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My Asian Skincare Routine

Published by welcomeobjects

I don’t consider myself super educated about skincare, so it’s not something I usually write about. (I just added a category for beauty & skincare because now I have two whole posts on those topics.) But I love reading about other people’s skincare routines, so I thought I’d share mine.

Learning about skincare and switching to a multi-step routine is something I’ve only been doing for the last couple years. Even though I’ve been concerned with my skin since I was a teenager, I never did much about it. It felt overwhelming to figure out. Before the popularity of Asian skincare brands in Western countries, I also didn’t trust things that I read about as I figured those products weren’t geared towards my Asian skin.

It wasn’t until a friend got into it and I could ask her questions that I started looking into it. Now, friends and family ask me questions. So even though I’m no expert, I’m now playing the introduction role for them in the way that my friend did for me. Here’s my current routine.

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Morning Skincare Routine

1. CosRx Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser – The idea here is that a low PH cleanser mimics your skin’s natural PH. (A lot of cleansers are actually kind of acidic). Since I’m acne prone, this is helpful because acne is more likely to happen when your skin is too acidic. Has it helped with acne? Maybe? I don’t really know, but it’s gentle and light and reasonably priced. I have no complaints, so I keep using it. BTW, I let my face air dry after I wash it. I don’t use a towel! I do think this has helped reduce breakouts.

2. CosRx AHA/BHA Clarifying Toner – I spritz some of this on my face. It’s supposed to help prevent blackheads and whiteheads.

3. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% – This one’s not in the photo because I added it into my routine recently. I have some age spots and have tried various Vitamin C serums in the hopes of lightening them. But they didn’t work. (Of course, not all Vitamin C is the same and I haven’t tried every brand. I was told this one was the most powerful one, but I haven’t tried it.) The sales person at The Ordinary told me to give Arbutin, which is an extract from the bearberry plant, a try. And the price was right — this was $8.90. I said why not? Too early to tell if it’s working.

4. Stratia Skin Rewind – I threw this in the cart when I was ordering some other stuff from Stratia because I’m a big fan of Liquid Gold (which I go into below) and it was $15. Does it do anything for me? I don’t know, but it’s packed with good anti-aging stuff and since I’ve had results with Liquid Gold, I have some faith that Rewind works too.

5. Stratia Liquid Gold – I use this as my moisturizer. Don’t be alarmed by the bright yellow color, which will disappear as your skin absorbs it. I love the earthy smell. It’s full of ceramides and oils to improve your skin barrier and it does! My skin felt more irritable before I started using this.

6. EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 – I’ve been using this sunscreen for three years now on the recommendation of a dermatologist. It’s light and not greasy. However, it has both a physical and a chemical blocker and the safety of chemical blockers is in question. The physical blocker in this sunscreen, zinc oxide, has been proven as safe and has a safety score of 2 from the Environmental Working Group. The chemical one, though, Octinoxate, rates a 6. I think I should switch to something else. Any recommendations? (BTW, I used to buy this on Amazon, but I read the Acid Queen’s post about fakes on Amazon, so I don’t do that anymore. The Acid Queen is the founder of Stratia Skincare.)

Evening Skincare Routine

1. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil – Step 1 of my double cleanse is an oil cleanser. This oil makes my face feel hydrated.

2. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam – Step 2 of my double cleanse. At first I thought it was a bit much to cleanse twice, but I really love the ritual of it now.

3. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner – I love the way this toner smells. It feels hydrating. Even the Mister, who finds all these steps too much work, likes and uses this.

4. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA – This is my acid step, a chemical exfoliation to help skin turnover. People rave about Sunday Riley’s Good Genes — and from the sample I’ve tried it does seem nice. (It has a comforting citrus scent.) But it costs $$$. The main ingredient in it is lactic acid, so I bought a $7 bottle of lactic acid from The Ordinary. I started with the lower percentage (5%) initially and did an experiment. I only applied it on one side of my face. Then after about two months, I asked the Mister to look at my face and tell me if one side looked better than the other. He choose the side that I had been applying lactic acid to. So, now I use the 10% version on all sides of my face.

Lactic acid can be harsh for some people, though. So if you want to try something more gentle, there’s also mandelic acid and Stratia makes one that’s $14. The Ordinary has one too.)

5. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% – I’m using this night and day.

6. Stratia Liquid Gold – Yup, this again. I use this as my nighttime moisturizer again, though I’m thinking of either substituting or layering a night cream now that it’s getting colder. (If you’re interested in Stratia, get $10 off your first order with my referral code.) I’m thinking of adding CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask at night. And/or also this Origins matte moisturizer for daytime in the winter.

7. Nivea Q10Plus Eye Cream – This is the item I’ve been using the longest. I think I read about it in Consumer Reports of all places many years ago and then made sure to pick up a tube in Europe whenever I could find it. (I think it wasn’t readily available in the States before.) Does eye cream really work though? It’s hard to know since it’s supposed to prevent problems.

Well, that’s it: my current routine. I know it seems like a lot, but after you get used to it, it’s quick. In general, I try to add just one new thing to my routine at a time to see how it affects my skin. And I might subtract or add things along the way depending on what my concerns are. What are your skincare must-haves?

Three models wearing three different Everlane shirts: lantern top, belted poplin, shirred silk shirt.

Fitting Room Review: 3 Everlane Tops

Published by welcomeobjects

I swear it’s not all Everlane all the time here. (Though it’s true I do shop there a lot. I’m a creature of habit.) Just getting through the backlog of things I’ve tried on and showing you how they look on a short person.

For reference, I’m 5′ 4″ and all the models shown below are way taller.

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Silky Cotton Lantern Top

The Silky Cotton Lantern Top – $55

The model is 5′ 10″ and wearing a 0. I am also wearing a 0 — that’s two sizes down from my usual size of 4. So, yeah, this runs really big. I didn’t even try on my regular size because I saw how big it was. It has a boxy cut and runs way wide. Sleeves are cropped, so unlike most shirts, they’re not too long on me.

It was sewn in a 1500-person factory in Shenzhen, China. The cotton fabric is soft and light, a great choice for a warm day. It comes in five colors. I loved this indigo blue color, though I wasn’t so keen on the white buttons that were on it. If you’re trying to wear this tucked in, I think it might be hard to keep it that way given the short, boxy fit. Personally, I think a more versatile piece is the Silky Cotton Oversized Shirt, which is made out of the same airy fabric. (Though a short-limbed person like myself would have to roll up the sleeves on it.)

Poplin Belted Top

The Poplin Belted Top – $60

Here’s another one that ran big. The model is 5′ 9″ and wearing size 2. I’m wearing my regular size of 4. Look how far those sleeves fall on me! I would size down on this one too, though if you’re busty, that might not work. The proportions were all wrong for my petite frame and short limbs.

The fabric was crisp, as I would expect of poplin. But it felt a bit stiff, so it didn’t drape well. The belt is removable, so there’s an option to wear it loosely. The white was a touch see-through. It also comes in a light brown with thin white stripes. I like the idea of it — and I’m sure it looks good on someone else — but the cut was all wrong for me. This was made in the same factory as the silky cotton shirt above.

Shirred Silk Shirt

The Shirred Silk Shirt – $98

The 5′ 9″ model is wearing a 0. I’m wearing a size 2 here, one down from my regular size. I tried on both the 4 and 2, and they felt similar. Of course, the length was a little longer on the 4. I felt that the 2 looked slightly better on me untucked since I’m petite. If you’re not short, though, you probably want to take your regular size.

I was hopeful about this one because a lot of the online reviews complained about the sleeve length being a little too short. So, I thought, “Perfect! That means they’ll fit my short limbs.” But they’re actually a tad long for me. See how it bunches a bit? Why oh why!

Love the look of this shirt. I think they got all the details right. It’s delicate and elegant. The hidden placket is a nice touch and I appreciate that the shirring at the shoulder isn’t too much. The silk fabric, from Everlane’s Clean Silk line, feels nice and seems like good quality. It’s made in a relatively new LEED-certified factory in Nanchong, China

Lighter colors may require a cami though. They’re a little see-though. Some people also complained that the wrists are too tight. I didn’t experience that, but then again, I have small wrists.

Sigh. So close, but no dice!

If you’re new to Everlane, please considering using my referral link to make your first purchase. (Create your account before browsing.) This helps make my reviews possible. Thank you so much! You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.

Thakoon for Target shibori print black and cream T-shirt with sunglasses on a white surface.

September 2019 Shopping Diary & Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Published by welcomeobjects

Hello from the land of slow Internet. I’m away on a trip (not for fun), which I packed lightly for. Packing always stresses me out a little. You’re anticipating everything that you might need while worrying that you’re forgetting something. (I use a list, but still). And well, the whole indignity that is air travel these days fills me with dread.

I’m pretty pleased with my travel capsule wardrobe, though.

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A flatlay of a travel capsule, with 10 pieces of clothing neatly folded on a white surface.

Capsule Wardrobe for Three Weeks in Warm Weather: 1 T-shirt dress (Target Prologue), 1 puffy down vest (Uniqlo) cause I get cold on the plane, 3 tops (Thakoon for Target, Oak + Fort, Muji), 2 tank tops, 1 chambray shirt (Uniqlo) [ethical option], 2 pants (Everlane Easy Chino) [review]. Not pictured: shoes because I would never bring dirty shoes near my bed.

The key thing is color coordination, and I think the above works well. Everything goes together. (For a deeper dive into travel capsules, see my post on packing lightly.) Half of the pieces are ones I bought this year, which I guess reflects how much I favor new things. Or maybe I’m doing a better job at buying things I actually wear?

What I Bought

The newest item is this Thakoon for Target shibori print T-shirt. I was very good in the face of Target’s 20th anniversary reissue in September and stuck to my plan. Mostly, I was curious about the Thakoon shirtdress, but it didn’t suit me. I found it too poofy with all the pleats and too short for comfort. You could create a similar look with a T-shirt and skirt (love that this option was offered!) so I ordered those as well. But as I tried on the skirt, I knew I would never wear it. The shape is not one that works for me anymore.

So, I kept just the T-shirt. I also found a cardigan with the same print while I was in store. After checking the tag and realizing that it was 100% cotton — a rarity, it seems, with Target sweaters — I grabbed that too. I plan to wear it as a pullover, not a cardigan. (There’s a blue and white colorway as well, but the black and white print goes well with all the black I already wear.)

The only other wardrobe purchases I made in September were for practical reasons, spurred by the pain in my foot that I described in last month’s diary. I ordered the ugly running sneakers my podiatrist recommended to take pressure off the balls of my feet. (It was that or a boot, yes the kind of boot you wear when you have a fracture.) I’m supposed to stay away from other shoes and wear these sneakers for a few months. At least there’s an all black option, so they’re not as unattractive as they could be. And it gave me a blog post idea: how to style ugly sneakers!

I also bought a pair of sandals by Vionic, which is a podiatrist-approved brand. I was hoping to take them with me on this trip so that I’d have something to slip into quickly in warm weather. The sandal has excellent arch support, but it gave me serious blisters on the top of my feet after just a short walk. Sigh. I left them at home. Hopefully, I’ll be able to break them in later.

As to things I subtracted from my closet, I gave a pair of Loeffler Randall heels to a friend. With my feet issues, I knew I would never wear them again. In fact, I’d barely worn them in the first place. They were always more aspirational. And then there’s this bee print dress I wore once. (This purchase was the product of Target collab hype. I even wrote about snagging it back in the day.)

Welcome Objects 2019 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 4 this month = 13 items total for the year
Subtractions: 2 items this month = 35 items removed from my closet so far this year

Travel Capsule outfit: a person wears a sihibori print shirt, black pants, and black sneakers.

Travel Outfit with Two of My New Buys: Thakoon for Target shirt // Everlane Easy Chino [review] // Hoka One One shoes

What I Read

Speaking of decluttering, I really enjoyed this post by The Luxe Strategist about things she decluttered and why. She also wrote a monster post comparing four online fancy bed linens companies.

NPR has a great interactive piece that explains what’s recyclable and what’s trash. Of course, you should check with your local waste management company, but for general guidance about what goes in which bin, it’s handy.

While I was in Target, I noticed this:

What? Fair trade denim at Target? There were only a few styles, but still, it’s nice to see a huge retailer like Target carrying fair trade items. Then again, is this just a marketing gimmick? Target trumpeted its jeans made from recycled cotton when it first launched its Universal Thread denim line. Those are now nowhere to be seen.

I have so many questions about this fair trade line. Where are these jeans being made? Who made them? Is this going to be an ongoing thing? Why are these jeans synthetic? (The fiber content was mostly rayon and some polyester.) Leah from Style Wise wondered the same thing.

A stack of ochre Everlane easy chino shorts on a white table.

Practical & Relaxed: Everlane Easy Chino Short

Published by welcomeobjects

I meant to review Everlane’s Easy Chino Shorts when it was still summer, but now fall is upon us. Oh well. It’s sort of summer in San Francisco though. Around this time of year is when we get a spurt of summer-like days.

Anyhow. If you’ve been following along here, then you know that I am a fan of the Everlane Easy Chino (reviewed here). Though I wasn’t sure about them at first, they’ve really grown on me. Now I own two pairs and wear them all the time. (In fact, I’m wearing them right now as I write this.) They’re just so comfortable.

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Easy Chino Short – $45

So, of course I was interested when Everlane released the shorts version this summer. I happen to be in the market for a pair of shorts as I only own one pair at the moment. (Well, one pair that doesn’t have holes in it that I can wear outside my home.)

Here’s a 5′ 10″ model in a size 2.

And here they are on 5′ 4″ me. While the Easy Chino pants ran big (I recommend going down a size in those), these shorts were true to size.

Trying a size 2 (left) and size 4 (right).

I’m generally a size 4 in bottoms. I tried on both the 2 and the 4 in the shorts. And indeed, the shorts ran smaller than the pants in the same size. A size 2 in the shorts measures 26″ for the waist versus 27.75″ for the size 2 in the pants.

So, I should get my regular size, a size 4, in the shorts, right? (Those measure 27″ in the waist.) Well, not exactly. Though the size 4 fit more comfortably, I didn’t like the way they looked. As you can see in the comparison above, they flared out on the sides. They looked better to me in a size down.

Size 4 from the side.

I guess these shorts really are just like the pants. The pants are also roomy in the thigh area, but because they’re pants, they taper down the leg and while they’re not the most flattering pants ever, they look OK to my eye. I can also cuff the pants to give them a more pulled-together look.

But as shorts there’s not really that option. As they end right at the roomiest part, this renders them frumpier. Even the elastic waist somehow looks frumpier to me on the shorts, especially in the lighter colors as the elastic seems more visible.

But they’re really comfortable and practical, just like the pants. They’re mom shorts, OK? Or auntie shorts. Sometimes you need a no-fuss pair of shorts, especially on a super hot day when you don’t even want your clothes touching you.

The shorts come in five colors, mostly neutrals like washed black, ochre, fatigue (an olive green), and stone (which reads more like a light khaki in real life). There’s also a fun bright tomato red color.

This wasn’t what I was looking for — I want something more flattering — so I passed. I do like the chino material, though. It’s lightweight and doesn’t wrinkle too much. I’d love to see these with a slimmer thigh.

Everlane luxe cotton dresses review. The same model wears three different items: a jumpsuit and two dresses.

Fitting Room Review: Everlane Luxe Cotton Dresses

Published by welcomeobjects

I visited the Everlane store here in San Francisco a few times this summer and have a backlog of things I’ve been meaning to review. Will these items even be relevant once I get around to writing about them, though? Is it just me, or has Everlane increased the frequency of their new releases?

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I haven’t exactly been paying attention, but it feels that way to me. It also seems like items don’t stick around as long? An example: last summer I bought the Relaxed Cotton Tank in two colors. After wearing them for a while, I realized that I should have sized down. I want to replace them, but they’re gone. This summer, Everlane released other tank tops from their Pima Stretch series (like this scoop tank top and this microrib tank top). But these fit closer to the body. Why not keep both the Relaxed Cotton items and the Pima Stretch ones since they fit differently?

I thought Everlane was all about the basics. That’s one of the reasons I shop them. I want to be able to stock up on things that I’ve already tried and that I know will work for me. But Everlane feels like any other retailer dangling shiny new things in front of me. Maybe they’re operating like Ikea, which only keeps the most popular items in production. That makes sense from a cost-of-manufacturing perspective. But I’m not going to lie: I’m a bit miffed about some of the tried-and-true staples no longer being available.

Anyhow, on to today’s review.

This summer Everlane introduced its Luxe Cotton line. I have to say, I love this fabric. It’s tightly-knit which gives it a super smooth touch, drapes nicely, and has the slightest bit of sheen. It’s thin, but not too thin. Made in this factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, all of the items below were originally produced in three colorways: black, a light brown called toasted coconut, and dusty blue

The Everlane model is 5’10” and wearing a small in everything.

The Luxe Cotton Midi Dress

The Luxe Cotton Midi Tank Dress – $50

So, this is one of the items that has already vanished. It’s sold out at the moment. No word on restocks. But I’ll write about it in case it comes back. (Or in case you’re searching for one secondhand.)

I honestly didn’t think anything of this dress when I saw it on the rack. It looked kind of boring. But then I tried it on and was surprised by the fit. Here it is on 5′ 4″ me. I’m a dress size 4 and wearing XS here. It manages to be flattering and comfy. Yes, it is way longer than me, but also partly that’s due to the angle that I’m holding my phone at. Only thing is that you’d have to wear a racerback bra or a strapless bra because it does not work with bra straps.

The Luxe Cotton Side Slit Tee Dress

The Luxe Cotton Side-Slit Tee Dress – $50

Is this chic or boring? I can’t tell. There’s some creases around my post-lunch belly. Doh. Darker colors would hide that. How many black dresses is one allowed to have? Because I kind of want this in black. My Everlane Relaxed Cotton Tank Dress (another discontinued item) serves a similar purpose, though it’s more casual. This dress telegraphs a more polished look with the cap sleeves, the side slits, and the fabric.

The slits go up quite a ways (almost 13″), which is good for walking but will show a good deal of your thigh when you sit down. So, probably not office appropriate. For a shorty like me, I recommend hemming it to get the right proportions. This also came in some other colors, like the faded sage shown in the very first photo, an olive, and a light pink. But between the time I started drafting this post and actually posting it, colors have sold out.

The Luxe Cotton Jumpsuit

The Luxe Cotton Jumpsuit – $68

I knew from the photos that I wouldn’t like this but I tried it on in the name of bloggery. First of all, I’m not into patch pockets. With such a soft drapey material, this seemed like an especially odd choice to me. What would you possibly put there? Maybe a ticket? Anything heavier than that would sag the leg.

I’m wearing the small here and it’s a bit too big. (They didn’t have the XS in store.) For shits and giggles, I tried it on without the belt.

LOL. Why would anyone wear it without the belt? Oh hell no.

I just saw that Everlane also released some tops in this fabric, like this mockneck tee and the Luxe Cotton Crop Tee, which sports three-quarter sleeves and a wide neckline. I’m super curious about the latter one because “cropped” is one of my favorite words as a petite.

Overall, I really like this fabric, though I’m not sure how it would withstand wrinkles during a day of wear.

If you find my reviews helpful and are new to Everlane, please considering using my referral link to make your first purchase. (Create your account before browsing.) This helps make my reviews possible. Thank you so much! You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.

Target Design For All: A screenshot taken from the Target website showing people in Target designer collaboration items. A black man and brown woman in Phillip Lim animal print pieces stand with bags. A white model in a blue dress stands next to the designer Jason Wu who is wearing all black. People (two women, one black, one white) have a picnic with Marimekko items.

How Target’s Designer Collaborations Fueled My Bad Shopping Habits

Published by welcomeobjects

Target is celebrating 20 years of its Design for All program by bringing back some of its greatest hits this weekend. On September 14, it will reissue 300 items in housewares and apparel.

This is not a post about how groundbreaking Target was. (For that perspective, you can read this story in Vogue.) Yes, it was the first major retailer to highlight the work of designers, bringing their designs to the masses — and in at least once case, even to a designer’s own family members. Phillip Lim posted on Instagram recently about how “it wasn’t until my collaboration with Target that my mother fully understood what i was doing with my life!” (Ahhhh, this is the cutest! As someone from an immigrant family who didn’t become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, I can relate.)

And yes, I, a person of the masses, ate it up. I especially loved it since I was already interested in design. I got to own things dreamed up by designers whose regular line I couldn’t afford. And I also learned about designers I didn’t know about like Dror who made a clever housewares collection for Target that was all about transformation. (The pieces, such as nesting shelves, literally transformed, perfect for small spaces. I still have the clock from this collection.)

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An X-shaped magazine rack next to a potted plant.

One of the collaboration items that I’ve kept: Philippe Starck for Target magazine rack circa 2002. Oddly, for the 20th anniversary, Target’s re-issuing Starck’s impractical tableware for children. The plant stand is from Etsy. (Review here.)

From the beginning, I was a fan with my Michael Graves for Target butterfly mop and my Isaac Mizrahi for Target sheath dress. I shopped the women’s capsule collections back when Target called them Go International and the sizing was juniors. When a TV commercial featuring Tord Boontje’s holiday housewares collection came on the TV, I gasped. (I bought the dishes, using them year round for many years.)

But this post isn’t about that.

No, this post is about how designer collaborations fueled my bad shopping habits. (Which of course is my own fault.) I bought way more stuff than I ever used or kept, especially when it came to clothes.

Because the collections were limited edition (in so far as mass-produced items can be limited), this encouraged a shopping craze. I’d buy things just to have them and then take my haul home to deliberate. This resulted in lots of buying and returning. I spent a lot of time chasing down items. As the collections became more of a known thing, shopping them became increasingly competitive. (And then the eBay vultures swooped in, buying up merchandise and setting up shop online for ridiculous sums.)

By the time of Jason Wu’s 2012 French-inspired women’s collection, I’d joined a Facebook group of similarly-obsessed Target fans. We shopped for each other, listing our desire for sold-out items on spreadsheets. That way, we’d know what items to keep an eye out for as we stalked returns at our local stores.

I, not a morning person, lined up at Targets before they opened to be among the first to shop a collection. I did this after staying up and waiting for the items to go live on the Target site so that I could snag things online. In a single day, I visited multiple Targets. I knew this was nutty behavior but I couldn’t help myself.

The 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target bags I bought. I sold 2 to friends, kept 3 for myself, but ended up only using one of them. Some of the bags are being reissued.

2013 was perhaps the height of my craze as I bought some 20 items from the Prabal Gurung and the 3.1 Phillip Lim collections. (Double or triple that if you count the things I bought for people in the Facebook group.) I even bought things just because they felt hard to get a hold of, and then convinced friends that they wanted them. (In the end, I only kept five of those 20 items.) Even in 2017, the year I started this blog and when I was already trying to cut back on my shopping, I failed to behave during the Victoria Beckham launch. After reviewing the look book, I told myself I was interested in only one thing, but then I got sucked in.

To be sure, some things I used with love. I toted my black rectangular 3.1 Phillip Lim bag around until the magnet in the closure came unglued, then superglued it back on (not once, but twice). (I’m still using it though the end of its life is nearing. When it goes, I’ll look for a similarly-sized bag of higher quality.) I’ve moved my Philippe Starck magazine rack from apartment to apartment. There’s a black cotton Thakoon sweater with slight balloon sleeves and a cutout in the back that I wear often in the fall.

There are also things that I would have kept using, except that I couldn’t. That Michael Graves butterfly mop? Eventually, Target stopped selling it and I couldn’t get my hands on any of the mop head replacements. I threw out a perfectly usable mop because I couldn’t get a crucial part. (Learned my lesson there! Don’t buy something that needs replacement parts unless they’re easy to obtain.)

Four items in a collage, including a black lace clutch, a sleeveless floral print top, a snakeprint top, and a black dress with faux leather accents.

Things I bought and barely used (clockwise): Jason Wu lace clutch, 3.1 Phillip Lim peplum top, Altuzarra snakeprint top, 3.1 Phillip Lim dress with pleather accents.

Mostly, though, I bought things, too many things, and then ended up donating or selling the majority of them (hello Poshmark store) — sometimes with the tags still on.

Now that I have a better handle on my shopping habits and value quality over quantity, I regard these collabs as a kind of emotional manipulation. Like sales, they create a false feeling of scarcity. This thing is only available for a short amount of time. If you don’t snag it now, you may not get one.

And I try to remind myself of following, which is pretty much how I approach anything I consider buying now:

Do I really like this or am I just caught up in wanting to collect? If this item didn’t have a name to it, would I still like it?
How likely am I to wear or use this?
How does it fit in with the rest of my wardrobe? Is this my style?
What materials is it made out of it? (I try to stick to natural fibers these days.)
How is the quality and construction? Is this item likely to last or will it fall apart quickly? (Note to self: Target handbags are generally not well-made, so don’t buy them no matter how cute!)

I also try to remind myself that if I’m not sure about something, I can think it over. And if I really want it later, I can always track it down second hand when the madness dies down. (That’s how I got this Zac Posen brocade dress.)

With these questions in mind, there’s only really one thing in the reissue that I’m curious about: this Thakoon shibori print shirtdress (or maybe this black version of it). Of course, there are preowned ones from the original 2008 release on resale sites. I might try on a new one just for sizing and if I like it, buy one that’s secondhand. (I’m tempted by this adorable Isaac Mizrahi square neck dress, but I know it’s not my style and I probably wouldn’t wear it more than once.)

I’ve noticed that it’s mostly the clothes I’ve gotten in trouble with. Housewares take up more space so I tended to think more carefully before buying them. With clothes, instead of confronting my overconsumption, I switched to slim hangers to stuff more into my closet.

I’ve come a long way since 2013. By mid-September of that year, I had bought about 60 items of clothing in general (designer collab or not). This year, as I’m chronicling in my shopping diary entries I’m at nine.

Has a designer collaboration ever swept you up in a craze?

A woman wearing 3 different dresses from Target designer collaborations: a blue dress by Jason Wu, a pleated bowtie dress by Prabal Gurung, and a shift dress with a bee print by Victoria Beckham.

Just a fraction of the clothing from Target collaborations I only wore a few times (or never even wore) and didn’t keep: dresses by Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Victoria Beckham.

A ochre pants and a beige top lay on a white background. A gold necklace with green beads is on top of the shirt.

August 2019 Shopping Diary & Shoe Woes

Published by welcomeobjects

August kept me busy, which was good for my goal of curbing shopping. I simply didn’t have the time and bought just one item.

I mentioned in last month’s shopping diary that I’ve been wearing my black Everlane Easy Chinos on repeat — so much so that I wanted another pair. (My review of them is here.) But the color I was after, the ochre, was sold out and wouldn’t be restocked until December. Well, one popped up in my size on Poshmark, so I made the seller an offer. It was new, too. Score!

** this post contains affiliate links **

By buying it secondhand, I saved about $20. Arguably, it’s more sustainable to shop secondhand than purchase something new. You’re extending the life of an item that already exists (though one could say that new things also already exist when you buy them, but at least you’re not contributing to their demand?)

But because sellers generally don’t accept returns on platforms like Poshmark, I shop conservatively. Most of my online secondhand buys tend to be of the same nature as these pants: trying to find something specific that I already own in another color or have tried on in person. But, that also means it’s more likely I’ll keep it.

A woman with dark hair, her face not shown, stands in front of a wall. She is wearing a boxy beige top, ochre pants that are rolled up, and sandals.

Uncharacteristically wearing all earth tones. Does this make me a legit ethical fashion blogger now? 😆 // Oak + Fort blouse [sold out, but similar ethical option here] // Everlane Chinos // Sandals handmade by a small local cobbler in Puerto Vallarta // Necklace made by me.

In the shoe department, the purging continues. I mentioned back in June that my right foot has been bothering me. Well, it’s been getting worse and I finally saw a podiatrist. It turns out my sesamoid area might be inflamed. The sesamoids are two small roundish bones in the ball of your foot at the base of your big toe. They support your body weight and the tendons wrapped around them can become inflamed, a condition known as sesamoiditis. Dancers and those with high arches are prone to it. (Though, I fit neither description.)

The podiatrist told me to look into custom orthotics (big heavy sigh). She also told me that I should wear shoes with arch support and cushioning. And to avoid shoes that are too thin or very flexible as they can cause you to put too much pressure on the balls of your feet when you walk. She specifically said no ballet flats. (This vindicates my existing dislike of them.) And of course, I think it goes without saying: no high heels. She recommended a brand called Hoka One One, but immediately warned me that they were ugly.

The weird thing is that I already have shoes that seem to fit these requirements, like my beloved Hopp Studios wedges. But even with their ample cushioning, they’ve been bothering me a lot lately. Heck, even stabilizing shoes like my Everlane trainers bother me a little. Ugh. Everything hurts.

I’ve always had problems finding shoes that fit comfortably — it’s been an effort to build my collection — so I’m sad about purging shoes in a way that I’m not with other parts of my wardrobe. (I know this is all very silly and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. There are way crappier things happening in my life and in the world, but allow me a moment to mourn.)

Even if my feet calm down, there’s no point in keeping shoes that put too much pressure on the balls of my feet, so it’s time to say goodbye to many shoes. Goodbye polka dot wedges from Target I loved so much that I even took them to a cobbler for repair even though they probably only cost me $15 in the first place. The soles are too thin. Goodbye vintage heels and sandals, which also lack cushioning. Goodbye to the pink and orange heels with the silver stiletto heel that I bought in Hong Kong and wore maybe twice.

Five pairs of peeptoe shoes on a white surface. They are various colors: black, blue, orange, red, cream.

Goodbye to these shoes.

In truth, I haven’t worn these shoes that much lately anyway. But these are just the obvious shoes to let go of. There are other ones I wear more often that need evaluation.

I am a bit worried about the ankle boots I just bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (which are marked down even more now! Note to self: things at Nordstrom get marked down a month after the sale ends) . Do they have enough arch support for me? Ironically, I bought them to replace some Vionic boots (a brand started by a podiatrist) which did have good arch support but were too small in the toe box for me.

Welcome Objects 2019 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 1 this month = 9 items total for the year
Subtractions: pairs of shoes this month = 33 items removed from my closet so far this year

Three models modeling Amour Vert clothes. The first model wears a floral print shirt and jeans. The second model wears a black jumpsuit. Her back is to the camera. The third model wears a red midi dress that ties in the front.

Fitting Room Review: How Amour Vert Fits on a Petite

Published by welcomeobjects

I popped into Amour Vert recently, so here’s a quick fitting room review. (And I mean quick! I think I was in there for 15 minutes, 20 max.) If you’re new to Amour Vert, it’s a sustainable clothing brand based here in San Francisco. The company works directly with mills to create its fabrics and it only uses non-toxic dyes, according to this interview with the CEO in Forbes. The price point, while not cheap, is moderate for a sustainable brand. (T-shirts run $40 to $60. Dresses $100 to $250). That actually doesn’t seem bad to me considering that the clothes are made in the U.S., the majority of them in California. (You can read more about the fabrics and factories here.)

On a whole, Amour Vert’s style is feminine. Think flowy, floral prints, twist designs, and tulip hems. Personally, this doesn’t always work for my tastes, which has increasingly moved towards the minimalist. Still, I find myself looking at their stuff because even an Everlane devotee like me tires of the basics. Sometimes I want to mix it up with prints. The problem, though, is that I feel indifferent towards most of Amour Vert’s prints. I can’t quite put my finger on it, except to say it just doesn’t do it for me. Not surprisingly — and very on brand for me — the one Amour Vert item I reach for a lot is a solid black dress.

Amy Silk Blouse

Anyhow. The main reason I dropped by the store was to check out the fit of a silk shirt I had seen online. The magic words that got me in the store was “3/4 sleeves.” Why? Because I’m petite and most long-sleeved shirts are too long for my arms (as exemplified here in this review of several Everlane silk shirts). Three-quarter length sleeves means there’s a chance that they’ll fit like regular length sleeves on me. Here is a 5′ 10″ model wearing a small in the shirt in question.

Amy Silk Blouse (Mojave Floral print) – $98 on sale (originally $168)

I also tried a small. Here’s what it looks like on 5′ 4″ me. Pardon the photo quality. The fitting room didn’t have great light and I have an old phone with an outdated camera. (But I refuse to upgrade! Trying to use things for as long as possible because that’s the sustainable thing to do.)

I’m a size 4 and an XS or S in most brands. In this case, the S was definitely big. It was big in the shoulders and too long for my petite height. I’d only be able to wear this tucked in. The sleeve length worked out alright though. (By the way, this is a perfect example of an Amour Vert print that doesn’t do it for me.)

UPDATE 11/7/19 – I’ve since found a discontinued print that I like. Check out this post to see how an XS fits.

Colombe Dress

Next, I tried this midi T-shirt dress made out of a soft and stretchy blend of organic cotton and modal. Here is a small on another 5′ 10″ model.

Colombe Dress – $128

And here is the small on me. It fits true to size.

This dress is described on the Amour Vert site as having a relaxed fit. While it was comfy, I didn’t find it be relaxed at all. In fact, it was sort of fitted across the belly, making any tummy bumps apparent. I’m self-conscious about my belly, so nope, this is not for me. I think this other dress made out of T-shirt material would have been more forgiving on me. But that one wasn’t stocked in the store when I visited.

Gardenia Jumpsuit

The last item I tried on was this jumpsuit, which is made out of beechwood modal, a man-made fiber. Creating fiber out of wood involves turning the wood into a liquid-like pulp and forcing it through tiny holes. Amour Vert says its beechwood is sustainably-harvested and pesticide-free.

Here’s a 5′ 8″ model wearing a size small.

Gardenia Jumpsuit – $158

Of course, it’s not cropped on me.

I liked the sexy V on the back (shown in the very first photo in this post) and how it could be worn casually or dressed up. But, I didn’t love the way it tied in the front and made a starburst of creases right at your center, which you can see more clearly on the model. The fabric was soft and drapey and quite comfortable. But maybe too comfortable — it felt like wearing pajamas.

On a whole, it seems like Amour Vert clothes are created with taller people in mind (but what American clothing brand isn’t?). So it’s not exactly a shorty-friendly store, though I think petite shoppers like me can find things that work. I’m used to rolling up sleeves to achieve better proportions and of course, visiting the tailor.

While nothing grabbed me this time, I do keep Amour Vert in mind when shopping for clothes because of their sustainable manufacturing practices. Something always catches my attention. I wish they carried more products in store, though. I’m old fashioned and like to try things on in person.

For now, I’m just eyeing things online like:
– this crisp-looking striped blouse (on sale and I’d no doubt have to roll up the sleeves)
– this puff-sleeve blouse
– and this silk tank with a V shape on both the front and back. (Just waiting for them to make it in a print I’d wear.)
– I’ve also been staring at these Coclico flats since the fall

SCRAP SF Tour: Mannequin heads on top of a shelf, and rolls of fabric on cubby shelves.

Field Trip: A Tour of SCRAP SF

Published by welcomeobjects

August has been a busy month work wise, so I haven’t had as much time (or inclination) to blog. I’ve also been experiencing some blogging fatigue. Sometimes it feels like I’m just writing into the void. It also feels ridiculous to write about stuff and consumption habits when so many horrible things are happening in the world. I mean, the rainforest is literally on fire.

So, today I thought I’d blog about something that feels more helpful and positive. I’m starting a feature on the blog called Field Trips where I visit places that are doing something interesting when it comes to sustainability. The first destination is SCRAP SF.

The first aisle at SCRAP SF.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. We’ve all heard that, right? The order of this phrase is not random. It indicates what we should prioritize: reducing our consumption in the first place. SCRAP helps us with the second part of that phrase: reuse. It’s a nonprofit reuse center in San Francisco that consolidates and organizes art, craft, and office supplies. It then sells them for super cheap. SCRAP also gives away supplies each month to teachers. In fact, I originally learned about SCRAP from a teacher.

Cardboard tubes and wrapping paper galore.

It’s a great resource for artists too. SCRAP also holds art workshops, like drawing and crocheting. You can also learn how to make objects out of stuff found at SCRAP, like collages, jewelry, and clothing. According to SCRAP, the organization diverts 200 tons of materials from the landfill each year.

I just love when things are organized by color!

As someone who hates throwing useful things away, I love this place so much. It’s one of my favorite places in San Francisco. I’ve donated art supplies, stationery, and office stuff to them, but I shop there as well. They take donations of items (as well as money) from individuals as well as businesses. Sometimes events drop off leftover swag and you’ll come across a whole bunch of new reusable water bottles with some random logo on it. The last time I was there, it seemed like a tailor shop had closed and given them their contents. There were boxes and boxes of high-quality buttons that were made in the USA and England. They seemed like they were midcentury — certainly better than anything you could buy at your average big box craft store today.

Vintage high-quailty buttons.

I’ve brought them random spare buttons; I’m definitely not the only one. There’s a large box full of buttons to sift through. Cost? Just $1 a scoop.

SCRAP also has fabrics, frames, greeting cards, foam core, mat board, tins, hardware, old National Geographic magazines, maps, vintage photos, carpet samples, trophies and on and on and on. Some of the more unexpected things I’ve seen at SCRAP: synthetic grass (brand new in the packaging), a barrel full of nail polish stickers, piano keys.

You can also donate costumes and theater set pieces. So you never know what you might find. Perhaps a large puppet like this:

The mister and I went in there recently with a random shopping list:
– adhesive mailing labels
– a black Prismacolor pencil (we have a set of Prismacolor pencils at home but are missing the black)
– sew-on snap (I needed just one to add to a piece of clothing)
– buttons for my mother-in-law’s knitting project

Remarkably, we found all these things — even the exact black pencil we were looking for. We also picked up some lightbulbs to replace the ones in a table lamp that had just gone out.

Our grand total was $2.17. Purchasing a box of new labels and a package of snaps would have cost at least $8. So we saved both money and stuff from the landfill.

There’s also a section with free stuff just inside the entrance (you can always find binders, calendars, and CD cases there). The exterior has piles of free stuff as well like buckets, plastic bins, pottery, etc.

Last year, there was a scary moment when it seemed that SCRAP might be evicted. It’s located in a warehouse owned by the San Francisco Unified School District and the fire department said the building had some violations and needed costly repairs. Happily, the issues were resolved and SCRAP is still open. Volunteers (and just a few staff) keep it running.

In Oakland, there’s a similar org called the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse. I wish that every community had a place like this, as well as repair cafes and secondhall malls like this one in Sweden.

Is there a creative reuse center in your area? I’d love to hear about it.

Allbirds tree skippers as worn on someone's feet, as they stand on black and white tile.

Allbirds Tree Loungers & Tree Skippers Review

Published by welcomeobjects

I joined the cult of Allbirds about two years ago when I bought a pair of their slip-on Wool Loungers right before a trip to Europe. Though I didn’t exactly love the way they looked (and hated that half of San Francisco seems to wear them) I found that it was totally true that they are damn comfy. Ever since, I’ve been wearing my Wool Loungers on the regular.

A couple months ago, the thought entered my head that I should also get a pair of their tree fiber shoes. My reasoning was that the wool loungers are sometimes too warm, especially when temperatures rise. Allbirds says the naturally-derived eucalyptus fabric is breathable and cooling. I visited the San Francisco store and tried both the Tree Skippers, which has a boat shoe look, and the Tree Loungers. There’s also the Tree Runners, which look like trainers, and the Tree Breezers, Allbird’s newest shoe, which is a ballet flat. (I’ll review the Breezers in another post.)

Allbirds Tree Skipper and Loungers shoes on top of shoe boxes.

Allbirds Tree Skippers and Tree Loungers – $95

Allbirds Tree Loungers

I’ll start with the Tree Loungers since I already own the Wool Loungers and can compare them directly. The main difference, of course, is in the fabric. The tree fabric has a mesh texture, feels lighter, and is meant for warmer temperatures than its wool counterpart. The wool fabric has, well, a wool texture. They have a similar, almost identical look in terms of shape and cut.

A hand holds an Allbirds Tree Skipper in dark gray.

Allbirds Tree Loungers – $95

Trying them on, though, I couldn’t couldn’t help but notice that the tongue part on the Tree Loungers seem longer than on the Wool Loungers. They look more pronounced to me.

I mean, I didn’t take out my tape measure and measure them. (Maybe I should have). But I don’t think my eyes are deceiving me. For comparison, here’s a photo of my Wool Loungers below. I’m wearing size a size 7 in both shoes. I think the shorter tongue on the Wool Loungers look better.

Allbirds wool loungers on my feet, as viewed from above.

Allbirds Wool Loungers – $95

Anyhow, you are probably wondering how they fit. Allbirds shoes only come in whole sizes. (The one exception is the Tree Breezers, which comes in half sizes.) I’m a wide-ish 6.5 and tried the 7. The Tree Loungers and Wool Loungers fit similarly, which is to say that they slip the tiniest bit in the heel, but not too much to bother me. Wheras the wool stretches a bit though, the eucalyptus tree mesh fabric won’t stretch much, according to one of the workers at the San Francisco store.

I found the Tree Loungers just as comfy as the Wool Loungers. I have to say, they really know what they’re doing when it comes to comfort. All these shoes are super light. They feel cushy, but not overly so. It’s not like your feet are sinking into the insole.

Allbirds Tree Skippers

I don’t like dealing with laces all that much, so usually I’d go for the slip-on shoe. But, I pushed myself to try something different. The Tree Skipper looked a little cuter to me (with less of a pronounced tongue). So I took home a pair in the Coffee color. My thinking was that I could treat them like a neutral.

Allbirds Tree Skippers – $95

Allbirds Tree Skipper held in a hand, showing the bottom sole.

The super light sole, made from Allbirds’ proprietary low-density foam.

Once I got them home, though, I realized that I had been tricked a little bit because the shoe looked a little different on the website. On the website, they’re shown with the laces going across the top of the shoe. They’re not tied.

But actually, you have to tie the laces! Duh. Of course. I even tied them in the store! But somehow, it didn’t dawn on me that the look that I preferred (with the laces neatly out of the way) could not be achieved when you’re wearing the shoe. To get that look, you have to tuck the untied laces inside the shoe like so. But you can’t actually wear them like that.

Allbirds Tree Skipper on a red background. The laces on the left shoe are tied. On the right shoe they are tucked into the shoe.

Reality vs. Marketing: the Allbirds Tree Skippers need to be worn with the laces tied, as shown on the left shoe. Duh!

I also realized that the insole in the tree fabric shoes is identical to the ones in the wool shoes. This means the surface is merino wool. While wool is breathable and a temperature regulator, the insoles still felt a little warm to me.

The green insole of the Allbirds Tree Skipper.

The Allbirds insole: castor bean oil with wool on the top.

Another thing you should know about the insole is that it’s made from castor bean oil, a more sustainable choice than conventional foam, which is made from petroleum.

In the first few moments wearing these shoes, my wide feet felt a little like they were hanging out over the sides of the insole on the outer edges. But then the shoe seemed to flatten out or correct itself and they were fine. No break in time needed.

But there were things about the look of the Tree Skippers that bothered me. First, I made a bad color choice. Something about the color on me combined with the mesh fabric didn’t work. When I showed them to a friend, she said they had a medical look reminiscent of a bandage. Um, that’s not the look I’m going for.

The bigger problem, though, was that my toes pushed up against the fabric and you could see them. The surface of the shoe was unattractively lumpy. This was particularly pronounced in the big toe area.

Wait a second, was this also happening with my Wool Loungers? As it turns out, yes. I just hadn’t noticed it. I put my hand into my Wool Loungers and discovered that the fabric had thinned right where my big toes hit. Yikes! Because my wool shoes are a dark color, it was not as apparent.

In time, my big toes might just wear holes into the fabric. I worried that the tree fabric wouldn’t survive long given that it felt thinner to me than the wool fabric. I just didn’t have confidence that my toes wouldn’t destroy them in a year’s time. So I decided to return them. You can do so within 30 days, even if you’ve worn them. No questions asked. Indeed, no one asked me why I was returning them. I inquired about the fate of returned worn shoes. Allbirds donates them.

Ah well, these were not for me. I wonder how they fit on other people and whether their toes push against the fabric too. I still think Allbirds make for a great travel shoe given the lightness and the comfort, though not for a rainy destination. I might pick up a darker-colored pair of the Tree Loungers for that purpose.