kut From The Kloth Meg Wide Leg pants weekly and actually remembered to take pics of my outfits. I didn’t get super creative or anything but I wanted to show you because PANTS ARE HARD and I think this pair is easy:

The Meg Wide Leg pants have an un-aggressive high rise and they hit a place on me that looks like a deliberate crop rather than the just-grazing-the-top-of-my-shoe awkwardness that drives me crazy. And they’re comfortable! Here I’m wearing them with my favorite Everlane sweater (still on sale!) that I wear so often it’s in danger of becoming my whole personality. I’m also wearing my all-black Birkenstock clogs which are my can’t-wear-flats solution. Yes, sometimes I even wear them with socks. I know. I don’t want to talk about it.

I think these pants will be a great spring/summer option too! We had a warm-ish day recently and I wore them with my super-favorite AYR So-Cone tee:

...and my Birkenstock clogs again because these days I wear the same five things over and over again. I’m semi-retired as a blogger and who’s keeping track anyway? Not me. My necklace is Gorjana (more on that soon) and my belt is Madewell. 

That's it for now! I'm working on a new "stuff I like" post so stay tuned. 

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. 

Outfit of the Day: In Which I Wear All My Favorite Stuff At Once.

When I start feeling wanty about some imagined thing that will make my wardrobe complete I remind myself that I already have some truly great stuff that I'm not wearing enough. Lately I've been trying to use all my good stuff as much as possible. 

Does this stop me from wanting more stuff? Sometimes. Does it make me feel slightly overdressed at the grocery store? Probably. But, it's been really fun to not "save" stuff for occasions but instead to wear the leather jacket every chance I get, to carry a nice bag even if I'm just going to the post office. For example, we went out for tacos last week and this is what I wore:

My very favorite jeans by Mother: the Weekender Fray, which I wear more than any other pair I own right now. I'm actually wearing them right this second! I reviewed back in 2022 if you're curious. They're truly comfortable and just the right length. I'm also wearing my Pikolinos boots which are very comfortable and decently cute and only pair of boots my dumb foot will currently allow. I am curious about this style, which is a bit taller and might work in place of the Chelsea boots I can't currently wear.

But okay, let's talk about the leather jacket. Its an AllSaints Belvedere jacket I found on TheRealReal because my other AllSaints jacket is currently, um, extremely tight. This one fits perfectly and I can wear a thin sweater under it, no problem. 

My scarf (this is it in a different colorway) was an impulse purchase at Liberty of London. It was on sale and there was only one left but they still steamed it for me and packed it up like a gift. I wore it for the rest of the trip, even the part where I had to sleep on the floor in JFK because we missed our flight. SO FANCY. 

Finally, that bag. It's the Mulberry Amberley (mine is in oxblood) and was a London purchase that was definitely on sale. HOWEVER, do not casually wander into the Mulberry flagship store in London and think you're not buying something because you absolutely will and you will love it and carry it A LOT because cost per wear and all that shit. Okay, on to my second "favorites" outfit:

Now, I talked about my striped Everlane sweater a few entries ago and it's still my #1 favorite sweater that I wear way, way too often. (And it's currently on sale!) Oh, Everlane. I quit you and you drag me back with cashmere and stripes. It's a great sweater - somehow boxy and slightly cropped but still hangs just right? It's magic and I just really love it, if you can't tell. 

I'm wearing it with my patch pocket jeans from Madewell which are getting quite a bit of wear. They are trendy but in a fun, not-too-young kind of way, I hope. Just to keep things extremely grown up and serious, I'm wearing them with my Comme des Garçons PLAY Converse which are so cute and spark all kinds of joy. 

My necklaces are my favorite weird bird skull from Paxton Gate and my labradorite necklace from Etsy. 

So, that's it. I'm really trying to use and enjoy what I have and stop being so wanty all the time. It's sort of working? Sort of. 

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.) 

Outfit of the Day: New Stuff

Hello! I’m working on a "stuff I like" post but wanted to wait until I finish the book I'm reading because, while I love it so far, I want to make sure the ending doesn’t disappoint.. Anyway, I bought a couple of things recently that I'm super happy with and I thought I’d show you:

Okay, the giant Vans tote arrived and it’s PERFECT. It’s just a big-ass sturdy canvas tote and it fits all of my work things (and yes, it’s heavy as shit when it’s full but I don’t have to take it very far.) I just got tired of juggling three bags so being able to toss everything into one big bag is working for now. Plus, it’s really cute. 

I’m wearing it with my not-really-flattering Grayson dress (review here) which you can’t get anymore except secondhand. I like it because it’s a floaty sack but I’m sure there are better versions - this one is promising, COS always delivers, and I like this one for a cheap-and-cheerful option. 

Because (almost) all my shoes finally fit again, I’m wearing my fun CdG Play Converse high-tops and even though they look kind of odd with this dress, I don’t care. This outfit is about me enjoying my stuff, not about being flattering. Who cares about flattering? Enjoy your things! 

One of the few good things I'll say about Rent the Runway its that it introduced me to a few brands I might  not have known about otherwise. Apiece Apart is one of those brands! Now, its not inexpensive, but because it's a lesser known brand you can pick it up secondhand for a steal. I'm always checking The RealReal for deals and of course Poshmark and eBay. Recently, I found this Apiece Apart Galleta top on eBay for a straight steal:

NWOT! And it’s still on the website! The eBay seller also has a small and extra small listed, so go get em! I’m wearing a medium. It's just such a fun, unusual top. The sleeves are very dramatic without a hint of prairie sister wife and I like that I can wear the neck open or buttoned up for more coverage.

My jeans are a recent purchase - the Pop from AYR. They're great, if a little too big. (I sized up but but shouldn’t have.) Are they better than Madewell denim? Not really, but I do wear them a lot. (Currently AYR is offering 15% off with code VACATION.)

I’m also FINALLY wearing my bright red Birkenstocks! My bad foot isn’t 100% into them but for low movement days, they’re fine and they cheer me up to no end. If you’re a red shoe person, these are the Birks for you. They are just so ridiculously bright and I love them. I also love my weird Clare V Grande Fanny - the red zipper detail works so nicely with my obnoxious Birkenstocks, right? It’s how I do. 

I'm Back! An Update, Some Gifts, Some Purchases.

Hi all! I had surgery on my foot last week and now I'm facing five more weeks of non-weight-bearing before I can graduate to the boot. So, no outfits for quite a while. A quick update on the J.Crew Cocoon coat - I returned the one I reviewed and ordered the next size up which was too big. So I'm giving up on that one. It's a very specific shape that didn't quite work for me. Now, a few things I was gifted and a few I've bought in the last few weeks:

If you follow my personal IG account, you might have seen that my amazing small gym chose me to be the recipient of an outfit from a local partnering Lululemon store. I'd just found out that week that I'd be needing surgery and was feeling pretty despondent, so this was an incredibly nice treat. I was allowed to chose a top, bottom and a pair of shoes to keep. (They have shoes now!) Here's what I got:

This is the perfectly oversized cropped crew sweatshirt and it's a delight. Weighty, soft as kittens, and the colors are beautiful. I bought it in my usual size and it's perfect - just the right amount of oversized and cropped without being extreme. The only issue with this fabric is that it shows moisture, so it's not for wearing in the rain or sweating! Great for everything else. 

I wanted another pair of lounge-y joggers so I immediately gravitated to this pair of Align joggers. I tried on both my usual size and a size up and they both fit but I went with the size up for extra comfort over a slim-cut look. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to wear them pre-surgery and now I have a huge splint on my leg, but they'll be waiting for me in February.

Lululemon has sneakers now! I got this pair, which I like quite a bit, though I have only been able to wear one so far. They're pretty minimalist in design which really appeals though I do wish they'd had the cassis colorway available in my size. If I end up loving this pair, I can always get another color, right? Right. 

So, a giant splint/cast on your leg really limits what you can wear. I am currently looking mad stylish in a pair of my guy's pajama pants but I had some Quince credits to spend so I bought two pairs of these cropped fleece sweatpants. They have good pockets and a really wide leg, so should be perfect. I am anxiously awaiting their arrival. 

Another recent Quince credits purchase! I was really curious about this Dagne Dover-esque neoprene backpack so I ordered it. It's good quality and looks/feels nearly identical to the medium DD version (minus a few pockets) and it'll fit a 13" laptop but not anything bigger. I am currently using it to transport things up and down stairs (crutches are the actual worst, y'all) but eventually will take it traveling and see how it performs. 

Finally, I've been stalking the parka-length version of the Athleta Whisper Featherless jacket (reviewed here) in this rustic beige color and it keeps popping in and out of stock. I finally was able to buy it in my size on sale and I got an even better deal with codes ATHSOCAL and  30OFF. (Note: I've been using Capital One Shopping which searches out codes for you! It's fantastic.) Anyway, I will review it when it arrives! Also, just FYI, if you like the jacket length but not the price, Quince just came out with a version in some good colors because of course they did.

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. 

Outfit of the Day: Welcome Back, Old Friend.

A few weeks ago I wandered into a store that was not Madewell and tried on a bunch of jeans that were flared and y'all. Y'ALL. THEY ARE SO FLATTERING AND GOOD. HELLO FLARED JEANS. HELLO HELLO WELCOME BACK.

YES. These are Mother The Weekender Mid Rise Flared Jeans and they are so stupidly expensive that I feel like I should apologize. I ended up buying them on sale during the Bloomingdales F&F because I had to have them. They were the kind of jeans you put on and they just...fit perfectly. They are technically meant to be a cropped style but only if you're a model, I guess? They are definitely not cropped on me. For something similar, Madewell has some flared styles and J.Crew has some nice options on sale right now but I'm telling you, these Mother jeans are making me really happy. 

I'm wearing my new jeans with my new Quince cashmere fisherman sweater (reviewed here) and it's so soft and good that I want another one in a different color. I'm going to give this one a few more wears first though because I'm waffling between ordering another large or going for a more fitted medium. I also want to buy the Quince cashmere batwing sweater but I'm waffling between sizes on that one too.

Apparently, I needed to try on all my new things together, so I threw on my new Quince leather jacket (reviewed here) and was happy to discover it fits nicely over a sweater! I was initally worried about sizing up but really wanted to be able to wear it over more than a t-shirt. I'm really still so impressed with this jacket. It's such a freaking steal. Quince has several different leather jacket styles and they sell out quickly. I'm hoping they'll restock the washed leather jacket so I can try that one too. 

And yay! I got my Hammitt VIP bag back from being repaired (in record time!) I immediately started carrying it again because it's my best everyday bag and I missed it. On to details:

I'm wearing my sick new leather jacket with an old Dean Davidson tassel necklace you can't even see. Sorry! It's an old favorite that I've worn a million times before. Here's the down-below:

Woof! I love the flare. My boots are my new Blundstone heeled boots that are breaking in nicely! They're perfect with these jeans, right?  I'm just so happy flares are back because I find them so flattering. How're you feeling about bootcut/flared styles? Not ready or born ready? 

BUY THIS (Because I already Did): Recent Purchases.

Hi hi! I have been kind of shoppy lately and I thought I'd tell you about it even though I haven't actually received any of the items yet. Best blogger/worst blogger! It's a toss-up. First:

I've been eyeing the Calpak Luka duffel and belt bag ever since Marianne bought them for a recent trip (both of us influenced by Olivia Muenter, naturally.) I have a few big trips coming up and my Lo & Sons backpack is looking a little shabby these days, so I wanted something a bit bigger and more easily accessible. Plus Calpak is having a sale that ends today! (Just FYI, these items are final sale which is lame, but what can you do.) I'll do a full review of both items once I receive them. 

I also discovered I can buy all kinds of fancy sunscreen products with HSA/FSA funds! I went through HSAStore but apparently you can buy direct from Supergoop using HSA/FSA funds and Amazon also has an HSA/FSA approved section. Anyway, here's what I ordered:

Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil. I am really curious to try this! I've been using Tretinoin and my skin is currently really dry and flaky, so I'm hoping this will help. Plus it's got SPF 40! I don't understand how sunscreen works in an oil formula but I guess I will find out.

Coola Full Spectrum 360° Day SPF 30 & Night Organic Eye Cream Duo. I'm nearly out of my Clinique eye cream and this one is a double-sided thingy with a day eye cream (with SPF) and a night cream with some other stuff I've already forgotten. I mostly think eye cream is nonsense but somehow I'm always willing to hope that a new one will prove me wrong. 

COOLA Dew Good Illuminating Serum Probiotic Sunscreen, SPF 30, 1 oz. Do I need a glowy sunscreen primer serum? Probably not but this one gets very good reviews and I am always game to try a new product for blog science. I will report back! 

PS. I also bought a pair of stupidly expensive jeans that aren't Madewell. Shocking! I'm saving those for another post, though, so you'll have to wait. 

Stuff I Bought: Not-Quite-Fall Edition.

I have a mental list of things I'd like to buy for fall/winter and have recently knocked a few of those items out with my usual brand of idiotic impulse shopping. It's great to be me.  First up, I received my Grayson dress and it's great:

I'll post an outfit soon! Unfortunately it's true that Grayson is shutting down so this dress is sold out in black but still available in a few colors and in cotton. I took a size 3/M in this and it's generous. My linen dress is also still in stock but everything is final sale. That said, I'm tempted to order a button up shirt before they're gone because people seem to love them! 

In truly fall-like news, I was recently influenced by a blog reader (hi, Robyn!) who told me she'd heard that the Quince cashmere fisherman sweater is similar to the Jenni Kayne version so I ordered one for Blog Science:

This is Very Important Sweater Research, yes? She also ordered the Quince sweater and the Jenni Kayne version to compare. (I consider this to be dangerous behavior but she promised to let me know her findings.) I can't do much about the wonders of Jenni Kayne cashmere but if you you're tempted by the Quince version, you can get $20 off your first order through my link. (Full disclosure: I get Quince credit with each sale.) 

Lastly, this isn't really a "fall" purchase but I wanted a truly comfortable pair of lightweight, packable sneakers for travel that are also not completely hideous. I love my Madewell Sidewalk sneakers but they're leather and more for fashion than serious walking. Marianne suggested I check out the Aertrex Carly which are super-sexy arch support sneakers. This is where we are, I guess. But they come in good colors and they are SO lightweight, so they'll pack well:

I tried them on and they seem great? They didn't have the white in my size in-store so I ordered them (though now I'm eyeing the leopard print and having mild regret.) I'll report back! 

Outfit Of The Day: I'm a Clog Girl Now.

I have a few new things to show you and I've also been trying to wear things that have been hanging in my closet for too long. Let's get the whole gang together, shall we?

I panic-bought this Halogen top back in the spring to wear for an in-person job interview...that never happened. So, it just hung unloved with the tags on all summer and I finally decided to put it on and stop thinking about it as an interview-only option:

It's fine, probably not the coolest thing ever but I love the colors and wanted to have a little pop of personality to go with my boring interview suit. OH WELL. I ended up tucking it in and adding my Madewell belt:

These are my new Cali Demi-Boot Madewell jeans and I wish I had a wider belt for them! They have a high waist and long belt loops so something just isn't quite sitting right. It's fine, that's what blazers are for:

This is my J.Crew Going Out Blazer and it was a solid purchase! (Here I am wearing it in the beforetimes.) It's got a little stretch and the sleeves hit me just right - it's really a nice blazer that gets rave reviews for a reason. I need to wear it more! They also make it in seasonal colors/fabrics and I'm keeping an eye on this version in the dusty shell color. 

Just add a bag and some clogs and you're good to go, right? My bag is the Hammitt large VIP and it's a great, easy crossbody with some style. I love it. For something similar but smaller, this one by Aimee Kestenberg looks really good! I also love this one at Madewell that looks like a similar size. Details:

A closer look at my crazy color top and my old Giles & Brother necklace. When I bought this top I planned to wear it with a black suit and my red suede pumps. Cute right? Instead, I have become a clog girl: 

I have been mooning over M.Gemi's Greta clogs for months, which I love for the style as much as the comfort - that stud detail! I finally found a pair in my size (sort of) on Poshmark. They arrived last weekend and they're so good! Just beautifully made. I got them in a half size down which they recommend and they just fit me, so if you get a pair, just order your normal size unless your feet are super narrow. Other clogs worth mentioning: This Madewell pair looks beautiful and this pair by Sanita also look great.Also! I reader recommended Charlotte Stone clogs, which look amazing.  

I'm a clog girl now. This is happening.