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A person wearing a black leather moto jacket over a purple dress poses in front of a metal roll-down door.

Is This Able Leather Jacket the Perfect Minimalist Moto Jacket?

Published by welcomeobjects

Everyone’s got their own personal wardrobe staples and for me, the motorcycle jacket is one of them. I love how it instantly makes any outfit edgier. Today I’m sharing the Maha Leather Jacket from Able. Last year I wrote a detailed review of several moto jackets, so I’ll also compare Able’s jacket to other brands I’ve tried.

A person holds up a black moto jacket from Able in front of their face.

Maha leather moto jacket, courtesy of – $398

About Able’s Ethics

Able is a Nashville-based company that partners with women-led and run factories, chosen for their wage levels and treatment of women, who make up most of the workforce in clothing production. (Here’s a glimpse at their store when I visited.) The brand says they’re continuing “to work toward living wages at all our manufacturers,” so it sounds like not all workers currently make living wages, though for them to do so is the goal.

This jacket was made in India, one of the world’s top leather producers. When asked, a rep for Able didn’t provide any specifics about the factory, but did point me towards this blog post about their leather.

While the leather for Able products is not from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery, the company touts that they source from tanneries with closed water systems that don’t pollute local waterways. Able is also mindful of reducing waste and using scraps.

Able gifted this jacket to me and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.

Materials

Before we dive in, some relevant stats for this review: I’m 5′ 4″ so this post is from a petite perspective. In most brands, I wear a size S.

A person wearing a moto jacket in front of a yellow brick wal. The are standing with their side to the camera.

The jacket is shorter in the back, creating a nice visual line.

Leather: Lamb leather with a polyester lining. The leather is soft and supple.

Hardware: The hardware is a tastefully muted gunmetal. I’m a fan of the minimal design, which eschews extra hardware or flourishes. There’s no belt or shoulder epaulettes. Where most other moto jackets have zippers on the pockets, there are none here. The only hardware are the snaps at the lapel, zipper vents on each sleeve, and the front zipper — all of it functional.

Sizing & Fit

A person wearing a purple snakeprint dress and a leather moto jacket.

Able Jacket c/o // Dress, secondhand // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Boots [review]

A person wearing a black leather moto jacket over a purple dress poses in front of a metal roll-down door. The jacket is zipped up.

I probably wouldn’t wear this zipped up that often, but it’s nice to know that I can if I get chilly.

Sizing is available from XXS to 3X, however, this jacket has a slim cut and runs small. Able suggests going up one size, or even two if you want to wear a thick sweater under your jacket. I’m generally a small in most brands, so I sized up to a medium. Able’s sizing recommendations are spot on. I’d definitely have to go up to a large if I wanted to wear a sweatshirt or chunky sweater.

Measurements by my tape measure (size medium):
15.5″” shoulder to shoulder
19” chest from pit to pit
21.5” length front
19” length back
23.5” sleeve (from shoulder seam to end of sleeve)
1 pound, 6.4 oz (it’s lightweight)

Design Details & How the Maha Has Worn

A person wearing a black leather moto jacket over a purple dress poses in front of a metal roll-down door.

On initial wear, the medium felt snugger than I’d prefer in the arms. However, the sleeves have eased up over time as I continue to wear the jacket. Quality wise, it seems well made. The zippers glide easily. It’s a beautiful jacket that drapes nicely and moves with you.

Design wise, I appreciate the slightly shrunken proportions. The front length is one to two inches shorter than other brands I tried. The fact that it’s a bit cropped makes it a great choice for petites (or someone with a short torso). The sleeves are admittedly a bit long on me, but that’s the case with most jackets.

Price (plus an exclusive Able promo code)

The classic colors of black and whiskey are $398 while the slate is marked down. (Exchanges and store credit only, though, for the slate!) While $400 is a good chunk of change to spend, I think the price is fair, especially considering that the brand is conscious of ethical production. Most leather jackets, including from bigger corporate brands I note below, cost more.

Happily, I have an exclusive promo code for Welcome Objects readers. Use WOFAM for 25% off the Maha Leather Jacket (or anything else) through 10/28/24. That brings the price of the Maha down to $299.

UPDATE 11/14/24: Able is offering an early holiday sale for Welcome Objects readers. Use WOHOLIDAY for 40% off sitewide through 12/3/24.

How Does Able’s Moto Jacket Compare to Madewell, Quince, and AllSaints?

Four images of the same person wearing different leather moto jackets from Madewell, Quince, AllSaints, and Able

Leather Moto Jackets from Madewell, Quince, AllSaints, and Able

Last year, I tried out minimalist motorcycle jackets from Madewell, Quince, and AllSaints. Aside from the lack of zippers on the pockets, how does Able’s Maha Leather Jacket compare?

Able vs. Madewell: The Madewell Washed Leather Motorcycle Jacket is similar to the Maha in terms of feel and a lighter weight. I prefer Able’s jacket for the fit. The Madewell jacket tented away from my body in the back while Able’s fit closer. Able’s shorter length and sleeves also works better for me. If you have long arms, Madewell will be more suitable as their jacket had the longest sleeves out of the bunch. But for being similar products, I think Able is the winner. It’s also significantly cheaper (the Madewell jacket runs $525) while being not fast fashion.

Able vs. Quince: Quince’s 100% Washed Leather Biker Jacket is less than half the price at $180, but that shows in the materials. Although similar in weight the Quince jacket feels thinner, and has a slightly shiny finish. It also didn’t drape as well on me, possibly due to its being so thin. Able is the better product.

Able vs. AllSaints: The leather of the $500 AllSaints Dalby Slim Fit Leather Biker Jacket is thicker and weightier. Even its zippers feel more substantial. AllSaints seems like it’s in a class of its own with its heftier jacket compared to these other brands. It’s a bit of an apples and oranges situation here.

Last Thoughts

A person wearing a black leather moto jacket over a purple dress poses in front of a metal roll-down door. Their back is to the camera, showing a purple shoulder bag.

Able Jacket c/o // Dress, secondhand // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Boots [review]

If you’re looking for a thick leather jacket, then the Maha isn’t it. But if you’re looking for that moto style in a lightweight jacket that’s useful for transitional weather, I recommend the Maha.

For me, the Maha is the Goldilocks of leather moto jackets. Out of the lightweight moto jackets I tried, it’s my favorite. It’s slim but not too tight. It’s slightly shorter than other brands, which works better for petite me. (Conversely, it may not work as well on the long-limbed.)

The minimal hardware makes it easy to style, as you can see from my photos. It’s classic and timeless. Throw it on over a T-shirt and jeans for a casual look or balance out the sweetness of a dress for a dressier look.

I think it’s almost perfect! Perfect would be if the sleeves had a bit more room, and were also an inch shorter. (But I recognize that’s a specific short-limbed me problem.) The Maha Leather Jacket is a versatile piece I’ll reach for again and again.

If this review has been helpful, consider shopping through my link. Thanks!

A person wearing a black tee and large dot print wide legged pants posing in front of a wall of vegetation

Low Buy 2024: Q3 Check-In

Published by welcomeobjects

Wardrobe Buys

After the flurry of summer-time shopping last quarter, I slowed down from July to September. Four clothing items came into my life, though two were from brands for review purposes. I’m re-considering how I track my clothing acquisitions. I think it makes the most sense to only count items given to me for the blog that I decide to keep in my personal wardrobe. (See my last diary post about the contradictions of sustainable fashion blogging.)

The remaining two items that I bought myself were both secondhand, though I participated in #SecondhandSeptember by accident as I wasn’t shopping for anything in particular. I was on long-weekend getaway in Philadelphia and visited a few vintage and secondhand shops. (A Philly travel post is in the works. UPDATE: here it is.)

It was at Greene Street, a Crossroads-like consignment store, that I found a pair of cotton-linen blend Marimekko for Uniqlo wide-legged pants. I nearly missed them, too. I was headed towards the door when I realized there was a rack I hadn’t browsed. Anyways, I haven’t owned anything like these pants before and I absolutely love them and how wide-legged they are. (Related: my post about wearing wide-leg pants when you’re petite.)

The other secondhand item was a Zara pleated skirt that I thrifted from Housing Works for $15. I had been eyeing this pleated skirt from J. Crew for at least a year. While the thrifted one is not the same vibe at the J. Crew one (which is longer, shinier, and fancier), I think it fits right in with my wardrobe. I’ve given it its own hashtag on Instagram, #wo_lampshade. Upon asking the Mister if it was flattering, he said: sure, if you want to look like a lampshade. Why yes I do, thank you very much.

What I Read on Shopping & Sustainability

Yes, I realize some of these articles are a couple years old, but they were news to me.

That reusable Trader Joe’s bag? It’s rescuing an Indian industry – A story about jute, featuring a Trader Joe’s bag that I own.

How many clothes should we own, exactly? – “The researchers found that a ‘sufficient’ wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total.” Oh no, I definitely have way more than 74. At least twice that much. The article goes on to say the average 1960s French wardrobe consisted of 40 pieces. 40! What’s your number?

This Bay Area startup connects you with a ‘repair artist’ who can fix your broken stuff – I love this. It’s getting harder to find people who know how to repair stuff. I remember taking a printer to be fixed instead of buying a new one. (I’m so glad I did. It’s still going strong.) But the shop closed for good just a few days after I picked up my printer.

The one thing you should look for on clothing labels when you go shopping – Hint: It’s the fabrics composition tag. You should look for garments that are 100% one type of fiber because blended fabrics — especially natural fibers blended with polyester — are nearly impossible to recycle.

Two images of models wearing gray wool blazers

Oversized Wool Blazers: Quince vs. Everlane

Published by welcomeobjects

The air feels crisp, and the leaves have started turning orange, which means it’s wool blazer season. I recently gave some tips on styling an oversized blazer when you’re petite. Here’s a more detailed review of the Quince Italian Wool Oversized Blazer I wore in that post and how it compares to the Everlane Oversized Blazer in Wool, which it takes heavy inspiration from.

Quince Italian Wool Oversized Blazer

First, a comparison of how the Quince blazer looks on a model, and on me. Here’s a 5’10” model.

A black model with short hair wears an oversized gray blazer open over a white button up shirt and gray trousers.

Quince Italian Wool Oversized Blazer – $99.90 – The gray isn’t available at this writing; it comes in textured brown and black.

And here’s 5′ 4″ me. I’m wearing a small, which is my usual size.

A person wearing an oversized blazer in front of a brick wall. The sleeves are long.

A person standing to the side wearing an oversized gray blazer. The back of a person wearing an oversized gray blazer standing in front of a red brick wall.

As you can see, in its natural state, the blazer looks too big for petite me. But I employed my quick sleeve shortening trick (see my how-to in this post) to better fit my proportions. Ah, much better!

Fabric: A tag stitched below the inside breast pocket says “Lanificio Nello Gori S.P.A. Since 1948, Fabrics Made in Italy.” This Bloomberg entry says the company was founded in 1957 and their own website says 1950s, so it’s unclear exactly when they started, but it seems the fabric-maker has been in business for quite a while.

The fabric is a medium weight, not thick, but also not too thin. Perfect for fall. It’s actually a wool mix, which is to be expected at this price point. It’s 55% recycled Italian wool, 35% recycled polyester, 5% recycled nylon, and 5% other fibers, with a polyester/viscose lining. Though the fabric is on the medium light side, it does a good job of being warm and toasty.

I do find the wool scratchy though. Any part of skin that was in direct contact with the blazer, like my arms, felt irritated even with the presence of the lining. So if you have sensitive skin, this won’t work for you.

Closeup for the collar of a herringbone gray blazer

A closer look at the herringbone pattern.

Fit: I ordered my usual size, a small. It’s slightly big in the shoulders, but seems to be the right size for that oversized look.

Details: This single-breasted blazer has a two-button closure, flap pockets, 4 buttons per sleeve, and lightly padded shoulders. There’s no back vent.

Colors: It initially came in two colors: a textured brown and the gray herringbone. I had such a hard time deciding between these two classic colors. In the end, I went with the gray, but it’s not offered anymore. Quince has since added a solid black.

Production: Made in Shenzhen, China in a factory certified by Sedex, which aims to improve working conditions and transparency in the supply chain.

Quality: This blazer retails for $99.90 but looks and feels more expensive. It’s nicely made, drapes well, and is fully lined. None of that half-assed half lining! I’ve encountered some loose threads, particularly around the sleeves. Not sure if this is an indication of quality, but so far it’s nothing I worry about.

Everlane Oversized Blazer in Wool

Everlane has made an oversized wool blazer since before Quince even existed. I think it’s safe to say that Quince copied Everlane. I stopped by an Everlane store to check out the Everlane oversized blazer in person.

Here is a 5′8″ model who typically wears a size 2. However, she’s wearing a size 6 to really lean into that oversized look.

A brunette model with big hoop earrings wears a gray herringbone oversized blazer over black jeans.

Everlane Oversized Blazer in Wool – $248 (On sale for $186)

And here’s 5’4″ me wearing a size 2. I’m generally a size 4 or 6, so I went down a size or two.

A person with black hair holding up a phone to their face taking a selfie in a dressing room mirror wearing an oversized gray blazer.

Everlane Blazer // Everlane Shirt // Marimekko for Uniqlo Pants

Fabric: The Everlane blazer has a higher wool content than the Quince with 65% recycled wool, 30% recycled nylon, and 5% other fibers. The lining is 100% polyester. I found the Everlane fabric softer and smoother than the Quince. Most importantly, it felt less scratchy to me. The fabric is also medium light in weight, and nicely warm.

Fit: Definitely oversized! I wear a 6 petite in J. Crew blazers. The size 2 in this Everlane blazer gave me a better fit in the shoulders. I could have probably done a 4 too for a roomier look.

Details: The details of this blazer seem identical to Quince down to the flap pockets, four buttons on each cuff, and the lack of back vent.

Colors: Currently available in five variations. In addition to the grey herringbone I’m wearing, there’s a camel houndstooth, gray houndstooth, beige twill, and navy with white stripes.

Production: Made in Vietnam. Most of the colorways are made in Bien Hoa, though two are made in Poong.

Quality: While I only tried this on, it struck me as well made. Examining the stitching and seams, they were straight with no puckering. Texture wise, the fabric feels smoother and nicer than the Quince blazer.

Which Oversized Blazer is Better? Quince or Everlane?

Two images of gray oversized blazers hanging on wooden hangers.

Left: Quince, Right: Everlane. While the Everlane looks shorter in this photo, I think it might just be the angle as I took this photo in a small fitting room. The Everlane is only shorter by a quarter of an inch. The size 2 in Everlane shown here is 30.25″ long, while the Quince size small is 30.75″ long.

Visually, it’s hard to distinguish these two blazers, but there are some differences.

Sizing: Everlane wins in this category by offering sizes 00-16. With numerical sizing, you can get a better fit with incremental changes in sizing. Quince only offers XS-XL.

Materials: Another win for Everlane. The fabric felt smoother, softer, and less irritating to me.

Price: It’s hard to beat the $100 price of the Quince blazer. Even on sale, the Everlane blazer is nearly twice as much.

Colors: It really depends on what you’re looking for. Quince offers a basic black and a textured brown. But Everlane offers more interesting prints like houndstooth. If you want a gray herringbone like the ones I’m wearing in this post, Everlane offers that color, while Quince stopped making it.

Personally, I think the Everlane blazer is worth the higher price tag for the more precise sizing, less scratchy fabric, and bolder patterns — especially if you can snag it during one of their sales like the current Friends & Family sale. But the Quince version is a worthy option at an incredible price.

Quince gifted this blazer to me, and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. You can find a directory to all my clothing reviews here. If you found my review helpful, please consider shopping through my links. Thank you!

Products from Common Good on a stainless steel surface.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning: Non-Toxic Cleaners & Laundry Detergent from Common Good

Published by welcomeobjects

How awful that the chemicals produced for some of America’s most popular cleaning products are polluting our planet and elevating our cancer risks. That’s why I’m always glad to learn about brands that are mindful of our health and environment. Today I’m sharing eco-friendly products from Common Good, which has been around since 2010 and makes non-toxic cleaners with plant-derived ingredients. The products are vegan, cruelty-free, and contain:

  • No harsh chemicals or dyes
  • No sulfates, parabens, or phthalates
  • No isothiazolinones (preservatives which can cause skin irritations)
  • No synthetic perfumes

And they get A ratings from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Common Good sent me some of their best-sellers to try. Here’s how they performed.

Common Good gifted these products to me and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items that interest me.

Hand Soap

A glass soap dispenser and lavender hand soap refill in a plastic bag from Common Good

Common Good Hand Soap Set – $39 (on sale for $29) or $19 for just the refill

Common Good’s hand soap is biodegradable and free of synthetic fragrances. Should you opt for one of the fragrances (lavender or bergamot), the scent comes from 100% essential oils. But there’s also a fragrance-free option.

The hand soap set comes with a 16 fl oz glass bottle and a 32 flz oz refill. If you’d prefer to refill a plastic bottle (perhaps you have small kids), Common Good offers that as well. And if you already have a soap dispenser, you can just buy the refill.

I enjoyed the lavender scent, though I will note it’s not enough to get rid of stubborn fishy smells when you’ve been handling fish and its packaging. The formulation has aloe in it, which makes it hydrating. It felt more moisturizing than Blueland’s foaming hand soap.

All Purpose Cleaner

A spray bottle of Common Good all purpose cleaner

Common Good All Purpose Cleaner – $12 and $19 for the 32 fl oz refill pouch 

This all purpose cleaner contains no ammonia or chlorine and is septic and greywater system-safe. In fact, it only has six ingredients: water, decyl glucoside, essential oil, potassium carbonate, citric acid, gluconic acid. Common Good sent me the cleaner in a plastic bottle. But if you prefer glass, there’s a glass spray bottle as well as a set, which comes with the refill pouch.

The spray comes in lavender, bergamot, or tea tree. I tried the tea tree, another enjoyable scent. I use this spray in the kitchen to wipe down the stovetop and counters and am pleased to find that it’s effective at cleaning grease.

The spray is concentrated, so you shouldn’t need that much of it. (Something that I have to remind myself of, as I’ve probably been using more than I need.) You can also dilute it 4:1 with water and use it as a floor cleaner. How useful that it can do double duty!

Laundry Detergent

A glass bottle of Common Good laundry detergent on some gray towels

Common Good Laundry Detergent Set – $38 ($24.95 on sale) or $20 for a refill pouch

This liquid laundry detergent is biodegradable, powered by enzymes, and doesn’t contain optical brighteners. Like the all purpose cleaner it’s also septic and greywater system-safe. It comes in lavender, bergamot, or unscented.

And it’s made for sensitive skin. (That would be me, so I appreciate that very much.) Though the bergamot laundry detergent I tried is not in EWG’s database, the unscented and lavender ones both scored an A. I ran every ingredient through the EWG database, and they all scored a 1 (the safest), though there was one ingredient that wasn’t listed in the database: amylase enzyme.

My clothes came out with a faint scent, which was perfect for me. I don’t like my clothes heavily scented, but I still want that freshly-washed clean laundry smell. This detergent strikes a nice balance.

It’s super concentrated so you only need a small amount — just one capful — for a side loading energy efficient laundry machine. I also tried it for hand washing, but wasn’t sure how much to use. I just poured a bit into my washing bin.

So far, I like this detergent. It gets the job done without giving me any issues. Sometimes detergents will leave white smudges on my dark clothes. (I have not figured out why, but this has happened with another liquid detergent.) The Common Good laundry detergent thankfully didn’t do that.

My only quibble is in the dispensing. Using the cap as the measuring device, and then putting it back on the glass bottle is messy! I ended up transferring the detergent to an empty plastic soap pump bottle, and measured out that two pumps is about equal to a capful. So even though the glass bottle is aesthetically pleasing, it’s not practical. (Perhaps they could improve upon it with a different dispensing mechanism.)

Last Thoughts

Overall, I’m impressed with these Common Good products — both with the non-toxic, eco-friendly formulations and the cleaning power. I recommend all three products and am now interested in their other products. I’m searching for a new dish soap (the one in this review isn’t it) so I’m curious to try Common Good’s dish soap.

UPDATE 3/31/25 – A year-and-a-half later, I’m still using all these products. Nice to see that the laundry detergent is now available in 2.5 gallon bulk box.

Three images of three different models wearing white boxy tees.

Boxy Tees: Everlane vs. Mott & Bow vs. Able

Published by welcomeobjects

My style has changed over the years. Even my tastes for that most basic of wardrobe basics, the humble T-shirt, is different. I used to go for something more fitted. But these days, I favor a boxy tee with more room all around. Here’s a look at options from three brands.

This post contains affiliate links as well as one gifted product from Mott & Bow but was not produced in partnership with any brand.

Everlane Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee

What Everlane Says: The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee features a classic crew neckline, easy short sleeves, a slightly cropped length, and a relaxed fit for a truly timeless look.

The model above is wearing a small. Below is 5’4″ me also wearing a small.

A person with black hair wears a boxy white tee standing in front of a wall. They are standing with their body facing the side.

Fabric: 100% organic cotton. The fabric is lightweight. While I wouldn’t call the white see-through, I’m wearing a nude bra above and its outline is perceptible.

Sizing: XXS-XXL

Colors: 25 color options, including some stripes

Price: $30 ($35 for striped versions) or $20 each if you buy three

Production: Made in Sri Lanka, specifically in this factory, which touts health initiatives and education programs for its mostly female workforce. Everlane says it works with ethical factories and has signed the Transparency Pledge.

Fit: True to size. I took this in my usual size, a small, which measured 19″ across the chest and 21.5″ in length. (That’s by my tape measure; the Everlane site lists the length as 21.75″.)

My Impressions: I feel this fit is pretty good. So far it washes well and keeps its shape. While it’s lightweight, it’s not super thin.

 

Mott & Bow Boxy Cotton Crew Tee

What Mott & Bow Says: The Cotton Boxy is the perfect mix of boxy and chic. The fabric is not only super soft and comfortable but substantial enough so that it’s not see-through.

The 5’10” model above is wearing a small. Below is 5’4″ me in a medium.

A person with black hair wears a boxy white tee standing in front of a wall.

Mott & Bow Cotton Boxy Crew Tee – $32, courtesy of

A person with black hair wears a boxy white tee standing in front of a wall to the side.

Fabric: 100% cotton. Similar to the Everlane tee in terms of weight and opacity.

Sizing: XS-XL

Colors: White or black

Price: $35 or $29 if you buy two and $28 if you buy three

Production: Made in Peru. While Mott & Bow’s jeans are made in a Honduran factory owned by the founder’s family, allowing them to control working conditions and provide living wages, there’s no information about the Peruvian factory they use for T-shirts. My requests for more information from Mott & Bow have gone unanswered.

Fit: The size small had similar measurements to Everlane’s. It was also 19″ across, and a bit longer at 22″. But it fit tighter in the sleeves — tighter than I liked. So, I sized up to a medium, which measures an inch wider and longer than the small.

My Impressions: This tee is softer to the touch than the Everlane one, with a smoother feel that I really like. Too bad the sleeves were tighter, forcing me to size up, as I prefer the shorter length of the size small. This has also held up well with washing.

Able Maria Boxy Tee

What Able Says: This short sleeve crew neck is boxy yet flattering thanks to its slight crop. 

I don’t know how tall the models are or what sizes they’re wearing as that info wasn’t listed, but I included two model photos because I wanted to point out that this is the only brand out of the three that used models of varying body shapes.

This summer, I visited the Able flagship store in Nashville where I tried this shirt on. While I don’t have it on hand for a direct comparison, I took some notes. I’m wearing a small below in black.

The white wasn’t available in my size in store that day, but I did try it on in a medium.

Two images of a person with black hair taking selfies in a fitting room mirror, wearing a white T-shirt

Trying the Maria Boxy Tee in medium.

Fabric: 100% organic cotton. The fabric is noticeably thicker than the other two. The white is not see-through at all. If I’m not mistaken, I was wearing a black bra this day and you can’t see it at all!

Sizing: XXS-3X

Colors: White, black, and two striped options

Price: $58

Production: Made in India. Able says their products are ethically-made. When asked to share more information about production, a representative said that “the partners that Able works with are women-led and run factories!”

Fit: True to size.

My Impressions: Thick and soft. The design elements of this shirt distinguish it from the other two and give it a little something extra. For one, the sleeves are longer. The sides are also vented, and the back is longer than the front (though I’d rather it were one length). The crewneck is also slightly wider, which I prefer.

Which Boxy Tee is the Best?

If you want a basic tee: When it comes to a simple tee, I like the cut of the Everlane boxy tee.

If you want something a little different: The Able shirt is like a deluxe version of a tee with its thicker fabric, longer sleeve, and longer back hem. It seemed the nicest of the bunch.

If you need extended sizing: Able also offers the widest range of sizes from XXS to 3X.

If you want a color other than white or black: Everlane offers the most color options.

If you’re looking for a summer tee: The Everlane and Mott & Bow tees are noticeably lighter and thinner than the Able one and more suited for hot, humid weather.

If you’re petite: All three tees are slightly cropped. I find they all worked well for my petite frame.

A person wearing a gray oversized blazer and jeans standing in front of a brick wall with one hand hooked in a jean pocket.

Wearing an Oversized Blazer When You’re Petite

Published by welcomeobjects

I love the borrowed-from-the-boys look of an oversized blazer. But as someone petite, I wasn’t sure that I could pull it off. Would an oversized blazer look ridiculous on me? To find out, I played around with an oversized wool blazer from Quince.

Here’s how it looks on 5′ 4″ me. I’m wearing a small, which is my usual size.

A person wearing an oversized blazer in front of a brick wall. The sleeves are long.

Hmm, it definitely looks too big on me. Not surprisingly, the sleeves are too long. I thought this was a fail at first. But what if I just made an adjustment?

Quince gifted this blazer to me and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.

6 Tips for Styling an Oversized Blazer for Petites

Tip 1: Shorten the sleeves. As I learned from looking into whether clothing at Uniqlo Japan is different than Uniqlo U.S., the sleeve length can make all the difference. So what would this look like if I just cuffed the sleeves?

I tried this sleeve-shortening trick: folding the sleeve over a hair tie. This instantly turned a too-long sleeve into a three-quarter length sleeve. (The hair tie, BTW, works in a pinch but is pretty tight for an arm, so you can use another elastic.)

Two images: the first shows a black elastic on a sleeve. The second shows the sleeve folded over the elastic.

The sleeve-shortening hair tie trick.

And what do you know? The sleeves do make all the difference! Dare I say it looks good now and achieves that cool effortless look I was going for. So, whether you make a temporary adjustment or take it to a tailor for proper hemming, shorten those sleeves to a length that works for you.

Tip 2: Wear a fitted base layer. You’ll notice I’m wearing a T-shirt tucked into slim jeans. It helps to keep your base layer fitted since the blazer itself is already loose. If you’re tall, I bet you can get away with a roomier leg. But for us shorties, a slimmer base layer keeps things more proportional.

Tip 3: Wear high-waisted bottoms. The jeans I’m wearing have a high rise, and I think that’s also important for proportions, as it creates the illusion of longer legs.

Tip 4: Wear the blazer open. While it doesn’t look terrible to wear it buttoned up like above, this creates a big block that can make you look wider. I feel that wearing the blazer open is more flattering and slimming.

Tip 5: Choose a solid color or subtle print. Big bold prints can be fun, but they can also overwhelm. A safer bet is to choose something solid or in a small print. The fact that this herringbone print is subtle and gives an overall effect of solid gray makes for a more flattering silhouette.

Closeup for the collar of a herringbone gray blazer

A subtle pattern keeps things easy on the eye.

Tip 6: Keep accessories simple and small. Since the blazer is making a statement by virtue of its proportions, I wouldn’t go big or loud on anything else. When it comes to carrying a bag, I’d skip the big bag and carry something on the medium to smaller side. And I’d keep jewelry and other accessories on the simple side. I’m wearing a plain black belt here, which matches my black boots.

Speaking of footwear, one common recommendation for petites is to wear heels. Yes, heels can be lengthening and make you appear taller. But if you’re not feeling heels, like I am not here, you can go with something lower, so long as the shoe is not too chunky. I think these low-heel boots work just fine.

More Oversized Blazers

For more info on this Quince blazer, see my full review. Plus, here’s a few other options for menswear-inspired oversized blazers:

Everlane Italian Wool Oversized Blazer – If I had to guess, I’d say that Quince copied from Everlane, as this blazer looks identical down to the flap pockets, four buttons on each cuff, and the lack of back vent. Everlane offers more versions with patterns like houndstooth and stripes.

Sezane Chelsea Jacket – Sezane calls this a jacket, but to me it looks like a long oversized blazer. I especially like the camel ecru herringbone. And it’s 100% wool.

Gap Relaxed Plaid Blazer – One pro about a big brand like the Gap is that some of its offerings, like this blazer, comes in petite sizing. A con: it’s synthetic (polyester & rayon).

Uniqlo C Oversized Tweed Jacket – From Clare Waight Keller’s collection for Uniqlo, featuring big patch pockets. Mostly synthetic (only 10% wool), but it’s not itchy.

Petite Studio Vito Wool Blazer – Finally, an option made just for petites! This isn’t truly oversized, but it does have a relaxed fit. It’s 100% wool and also comes in brown.

Merit The Minimalist stick opened, on a wooden surface, next to two daffodils.

Beauty Product I Swear By: Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

Published by welcomeobjects

I don’t wear a lot of makeup, and I like a low-maintenance routine, so it’s fitting that one of my go-to products is called The Minimalist, a combo concealer and foundation stick from Merit Beauty.

A caveat before we continue this review: I’m not a beauty blogger, not particularly knowledgeable about beauty products and ingredients, and I haven’t tried a ton of products. But that’s also why I’m happy to have found something that works for me, a makeup lightweight.

Prior to using The Minimalist, I tried several brands of liquid foundation. I think the stick form is superior. I find it less messy and more convenient to apply.

Because I don’t like covering my whole face in makeup, it’s important that any foundation product blend well. For me, I’m just targeting certain areas that could use some help, like under the eyes, and around my nose or chin to reduce redness and blemishes. The Minimalist seems like it was made for just that, though you can also use it for all-over coverage.

I just swipe on those areas that could some improvement and blend. I find that using a brush yields better results than using just my fingers. Thankfully, it blends well into my natural skin color, leaving a pleasing matte finish.

Two images of the same hand: the first with a swipe of makeup, the second with it blended into the skin

Not following my advice, I didn’t moisturize my hand before applying this swipe of Merit’s The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, but it still blended well. This shade is “suede.”

I was afraid that this stick would be drying. But it has a nice creamy texture. Still, I find it important to moisturize beforehand. And if I really want the coverage to look nicer and last longer, I use a primer as well. Perhaps because I’m able to better control how much product I put on as opposed to a liquid foundation, this stick product feels lighter and more breathable to me on my skin than liquid. Oh, and it doesn’t have any scent, which is important to me.

And the fact that it’s two products in one? Yes, please do save me time! I love the convenience.

The only con is that the whole stick has fallen out of the tube on me. (Reading reviews, it seems this has happened to many people.) So…I just picked it up and plopped it back in. Some people also say that it’s not good for acne-prone skin and seems to lead to more zits. I haven’t experienced that myself. But I also don’t wear foundation daily.

BTW, Merit is a cruelty-free brand. It also scores a 2 — that’s a good thing — on EWG’s Skin Deep database, which rates cosmetics and personal care products for ingredients and toxicity.

As a less-is-more makeup person, I recommend The Minimalist.

Clothing on clothes racks, a plant is in the foreground

The Contradiction of Sustainable Fashion Blogging

Published by welcomeobjects

This summer turned out to be super stressful and busy (not going to go into details, but elder care is hard and the supports in this country are inadequate). This might have been the longest I’ve gone without posting to the blog? So this is a hello-I’m-still-here update.

My Q2 Shopping Check-in

I haven’t gotten around to doing a Q2 shopping check-in, but let’s just say that I’m not adhering well to my goal of buying no more than 20 clothing items this year and making half of my purchases secondhand.

In the second quarter of this year, I reached 15 items. Most of the additions are summer clothing, some from my summer wardrobe wish list. And some have already made their debut on the blog. This includes a linen midi dress (review), this faux dress set (review), and a pajama top (review) that I’ve deemed nice enough to wear out. Plus tank tops, lots of tank tops. (See an unboxing of one of my shopping orders.)

I’m in year two of dealing with weight gain due to a medical issue. Another year where most of my wardrobe frustratingly doesn’t fit me. So I feel justified in acquiring some new things.

The Contradiction

To be quite honest, if I’m really trying to behave more sustainably, I shouldn’t even blog as it just feeds an appetite for stuff.

And yet. I’m probably adding more than I truly need. It’s kind of hard to keep the acquisitions count down when you’re a blogger who writes about clothes. (Some of the items I bought myself while others were sent to me by brands to try.) I started this blog to hold myself accountable when it comes to shopping — to try to shop more ethically and sustainably, and most importantly, to shop less.

But to be quite honest, if I’m really trying to behave more sustainably, I shouldn’t even blog as it just feeds an appetite for stuff. It encourages me to keep an eye on brands and look at what’s new, and well, shop.

Of course I could change my focus and commit to completely shopping secondhand. But I’d say that right now in my life that isn’t possible. (See aforementioned stressful times.) I mean, it’s possible, but not how I want to spend my time as there are more pressing matters to prioritize. Personally, I’ve found that shopping secondhand takes patience to find the right item. Even when I know the exact item I want, waiting for it to pop up on the resale market can sometimes take a while.

How Bloggers Make Money

Also, I’m not going to lie, but there’s definitely a financial incentive to sharing items that a reader can click on and buy. Bloggers make money in several ways (if at all): having sponsored posts where brands pay you to write about them, selling products or classes, running ads, and affiliate links.

If someone clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, the blogger makes a small commission. This is how I mostly make money from this blog. (I don’t have sponsored posts or products.) I certainly don’t make enough to live on — just enough to cover costs and pay for some coffee and pastries. And while I like making money from this blogging effort, it doesn’t drive what I do here. I ignore plenty of requests from brands that don’t align with my values.

I do this because I thought chronicling my efforts to be a more ethical shopper would resonate with others, maybe even be helpful. And I like sharing my opinion and letting you know if I think something is worth buying or not. I enjoy seeing what brands are making and want to shout out the ones I think are doing a good job.

Anyhow, I don’t know how to reconcile this inherent contradiction. Just being honest and putting it out there that there is one. I believe in being transparent about where I’m coming from and how things work here.

First Image: Thom Bradley/Unsplash

This post contains some affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

A person wearing a black sleeveless bubble top and a matching wrap skirt in front of a red wall. Their hands are in their pockets.

Outfit: Matching Gauze Set from Pact

Published by welcomeobjects

Summer has definitely arrived here in NYC. This hot and muggy weather has got me missing chilly San Francisco summers. I know some long-time New Yorkers who make it a habit to leave for more temperate locales this time of year. But I’m stuck here. Time for breezier fabrics!

I had my eye on this midi skirt and the matching bubble hem top from Pact. These were on my summer wardrobe wish list. It’s part of Pact’s Coastal Collection, which is made out of a lightweight double gauze organic cotton fabric.

** This post contains affiliate links, but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items that interest me. **

In my younger days, I thought matching sets were dorky. But now I love them. It’s an easy way to get dressed and look chic. I appreciate that I can wear each piece separately with other items but can bring them together to create a faux dress.

Since these pieces have a casual vibe, I decided on my Nisolo flatform sandals (reviewed here), which have a simple, slightly sporty form.

I could have gone with simple jewelry as well. But I decided to add a splash of color to my all-black outfit with fun lemon slice earrings. (Get a closer look at them here.) And I rounded out things with my trusty Lo & Sons convertible bag (reviewed here), one of my few non-black bags.

Closeup of a bubble top as worn by a person with black hair who is also wearing lemon slice earrings.

Outfit details: What’s not to love about lemon earrings? Also wearing this emerald ring.

I was worried that the top would be too cropped. But it works well with high-waisted skirts. I’m wearing a size small here, which measures 19″ long and probably sits a little shorter on the body because of the elastic bottom hem.

A person wears a midi black skirt with a wrap design.

The skirt is a faux wrap design with an elastic waist.

Did I mention this skirt has pockets?!

I found both pieces petite friendly (unlike this maxi dress, which would likely be too long).

BTW, I have a pair of shorts and tank top made out of this same fabric from a few years back. I decided to buy this set in black so that I could mix and match with the pieces I already owned. The older pieces are a touch darker, though, so it’s not a perfect match. (Probably a result of their manufacturing process. Pact says these fabrics are processed at a lower temperature, which saves water and energy, but results in variations in saturation.) But it’s good enough.

This is an outfit I think I’ll be wearing on repeat this summer. Even though I feel disgusting from the heat and humidity, I also feel cute and pulled together in this matching set.

If you’re interested in Pact, you can use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 to get 15% off your first order.

A person with black hair wearing a black pajama top and shorts in bed. They have one hand to their neck.

A Daily Luxury: Quince Silk Pajamas

Published by welcomeobjects

After upgrading my bed frame, mattress, and sheets, I figured it was time to upgrade my pajamas too. I’ve tried a few styles of pajamas from Quince, so here’s a roundup of silk pajama pieces. (I’ll also review some linen pajamas in another post.)

Fabric & Manufacturing

All of Quince’s silk pajama pieces are 100% mulberry silk with a 19mm fabric weight, which feels medium-ish. This is the same weight as their washable silk skirt, tanks, and other items. Compared to those items, these pajama pieces have a more matte, velvety finish. (If you’re curious about the other items, I reviewed some of their silk clothing here).

These pieces were made in Shenzen, China. Quince has several certifications for them, including:

  • Standard 100 OEKO-TEX® (Certificate Number: SH050127759) — This means no hazardous substances are present.
  • Bluesign — Dyed without hazardous chemicals in a mill that meets standards to operate more efficiently and help protect workers from exposure to chemicals.
  • BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) — Factories with this certification aim to improve working conditions.

Quince gifted some of the pajamas in this post to me. Others I bought myself. As always, I share my honest opinion. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. This helps support my ability to run this blog. Thank you!

A Side Note About the Packaging

Two pieces of Quince clothing in compostable plastic bags.

Recent Quince orders have mostly come in compostable bags.

I’ve noticed that Quince has been changing over from regular poly bags to compostable bags, which is great! However, I find their hang tags overly elaborate, especially for clothes that are shipped directly to the consumer. The strings have a small circular piece of plastic. Whyyyy? And some of the tags have metal grommets. These little touches convey “nice quality,” I suppose, but to me, they just feel like a waste of materials. They’re single use trash.

Closeup of a red silk tank top with a Quince hang tag.

A closer look at the silk pajama tank, courtesy of Quince, in crimson, which is a deeper red than pictured on their site (see below). Note the tag and its use of plastic and a grommet.

A Review of Quince’s Washable Silk Pajamas

OK, now on to the reviews. We’ll look at five different pieces. Here’s a 5′ 9 model wearing size small in the silk pajama tee and pajama pants.

A Black model with short hair wears a red pajama set consisting of a T-shirt and long pants.

Silk Pajama Tee – $69.90 / Silk Pajama Pants – $79.90

And here’s 5′ 4″ me wearing size medium.

A person with black hair wearing black silk pajamas consisting of a long T-shirt and long pants with a slit up the side.

Silk Pajama Tee – $69.90 / Silk Pajama Pants – $79.90

100% Washable Silk Pajama Pants

Fit: I wear a small in most brands. But because I like my pajamas on the looser side, I sized up to a medium. I’m petite (almost 5′ 4″), so these pants are long on me — the inseam is 27″ — and drag on the floor slightly.

Design Details: Happily there are two side pockets. The pant legs are wide-ish. There’s a slit at the outer side of each pant leg — I’m holding open the slit in the photo above so you get an idea of how long it is. Quince says these are “great for hot sleepers who want a bit of leg ventilation.” However, when I sleep all that material from the lower section of the pant leg bunches up around the knee, which I find annoying. I didn’t see anyone else complain about this in the reviews, so maybe it’s just me. But it bothers me enough that I’m motivated to alter them somehow.

A person with black hair wearing a black pajama top and long pants with a slit in bed

Being real here with my unbrushed bedhead. Silk Pajama Button Up Top c/o  / Silk Pajama Pants // Brooklinen Sheets [review] // Quince Blanket // Thuma Bed [review]

100% Washable Silk Pajama Tee

Closeup of a silk T-shirt in black

The crewneck of the Quince silk pajama tee is a different material than the body of the tee.

Fit: Again, I sized up to a medium. Even though it’s 21″ across from pit to pit, curiously, it sometimes feels constricting across my back, for example when I cross my arms. Maybe it has something to do with how the armholes are cut? I’d prefer a more oversized fit.

Design Details: This shirt has a curved front hem and a back that’s longer. In the medium, the front is about 23″ and the back is 4″ longer. If this were a shirt I was wearing out, I’d say it was too long for a short person like me. But since it’s just for sleeping, it’s fine. The crewneck seems to be made out of another material, though the description says that the shirt is 100% silk. In any case, the neckline has a different feel.

Interestingly, this tee has a slightly different texture than the other pieces. It has a bit more sheen and feels smoother than the other pieces I’m reviewing. Quality wise, there’s also a slight puckering where the sleeves attach to the body. This was the only quality issue I found among the pieces.

Next up: the silk pajama tank and shorts.

A white model with long brown hair wears pajama set consisting of a black tank top and shorts.

Silk Pajama Tank – $49.90 / Silk Pajama Shorts – $49.90

The above is a 5’7″ model wearing size small. And here’s 5’4″ me in medium.

A person with black hair wearing a silk red pajama top and shorts in bed

Silk Pajama Tank – $49.90 / Silk Pajama Shorts – $49.90 (both courtesy of Quince)

100% Washable Silk Pajama Shorts

Fit: Again, I sized up to a medium and am glad I did. In this size, the elastic fits comfortably and not too tight.

Design Details: These shorts bear a striking resemblance to the shorts in this Lunya set, though the Quince ones lack the venting on the side. I like how the elastic goes around the back while the front portion is un-elasticized, similar to the Lunya design. The pajama pants have this same design. I think it’s an aesthetically pleasing detail. There’s one shallow back pocket on these shorts, but I don’t see myself using it, so I’ve left it sewn shut.

Red silk tank top and shorts

Right after I unpacked them: Silk Pajama Tank – $49.90 / Silk Pajama Shorts – $49.90 (both courtesy of Quince)

100% Washable Silk Pajama Tank

Fit: The medium measures 19″ across pit to pit and skims the body nicely. The arm holes are slightly big in this size on me, but I don’t mind. It’s a comfortable fit.

Design Details: It’s a classic scoop neck tank as expected. In my review of Quince’s stretch silk tank, I wondered if this pajama tank would be appropriate to wear out. The answer is yes.

Alright, one more item to go. Here’s a 5’9″ model wearing size small in the silk pajama button up top with the pajama pants, which looks like a dupe for this Lunya set.

And here I am wearing medium. On my short limbs, the sleeves fall at my elbow instead of above it.

A person with black hair wearing black silk pajamas consisting of a button up short sleeve shirt and long pants with a slit up the side.

Silk Pajama Button Up Top c/o – $59.90 / Silk Pajama Pants – $79.90

100% Washable Silk Pajama Button Up Top

Fit: Wide, loose, and cropped. The medium measures 22″ across and 20″ in length. The back of the top falls away from the body a bit. It’s nicely roomy.

Design Details: There’s one chest pocket and hidden buttons. I love the boxy shape, which feels more comfortable to me than the silk pajama tee. I like it so much that I also ordered a size small to wear out with high-waisted bottoms.

Mix & Match

Overall, I like these pieces and find them comfortable. As someone who sleeps hot, silk helps me stay cooler with its thermoregulating qualities. So far, I’ve had good experiences with Quince’s silk offerings. They’re of decent quality and priced less than other brands (though those other brands may offer a more luxe product).

These pieces also wash easily. I hand wash and then hang them up to dry. I’m pleased to report that they dry quickly. They do get wrinkled with hang drying, but whatever. I’m not going to iron my pajamas. They’re just going to wrinkle again as I sleep.

I love having all these different pieces to mix and match according to the weather and my mood. My favorite pieces are the button up top and the shorts. For the summer now, I’m pairing the tank with the shorts.

Initially, I thought that silk pajamas were too bougie, too much of a luxury. After all, there’s nothing wrong with cotton pajamas. But now that I’ve tried them, I’m here to say that I deserve nice silk pajamas — and you do too!

If you found this review helpful, please considering shopping through my link. Thank you!