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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 brand: 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 find the Standard Baggu to be just the right size.

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 lose 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

How I keep the little bag attached to my Baggu.

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. 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.

3 nylon zip pouches in botanical prints.

3D Zip (set of 3) – $32

Baggu 3D Zip, and all the things I carry in it to the gym, organized very nicely. These include flip flops, swim suit, lock, goggles, toiletries.

All the stuff that fits in this 3D zip (this is the large size) for the pool.

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.

Leather Baggu in brown leather.

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.

Interior of the Baggu store in Oakland. Bags are displayed on the walls, and on hooks.

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 not to 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!

Me, an adult woman with black hair, wearing a bee print A-line dress.

Girls’ Bee Print Cap Sleeve Dress – $23 // Target Mossimo Shoes 

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 for the dress, why not try the shirt too? I hadn’t realized the shirt had an interesting French cuff.

A woman with black hair wearing a bee print button up shirt and skinny jeans and vintage cream heels.

Bee Print Button Down Top – $30 // Uniqlo Jeans // Vintage Heels

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.

A closeup of embroidered bees and beetles made from beads and shiny things on a black dress.

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).

** This post contains some affiliate links, but was not produced in partnership with any brand **

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:

Two images (from the front and from the side) of a person with dark hair trying on an orange romper with a floral print in a Target fitting room.

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. Apparently it’s a replica of one of her own designs from her Victoria, Victoria Beckham line. The Target one is $35 while the Victoria one is $560.

Two images of blond models wearing striped shirt dresses. The dress on the left has a hi-low hem, while the other one does not.

Beckham’s Target dress on the left, and similar one one from her Victoria line on the right.

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.)

A pair of black and white gingham pants on a gray surface.

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.

Closeup of the zipper on a floral dress.

The zipper on this dress is not great, though.

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.

A child's sleeveless dress and an adult sleeveless dress on the racks at Target with the same design of black flowers on white.

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

A child's dress and an adult's dress in the same pink jacquard fabric.

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 decided 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 some affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. **

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 they're made out of white 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.

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ohjoy-display

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.

ohjoy-birds

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.

everlane street shoes in gray

A Review of Everlane’s Street Shoe

Published by welcomeobjects

I started shopping at Everlane about a year ago. In my quest to buy fewer objects, but objects of better quality that lasted longer, the Everlane ethos fit. They work with a handful of factories, which are ethical, and show the cost of each step of the process, from materials to shipping. The idea is that they produce high quality items for less-than-usual retail because they don’t have a large marketing mark-up.

I was drawn to the look of their Street Shoe. With its slightly pointed toe, it’s like a chic and sophisticated Vans. I love the ease of Vans slip-ons, but they last me only about a year before they start to fall apart. Vans are made with man-made faux leather. The Nubuck Street Shoe from Everlane is made of soft nubuck leather with a leather lining. (UPDATE: as of fall 2017, the nubuck version doesn’t appear to be sold anymore, but there is a leather version). Apologies, I’ve lost the photos I took, so these photos from their website will have to do.

A product photo of an Everlane slip-on sneaker in nubuck leather from the side

Nubuck Street Shoe, $95 to $135

The description says they run narrow, so I ordered a half size up, and also a full size up. Alas, neither size fit. They were both too narrow. My feet are considered on the wide side here in America and though I can fit into regular medium widths, they tend to be from brands that run a bit wide. (Though in Asia they seem to be normal sized and I have no problems finding shoes there.) Selfishly, I wish they made this shoe wider, or at least offered the option of different widths.

As to quality, the shoe appears well made. (They’re produced in an Italian factory.) The footbed is plush and seems like it would be comfortable. If you have narrow feet, I say go for it. The Street Shoe is priced at $135, which I think is very reasonable for a leather shoe.

Everlane also runs “Choose What You Pay” discounts from time to time when they overproduce an item. Right now there’s a discount for Nubuck Street Shoes in several colors, including the slate gray that’s pictured in this post. If you do end up buying these, I recommend getting a suede/nubuck protector like this and applying it before you wear them out. I do this with all my suede shoes to keep them from getting too dirty.

Fellow owners of wide feet, don’t bother.

The bottom half of a model, who is wearing the Everlane nubuck leather slip-on shoes

You can see my other Everlane reviews here.

uniqlo drape collection outfit

The Drape Collection at Uniqlo

Published by welcomeobjects

Sometimes marketing works. Browsing Uniqlo’s website, I saw the new Match and Mix Drape Collection.

uniqlo-drape1

uniqlo-drape

Suddenly, I really wanted the outfit in the middle. Never mind that I’ve been trying to incorporate more color into my wardrobe. There was a time I only wore dark colors, and before that, a time I only wore three colors — and one of those colors has always, always been black. I love black for probably many of the same reasons other people do. It hides imperfections (both of the body and of the I-spilled-coffee kinds). It makes you look instantly pulled together somehow. It’s simple and sophisticated.

Lucky me, at the time there was a online sale for the pants so I put in an order. Then I went into the store and took a look.

drape-display-pants

Sorry in advance for these fitting room photos. As you now know, I love black — which looks good in person, but makes for boring fitting room photos. It’s not that I’m opposed to the other colors — overall, I think they’re offering a good palette of neutrals here. But the lighter colors didn’t speak to me. I didn’t see the olive green anywhere in the store and though I thought about the blue, in person I didn’t like it.

The fabric for this collection has a slight seen to it (material is polyester). There was something off-putting to me about the sheen — it looks a little cheap. Black looked the least sheeny, and hence the best to me. The fabric is lightweight (but not too thin) and true to its name, it does drape nicely.

First up, the wide leg pants worn with the three-quarter sleeve blouse, and jogger pants worn with camisole. The pants are all supposed to be ankle length, but I’m petite (5′ 4″). So fellow petites, these will be normal length for you. (The inseam on the joggers are 27 1/4″ so if you’re tall, they might actually be too short on you.) The joggers have a comfortable elastic waistband, but there’s still a fly so they’re easy to get into. I think the jogger pants look slimming in person, but the wide leg one wasn’t doing me any favors as a shorty.

Next, I tried the drape wrap skirt with the camisole. On the left, I’m wearing it as styled in the marketing photo — with the top untucked. Meh. I think it makes me look wider than I am. Better to tuck it in and define your waist.

I took home the jogger pants and the three-quarter sleeve blouse (in black of course). As for fit, I went with my usual size. I found them to be true to size.

And then an interesting thing happened. I tried on the jogger pants from my online order and the jogger pants from the brick-and-mortar store and THEY FIT DIFFERENTLY! I was so confused. They looked the same. I examined the tags and they had different SKU numbers. What the what?

I went on the website and saw there were two different jogger pants. One is called “Women Drape Jogger” and the other one is called “Women Drape Jogger Pants.” Um, thanks for clarifying that, Uniqlo.

I finally realized the difference when I read the descriptions. The “Women Drape Jogger” look like this:

The “Women Drape Jogger Pants” look like this:

See a difference?

OK, here it is: “Women Drape Joggers” is the original model. It has two pleats per leg in front. “Women Drape Jogger Pants” is the updated version. It has only one pleat per leg in front; it also has a higher waist.

I mean.

While the “Women Drape Jogger Pants” (the one-pleat ones) are described as having a slimmer cut, I found that for me the “Women Drape Jogger” originals were actually tighter in the thighs. So, I decided to keep the “Women Drape Jogger Pants.”

What do you think? Does it look like the marketing photo on me? I’m pretty happy with the pants. Pants are usually problematic for me, but I feel like these fit well, look good, and they’re comfy. The “Women Drape Jogger” pants got rave, rave reviews on the Uniqlo website. I think this newer version will too.

drape-outfit-pockets

So beware: if you’re going to consider pants from this collection, make sure you get both kinds to try on. Count the number of pleats. Also, Uniqlo, you should really give similar items different names. At least number them or something.

UPDATE 4/27/17 – Well, Uniqlo has updated the names of the pants on their website, but not in any helpful way. Now they have the same name. Both pants are called “Women Drape Jogger Pants.” Also, there are new colors for the one-pleat ones: a light brown and a light gray. I tried them and unfortunately, with these lighter color pants you can see the outline of the back pockets. Not a good look. 🙁

UPDATE 9/24/17 – The Women Drape Jogger Pants (with one pleat) have been updated for fall with new dark colors: wine red and navy.

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. These clothes are made in China out of polyester, which is petroleum-based, not biodegradable, and pollutes our oceans. Doh. Uniqlo has said it is putting better processes in place after it was cited for abusive practices in 2016, so it does appear to be making an effort.

everlane pocket tote

Everlane Twill Zip Tote & Pocket Tote Review

Published by welcomeobjects

I have a bit of an preoccupation with finding the right bag. Not only does it need to be good looking and practical, but as someone who spends a fair amount of time on public transit and on foot, it also needs to be lightweight. Have you heard of Every Day Carry? It’s all about carrying stuff efficiently. (That site seems to be all men, and most of them seem to carry knives, but I digress.)

I like applying the idea of Every Day Carry to myself. My problem is that I’m a bit like my mother — I carry a bunch of items on me just in case (band-aids, small tape measure, nail clipper, tissues, etc). But I also want to lighten my load as much as possible. So, heft is a deal breaker when it comes to bags. I’ve been looking for a nice lightweight leather bag and haven’t found the perfect one yet. But in terms of a fabric option, behold: the Everlane Twill Zip Tote.

The Twill Zip Tote

It has one inside open pocket, leather straps (which lend it an elegant look), and a zipper across the top. And it weighs under a pound — 15 ounces. It’s a good size at 13.5” tall x 17″ wide x 3″ deep.

I got one in reverse denim. A few months into carrying the bag, though, the stitching around the zipper started coming undone! I wasn’t even carrying anything really heavy like a laptop in it. When I let Everlane know, they sent me a new one and took the old one back to examine it. I’ve had the replacement bag for about a year now, and here’s what it looks like now.

everlane-twill-tote-after-1-year

The Everlane Twill Zip Tote after one year of use.

Not bad, considering I carry it all the time. There’s a water mark inside from a water bottle spill, but it doesn’t show on the exterior. There’s also some wear to two of the corners, but otherwise it’s held up pretty well. And it can fit a lot.

everlane-twill-tote-inside

The things I carry

Here’s what I usually have with me: water bottle, change purse, transit card, a magazine or book, and a handbag organizer with my wallet, sunglasses, a notebook, pen, lip balm, reusable bags (my favorite reviewed here), and a whole bunch of other little things. The handbag organizer changed my life. It has pockets galore for everything and makes it so easy to switch bags (not that I do that often).

Originally I had an organizer from Muji, which was quite sturdy, but not big enough. It was also not as light as I wanted. I found this one on Amazon, which claimed to weigh only a bit over three ounces. It’s floppy and the netting on the outside pockets isn’t holding up well as you can see, but it is light, and the zippers work well. (Update: I have since switched to a pouch system.)

A mesh purse organizer with items in it, and other items such as a water bottle and sunglasses case, flatlay style.

What I carry in my bag

You could carry a laptop in the Twill Zip Tote, but the bag lacks both structure and padding, so if you decide to do that, put it in a case.

Oh, the tote comes in a dipped version too if you like a two-tone look.

everlane-dipped-tote

Dipped Tote

The Pocket Tote

In December, I became aware of a new Everlane tote: the Pocket Tote. It comes in three colorways: white, black, and reverse denim (all with black leather straps). Being a creature of habit, I got the reverse denim. (I do think it’s the best looking one.) It has a top zipper and an inside pocket with a zipper as well. The size is square-ish at 14.5” tall x 13” wide x 5.75” deep with a 10” handle drop. It weighs about an ounce more than the Twill Zip Tote, so it’s exactly a pound.

everlane-pocket-tote-inside

The Twill Zip Tote has one interior pocket.

Tote vs. Tote!

Here’s how they compare size wise:

everlane-tote-comparison-side

Twill Zip Tote and Pocket Tote

I love the original Twill Zip Tote and highly recommend it. It’s lightweight, holds a lot, and is decently priced at $48. (The dipped version is $60.) Likewise, the Pocket Tote is also $48 and also ethically made in Vietnam. I like the outside pocket, which is handy for things you reach for often.

But there’s one problem with it. See how the bottom sags and doesn’t keep its squared-off shape at the bottom? The Twill Zip Tote doesn’t do that. I think it’s due to the way the bags are constructed. Below is a comparison of the interiors of the Twill Zip Tote and the Pocket Tote, below it. The Pocket Tote has more depth (5.75″ versus the 3″ of the Twill Zip) and a seam at the bottom of the bag.

The insides of the Everlane Twill Zip Tote and the Pocket Tote. The Pocket Tote has a seam on the bottom.

The insides of the Everlane Twill Zip Tote and the Pocket Tote. The Pocket Tote has a seam on the bottom.

I experimented with putting a piece of 12″ x 5.5″ cardboard at the bottom to see if it helps it keep its shape. It does! I wrapped the piece of cardboard in white contact paper to make it a little more attractive. (Edit: I no longer recommend wrapping it in contact paper as little bits of plastic will break off as it wears. Plain cardboard is just fine.)

everlane pocket tote with cardboard-1200

I cut a piece of cardboard to make a structured base.

I also highly recommend using Scotchgard on these totes (or any fabric tote for that matter) as soon as you get it to protect it from stains. Make sure you cover up the leather parts before you spray! I used painter’s tape, which doesn’t leave sticky residue. Scotchgard and leather do not mix. Sadly, I know this from past experience: it will leave marks on the leather.

UPDATE 7/10/17 – After carrying around the Pocket Tote for a while and seeing how the DIY cardboard piece has worn at the corners, I decided to give it a trim. Rounded corners are the way to go.

everlane pocket tote rounded cardboard

Realized I needed rounded corners for a better fit.

UPDATE 8/16/17 – Here’s what the Pocket Tote looks like out and about with a MacBook Air in it and my DIY cardboard piece. I placed the laptop in the middle with stuff on either side of it. Otherwise it slides to one side and sags the bottom of the tote. (Also, please note that I’m not holding up the bag at all with my hand even though it appears that way. It’s just where my hand naturally lands.)

everlanepockettote-outandabout.jpg

Out and about with my Pocket Tote.

UPDATE 11/28/17 – After about 6 months of carrying the Pocket Tote, the rubberized edging on one of the straps began cracking and coming off in bits. (I tried to glue the edging down to prevent further loss, but that doesn’t work at all.) This seems to be a defect as I’ve never had this problem with my Twill Zip Tote, which I’ve carried for longer. In October I contacted Everlane about this and they sent me a replacement. Gotta love their customer service! I still use both bags often and like them both.

everlane pocket tote on a wooden surface

The Everlane Pocket Tote with a cardboard base inserted.

You can see all my Everlane reviews here.

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An ikea planter and pots with plants.

Minimalist Style with Planters From Ikea

Published by welcomeobjects

I love plants in the home, but don’t have a terribly green thumb. I don’t want to spend too much money on planters and plant supplies given my less-than-stellar record of keeping them alive. Ikea, in my experience, is a great place to find stylish planters at lower costs. This works for me because I’m looking for simple and minimalist. The Ikea aesthetic delivers on those requirements. If you’re going for something more eclectic and colorful, then it’s probably not for you.

First, I decided that all the planters should be white. Why? To emphasize the unique greenery of each plant. Luckily Ikea has a white planter in various sizes named Kardemumma. I can’t find it on the website anymore, but I’ve seen in stores. I like that though they’re all white, there are variations in the design.

kardemumma-plant-pot-white

The medium size fits a 6″ diameter liner pot and is what I used in the first photo. They’re $3.99 each. A larger version (pictured below) can fit a 9″ diameter pot and is only $7.99. At these prices, I could get multiple plants. By the way, snake plants like the one below are very easy to take care of. They even don’t mind a bit of neglect. Plus, they clean the air.

planterwitheames-1200
Next, I looked for a stand to display the planters on. Ikea has a charming collection called Satsumas made of bamboo and metal.

You know how you walk into a store and buy something you didn’t know you had to have? That’s what happened with the triple Satsumas. Here it is in my home:

satsumas-home-1200

I also wanted a small planter in my kitchen and looked at these:

sotcitron-self-watering-plant-pot

Soticitron Self-Watering Plant Pot, $11.99 (There’s a smaller square version too)

socker-plant-pot-with-holder-white

Socker Plant Pot With Holder, $24.99 (Also comes in black)

The three items above are even on sale right now with an Ikea Family card, which is free.

I took this one home:

bittergurka-1200.jpg

The metal box sits on the bamboo legs, which are not attached (though you could glue them if you wanted to).

Here are some other goodies that didn’t make it home with me, but seemed worth a look. This watering can also comes in light pink and gray. I like the slim, chic look but wonder how practical it is. Metal seems heavy for toting water. A friend of mine has one and left some water sitting in hers. Unfortunately the inside developed rust spots. Is hers just a fluke or is it a more widespread problem?

This plant stand holds 13 plants and also comes in black. Very cool if you need a room divider. It can also be used outdoors.

This one is nice for a corner and comes in black as well.

 

Of course, Ikea does also have some planters in colors, though they don’t have the most variety. But don’t count them out if you want to add greenery to your home. They might surprise you — and the price is right.

12/10/17 – I’m trying to be better about making ethical shopping choices, so I’m updating my posts with info about where and how things were made. The planter pots were made in Vietnam and the metal items (the Bittergurka box and Satsumas plant stand) were made in China. Ikea was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute.

dwell magazine for target in-store display

Modern by Dwell Magazine x Target

Published by welcomeobjects

I was excited when I found out that Dwell Magazine was doing a collaboration with Target. I love Dwell’s pages of aspirational, modern homes. And of course I have long loved Target for its low-cost, stylish decor. They made perfect sense together. Here’s what I saw in person.

A slim lounge chair in natural canvas color with black and white throw pillows on it, and a circular side table, inside a Target store.

Lounge Chair, $249.99

If I didn’t already have a chair, I’d think about this. It reminds me a bit of folded paper. I wonder how resistant to dirt the canvas-colored fabric will be, though. (Oh, but it also comes in dark gray! I would definitely go for the gray.) Note the rounded tables that contrast with the angles of the chair.

A round side table and a round table with two shelves. Both are made of natural light wood color and white metal.

Stool (but could be a little side table too), $74.99; Bar Trolley, $149.99 (also comes in black)

I’m not sure what the blue part of this tray is for. Photos on the website show that you can turn it vertically and tuck a notebook in. But whyyyy? Also comes in a larger and smaller size.

A wooden tray with a blue cover on about a third of the tray.

Medium Tray, $29.99

I also fell in love with the bar ware. So simple and chic! Do I need bar ware? I want to say yes. I liked the understated look of this shaker, but a review on the Target site says it doesn’t work well. That’s disappointing. It just needs to shake your drink. How hard can it be to design something that does that? If something doesn’t do its job, no matter how nice-looking, it’s a no go. The metallic glassware looks great. Each glass seemed to have a different design.

The only thing I didn’t love the look of was this glass ice bucket. Glass seems like weird material for an ice bucket since it’s heavy. I did appreciate how the tongs fit right into the lid, though.

A short, wide, and round glass ice bucket with a black lid.

Ice Bucket: $24.99

The top of a packaged ice bucket. The top of the cardboard wrapping has a hole cut in its center, where a pair of tongs nesting in the lid is visible.

There were also pretty copper colored flatware, bamboo serving utensils, and these wooden animal objects that also served somewhat practical functions. Oh, and lamps and patio furniture, and a large clock, and big blue poufs. Take a look at the collection online.

I didn’t take anything home, because I’m trying to be very good about not buying things I don’t need or super love. That’s one reason I’m starting this blog, so I can window shop, in a way, by sharing objects I appreciate. They are welcome objects. Welcome, objects!Save

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 don’t have info on where these items were made, but Target was named an ethical company in 2010 by Ethisphere Institute, for what that’s worth.

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in collaboration with any brand.