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A gift wrapped in DIY giftwrap made out of brown paper. There are supplies to the side such as scissors and stamp pad.

DIY Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap & 5 Other Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas

Published by welcomeobjects

If there was ever a single use item, it’s gift wrap. We buy a lot of it. It’s an industry worth billions the U.S. (I have seen figures ranging from $2 to $13 billion.) In any case, it’s a fair amount — and most of it gets thrown out after one use.

Gift wrap isn’t even recyclable in many cases. If it has glitter or shine, that means it can’t be recycled. Even if it’s not shiny, it still might be coated in plastic. So, I don’t buy gift wrap anymore. I make my own out of materials I already have lying around.

How to Make DIY Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap

Materials on a wooden surface: brown paper, stamp pad, stamps, washi tape, scissors, pen.

Stamp Pad // Gift Tag Stamp [similar] // Totoro Stamps // Washi Tape // Scissors // Pen

Materials

A paper bag, grocery bag, or packing paper
Rubber stamps
Stamp pad
Washi tape
Scissors
Pen or marker

4 Easy Steps to Making DIY Wrapping Paper

1. Cut paper to size. I’m using some packing paper that came in an online order. So it’s a bit wrinkly. But whatever. (Also, can we take a moment to appreciate these handsome Japanese-made scissors?)

A copy of the book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus on top of brown paper.

This is an eco-friendly gift too. It’s secondhand.

2. Decorate the paper with rubber stamps. How cute are these Totoro stamps? If you don’t have rubber stamps, you can decorate with pencils or markers. If you have a child, you can put them on this task. Who is going to be mad at gift wrap decorated by a child? (Or don’t decorate at all. It’s optional.)

A close up of a stamp of totoro.

I got these stamps in Japan, but you can also find them here.

3. Secure with washi tape. Regular tape is made out of plastic. So I use washi tape, which is made out of paper and will at least biodegrade. But if you’re good at folding, you don’t need any kind of tape at all. You can just fold and tuck. I’ll refer you to Martha Stewart for how to wrap without any tape.

The back of a gift wrapped in brown paper and decorated with stamps and red and blue washi tape

The red, white, and blue washi tape lends a nice postal vibe.

4. Address your gift. I happen to have this handy To/From stamp shaped like a gift tag. But of course, a pen or marker works just fine too.

A stamp pad and stamp in the shape of a gift tag, on top of a wrapped gift.

While this particular rubber stamp from Yellow Owl Workshop is no longer available, here is a similar one.

All done! I added a little washi tape to the front for visual interest. Not that I think that the 4-year-old recipient of this present will notice. Here’s a Reel of the whole DIY gift wrap-making process.

A gift wrapped in DIY eco-friendly gift wrap made out of brown paper with a design stamped on it

5 Other Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas

1. All sorts of paper. Maps, newspaper, pretty magazine pages, calendars, sheet music. Even that bubble wrap alternative made out of paper. There’s all sorts of paper that can have a second life as gift wrap.

2. Tins, boxes, & jars. When I come across a nice-looking container, I save it for reuse. This can be tins from tea or cookies, a particularly nice-looking or sturdy box from a product, or even glass jars.

3. Dust bags & tote bags. I don’t know about you, but I have so many extra dust bags from shoe purchases and even buying bedsheets. Similarly, despite my best efforts, I end up with extra tote bags. Put them to use!

4. Gift bags. At least these are reusable. (And hopefully the recipient will save it for reuse and not throw it out.) But I do try to re-use something I already have first. If I’ve acquired a particularly nice shopping bag, I’ll cover up the brand logo with a design and use it as a gift bag.

5. Furoshiki or other fabric. Furoshiki is a Japanese cloth for wrapping or transporting stuff. (Marie Kondo shows us how it’s done.) Even if you don’t have a furoshiki per se, you can similarly use other fabric. I wrapped the gift below using a dish cloth. I gathered the cloth to the top, then secured it with a piece of string that previously held an Everlane price tag to a T-shirt. (After the recipient opens their gift, I’m reclaiming my dish cloth. But you can also use fabric scraps if the gift won’t be opened in your presence.)

A hand holds up a gift wrapped in a cloth with a lemon print.

Dish Cloth – $4.99 for set of 4

I don’t even participate in gifting for the holidays (except for kiddos). But when I give a present, I use one of the ideas above. Hope this helped spark some ideas. If you have other creative solutions for sustainable gift wrapping, please share in the comments.

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

A view up at red leaves on a tree. The sun is shining through.

Fall 2023 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

Shopping is a bit weird these days since my body is in flux. I’ve been steadily gaining weight due to medication, rendering more and more of my existing wardrobe unwearable. So I needed some new things. But I hope that I won’t need to stay on this medication and can eventually shed some of this weight. Which means I don’t want to buy that much. And yet, I seem to have acquired many things in the past three months, from September through November.

** This post contains some affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thanks for your support.**

Wardrobe Additions

Everlane Way-High Jean – In my post about shopping for a changing body, I wondered if I should rebuy a pair of jeans I already own in a bigger size. I decided yes and found a pair on Poshmark. For a while, these were the only pair of pants that fit me. (My review of the Way-High Jeans here.)

Old Navy High-Waisted Jeans – A neighbor on my local Buy Nothing group kindly gifted me two pairs, similar to these. So yay, now I have more pants.

Three T-shirts & Tanks from Everlane: Air Scoop-Neck Tee (my review), Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee, and Organic Cotton Cutaway Tank – I bought these during a Labor Day weekend sale when it was still warm. Did I need these? Honestly, no. But I wanted a few more options when it came to tees since a) I can’t fit in some of my other ones right now and b) I hate doing laundry.

Quince Washable Silk Stretch Tank – Since this tank has served me well, I decided to get another one in trusty black. (My review here.)

Quince 100% European Linen Pajama Set – I bought these fully intending to wear them as pajamas, but the pants are tighter than I’d like for sleeping. And they’re actually nice enough that you can wear them out. A whole outfit for $60!

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Cropped Cardigan – I’ve been thinking about getting one of these oversized cocoon cardigans for years. (See last year’s fall wish list and the year before.) Initially I had my eye on the longer boyfriend cardigan, but the cropped one made more sense for petite me. So far, it’s a welcome addition to my work-from-home outfit. I’ll see how it holds up over time before writing a review, but see this Reel for an unboxing video.

Uniqlo Powder Soft Down Jacket – Dismayed to realize that even some of my outerwear is too tight. So I got this lightweight, medium warmth jacket. (My Everlane puffer (reviewed here, similar style here) thankfully still fits and serves as my colder weather jacket.)

Kate Spade Rain Boots – Similar to this, but with a lower heel. Someone in the neighborhood wears my shoe size and put out a whole box of shoes on the street. My lucky stoop day!

Black Friday Purchases

dr. Liza Flats in Gold and Sneaker Sandal in Black – OK, I am guilty of buying these because they were on sale. It’s hard for me to resist dr. Liza’s annual birthday sale. I mean, these were 70% off! They were also final sale but since I already own these in other colors, I know they’ll fit. (My review of the dr. Liza flats.)

Nisolo Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot – After trying on several Nisolo boots in store, I bought these in the all-black colorway when they went on sale for Black Friday. Again, I didn’t need these as I already own two pairs of black boots. But, um, it’s important to test them out for bloggery’s sake, right?

Since we’re talking about Black Friday, I looked back at what I bought last year (one pair of boots, one shirt, and a bunch of nail polish). Happy to report these all got good use. But realized the shirt was from Vetta, which sadly closed this year.

That’s 14 items, 4 of which (28%) are secondhand. OK, so I did not do a good job resisting shopping lately.

Welcome Objects 2023 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 30
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 10
Subtractions: 6

Currently Coveting

Oh no, not AllSaints releasing a new motorcycle jacket after I already did my moto jacket shopping and blogged about it. The Neve features a shrunken fit and it’s hard to tell, but it might fall somewhere length wise between the cropped Elora jacket I bought and the regular length of the Dalby? I’m not sure, but I kind of want to try it to compare. Also wondering about this biker jacket from ethical brand Able after Alyssa blogged about it. It, too, has a slightly cropped length.

Do you do this too? Keep shopping for a thing after you already shopped for it? It’s that part of me that wants to get the perfect item.

Ever since thrifting a pleated skirt, I’ve wanted more. I’ve had my eye on this J. Crew pleated skirt. (Some of you may have seen my try-on photos on Instagram.) Going to be patient and see if I can thrift something similar or find it secondhand, though.

A closeup of a pair of Nisolo chelsea boots as modeled by a model in white pants.

Nisolo Boots Review: A Try-On of 3 Styles

Published by welcomeobjects

This summer, ethical shoe brand Nisolo opened a storefront in New York City. This was welcome news to me. Sometimes you just want to go to an old fashioned brick-and-mortar store and try stuff on. Recently, I got the chance to do just that.

If you haven’t heard about Nisolo, they are a B-Corp that pays living wages, uses leather that’s been certified by the Leather Working Group, and releases detailed sustainability cards for each of their products.

White shelving displaying shoes inside a store with brick walls painted white.

The Nisolo store in the West Village.

I stopped by the store, located on Bleeker Street in the West Village, to try on boots. Here are my first impressions from a wide-ish feet perspective. (While I own some shoes in wide widths, I can often get away with wearing medium widths in styles that run wider. Most of my shoes fit the latter description.)

** 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. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects. **

Dari Boot

A hand holds up a pair of Nisolo Dari boots in white.

Dari Boot – $250 ($149-$175 on sale for Black Friday)

I was immediately drawn to the elegant, minimalist look of this boot. I love the line that makes its way across the boot. And I’m especially fond of this bone white color.

Details: 2.5″ heel, water-resistant vegetable tanned leather upper, cushioned insole, rubber heel caps, back zipper. Available in five colors.

Sizing: Runs small. Nisolo recommends ordering a half size up. My regular size of 6.5 indeed felt too tight width wise. However, going up a half size to 7 didn’t feel right to me either. The length was a bit long for me, which meant that my heel slipped. I guess I have skinny ankles.

A view of white boots being tried on from above, and also reflected in a mirror

Dari Boot – $250 ($149-$175 on sale)

Comfort: Of the three boots I tried, this was the least comfortable. Though the description says these have cushioned insoles, these also felt the least cushioned to me. Admittedly the 2.5″ heel height was too much for me. I can no longer do anything over 2″ because I have sesamoiditis (an inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot). That means putting pressure on the balls of my feet is a big no-no. And I definitely felt pressure on the balls of my feet wearing these.

The leather is a bit stiff and the front shaft of the boot kept hitting my shins as I walked around. This seemed like it could be a problem. Maybe this would ease up over time as you broke them in?

Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot

Stock photo of a pair of auburn chelsea ankle boots.

Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot – $228 ($114 on sale). Using a product photo from Nisolo because mine turned out fuzzy. Oops.

The Eva is a chelsea-style boot with a low heel. I used to shun chelsea boots because I’m not a fan of how the elastic panel looks. But, the Eva has a tasteful V-shaped panel instead of the typical U-shaped one.

Details: Water-resistant leather upper, 5-layer memory foam insole, pull tabs. The website doesn’t list the heel height and I didn’t measure it, but I’m guessing it’s about 1.25″. Available in six colors including two in suede. My favorites are the Auburn and black with black sole.

Sizing: Nisolo says true to size. Many reviews on the website say to size up. I tried on both my usual 6.5 and a half size up. The 7 felt comfortable width wise, but once again, I worried about it being too roomy in the heel. Though the 6.5 felt snug width wise, I think they’d be OK after the leather stretches with some wear. The pointy-ish almond toe didn’t seem too tight in the toe box. (Though sometimes it’s not apparent that it’s too tight for a pinky toe until after some wear, so it’s hard to say.) But out of the three pairs I tried, these were the most wide feet friendly.

A view of auburn boots being tried on from above, and also reflected in a mirror

Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot – $228 ($114 on sale)

Comfort: I was pleasantly surprised by how cushiony the insole was! The combination of the 5-layer insole with the toothy rubber sole (and no doubt the lower height) made it noticeably more comfortable than the Dari. While there wasn’t arch support per se, there’s extra cushioning in the arch area. These were the most comfy boots that I tried on during my visit.

Mia Everyday Ankle Bootie

A pair of low profile Nisolo Mia ankle boots on display

Mia Everyday Ankle Bootie – $228 ($114 on sale)

The Mia is a low-profile ankle boot that can be worn without socks. These are a chic option if you’re looking for a boot that easily slips on.

Details: 2″ heel, water-resistant leather upper, 5-layer memory foam insole, rubber sole savers.

Sizing: Nisolo says true to size. I think this is probably true if you’re a true medium width. For me and my wide-ish feet, these felt tighter to me width wise than the Eva. The toe box felt snugger, too.

A view of white boots being tried on from above, and also reflected in a mirror

Mia Everyday Ankle Bootie – $228 ($114 on sale)

Comfort: For some reason even though this has a cushioned 5-layer memory foam insole just like the Eva, this insole felt not quite as cushiony to me. I think these just didn’t fit the shape of my finicky feet as well. I’m very picky when it comes to comfort (especially so after my foot injury) but I think for most people these would be comfortable.

A Side Note: Some Shopping Tips

After I came home, I saw on the website that there’s another boot, the Marisa Inside Zip Boot, that looks totally up my alley. It’s a minimalist boot with a 2″ tapered heel and inside zippers. I didn’t remember seeing these in the store. But after reviewing my photos, it appears they were there. I just didn’t see them because they were on the top shelf and I am short!

So lessons learned: peruse the website before visiting a brick-and-mortar store to familiarize yourself with the offerings and pricing. (I’ve noticed that sometimes storefronts are not so good at labeling what is on sale, Nisolo included, which is baffling to me.) And fellow shorties, don’t forget to look up.

A person with dark hair wearing a puffy white coat and white boots taking a selfie in a mirror

Trying on the Dari, which didn’t work for me. But it looks so cute with this coat! The Marisa boots that I didn’t try on are on the right upper shelf.

Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot Update

2/23/24 – I decided to buy the Eva Everday Chelsea Boots in all black. Here’s my report after three months of wear.

I ordered my regular size, 6.5. At first they felt snug, but after wearing them around at home with thick socks for one day, they stretched. That one day of break-in time was all that I needed. They fit great, even for my wide-ish feet.

The ample cushioning of the footbed makes for comfortable wear. Overall, I can wear these out all day with no issues — though they’d be even more comfortable if they had arch support.

One odd thing that happened is that the boots turned a light brown color right at the front tips. This happened on both boots on the rubber sole. You can see it in the photo below, though the discoloration is even more apparent in person.

A hand holds up a pair of black Nisolo chelsea ankle boots

Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot – $228 ($99 on sale as of 2/23/24, plus take an extra 20% off with EXTRA20, which brings it to $79.20)

At first I thought I must have gotten some dust or some other debris on them, but washing the area did nothing to reduce the discoloration. I’m known to scuff up the front of my shoes, so I guess this is just what happens when it gets scuffed? I’m thinking of just running a black sharpie over those areas.

The boots are water resistant as advertised. I find that I wear them often, so they’ve definitely turned out to be a good buy for me. And now, they’re an even better buy as they’re part of an end of season sale. I heartily recommend them.

everlane cashmere cardigan in burgundy

Everlane Review: Cashmere Cardigan

Published by welcomeobjects

When Everlane came out with their Cashmere Cardigan last fall, I kept eyeing it. I went to the store to try it on — more than once. I wrote a try-on review. As someone petite, the cropped length of this sweater called to me.

Priced at $200 at the time, though, it was not comfortable for my budget. But I kept thinking about it. (It’s even pricier now at $228, though you can snag it during a sale. Currently it’s part of a 30% off sale on sweaters, dresses, and outerwear, which brings it to $160.)

Two images of models wearing the Everlane cashmere cardigan, which is cropped. An Asian model with long hair wears a black cardigan open. A black model with short hair wears a burgundy cardigan buttoned up.

Cashmere Cardigan – $228 original price ($160 on sale). Left: a 5′ 7″ model in XS, Right: a 5′ 10″ model in S.

In January, I found a black one on Poshmark, new with tags too. So I snagged it. Here’s my review after owning it for 10 months. Though there’s many things I like about it, there’s a problem you should know about. Read on.

** 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. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects. **

I have sensitive skin, but this sweater doesn’t bother me.

Fabric: 94% recycled cashmere. The rest is recycled wool. (There’s a bit of nylon (5%) and elastane (1%) in the trimming.) When this cardigan was first released, Everlane called it the ReCashmere Cardigan to emphasize its recycled content. Compared to the first iteration of Everlane’s ReCashmere fabric released in 2019, this has much higher cashmere content and is softer.

Itch Factor: I have sensitive skin, but this sweater doesn’t bother me.

Where It’s Made: The yarn is sourced and spun in Prato, Italy. The sweater is manufactured in this 700-person factory in Dongguan, China.

Fit: Relaxed. The cut of this sweater is wide and boxy. I wear a S in most brands. Everlane generally runs big, so I mostly wear an XS in this brand. The XS drapes loosely.

I, a person with black hair, am taking a selfie in a mirror in an Everlane store, wearing a yellow boxy cardigan.

Cashmere Cardigan in XS on 5′ 4″ me. Photo is from this post with my first review of this cardigan.

I ended up sizing down to XXS for a closer fit, which measures about 18″ from pit to pit. (I would share a photo of me posing like above in the XXS for comparison except that I’ve gained a bunch of weight recently and it fits too snugly at the moment.) But either size works; the smaller size has a more regular fit while the larger size gives that slouchy look.

Petite Friendly?: Yes! I love the cropped length (20″ for the XXS), which works well for 5′ 4″ me. It hits around the top of my high-rise jeans. Sleeves run a bit long, but not annoyingly so. I can also push up the sleeves and they stay put.

Details & Styling: Though the V-neck is on the deep side, it’s not too deep that you can’t button it up and wear it on its own like the model near the top of this post. I’ve even worn it backwards with the V on the back. But mostly, I wear it open as a layer over shirts.

How It Wore: While there’s some pilling around the armpits, it doesn’t pill that much. But it does shed. Wearing it over a white button down shirt required taking a lint roller to that shirt afterwards as little black yarns had taken up residence all over it. So I wouldn’t wear a white shirt with it again.

And that’s when I saw a hole in the shoulder.

I wore this cardigan happily for six months. Then I washed it. According to care instructions, you can handwash or dry clean. I handwashed, being careful to do the roll-sweater-in-a-towel-and-gently-squeeze thing before laying flat to dry. After it dried, I was getting ready to put it into storage for the summer. And that’s when I saw a hole in the shoulder. Uggghhhh.

I don’t know if I damaged it or received a flawed item or what. But comparing the construction of this Cashmere Cardigan to Everlane’s ReCashmere Varsity Cardigan made a few years prior (no longer available, reviewed here), the shoulder seam does seem thinner or more loosely woven on the Cashmere Cardigan.

Closeup of the interior of a black Everlane sweater showing a small hole.

The shoulder seam of the Cashmere Cardigan from the inside.

A hand holding the shoulder area of a black sweater, showing a small hole

The hole that developed.

I wrote to Everlane to ask about yarn. Not that long ago if you bought a sweater, it came with extra yarn in case you had to repair it. It wasn’t fancy companies doing this either, just your regular mall brands like Banana Republic. (In another sign that clothes are more disposable these days, few retailers seem to do this nowadays.)

But Everlane said they couldn’t provide yarn. The customer service rep did seem open to replacing my cardigan at first. But because I didn’t buy it directly from them, in the end they said there wasn’t anything they could do.

What to do? I took it to my local dry cleaner/tailor. At least the hole was small. They confidently declared they could stitch it closed. Looking at the area now, I can see where they made the repair. But if you’re not looking for a flaw, you probably wouldn’t notice it.

A closeup of a sewn hole on a black Everlane cardigan

Back from the tailor. Can you spot the repair?

BTW, the owner of the dry cleaner told me that their tailor is an elderly gentleman and that fewer people are doing this kind of work. I wonder if this is because there’s less demand these days. (I’ll always need to visit a tailor since I’m petite and need things hemmed or taken in.) Please support your local tailor!

Final Thoughts: Needless to say, I’m disappointed. I love the cut of this cardigan, the warmth, and the fact that it’s made out of recycled materials, which means a lower environmental impact. But a sweater should last more than six months before developing a hole! I’ve never had problems with my other Everlane sweaters. (I own six others, three of which are made of the earlier ReCashmere fabric with higher wool content.) Is this a sign that Everlane’s quality, at least when it comes to cashmere, has gone down?

You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here. If you found my review helpful, please consider shopping through my link. Thank you!

A person with short black hair in motion with their long brown coat moving about them.

Outfit: Big Coat Energy

Published by welcomeobjects

I have a weakness for outerwear. It’s one of my favorite garments to shop for. Outerwear is my not-so-secret secret weapon when getting dressed. It can pull your whole look together.

Last fall while traveling in Japan, I bought a wool and cashmere coat in Tokyo. (My favorite kind of travel souvenir is a wearable one!) I had been wanting a double face wool and cashmere coat with no synthetic fibers blended in. By the time I came upon this one, I had tried on many. All the other ones were not quite right. Some of them even looked frumpy on me.

A person stands outside wearing a long brown-green coat. There is a pretty view beyond.

Mott & Bow Sweater courtesy of // Everlane Jeans [review] // Nisolo Bag [review] // New Balance 574+ [discontinued style, similar platform] // Thrifted Necklace [similar]

As soon as I tried this one on, I knew it was for me. I loved that while it has an oversized silhouette, it doesn’t overwhelm my petite frame. For a recent windy Sunday, here’s how I styled my big coat, planning my outfit around it.

For the base, I went with a simple all black look: a fitted crew-neck sweater from Mott & Bow (really, more like a thick shirt) tucked into my Everlane Way-High Jeans. This struck a nice balance between the fitted top and the wider legged bottom. (BTW, the Way-High Jean is one of my favorites. I reviewed it here.)

A person with black hair wearing an all black outfit with a long brown coat over her shoulders outside, standing on brick. She has on leaopard print sneakers.

Mott & Bow Sweater c/o // Everlane Jeans [review] // Nisolo Bag [review] // New Balance 574+ [discontinued style, similar platform] // Thrifted Necklace [similar]

The Emma sweater, gifted from Mott & Bow, is not something I’d usually pick out for myself as I’m kinda biased against ribbed textures. I worry that ribbed and fitted items will feel constricting, but this sweater stretches comfortably. It’s thin, but warm with 15% cashmere, making it a useful garment for transitional weather. (I might review this sweater in more detail in another post, but if you are petite-limbed like me, know that the sleeves run very long.)

Showing how the sleeve of my black ribbed sweater was folded over by about 4 inches. There is also a watch on my wrist.

Not petite friendly: Had to fold the sleeves of this sweater up by a good 4 inches.

Because the base is simple, I added some bold jewelry in the form of a big cat enamel necklace. (Another travel souvenir, acquired at a flea market.)

Closeup of a necklace with a large cat, studded with black and white rhinestones, mid roar

I found this necklace in a flea market in Copenhagen. Is it vintage? Is it a more recent item? Who knows. [similar]

Then, I echoed the cat in my sneakers, which were practical for a day of walking. (I am a fan of New Balance’s platform 574+s. I find the extra cushioning more comfortable.) The Nisolo tote bag (review here) was another practical choice for bringing a book to read on the subway.

I topped it all off with my beloved coat. While the exact coat I’m wearing is no longer available, here are a few options that give a similar big coat energy:

This coat was a splurge for me, but I’m so glad I went for it. I love the cut, the materials, the color — pretty much everything about it. Honestly, this coat makes anything I’m wearing look better. I could leave the house in sweats with this coat and still feel a bit glamorous. It instantly elevates any outfit. And that, my friends, is the magic of a long coat!

A person with black hair standing outside on cobblestone with one hand in their coat pocket.

Mott & Bow Sweater c/o // Everlane Jeans [review] // Nisolo Bag [review] // New Balance 574+ [discontinued style, similar platform] // Thrifted Necklace [similar]

This post contains affiliate links and a gifted product but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

A flatlay of an outfit consisting of a camel blazer, blue jeans, white t-shirt, leopard print booties, and a maroon circle purse.

A Camel Blazer Styled 4 Ways

Published by welcomeobjects

Last fall, I bought a camel blazer, a first for me. How does one wear a camel blazer, I wondered, as I went through my closet, trying out different items with it. As it turns out, you can wear it with a lot.

This particular blazer is from J. Crew (an instance of buying fast fashion even when you’re an ethical shopper). I bought it for three reasons. One, it came in petite sizing. (Though that doesn’t seem to be offered anymore. Booo.) Next, it was a darker camel color, a more interesting shade to me. And three, I was trying to avoid polyester and this one was majority wool with a touch of spandex.

A camel blazer is a neutral that plays well with other neutrals. It goes well with black, white, and navy. What I’ve come to appreciate about the camel blazer is that it’s not as formal as, say, a black blazer, but still lends a polished vibe. I thought I’d share some of the outfits I put together while figuring out how to wear it.

Look 1: Casual

Keep it casual with a plain t-shirt and blue jeans. This relaxed leg and light wash conveys a casual vibe. The leopard print shoes here echo the camel. (See, leopard print is a neutral.) The flatlay at the top of this post is another variation on this formula with slim mom jeans in a darker wash (courtesy of Mott & Bow), a boxy crew-neck tee (c/o), and leopard print booties.

Look 2: Everyday

A person with dark chin-length hair wears a camel blazer over black skinny jeans with yellow shoes.

J. Crew Blazer // Quince Cami [review] // Uniqlo Jeans [similar] // Everlane Shoes [review] [similar]

Throwing a layer on top of an all-black base is an easy way to get dressed. For this everyday look, I went with skinny jeans. While I’m wearing a short block heel here, you could swap in a slip-on sneaker for the weekend. Going for something dressier? Swap the jeans for black trousers.

Look 3: Office

I just love how camel looks with navy. Pairing the blazer with a black and navy polka dot pencil skirt made it office appropriate. I would totally wear this to the office — if I still worked in one.

Look 4: Dinner

A change in the skirt makes all the difference. I wasn’t sure how a longer skirt would look with the blazer, but this slip skirt works. I think the trick is that it’s got a slim profile. I’m doing the all-black base again. (What can I say? I’m a creature of habit.) But this would look great with a lighter-colored shirt as well.

Which look is your favorite?

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. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

A person stands in front of a red brick wall wearing dark, slim jeans and white T-shirt.

Mott & Bow Review: High-Rise Jeans

Published by welcomeobjects

One perk of blogging about clothes is that sometimes your body changes, and you need new denim. And just then, as if reading your mind, a brand will reach out and ask if you’d like to try their jeans. Yes, please! Today, I’m reviewing two pairs of high-rise jeans that Mott & Bow sent me.

About Mott & Bow

Mott & Bow is a New York-based company that started as a Kickstarter for men’s jeans in 2014. They source premium fabrics from Orta Anadolu in Turkey, a well-known mill that produces denim for many major brands including The Gap. What’s different about Mott & Bow is that they make their jeans in a Honduran facility that the founder’s family started in the 1980s.

This vertical integration means that they can control most of the process, which allows them to better eliminate waste and keep costs down. It also means having control over working conditions. When asked if their factory workers were paid fair wages, Mott & Bow’s rep said they were paid “well above the minimum wage.”

Curious minds want to know what is the minimum wage in Honduras? Turns out it differs by sector and size of the firm. If a garment factory counts as manufacturing, then the minimum wage is HNL 10,462 – 15,083 per month. According to the Global Living Wage Coalition, a living wage in urban Honduras as of 2022 is HNL 9,542 per month (US $391). So, Mott & Bow’s wages do seem fair.

OK, now on to trying on some jeans.

These jeans were gifted to me by Mott & Bow 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. Thanks for the support.

High Rise Skinny Orchard Jeans

I ditched skinny jeans at the height of the pandemic. Now I’m emerging from my sweatpants era and ready to give them a try again, despite Gen Z’s cancelation of them.

Here’s  is a 5′ 9.5” model wearing size 25 in the dark gray wash.

And here is 5′ 4″ me (well, 5′ 3.5″) wearing size 29, also in dark gray, which is lighter in person than it appears online. (Not that I’m complaining. I like this shade.)

What Mott & Bow Says: Orchard is a medium-weight and super-power stretch jean. The fabric feels soft but substantial.

Fabric: These jeans are 69% cotton, 15% modal, 14% polyester, and 2% elastane. Though they’re soft, I wouldn’t call the fabric substantial. To me, they’re on the thinner side.

Sizing & Fit: I’m a little unclear on what my size is these days. According to Mott & Bow’s size chart, my hips put me in one size and my waist the next size up. Playing it safe, I went with the bigger size, 29, and that seemed to work.

While these jeans are listed as having a 10″ rise, by my tape measure it was a quarter inch longer. Personally, I’d like it to be even higher. Inseams come in 28″ or 30″. Being short, I went with 28″, which hit me right below the ankle — still a tad long for me. But because of the skinny leg, I just kind of scrunched them up.

A person with black shoulder-length hair standing in front of a brick wall wearing the Mott & Bow skinny jeans in gray with a black sweater. They atre standing to the side a bit. A person with black shoulder-length hair standing in front of a brick wall wearing the Mott & Bow skinny jeans in gray with a black sweater. They are standing with their back to the camera, showing the back of the jeans

Details: One con it that the pockets on the front are shallow. On the plus side, I appreciate the lack of conspicuous branding. The button and rivets have “Mott & Bow” stamped into them, but you really have to be looking for that.

How They Wore: These jeans are stretchy and conform to your body. I’m happy to report they didn’t get baggy (a problem I’ve encountered with other jeans). I thought they were cut well. Am I ready to go back to skinny jeans, though? After wearing these around for a day, I haven’t counted skinny jeans out, but I prefer a roomier leg.

Mom Oliver Jean

That brings us to Mott & Bow’s mom jean, which has a little more room. Here’s a 5’10” model wearing size 25 in the Oliver wash, a midnight blue color.

And here’s 5′ 4″ me. Again, the color is lighter in real life.

What Mott & Bow Says: Oliver is the refined version of the traditional blue jean. It’s one of our heavier fabrics but still has our signature comfort

Fabric: 99% cotton with 1% elastane. At 13 oz, these are advertised as Mott & Bow’s thickest denim. Compared to Everlane or Levi’s though, this fabric feels thinner. I consider them medium weight.

Sizing & Fit: Again, I followed the size chart and went with my waist measurement, 29. That felt like the right size though these were snug in the thigh. (I’ve got thighs and have never known what a thigh gap is.) I’m not sure if these would work if you’re curvy. I found these more fitted overall than the name “mom jean” suggests. To me, mom jean means a bit of slouch in the leg. And the leg on this jean is quite slim.

The product listing says these have a 10.25″ rise, but by my measurement it was almost 11″, ending up right around my belly button. These are currently only available in the 28″ inseam, so they make for a chic cropped look for taller folks like the model but are regular length on petite me.

A person showing the side of their outfit, standing in front of a red brick wall. A person stands in front of a red brick wall showing the back of their dark, slim jeans.

Details: Again, the pockets are small. I’m digging the wash though. The dark blue make these jeans feel fancy. You could easily dress these up. I’m a bit nervous about dye transfer though. Sometimes dark denim stains your white chairs. (Ask me how I know.) So far, I haven’t noticed any issues (and I will report back if I do).

How They Wore: When I first put these jeans on, I was afraid I’d made a mistake. They felt tight, especially in the thighs. But they eased up as I wore them. At the same time they held their shape after a day of wear — a sign to me of good quality. I find the combo of high waist and slim leg flattering. If you, too, like mid-weight jeans with a tiny bit of stretch, these are a good option.

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

A gray loveseat with tufted cushions from Ikea in a white room with large windows.

How to Quickly Change the Color of Sofa Legs

Published by welcomeobjects

When I moved into my Brooklyn apartment, I bought a new couch after considering a few other small sofa options. While I liked the overall midcentury modern look of Ikea’s Morabo sofa, there was one thing I wasn’t so happy about: the color of the legs.

The Morabo comes with your choice of cylindrical metal or wooden leg — and funny little sleeves that cover the top part of the sofa legs (as shown above). I decided to forgo the sleeves. And I went with the solid wooden leg, but it only comes in a light-colored oak veneer.

A gray Ikea sofa turned on its back so that its underside is visible.

Ikea Morabo sofa on its back, showing its oak-colored legs.

Given that my vintage wood coffee table and my media console were both darker shades (something closer to walnut), I wanted the sofa legs in a similar shade. They didn’t need to match exactly, but I wanted them to feel related.

I considered buying new legs. I could even get tapered legs to really lean into that  midcentury modern style. But then I’d have an extra set of legs after swapping the new ones in, and that felt kind of wasteful. Using what you already have is the more sustainable thing to do. I mean, when an item of clothing doesn’t quite work for me, I might see if there’s a way to alter it. So I decided to do the same to the sofa legs.

I could try to stain the legs a darker color. But that was more work than I wanted to put in. My solution? I used some contact paper in a wood grain pattern. The contact paper was leftover from covering some shelves in a closet, so it didn’t even cost me anything.

Cylinder wooden legs and contact paper in a darker wood grain pattern, and some scissors.

Remember to match the direction of the wood grain.

And it’s super easy. I just measured the height of the leg and cut contact paper to size. I did mess up with the first piece of contact paper. After cutting it, I realized the wood grain on the leg was vertical, whereas on the piece of contact paper it was horizontal. So make sure to match the direction of the grain.

A gray couch in a midcentury modern style with oak legs

Before

A gray Ikea morabo couch with a wooden coffee table and a plant on it.

After

Pros: Low-cost, quick, and not permanent. If I need to revert to the original, no problem.

Cons: If you look closely you can tell it’s not real wood. However, the sofa legs are close to the floor. Who is really paying attention? As it turns out, not my spouse. I made this swap in February and he still hasn’t noticed nearly eight months later!

Here’s a video of the whole process:

Three models wearing different but similar black motorcycle jackets

Motorcycle Jackets: Madewell vs. AllSaints vs. Quince

Published by welcomeobjects

I’ve been looking for a motorcycle jacket to replace the one that I’ve been wearing for years. The old one is faux leather and after about six or seven years, the PU coating on it cracked and flaked. So, this time around, I tried real leather jackets, hoping to find something that will last longer. Here’s how they compare.

Before we dive in, here’s some relevant size info about me: I’m short (5′ 4″) so this post is from a petite perspective. In most brands, I wear a size S.

All of the following jackets were made in India, one of the world’s top five producers of leather, according to Reuters.

** This post contains some affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thanks for your support.**

Madewell Washed Leather Motorcycle Jacket

I prefer a more minimalist look without much embellishments for my moto jacket. No belt, please. And no epaulettes. Madewell’s jacket initially caught my eye for that reason. It comes in four colors with silver hardware. But the brass hardware edition really called to me. (At one point, I saw a petite version on the website, but it was out of stock and seems to have vanished.)

Leather: Lamb leather. Lightweight. True to its name, it has a worn-in soft feel.

Ethics: The leather is from a tannery certified by the Leather Working Group, an organization that promotes more sustainable practices in the leather industry. The not-for-profit only examines tanneries and not other parts of the leather supply chain.

Price: $525. But from time to time it goes on sale. For Labor Day, it’s 30% off, which brings it down to $367.50. You can also find it secondhand on sites like Poshmark.

Fit: Runs snug. I wanted enough room to accommodate a light sweater, so I sized up to a medium.

Measurements by my tape measure (size medium):
15” shoulder to shoulder
19” chest from pit to pit
22.5” length front (though the website says 23″)
19” length back
25.25” sleeve (from shoulder seam to end of sleeve)
1 pound, 9.4 oz

Three images of the same person wearing the Madwell Washed motorcycle jacket: with hands at sides, with one hand in pocket, with jacket zipped up.

Impressions: The fit seemed good overall, though it tented out in the back away from the body. One aspect that didn’t work for me, though: the sleeves. They were way long for my arms, going up to the joint on my thumb as you can see above. A good option for someone with long limbs, but not for me!

This biker jacket did have the most color choices, nine in all, including some spring colors. If you’re looking for something different, you might find it here.

Quince 100% Washed Leather Biker Jacket

I’ve been pleased with many pieces from this direct-to-consumer brand. (See my review of some of their silk items.) Priced at just $170, this jacket seemed like too good of a deal not to try out.

Leather: Sheep leather. The leather’s lightweight, thinnest of all the jackets I tried. The finish is slightly shiny.

Ethics: This leather also comes from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery. The factory where it was produced is certified by Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), which aims to improve working conditions throughout supply chains.

Price: $169.90. Quince items don’t generally go on sale as they’re already priced low. But you can use my referral code for $20 off your first order of $200.

Fit: True to size. I took a small.

Measurements (size small)
15” shoulder to shoulder
18.5” chest from pit to pit
23.25” length front
20.5” length back
23.75” sleeve
1 pound, 6.8 oz

Three images of the same person wearing the Quince washed motorcycle jacket: with hands at sides, with one hand in pocket, with jacket zipped up.

Impressions: While the look is similar to the Madewell motorcycle jacket, the leather was thinner and didn’t seem quite as nice. I ordered two sizes to try on and was shocked by how lightweight the package was when it arrived. How could it contain two leather jackets?!

Perhaps because of its lightweight nature, this jacket draped a little funny on me on the front, creating some areas that didn’t lay flat. The back, though, lay flat just fine and didn’t tent out like the Madewell jacket. It was also slightly longer than the other jackets, which was not preferable to me as a petite person. Still, the quality is alright and the price can’t be beat. If you’re looking to get the biker look without heft, or if you live in a warmer climate, this lightweight version is one to consider. Quince also makes a $150 motorcycle jacket with a belt that looks like the AllSaints Balfern jacket.

AllSaints Dalby Slim Fit Leather Biker Jacket

Can we have a try-on of leather biker jackets without AllSaints? I don’t think so. This brand is synonymous with leather jackets. They certainly have the variety. I tried the Dalby Slim Fit, which comes with silver hardware or gold.

Leather: Lamb leather. Has a substantial feel while being soft. Thicker than the other jackets. The most impressive leather of the bunch.

Ethics: The leather comes from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery.

Price: $499. (Though one iteration of this jacket is usually in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale at a good discount. You can also find it secondhand.)

Fit: Runs way small. I’d say two sizes small. I’m usually a dress size 4, sometimes a 6, and I took an 8 in this.

Measurements (size 8)
15” shoulder to shoulder
18” chest from pit to pit
22.5” length front
19.5” back
23.25 sleeve
2 pounds, 4 oz

Three images of a person wearing the AllSaints Dalby motorcycle jacket: with hands at sides, with one hand in pocket, with jacket zipped up.

Impressions: As advertised, this moto jacket has a slim fit, fitting closer to the body and in the sleeve. The waist is also more tapered. Interestingly, the two sides of the jacket sit closer together in the front than the other two jackets, as you can see above.

From the moment I opened up the box, the quality was apparent. Everything about this jacket feels higher quality from the thicker leather to the zippers, which zip more smoothly and have wider zipper heads. The pocket zippers come with leather tassels too. (But TBH, I don’t really care for this extra touch.) Compared with the Madewell jacket, which is priced similarly, AllSaints is a better value.

Which Moto Jacket is the Best?

Three leather motocycle jackets on a white surface.

It’s hard to capture three leather jackets in one shot. I had to stand up on a ladder for this and still couldn’t fit them all. From left, moving clockwise: Madewell, Quince, and AllSaints.

Out of the three motorcycle jackets I tried, the AllSaints Dalby seemed the best both in terms of quality and fit for a petite person. While my tape measure says it’s the same length in the front as the Madewell jacket, the AllSaints looked a tad shorter to me. And the sleeves, while still long for my limbs, was not as long as Madewell’s.

One con of AllSaints though, is the lack of inclusive sizing. Their jackets go up to a 16, but given that these jackets run way small, that’s really a 12.

Three images of the same person wearing three different moto leather jackets with hands at sides.

I was leaning towards keeping the Dalby, but then I learned that AllSaints also makes a cropped moto jacket. So of course, I had to try it.

AllSaints Elora Cropped Leather Biker Jacket

As a short person, when the word cropped describes an item, that usually means it has a better chance of fitting me. (Though sometimes the item is not cropped at all on me). Plus, I mostly wear high-waisted bottoms, so it just made sense to try a cropped jacket. Though I love the touch of glam in the Elora biker jacket with gold hardware, I saw that an all black version was included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, so I jumped on that.

Leather: Lamb leather. Same substantial feel as the Dalby.

Ethics: This jacket is not from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery. Randomly sampling some of AllSaints’ other leather jackets, it seems that many, but not all are LWG-certified.

Price: $499

Fit: Like other AllSaints biker jackets, this runs small. Again, I went up to an 8.

Measurements (size 8)
15.5″ shoulder to shoulder
18″ chest from pit to pit
19″ length front
17″ back
23.5″ sleeve
1 pound 13.2 oz

A person wearing the AllSaints elora cropped motorcycle jacket with jeans.

AllSaints Elora Cropped Biker Jacket – $499. Please note that several months passed between when I tried on the first three jackets and the Elora. At the time of trying the Elora, I’d gained about 10 pounds, so the comparison of this photo to the first three jackets isn’t exact.

Three images of same person wearing same cropped moto jacket, the AllSaints Elora: with hands at sides, with one hand in pocket, with jacket zipped up.

Impressions: It’s definitely cropped! (I’m wearing it with high-waisted jeans above.) It looks a little funny all zipped up and so cropped, but it pairs better with skirts and dresses. It tents out slightly in the back, but not as much as the Madewell jacket. Some details to note: the Elora has a little pocket on the front called a ticket pocket, and it doesn’t have zippers on the sleeves. The sleeves are still a little long for a short-limbed person like me. You can see from the model photo how the sleeve ends right at her wrist, while it goes past for me.

The Winner

It was a hard choice between the AllSaints Dalby and the Elora. Both are great quality with that supple and substantial leather. In the end, I decided on the Elora. I figured the cropped look was more flattering proportion-wise for a petite. But honestly, I want both!

A person wearing a cropped black moto jacket and a black maxi skirt moves forward in front of a brick wall, with their hand on a cross body purse.

Kotn Skirt, courtesy of [review] // Oak & Fort Top [similar] // AllSaints Jacket  // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Shoes [review] [similar] // Photo is from this post.

UPDATE 10/22/24 – Of course, I have to throw another one into the mix. Here’s an in-depth review of the Able Maha Leather Jacket, another minimalist motorcycle jacket with a slim and slightly cropped fit that’s quickly become a favorite.

A row of brownstones in Brooklyn with blue skies and green trees.

Summer 2023 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

Well, my plans to blog more often this year are not really happening. Life has been throwing me some serious curveballs. There have been emergencies. Sigh. What can you do?

But I thought I’d come on here and say hi and give a wardrobe update. I started these shopping diary posts as a way to keep myself accountable. Do you find these posts interesting, though? I kind of like seeing what other people acquire. But maybe that’s just me.

** This post contains some affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thanks for your support.**

Wardrobe Buys

Did this summer feel worse than last summer? Memory is unreliable, but my impression is that this year in NYC was hotter and more humid than last summer. Given the heat, I was on the hunt for tank tops again.

I asked for some recs on Instagram, and ended up with three J. Crew Factory tank tops that are 100% cotton which are pretty good. I like the lightweight feel and how they don’t cling to the body. Bonus: they were on sale.

I also acquired two skirts: one was passed down from a friend. The other, as I debuted recently on my Instgram, was a long denim skirt from Muji. (It’s no longer sold, but it’s sort of like this Reformation skirt except with a darker wash.) The waist is elastic on the back of the Muji skirt. Hopefully that means it can accommodate weight changes. (See this post for more tips on shopping for a changing body.)

Lastly, I splurged on this cropped AllSaints motorcycle jacket, bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, to replace a jacket that is literally falling apart. I considered three other moto jackets, including from Madewell and Quince and will do a proper review comparing them in another post. (UPDATE: here’s the post.)

So that’s a total of six wardrobe additions from June through August. I tried to buy tank tops from an ethical brand. But for a variety of reasons (details of the garment, price points), those brands didn’t work. I tried, unsuccessfully, to thrift as well. Sometimes shopping fast fashion happens despite your best efforts. Given that I can’t wear most of my wardrobe now due to changes to my body, I needed to acquire a few things sooner rather than later. My usual tops are getting tight so I just placed an order from Everlane for T-shirts during their Labor Day Sale.

Speaking of sales, a lot of brands are holding them right now, so if you’ve had an eye on something, it’s a good time. A sampling:


Welcome Objects 2023 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 16
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 6
Subtractions: 6

What I Read on Shopping & Sustainability

Who said recycling was green? It makes microplastics by the ton. A study found that somewhere between 6% to 13% of plastic in a recycling facility may become microplastics. Rather than helping to solve the problem of plastic, recycling might be making it worse.

Ten years after Rana Plaza, how has it impacted the industry? There’s been some change, but not enough. Not surprising.

Soft pants are here to stay. I had no idea that the term “hard pants” had originated from a tweet. Of course it did.