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A display of quilts, throws, bedsheets, and throw pillow in a Target store.

Project 62 at Target: Kitchen, Bedding, & Bath

Published by welcomeobjects

Earlier this week I wrote about the furniture and decor from Project 62, Target’s new midcentury modern inspired brand. But there are also great items for your kitchen, bedroom, and bath. Here’s some of what I saw this past weekend after it launched.

** this post contains affiliate links **

Kitchen

There are several dinnerware sets. I like the earthy tones of this one.

The mug is a good size. I hate when you can’t fit all of your fingers in the handle and this one passes the test. I also liked this other set, which has a bright teal interior.

Copper and rose gold seems to be every where right now, including the dining table.

There’s a matching rose gold barware set and wine chiller to complete the set. Target also made copper serving items, like this serving bowl, which is actually made out of stainless steel.

I like some bling, but I don’t know how I feel about this trend. You could easily overdo it. Will rose gold flatware seem outdated in a few years? On the other end, there’s classic pieces like these acacia wood serving bowls (large, medium), which will always be in style.

Bedding

The bedding is so cozy! Loving this gray and red color palette.

A display of quilts, throws, bedsheets, and throw pillow in a Target store.

Gray velvet quilt, folded up for sale at a Target store

Velvet Grid Quilt – $79.99 for full/queen

I like how they’re offering throw pillows in different textures. This makes them more competitive with West Elm and CB2.

Bath

Display of Project 62 shower curtains, bath towels, and toothbrush holders.

I have to say, I really like the Project 62 bath decor much better than Target’s Threshold brand.

I don’t need new towels, but if I did, I would get these. They seemed quite soft and plush and the texture makes it more visually interesting than your standard bath towel. It comes in six colors, though oddly, white isn’t one of them.

Look at all these great shower curtains!

Navy and blue patterned bath mat.

Tufted Bath Rug – $19.99


I love this bath mat. Also seemed quite soft. OK, that’s it for now. Let me know if you’ve come across anything from Project 62 that you absolutely love.

 

 

White dining table with medium brown legs at an angle

Project 62 at Target: Furniture and Decor

Published by welcomeobjects

Ever since I heard about Project 62, Target’s new midcentury modern inspired line of housewares and furniture, I’ve been feeling a mix of anticipation — but also dread (because of what I fear it might do to my wallet).

I love those clean midcentury modern lines, but the price tag of real deal vintage pieces is not in my budget (at least not here in California). Well, Target read my mind by creating decor inspired by the era. (The name Project 62 refers to the year 1962.) Just go ahead and take all my money, Target! Here’s what I saw in stores this past weekend.

** this post contains affiliate links **

Furniture

White dining table with medium brown legs at an angle

Emmond 72″ Dining Table – $399.99; There’s also a 42″ round version.

Look at the fabulous sculptural legs on this dining room table! There’s a smaller round version as well and even a little bistro table. The frame is made out of rubberwood and the top is MDF. It seems sturdy and well made. However, people have been leaving bad reviews online as it seems many folks have gotten damaged shipments, which is a shame.

Do you need a chair or two? There are so many great chairs in this line.

Peoria Wood Arm Chair – $169.99 for fabric, $229.99 for the faux leather version shown here.

I adore a chair with a beautiful wood frame. The sign below this chair is misleading as the faux leather version is listed as $229.99 online, not $169.99 — that’s the price of the fabric upholstered version, which comes in four colors. Hmm, interesting, the sign also shows a different name.

Oh hi there tapered legs. Tapered wood legs get me every time. What’s great about many of these new chairs is that Target is making them in several colors. The chair above comes in three colors and the armchair version of this chair is even more striking. My favorite is the light blue.

This dining chair has legs that match the dining table. It comes in five colors, including a lovely purple color called mulberry. It was comfortable and sturdy and has me contemplating replacing my current dining chairs.

armchair with high arms, square shaped, tufted back.

Soriano Square Arm Channel Tufted Chair – $249.99

Alas, I didn’t see this arm chair in person, which was featured in many of Target’s ads, so I can’t report as to how comfy it is. It comes in four colors and you can order a swatch online. They should really have this out on the floor for people to try.

Antwerp C-Table – $89.99

Love the warm walnut color of this C-table in wood veneer and brass. There’s a horizontal bookcase, tall bookcase, desk, media stand, coffee table, and an end table in this series as well. This particular floor sample was a little bit wobbly, though. If you’re in the market for a C-table, there’s also this luxe-looking C-table with a marble top.

Hafley One Drawer Table – $69.99 (also comes in dark gray)

This accent table also comes in a dark gray version. I think it’s quite handsome, but the construction doesn’t seem that solid.

Decor

If you want to freshen up your living room with a new look, Target makes it so easy. I love how this store displayed decor by color.

Shelves with black and yellow colored pillows, throws, and other decor

As you can see, there’s lots of throw pillows, throw blankets, and baskets in this collection. Since I’m looking for a rug, I was excited to see what Project 62 rugs would be like. They seemed more plush than typical Target rugs. Here are some 5×7 rugs.

Charcoal/White Microplush Geo 5×7 Area Rug – $99.99; Shag rug $149.99 (not online yet)

Chunky Knit Wool Rug – $24.99 to $449.99

This chunky knit wool rug has a great texture. It comes in lots of great neutral colors and also many sizes, including 2×3, 7×10 and 9×12. Frustratingly, not all colors come in all sizes. Also, I find it strange that Target makes 7×10 rugs, but not 8×10, which is a pretty standard size. Sadly, this rules out Target for me, as I’m on the hunt for an 8×10 area rug.

Chunky Knit Wool Rug

Cohasset Table Lamp – $49.99 (also comes in pink); Delavan Tripod Table Lamp – $39.99 (also comes in black and clear legs), Weston Table Lamp – $39.99

Wow, look at these statement lamps! I wanted to buy the round lamp shade separately, but that option was not available.

Gray planter on wooden stand, gold wire baskets

Ceramic and Wood Planter – $69.99 for large, $29.99 for medium, $19.99 for small; Wire Baskets – $16.99 to $19.99

More goodies! I’m glad to see planters on wood bases. I’ve been coveting a Modernica Case Study planter, and while I still prefer the look of that one, it’s nice to see less costly options.

Not all of Project 62’s offerings are actually new, though. I noticed that some items were existing objects from Target’s Threshold brand that just got new names. For example, this desk lamp used to be called the Audrey from Threshold, but now it’s the Coluee from Project 62. I know this because I already own it and even wrote about it earlier this year. Same with this globe desk lamp, which now goes by Edris.

Oh, that’s probably why that wood frame armchair above had a different name on the sign than on the website. Target seems to be keeping the Threshold line, but rebranding it as more classic decor while the modern designs get categorized as Project 62. Here’s another Threshold-turned-Project 62 item: this round wall mirror (with an Edris lamp in the reflection).

brass photo frame

Metal Single Image Frame 5×7 – $7.99 (Other sizes available, also comes in gunmetal)

In the end, I came home with just one item, this photo frame. I’m pretty proud of myself for showing such restraint. I’ve got more photos of what I saw in the store, but this post is already long, so stay tuned later this week for Project 62 bedding, bath, and kitchen. Oh, by the way, there’s a coupon in this week’s Target ad for a $10 giftcard if you spend $50 on home goods.

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A white woman wearing a dark denim shirt dress, and a black man wearing a T-shirt and jeans with a blue blazer

Target’s New Clothing Brands: A New Day and Goodfellow & Co

Published by welcomeobjects

Target has grand plans to retire its veteran brands, which have gotten too broad, and replace them with new labels. Two new clothing brands rolled out recently. Say goodbye to Merona and Mossimo and hello to A New Day (women’s) and Goodfellow & Co (men’s). I went to check them out in person and see that Target’s been busy installing new shelving as well as platforms for mannequins in the clothing departments.

** this post contains affiliate links **

A New Day

mannequin wearing a striped shirt dress with bell sleeeves. behind it are more mannequins.

The LA Times story I linked to above notes that Target is trying to compete with J.Crew and Zara. Style wise, they do seem to be upping their game. On-trend embroidered pieces, classic stripes, pleated skirts, and ruffle sleeve shirts filled the racks, but there was also a whole swath of meh that I didn’t bother taking photos of.

The quality seems to vary. For example, the striped dress with bell sleeves above, is constructed out of a nice, thick cotton. For $44.99, the trench seems like a good classic buy, but why is it wrinkly already? If you iron it, will it keep crisp? Same for the embroidered military jacket which also looked sad with wrinkles. The plaid topcoat, while lovely with its fall colors, lacked a full lining. I’m not convinced that it would last more than a season; it seemed like it might pill easily.

Target has a lot of pants on offer with this new line: mid-rise, high-rise, skinny leg, straight leg, wide leg. There were jeans, chinos, track pants, crepe drape pants. I love the variety. However, the majority were made out of synthetic fibers that seemed thin and I wondered if they were prone to wrinkling. Overall, the stuff made out of cotton seemed more solid than clothing made out of synthetic fibers. So I would go for the poplin blouse or denim shirt dress, but inspect more carefully with the crepe pants or pleated trim dress.

Prices were $30 and under for pants, tops and dresses. Jackets and coats were $30 to $50. Personally, I would rather see them use higher quality materials and charge a bit more. I’m trying to be better about buying items that last longer, but I guess I shouldn’t really be shopping at Target in the first place if that’s my goal. (Though in my defense, I do have some Target items that have held up well, like this Richard Chai cotton dress that I’ve been rocking since 2008.)

Of course, a women’s line would not be complete without accessories and there were lots of bags and shoes. I really like the look of the bags, but I try to stay away from Target bags. In my experience most of them don’t hold up well to my abuse. (Few of the purses seem to be online at this point.)

Goodfellow & Co

Over in the men’s department, Target pushed its new brand, Goodfellow & Co, with new mannequins. With bomber jackets, vests, hefty cardigans, and casual blazers, the offerings from Goodfellow & Co were noticeably more stylish than what used to be in the men’s department. They do seem to be going after J.Crew fans with preppy pieces — lots of V-neck sweaters, button downs, and cardigans. Quality wise, the same applies here. Look at the fiber content. The fit seems to vary, according to reviews on the Target site. Sizing ranges from S to XXL. Why no XS?

retail display for Goodfellow and Co with outifts on mannequins, such as sweaters and vests

The men get bags too! There were a few backpacks and even a gym bag which I could see being used as a carry-on as well for a quick weekend trip.

brown messenger bag with slightly distressed look

Messenger Bag – $24.99

Nylon Dome Backpack – $24.99, Quilted Vest – $24.99

There were also shoes and boots, but I’d pass on those. While the styles were for the most part not bad (though there was a horrid square toe pair), they are constructed out of all man-made materials and look cheap in person. Better to invest in some higher-quality shoes that will last longer. I’m a strong believer that you should invest in those items at the base that provide support — such as tires, mattresses, and shoes.

tall work boots in brown, faux suede brown shoes, chuka style boots

Goodfellow & Co. Joe Casual Work Boots – $44.99, Javier Oxford Buck Shoe – $34.99, Jay Desert Chukka Boot – $44.99

I’m curious to see what else rolls out in these lines and how A New Day will differ from Who What Wear, an existing women’s trendy line at Target. So far, I’m not that impressed by overall quality. I compared the embroidered military jacket with a similar cropped Mossimo jacket in my closet, and the Mossimo seems like it’s made out of a more tightly woven fabric and holds its shape better. I do think there are some good pieces here.

Stayed tuned for my fit review, with dressing room photos.

Bemz red slipcover on IKEA Allerum couch

When Your Ikea Sofa Needs a Makeover: Bemz Slipcover Review

Published by welcomeobjects

In 2003, I bought an Ikea sofa called the Allerum. I liked its streamlined look and bent plywood legs. Plus, you could flip the backrest over to turn it into a sleeper sofa for one. The couch moved with me four times to different apartments. Many friends have slept on it while visiting. Last year, though, I noticed that its original green slipcover was becoming ratty in some areas. Some areas had frayed or thinned. Washing it only made it worse.

I debated buying a new sofa, but I didn’t really need a new sofa. I soon discovered that there are several companies that make slipcovers for retired Ikea couches (and existing products too). There were scant reviews on these companies, which made me nervous. I found one company called Bemz, based in Europe. They have a cute origin story: The owner, a Canadian who moved to Stockholm, was once in the same predicament as me, trying to find a new slipcover for an old Ikea couch. That search sparked an idea for a business. Here’s more about the company in an Architectural Digest article.

I liked the idea of my Swedish Ikea couch getting a makeover from another Swedish company, but what cinched it was the Bemz website. It offered many fabric options: 257 different choices! Plus, they’ll send you five fabric swatches for free. I wanted to go with something red and ordered my five samples. Seeing the swatches in person made such a difference. With them in hand, I made a decision quickly about which shade of red I wanted.

Bemz says it takes about three to four weeks for your order to arrive. This includes production time. Mine arrived in just two weeks. It shipped from an Eastern European country. (Sorry, I can’t remember which one now.)

Here’s my Allerum sofa before:

IKEa Allerum sofa bed, light green in color, with two round pillows.
And here is it with the Bemz cover after:

IKEA Allerum sofa bed with red slipcover from Bemz.

The Bemz cover actually ran a little bit bigger than the original one. It closes by Velcro (or, ahem, hook and loop closure if it’s not brand name Velcro as Velcro would have you know, but who calls it that?). The two edges of the cover almost overlapped too much, putting it in danger of the Velcro strips not matching up. When I matched them up, the fit was a bit loose. But thankfully, it hasn’t been much of a problem. Sometimes I do have to smooth out wrinkles in the seating area, but not often.

Bemz offers different types of fabric from cotton to linen and velvet. They also have recycled fabrics, usually a cotton and polyester blend. Prices for a cotton cover start at $127 for this particular sleeper sofa. I went with the Cotton Panama (which seemed thicker and had more texture to it than the simple brushed cotton fabric) in Cinnabar Red, which cost $169, plus $20 for shipping. The Panama Cotton is also stain-protected and pre-shrunk.

Fabric wise, the Bemz Panama Cotton cover is a smaller weave and thinner than the original Ikea cover, which is also cotton.

IKEA slipcover fabric swatches. Original cover in green with big weave to the left, and the new cover in red to the right.

Original Ikea slipcover fabric on the left. Bemz Panama Cotton cover on the right.

In the first few months of the new cover, I came across one problem, though. Faint white spots appeared on the couch, which bewildered me.

I wrote to Bemz and they told me it could be lint and dust, caused by high static. They suggested either brushing the couch (with a soft brush, lint brush, or damp cloth) or washing the cover to reduce static. But they said the best solution was to spray the sofa with an anti-static spray. You can buy it or make a mix of half fabric softener and half water in a spray bottle and mist it over the sofa.

Since I had an almost full bottle of Method fabric softener sitting around, I decided to do the latter. (By the way, these days Method also makes a fabric softener in a spray bottle.) The fabric softener concoction worked well and the white spots stopped appearing.

I’ve had the slipcover for over a year now. Because the couch is against a window and gets a decent amount of sun, the back of the couch has faded quite a bit.

Closeup of red slip cover which shows fading.

The Bemz slipcover is less resistant to sunlight than the IKEA slipcover. Here’s some fading on the Bemz slipcover after about a year.

I never had this problem with the original Ikea cover, though that was light green and green probably doesn’t fade as much as red. The original Ikea cover also came in orange, and I wonder how that fared in the sun, but I don’t have any way to compare it. If I had known that it was going to fade this much, I would not have gotten the new cover in red. I’m curious to know if other colors fade.

Although I’m bummed about the fading, I’m glad that the slipcover option exists and that companies have filled the gap, providing a service that Ikea no longer does for its discontinued models. The price I paid for my slipcover — $189 total — was also way cheaper than buying a new couch. Next time, though, I’d try to find out more about the durability of the fabric when it comes to sun. Fabric will inevitably fade when exposed to sunlight, but this particular cotton fabric was not the best choice.

UPDATE 3/19/19 – OK, I’ve had this slipcover for nearly three years now and the parts exposed to sun — the back and top of the couch — have continued to fade. The fading is very apparent now. I regret getting this cover in cotton. It feels like I wasted $200. If I had to do it all over again, I’d pick another type of fabric.

I let Bemz know about how much my cover had faded and they said that due to regulations in the European Union, they are prohibited from treating fabrics against fading. They also said a synthetic fabric would withstand fading better.

Two fabrics, one on the foreground is faded and the one behind it is red.

The Bemz slipcover three years later: The back of the couch (in foreground) and a sofa cushion in the same fabric behind it.

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third love t-shirt bra

Does ThirdLove’s T-Shirt Bra Live Up to the Hype?

Published by welcomeobjects

I’ve never been completely satisfied with a bra — I’m the kind of gal who immediately takes off my bra when I get home — so I was curious to try ThirdLove, a startup that offers half cup sizes and makes their own styles of bras based on lots of data. (Here’s an interesting story in TechCrunch about the company).

The TechCrunch story mentions that ThirdLove has an app that measures you, but I didn’t come across that. I just went to the website and filled out a questionnaire that asked what brand and size I normally wore, what the shape of my gals were, and what kind of problems I encountered. Just click, click, click through the questions. Besides the general discomfort of wearing a constricting undergarment, the main issue that plagues me with bras is the straps falling off my shoulders. I often have to pull the straps back up. This happens with every bra I’ve ever had. It’s annoying.

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I took the questionnaire twice. The first time it suggested I get my usual size in their 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra. A few weeks later, I took the questionnaire again and it suggested the same bra, but in a half cup size down.

Like Allbirds, ThirdLove lets you try their product for 30 days. You pay $2.99 for shipping and you get to take off the tags off and wear the bra as you normally would. If you don’t like it, send it back within 30 days. If you decide to keep it, ThirdLove charges you for the bra, which retails for $68. Sounds fair to me.

I ordered the half cup size bra and it shipped quickly. Here’s what the box looked like when I opened it.

ThirdLove had wrapped the bra nicely in tissue paper. The inside of the box is printed with the statement, “The best bra is one you never think about.” True, so true.

The shipment includes a card that explains the try before you buy program. I like that they donate the used bras to programs around the country. Bras are always hard to come by for women in shelters.

Here’s the 24/7 Classic T-shirt Bra. It looks like a good everyday bra. I’m all about smooth seamless T-shirt bras as opposed to lacy numbers. I don’t know what you’re supposed to do with lacy bras because the lace often shows up under your clothes. For example, I doubt a lacy bra would look good under this Uniqlo drape crewneck tee. They’re just not practical IMO. This bra comes in many colors, by the way.

The bra even had a tag on it with instructions about how to put your bra on, which I appreciate. I am embarrassed to admit that I was putting my bra on incorrectly all through my teens and even most of my twenties until a sales associate at a lingerie store corrected me. I didn’t know about scooping yourself into the cups. What a difference that makes! I blame my mama for not telling me about that.

Immediately, I noticed that the half size cup fit better than my usual bra. The bra is constructed out of memory foam with underwire; it’s lightweight and quite comfortable. Is it the most comfortable bra I’ve ever worn? Quite possibly. Is it so comfortable that I don’t want to take it off when I get home? Not really.

Aesthetically, I didn’t understand why the front of the straps have pleated ribbon on them. Is it just decorative? Does it serve a functional purpose? If it’s just decorative, I personally prefer something without embellishment, all the better to be as invisible looking as possible under your garments. The gold hardware on the straps is a nice luxe touch, though.

Alas, the bra failed in one vital aspect: the straps fell down. I even tightened them to the point where they left marks on my shoulders and they still fell down! Argh. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe my shoulders are just too sloped for any bra strap to stay in place. $68 is pricey for a bra (though not outrageous — there are plenty of brands that cost more), but I was willing to shell out the money for the perfect bra. Sadly, I had to send it back.

If you’re considering ThirdLove, I think it’s worth a try. What do you have to lose? Just $2.99. I think that’s fair. Even though I didn’t end up with the perfect bra, instead of getting stuck with a pricey bra that didn’t work for me, I got to send it back, where it will go to a charity.

See all my bra reviews from various brands here.

allbirds wool loungers in pink in a flat lay with other pink items including a cocktail umbrella, books, and a beverage

Allbirds Wool Loungers Review

Published by welcomeobjects

I’ve been curious about Allbirds since I heard about them from a friend who described them as “like walking on clouds.” As someone who has trouble finding shoes that fit (my feet are on the wide-ish side), I’m always on the lookout for cute and comfy shoes.

Allbirds says they are eco-friendly, too, which is a huge plus in my book. The startup says that the merino wool they use requires 60 percent less energy to produce than the typical synthetic materials used in shoe production. The wool is also ZQ-certified, “which means it meets stringent standards of sustainable farming and animal welfare.” The insoles are made out of castor beans. Even their shoe box supposedly uses 40% less materials than a traditional shoe box.

Another plus to the shoe? They’re light. I was about to go on a trip and was looking for a lightweight pair of shoes to pack in my suitcase. Luckily, there’s a concept store here in San Francisco so I could check them out in person. (It’s not open on the weekends, though.)

As of this writing, the shoe only comes in two styles, one with laces (the wool runners), and one without (the wool loungers). Here’s my friend trying on the wool loungers and me in the wool runners.

The wool runners were too athletic-looking for my taste. (I wanted something for everyday wear, not for running.) Plus, I have to admit that I’m lazy when it comes to laces. If I have to, sure, but in general I try to avoid laces. So I opted for the wool loungers, which are slip-on.

For whatever reason, the wool loungers also fit the shape of my feet better, which was surprising. I thought they’d be the same as the runners since there’s only two styles of shoes. Both shoes were quite cushiony. My friend complained that he was slipping out at the heel too much in the loungers. When I took them home, I realized that I also slipped out of them a bit, but not too much to annoy me.

Wool Runners – $95

Here’s that box that they say takes up less materials to make.

And then you roll the ends open like so:

Ta-da! This is the black, by the way, which looks like more of a dark gray to me.

The shoe is designed to be worn without socks. (That’s an ankle wrap on my left foot. I had an ankle sprain at the time.)

I wore them for a few days before my trip and was impressed. No break-in time needed! I was afraid they wouldn’t be supportive enough — they don’t really look like they would be, but my arches were ache-free.

The only problem was that something was rubbing the back of my right foot. I couldn’t figure out what it was because it didn’t look like anything was there, but this isn’t the first time this has happened to me and I have a trick for it: I take an emery board (like this) and file a little bit on the inside edge of the shoe. Problem — whatever it was — solved.

So I packed them up and off we went on a three-week trip. After about a month of wear, here’s what I have to report:

Aesthetically, I wish they were a little less round in the toe and a tad more tapered, but that’s not a deal-breaker. As to performance, they are not without issues. The shoe is wool, after all, and can run hot. There were days when I was walking around in 70-degree weather and my feet felt sweaty. Not horribly sweaty, but definitely warm and moist. I run kind of cold in the first place, so this might be a problem for someone who runs hot. I wouldn’t wear these on a warm day.

On occasion, I’d discover little fluffs of wool escaping from the inside of the shoe. Should I be worried about this? I don’t know. Lastly, I got caught in a sudden downpour and these shoes cannot withstand that. I walked back to my hotel in sad, soppy wet shoes. They did not dry overnight.

On the day I had to wear other shoes because the Allbirds were drying, I discovered that I missed them. They were more comfortable than I realized. I wore another pair of flats and my arches started aching right away. I wore the Allbirds almost every day of my trip — sometimes walking up to 10 miles a day — with no problems, except for the getting-soaked-in-the-rain part.

Allbirds gives you 30 days to try their shoes. If they don’t work out for you — even if you’ve worn them — you can send them back. I love this so much, because like I said, I’m a person who has a hard time finding shoes that fit well. I’ve wasted so much money on shoes that don’t fit or are uncomfortable.

After trying these for a month, I’m happy to report that I won’t need to send them back. They’re my go-to pair now when I’m running out the door. I’m not the only one who likes them; apparently all of Silicon Valley wears them. This is not a selling point to me, but oh well, you can’t keep a good thing secret.

First image: Allbirds’ Instagram

uniqlo drape neck tee in pink as worn by a model of east asian heritage

Summer Looks from Uniqlo: Drape Crewneck T-Shirt & Supima Cotton Tee

Published by welcomeobjects

One of the things I’ve been on the lookout for is a loosely draping T-shirt for summer. I don’t want it to cling to the body because of hot weather, but I also don’t want it look baggy. Behold: the Drape Crewneck Short Sleeve T-shirt at Uniqlo.

It reminded me of this other T-shirt that I picked up from Uniqlo last year (or at least I think it was last year). Perhaps this is the updated iteration. The old model is the light gray one in the photo below.

unqiqlo-drapetee-comparison

I’m wearing the XS here in the 2017 version.

uniqlo-modeling-drapetee

In 2016 version the front hem curves a bit — not sure if it was like that from the beginning or if this resulted from wear over time, but I prefer the straight hem of the 2017 version. I also like the crewneck shape of the newer one better, which is less rounded.

I like the updated version — it feels nicer. The fit is tighter than last year, but still loose and comfortable — and good at hiding a belly bulge. The shirt is 65% modal (a type of rayon) and 35% polyester. It’s very smooth and soft to the touch. Last year’s composition was modal, polyester, and crupro, which I had to Google. Like modal, it’s also a regenerated cellulose fiber.

The tee is priced at $14.90 but is sometimes on promotion for $9.90. I picked it up in both black and navy. It also comes in white, gray, light gray, pink, and light blue. However, I’m a bit wary of the lighter colors as the light grey from last year didn’t lend itself well to stains.

We’ll see how well it wears, too. Last year’s version hasn’t worn that well after a year. You can see that up close:

uniqlo-drapetee-closeupafter1year

I also tried on the Supima Cotton V-neck shirt, which someone mentioned to me on Instagram after I reviewed the Everlane Cotton V. Compared to the Everlane V-neck, which is also made out of Supima cotton, the fabric of the Uniqlo tee is thicker.

It ran small. I’m usually an S, sometimes an XS, in Uniqlo tops, and I had to size up to a medium for this shirt. It’s also more fitted than the Everlane one. At $10, the Uniqlo one is a good value if it works for you — and it comes in six colors, but I much prefer the Everlane one, which is a little more ($15), ethically made, and cut looser and thus better (at least for me).

If you’re interested in these tees (either of them), I suggest you get them sooner rather than later. Uniqlo is already putting their fall clothing on the floor.

This is post is part of a series of reviews on Uniqlo 2017 summer clothing. Links here to reviews of Uniqlo’s High Waist Belted Flare Midi Skirt, their Smart Style Ankle Pants, swimwear and more.

UPDATE 12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating posts with info about how things were made. Uniqlo has said it’s putting better processes in place after it was cited for abusive practices in 2016, so it does appear to be making an effort.

nordstrom anniversary sale shopping bag and leather jacket

2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Jackets & Coats

Published by welcomeobjects

I’m a sucker for coats and jackets, and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a good time to shop for one. (It’s also a great time for shoes — I had a few picks in part 1 of my Anniversary Sale roundup.)

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How cute is this plaid number full of fall vibes?

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Halogen Plaid Topper, $112.90 (regularly $169), also comes in petite

This one below looks super cozy. Both the plaid one and the asymmetrical one are by Halogen, a Nordstrom brand. I love Halogen not only for the style, but because most of their clothing comes in petite versions too. Getting coat sleeves hemmed is not a cheap proposition, so I am grateful for that.

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Halogen Asymmetrical Zip Boiled Wool Coat, $129 (regularly $199). Comes in petite

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nordstrom anniversary sale 2017

2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

Published by welcomeobjects

I still have part 3 of my Uniqlo summer review coming up (part 1 here and part 2 here) but it’s time to take a break to talk about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I can’t believe I forgot that Early Access (for Nordstrom card holders) started on July 13. I usually put it down on my calendar. The sale is for fall season (my favorite fashion season!) and it’s a decent sale. Most items seem to be around 25% to 35% off.

I happened to have an appointment downtown today, so I stopped by at the end of the day to take a quick look. Let’s start with shoes, since Nordstrom got its start selling shoes.

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These Sam Edelman flats topped with a bow come in a lot of colorways and seem like a classic wardrobe staple. This brand unfortunately doesn’t work well for my wide-ish feet, but I think it’s a great buy if it works for you. Another good option are these Cole Haan ones which have a stacked heel and are sans bow. (The loafer mules were also part of the sale, but I’m not a fan of their look.)

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Sam Edelman Raisa Bow Flat, $79.90 (regularly $119.95)

I liked these simple sneakers because they remind me of moon boots. And they seem really comfy. Didn’t get a chance to try them on, but it’s a comfy brand, Gentle Souls. The leather was soft and it had arch support. Might have to go back to try them.

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Gentle Souls Carole Zip Sneakers, $79.90 (regularly $119.95)

These two Blondo booties seems like a good option for waterproof footwear. The one on the stand (the Liam) has a side zip while the suede ones (the Ida) are Chelsea style. They both have a rounded toe that’s not too round. The style is straightforward and classic. This Sorel bootie is also a great option for a waterproof boot if you want a lower heel.

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Blondo Liam and Ida waterproof booties, $99 (regularly $149)

There’s so much more good stuff in the shoe department, including the rag & bone Margot bootie ($329.90, regularly $495). (Other colors, like black, are not on sale.) They always seem to have one color of the Margot in the sale, and I always lust after them, but I know they won’t work for me. At 4 inches, the heel is too tall for me. (But they are the most comfortable 4-inch heeled boots I have ever tried on.) They are SO cute on. Sigh. I wish they made a version that was 2.5 inches. There’s also a rag & bone boot with a lower heel in the sale, the Wesley, but it doesn’t look as cute. ($349.90, regularly $525, two colors).

 

Anyhow, I recommend taking a look at the website first — even if you’re going to visit in person — to get an idea of what’s there. I always see stuff online that I never seem to come upon when I’m browsing the store, and sometimes it’s just too chaotic. This sale is a competitive sport.

I love the Anniversary Sale for coats and jackets in particular — but I’m going to put those in the next post since I saw so many. So here’s a few random women’s clothing items that caught my eye.  First, a pleated midi skirt. I don’t have one in my wardrobe, but I often wonder if I should.

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Halogen Pleat Faux Leather Midi Skirt, $79.90 (regularly $119). Halogen Pleat Midi Skirt, $49 (regularly $79). Both come in petite too.

I’m not that into scallops on me, but I think this sweater is really cute if you like to wear them. It comes in seven colors online and also comes in petite.

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Halogen Scallop Edge Sweater, $39.90 (regularly $59)

This shirt by BP (Nordstrom’s line aimed at juniors) is the one item I brought to the fitting room. It looked like it could be an interesting minimalist-yet-girly piece with the tie in the front, and it was one of those items that was hard to judge by how it hung on the hanger.

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BP Tie Front Blouse, $31.90 (regularly $49). Also comes in a blue stripe and a light pink.

Welp. I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to look. I feel weird about my belly button showing. I’m even wearing high-waisted jeans. (Follow me on Instagram for other #fittingroomfails.)

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I considered this crossbody bag by Allsaints. I love the clean, simple lines of their bags. It was the end of the day and they had exactly one of each color left. In the end, I passed because it was a little heavier than I like (1.9 pounds, says the website) and I’m not into pebbled leather. But it has so much good stuff going for it. Love the outside pocket and the interior pockets. I also like that it has a crossbody strap as well as a shorter strap in case you want to carry it by hand.

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All Saints Mast Crossbody Bag, $198.90 (regularly $298)

The home section even had some items for the sale. I don’t remember this being the case before, but I can’t say I’ve ever paid that much attention to the home section. Found this mirrored bar cart. It was quite big and would have gone in my post on gold bar carts had I encountered it before. I would have never thought to go to Nordstrom to look for a bar cart!

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Metal Mirrored Rolling Bar Cart, $149.90 (regularly 225)

OK, that’s it’s for now. In the next post I will show you lots of jackets, particularly leather moto jackets.

 

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4 mannequins in uniqlo

Summer Looks from Uniqlo: Ankle Pants, Princesse Tam.Tam Swimwear & More

Published by welcomeobjects

This is part 2 of my review of Uniqlo summer finds. Visit part 1 about the High Waist Belted Flare Midi Skirt here. This is mostly about things that failed for me. But hey, maybe they’ll work for you.

Smart Style Ankle Pants

First, I saw this classic outfit on this mannequin and admired the pants, both because it’s a lightweight summer pants (and I lack such an item in my wardrobe) and also because of the tomato orange red color.

It’s called the Smart Style Ankle Pants, and they were nearly sold out of the red, so I tried on the same pants in another color. (It’s kind of an odd name, what does “smart style” mean?) The pants are slip-on with an elastic waist. As you can see from the photo they were not ankle length on me since I’m petite. Also, they looked kind of meh on me — a bit bunchy in the front. You can also see the outline of the back pocket, at least in this light color. I find this to be a problem with a lot of Uniqlo pants, including the Drape Jogger Pants. (That’s why I only recommend them in dark colors for this very reason). If these fit you, they seem like a good buy at $40 each. Unfortunately, the red doesn’t seem to be offered online at the moment, but they are available in 5 other colors.

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