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View from above a wooden table of a slice of pumpkin pie on a white plate and a hand holding a cup of black coffee.

2021 Ethical Holiday & Black Friday Sales

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s that time of year when I put together a list of ethical and sustainable brands with holiday sales. I know I say every year that it feels like the sales start earlier and earlier. But with supply chain issues this year, this especially feels like the case.

I’m actually not much of a gift giver, for reasons I go into here. Also, as much as I love a sale, I don’t like Black Friday and Cyber Monday because they push overconsumption and overproduction. So I check out these sales to stock up on things I use anyway or to buy things I’ve had my eye on for a while. (Because, who doesn’t like saving money?!) But I try to behave and not buy things that I won’t really use.

When I do need to get a gift and feel stumped, I like to go for consumables like snacks or coffee. If you find yourself in that situation, I recommend a gift box from La Cocina, an incubator in San Francisco that helps low-income and immigrant women start their own food businesses.

Alright, on to the list. I’ll continue to update this list as I hear about sales, especially from smaller brands. Check back for updates.

** this post contains affiliate links  **

ABLE – Women’s apparel, bags, shoes, and jewelry made by women from around the world. 25% off with GIFTFWD

Amour Vert – Women’s clothing with feminine vibes. (Here’s my review on how their items fit on a petite person.) 30% off. 40% off on orders over $200. 50% off orders over $500. Sale items are eligible for exchange or store credit.

Baggu – My favorite reusable bag! 20% off sitewide. No code needed. Sale purchases are final sale.

Bash + Sass – Minimalist, gender neutral tees, hoodies, and rompers for babies and toddlers. Made in San Francisco. 30% off with TYSM30 through 11/30.

Beeswrap – A natural, sustainable alternative to plastic wrap for food storage. Save 20% off with HOLIDAY21, plus free U.S. shipping.

Christy Dawn – Ethically-made women’s clothing with flowy boho vibes. Petite sizing too. 40% off dresses and 30% off other most other items from 11/17 – 12/2. Sale purchases are final sale.

Coyuchi – Minimally processed and ethically sourced bedding and textiles. $25 off $200, $75 off $400, and $150 off $600.

Curator SF – Slow fashion for women, made in San Francisco. 25% off sitewide with EARLYBIRD through 11/29. Items bought with the discount are eligible for exchange or store credit only. 

Day Owl – Backpacks made from recycled materials. Save 20% off new items (as opposed to secondhand ones) with SAVE20 through 11/26.

dr. Liza – Women’s shoes designed by a chiropractor/osteopath. (Read my review of the flats and of the booties.) 60% off with JOY60 when you spend over $250 CAN (about $200 USD) through 11/30. Items bought with the discount are eligible for exchange or store credit only. 

Everlane – Apparel for men and women at reasonable prices made in allegedly ethical factories. Up to 50% off select items through 11/29. Plus they’ll donate $15 per order, up to $200K, to support the Rodale Institute in helping U.S. farmers transition their farmland to regenerative organic. Some of my favorites, including the Track Joggers (my review) and the Form Bag (my reviews here and here) are on sale. Do note that some sale items in their regular sale section are final sale.

For Days – A start-up making casual clothing committed to closed-loop manufacturing. Women, men, and kids. 30% off with BETTERBF

Full Circle – Eco-friendly and well-designed home care items. See my recent review. 25% off on orders of $40 and more with BFCM25 through 11/29.

Girlfriend Collective – Activewear made from recycled materials. 30% off sitewide.

Gracemade – A “fashion-forward interpretation of modest apparel.” Made in downtown Los Angeles out of locally sourced and deadstock fabrics. Up to 40% off and free U.S. shipping through 11/29.

Graf Lantz – Bags, laptop sleeves, accessories, and housewares made in Los Angeles. I love the simplicity of their merino wool felt placemats and coasters. 30% off nearly everything through 11/30. No code needed.

Jenni Kayne – California lifestyle brand. Women’s clothing, home items, and shoes. Known for their cozy cocoon sweaters. 25% off. No code needed.

Jenny Lemons – Small batch clothing with whimsical prints made in San Francisco. 25% off with SUPPORTSMALL. Also applies to their arts and crafts workshops.

Kotn – Instead of a sale, this Canadian maker of bedding and cotton wardrobe basics for women and men donates 100% of their proceeds between Black Friday and Giving Tuesday to build schools in rural Egypt, where it sources its cotton. This is the fifth year Kotn is doing this, with the aim of funding the build-out and operations of five more schools.

Laude the Label – Minimalist, artisan-made women’s clothing. 40% off with TOGETHER. Sale purchases are final sale.

Londontown – Cruelty-free, 9-Free nail polish brand. (My review here.) 30% off with BFSALE through 11/28.

Lo & Sons – Makers of stylish travel bags. Read my review of their backpacks and convertible tote. I wear my Waverly belt bag all the time. Up to 70% off through 11/28.

Looma – Bedding in neutral colors made from organic long-staple Himalayan cotton. $50 off $250, $100 off $350, $250 off $750, $500 off $1,200.

Marley’s Monsters – Reusable goods for the home like washable “paper” towels, personal care items, and baby care. (See my review of their reusable cosmetic rounds.) 25% off with BLACKFRIDAY through 11/29. They also have an Etsy shop. (Prices are 20% off there, but shipping is free over $35, so maybe it evens out, depending.)

Mate the Label – Casual comfy sweatshirts, joggers, and tees in earthy colors. Made in Los Angeles. 30-50% off sitewide.

Nau – Sustainably made performance wear and outerwear. 30% off full-priced items through 12/3.

Nisolo – Ethically-made shoes produced in Peru. 25% off with FRIDAY25.

Package Free Shop – Toiletries, cleaning supplies, and more items for low-waste living. 40% off with BLACKFRIDAY.

Pact – Casual clothing, bedding, and bath for the whole family. Made from certified organic cotton in fair trade factories. The entire site is on sale 11/22-11/29. Bedding is 30% off and bath is 40% off. 

Parachute Home – Bedding and bath, Oeko-Tex and Responsible Down Standard certified. 20% off sitewide.

Pela Case – Eco-friendly phone cases that you can compost at the end of their life. Buy one get one free. 50% off select cases.

People Tree – UK-based retailer of organic and fair trade clothing for women. 30% off through 11/30. No code needed. Plus, 5% of proceeds will be donated to Fashion Revolution.

Quince – Apparel, accessories, and home items made in factories that pay fair wages. Daily flash sales.

Reformation – Flirty, trendy women’s clothing. Petite sizing available. 25% off sitewide.

Sotela – Minimalist styles for women made to order in California. Sizes 0-30. 15% off with SHOPSMALL21

Stasher Bag – Reusable silicone bags for food and other stuff. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select colors.

Stratia – 20% off this skincare brand with BIGSALE. I’m a fan of their Liquid Gold moisturizer and stock up during this time of year. Not sure if you can stack discounts (probably not), but here’s $10 off your first order with my referral link.

S’well – My favorite reusable water bottle. (Review here.)

Revtown – Denim from a mill with environmental practices. Milled in Italy, constructed in Guatemala, designed and developed in the US. Save 10% to 30% off.

Tonlé – Zero waste clothing, including maternity-friendly and gender inclusive styles. 20% off sitewide and 15% redistributed to Black and Indigenous-led environmental orgs with RECLAIMBLACKFRIDAY 11/22-11/29.

Tradlands – Women’s shirts, sweaters, and more in classic looks. 30% off with BF30 11/25-11/28. Use CYBER30 11/29 – 11/30. Sale items are eligible for exchange or store credit only.

Two Days Off – Minimalist women’s clothing made to order in LA from deadstock fabric, mostly linen. They’re trying something new this year called The Investment Sale. Thoughout November, each week brings a new discount sitewide, culminating in 30% off the last week. Sale purchases are final sale.

United By Blue – Outdoor apparel made from natural, recycled, and salvaged materials. Home goods, too. 20% off sitewide plus take an 50% off sale items.

Vetta – Convertible clothes that can be worn several ways. The majority are made in New York or Los Angeles-based factories. Up to 50% off on select items, including the Boyfriend Shirt in limited edition colors (my review here) and the Textured Shell (my review). Sale purchases can be returned for store credit only.

Whimsy & Row – Women’s clothing and housewares, based in Los Angeles. Up to 75% off. No code necessary. Sale items are eligible for exchange or store credit only.

First Image: Element 5 Digital/Unsplash

An orange tree in the foreground, sun shining through it. There are New York buildings in the background.

My Fall Wardrobe Wish List

Published by welcomeobjects

Current Status: Unpacking & Shopping

Things have been super busy here as I unpack and settle into Brooklyn. I moved across the country with only a few choice pieces of furniture, so I’ve had to buy a lot of stuff, from a bed to desk to couch. Many things I looked at are not available for months (even 6 months for big items like a couch in the color I initially wanted). The supply chain issues feel personal now!

It’s a bit of whiplash to go from trying to downsize and get rid of as much as possible in preparation for the move, to now spending so much time shopping and acquiring things. When I was packing, I tried to make this calculation of what was “worth” moving. Dish rack I’ve had for many years that was getting rusty in some spots? No. Stain remover for laundry? No. (In general, I didn’t move liquids, afraid that if their containers broke in transit, it would cause a mess.)

I erred on the side of getting rid of things. But my partner was more of the mind of keeping things, and this led to some fights over what to keep. Maybe I was a little overzealous about it, because now on the other side we have to rebuy some things, and that takes time and effort.

Also, there’s just always things you need when you move to make a space work. This means that I’ve been doing a lot of research on everything from small items like dish racks and hangers to furniture like ergonomic office chairs. Maybe I’ll write about some of these things. I mean, might as well put the research I’ve done into some posts, right?

** some affiliate links below **

My Fall Wardrobe Wish List

Even though I generally like shopping, all this shopping at once for the apartment feels like work. And yet, this hasn’t stopped me from making a wish list of items I want to add to my wardrobe. Thinking about my wardrobe feels more emotionally rewarding than thinking about housewares and furniture. Although I love housewares too and they can also reflect your personality, much of the housewares shopping at the moment is driven by practical needs. Clothes feel more fun.

A list of wardrobe wants:

1. I want to add to my collection of straight leg jeans. I’m using the word collection very loosely here as I mostly wear one pair of jeans these days, my Everlane Way-High Jeans (reviewed here). I cut those short so they’re cropped, which is cute. But it’s not as practical when it gets colder (and it’s getting colder). I am now eyeing Everlane’s Japanese Denim Cheeky Jeans (which have the original cut, not the ’90s ones). But I’ll have to wait for a restock since my size in the wash I want is out. I’ve also been checking to see if I can find them secondhand.

2. Blazer. During my closet purge, I got rid of most of my blazers, except for one cropped one that only works for certain outfits (usually a high-waisted skirt). The majority of them were either low quality and showing wear or were too small and didn’t fit. I’m looking for a classic, versatile piece. This might be a bit of challenge because of my petite proportions. I’m willing to wait to get the right one with a good fit.

3. Black midi skirt. This has been on my list for two years now. Just a simple black midi skirt. Why are the simplest things hardest to find sometimes? I’ve faved a couple of Eileen Fisher ones on Poshmark. But it’s hard to know how they’ll fit so I haven’t made a move on any of them.

I have to say, I am very tempted by the Vetta Two Piece Sleeveless Dress, which can be worn as separates. It functions similarly to the Two Piece Midi Dress, which I’ve reviewed, in that it detaches into a top and skirt. Because the top is sleeveless, perhaps it won’t have the fit issues that I encountered with the Two Piece Midi Dress. Maybe this is my answer to the black midi skirt?

4. Trench coat. I also have my eye on this convertible trench coat from Vetta. Do I need this? Probably not. I have a black trench coat from H&M that I’ve owned for ages. It’s in surprisingly good shape for a low-cost fast fashion garment. And this seems like a more lightweight spring item. But I’m really taken with the fact that the Vetta trench is convertible and you can remove the bottom half and wear it as a short jacket too. And I love the gold color.

5. Short black cardigan. There’ve been many times when I put on my navy Everlane ReCashmere Varsity Cardigan (which I wrote about here) and wished I had it in black. Everlane doesn’t make it anymore, so I’ve been searching for it secondhand. But so far, I’ve only found someone asking full retail for it, and I refuse to pay full retail for a second-hand item that can’t be returned.

6. Cropped red cardigan. I’m also very tempted by this cropped cardigan from Curator SF in the brick color. This ethical brand is running a 25% off sale now.

7. Cocoon cardigan. Yes, I’m on a sweater kick. Fall just makes me want to wrap myself in a large fluffy cardigan like this cocoon cashmere cardigan from Jenni Kayne. On the one hand, it’s pricey. But on the other hand, I’d wear it forever?

8. Now that I live in New York do I need a long down puffy coat for the winter? Everytime Jil Sander does one of her +J collections for Uniqlo, I covet the long down coats. I love the style, but also it’s fast fashion and I don’t know what’s up with Uniqlo’s practices these days, especially when it comes to sourcing cotton. There are other brands that make long down coats, of course, and out of recycled materials too. Like this Everlane Duvet Puffer.

9. Black heels. I got rid of almost all my heels when I moved because most of them were not comfortable anymore. But, I still want to wear heels now and then. Thinking that these low dr. Liza heels might be the answer as this brand has generally been comfy for me with its orthotic insole and there are sales this month. (See my review of the flats and the booties.) There are some fun colors, but black is probably the most practical for my wardrobe.

First Photo: Adam Dillon/Unsplash

A pair of leopard print booties on a white surface, next to a folded sweater and a black bag.

dr. Liza Ankle Boots Review

Published by welcomeobjects

Fall is here, which means it’s boot season. I love wearing boots, but boots have not always loved me back. In recent years, I’ve gone through about 10 pairs of ankle boots. Most of the time, I wore them only for a season, then put them up for sale in my Poshmark closet because they didn’t fit me right. No matter the heel height, these boots weren’t comfortable over time and would leave my feet feeling achey. A couple years ago, I also developed an issue with my right foot, so I need arch support and cushioning. On the rare occasions I did find ample arch support, the boots weren’t wide enough for my wide feet.

I haven’t found the perfect ankle boot yet, but the one that has come the closest is the dr. Liza bootie. Founded by Liza Egbogah, a Nigerian Canadian chiropractor and osteopath, this brand came on my radar last year. I bought a pair of dr. Liza flats in August 2020, which I reviewed here. Those impressed me enough that I soon ordered the booties. I’ve had them for 11 months now.

** This post contains affiliate links, but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought these boots myself **

A hand holds up a leopard print bootie.

dr. Liza booties in leopard print – $395 CAD (regularly $595)  (that’s about $319 USD)

First Impressions: These are pricey boots, and the price tag does seem to reflect good workmanship and quality. Like the flats, these boots are crafted in Brazil out of Brazilian leather, which is not a buttery soft kind of leather, but a stiffer one that holds its shape. The outsole is rubber, adding a bit of traction. It’s also royal blue, as is the back zipper. This is a signature color for dr. Liza shoes, but honestly, I could do without the blue, particularly for the zipper, in favor of something that matched the color scheme more.

Fit: I’m generally a 6.5/37. My feet are on the wide side. I sometimes wear wide widths, but I can also get away with wearing medium widths depending on the brand. These booties come only in a medium width. (Some of dr. Liza’s other shoes, like the sneaker pumps, come in medium and wide widths). I took my regular size, 6.5. So these boots run true to size.

One thing that makes these boots different from other brands I’ve tried is that is has a rocker sole to redistribute weight. Walking in them doesn’t feel like other boots.

Comfort: These boots have a 2-inch heel with a .5-inch shock-absorbing EVA platform, so they’re a very walkable height. The footbed, which is lined in leather, has cushioning in the important places. Arch support? Check! By looking at the boot, you’d never guess it, but there’s actually an orthotic insole in there.

One thing that makes these boots different from other brands I’ve tried is that is has a rocker sole to redistribute weight. Walking in them doesn’t feel like other boots. There’s a slight rocking motion to them as you move forward. It does take a little getting used to. Egbogah says, “I designed them to move like a stability control cross trainer with the biomechanics of an orthopedic rocker sole shoe.”

Whatever is going on, it works. I don’t feel achey in them immediately like I do in other boots.

I find them generally comfortable, though that also depends on how long I’m wearing them. When I first emerged from shelter in place in the spring, I wore them to run errands for two to three hours at a time with no problems. Out and about on my feet the entire time, I stopped by the bakery, the bookstore, the coffee shop, and a grocery store. Though the footbed doesn’t feel super cushiony, it does feel supportive.

Now that I live in New York City, though, I’ve really put them to the test. The other weekend I wore them to meet up with a friend at a museum, take a walk through a park, and buy groceries. Then, I carried my groceries home on the subway. I was on my feet for seven hours. I walked up and down a lot of stairs.

By the end of it, my feet felt fatigued (though arguably, they could have felt tired in any shoe since I’m not used to being on my feet so much during this pandemic). However, my pinky toes also hurt as they had been rubbing against the side of the shoe. While the website describes these boots as having a “generous toe box and ankle opening to accommodate a wide range of foot and ankle sizes,” the toe box is a tad too snug for my wide feet. This is particularly the case after a full day of walking around; my feet probably expanded.

Sadly, I can’t wedge my shoe stretcher into these booties like I can with heels or flats. I wish dr. Liza made these in a wide width. So for me, I wouldn’t wear these booties two days in a row. But if your feet aren’t wide, you probably won’t have this problem.

Aesthetics & Style: Can we take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous these boots are? I love the almond toe shape, not too pointy, not too round. I find the curve of the heel tasteful. The shaft height is a bit taller than other ankle boots I’ve owned, so sometimes I have to roll up my pants, but I don’t mind. (If you are not a fan of the taller shaft, there’s a version of these boots, the dr. liza Bootie 2.0, with a higher heel but a lower shaft.)

Styling these are so easy. They look great with pants, skirts, whatever. I wear them with just about anything. Behold:

All black with a pop of leopard print:

With a fancy top and skirt:

Me, a person with black hair, wearing a black shiny midi skirt with leopard print booties.

Top from Singapore // Banana Republic Skirt // dr. Liza Booties

With skinny jeans:

With straight leg jeans:

Me, a person with short black hair, standing on a subway platform, wearing leopard print boots.

Vetta shirt // Everlane Cardigan [review] // Everlane Jeans (gifted) [review] // dr. Liza Booties // Everlane Bag [review]

Overall, these boots are a win for me. Though they aren’t the perfect fit, I find that I reach for them often. They’re well made, have held up beautifully, and they go with everything. I’m contemplating buying these in a half size up to see if they’d fit better for my wide feet, though I worry they’d be too long for me.

And although they’re pricey, dr. Liza holds good sales. I’m not talking about a puny 10% off. I mean 40% off or more. Last year in November, Egbogah held a spectacular sale for her birthday (70% off!), and she’s doing it again this year on November 16. If you’re curious about dr. Liza shoes, it’s a good time to try them. I’m already making plans on what to try next. (Do note that sale items can be exchanged — with the customer paying return shipping — but not returned, so plan accordingly.)

UPDATE 12/16/21 – I ordered these booties in black and size 7 (part of my holiday shopping for myself) and am happy to report that the bigger size works for my wide feet. The width is more comfortable and the length isn’t too long to cause my heel to slip out. If you have wide-ish feet like me, I recommend going up half a size.

If you found my review helpful, please consider using my dr. Liza affiliate link to make your purchase. This earns me a small commission, which helps keeps my site running. Thank you so much.

Four Full Circle products: toilet brush, broom, group and tile brush, and dustpan with brush. They are displayed against a beige tiled wall.

Form & Function: Sustainable Cleaning Supplies From Full Circle

Published by welcomeobjects

This particular post is probably not going to gain a lot of traffic as it’s about the not-sexy topic of cleaning supplies. But whatever. I care about home care products. So, I must not be the only one.

When I moved across the country recently, I left my cleaning stuff behind. After all, I needed them to clean the apartment I was vacating. (In retrospect, I could have put my own supplies in the moving pod and borrowed items, but I didn’t think of that at the time.) I ended up giving all my cleaning supplies to friends, so I had to rebuy everything when I landed in Brooklyn.

Previously, I just bought whatever was available to me (usually at Target) without putting much thought into it. I found that some things worked well and some were just OK. This time, I decided to be more intentional about my purchases, even with mundane items like scrub brushes. Functionality is key. But I also care about aesthetics. So if there are two objects that function just as well, but one of them looks nicer, I’m going to go for the more attractive-looking one. That would make cleaning just a tad more enjoyable (not that I enjoy my chores). Hey, I’ll take positive vibes wherever I can get them.

** This post contains some affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought these products myself. **

After doing some research, I ended up buying mostly items by Full Circle, a sustainably-minded company. Full Circle says they are plastic neutral (meaning that for every ounce of plastic they use, they work with Plastic Bank to recover and recycle the same amount of plastic that would otherwise enter our oceans.) They use sustainable and recycled materials like bamboo, recycled plastic, and recycled aluminum. While the usage of recycled content is not 100%, they plan to increase it and their goal is to use 100% recycled plastic by 2025.

They have a few zero waste products as well, which are compostable. I also appreciate their thoughtful packaging. Where other companies would use a plastic tag to hold packaging together, with Full Circle it’s often times just a piece of twine or thick paper. They’ve eliminated the use of plastic under 2-3 inches diameter. (Even if you try to recycle small plastic pieces like that, the reality is that they fall off the recycling belt and don’t get recycled.) You can read about Full Circle’s materials and sustainability goals here.

Oh, and their stuff is well-designed. This is a brand that checked all the boxes for me: functional, attractive, and environmentally-minded. Here are the items I ended up buying:

Grunge Buster Grout & Tile Brush

Full Circle tile and grout brush, as seen in front of beige tile.

The tapered handle is comfy.

This grout and tile brush, made from bamboo and recycled plastic, was my introduction to the brand, so I’ll start with it. I previously owned one, which I used for five years until it literally fell apart. The brushes are stiff and tough, so they hold up to repeated brushing. (And it’s way more effective than what I was using before, an old toothbrush.) I like that you can stand it up, which means it takes up less storage space and it dries more quickly.

Clean Sweep Broom

Closeup of the Full Circle broom head

The gray part is rubbery and goes all the way around the broom, softening those times that you bump into of things.

This bamboo broom brings me joy because it’s just a beautiful object. I don’t love sweeping, but I love using this broom. The recycled bristles are flexible and it has an angled head, which is handy for getting into corners. Overall, it has a slim profile. Do note, though, that the top of it was too big to fit into this broom organizer that I initially bought. (I ended up using a Command Broom Holder instead.)

Clean Team Brush & Dustpan Set

Closeup up the Full Circle brush and dustpan, which is gray.

The comb on the Full Circle dustpan. Also note how the bit of plastic at the tip of the brush helps it stand up.

I keep this in my kitchen to quickly sweep up stuff. I appreciate how well-designed this is. The brush has the same flexible-feeling bristles as the broom. There’s a built in comb in the dustpan to clean the brush. The brush locks into the pan. And you can either stand it up or hang it up.

Scrub Queen Toilet Brush

A hand holds a dry earth disc from Full Circle.

The Dry Earth disk that sits at the bottom of the ceramic canister.

The Mister was skeptical about spending $28 on a toilet brush when you can buy one at Ikea for 99 cents. But I have no regrets. This toilet brush is worth the price. First, the mohawk design of the brush means it gets under the rim of the toilet. Second, the brush head is replaceable. Lastly, the canister has a Dry Earth disk in it, which absorbs moisture. I was always grossed out when I’d get my old toilet brush and see all the water pooled at the bottom of the container from the last time I used it. Ewww. The disk takes care of that.

You can find Full Circle products on their website and at the usual suspects like Target and Amazon (which I try to use sparingly, but am admittedly failing at during this move-in process). I bought all of the above at the Container Store because signing up for the Container Store’s POP! rewards program took 15% off my order.

Plus, A Few Cleaning Supplies from Other Brands

To round out my cleaning tools, here’s a few other items, not by Full Circle, that I also bought:

Made by Design 11 Qt Bucket  – $6.00
I appreciate how this bucket by Target’s Made By Design brand has measurement marks inside, a comfortable rubber-wrapped handle, and rubber around the edges at the bottom to keep it in place. There’s a spout on either side. This is just a simple object that does the job. It’s affordable too. (I snagged it when it was $4.49. It seems to have gone up in price to $6.00 but it’s still a good price.) It’s small, though. But there’s a larger version of this bucket and an even bigger one on wheels should you need more bucket. For me, it’s perfect for NYC apartment-sized living. My mop barely fits in it, but it fits.

Casabella Premium Magnet Mop – $29.99
Speaking of mops, I went with a mop by Casabella (sold at Container Store), because I like butterfly mops and this one is compact. I owned a previous version of this, so I knew it worked well. The mophead is washable as well as replaceable. My only complaint is that the prior version had an extra scrubbing area at the front. You could turn the mop over and use the front-side scrubbers to really get at tough gunk on the floors. This newer version doesn’t have that. Why take away a useful feature? I miss the tough scrubbers and kind of wish I’d kept my old mop and put it in the moving pod.

Korean Rubber Gloves – $6.49 for 2
The best gloves I’ve found for cleaning and dish-washing are Korean ones, which are much longer than conventional American gloves. I was always annoyed at other gloves because the sleeves were too roomy, would flop down, and water would get into them. The Korean ones fit much closer to me, and the sleeves stay in place. I bought a couple different kinds at H-Mart, but also found one of them on Amazon. I wear a medium. (I’m usually a small in American gloves.)

Welp, that’s my nerdy cleaning supplies report. Hope this was helpful to someone out there who also wants attractive and environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies.

Me, a person with short black hair, standing outside wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean with sandals. There are red brick homes in the background.

Everlane Review: The Way-High Jean

Published by welcomeobjects

I love my skinny  jeans. But after more than a year of wearing sweats at home, the idea of squeezing into skinny jeans does not appeal. So, I’ve been on the search for a pair of jeans with a straighter, roomier leg. I decided to try the Everlane Way-High Jean for a few reasons.

First, I am a fan of high-rise anything. Most of my pants are high rise now. As someone petite with short legs, high rise gives me the illusion of longer legs. Second, I’ve had success with Everlane denim in the past. Generally, I’ve found their denim to be of good quality at a reasonable price. (And when there have been issues, Everlane has quickly replaced the defective pair.) So when Everlane announced these jeans as “our highest rise yet,” it got my attention.

These jeans were gifted to me by Everlane and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items that interest me. Thanks for supporting Welcome Objects!

I already had my eye on the Way-High Jean and the Cheeky Jean when Everlane reached out to ask if I’d like to try one of their products. This was a surprise, as they’ve only gifted one item to me two years ago. They have a digital flyer with products they’re promoting called the Best Sellers Line Sheet that they share with bloggers and influencers. The Way-High Jean happened to be on the line sheet, so I asked for it.

So, how does it fit? Here’s a 5’7″ model wearing size 27 in coal, a black wash.

A model wears the Everlane Way-High Jean

And here’s 5′ 4″ me wearing size 27. The Way-High Jean comes in regular and tall inseams. I ordered the regular, which has a 27 1/2″ inseam. But I cut 3″ off, which was easy to do myself since the coal wash has a raw hem.

Me, a person with short black hair, standing outside wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean with sandals. There are red brick homes in the background.

Ooops, doing that pigeon toe thing, a bad habit from childhood. Wearing: Everlane Way-High Jean // Vetta Shirt // dr. Liza Sandals // Lo & Sons Bag

Sizing & Fit: These jeans, at least in the coal wash, run a bit big. In many reviews on the Everlane site, people said they sized down. During the pandemic, I went up a pants size, so I’m a 6/28 these days. Sizing down put me at size 27. I worried the 27s would be too tight. And while they initially felt tight in the waist, they eased up with wear. Going down one size was the right fit for me. If you want a looser fit, your regular size should work for that. If you’re between sizes, go with the smaller size.

The rise, according to Everlane, is 12 1/8. I measured a touch under 12″ with my tape measure, but whatever. Close enough. The rise is about an inch higher than other high-rise jeans from the brand. The leg seems to have a slight balloon shape to them.

Me, a person with short black hair, standing outside wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean with sandals. There are red brick homes in the background. Me wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean in black. View of front. Me wearing the Everlane Way High Jean in black. View of back. Me wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean in black. View of side.

The fit is fantastic for me. Honestly, I’m surprised by how well they fit.

The fit is fantastic for me. Honestly, I’m surprised by how well they fit. They accommodate my tummy pooch, holding it in without feeling too tight. They don’t cut in at the waist uncomfortably. The back side fit well too. They’re not too tight on my thighs, which can be an issue for me sometimes. And they don’t bag out during the day.

Fabric: These jeans have the nice heft of denim. The fabric is a medium thickness. A tag advertised these as “low stretch” but I find that there’s some give. Fiber content is 96% organic cotton, 1% elastane, and 3% other fiber.

How they Wear: I’ve been wearing the Way-High Jeans for a couple months. They soften nicely over time. I can sit comfortably in them. The frayed hem means there’s some maintenance involved in cutting wayward threads. No big deal. But if you need to shorten these jeans and are not a fan of the raw hem, you could get them properly hemmed. Most of the other washes (there are 5 others at the time of this writing) feature a finished hem.

Where It’s Made: The Saitex International factory in Bien Hoa, Vietnam. The factory is LEED-certified and uses renewable energy and air drying to reduce CO2 emissions. Saitex makes jeans for other brands as well.

Styling: Because the leg is straight and loose, I’m careful not to style these with anything baggy on top. They work well with sandals for warmer weather. They also look cute with boots, as I wore them here, for colder months.

Other Jeans

While shopping for straight leg jeans, I tried on other high-waisted styles, including Levi’s Rib Cage Straight Ankle Jeans, which are similarly priced at $98. (The Way-High Jean is $88.) The Rib Cage felt tighter in the thighs for me and have a button fly. (I prefer zip fly.)

On the other end of the price spectrum, I also tried Universal Thread’s High-Rise Slim Straight Jeans at Target, which cost $30 and are fair trade certified. These have a slimmer leg than the Way-High Jeans. The fabric is thinner and stretchier (only 70% cotton; the rest is lyocell and elastane). And while they weren’t bad, they weren’t as flattering on me as the Way-High Jeans.

Overall, I’m happy with the Way-High Jeans. They’ve become my go-to jeans. What a relief to find jeans that fit well.

UPDATE 6/15/22 – I ordered the Way-High Jean in Folsom Blue in size 27 and they fit more snugly than the coal wash. They’re pretty tight in the waist for me. So, I’d say this wash is more true to size. I also tried on the Light Indigo wash, and these fit more like the coal. They eased up a bit, so sizing down worked. It also seems from the reviews that there are size inconsistencies with the Archroma colors. So, it’s probably best to order a few sizes or visit a store if you have access to one to ensure the best fit.

I’ve reviewed a lot of Everlane over the years. You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here. If you found my review helpful, please consider shopping through my link. Thank you!

Brownstones in Brooklyn. A tree is on the sidewalk.

A Big Move (& thoughts on decluttering)

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a minute since my last check-in, and that’s because I’ve had my hands quite full. Some personal news: I moved across the country from San Francisco to Brooklyn. It was bittersweet to say farewell to the Bay Area, but I’m looking forward to New York. And I arrived just in time for my favorite season, fall.

I tried to declutter as much possible for my move. I didn’t take that much of my furniture. I’m not prone to collecting stuff. While I wouldn’t say I’m a true minimalist, I’ve really made an effort these last several years to pare down. Still, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I have. Every drawer that you empty in your home becomes a box on the moving truck (or in my case, the Pods container). It all adds up. There were so many boxes! At a certain point, I ran out of time, too, and just had to throw the rest of everything into boxes.

Now that I’m on the other end, I feel tension between unpacking and purging. I want to put away my things as soon as possible so that I can gain a sense of normalcy. But I also want to continue evaluating the things I own — with an even stricter eye — and get rid of more things, especially with the stress of moving fresh on my mind. I’ve already put some things out on the sidewalk, as is the custom in New York, for strangers and neighbors to take.

But I can’t spend most of my time and effort decluttering. Sometimes it feels like that’s what’s required to truly pare down. I have to laugh to myself when I think of Marie Kondo’s advice to declutter all at once so that you can be freed of the excess stuff and live your best life. In theory this sounds great. But who has time for that? I can see what she means, though. I feel like I’ve been decluttering a little bit at a time for years. It’s never ending. And I’m not even a person who owns that much.

Of course, this is all a very first world problem. So, I’ll shut up now.

Anyhow, this is all to say that you’ll be seeing some more home goods (and perhaps some home organizing) content on this blog as I settle in. And if you have any tips about living in New York or favorite places you love, let me know in the comments.

Me, a person with short black hair, standing on a subway platform, wearing leopard print boots.

How long will it take me to learn the subway lines? Wearing: Vetta Shirt // Everlane cardigan, discontinued [review] // Everlane Way-High Jean (gifted) [review] // dr. Liza boots [review] // Everlane bag, discontinued [review]

yamazaki veil trash can in white

The Trash Can that Hides Unsightly Plastic Bags

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a long while since I’ve written a home products post, so I looked around my apartment to find an object that I absolutely love, what I call a “welcome object.” And, well, I have decided to write about a trash can.

Yes, I love a trash can. Never thought I’d have such strong feelings for a trash receptacle, but here we are. I’ve owned this particular trash can from Yamazaki for years now, and my love remains strong.

** this post contains affiliate links **

What’s so special about it? For me, it’s an ideal example of form meets function.

On the functional end, this trash can does something a little differently than other ones: it holds and hides the unsightly trash bag. I was raised to reuse plastic grocery bags as trash can liners. (Doesn’t everyone?) And now that San Francisco and other cities have banned flimsy single-use plastic bags, I hoard them when I come across them, carefully folding them into triangles for storage. (But that’s another post.)

An aside: I feel bad that I’m using plastic bags, seeing as how plastic lasts forever. (OK, not forever, but perhaps 500 years). But I’ve been working on reducing what goes to the landfill by trying to buy items that come in less packaging. I’m proud to say that I’ve reduced my trash output to about one flimsy grocery bag’s worth of trash per week to 10 days. And I have the city of San Francsico to thank for taking my compost. What’s in my trash now? Mostly packaging, like potato chip bags.

Anyways, back to trash cans. Basically every trash can I grew up with looked like this:

A blue plastic trash can with a plastic bag stretched over the opening.

The usual trash can situation: plastic bag stretched over the sides.

This look always bothered me because I care about aesthetics and that plastic bag over the rim is just unattractive. But, what else are you supposed to do?

The Yamazaki trash can, made from ABS plastic, provides a solution. It consists of two parts.

Yamazaki Veil trash and a plastic Thank You bag.

Yamazaki Trash Can – $35-$50

The top is a cover that slides off, revealing the bottom part, which has notches.

The top and bottom parts of the Yamazaki Veil trash.

The Yamazaki Veil trashcan consists of two parts.

Place the bag over the sides with the notches.

A plastic thank you bag inside a YAmazaki Veil trashcan

Then slide on the cover. The sides of the cover go into the notches and hold the bag in place.

Closeup of the top of the Yamazaki veil trash can being put together

The cover slides into the notches.

Viola! The unsightly plastic bag is hidden! Ingenious.

Yamazaki Veil trash in white

The top parts slides back into place.

And that brings me to form. This is a handsome trash can. Modern and minimalist in design. A simple pleasing square. It also has a handy cutout handle on one side in case you need to grab it and move it. I use it in my bathroom. At 7.1 x 7.1 x 14 inches and 2.5 gallon capacity, it’s on the small side, so it’s not good for the kitchen or other areas where you may generate more trash. But I find it perfect for the bathroom.

You can find this trash can on the Yamazaki site, Bloomingdales, or West Elm. I boguht mine from the Container Store. There are other iterations of this trash can as well, including a tall one made of steel. And if you want to upgrade the materials, there’s also this steel one with a wooden top.

This trash can is my introduction to Yamazaki, which makes practical home organizing items in pleasing, simple designs. Many of them work well for small spaces, like this skinny rolling cart. (UPDATE: I now own this cart and reviewed it here.) I’m now eyeing this magnetic paper towel holder and this minimalist banana stand.

UPDATE 5/11/23 – Now that I’ve traveled to Japan I’m here to report that all the trash cans I encountered in hotels are designed to hide the liner. Love that! By the way, here’s my Japan packing list.

White, gray, and black shirts on hangers in a closet.

The Reasons I Got Rid of Things in My Wardrobe

Published by welcomeobjects

Lately I’ve been in closet decluttering mode. After counting every single item in my wardrobe, I am now re-evaluating what I own.

There are countless articles and blog posts out there about how to declutter your closet. (And of course, there is the KonMari method.) Some suggest an order to declutter in. Others pose a list of questions to help you decide whether or not to keep something. I even saw one that asked you to think about what your goals were. (Um, to get rid of stuff? And therefore feel more satisfied with life? Duh.)

This is not a post that tells you how to do any of that. Decluttering one’s wardrobe feels personal to me because clothes are personal. So, what I’m sharing today is not prescriptive in any way.

As I got rid of things, I made a list of those items, and I wrote down the reasons why. So here’s a summary of that list. Instead of giving a big-picture look at how to declutter, here are the specific reasons I removed certain items from my wardrobe.

1. It didn’t fit well. This was the most cited reason in my list. Out of the 27 items I purged so far this year, 17 of them listed fit as one of the reasons, if not the reason. This can be further broken down into two subcategories:

1a. It never fit me. Apparently I sometimes just buy things that are the wrong size. In some other cases, clothes change on you. Example: These Everlane tank tops I wrote about stretched out too much. But mostly it was me buying the wrong size. That speaks to me needing to pay more attention when I’m shopping.

1b. It doesn’t fit me now aka my weight changed aka it’s too tight. Ooof. In other words, many pencil skirts and pants did not make the cut because they now pull funny across my belly. Emotionally, this was a little hard to accept. I held on to things thinking that I could fit back into them again one day. But it’s been years since I could wear some of these items comfortably. Clothes that remind me that I can’t fit into them anymore make me sad. So, in a move of self acceptance, I donated these items. If my weight changes, then I can reassess my wardrobe then.

2. It felt like the old me. I cited style as the reason for letting something go in 5 instances. That seems like a low number. To me this means I know what I like and I’m mostly sticking to it.

3. I never reach for it. I cited this reason 4 times. This is a perplexing one. Usually it’s an item that adheres to my style and fits reasonably well, but for some reason, I just never reach for it. Why exactly? Hard to say. I guess we should let some things remain a mystery.

4. The details of the garment aren’t quite right. This reason overlaps with style and with fit, but I put it in its own category because were it not for the detail being wrong for me, maybe I would have kept it. (But then, the garment would be a different garment.) Examples: The sleeves on a cardigan were too skinny for my liking. A shirt was too long and thus not flattering to my proportions. The closures on a jumpsuit were on the shoulder, a strange place for them, and made it a challenge to put on.

5. Injuries and old age. I regret to inform you that limitations of an aging body is a real thing. This reason applies exclusively to some of the shoes I purged. Due to injury, I can’t wear heels anymore. I can’t put too much pressure on the balls of my feet, and I need arch support. I have accepted that my feet aren’t going to suddenly get better. Thus, these were easy decisions to make — even if it hurt to jettison over a thousand dollars worth of shoes. They’re either comfortable or they’re not.

6. I never use it. This reason was cited just twice, and in both cases they were running shoes. Because running is a thing I haven’t done in years. And actually, I hate running.

7. It no longer sparks joy. As I considered a vintage bag I had thrifted from Goodwill, I realized I just didn’t care for it anymore. It was perfectly fine, but I had just fallen out of love.

8. I wore it to death. One item fit this category, a sweatshirt from Target that I wore often, year after year until there were multiple holes in it. I felt pretty good about using it all the way to the end of its life. But it gets even better! A woman in my local Buy Nothing group was collecting old sweatshirts and sweaters to refashion into baby clothes, so I gave her my sweatshirt. Now it’s hopefully living a new life. Not bad for a piece of fast fashion!

First Image: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

Lively bralette review: three bralettes on a white surface.

A Review of 3 Lively Bralettes

Published by welcomeobjects

If you’re anything like me, you discovered during the pandemic that you don’t want to wear bras ever again. This did not come as a surprise to me. I’ve always been one of those take-the-bra-off-as-soon-as-you-walked-through-the-door people.

As a small busted person, I don’t need that much support, so I can get away with not wearing a bra. But, I’m also not brave enough to go around without one, particularly in a thinner shirt or a knit. I already get enough street harassment as it is just by being a woman, walking down a street.

So, I decided to shop for something bra-like, but not a full-on bra. Something like a bralette.

But what exactly is a bralette?

But what exactly is a bralette? I confess that I didn’t really know. From the name, I figured it was a bra lite. Is it an underthing for your boobs without underwire? But there are already bras without underwire. Being an old, I had to google it and learned from this Slate article that the bralette is a recent-ish trendy invention. “A bralette is an unstructured bra. It’s usually unlined, unpadded, wire-free,” says Cora Harrington, the founder of Lingerie Addict.

I tried a bralette just like this description three years ago and it baffled me. I didn’t get it. Unlined and unpadded? Why even wear it? (Of course, I can see someone bustier wanting some support, so I get that. I just didn’t understand what was in it for me.)

This time around, I devised some criteria. The bralettes I ordered should have:

  • Lightly padded cups
  • Clasp enclosure that’s adjustable, because I’m not into pullovers

I tried three bralettes from Lively, a brand I’ve bought from before because they have decent products at a mid-range price. (Bras run around $35). I’m a 32D, though sometimes I wear the sister size of 34C. The size guide advised a size S for 32D, but M for 34C, so I ordered both in all of the following to try out.

The Deco Mesh Bralette

Lively bralette review: the deco mesh bralette in black, the inside of it.

I chose the Deco Mesh Bralette to try because it includes a padded insert (which can be removed if you’re not into it). I also thought the geometric pattern was cute. The S fit best for me in this bralette. Other features include a wide band and a double strap. But why? Do double straps serve a function or is it just for looks? (I think it’s just for looks.)

Bra straps have a tendency to fall down on me. I’ve not been able to solve this issue. It happens to me with every bra, especially after I’ve worn them for a while. So, I didn’t relish the thought of having double the number of straps falling down on me. I was also worried that the wide band might feel bothersome and too constricting over a day of wear.

But the dealbreaker was the seam running right down the middle lower half of each cup, which features in many of Lively’s bralettes. I assume this design helps create the cup shape. However, the seams don’t lay flat. In fact, they kind of go right over the nipples and accentuate that whole area. The seams showed through my shirts. This is not the look I’m going for. So, nope, not for me.

The Luxe Trim Bralette

The Lively Luxe trim bralette and the padded insert.

Inside of the Luxe Trim Bralette, and the padded insert

First off, the Luxe Trim Bralette was noticeably tighter in the same size as the other bralettes. For the other bralettes, I took a small, but for this one I sized up to a medium. Still, it left angry marks on me at the edges of the cups.

Not only was it too tight, but it also had the same seam-showing issue as the Deco Mesh Bralette. Too bad, because I liked everything else about it: the removable inserts, the plum color (it also comes in green), the soft fabric, and the satiny trim.

The Eco Deep V Bralette

Lively bralette review: the Eco Deep V bralette in black, the inside of it.

The Eco Deep V Bralette has lightly molded cups. The padding is not removable.

The Eco Deep V Bralette is so named because it’s made from 81% recycled polyester. I tried the medium first, which was so unflattering in the cups. They crumpled at the sides. But then I put on the small and the the bra cups smoothed out. Ooops, I was just wearing the wrong size.

With its wider straps, it looks like a sports bra. Although I initially thought that this design was the least cute of the three, the look has grown on me. The sports-bra-ness of it means I feel comfortable wearing it on its own if it’s hot out. This bralette was also the most practical out of the bunch. For one, it doesn’t have the seam going down the front, so it’s smoother beneath clothing. The band also seemed to fit best on me and didn’t feel too constricting.

I decided to keep this one. I’ve been wearing the Eco Deep V instead of my usual bra, the All Day T-shirt Bra, which has an underwire. Although I gave that bra a (mostly) rave review when I first tried it, after going through the pandemic and not wearing it every day, I’m like, what is this torture device?

Does the Eco Deep V feel more comfortable than my regular bra? Yes. Not having underwire pressing up against my rib cage is indeed more comfortable.

Do the straps slip down on me? Yes, they do sometimes. But the thicker straps are not as annoying to deal with as skinnier straps. I’m not sure how to explain this exactly, but when the straps are skinnier, they feel like they get in the way more.

Is the Eco V Deep so comfortable that I don’t think to take it off right away when I get home? Nope. I still want to take off my bra ASAP. But it is more comfy than other bras I’ve worn, and I don’t believe that a bra that’s so comfy that I don’t want to take it off exists out there.

A note about Lively’s production

When I first wrote about Lively, it appeared that they owned their own factory in China. That made me think they had control over the conditions in that factory. Since I last wrote about them, the brand has been bought by Wacoal. These bralettes were made in the Philippines, though Lively says it still uses a factory dedicated to them.

Lively presents itself as ethical and sustainable, but it’s hard to know if this is really true.

Lively presents itself as ethical and sustainable, but it’s hard to know if this is really true. The brand’s about page describes itself as both a community and a brand. (A community? Come on now.) “Each year, we continue to expand on our mission toward more sustainability through the development of high-quality fabrics made of recycled materials that are good for your wardrobe and good for the earth,” it says. As we can see with the Eco Deep V, they do use some recycled materials.

But there’s scant details about the factory, its working conditions, and whether the workers make a living wage. IDK, the cheery info on the website feels like green washing. And the Good On You app gives Lively a poor rating.

To be honest, I made my order without looking into Lively’s production. I had ordered from them before, so I just did so again without thinking about it. It wasn’t until I sat down to write this post that I tried to find more details. But now that I know, next time I will do some research to find more ethical brands.

3 pairs of Everlane sandals on a rug

Everlane Try-On: Summer Sandals

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a long while, but I happened to walk by the Everlane store in San Francisco the other day, so I popped in and tried on some shoes for fun. Here’s my impressions of four pairs of sandals.

A few relevant facts about my feet for those who are new here: I’m a size 6.5. My feet are wide-ish and flat. Also, I have low tolerance for uncomfortable shoes and need arch support. So, I’m pretty picky. Most Everlane shoes have not worked for me, though there’s been a few winners, namely the now discontinued Form Crossover Sandals (reviewed here).

** this post contains affiliate links **

The Day Crossover Sandal

Everlane Day Crossover sandals as worn by my feet.

The Day Crossover Sandal in light taupe, now with a squarer toe. Please excuse my deteriorating nail polish!

This sandal is an update to the original Day Crossover Sandal, which I first reviewed in 2019, but with a more square toe. It’s also $10 less than the first iteration.

Where It’s Made: Dois Irmãos, Brazil

What I Liked: Like the rounded toe version, this sandal is lightweight. The leather on the upper is super soft and the outsole is rubbery, not slippery. Also, the color offerings are great: a bunch of wearable neutrals: black, cream, and light taupe. A tasteful snakeskin and golden brown are currently on sale. (Note that the snakeskin seems like yet another iteration because it has the original heel, but the newer square toe, and it’s made in a different factory.)

What Was Meh: The footbed, while flexible, is thin and flat without arch support. Though this updated version sports a thicker sole with the slightest of wedges, it’s still thin. I personally like to be further from the ground. I also prefer the rounded toe over the square toe, but that’s just me and my dislike of ’90s style.

Two stock photos of the Everlane Day Crossover sandals. The pair on top have a rounded toe area, while the ones below have a squared off toe

The 2019 (top) and 2021 (bottom) versions of the Day Crossover Sandal

Fit: I tried on the 6.5 and it seemed true to size, though snug in the toes. As someone with wide feet, I’d be inclined to size up to a 7. In any case, the soft leather straps seem like they’d stretch to accommodate. Everlane also says that this shoe is wider than the original.

The Fisherman Sandal

Everlane Fisherman Sandals in black as worn on me.

The Day Fisherman Sandal comes in black, cream, and caramel brown.

These interwoven sandals feature an adjustable ankle strap and buckle. I can’t tell if they’re cute or not.

Where It’s Made: Thai Binh, Vietnam

What I Liked: The materials on the Fisherman Sandal are thoughtful: gold-rated leather, bio-based EVA, and recycled materials. What does gold-rated leather mean, though? This is a designation from the Leather Working Group, which audits the environmental performance of leather production, including traceability and chemical management. This is the only shoe out of the three leather ones in this post that uses gold-rated leather. Also, the 1″ heel is the minimum distance I need from the ground.

What Was Meh: Though the footbed has some cushioning, the whole thing felt a bit stiff to me. They probably require some breaking in. Also, in the time I’ve taken to write this, I’ve decided that they’re not cute, at least on me. I feel like they make my wide feet look even wider. People also complain that they’re squeaky.

Fit: This sandal only comes in whole sizes. I tried on a size 7 and it was too long for 6.5-sized me. If you’re a half size like me, size down.

The Leather Platform Sandal

Everlane Leather platform sandals in white, as worn on me in front of a mirror.

The Leather Platform Sandal comes in white, black, and golden brown (on sale)

Where It’s Made: Thai Binh, Vietnam

What I Liked: Some platform shoes feel too clunky and unwieldy, but the Leather Platform Sandal‘s 1.75″ height is manageable. Gives you height, but is easily walkable. The bio-based EVA midsole is lighter compared to other platforms. Plus it gives these sandals a nice cushiony bounce in each step. The outsole is made of recycled and natural leather, so it has some grip.

What Was Meh: Would love to see arch support on these. It’s the only thing keeping me from ordering them.

Fit: While these also come only in whole sizes, the fact that they’re adjustable in two areas helps give them a better fit. The straps across the top of the foot and at the back around the heel both have adjustable Velcro closures. The strap across the toes is not adjustable.

The ReNew Sport Sandal

stock photo of the Everlane sport sandal in brown.

ReNew Sport Sandal – $75. I forgot to take a photo in the store, so this stock photo will have to do.

Everlane sport sandal in black as worn by me in front of a mirror. The mirror reflects my feet.

These black ReNew Sport Sandal are full price at $75, but white, red, and multicolor are on sale.

The ReNew Sport Sandal seems to take heavy inspiration from Tevas, but have a more minimalist, stylish look.

Where It’s Made: Thai Binh, Vietnam

What I Liked: Out of all the footbeds, this one seemed to have a modicum of support for the arch. (Though I would not call it arch support per se. The other shoes just didn’t have any at all.) This footbed felt more comfortable than the others, shape-wise. It’s called ReNew because it’s made of recycled materials including the rubber outsole and polyester upper. Everything is recycled except for the hardware.

What Was Meh: They’re branded with an “E” at the side. This is not a dealbreaker, but I prefer no branding.

Fit: These felt true to size to me and my wide feet. But other reviewers say to size down by half a size. Like the Leather Platform Sandal, the ReNew Sport Sandal is adjustable in two spots. You’re probably wondering how they compare to Tevas. I haven’t tried any, so I can’t really say. But from photos, it appears that Teva sandals have better arch support.

After more than a year of sheltering in place, I was glad to step foot inside a clothing store again. Nothing replaces in-person browsing for me. This means I can finally start up my Fitting Room Review series again. (Unless the Delta variant forces us to lock down again. If you have access to the vaccine, please get your shot!) Even if I don’t buy anything, I do enjoy trying things on. Hope this review was helpful.

Wondering how other Everlane items fit? You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.