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2 Uniqlo mannequins, one wearing the High Waist Belted Flare Midi Skirt

Summer Looks from Uniqlo: High Waist Belted Flare Midi Skirt

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a while since I’ve posted — my excuse is that I’ve been away on the east coast. But I’m back, and I have many review posts in store. I went to Uniqlo more than once in the past week or so. (OK, maybe three times, but in my defense, it’s located right by this glasses shop where I had to get my glasses adjusted.) I tried on a lot of stuff, but I’m going to start with one item I’m excited about: the High Waist Belted Flare Midi Skirt. I actually looked for this skirt before I left on my trip because Ten Key Pieces raved about it. I’m usually a pencil skirt kind of gal, but I wanted something loose yet still elegant to wear in the heat. They were all sold out, though. On my return back, they had restocked. Hooray!

I wasn’t sure how this was going to look with the pleats of the paper bag waist up top. This mannequin and the stock photo online wasn’t particularly alluring. And as a petite, I’ve often avoided midi lengths, fearing they’d overwhelm me and make me look shorter.

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But I think I love it! (Tags still attached in these photos. Don’t mind that. I decided to keep the skirt after the photos and took them off.) I got the navy. The color and shape reminds me a bit of traditional Japanese trousers, hakama.

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And it has pockets! Hell yeah! Gotta love a skirt with pockets.

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I tried on both the XS and S. I went with the S because the XS somehow looked even more flared on me. The tag for the S said it was for a 26-27 waist. I’m generally a 27″ waist, so it fit true to size. The fabric is a cotton and polyester mix. (Ten Key Pieces says hers was 50-50, but my tag says 65% polyester and 35% cotton.) It’s light but not thin. The skirt is unlined and comes with belt loops and a belt, which you can remove.

The color held after one wash; I hung it up to dry and it didn’t need ironing. It comes in navy, olive green, beige (looks khaki to me), and this red color that wasn’t in the store. Seems like a great wardrobe staple and at $30 each, I might have to get the red too. I love that color. Oooh, but the olive green seems like such a great neutral that would go with a lot. Decisions, decisions.

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While in the store, I spied some other skirts, but didn’t try them on since they’re not really me. If you’re in the market for some midi skirts, Uniqlo has got you options for you right now.

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UPDATE 12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating posts with info about where and how things were made. This skirt was made in China out of cotton and polyester. Polyester is is petroleum-based, not biodegradable, and pollutes our oceans. 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.

Daiso bookend shaped like a giraffe

Daiso Stationery, Bookends, & Other Cute Office Stuff

Published by welcomeobjects

One of my happy places is Daiso. If you don’t have a Daiso near you, I’m sorry. Daiso is a chain of Japanese dollar stores where almost everything is $1.50. They’ve got kitchenware, office supplies, home decor, gardening goodies, pet supplies, cleaning sundries, and a whole glorious room called household plastics where you can find various plastic boxes to organize stuff your heart’s content.

Today, I’m going to give you a tour of some of their office supplies and stationery. I’m cut off from buying any more stationery until I use what I have. Daiso stationery tends toward the cute. I’m a grown ass adult, but damn it if stationery with illustrations of animals doesn’t make me smile. Look at these ridiculous notebooks.

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Everlane Cotton V T-shirt in red as worn by a model

Everlane Cotton V-Neck & Drop-Shoulder Tee Review

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s T-shirt weather, even for a few days here in San Francisco, so I thought I’d review some tees by Everlane. I’ve had these shirts for almost a year and a half, so I’ll show you how they’ve held up.

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Cotton V-Neck

I own the Cotton V in both black and white. (Update: When this shirt first came out, it was simply the Cotton V. Everlane now calls it the Cotton V-neck.) First, I had to figure out which size would fit best. I’m a 4 dress size, and either a XS or S in most American brands. This fit true to size. I went with the S, which measures 18″ across the bust (measured pit to pit), and 26.25″ lengthwise from top of shoulder to hem.

This is how it looks on the model, and on 5′ 4″ me:

EverlaneCottonV-front

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I’m pretty happy with this T-shirt. The V is not too deep, and the cut is flattering. I don’t have a flat stomach (never have), so one of my challenges with tops is finding ones that don’t show my little belly bulge. These pass the test. I think the length is good. However, friends with a long torsos tell me that it’s too short for them.

The shirts are 100% Supima cotton and as far as T-shirts go, a bit on the thin side. They’re thinner than your average American Apparel tee. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, though. The light weight of the fabric feels nice on and is good for warmer days. Though the white one definitely requires a nude-colored bra as it’s a bit sheer.  (Side note: I had no idea that Supima is not a type of cotton but a nonprofit that promotes American Pima cotton.)

They’ve held up pretty well after a year plus of wear, though the black one is showing some fading and slight pilling. (I wear the white one less.) Even though they are both made in the same factory in Los Angeles, the white one behaves differently after being washed. The hems do this wavy thing:

everlane-vtee-hemcomparisoneverlane-vtee-sleevecomparison

Not a big deal — I just iron them down. (Yes, I iron T-shirts. But if you don’t — and I don’t blame you, I hate ironing — maybe you don’t want the white one. I’m not sure myself that I’d rebuy the white one. Probably not.) It is curious, though. At $15 each, I think they’re a good wardrobe staple and wish they made more colors.

Cotton Drop-Shoulder Tee

This is also made in their Los Angeles factory. It’s crew neck, has elbow-length sleeves, and is slightly longer in the back than the front.

Everlanedropshoulder

everlane-modeling-dropshoulder

It’s also 100% Supima cotton, though this fabric is thicker than the Cotton V. Because it has a looser fit, I ordered the XS, which is 20″ across the bust. The black on this one is a more muted shade of black than the Cotton V rather than a true black. I wear both this one and the black V a similar amount. The V shows some slight pilling on the bottom and sides (not too noticeable, only if you’re really looking); the Drop-Shoulder doesn’t, but it does have a tiny hole in the front bottom. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? Whenever I got holes in T-shirts, this is where they appear. Does this have something to do with how they’re situated over pants?

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A closeup of the front bottom of the Cotton Drop-Shoulder Tee after a year of wear.

The Drop-Shoulder Tee, which retails for $22, is a shirt I grab when I’m off to run errands. It’s comfy and the longer sleeves are nice when you don’t want to show your lack of Michelle Obama upper arms. Personally, I’d prefer a slightly shorter length in the body, but then again, I’m petite.

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

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midcentury modern barcart in metal and wood from target

Midcentury Bar Carts (& a Whiskey Shield)

Published by welcomeobjects

When I moved into a bigger apartment, one of the things I really, really wanted was a bar cart. The idea of wheeling something around to entertain guests — and offer them my partner’s whiskey collection — appealed to me, even if I wasn’t going to wheel it very far.

Shape-wise, I wanted something rectangular ( as opposed to round) to fit into a specific spot I had in mind. It needed to have rails to keep things from falling off. Style-wise, I was going for a midcentury modern look, or at least something that would fit in with that feel. I looked primarily at West Elm, CB2, and Target. Of course, there are other retailers online, but when possible, I wanted to see these carts in person. I looked at some vintage carts as well, but they were often too big and out of my price range.

CB2’s bar cart offerings were not in the style I was seeking. They were also huge.

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Dolce Vita Bar Cart, $299 (also comes in black)

West Elm actually has a cart called the Mid-Century Bar Cart. It’s pretty handsome with a clean design. It’s made out of sustainably-sourced wood and antique brass-finished rails and casters. It has only two wheels, though, and I wanted something with four.

Overstock actually has something with a similar size and look for $100 less. I’m guessing the wood isn’t sustainably sourced. The lines on this one also seem a tad chunkier.

This Target cart is a good alternative for only $130. But the lines on this one also seemed a bit chunky to me. (I don’t think it’s bad-looking or anything. Just not for me.)

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Threshold Wood & Gold Bar Cart, $129.99 (no longer sold last I checked on 9/2017)

West Elm, also had this art deco-inspired number. I love the gold color of this cart. But it was too glam a vibe for me with its glass shelf and mirrored bottom shelf. (Also, a practical issue: it’s so easy to see dust on glass and mirrored surfaces. That would drive me nuts.)

Target also has its own glamorous bar cart version. This cart is rose gold with glass shelves and a curved handle. I came across very few rose gold colored carts, so if you love rose gold, you might want to consider this.

 

There’s also a version in a more yellow gold and wood shelves, which is more my personal style.

In the end, the winner for me was Target with this simple brass and wood cart. I like the muted gold color and the thin, clean lines. At $130, the price was also right for my budget. If I didn’t know this was from Target, I’d think it was more expensive than it was. In fact, on Instagram I even saw a midcentury modern furniture store in Los Angeles trying to pass this off as a vintage and asking more than retail for it.

Happy to be done with my search, I displayed the cart in my living room with its whiskey (and other spirits) wares. But then my partner told me that it was actually a bad place to store whiskey because it’s a no-no to expose whiskey to the sun. Doh! Why didn’t he mention this earlier? Maybe I would have looked for a cabinet instead. (But I wouldn’t have been happy, because you can’t wheel cabinets around.)

What to do? I solved our problem with some cardboard, tape, and pretty wrapping paper from Target. Now I get the cart I want, and he gets his whiskey kept out of direct sunlight. Behold: my DIY whiskey shield!

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Two models wear Who What Wear brand dresses from Target

Fitting Room Review: Summer Dresses from Who What Wear

Published by welcomeobjects

While I was shopping Victoria Beckham for Target (reviews here and here), I noticed that Who What Wear had put out a lot of summery dresses, so I tried some of those on as well. Here’s a dressing room review showing you what these dresses look like on a real (and petite) person.

First up: this shift dress seems comfortable, while the ties on the sleeve add a cute detail. It seems both modern and girly at once. It’s made out of 100% cotton. Yay!

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Tie Sleeve Shift Dress (also comes in chambray), $34.99

Unfortunately, it was pretty shapeless on me. Look how much shorter it is on the model than on me. (She’s 5’9″ and I’m 5′ 4″). And yes, I was too lazy to properly button the back.

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Here’s another shift dress, in shirt dress style, but with a dramatic ruffle yoke and shoulders. It’s also made out of cotton, so it’s breathable. The ruffles are loud but the solid black and white color options are so reasonable.

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Pioneer Shift Dress (also comes in white), $24.99

Alas, it completely overwhelmed me. The ruffle sleeves on her look cute. On me, it looks like I belong in a weird cult.

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Next up: The gingham pattern of this dress is sweet and wholesome while the off-the-shoulder looks says, hello, I’m sexy!

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Belted Bardot Dress (comes in black plaid and blue striped), $34.99; Plus Size, $36.99

On me, it says milk maid? Well, at least it was also 100% cotton.

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Ah, more gingham going on.

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Cut Out Dress – $34.99

Finally, something that looks decent on me! I wasn’t sure what the deal was with the waist tie. Not really into that, but I liked the cut outs on the sides just above the hips — a flirty flash of flesh, but overall, not giving much away.

And here is the floral version. Both are made out of a cotton and polyester blend.

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So, I cannot recommend most of these dresses for petites. Tall ladies, have at it. If you’ve tried any of this collection on, how did it work out for you?

UPDATE 12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating posts with info about where and how things were made. Some of these clothes are made out of polyester, which is petroleum-based, not biodegradable, and pollutes our oceans. Natural fibers, like cotton, are better for the environment. I didn’t check the tags on these items to see where they were made, but in general, Target makes its clothes in China. It was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute.

A model holds three baggu bags on her arms

The Many Reasons I Love Baggu Reusable Bags

Published by welcomeobjects

Today is Earth Day, so I thought I’d share about my favorite reusable bag: Baggu. Because I live in California (and specifically, the San Francisco Bay Area), I was indoctrinated into carrying a reusable bag early on. Now, I always have two on me: one for groceries, and one for non-food items. The number of plastic bags I accumulated before I started carrying a reusable bag bothered me. Even though I re-used those flimsy plastic bags from grocery stores as liners in trashcans, I always had so many of them.

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It’s nice to see that it’s becoming standard practice now in many places to carry your own bag. Ikea stopped supplying plastic bags in all their stores in 2000. You have to bring your own or buy one of their now-ubiquitous (and super handy) Frakta bags.

Still, change is slow to come in many places. I remember going home to Texas one summer and buying something in a clothing store, which led to an argument with my mom. BYOB was not a thing in Texas yet then. I had brought my own bag but my mom insisted I get a plastic bag from the store because otherwise the store would think I was shoplifting. “But I’ll have a receipt that shows I bought this,” I said. Eventually I gave in out of a sense of embarrassment — we were holding up the line with our argument. I’m still trying to convert her from her plastic-bag-hoarding ways.

I’ve tried many brands of reusable bags and my favorite, hands down, are from Baggu. Not only is Baggu an ethical and eco-conscious company, they make damn good bags.

Oh Baggu, how I love you! Let me count the ways. First, the Baggu is a great size. The Standard Baggu is 15″ across — big, but not too big. I can easily carry a grocery bag’s worth of stuff in it. Second, its handles are long enough so that you can carry it on your shoulder. Third, the material (nylon) is lightweight and tough. A Standard Baggu can carry 50 lbs. And you can just throw it in the wash. I’ve had some Baggu for years and they are holding up just fine.

Fourth, I like how it folds up flat, so it takes up little space in my purse. (I put mine in special slots in a purse organizer as demonstrated in this post about Everlane tote bags.) I fold my standard Baggu in half lengthwise, then once more so that it’s a long skinny rectangle. Then I fold that in half, and then into thirds and it fits perfectly back into its 5″x5″ pouch.

baggu-house-person

I’ve never been a fan of the kind of reusable bags that has a stuff sack attached. It leaves you with a ball-shaped clump, and when you unstuff the bag it’s all wrinkly. (Yes, I care about that.) I realize that for a lot of people, the fact that Baggu has a separate little pouch is a deal-breaker. Some people (like my partner) would loose it in about two seconds. Even I, who’s pretty careful about these things, have lost the little pouch. (But I wrote to Baggu about it and they sent me a replacement for free. Thanks, Baggu!)

But not to worry. I have a simple solution. All I did was safety pin a lanyard I had lying around to connect the pouch and the bag. Tada!

baggu-diy

The fifth thing I love about Baggu? The awesome prints. It’s a bit of a problem, actually, because I already have enough Baggu but sometimes they come up with a print so great that I can’t resist. Last year they created these prints with food on them. I got both the banana and watermelon ones for myself and gifted a few as well (including one with donuts on it). So cute! Do you get compliments on your resuable bag? I do.

This year, they released some fun plant-themed prints.

They also make the reusable Baggu in a small size (Baby Baggu) and a large size. The Big Baggu is big enough for me to lug several packages down the post office. It’s 18″ wide by 21″ tall (not including handles) versus the standard size of 15″ x 15.75″.

Baggu also makes other handy items, like canvas tote bags, weekenders, and backpacks. Their canvas shopper tote bags are sturdy and well made. Only problem is that it’s long on me and rubs against my jeans, so I get color transfer on the bag, which I try to clean off with soap and water.

I’m also a fan of their 3D Zip, which is useful for traveling, or for separating things in your purse or tote bag. I use one for my gym gear.

baggu-3Dzip-gymstuff

All the things that I fit into the large 3D tote for the gym.

The Baggu even comes in a leather version, which I’ve been coveting for years. I don’t really need one, but I want one. What a great bag to use as a purse when traveling. It wouldn’t take much room in your luggage to pack since it’s soft and shapeless. Yet it’s classy and goes with everything.

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Leather Baggu – $160

Since using Baggu, I’ve cut way, way down on plastic bags (On occasion, I’ll still take a plastic bag from a restaurant when there’s a possibility of food spillage). In fact, I actually have a shortage of flimsy bags to use as trashcan liners. (I still feel bad about using plastic though, and wonder if there’s something better I can use.)

For Earth Day, Baggu is running a special this weekend through Sunday night. Get 20% off all Baby, Standard, and Big Baggus with the code EARTHDAY. (You can also find Baggu at lots of other retailers, including Shopbop and Nordstrom.)

baggu-oakland

The Baggu store in Oakland, CA

First Image: Baggu’s Instagram

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Victoria Beckham for Target review

Victoria Beckham for Target Review – Part 2

Published by welcomeobjects

Welp… you know how in my first Victoria Beckham for Target review I said I was trying to be good and not buy anything from the collection unless I really, really loved it? At the time, I had decided to keep just one item. That didn’t last very long. The problem is that I started to see photos of people wearing their #VBxTarget goodies, including some petite ladies wearing girls’ items. Before you know it, I had gone to Target 11 times in nine days (that’s 11 visits to seven different stores) hunting for items I now wanted to try. Oops.

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At the top of my list was this adorable girls dress with a big bumble bee print. I saw women wearing it on Instagram and asked what size they got.

As it turns out, when you’re small and petite, you can fit into a girls’ XL, which is meant for a 16-year-old girl. The XL sold out online. I refreshed the Target website every few hours like an obsessed person. Finally, one popped up for pick-up-only at a store about 40 minutes away from me. I bought it and the next day, battled traffic to get there. I feared it wasn’t actually going to be there when I got there, but yay, it was there!

vbxtarget beedress

Girls’ Bee Print Cap Sleeve Dress, $23 // Target Mossimo Shoes [similar]

I love this dress. It even has pockets! It’s made of natural fibers too: cotton with a cotton lining. I’m 5′ 4″ for reference. (BTW, I’m wearing one of my favorite pair of Target shoes, which are sadly starting to fall apart. These polka dot peep toe shoes have a small red wedge. I wish I’d gotten a back up pair.)

In my Target travels, I also came across the bee print shirt. I actually saw this on the first day the collection was released but didn’t pick it up. The banded collar is not my thing; I prefer a pointed one. At the time, I wasn’t sure about the print. But after falling in love with the dress, why not try the shirt too? I hadn’t realized the shirt had an interesting French cuff.

vbtarget beeshirt

Bee Print Button Down Top, $30 // Uniqlo Jeans // Heels [vintage]

I plan to roll up the cuffs when not posing for a photo since I have short limbs. 🙂  I took my normal size in Target tops even though it’s a little big in the shoulders for me. When I sized down the shoulder seams hit me in the perfect spots, but it was a bit tight across the chest. If you’re curvy, you might even want to size up. Since it’s 100% cotton, there’s a chance it will shrink a bit in the wash. The shirt is also quite long, so it works if you have a long torso or are tall.

My curiosity about the embellished bug dress and bomber only increased when I saw them in person (though not in my size). I was impressed. Even though there are pretty good photos on the website, some things just don’t translate until you see them in person. The embroidery and bugs looked well done. I love the detail. The beetle is made out of a squishy plastic and its limbs are made of beads. Suddenly, I really wanted to know what the bug dress looked like on. I placed an online order for my size and am waiting for delivery.

vbxtarget bug dress close

I also snagged a striped poplin dress, which I had been curious about after seeing so many people rock it in photos. As I noted in my last post, it resembles a dress from her Victoria, Victoria Beckham line. I’m wearing one down from my normal size, which fit fine, though that wouldn’t work for someone busty. It’s an interesting design with the gathered waist, large cuffs, and hi-lo hem. It’s also cotton. I’m not sure it works on me though. It doesn’t give me that Marie Kondo “spark joy” feeling.

I came across one fuchsia shell in my size, which fit nicely in my normal size. The fringe detail is cute. This isn’t really me, so I’m not keeping it, but it seemed like a nice piece. Only the top portion is lined, though, and the material is a polyester-rayon-spandex blend. Apparently it’s a very British thing to wear bright colors (according to a friend of mine who hails from a former British colony).

I picked up this shirt with a retro floral print for a friend. The polyester fabric has a nice medium weight to it and the scallop hem is darling. It was a wee bit tight across the chest for me. (That seems true for a lot of items in this collection). But, it does seem nicely made. I’d say in general this collection is well-made.

I also saw a scarf in person. It’s made of a lightweight polyester. And it’s huge! You could wear it lots of different ways.

Well, I think I’ve gotten #VBxTarget out of my system now and won’t be stalking stores for returns anymore. But returns are out there for those of you looking for particular pieces. I’m happy with the three pieces I’m keeping (the Bee Print Peasant Dress, Bee Print Button Down, and the English Floral Satin Dress). (Maybe four pieces if I end up loving the bug dress.)

It’s crazy how these limited time designer collaborations can just take over your brain. I bet Target loves that. Moral of the story: just order all the things you’re remotely interested in in the first place so you don’t spend all this time running around chasing down items. Easier said than done, though. I didn’t even know I was going to like certain things until I saw them in person or saw them modeled by real people.

UPDATE 4/20/17 – The bug dress arrived! I ordered two sizes and both were individually wrapped in bubble wrap to protect the embellishments. It looks really nice and well-made. I usually wear a small or 4. Both the XS and S fit, but the XS was a wee bit tight on the neck and the S was about an inch longer, so I went with that since it’s short. Still trying to decide if I should keep it. Yay or nay?

UPDATE 12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating posts with info about where and how things were made. Some of these clothes are made out of polyester which is petroleum-based, not biodegradable, and pollutes our oceans. Natural fibers are generally better for the environment. These clothes were made in China. I don’t have any specifics about its supply chain, but Target was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute.

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victoria beckham for target store display

Victoria Beckham for Target Review

Published by welcomeobjects

I love a good collaboration. I especially love Target ones since it’s a place I already enjoy shopping. Often, I get too caught up in the excitement though. I’ve noticed over the years that some items get little wear. That Jason Wu for Target poplin dress? At the time I had to have it. It was so cute! It even had pockets! But I only wore it a handful of times, and then it hung in my closet for years. During a recent closet purge, I realized it wasn’t really my style.

So I’m trying to be stricter and not fall for the collab FOMO frenzy. In the early morning of April 9th, when Victoria Beckham’s Target line went live on the website, I calmly ordered just one dress in two sizes. (Shout out to the Target website folks. It all went smoothly this time.) I didn’t get to a brick-and-mortar Target store until the afternoon. But by that time, I’d already seen photos on social media of people with their #VBxTarget haul. It made me wish I had bought more to try on. Suddenly, I was asking myself if I needed a romper (even though I live in San Francisco, where it’s rarely warm enough to romp in a romper).

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Women’s Clothing

I went to two Target stores. (This is how you know you’ve sort of lost it: when you start going to multiple Targets). I didn’t see some of the items in person that I was curious about, like the embellished bug bomber, which is now sold out online. What was left at this point was mostly the Calla Lily Ruffle Dress (but not the top or pants, which Beckham had worn in ads and thus, they were predictably sold out), the Black and White Mod Shift Tulip Applique Dress, the Collared Dress with bunny, and some of the the English Lace items. Overall, the quality and cuts seemed decent and the fabrics looked nice. The fabrics that were least impressive were the bright-colored twill items (like the orange skirt or fuchsia items).  Here are some detail photos of the fabrics:

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I found the collection to be pretty true to size and consistent with Merona sizing. Your usual size should work. One caveat though: the arms holes for the dresses and rompers I tried on seemed overly large. The price point for this collection seemed a little lower than past collaborations, which was a pleasant surprise. Dresses in past Target collaborations have usually run $40 or $45. The dresses in this line were either $35 or $40 and topped at $60 for the embellished bug dress. I wonder if part of the reason is that there are no numeric sizes for the dresses this time around. They come in lettered sizing, such as S, M, L, 1X, which means there are fewer versions to make than if they made numbered sizing.

OK, get ready for some unflattering fitting room photos:

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Retro Floral Waist Tie Romper, $30 (also comes in black)

So, this fitting room session pretty much squashed my romper coveting. They just look wide on me, giving off a ’90s mom vibe. I liked the fabric of the retro floral one better, which was a crepe material. The arm holes on both of them are too big, especially on the orange scallop one. I’m a size 4 and wear XS or S in most brands. I’m wearing the small in both rompers above.

I was also curious about the Blue Stripe Poplin Dress, but didn’t see it in person. (And of course it’s sold out now.) I didn’t think to buy it at first because I am not generally a fan of empire waists, but I reconsidered after seeing how cute other people looked in it. It also looks similar to this dress in the Victoria, Victoria Beckham line. The Target one is $35 while the Victoria one is $560.

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I didn’t try on much else. I have to say, as far as the women’s clothing goes, I’m a little disappointed. I was excited when I first heard that Victoria Beckham was creating a diffusion line for Target. When I think of Victoria Beckham, I think of her 2010 fall ready to wear line, modern and a bit minimalist with simple dramatic folds. I loved the dresses that season. This collection is more in line with her casual, playful Victoria, Victoria Beckham line, which of course makes perfect sense for Target’s audience.

The bunny and floral motifs are a smart marketing move for Easter and Passover. The collection is fun and colorful, but it’s just not for me. There’s quite a few drop waist dresses, which don’t work for my body shape. And the skirts are so short! I think there will be a lot of these orange skirts left over. (An aside: I wish the embellished bug design also came in a sweatshirt. I would rock that hard.)

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Blue & White Twill Pants, $30 (Picked these up for a friend but will have to return them because there’s a spot of candy or something on them. They look really cute, I have to say.)

In the end, I only ended up with one item.

I’m wearing the small in this photo. Again, I found the arm holes big, but not as bad as the rompers. Do note that it’s short, so it’s a good option for petites. I’m 5′ 4″ and it’s already several inches above my knee. I wish it went to the knee instead. I don’t recommend it for anyone tall. Also, because of the piping on the dress, the zipper is a little tricky and can be hard to zip where the piping cuts midway through the dress.

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I could get it to zip up, but to take the dress off, I had to unzip the dress halfway, then turn it around so that the back is on my front. Then, I could get a better grip on the area to unzip the dress all the way.

Children’s Clothing

Now, on to the children’s clothing. Honestly, I think some of the best pieces in the collection were for the kids. I mean, look at this cute striped bee outfit and the clear raincoat! (The white scallop lines on the bee outfit aren’t printed. They’re actually sewn on.)

While I’m not a fan of the bunny theme for myself, I think it’s adorable on a child.

I adore this bee print dress.

The bee stuff is even cute for babies.

And these outfits! I kind of wished that there were adult versions.

The other thing this collection is great for? Twinning with your kid.

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Black and White Mod Shift Tulip Applique Dress: Girls $25; Women, $40

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Blush Floral Jacquard Shift Dress: Girls, $28; Women, $40

So, what did you think of the collection, and what will you be keeping?

UPDATE 4/18/17 – Read part 2 of my review.

UPDATE 5/14/17 – I’ve heard that the English Floral dress starts pilling already after two wears. That’s really disappointing. I’m going to have to return mine.

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UPDATE 12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating posts with info about where and how things were made. Some of these clothes are made out of polyester which is petroleum-based, not biodegradable, and pollutes our oceans. Natural fibers are generally better for the environment. These clothes were made in China. I don’t have any specifics about its supply chain, but Target was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute.

fake plants form target & cb2

Fake Plants That Look Great from CB2 & Target

Published by welcomeobjects

I devoted a post a while back to planters from IKEA for your indoor greenery. But what if you don’t want to take care of plants, have a horrible track record with them, or are trying to spruce up a space that doesn’t get enough light? Luckily, there are very realistic looking fake plant options. I’ve seen nice selections at both CB2 and Target (though I wonder if they’re all churned out by the same factory in China.)

** this post contains affiliate links **

CB 2 Faux Plants

Get ready for a lots of pictures! Let’s start with CB2 first, which has a section on its website called Botanicals full of faux plants.

fake aloe pants at cb2

Potted Aloe, $19.95

Target Faux Plants

And here’s some faux plants I found at Target:

fake banana leaf plants at target

Banana Leaf in White Pot, $24.99 (I think the large one is $24.99; I only saw 1 size online)

fake succulent in a white pot on gold legs at target

Standing Planter, Medium, $19.99

This last faux succulent comes in a few sizes (small, medium, large), though I only see the medium online right now. I wish they made this in a planter version without the fake plant. I love the little stand. Very midcentury modern-esque.

If you search on the Target site for “fake plant,” you’ll get results for 1,247 items (last I checked.) They carry a larger selection of brands online than in store. If you want the Target branded ones, check the boxes for Target brands (like Threshold) and you’ll get a more manageable 71 items. Artificial plants start at $7.99 and go all the way up to $60 for a large floor snake plant in a midcentury modern stand. Most of them are $20 and under.

In both stores, the quality seemed good and the fake plants actually looked realistic. The price point at Target seems a little lower than CB2, which is to be expected, but they’re around the same ballpark.

CB2 Planters

I also wanted to share a few cute planters for real plants too that I saw at CB2. I focused mostly on the small planters, but they also carry larger sizes. This is one area where Target is lacking.

You know I love a white planter! I think this is great price for all three. They’ve got a matte unfired texture. I already mentioned in a prior post how I love things that are a set but have a different patterns, and I like what they’ve done here with the chevron, diamond, and lines. I think I’m going to go back and get these.

Bling, bling! Lots of shiny gold pieces at CB2. With the right plant the pineapple vase might actually look like a pineapple. I find this really satisfying.

planters that look like marble at cb2

Palazzo Marbleized Planters, $24.99 and $12.99

Oooh, these are so fancy looking. Even though they look like marble, they’re actually made out of a thin ceramic. Well done, CB2. Well done.

UPDATE 6/10/17 – I decided on the trio of Loom planters from CB2. Love.

oh joy! for target orange lamp

Rainbow Love from Oh Joy! Housewares at Target

Published by welcomeobjects

Oh Joy! has created a housewares line at Target for a few years now. They’re always brightly colored and playful, in keeping with Joy Cho’s happy aesthetic. I don’t think I could do a whole house or room with Oh Joy (it’s a bit too much for me), but I do like some of the pieces.

** this post contains affiliate links **

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End cap with Oh Joy’s spring 2017 housewares line (and some other random items that aren’t part of the line.)

My favorite part of this collection is the cloud pattern, which is used on this pillow and vase.

If I didn’t already have throw pillows (from Target, of course), I might go for this. The raised embroidery is a not-shiny gold colored, and the back of the pillow is pale blue. It’s nice and fat. I think it’s a good buy.

I’m digging the half circle shape of this vase, which would look especially good against a wall. It’s iridescent as well, which gives it a magical feel.

Some items sported  a rainbow color scheme, such as the stripey pillow in the end cap photo and these dove-shaped bud vases.

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Oh joy! Dove Vase, Large $14.99, Small, $12.99

This set of ceramic bowls brings it all together. I love sets of bowls or glasses that are not perfectly matchy matchy and contain different patterns. When they say mini in the description though, they really mean it. They’re pretty tiny. I’m not really sure what they’d be useful for. Perhaps you could use them for a bite or two of ice cream as a means of portion control.

This lamp is very cute. Unfortunately, reviews say it’s not well made and that the coral color chips easily.

Lastly, this circle accent table. The blue circle swivels out. How handy! It has a nice weight to it and seems decently made.

Oh Joy! makes a new collection for Target each season. Looking forward to seeing what they do next.

UPDATE 12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating posts with info about where and how things were made. I didn’t check to see where these were made, but Target was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute, for what it’s worth.