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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.

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), 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 sneakers

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.

A product photo of a pair of Everlane shorts with an elastic waist.

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.

Two images, side by side, of the same person in a fitting room mirror trying on black shorts in two different sizes.

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.

A person trying on shorts in a fitting room taking a selfie in the mirror.

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.

You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.

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?

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

A model wears an A-line dress in a brown color.

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

A model wears a a long T-shirt dress in blue.

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 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

A model wears a jumpsuit with a scoop neck and patch pockets.

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.

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.)

** this post contains affiliate links **

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. Plant stand reviewed 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.

Five bags with a pebbled leather look on a bed.

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 secondhand 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!

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 // 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.

Everlane day square tote in black and gray Blondo ankle boots on a white background.

July 2019 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

What I Bought

It’s time for my monthly consumption check-in. This month I bought three things. Considering that in the first six months of the year, I added a grand total of five items to my wardrobe, three feels significant.

First, my carefully considered Nordstrom Anniversary Sale items arrived. I only ordered two things (though in multiple sizes). I decided to keep a pair of Blondo waterproof ankle boots in gray. That some of the colors came in wide widths seemed promising. Maybe they’d fit better. Happily, this seems to be the case. I’ve worn the boots out once, and so far, so good. Maybe this is the end of my ankle boots search? I’m a little embarrassed by how many boots have cycled in and out of my closet the last few years due to fit and comfort issues.

An aside about the packaging, though: The rigid insert inside the boot was plastic. Boooo.

A gray boot on a wood floor with the plastic insert that was inside of it below it.

Blondo boots

Next, I couldn’t resist snagging a Day Square Tote when Everlane put their totes on sale for one day. I’ve had my eye on it for some time. Most days I carry one of Everlane’s twill totes (no longer available). But after several years of constant use, they’re looking worn. I wanted to upgrade to a leather tote, which would hopefully last longer, look polished enough for a work meeting, but could also pair with a more casual outfit. The Day Square Tote fit the bill. (There’s also the larger Day Market Tote, but I figured the smaller square one would fit my petite frame better.)

Making this purchase also forced me confront the fact that I have a perfectly good leather bag in my closet that I never use: this AllSaints hobo bag. I fell in love with its minimalist slouchy look when I first saw it in a catalog and impulsively splurged on it. But I’ve only carried it twice! It’s just a little too big and heavy for me. Time to sell it.

To reach the two-item minimum for free shipping with Everlane, I also threw in a pair of Easy Chinos. I have a pair in black (reviewed here) and have been surprised by how much I like them, so I thought I’d get them in more colors. I wanted the ochre, but they’re sold out in my size. So I ordered the stone. While they appeared to be light gray on the site, they’re more khaki-esque in person. I’m not sure what to do with this color, honestly. They’re going back.

Lastly, I was in Muji recently for stationery and gel ink refills. (They’re always out of the pen refills in black though. Grrrrr.) I picked up an organic cotton tee with French sleeves in gray. It looked like the same cut as a white one I bought last year and wear often — and it was just $12 too.

It hasn’t been entirely clear to me if Muji is an ethical and sustainable company, but perhaps that’s because they don’t shout about it. Quartz reports that they have a slow and purposeful production process. “Instead of outsourcing to the known conglomerate of sweatshops, Muji has invested in an eco-friendly dyeing and sewing plant in Cambodia and sources products from Kenya and Kyrgyzstan, abiding by sustainability principles set by the UN’s Business Call to Action.”

Even though only one of these items (the ankle boots) was on the wardrobe gap wish list I made earlier this year, I feel like they’re all reasonable purchases that will get a lot of wear.

Welcome Objects 2019 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 3 this month = 8 items total for the year
Subtractions: 1 this month = 28 items ejected from my closet so far this year

What I Read

This is an older news story, but I shared it with my family recently because they didn’t know about it: How the Sugar Industry Shifted Blame to Fat. “The sugar industry paid scientists in the 1960s to play down the link between sugar and heart disease and promote saturated fat as the culprit instead.”

Waste Only: How the Plastics Industry is Fighting to Keep Polluting the World. Similarly, the plastic industry is derailing efforts to use less of its product. Among the many distressing things I learned from this in-depth investigation was that very little plastic gets recycled, and that recycled plastic “is increasingly recognized as posing threats to our health.” Plastic contains additives that are not regulated. Black plastic is particularly harmful. “The plastic is often sourced from recycled electronics that contain phthalates, flame retardants, and heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, and mercury. Even at very low levels, these chemicals can cause serious reproductive and developmental problems.”

Factory Tour: Inside the Denim Factory that Your Favorite Sustainable Brands Use Loyally. An inside look at the Saitex factory in Vietnam, which makes jeans for Everlane, Eileen Fisher, and other brands. It was eye-opening to see all the work that goes into a single pair of jeans.

Everlane the wedge shoe in light yellow and black on a retail display.

Everlane Try-On: 7 Styles of Sandals & Shoes

Published by welcomeobjects

I’ve been popping into the Everlane store in San Francisco over the past few months to try on things for fun. So, I thought I’d share some thoughts on my first impressions of their spring and summer releases. Today I’ll start with seven styles of shoes. (Some of them are, interestingly, on sale already.)

Before we get started, if you’re new to my blog, here are some things you should know about my feet: mostly that they’re a half size (I’m a 6.5) and that they’re a bit wide and flat. Also, that I have a hard time finding comfy shoes, so I’m very picky.

The Day Crossover Sandal

A hand holding up a pair of pink crossover sandals from Everlane.

Day Crossover Sandal – $88

I’m starting with the Day Crossover Sandal because I was most excited about this one. Judging by how quickly it has sold out in various colors, including this dusty rose and a lovely neutral mocha brown, it seems I’m not the only one who feels that way. At the moment, the Day Crossover Sandal is available in camel and white.

What I Liked: Wow, this sandal is lightweight. And the leather on the upper is so soft. The bottom is a flexible and rubbery. It’s an easy shoe to slip into on your way out the door and look chic.

What Was Meh: The footbed is just how it looks: flat without any arch support. It’s also quite thin, which made me wonder how long they’d last. (I tend to wear out my soles, especially on the back quickly.)

Fit: It felt true to size, though as someone with wide feet, I leaned towards sizing up half a size to the 7s. I tried both 6.5 and 7 in the store and the sales person seemed to think that the 7s were better as well. However, since the leather is so soft, it seems like it would mold to your feet and stretch. I have a feeling my usual 6.5 would have been just fine.

Even though I love the way these look and how soft the leather feels, I didn’t end up buying these. Why? Because they’re thin and that means that my feet are too close to San Francisco’s gross streets. Sorry, I need more distance from the ground.

The Day Slide Sandal

A pair of Everlane slide sandals in black on a wooden surface.

Day Slide Sandal – $88

What I Liked: The Day Slide Sandals are similar in construction to the Day Crossover Sandal. That means it has the same super soft leather upper, only there’s more of it in this design.

What Was Meh: We already went over this, but the footbed and bottom are thin.

Fit: I tried on the floor sample in 7 and they felt too big, confirming my suspicion that the leather upper stretches. I’d also take these in your regular size.

The Form Three-Strap Sandal

A pair of Everlane yellow sandals with three tubular straps across the top.

Form Three-Strap Sandal – $128, now marked down to $77

What I Liked: Last year I tried on the Form Crossover Sandals and wrote about how much I liked them as the footbed feels like it molds to your feet. Plus, there’s arch support and the outsole is rubber. The Form Three-Strap has the same comfy construction. And yes, they lift me far enough away from the grime of the street.

What Was Meh: The Form sandals are a little heavy. Also, those three tube straps are problematic. They’re kind of firm and it seems like they might dig into the top of your feet. Also, they’re not as good as the crossover design at keeping the sandal secure on my foot. The shoe seemed to flop around more when I took steps. I imagine that the similar Form Thong Sandal has the same problem. Maybe that’s why they have too much in stock and all colorways are on sale now. Both sandals come in black, lilac, and apricot (what I’m wearing above). The Three-Strap also comes in an aloe green, which looks like the color of guacamole to me.

Fit: The Form sandals only come in whole sizes. So, I sized up to 7, which seemed to fit fine.

The Wedge

Two pairs of backless sandals with a wedge heel in pale yellow and black.

Wedge – $165 (some colors marked down to $116)

What I Liked: Right off the bat, I should confess that I’m generally not a fan of backless, strapless heels. But I think these are really cute. I do love a wedge and the curve of the Wedge gives it a little something extra. It’s a classy-looking shoe. These also seem quite walkable as they’re not that tall at 2″.

What Was Meh: I found them snug, particularly at the front. These seems like they’d pinch your toes too much (if you too have wide feet.)

Fit: I’m wearing the 7s here and they still feet tight in the toe box area. I suspect they’d take a considerable amount of break-in time. I don’t recommend them for wide feet folks.

The classic colors of black and bone are regular priced at $165. Spring colors like lilac and apricot (which I’m wearing), have been marked down to $116.

The Block Heel

A pair of yellow sandals with a block heel and ankle straps.

Block Heel – $145 – $155

When I first saw the Block Heel sandals, they gave me flashbacks to my adolescence in the ’90s. That squared-off toe definitely screams ’90s to me. I’m not sure how I feel about that. In general, I’m not a fan of ’90s fashion.

What I Liked: The 2″ block heel is walkable. And I’m digging the colors. Rose and black are $145. Summer colors like this canary yellow are marked down to $87. And, there’s also a lizard print version (currently in cream, dusty blue, and sand), which cost a little more at $155. The moss green lizard is now $93.

What Was Meh: There’s not much cushioning in the footbed. And like the wedges, these felt a bit tight in the toe box.

Fit: Runs a little small (at least for my wide feet.) I walked around in the store in a half size up and they felt decently comfortable. I don’t know if I’d want to walk around a lot in these though since there’s not much cushioning.

Double-Strap Block Heel

View looking down at a pair of sandals with a strap across toes and around ankles, as worn by someone who is also standing in front of a mirror, so there is a mirrored image.

Double-Strap Block Heel – $145 – $155

I’m not even going to list the “what I liked” and “meh” categories here because it’s clear that I have a thing against ’90s-era-looking shoes and that’s not fair to the shoe. The Double-Strap Block Heel basically has the same construction as the Block Heel but with two thin straps for the upper.

Fit: For some bizarro reason, these felt less comfortable to me than the Block Heels. That doesn’t make any sense as the footbed looked the same to me. Shrug. Chalk it up to sample to sample variation?

Again, like its sibling, the smooth leather version is $145 while the lizard print ones are $155. One color (strawberry pink) is marked down to $87. They come in black, bone, camel and sand lizard. One thing that’s different from the Block Heel Sandals is that the heel in the Double Strap remains black no matter the color of the upper. With the Block Heel, the heel is the same color as the upper.

The Day Glove ReKnit

Everlane Day Glove ReKnit in yellow, held in a hand.

Day Glove ReKnit – $98

Everlane has taken their ever popular Day Glove, which I reviewed last year and made a version of them in a recycled polyester fabric called the Day ReKnit. (From plastic bottles!) There’s some nylon and elastane in there too. Are these meant to compete with Rothy’s? Hmmm.

What I Liked: They’re wide feet friendly! They’re also lightweight and have a rubber outsole. They footbed is lightly cushioned.

What Was Meh: The same complaints I have about the Day Glove, I have about the ReKnit Day Glove. Mainly, that I don’t like the way it looks, which is just a personal thing. I don’t like how much of the foot it covers. The fabric is … interesting. They look like little sweaters for your feet. I like the look of Rothy’s better, especially the pointy-toed ones. Fabric ballet shoes seem to be a thing now. Allbirds also makes one out of Eucalyptus fiber called the Tree Breezers. They’re at the same price point, and those even have a slight arch support.

Fit: They fit the same as the Day Gloves. Even with my wide feet, I fit in my usual size. They seem comfortable, though I wonder how they’d feel over a long period of time on your feet.

UPDATE 11/13/19 – I compare the Day Glove ReKnit to the Allbirds Tree Breezers.

Welp, that was a lot of shoes. Hopefully this review has been helpful to you.

Do you like any of these shoes? And what do you think of ’90s fashion? Am I being too harsh?

You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.