Killing Blog Time: A Few Rando Purchases.

If I buy something and don't tell you guys, did it actually happen? Haha. But wait, MOSTLY I AM MAD BECAUSE MY LEATHER JACKET WAS SUPPOSED TO COME YESTERDAY AND DID NOT. I was planning on reviewing it today but right now it's still on a delivery truck. Stop messing with my serotonin, UPS!* Anyway, I have a few purchases lately that I've been pleased with so you get to read about those things instead:

I went to Nordstrom Rack last weekend (ten minutes away! Such a novelty!) hoping to find jeans but they only had really weird stuff - like silver metallic jeans and patent leather leggings. Fun, but not what I'm looking for. I wandered over to the jewelry and found this:

So cute! And a compass! And half price. Sadly it's not on the NR site but they do have some other really nice Gorjana pieces. I'm a little bummed they didn't have this necklace in-store! I totally would've bought that. Gorjana necklaces stack well together so I was happy to find this little lapis baby to add to my collection.

I mentioned this yesterday, but Anthropologie has restocked my favorite winter candle - Balsam & Cedarwood. It's green, woodsy and a little spicy. And the container is so pretty! Its the perfect candle for those of us who can't handle the cloying pumpkin/vanilla scented stuff. It smells like fir trees and fall and is seasonal without being too obvious. I bought the little guy but I'll most likely go back for a bigger version when this one is done. 

When my friend Kate came to visit we wandered into the Aesop store and tried a fancy liquid hand soap - like, they seriously have a sink in the store and encourage you to try the soap! It was really wonderful but too spendy for me. Kate texted me yesterday to tell me about this suspiciously similar hand soap at Target. I'm suggestible so I bought it immediately. It's a bit masculine but does smell expensive and complex. We shall see! While I was there, I also picked up my favorite Method body wash which had been out of stock for ages. Whew.

Finally, listen. I know I'm super fickle but I have a new favorite underwear brand. I'm still wearing my Eleanor & Bobbie stuff but it's starting to stretch out a bit and they haven't restocked in ages. So, I finally decided to give EBY a try. They have amazing fun prints and a soft flocked edge so they don't move or ride up AT ALL. It's kind of amazing. I've tried the seamless bikini style and the briefs and really like both, though I didn't care for the high waisted style - total granny panties and not in a cool way. And yes, I bought the tiger striped underwear and the leopard print because of course I did. If you want to try EBY, use my link for $10 off your first order. (Full disclosure: I get points towards purchases). I promise you won't hate them. (Okay, you might hate them but I'll bet you won't.) 

*Thanks Katie! 

Monday Mood: Weekend Shopping Report.

I haven't been out to try things on in actual stores in a while, so over the weekend I ventured out to see what I could find. Madewell was mobbed so I didn't stay long enough to try things on. Anthro was basically empty but nothing really caught my eye. I did buy my favorite seasonal candle, though. My final stop was the danger zone: EVEREVE. I tried on a bunch of things including a couple of pairs of jeans:

The jeans on the left are Agolde Riley (I think?) and they were not for me - too rigid and too high rise. I forgot to take a photo of me wearing them because I'm the worst blogger. The jeans on the right, which I'm wearing in all the photos, are Kut From The Kloth High Rise Reese Ankle Straight and I really liked them:

They do run a whole size big, though. I'm wearing my usual size and they were definitely too big on me and they didn't have the next size down in-store. I might order a pair because they were comfy and had a nice mid-rise. The Reese cut comes in a bunch of colors and fabrics and they're under $100, which is refreshing. Now, on to the rest:

This is the Chaser hoodie I posted not long ago and I LOVED IT. I didn't buy it because I don't really need another striped top but it's soft and cozy and very, very cute on. I'm going to keep an eye on this one. 

I loved the snakey print of this Allison Joy Harper blouse but it was very blouse-y with a lot of sleeve. Like, a LOT of sleeve. Very cute and I should've tucked it in because it requires tucking, but it wasn't really for me. 

I immediately grabbed this John And Jenn Wes Camo Pullover because it looks like me, you know? I really liked it in theory but it was oversized and kind of boxy, so I couldn't decide if it was good on me. I have narrow shoulders so sometimes this cut just doesn't work. I probably should've tried a size down but it might not have mattered.

See? Such a good print. Camopard! Leocamo? I don't know. I dig it. 

This one by Roan + Ryan I shouldn't even show you because for some reason it's not on the website. I'm guessing it's out of stock. I'm hoping they'll restock because it was SO pretty. I love the two prints but it also had major sleeves which I wasn't sure about. (This one was being held for someone but they let me try it on.)

This top isn't in the photo above but it was a nice surprise - it's the Cleon Sweat by Varley, an athleisure brand I'd never tried before. This is technically a sweatshirt but it's got size zippers and a really sophisticated cut that doesn't feel sweatshirt-casual. I also never usually try on white/cream so it was a bit of a surprise that it looked nice on me: 

My crappy pics aren't really doing this top justice but I can't stop thinking about it! It's unlike anything I own, so I might end up buying it. It comes in some interesting colors too and also comes in a tunic-length version, which looked cozy.

That's it for me! Did you find anything great this weekend? 

Weekend Window Shopping: Live Every Week Like It's Jeans Week.

I didn't set out to do a theme this week, it just happened. But Jeans Week, like Shark Week, is every week around here. Here are a few excellent denim options (not just jeans!) to take you through the weekend:

Outfit of the Day: Still Jeans Week!

I pulled my gray skinny jeans out this week because I don't care what the youths say, I still love them. Now, I am also relieved to have lots of updated non-skinny options but I still really love this kind of legs-for-days look:

Wheee, look at those legs. As I mentioned yesterday, these are the Madewell 10" High-Rise Skinny Jeans in Oakwood Wash which I bought last winter. I love the wash and the fit and I'm definitely considering another pair in a blue wash or a pair with the 9" rise in a lighter blue wash. So many jeans, so little time. 

I wish I'd gotten a better photo of my blouse - it's Veronica Beard and it's from the same line as the RTR dress Marianne and I both loved. (She's wearing it in the first photo here.) This line is long sold out but I tracked the top down on Poshmark and figured it would have to do until I can find the dress. For another option, this VB leopard top is gorgeous and ooh, this Top Shop version is so similar! I also love this one with the crazy sleeves. 

I thought this outfit needed a jacket so I pulled out my AllSaints Dalby which is still my best classic black leather jacket. AllSaints, y'all. It's a dangerous store. Also, the Dalby is on sale in a few sizes here! 

Here's a giant close-up with skin courtesy of Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint. I bought it and love it - the finish is beautiful. Glowy! My lariat necklace is an old one from Luv AJ but I am really into this one from Madewell and this one at Nordstrom Rack.

I'm carrying my old Cambridge Satchel crossbody (this one is the most similar) and wearing my old Madewell Lucian boots. I wish they'd bring this style back but the new Greer boot is quite similar. 

That's it! Join me again tomorrow for a denim-themed Weekend Window Shopping.

My Denim Wardrobe. (Spoiler: It's mostly Madewell.)

I wasn't kidding about it being jeans week! Today I'm going to tell you about all my jeans (the pics are clickable if you want to see the outfit post): 

First up are my Madewell Cali Demi-Boot and I LOVE THEM. I bought them back in the spring and they're just so fun. The denim for this particular pair is pretty lightweight which makes them a perfect spring/summer option and I've worn them a lot. The demi-boot is definitely a trendy style but it's also kicky and fresh and will look very current. 

Ah, my Madewell Boyjeans. These are the best boyfriend jeans I've tried - they're nicely slouchy but still pretty slim/straight through the leg. I'm wearing the regular version but they also have a high-rise version. Also they run BIG. I am wearing my regular size here and they definitely slip down through the day. I have another really cute pair but they're currently listed on Poshmark because shame pants have no place in my closet. Anyway, boyfriend jeans are great if you want a truly comfy pair of jeans that are still fashion.

These are my Madewell Perfect Vintage jeans and aside from the rise being an inch too much, I still really love the style. This was a pre-pandemic photo shoot, obviously, and here's my most recent (and def more dirtbag) styling. These are a great way to wean yourself off of skinny jeans. 

Ooh, a wildcard! These are a pair of H&M jeans that Marianne gave me and they are super cute and just a leetle bit tight right now. They're old so I can't link them but aren't they fun? Kinda patchwork and weird. Here's a better pic:

The only downside - no back pockets, just the shadow of pockets. I think it's good to have a quirky pair of jeans - something distressed or patchworked or embroidered. 

And these, my Madewell 10" High-Rise Skinny Jeans in Oakwood wash. I'm wearing them right this second! A 10" rise is about as high as I can go and still feel comfortable. These are nice because they're skinny all the way down and look great with short boots. I also love having dark gray jeans but wouldn't mind having another pair of these in a blue wash. 

That's it! I certainly feel like there are some holes in this wardrobe - I'd love to have a second pair of skinny jeans in blue and, as I mentioned yesterday, I really want a pair of cropped straight leg jeans in a mid-rise. I also think there's room for a wide-leg style? Something like these Pilcro jeans would be so cute! Or, maybe a true pair of bootcut jeans? I kind of miss them, tbh.

PS. I also own a pair of black coated jeans from Madewell that just barely fit me but they don't make them anymore so I am holding on to them. #shamepants

Wanty: It's Jeans Week.

 My obsessions come and go and lately I've been obsessed with jeans. Back in the summer I sold off any pair of jeans I owned that I considered shame pants - they no longer quite fit but might fit later.  Nope. Gone, all of them. I am left with five pairs, most of which I wear regularly but there's still a hole in my denim wardrobe - I want a non-skinny, slightly cropped, mid-rise option in a medium blue wash that will work with my Chelsea boots. 

You'd think this would be easy but we're still in the era of HIGHEST SUPER HIGH RISE and y'all, I cannot take it another second. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have high rise jeans (four out of the five pairs mentions are high rise) and love them...until I'm sitting for more than 30 minutes. Then, my short-waisted self is angry. 

I will say that my Madewell Boyjeans pretty much fit the description of what I'm looking for but they're roomy, distressed and I have to cuff them. What I want is something slightly more streamlined and probably not distressed. Here are some options I've been considering:

Obviously Madewell is my first stop and lo, they are offering a mid-rise version of the Perfect Vintage jeans! They're practically perfect except my size is backordered until January. No worries I found them on Nordstrom and, huh. The wash is much lighter than it looks on the Madewell site. Not exactly right, but I'm keeping them in mind.

The Madewell Stovepipe Jeans also seem like a contender but the rise is pretty high and I'm not sure about the wash. I'd have to try these on in-store first. Jeans are so tricky! Next up:

I decided to check out Anthro like an idiot and found these beautiful perfect Paige jeans...that cost way more than I'm willing to pay. Ugh, they're great though, aren't they? (And yes, they're high rise but the heart wants what it wants. Apparently mine wants to destroy my other internal organs.) 

Okay, moving on, I am very intrigued by these Levi's Wedgie jeans!  They come in a bunch of washes and are under $100. But...the rise is a bit higher than mid-rise so I'd have to try them on and see. So cute, though. 

Out of desperation I checked out Old Navy who's still suffering from HIGHEST HIGH RISE disease but I though this pair was kind of cute. Not exactly what I'm looking for but still under consideration.

Also, these! Mid-rise, medium wash, slightly cropped, check check check. They aren't exciting but they are a really solid inexpensive option. 

Alright, that's all I have today - I'll be back tomorrow with more jeans action but for now, I'm asking you if you have a favorite pair that meets my requirements. Do tell! 

Weekend Window Shopping: BR Factory For Fall.

I was pretty impressed with Banana Republic Factory's summer offerings so I decided to see what the fall collection looks like. I am into it and it's all on sale! My only complaint is that a lot of the cool accessories the models are wearing don't seem to be for sale. (Whither thou zebra belt bag? Where is this crazy necklace? Why can't I have this leather camera bag?? Why??) Anyway, here's what I really liked that you can actually purchase:

Well, this is just a dreamy dream of a fall dress, right? Like, maybe you're the new exchange student at Oxford University where you read European literature? (And yay, tall boots are back!)

That said, I am a little bit weary of every single dress being midi-length 

so this mini dress is a refreshing and wearable change of pace. Plus, I love the pattern!

Comfy pull on pants but make it fashion. I love these! Great colors and a perfect cropped length.

Obviously there's a dramatic trench because fall is Dramatic Trench Season. I love the dark green color.

A VERY good plaid button up shirt that comes in a bunch of colors (but this one is the best.) 

This minimal quilted jacket also comes in black but this plum color is so excellent. 

Nobody needs another black coat. That's right, I said it.

THIS. This is the kind of scaled-up sweatshirt top I desire. It's so edgy but still looks soft and warm! 

And of course, sweater material joggers because everyone needs fancy sweatpants these days.