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A Baggu Circle Purse in a light brown color on a table at the Baggu store.

Round Out Your Wardrobe: The Baggu Circle Purse

Published by welcomeobjects

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite little purses, the Baggu Soft Circle Purse. There’s something about the shape that endears it to me right away. If this purse were rectangular or square, I wouldn’t be into it as much.

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On most days, I carry my Everlane Pocket Tote or Twill Zip Top Tote (both reviewed here) because I schlep a lot of stuff around. But when I need just the basics with me for an event or dinner with a friend, I turn to my trusty circle purse. The one I own is an oxblood color from a few seasons ago; I believe it’s from fall or winter 2016.

The bag’s diameter is about 8.75″ diameter; it’s 2″ deep. That’s plenty of room for my square-zip wallet (reviewed here), phone, lip balm, and a few other things.

I love the outside slip pocket — and the fact that the Baggu logo is small and tastefully stamped.

Inside are two interior pockets, one on each side of the purse. Each slip pocket has a divider down the middle, so it’s actually more like four pockets. Gotta love pockets! I do wish the interior liner was a lighter color, though, so it’d be easier to view the contents of the bag.

The strap has a 22″ drop. You can wear it on the shoulder, or depending on your height, crossbody. The stitching on my strap is not 100%  straight, but this is a small quibble.

On the older versions of this bag, like mine, the strap is adjustable.

The most recent iteration of this bag has a 21″ cord strap instead of a flat one. You can only adjust the length of the strap by knotting it.

The newer bag also has a leather pull on the brass zipper pull, and the cord strap is not stitched onto the side like the flat strap, but those changes seem to be the only difference between the different versions of the bag. The general design is the same. Even though the cord strap looks cleaner in the way it attaches to the body of the bag, I prefer the flat strap for the ability to adjust it without knotting it.

The purse is made out of natural milled calfskin leather and it is soft! The texture is pebbled, but not overly so (I’m not a fan of leather that’s really pebbled). Since the leather is unfinished, Baggu recommends conditioning it once in a while. I’m happy to report that Baggu is an ethical brand and makes its leather goods in the USA. Overall, the quality seems nice.

The bag retails for $180, though you can wait and snag it on sale like I did. You can buy directly from Baggu, but many other retailers carry them, including big department stores like Bloomingdales and  Nordstrom. (And that means you might be able to score Baggu at Nordstrom Rack!) If you, like me, prefer the flat strap version, you can still find the earlier version online (for example, in black here)

Baggu also makes a canvas version of the purse that comes in a small size (7″ diameter, now sold out) and a larger one. Want a matching circular wallet? Baggu makes that too.

I love this bag’s minimalist look. I guess circle purses are a trend? Here’s a pricey one by Mansur Gavriel, Rebecca Minkoff’s take, and a Target one (on sale this weekend). I’m currently coveting this Cuyana circle belt bag. They also make a circle crossbody bag that’s similar to the Baggu one, but more structured. I don’t care much for trends, but this is one that can stick around as far as I’m concerned.

UPDATE 10/7/19 – Just noticed that Baggu now makes two sizes of the circle purse, the size I reviewed and a mini version that’s 2″ smaller. They also seemed to have updated their manufacturing process. The description now reads, “This bag was made using DriTan™ water efficient technology, and is estimated to have saved 4 liters of water during production.” I also noticed that the cotton canvas lining is now light-colored and 65% of it is recycled. The price of the larger circle purse has gone up slightly from $180 to $188.

Three S'ip by S'well water bottles laying against a red background, next to a book and a plant. The book is "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng.

My Favorite Water Bottle: S’ip by S’well

Published by welcomeobjects

Carrying a water bottle has become second nature to me. I always keep one in my bag to stay hydrated (drinking more water is actually one of my new year’s resolutions) and to avoid single-use plastic bottles. Since I’m picky about my water bottles, I thought I’d give a shout-out to my favorite kind — S’ip by S’well — and compare it to other brands that I’ve tried.

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Is There a Difference Between S’ip and S’well?

S’ip is the sister brand of S’well, which makes stainless steel insulated water bottles. Both lines come in an array of designs, though the S’ip ones seem more playful. Both don’t sweat (by that I mean create condensation on the exterior). The S’well line is more upmarket and sold at upscale stores like Nordstrom. A 17-oz bottle retails for $35 while a 25-oz size is $45.

By comparison, the S’ip by S’well bottles come in a 15-oz size and retail for $25. They can be found at Target, where they were exclusively sold at first (and where older designs often get marked down, like the navy one with the gold cap shown above and this one and this one.) You can also find them at other retailers now. S’well and S’ip bottles are similar in size though different in form factor. Both brands also make travel mugs.

S'i[ by Swell versus Swell water bottle. One of each, side by side for comparison

Is there any difference between them besides the price? Construction wise, the S’well bottles are triple walled. They keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 (so says the S’well website). The S’ip bottles are double walled, so while they’re insulated, they’re not quite as insulated.

UPDATE 10/11/19 – A reader asked how long drinks stay hot in the S’ip bottles. I did a quick test with the travel mug, starting with boiled water at 200 degrees. It lost about 10 degrees an hour, so it was still hot 4 hours later, and warm 6 hours later. I will do a more detailed test later.

The S’well is a little bit taller and heavier than the S’ip. (On my postal scale, the S’ip weighed in at 11 oz and the S’well at 12 oz). However, the S’well has a slightly larger capacity at 17 oz versus 15 oz. Even though the S’ip doesn’t perform as well as the S’well, I found it’s good enough for me, especially since I usually refill my bottle several times throughout the day. I tested its insulation one day by filling it with ice and water. Although the ice had mostly melted 24 hours later, the water was still refreshingly cold.

Both brands seem well made and never leak, a problem I’ve had with other bottles. Reaching into my bag and realizing its contents were wet would dampen (ba-dum-bump) my day. While I’m sure the problem could be attributed to user error, I’ve never had this experience with a S’ip bottle (either the water bottle or the travel mug.)

I tested the S’ip by S’well mug recently by leaving it full of coffee on its side for hours. It didn’t leak one bit. (BTW, for some reason the green one shown above is on sale at Target now at nearly half off, same with this design and this one.) The only complaint I have about the mug is that sometimes when drinking from it, particularly when I’m trying to consume the last of my coffee, I’ll have to tilt the mug up more and the opened latch touches my nose.)

Other Water Bottle Brands I’ve Tried

In comparison, here are some other brands I’ve tried: Sigg, Nalgene, and Klean Kanteen. Here are their capacities and the diameters of the openings.

Sigg – 15 oz, 1”
Nalgene – 14 oz, 1.75”
Kleen Kanteen – 18 oz, 1.75”
S’ip by Swell – 15 oz, 1.25″

The Sigg has the smallest opening, which was problematic when it came to getting ice into it. I can get my bottle brush into it, but with some amount of force. After owning a Sigg bottle for many years, it also started to smell bad. I tried baking soda, lemon, vinegar, all sorts of things to try to clean it, but the odor never quite went away.

The Nalgene and Klean Kanteen feature wider mouths. No problems here with ice cubes! Made out of BPA-free plastic, the Nalgene is lightweight and the cap is attached — handy for those prone to dropping things. But I also found the Nalgene smelled after a day or two. Washing it took care of the odor, but that meant I had to wash the bottle daily.

With the Klean Kanteen, the main problem for me was leaking. I guess I didn’t tighten the cap all the way and I often found myself taking everything out of my bag to try to clean up a water spill inside.

Since switching to S’ip, I haven’t had that problem once.

The Ice Cube Factor

At 1.25″ the mouth opening on the S’ip is a bit narrow; same goes for the similarly-sized S’well. Ice cubes from a dispenser (such as the kind built into refrigerators) fit, but they aren’t going to make it into such a small opening without some help. I found I had to dispense the ice into a separate glass and then insert each ice cube by hand, one at a time. If you use ice from a standard ice cube tray, they’re too wide. I now own an ice tray specifically for making long and narrow ice for bottles.

But that’s my only complaint about the S’ip. As a fan of cold water, I love that my drink stays cold — and never spills.

How the S’ip Has Held Up

I’ve been using my S’ip bottles daily for several months and they’ve held up well. The paint does chip from use, particularly on the bottom and the edges, but otherwise, they’re fine and still performing well. (The paint job on the S’well seems of higher quality and hasn’t chipped. Then again, the one I own is stainless steel at the bottom, so it’s not fair to directly compare them.)

The packaging claims that S’well responsibly makes its bottles in China. Bonus: S’well also partners with UNICEF USA to donate funds towards clean and safe water access. Its website says it has committed “$800,000 since 2015.” This year, S’well is supporting water programs in Madagascar, a country where nearly half of the population lacks access to clean drinking water. That’s something I’m happy to support with my purchase. I’m even thinking about getting one of their smaller 10-oz-sized ones (like this adorable rocket print one) to use on days that I carry a smaller bag.

A woman with black hair wearing the striped Everlane cotton collarless belted shirt dress. Her hands are in the pockets.

Summer Stripes: Everlane Cotton Collarless Belted Shirt Dress

Published by welcomeobjects

The weather’s warming up, so I’ve been looking forward to stepping out in a dress. I’ve had my eye on Everlane’s Cotton Collarless Belted Shirt Dress for a while and actually bought one back in December when my size was restocked, but I haven’t had a chance to wear it until recently. In general, I love shirt dresses for their versatility. They convey a polished vibe when worn with pumps, but you can also wear them casually with a change in footwear. Wear them to the office or to a park.

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The dress retails for $75 and comes in navy or in stripes (navy and white). I opted for the stripes, which felt clean and modern. Here’s how the shirt dress looks on a 5′ 10″ model.

And here’s how it looks on 5′ 4″ me (with the belt wrapped around twice).

That this dress worked for a petite pleasantly surprised me. Some of Everlane’s clothes definitely seem to be made for taller people (ahem, GoWeave Easy Pant) and their prior shirt dress offerings looked awfully long and rather shapeless.

The fabric of the dress is 100% cotton (an Oxford cloth, Everlane says) and made in Japan. The dress itself is sewn together in a 1,500-person factory in Shenzhen, China and looks beautifully made. The stripes on the dress more or less match up from front to back.

A closeup of the everlane cotton collarless belted shirt dress. It has navy and white stripes and is against a gray background.

I felt that the fit was pretty good, at least on me. I ordered my usual dress size and it was true to size, though a bit on the roomy side. The cut was good in the bust. It didn’t gap in the chest. I’m not actually a fan of the collarless style, so I folded and ironed the area to create a collar.

Since there’s a bit of room, I probably could have sized down. (Elaine from Temporary-House Wifey felt that there wasn’t much difference between the two sizes that she ordered, fit-wise.) However, I worried that one size down would mean a shorter length (something Elaine confirmed was true.) I’m usually a knee-length dress kind of gal, so I didn’t want the dress to be any shorter.

Unbelted the dress is uninspiring. It’s so much cuter with the belt defining your waist.

What I like about this dress: The elbow-length sleeves, which are an elegant way to hide upper arms if you don’t have Michelle Obama biceps. I also liked the medium thickness of the fabric. The weight is perfect and it’s thick enough that you don’t need to wear any special seamless underwear. The fabric hangs nicely off the body and keeps its structure. Super bonus points for the fact that this dress has pockets. (Rejoice!)

What I think they could improve: I wish this shirt dress were at least two inches longer. This is not a dress that you can bend over in to pick something up without inadvertently flashing your undies. The last hidden button on the dress is about 6″ above the hem, creating a front vent. This means you have to be careful when seated, too. If you’re tall, this dress will probably be too short. I’m surprised, frankly, that they didn’t design the dress longer given that most people are taller than me. I also wish the fabric belt was a little longer. With the current length, I can wrap the belt around me twice, but barely.

If you’re curvy on the bottom, this dress might be too tight across the hips for you. The cut is pretty straight and the fabric doesn’t stretch, but perhaps you could go up a size since the belt defines the waist anyway.

A woman with dark hair standing outside, wearing the everlane cotton collarless belted shirt dress with oxford shoes.

This dress has a bit of a uniform vibe going on — not necessarily a bad thing, but something to keep in mind when styling it so you don’t veer too much into a uniform look (unless that’s what you’re going for.)

After reading some of the reviews on the Everlane site, I worried that the dress would wrinkle a lot, but I found this wasn’t the case. While it does wrinkle a little bit, it’s within the realm of normal wrinkling for a cotton dress. Overall, I think this dress is classy and comfortable. And while it often isn’t warm enough in San Francisco to wear it on the regular, I’m packing it for visits to warmer locales this summer.

UPDATE 7/5/18 – Just noticed that Everlane added two new colors: an Oxford blue and a red and white stripe.

If you find my Everlane reviews useful, please consider using my referral link to make your first purchase. (Create your account before browsing.) Thank you! You can find all my Everlane reviews here.

Flat lay photo of a black racerback bra with silver earrings, a makeupbrush, and red lip gloss.

How These $15 Bras From Target Stack Up

Published by welcomeobjects

Bra shopping is the worst. Since last year (well, you could say my whole life, really) I’ve been on the hunt for a better bra. I’ve tried ThirdLove and Uniqlo with no success. A friend of mine swears by Target bras. Even though I shop at Target often for all sorts of stuff, I never considered them for underwear. For one, when I did browse the bras, I never saw my size. I assumed they just didn’t carry it. But I was wrong. They carry a bigger range of sizes online than they do in stores.

(An aside: I just want to give a shout out to the ladies of Ripplu in New York, who sized me. Like many women, I was wearing the wrong size. Several years ago I visited them and learned my proper size. They really know what they’re doing. If I lived in New York, I’d probably just go to them to find a new bra.)

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Anyhow, I’m looking for an every day bra — nothing fancy, nothing lacy, nothing with adornments. Target’s house brand, Gillian & O’Malley offers the Everyday Bra and the Everyday Racerback Bra. They both received many good reviews online, so I put in my order.

Gillian & O’Malley Everyday Bra

Target Gillian & O’Malley Everyday Bra – Comes in 21 sizes from 32A to 40D – $14.99

My first impression was that this looked like just what I wanted: a simple smooth T-shirt bra with very lightly padded cups. The fabric is soft and comfortable and the band has stretch. The adjustable straps work well (as in when you adjust them, they stay in place).

The back of a brown bra on a white background.

However, I found the clasp area just a little scratchy. I ordered this in two sizes: my usual size and one cup size down. The cups in my usual size fit alright. Not as good as Third Love (which makes half sizes), but not bad.

The back of a brown bra on a white background. It is unclasped.

I also found the underwire not quite right for me. It just didn’t sit comfortably on me. I was aware of it all the time. Upon a closer read of the reviews, a minority of people complained that the underwire broke or moved around, so it sounds like quality may be an issue with this particular bra.

Gillian & O’Malley Everyday Racerback Bra

A black racerback bra with a front clasp on a white background.

Target Gillian & O’Malley Everyday Racerback Bra – Comes in 21 sizes from 32A to 40D – $14.99

Since one my big problems with bras is that the straps are always falling down, a friend said I should look at racerbacks. Duh. Why didn’t I think of this before? So I tried the racerback version of this bra. I was glad to see it has a sturdy metal clasp on the front, not plastic.

Again, I ordered it in my usual size and one cup size down. This bra is definitely true to size because at one cup size down, the clasp kept busting open. It was just too small. In my regular size, it stayed shut. I felt like the cups fit better in this bra than in the T-shirt bra version. Again, it’s a lightly padded cup — just enough to give you coverage.

This bra has tags on a side panel, but they didn’t bother me. The straps do indeed stay in place and don’t fall off my shoulders, so that’s one problem solved. People seem to love this bra. Someone on the Target site says that it doesn’t even feel like they’re wearing a bra. But that’s not my experience; I can definitely feel the underwire on my rib cage.

I’m keeping this bra for the time being since it fits decently, costs $15, and I desperately need a bra. However, I don’t love wearing it. It’s just not that comfortable as I’m aware of the underwire all the time. At the end of the day, it leaves marks on me — a clear sign that it’s too constricting and not the right bra for me. Maybe I should have tried it in a larger band size?

These bras were made in China. Are they ethically made? Hard to say, though Target was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute.

At $15, I think these are worth a try. If they work out for you, what a deal! (Though I do wonder about their longevity.)

Since it seems that I’m going to be searching a while for a bra, I’ve decided to start a post that gathers up all my bra reviews. You can find the list here. Every time I review a new bra, I’ll add it to this list.

Bras on a gray surface with a jewelry and a white shirt.

All My Bra Reviews in One Post – ThirdLove, Lively, Target, Uniqlo

Published by welcomeobjects

I’m on the quest for the perfect comfy everyday bra. As I review bras, I’ll update this post with new links. Wishing you the breast in your bra shopping! (Sorry not sorry for the pun.)

Lively


Target


ThirdLove


Uniqlo

An Eames shellchair with a colorful pillow next to a white plant pot with a snake plant on a wooden midcentury style stand with 4 legs.

My Search for a Midcentury Modern Plant Stand

Published by welcomeobjects

Like many fans of midcentury modern design, I love the lines of the iconic Modernica Case Study planter, which originated after World War II. It’s simple and elegant.

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But I don’t love the price tag. One of these planters will set you back $160 to $295, depending on the size. You can find it at different retailers like this one, but they never seem to go on sale.

What’s a midcentury design admirer on a budget to do?

At first I put my hope in Target. I kept waiting for them to unveil something, especially since they launched Project 62, a housewares lines inspired by the midcentury era. (The name references the year 1962). In December, I saw these planters in a store.

A display at Target of planters on wood stands.

Target Project 62 Wood & Stone Planters – Large $69.90 (White, Black, Gray), Small $29.99 (White, Black, Gray)

Hey, not bad, Target! They certainly echo the Modernica planter with the cylindrical pot and the four-legged wooden stand. I like what they’re doing here. But these planters didn’t stir my heart the same way the Modernica ones do. I think it has something to do with the legs. OK, this is picky, but I don’t like how the legs taper so that they’re wider at the base and rounded at the edges. (Strangely, the Target site shows two different types of stands: one with tapered legs, and one with straight legs.) I also don’t love how they cross at the bottom.

Even though I was excited to see these, I went with my gut and left them behind in the store. If I wanted to get one now, too bad! These are hard to get your hands on, especially the larger ones. They’re always out of stock on the Target site. Honestly, though, the quality seems so-so — the legs wobble a bit.

4 plants in cylindrical pots on wooden stands.

West Elm Turned Leg Planters – $169 – $179 (White, Patterned)

West Elm has a midcentury vibe going on, so I looked there and found this turned leg planter. But at $179, it didn’t solve my price tag problem.

You know whose price tag works for me? Ikea. I already have a large snake plant housed in a 9″ diameter pot from Ikea (one of the Kardemumma pots, which I wrote about in this post). For years, I set the pot on an Ikea Frosta stool, but the height is too tall. What if I just looked for a stand?

Alas, Ikea doesn’t seem to make a stand for a single large plant (though they have options for displaying multiple smaller plants together as I wrote about in my post about Ikea planters). They certainly don’t have any with a midcentury look. (Frankly, I’m surprised that Ikea hasn’t capitalized on the midcentury modern craze. All they have to do is dust off some designs from their archives, which they did briefly in 2014, but if I recall correctly, most of these items were not available in US stores, except for the coffee table.)

Thwarted by big retailers, I was left with no choice but to look on Etsy. I don’t usually turn to Etsy because it’s kind of all over the place. Sometimes it’s hard to find what you’re looking for and you have to slog through pages and pages of results.

As it turns out, there’s lots of people making midcentury modern-inspired plant stands on Etsy.

I looked at a lot of different shops and decided on a Canadian one called Hook & Stem as they had many good reviews. They’re a husband-and-wife team in Toronto who seem environmentally minded. Where possible, they use reclaimed wood, they say. And if reclaimed wood is not available, they look for local and sustainble sources. They also don’t use stains or dyes in their woodwork. They use the type of wood they say they are using, finishing them with a non-toxic oil. Their plant stands come in five types of woods, from Ash (the lightest) to Walnut (the darkest) — and in three heights.

Hook & Stem Plant Stands – $39.49 – $74.99 (Tall, Medium, Short)

I opted for a stand in the medium height. The total height is 17″ which means your pot sits either 8.5″ or 9.75″ off the ground depending which way it is flipped. Hook and Stem offers their stands in various widths to accommodate your plant pot. And if you don’t see the size you need, you can ask them to customize for you.

The stand took three weeks to arrive in California. (This includes the time it took to make the stand.)

A plant stand shipped flat in a box. This is a view of the open box with the stand in bubble wrap.

The package was surprisingly slim as the stand was flat packed. Ample bubble wrap protected the stand.

A card in the package which says "Thank you?

There was a handy card with assembly instructions.

I got the stand in mahagony.

As promised, putting it together was super easy.

Ta-da! My Ikea pot fit perfectly.

I love my new plant stand and don’t have a single bad thing to say about its quality. It feels solid and stable and is beautifully made. My interactions with Hook & Stem were great as well. I had questions during the ordering process and they got back to me quickly. For something made to order the price isn’t bad either. The medium height stand for a 9″ pot cost $45 (I snagged it during a sale; the regular price is $50). Shipping was $15. My Ikea pot was only $8 plus tax. Total price paid: $68.67.

Although the pot I have isn’t perfectly cylindrical like the Modernica one, I achieved the look I wanted as it’s all about the stand. (Though, hmmmm, what if Target started selling its cylindrical pots separate from the stands? I would go for that.)

In the end I’m glad I bought from Hook and Stem, a small business with sustainable practices and obvious care in what they do. It makes me happy to look at my plant in its stand every day.

 

2 Marimekko x Uniqlo, one polka dotted, one floral, folded up.

Fitting Room Review: Marimekko x Uniqlo

Published by welcomeobjects

When I heard that Marimekko was collaborating with Uniqlo, I got excited. These are two brands I love — together! Marimekko’s bold prints brighten up my day. I was a fan of their collection for Target in 2016. Back then, I snagged a few housewares items. I also couldn’t help myself when it came to the cute clothing for girls. (I bought something for a friend’s kid.)

As for Uniqlo, I love them for providing clothes that fit petite me at prices I can afford. However, as someone who is trying to shop more ethically and avoid fast fashion, I’ve tried to temper my shopping with them. The chain was cited for abusive practices in 2016. It has since said it’s putting better processes in place.

As it turns out, my excitement for this collaboration subsided when I saw the promo photos. These prints just seem kind of hard to wear.

Models wearing Marimekko for Uniqlo. There are 3 women, each wearing loud prints, some with polka dots.

Nevertheless, I checked out the collection in store when it launched a few days ago as I happened to be walking by. (I swear!)

Store display with Marimekko for Uniqlo items on a mannequin

A mannequin wearing a top with big colorful circles and wide-legged pants greeted me in the store. Hmm. This is an outfit I can’t see myself wearing. This circles print, called Nonparelli, reminds me of a circus, though it’s supposed to invoke cakes.

A display of Marimekko x Uniqlo tote bags in store.

The tote bags seemed a decent size. But in comparison to the ones made for Target, they were less of a deal at the same $20 price point. The Target ones were huge and made out of sturdy canvas. The Uniqlo ones are made out of a thin polyester.

Marimekko x Uniqlo dresses on hangers. Some are white with black dots, and some are many colors. They are T-shirt dresses

Short Sleeve Dress – $19.90, Polle Print (Dots), Pompula Print (Flowerpots)

There’s a summery vibe in this collection with T-shirt dresses and sleeveless tops. I didn’t try on these T-shirt dresses as they seemed to run big and I already wear an XS. But I can see this being cute with a belt to define the waist. They even have pockets!

One nice thing about the collection is that most of it seems to be made out of cotton. Personally, I am trying to buy more clothes made out of natural fibers, as opposed to synthetic fibers, which pollute our oceans when they’re washed. Cotton isn’t perfect either as it takes a lot of water to produce, but I figured at least it’s not generating tiny bits of plastic that fish and other wildlife accidentally eat?

A folded up Marimekko x Uniqlo shirt with blocks of color.

Short Sleeve T-Shirt – $14.90 – Tilkkutäkki Print (Patchwork)

One thing I didn’t see in store: the sneakers in the dots print. Or any sneakers, for that matter. (The sneakers also come in a plain black or white with the dots pattern as the interior. The sizing starts at 5.5, but only goes up to 8.)

I took a few things into the fitting room to try on.

A woman with black hair wears a Marimekko x Uniqlo floral colored shirt in a fitting room selfie.

Sleeveless Blouse – $29.90 – Kukkia Rakkaalle Print (Flowers for the Loved One) –

This sleeveless top was a bit tight in the arm pits. I’m a dress size 4 and usually an XS or S at Uniqlo. I’m wearing the XS here. It probably would have fit better in a S, but I didn’t try it because the trapezoidal shape was a no-go for me. It gave me a bunch of volume right in the middle of my body, which was not flattering.

A woman with black hair wears a Marimekko x Uniqlo sleeveless polka dotted shirt. Two views are shown: from the front and from the side.

See? Fitting room fail.

A woman with dark hair wears a Marimekko x Uniqlo dress in a fitting room selfie. It is way big and the words on photo says "This dress does not work for a petite."

Sleeveless Dress – $39.90

This sleeveless cotton dress had the same kind of tent shape as the sleeveless blouse. Is it comfortable? Yes. Does it look good? No! As I noted on my Instagram stories, this is not a good look for petites. The shape overwhelms me and I’m wearing the XS here. I’m not sure who this would look good on. Someone tall and skinny?

A woman wears a Marimekko x Uniqlo floral print T-shirt with skinny jeans.

T-shirt – $14.90 – Maija Print

The best fitting item for me was this cotton T-shirt. I like the boatneck, the elbow-length sleeves, and the boxy shape, which is a bit cropped. I’m wearing the XS here with high-waisted jeans. The length of the shirt is 23″.

Out of all the prints, this floral one, called Maija, is my favorite. As someone who is a bit prints-shy, I think it’s the most wearable one.

A woman wears a polka dotted Marimekko x Uniqlo top with skinny jeans.

T-shirt in Polle Print – $14.90 (also comes in blue with white dots)

I also thought the big polka dots were pretty cute too. So is the description of this print: “The Polle (horse) pattern is based on an image of round hoof prints left by a plump small pony.” Now I want a plump small pony as a pet.

A woman wears Marimekko x Uniqlo T-shirt with large polka dots. Her pants have small polka dots.

You could pattern mix with a similar polka dot pattern in smaller dots.

Overall, I thought the quality was nice (with the exception of the totes). The cotton fabric used for the sleeveless dresses and blouses is finely woven and doesn’t have stretch. It helps those items keep their shape. The T-shirts have a nice, soft feel. The collection is available in select stores and online, though some items are selling out fast. (The totes are already gone from the website.) If there’s something you want that’s sold out, I’d keep my eye on the site. Sometimes things get restocked as people return their orders.

As for me, I’m not sure if I’ll keep these T-shirts. I really like the cut, but I’m not sure about the prints. If you’re going to wear big dots, you gotta own it, and I don’t know if I can. I’m contemplating keeping the floral one, though. Sometimes it’s good to get out of your comfort zone.

In Love with Everlane’s Soft Cotton Boatneck Sweater

Published by welcomeobjects

In my last post, I mentioned I made it out of the Everlane flagship store in San Francisco with an item. That one item is the Soft Cotton Boatneck Sweater and I’m happy to report that I’m in love with it.

Unable to wear Everlane’s cashmere (as detailed in my review of the Cashmere Crop V-Neck), I Iooked at Everlane’s cotton sweater offerings. I loved the fit of the Cashmere Crop, so I wanted to try the Cotton Long-Sleeve V-neck Crop, but the store was out of it in almost every size. (They were out of a lot of things in store, which was disappointing. But the store had only been open for a week when I visited, so perhaps they were getting their sea legs.)

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But then I saw the boatneck — and I do love a boatneck. It’s one of my favorite necklines for its elegance.

Flat lay photo of Everlane cotton boatneck sweater in navy.It’s interesting that Everlane named this sweater the Soft Cotton Boatneck Sweater because I don’t find the material particularly soft, though it does seem to be of nice quality. The fabric is 100% cotton and has a medium weight. It feels quite comfortable on. While it’s not heavy or warm enough for winter, it’s a perfect weight for transitional weather.

Closeup of the neck line of an Everlane boatneck sweater.

The fit is cropped and oversized. Here’s what the it looks like on a 5′ 10″ model. She’s wearing the small.

A black model with natural hair wearing the Everlane soft cotton boatneck sweater in navy. She is sitting on a stool.

And here’s what it looks like on me:

I’m wearing the navy. In Everlane’s Cotton V-neck T-shirt, I wear a S. (My review here.) However, the S in this sweater looked too big and there wasn’t a single XS in the store in any color for me to try on. There was, however, an XXS, so I brought it into the dressing room and to my surprise, I liked the fit.

I think an XS would have worked as well for a more relaxed fit. Do keep in mind that I’m petite (5′ 4″) so while going down two sizes worked for me, this may not be the way to go for you, particularly if you have a long torso. (I’m wearing high-waisted jeans here.) I’d recommend going down one size, and perhaps two if you are petite or want a more cropped look.

I love the detail of the sleeves being fitted at the end. I often have to fold the sleeves of my non-petite sweaters, but I didn’t have to in this case. The sleeves were not too long. Hooray!

This sweater retails for $68 and comes in black, white, navy, light gray, and two striped versions. It’s ethically made in Dongguan, China. At the moment they seem to be out of the black and sold out of a lot of the other colors and sizes. It must be a popular item and I can see why. I want this sweater in other colors.

A black model wearing the Everlane boatneck sweater. It's white with black stripes. She is sitting on a stool.

I guess I’ll have to wait like lots of other people for a restock.

UPDATE 11/7/19 – This sweater now appears to be completely sold out (and possibly discontinued) after being in the Choose What You Pay sale. I had a chance to order an XS, though, and compare to the XXS, so I thought I might as well record these details. The XXS is 21″ long while the XS is half an inch longer. The XXS measured pit to pit is 19″. For the XS, it’s 21″. That bit of extra material all around does make for a looser fit. I’m a dress size 4 for reference.

Everlane soft cotton boatneck worn by the same person in two different sizes.

Soft Cotton Boatneck on 5′ 4″ me: XXS on the left, XS on the right.

If you find my Everlane reviews useful, please consider using my referral link to make your first purchase. (Create your account before browsing.) Thanks! You can find all my Everlane reviews here.

Shelving and racks of clothing at the Everlane store in San Francisco.

A Look at Everlane’s New San Francisco Store

Published by welcomeobjects

When Everlane first started, its founder swore that he would never open brick-and-mortar stores. As the brand has evolved, he changed his mind — and I’m glad for it. I’m one of those customers who prefers shopping in an actual store. I tend to browse online first to get an idea of the offerings, but ultimately, I like to see and touch something in person and try it on. Everlane opened its first store in New York in December. Its second location, in San Francisco’s Mission District, just opened on March 3.

I heard from a friend that shoppers mob the store on weekends, so much so that they have to form a queue outside, so I dropped by on a weekday. As you might expect from a brand that champions minimalist design in its clothing, its San Francisco flagship feels minimal and uncluttered. There’s lots of natural light filtering in and ample use of light-colored wood and the color white. When you walk in, the registers are to your left and a dedicated returns counter is to your right.

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Interior of the Everlane SF floor, which has lots of natural light from ceiling. Space uses white and light-colored wood.

Women’s clothing was to the left and men’s to the right. Up front is a new arrivals section, and then denim just beyond that. The organizing principal for the rest of the clothes seems to be color. This is how I organize my own closet and my bookshelves too, so I have no complaints there.

At the back of the store is an area that looks like amphitheater-styled seating, currently used to display bags.

Day Heel – $145 [Review]

On one wall towards the middle of the store were listening stations where you could learn about Everlane’s factories. I didn’t stop to listen — I was too distracted by the clothing and shoes — but will take a listen next time.

One disappointment is that it seemed that only a small percentage of what’s offered online is actually out on the sales floor. For example, I didn’t see any zip totes or pocket totes or the cotton collarless shirt dress. For those items that were in stock, there were only a few sizes of each of them. In some cases, there were hardly any sizes at all.

I was looking for one particular sweater, but the store was completely out of XS in any color, both on the floor and in the back when a sales associate checked. Another item I wanted to try on was the cotton long-sleeve V-neck crop sweater, but I found only one and it was not in my size. I was there in the middle of the day, by the way, not at closing. Hmm, the inventory is too minimal, Everlane.

My favorite feature of the store, though? The circular skylights in the fitting rooms! I was delighted to look up and see a porthole to the sky. So many fitting rooms have iffy lighting at best. (Many of them have lighting that, frankly, sucks.) I loved having natural light in the fitting room.

And yes, that means I tried some things on. I even took something home. Stay tuned for new reviews! (To see all my Everlane reviews, go here.)

A hand holding a red textured Cuyana small zip wallet

Ethically-Made Zip Wallets by Baggu, Cuyana, & Everlane

Published by welcomeobjects

A few years ago at a cafe, someone stole my wallet. I went years without a proper replacement, using a Mighty Wallet, which was ingeniously lightweight but just didn’t have enough pockets for all my stuff. Finally, I got it together to do some research for a new wallet.

My priority was something not too big, but with enough slots and pockets to keep me organized. I admired a friend’s minimalist Comme des Garçons zip wallet but didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on one. So I decided to look at wallets with similar designs by Baggu, Cuyana, and Everlane — all brands with ethical production. Here’s a comparison of what I found.

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Baggu – Square Wallet

A hand holding an orange colored Baggu square zip wallet. There are 4 credit card slots and 1 coin pocket.

My favorite reusable bag maker offers a simple square wallet made out of smooth fine grain leather. It’s currently available in seven colors with pastels for spring, as well as ubiquitous black, but my favorite is this orange-red color called “warm red.” The zipper is brass and the zipper pull is leather. Out of all the wallets I saw, this one felt the lightest, but I didn’t bring a scale with me, so I don’t know if that’s actually true or just my perception. One thing I like about the Baggu wallet is the subtle branding with the name stamped on the inside. I also like that it’s perfectly square.

Organization: It has a section for paper currency, four cards slots, and a coin pocket with snap closure. In addition, there’s space behind the card slots and behind the coin pocket, so you could store things in those locations too. One detail that I appreciate is that the first card slot has a dip to it, which makes removing that first card a little easier.

Size: 4.3″ x 4.3″ x .8″ deep

Price: $100

Where it’s Made: Baggu makes its leather products in factories in Texas and New York City. The company says its leather is produced in an ISO 14001 certified tannery which is an international standard “established to distinguish tanneries that document and manage their operations to minimize the impact on the environment.”

Where to Buy: Besides Baggu’s own stores in Brooklyn and the San Francisco Bay Area, you can also find Baggu products carried by other retailers like Nordstrom, Need Supply, and Shopbop.

Cuyana – Small Leather Zip Around Wallet

A hand holding a Cuyana small zip wallet open. The wallet is red. It has 4 credit card slots and a coin pocket.

A hand holding a Cuyana small zip wallet with the coin pocket portion open.

The nice thing about Cuyana’s small leather zip around wallet is all the options. You can get textured saffiano leather in black or red or opt for smooth leather, available in four colors including a gorgeous oxblood. Oh, and there’s a shimmery, textured silver option too. The zipper is bright gold and the zipper pull is also metal. Out of the three brands I looked at, these wallets felt the most luxe. They also make an even smaller version with just three card slots.

Organization: It has a section for bills, four curved cards slots, and a coin pocket with snap closure. While there is a slip pocket behind the card slots, there isn’t one behind the coin pocket. The coin pocket is situated on its side, so you have to turn the wallet to access it.

Size: 4″ W x 4.5″ H

Price: $115 for saffiano or smooth leather and $125 for silver shimmer leather

Where it’s Made: Cuyana says the leather is Italian and the wallets are crafted in the USA and Turkey. I’m not sure if that means some of them are made in the USA and some of them are made in Turkey or if each wallet spends time in both countries.

Where to Buy: Cuyana’s two stores in California and the Cuyana site

Everlane – Square Zip Wallet

A Hand holding a red-ish Everlane square zip wallet open. It has a coin pocket and 4 credit card slots.

Organization: Like the other wallets I looked at, Everlane’s version has a currency section, four cards slots, and a coin pocket with snap closure. On the inside, it looks nearly identical to the Baggu wallet except the location of the card slots and coin pocket are switched. Space behind the card slots and the coin pocket? Check. The zipper on the Everlane wallet is gold tone, but not as bright as Cuyana’s. Its zipper pull is leather. I’m holding the bright red in the photo above, one of four colors offered. In addition to black, there’s also “natural” and this shiny silver, which is pretty great if you’re the kind of person who digs around in your bag trying to find your wallet.

Size: 4″ H × 4.5″ W

Price: $98

Where it’s Made: The leather is from Spain and the wallets are made in this factory in Ubrique, Spain.

Where to Buy: Everlane has just two locations, one in New York and one in San Francisco. Both of them are new as Everlane built its business online only first.

(If my reviews are helpful to you, and you decide to make your first Everlane purchase, please consider using my referral link. Create your account before browsing. Thanks! You can find all my other Everlane reviews here.)

Choosing a Winner

This is a tough one. I thought all the wallets were decently made. Cuyana seemed the nicest with its gold tone hardware, variety of leather textures, and metal zipper pulls, which perhaps would outlast leather ones. I also like the curved card slots. However, it has one big drawback for me — the lack of a slip pocket behind the coin pocket. From an organizational perspective, this puts it out of the running for me.

Between Everlane and Baggu, the wallets seemed similar to me in terms of quality. If pressed to choose one, I’d say the leather on the Everlane one felt a tad nicer, a bit more buttery. I didn’t compare these wallets side by side on the same day, so it’s hard to say. I think it comes down to what color you fancy. If you’re looking for a mirrored silver finish, then your choice is clear.

I’m a bit surprised that none of these brands offer a version of their wallet with more card slots in place of the coin pocket. From what I’ve observed, many people don’t carry change around, so a zip around wallet with eight card slots seems like a good offering.

For me, I actually ended up buying a wallet when I least expected to — while on vacation in Stockholm. (See my travel guide.) It was from raincoat maker Stutterheim, who has a reputation for responsibly manufacturing their raincoats — first in Sweden, and now in Poland. They make their wallets in India. But under what conditions? I didn’t think to ask about that until I got home from vacation. I hope their production values apply to all of their goods.

Though I’d prefer a brighter color than black, what really sold me on this wallet was that it had five credit cards slots when similar wallets only had four. It also has that all important space behind the slots and the coin purse. I don’t see the exact same wallet on their site now. But here’s a version that’s a combination of leather and rubberized cotton, which is what their famed raincoats are made out of. I snagged the wallet while it was on sale too. Score!

Hand holding a square wallet, which is black

A hand holding a wallet open.

UPDATE 11/11/21 – It’s been a couple years since I wrote this post. Everlane and Baggu no longer make their wallets. (Baggu is phasing out their leather products.) Cuyana seems to have discontinued their wallet with four card slots. However, the 4″ x 4″ three-card slot version is still around. There’s even a zero waste edition of it. But a new option to consider is the Lo & Sons Small Wallet, which comes in five colors of saffiano leather and is priced at $125. (But you can snag it on sale. At the moment it’s $75).