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. 

Take A Shopping Math Journey With Me.

You might think I'm just trying to influence you with my "stuff I want" picks but I'll have you know, I influence myself ALL THE TIME. Probably more than you know. Like, I was poking through the blog looking for something and scrolled down this post and was like, OH. I forgot about this KULE bag and now I might need it immediately:

It's got a cool-casual Vans summery thing going on, right? I dig it. Except I linked it back in January and now here we are in May and haha that stupid cute bag is completely sold out. It's also kind of small and expensive. Oh, they have a bigger tote:

I actually do need a big tote for the days I go into the office because currently I'm all strung about with a lunch bag, a small computer backpack, and a purse like some kind of office building pack mule. Anyway, I like it but it doesn't fit on the shoulder, it's $198 and it's striped, not checked. The heart wants what it wants, you know? The heart also wants it to cost less money. So I go a-searching. I find this:

Woof. I love this. It's leather and real cute but I'm not sure it can handle the level of crap I need to hoist up to my office and also, it is...not cheaper. No, it is not. It is actually, like, a lot more. It's $287 more than the KULE tote. Good God. So I keep looking:

Oh! This is so cute and it's got leather handles and a crossbody strap and it's $150, so I'm saving $48 if I get this one. Plus, it's handmade by women in Kenya, which is so cool. My only worry is that it's not structured enough but I like that it's got that Vans checkered thing going on, but slightly different. Huh. Hm. I wonder...

HaHA. And now we come full circle. This one is, you guessed it, by Vans and it costs $55 so I am basically getting it for $7 when you use shopping math. (What do you mean, that's not how math works? Shopping math is is different from regular math. It's easier and more fun.) Anyway, I bought this one because it's big and cheap and really cute. It'll also probably weight 800lbs when I put all my crap in it and I'll end up mad all over again but what can you do. 

Outfit of the Day: I Got One Pair of Shoes.

Hello! I'm back wearing real shoes which is great. What's not great is that I have, like, one pair of work-appropriate shoes because I have to wear very supportive, stiff sneakers and I refuse to wear my stupid Hokas to work. So, my Birkenstock Bend Low sneakers are my only option right now. I like them but only having one pair of shoes to work with is really limiting. I spent some time trying on all my clothes to see what worked and came up with a few options:

Here I'm wearing my Lululemon On the Fly On the Fly pants (discontinued but the Athleta Brooklyn ankle are similar), a Madewell tee and my Quince sweater blazer. It's a pretty comfy look but still feels vaguely work-appropriate. 

I bought this crazy Veronica Beard Empire blazer on The RealReal  (available on Poshmark and a good deal here on TRR if you're a 12!) and I love it but it's kind of a lot, right? Heh. I am wearing it with a black COS tee, dark denim Madewell jeans and my new Anthro necklace which is such a fun way to un-boring a black tee. 

Okay, I only have one pair of skinny jeans these days but I still like them and wear them! I don't care what the youths say, they're still good. (This pair is older Madewell, of course.) I'm doing a sorta monochrome thing and wearing them with a navy silk Quince top, my Everlane oversize jacket, and my new Clare V Grande Fanny. It's a weird bag, but I'm enjoying it. 

Finally, I'm wearing my Birk sneakers with the dreamiest dream of a dress by  Veronica Beard. Unfortunately this dress belongs to Rent The Runway who is now dead to me because they freaking suck. When you do the monthly rental subscription you can buy items at a discount and they were offering this dress for 40%. For weeks it was 40% off but when I decided to buy it, they'd dropped it to only 20%. Yes, 20% off for a used dress that had been in the rental rotation for nearly three years. They refused to honor the previous price and I had a tantrum, cancelled my membership and sent them back all their shit. I am still mad about it. I wanted that damn dress. Ugh.  

This was not a story with a happy ending but I'm hoping I can find it on Poshmark or The RealReal and seriously please slap me if I ever try to join RTR again. The End.

Stuff I Like: Overdue List!

Hello! I've had a fairly crazy month so far but my foot is healing to the point that I can actually hobble around in Plastic Clogs That Shall Not Be Named. I also have an ugly pair of Hokas that I can wear for a limited amount of time. It's progress. Anyway, I've been keeping notes about some of the things I've been liking lately so here you go:

This Sunscreen That Is Just Right
I wrote here about my chemical sunscreen allergy and made the switch to mineral-only formulas with varying degrees of success. I still really love my Tatcha sunscreen but it's painfully expensive so I was hoping to find something similar and cheaper. I got a deluxe sample of this CoTz Flawless Complexion SPF 50 in last month's Allure box and it's SO GOOD. Its lightly tinted and feels good on the skin - not super greasy or heavy. And, while it's not cheap, it's also not super expensive. It's also on sale at Ulta right now, so I bought a tube. Yay.

These Sneakers That I Swear Aren't That Ugly
Okay, listen. I am very, very limited on what shoes I can wear right now so I finally caved and ordered a pair of Birkenstock Bend Low sneakers. I love Birk sandals but always thought the shoes were too Hobbity for my taste. Well, I stand corrected. I ordered a 39 (my normal Birkenstock size) and a 40 because some reviews said they run a bit short. They both fit, but my toes were just about hitting the front in the 39s, so I am keeping the 40s. They are slightly Hobbity but they're reasonably cute and my sad foot has enough room and arch support, which is the important thing. 

This Sequel I Couldn't Put Down
I really thought I'd written about The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell on the blog but I guess I didn't? It's great - a creepy thriller about a family living in a mansion in London. It's got murder, multiple storylines, an unreliable narrator and a satisfying-but-not-quite ending. So, she wrote a sequel! It's called The Family Remains and y'all, I couldn't put it down. It's really satisfying and well-written and the characters are weird and flawed but (mostly) you really like them.

This Blush That's Very Satisfying.
I've been a big fan of all the Merit Beauty items I've purchased, even if the foundation stick broke almost immediately (I just shoved it back in the tube and kept using it.) it's great though - I just use it where I need it for a minimal foundation look and the highlighter is also nice - glowy without being glittery. But the Flush Balm blush! I just bought the new color Apres and it's so pretty - that perfect flushed look that I used to get from Benetint and it lasts all day. Plus, the weird little dome applicator is so satisfying and fun to use. I'm a fan. 

A Bonus Book That I Absolutely Loved
I finally got around to reading Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn and it's great! Like, it's not the best thing I've ever read but it's such fun. This is the book to take to the beach or on a plane because it moves fast and is deeply entertaining (if not actually deep.) I think it would make a great movie or limited series and was casting it in my head the whole time I was reading it. (I mean, Jamie Lee Curtis would FOR SURE be in my version.) It's really fun and I enjoy reading about older women who are literal assassins but also worry about hot flashes. 

This Show You've Probably Already Watched
Have you watched Shrinking on Apple TV+? It's so freaking good, even if I struggle a bit with elderly Harrison Ford (only because it makes me feel old.) But he's funny! I love his curmudgeonly self. And Jason Segel is always reliably great as That Guy. I've loved him since Freaks and Geeks when he played the teen version of That Guy. And Jessica Williams is great! Her outfits, y'all. I should also mention that Brett Goldstein is one of the creators/writers and it really shows. It's so funny and relatable and has that brand of Ted Lasso kindness woven in that I really love. But... you've probably already watched it. 

I've Been Shoppy, Y'all.

Before I get started I just wanted to thank you all for your incredibly sweet and lovely comments on my last post. You're all the best and it was so fun to share my wedding with you all. 

Now. Let's get in it. Something about the cabin fever of working from home with an injury paired with a challenging new job has made me want ALL THE THINGS. ALL OF THEM RIGHT NOW. I SHALL FILL THIS STRESS-HOLE WITH GLORIOUS THINGS. YES. 

Ahem. This is to say that I've done some shopping. First, I finally caved to the AYR French Fry striped tee:

It showed up and I immediately wore it two days in a row, so I guess you could say I like it. It's too expensive but if you buy two tees you get 20% off which makes it slightly less too expensive. (I also got the Slushy tee in black which I'm still not 100% sure about but it's pretty good.) 

Has anyone tried the AYR jeans? Wait, don't tell me. I don't want to know. Next:

YES. I spoiled this on IG but yes, of course I bought the shiny red Birkenstocks even though I won't be able to wear them for a while. I was afraid they'd sell out and I NEEDED THEM REAL BAD. Marianne bought them first and I was all: 

They arrived and they are my new best friend. Sorry best friends, you've been replaced with shiny red German comfort sandals. Try harder, I guess. (At time of writing my bestie Kate had ordered them in the Madrid style, and bestie Ashley got the Gizeh version which means we got ourselves a proper Red Birk cult going. Join us!)

I also bought a new pair of Vuori Performance Joggers because my knee crutch has a velcro-lined pad which ripped holes in the inseams of all my comfy pants. I hate Velcro now, just FYI. A list of things with Velcro I hate: My air cast, my ice packs, my knee crutch. Velcro is ruining my life and my pants. Anyway, I bought the joggers in ruby heather because they were on sale and the color is good! Very cute. 

Speaking of Vuori, that Palisades rain jacket kept getting marked down and down and down and I finally snapped and bought it (after returning this one from Athleta because it didn't quite work for me, size-wise.) The Vuori jacket fits true to size, the details are excellent and the color is really pretty! Plus, you get 20% off on your first purchase, which I used.

Last thing! I bought something I'd had my eye on for ages because Marianne showed it to me last spring and I filed it away under ooh, maybe. When it came back in stock recently I just couldn't resist (and you get 20% off your first order if you sign up for the mailing list! How could I not?) Anyway, I got the perforated Clare V Grande Fanny:

It's so good! Very chic, holds more than you would think and the leather is gorgeous. The strap comes in two sizes (regular and long) and I got the regular because I assumed it would be fine and guess what, it was not fine. On the longest setting it was still all up in my boob grill so I emailed to see if I could exchange it and Clare V sent me the longer strap for free! I was delighted. Now I can wear it crossbody like a belt bag or around my waist (unlikely) or looser like a crossbody bag. It's going to be my excellent summer bag and I plan on having an excellent summer because this past winter has sucked. (Except for the wedding/Paris part. That was cool.) 

Non Traditional Wedding.

This isn't going to be a long post but I wanted to share my wedding outfit with y'all since you were so sweet when I originally posted about it. Initially I wasn't sure I wanted a dress that was even remotely bridal but after we decided to have a morning ceremony in our living room it felt like something pretty and light would be the most appropriate. I really loved this Shoshanna dress I saw on RTR and ended up buying it on Poshmark for $75. Shoshanna makes such pretty dresses for curvy figures! Mine is beautifully made and I love the vintage feel to it. 

photo from last fall when I had two good feet! 

Because we chose February (our wedding date was our 6th dating anniversary) I knew I'd freeze my ass off if I didn't have a jacket, so I found this cream suede motorcycle jacket (also via Poshmark) by BlankNYC and have worn it a few times already. Sadly it's sold out but this version is pretty similar and there's a faux suede version as well. 

I also managed to wear one of my beloved Loeffler Randall slides which were the most expensive element of my outfit and even though I couldn't wear both of them, I still think they're beautiful and festive. No regrets! 

That said, don't buy your wedding shoes in August, people. Of course we got a big snowstorm a few days before our wedding so I changed into my new Converse for our after-ceremony brunch because I am still using crutches and didn't need to slip on the ice and break my other foot. 

We didn't really decorate other than to buy some gorgeous flowers for the mantle centerpiece and my family also sent some really lovely flowers which we put by the entrance. 

We had four local friends attend and I FaceTimed in my mother, sister and niece to watch. A short ceremony, a champagne toast, and then brunch at a French restaurant nearby. It was really simple and perfect.

Can't forget the best man: