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A person with dark hair wearing a silk tank and skirt standing in front of a red wall. They have one hand on a hip.

Quince Review: Washable Silk Cami, Tank, & Skirt

Published by welcomeobjects

Today I’m reviewing three pieces from Quince’s washable silk line. I’ve had these pieces since last July. I’ve been on a Quince kick because their products are ethically-made and reasonably priced.

I ended up ordering most of these items in two sizes as my experience with some of Quince’s other items (such as the linen tank and the cotton modal muscle tank) was that they ran big. But I found the silk pieces to run true to size.

** This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought these items myself. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. **

Washable Stretch Silk Tank

Given the amount of navy in my wardrobe, I thought the Washable Stretch Silk Tank in navy would make a versatile addition to my wardrobe. Here’s a 5′ 9″ model wearing a small.

And here’s 5’4″ me also wearing a small. Quince describes this top as cropped, and indeed it looks that way on the model. But on petite me, the 22″ length of a small looks longer. I’m wearing high-waisted pants here.

Fit: I am a small in most brands, so this fits true to size — with a relaxed fit. The arm opening area is slightly big, but it’s not a dealbreaker. (I also tried the XS, but it felt tight in the armpits.)

Fabric: The composition is 90% silk and 10% spandex. Quince describes the fabric as 19mm fabric weight “for a premium drape and hand-feel.” I don’t know if I’d call it premium, but it has a nice medium-ish feel for silk. It feels similar to a silk tank I own from Uniqlo. The finish has a slight sheen, but isn’t shiny.

The fabric is also certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which means there’s no hazardous substances. While that’s all fine and good, I wish this were 100% silk instead of a blend, because it’s more environmentally friendly to have fabrics made out of one material. Blends can’t really be recycled.

This is a simple silk tank as advertised, and I’m quite pleased with it, especially for $40. It’s a great layering piece. I wish there was a scoop neck version of this. (In fact, it looks like there used to be from this review by Jamie-Lee at Mademoiselle. But there’s a pajama version with a scoop neck that is 100% silk. Maybe it’s nice enough to wear out?

UPDATE 7/15/23 – Noticed that Quince now offers a new shell with a keyhole back. But the crewneck is a bit high IMO.

UPDATE 10/10/23 – Just went to order this in another color and the price has gone up by $10 for this tank, but not the other silk items reviewed in this post.

Washable Stretch Silk V-Neck Cami

I don’t usually wear camis but I got this because I was inspired to pair it with a skirt to make a faux dress. (Photo of me wearing the cami is in the next section with said skirt.) Sure, you could buy Quince’s silk slip dress or the mini version or the new cowl neck version. But for my purposes, I thought separates would serve me better. There’s also a scoop-neck version of the cami.

Fit: True to size. The straps are adjustable, which is a nice detail.

Fabric: The fabric is the same as the silk tank. Lightweight and airy, but not too thin.

100% Washable Silk Skirt

I paired the cami with Quince’s 100% Washable Silk Skirt. Here is a 5′ 8″ model wearing the cami and skirt.

And here’s the same outfit on 5′ 4″ me in all black.

Fit: This elastic waist skirt runs a tad small. With size small, I barely got it over my 37″ hips. The waist measurement is 13″ across flat, or 26″ total. I’m used to size small being more like a 27″ or 28″ waist. The skirt does land quite high waisted on me, like right under my bra. Plus the elastic waist has some give. So, I can wear the small. But to be safe, I sized up to a medium, which measures 14″ across the waist, and allows me to wear it a bit lower. It’s 32″ long.

Fabric: The skirt is made from 100% mulberry silk (also 19mm fabric weight and OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified). It has a satin finish, so it’s shinier than the camisole and thus, not a perfect match for a set. But I think it looks fine together.

This skirt has turned out to be the surprise winner of the batch. The bias cut is lovely, and I love the length. Though it does wrinkle a bit and sometimes it clings, I wear it more than I thought I would. You can dress it up for an elegant look or wear it casually. Because it’s so lightweight and takes up hardly any room, it makes a good travel piece. See how I styled it casually while traveling in this post.

UPDATE 7/15/23 – There’s now a maxi version of this skirt, too.

A Few More Details

Where are these pieces made? China. Quince says they only partner with factories that pay fair wages and have sustainable practices.

Are these silk pieces really washable?  Yes! I’ve hand washed all these pieces at home in cold water with no issues. (I use Soak for my hand wash items.) And then I hang dry. They dry fairly quickly.

Savings: Looks like there’s a deal where if you buy three silk items, you get $20 in store credit. (This must be new-ish? Don’t remember this deal when I bought these almost a year ago.)

Yay or Nay?

A person with dark hair wearing a silk tank and skirt standing in front of a red wall. They are holding on to a blue hat with a wide brim

Quince Tank // Quince Skirt // dr. Liza Sandals // Target Hat [similar] // Uniqlo Belt [similar]

I give Quince’s silk items a yay. Overall, I’m pleased with the feel and fit of these pieces and the price points. Although I haven’t worn them a ton, after almost a year they’ve held up and don’t show wear. Unlike this Quince sweater that I sent back, I kept all three silk items.

If this review was helpful, please consider shopping through my link. Thank you! You can also find a directory to all my clothing reviews here.

A pair of Nisolo go-to flatform sandals with black and cream straps.

Nisolo Go-To Flatform Sandal Review

Published by welcomeobjects

The weather is warming, so it’s time to break out the sandals. Last August, I added Nisolo’s Go-To Flatform Sandal to my shoe collection.

I was on the hunt for a flat sandal with an ankle strap that’s at least a good 1″ from the ground. (As I have mentioned in many an Everlane sandal review, I don’t like sandals with thin soles that are too close to the filth of the street.) I wanted something sturdy and comfortable, but not too sporty or auntie-looking, if you know what I mean.

** This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought these sandals myself. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission.  **

Nisolo’s Go-To Flatform Sandal caught my eye because while its form is sporty, it has a simple and minimalist look. It comes in many neutral colors like almond, bone, and all black. I went for this triple colorway.

Features: It has that 1″ height that I desire, a water-resistant leather upper (from a Leather Working Group-certified tannery), memory foam insoles, and an adjustable back strap. I appreciate the grooves on the outsole, which provide better traction than a smooth sole.

A pair of nisolo go-to flatform sandals in a triple colorway of brown, black and cream. One shoe is flipped over to show the sole.

Nisolo Go-To Flatform Sandal in Bone/Black – $138. The grooved outsole provides good traction.

Where It’s Made: Handmade in Mexico. Nisolo is a an ethical company (and a certified B-Corp at that) that pays living wages. Read about their sustainability practices here.

Fit: Nisolo’s suggestion is to go up by half a size and I agree. I am a wide-ish 6.5 and went with a 7. It helps that the back strap around the ankle is adjustable via hook and loop closure. (Hook and loop is what it’s called when it’s not name brand Velcro.) The front strap, which is not adjustable, is not too narrow for me. (Which makes me think that if you have narrow feet, these might be too wide in the front?)

Comfort: No break-in time needed! They were comfortable right out of the box. These sandals are nicely lightweight due to the midsole being EVA. The footbed is slightly cushiony, not too squishy-feeling. I was worried that these would be achy on me since they don’t really have arch support and the sole is rigid. (You can’t really bend these.) But I haven’t found the lack of arch support to be a problem. Generally, I find them comfortable and am able to wear them for many hours while on my feet. Though, all things being equal, I’d prefer some arch support. So for me and my foot issues (sesamoiditis) I wouldn’t wear them two days in a row.

A pair of Nisolo Flatform sandals on a black and white shag rug.

Nisolo Go-To Flatform Sandal after months of wear. I have worn these a lot this summer. Signs of wear include some creasing in the footbed, light toe impressions, and wear at the back edges of the sole.

Styling: I find them easy to style. They pretty much go with everything — at least in my neutrals-heavy wardrobe. They look cute with pants and shorts as well as dresses and skirts.

A person with dark hair wearing a beige top and skirt holding a trader joe's bag, and wearing nisolo flatform sandals. They are holding on to a straw-colored hat on their head.

Oak & Fort Top [similar] // Classiques Entier Skirt, old [similar, longer] // Nisolo Tote [review] // Nisolo Sandals // Target Hat

Overall, I recommend them. True to their name, they’ve become a go-to pair that I grab often.

Two images of models. One is wearing a matching set of brown boxy top and pants. The other is wearing a short cardigan over a white shirt and shorts.

March & April 2023 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

Time for a keep-me-accountable shopping check-in. My goal this year is to shop secondhand more when I do shop. Specifically, I’m aiming for 50% of my acquisitions to be secondhand. So far, I’m meeting that goal.

** this post contains some affiliate links **

Wardrobe Buys

Laude the Label Everyday Top in Carob – This was admittedly an impulse buy from an ethical brand I’ve been curious about. Not sure how I ended up on their site. (The likely culprit: Instagram). But I saw that this top was on deep discount, and decided to take a chance, as it was final sale. The texture was not quite what I was expecting. From the product photos, I thought it would be smoother. The fabric reminds me of Pact’s gauzy pieces. So it’s not a dealbreaker, just more casual than I thought it’d be.

Two images: one a stock image of a model wearing a boxy brown top. The other is of the actual brown top, which is more textured than appears on the model.

Laude the Label Everyday Top. What the model wore versus what I got, which was more texture-y than I expected.

Gap Shaker-Stitch Cardigan – This is another instance of buying fast fashion even when you’re an ethical shopper. I had not been in a Gap since the pandemic began and was passing one by so I stopped in. Honestly, it it felt a little sad in there, like they’d gone down market a notch or two. But then I spotted this cotton cardigan and noted how cropped and petite-friendly it seemed. Looking it up online later, I saw it came in petite sizing — and that it was on sale. (It comes in tall too.) Can I tell you how hard it is to find sweaters with sleeves that fit when you’re petite? Dear reader, I bought it without hesitation. I’ve already worn it a bunch.

Vintage Maxi Skirt – Thrifted a rayon skirt at Goodwill for $8. Based on the tag, I’m guessing it’s from the ’90s. Because I didn’t want to wait for a fitting room, I just shimmied it on under the skirt I was already wearing. I spotted a woman waiting in line for the dressing room with the matching shirt in her try-on stack. So tempted to stay and see if she’d discard it! But it looked way big, so I let that idea go. Now I’m playing around with this skirt, figuring out how to style this to feel like me.

Made a little Reel about thrifting the skirt.

I think I’m going to take a pause from shopping for clothes now, though. Really, I should get reacquainted with what I already own. The one exception is if I happen to come across a specific item that’s already on my wardrobe wish list.

Welcome Objects 2023 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 8
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 4
Subtractions: 4

A person with black hair wearing a black cropped cardigan and a jewel-tone mai skirt. They are standing in front of a wall.

Wearing two of my new finds: Cardigan and vintage skirt. Also wearing: Lo & Sons Bag [review] // Boots from Japan [similar]. Is this outfit too ’90s teacher?

What I Read in Shopping & Sustainability

Why does fast fashion fall apart so quickly? I think we all know the answer. Clothes are generally more crappily made these days. This article quotes a few Gen Z consumers who are raiding their moms’ closets and otherwise trying to find older, better-made clothes. A telling quote: “Clothing is the single category that has declined in price since 2000 in spite of egregious inflation elsewhere.”

A plastic bag’s 2,000-mile journey shows the messy truth about recycling. Soft plastics are notoriously hard to recycle. What really happens to the plastic bags you drop off at the grocery store? Bloomberg put tiny trackers on three plastic items to find out. Some may get recycled. But a lot end up being incinerated — and in some cases to power cement factories. “The cement industry is the final solution for the rest of the waste that’s not possible to use in the recycling industry.”

A wooden platform bed with windowpane sheets on it. Behind the bed is a shelf

Bed Sheets Review: Brooklinen vs. Quince vs. Pact

Published by welcomeobjects

When I got a new bed after my cross-country move, I upgraded to a queen size. That meant new bed sheets. Previously a sateen sheets user, I realized that I actually prefer percale. Percale sheets are lighter and more breathable than sateen sheets, which tend to be more tightly woven. People often describe percale as crisp like button-down dress shirts. As someone who sleeps warm it made sense to switch.

After doing some reading — I recommend this thorough post by The Luxe Strategist — I ended up buying percale sheets from Brooklinen, Quince, and Pact. I’ve used these for six months at minimum — some sets for more than a year. Here’s how they compare.

Sheets out of the dryer

Percale sheets also tend to wrinkle, but I’m not bothered by that. Here’s how sheets from Brooklinen and Pact looked right out of the dryer.

** 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. **

Discounts!
Quince: Use my referral code for $20 off your first order. This will also generate a credit for me, so thank you.
Pact: My coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 will take 15% off  your first order.

First photo: Brooklinen

Brooklinen

A platform bed with cream beddig

Brooklinen percale sheet set – $139 – $209. Someone here went for an extra set of pillowcases.

Cotton Type: 100% long staple cotton

Thread Count: 270

If you need a refresher, thread count refers to the number of threads woven together in a square inch, counting both lengthwise and widthwise threads. Higher thread counts tend to yield softer fabric, but not always! ­Brooklinen notes, “As multi-ply construction is often used to strengthen lower-grade cotton, a super high thread count can actually indicate the presence of a lower-quality sheet.”

Mattress Depth: Fits mattresses up to 13″

Where It’s Made: Israel

Sustainability & Ethics: CertifiedStandard 100 by OEKO-TEX, which means no harmful chemicals were used. There’s no information about factories.

Price: $179 for a queen Classic Core Set. However, there’s always a promotion of at least 15% off your first order, which brings the price down to $152.15. Currently, there’s a friends and family sale of 25% off through 5/9/23, which makes a queen set $134.25.

Return Policy: The website states that, “Most of our products can be returned or exchanged within 365 days.”

Colors: Currently, six classic colors and patterns on offer: white, cream, graphite (dark gray), warm gray, cream, windowpane (black on white), and steel oxford stripe. There are also limited edition colors or prints.

My Experience: As advertised, they sleep nice and cool. Out of all the sheets in this review, these felt the thinnest but also the crispest. This means they also make a bit of crinkling noise — perhaps bothersome to some people. But I don’t mind. Out of the three brands, these were the only one to feature an envelope enclosure for the pillowcases, which I prefer. It helps keep your pillow from sliding out. One handy detail is that the top and bottom sides of the fitted sheet are labeled “long” and “short.”

Quince

Side view of a bed with sheets on it. The sheets look awfully smooth

Quince percale sheet set – $79.90 – $119.90. I’m not sure how you get these sheets looking so wrinkle-free, unless you ironed them. Who has time for that?

Cotton Type: 100% organic extra long staple cotton

Thread Count: 270

Mattress Depth: Fits mattresses up to 16″

Where It’s Made: India

Sustainability & Ethics: Certified Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX. Organic cotton. Quince also says production involved green energy, “using power generated by windmills and processed with reverse osmosis water purifying method.”

Price: $99.90 for a queen Classic Organic Percale Sheet Set. Use my referral code for $20 off your first order.

Return Policy: 365 days

Colors: Eight solid colors. A good variety from white to light blue to clay.

My Experience: These sheets felt the thickest and smoothest. They were also the least percale-like to me, meaning the least crisp of the bunch. Like the Brooklinen, they have helpful top and bottom labels on the fitted sheet. The pillowcases are a similar size to the Brooklinen ones. But without an envelope closure, I find that sometimes my pillow creeps out.

Pact

Closeup of a pillow and sheets in a bed

Pact percale sheets – $150 – $240

Cotton Type: 100% organic long-staple cotton

Thread Count: 350 (The website doesn’t list the thread count or the fact that it’s long-staple, but I wrote in to ask.)

Mattress Depth: Fits mattresses up to 15″

Where It’s Made: India

Sustainability & Ethics: GOTS Certified organic cotton, Fair Trade certified. Pact also offsets the carbon footprint of their supply chain through SimpliZero.

Price: $200 for a queen Cool-air Percale Sheet set, but Pact often runs promotions. Right now the queen set is $160 for Earth Day. If they’re not on sale, my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 will take 15% off  your first order.

Colors: Only four colors at this time.

Return Policy: 60 days, no questions asked

My Thoughts: These feel comparable to the Brooklinen though a touch thicker. A bit smoother than Brooklinen, but not as smooth as Quince. Crisp, though not as crisp as Brooklinen. Kind of in the middle. These also have labels to help with putting on the fitted sheets, though they just say, “side,” which I find less helpful than “top” or “bottom.” Side? Which side? Out of the three brands, the elastic on this set also felt the most substantial.

Size Comparisons

For those with standard mattress depths, the dimensions shouldn’t matter too much. But for those with a taller mattress it will. As you can see from the chart Brooklinen sheets had the smallest dimensions.

Brand Flat Sheet Depth Pillow Case
Brooklinen 92″ x 104″ 13″ 20″ x 27″
Quince 96″ x 106″ 16″ 20″ x 30″
Pact 96″ x 106″ 15″ 21″ x 31″

Which fit a taller mattress the best? I have a Saatva mattress that’s 15.5″ tall. With Brooklinen, which is meant for a 13″ mattress, the sheets didn’t fit quite all the way on the long sides. A sliver of mattress showed on one side. On paper, the Quince sheets should fit better — they claim to be for mattresses up to 16″ — but in practice the fit seemed more or less the same as the Brooklinen. Pact fit the best.

The side of a mattress showing that the sheets didn't quite cover the side of the mattress by an inch or so.

The Quince sheets (shown above in light gray) and Brooklinen, were not deep enough for my 15.5″ mattress. About an inch went uncovered on one long side.

Pillowcase differences: Let’s talk about pillowcases, which also varied in size. A standard pillowcase is 20″ x 26″. The Brooklinen are again, the smallest, but because of the envelope closure, our pillows stay put. While the Quince pillowcases are longer, I found that my pillow slid out sometimes. No such problem with the Pact pillowcases, which are noticeable bigger than the other ones.

3 pillowcases stacked on top of each other to show size comparison

Pillowcases in order of size: Brooklinen (in cream), Quince (in light gray), and Pact (in lunar).

Other Considerations

How they’re Sold: While all three retailers sell by the set and also sell extra pairs of pillowcases, only Brooklinen offers components individually. For example if the wash and fold service loses your flat sheet, (yes, it happened to me), you can order a single sheet.

UPDATE 1/18/24 – I was just on Pact’s site and saw that you can buy the pieces  separately now.

Shipping: As Quince ships directly from the factory, located overseas, it’s no surprise that it took the longest to ship.

A package of sheets from pact, packaged in a dust bag

The Pact sheets came in a bag made of the same material as the sheets. Same with Quince.

Packaging: Both sets from Pact and Quince came in a bag made of the same fabric. (Even the extra pillowcases I ordered from Pact came in such a bag.) That’s great if you like storing your sheets in a bag. But I’m struggling to find a use for them. They could be deployed as dust bags, though I don’t need any as I’ve accumulated so many dust bags from other retailers. Retailers sure love dust bags.

Brooklinen’s sheets came in a plastic bag. The order also included a free tote bag. Some consumers may like these kinds of extras, but I dislike receiving swag that I didn’t ask for.

Which Sheets Should You Get?

A partial view of a bed with an upholstered headboard and cream sheets.

What percale sheets really look like on your bed. Wrinkly! These are the Brooklinen set in cream on my Thuma bed, reviewed here.

If you’re looking for the best value: At $100, the Quince sheets are by far the most for your money — and organic cotton at that.

If you have a deep mattress: The Pact sheets won in this category. These fit my deep mattress best and have the sturdiest elastic. The flat sheet is also slightly bigger.

If you’re worried about sleeping warm: Out of the three brands, the Brooklinen set felt the crispest and lightest to me, the most percale-like. By fabric feel, these were my favorite. If only they were a little deeper for my tall mattress.

If you want the most ethical production: The Pact set has the distinction of being both made out of organic cotton and Fair Trade certified.

Discounts! Interested in Quince? Use my referral code for $20 off your first order. This will also generate a credit for me, so thank you.

Interested in Pact? My coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 will take 15% off your first order.

A flatlay of three items from the Marimekko and Ikea Bastua collaboration, including a robe and two shopping bags, with leaf prints.

Marimekko x Ikea’s Bastua Collaboration in Person

Published by welcomeobjects

I visited the Ikea in Brooklyn to see the launch of the new Marimekko x Ikea collaboration a few weekends ago. (And to adopt some more plants.) The limited-edition collection, called Bastua, was inspired by Nordic sauna culture.

Thought I’d share what it was like in person. (Yes, this post is late in our world of instant social media gratification, but hey, I’ve been busy. And I did make this Reel.)

A display announcing the Marimekko Ikea Bastua collection at Ikea. Displayed: a round side table, a bench, a bucket, and towels.

What’s unique about this collection is that it’s the first time Marimekko designed prints for a collaboration.

The 26-piece collection features some small pieces of birch furniture, as well as towels, robes, cushions, and glassware. What’s unique about this collection is that it’s the first time Marimekko designed prints for a collaboration. Usually when they team up with another retailer, they use existing prints.

I especially liked this rhubarb leaf print, which was used for a shower curtain, robe, leaf-shaped tray, and in red for a floor cushion, tray, and shopping bag.

A light blue shower curtain with a rhubarb print, displayed at Ikea

Shower Curtain – $12.99

Three bathrobes and a mirror hang on a wall at Ikea. one of the bathrooms have a rhubarb print and the others are striped.

Mirror – $89.99, Robe – $34.99, Robe – $34.99

The textiles, from the robes to the towels, all seemed well woven, though they are on the thin side.

The robes — annoying called kimono (which it is not because kimono is a specific garment); it’s a robe, just call it a robe — come in two sizes, S/M and X/XL. The fabric, while not super soft, feels light-ish. Fabric composition is 50% cotton and 50% lyocell. Of the different types of rayon, lyocell is the most absorbent one and can wick moisture from the skin to keep things dry and cool. This choice makes a lot of sense for a sauna robe. The robe has belt loops for the matching sash. One thing I wish it had were pockets.

The textiles, from the robes to the towels, all seemed well woven, though they are on the thin side. The robes were made in India. I forgot to check the tag for the towels.

The sizes for the towels are interesting. You can either get a skinny towel for the sauna like this or this small one, or a large bath sheet in blue/green or blue/orange. I have to say, I find the decision to add fringe to the bath sheets an odd choice. Seems impractical and potentially problematic with tangling.

The furniture pieces looked really nice. This bench, with its indent in the middle, was comfy and sturdy — and it’s solid wood. Could totally see this in an entryway.

A birch bench from the Marimekko Ikea Bastua collection. It is stamped on the side with the logos for Marimekko and Ikea.

Bench – $85

Not going to lie, spent some time thinking about where I could squeeze in this cute little birch veneer side table in my apartment. But no, I don’t need this.

A small round birch side table, with tray fitted on top, from the Marimekko Ikea Bastua collection at an Ikea display.

Side Table – $64.99, Tray – $12.99

The round trays fit perfectly on top of the table. Love that design. However, the trays were not in stock when I visited. There was only this one sample. To be honest, it was already looking a little beat-up with some chips on the edges. Quality-wise, it seemed average and comparable to other Ikea trays.

I didn’t think much of the glassware in preview pictures, which feature these organic shapes inspired by carved wood. But in person they had a nice heft, especially the pitcher. You can buy the drinking glasses for $8. Or for $2 more, you can buy one with a candle inside, which then leaves you with the glass when you’ve used the candle. Smart!

Two hands hold up glasses from the Marimekko Ikea Bastua collection. One is clear and has a tag that says $7.99. The other is the same except it also has a candle inside, and the tag says $9.99.

Glass – $7.99, Candle in Glass – $9.99

Let’s talk about cushions. There were these $7 lumbar cushions. Nothing really special in terms of quality. Seemed fine. Average Ikea stuff.

A display of the Marimekko Ikea Bastua collection. There are shopping bags displayed on the wall, long skinny pillows in a bin, and a paper lantern on a round side table.

Rack – $24.99, Lantern – $24.99, Table – $64.99, Bag – $4.99, Bowl $11.99, Cushion – 6.99

But there were also these floor cushions in the leaf print, which had an eye-popping price tag of $60. When I saw them in person, though, I understood why. They’re big and feel comfortable and supportive. (Yes, I tried one out on the floor.)

The portable LED lantern was cute. But people complain online that the light is disappointingly dim.

The best deal out of all of these items? The iconic Ikea shopping bags, of course, now in Marimekko prints. The large 19-gallon shopping bags in the blue/green log-inspired print or the leaf print go for $5. In addition to the fun prints, they differ from the regular 99-cent blue Frakta bags in that there’s a snap in the center of each bag.

There’s also this $3 shopping bag with a zipper, but it was smaller than I expected. I mean, this looks like a lunch bag to me.

A hand holding a red and purple shopping bag from the Marimekko Ikea Bastua collection.

Bag – $2.99

In the end, I took home one each of the large bags and a robe. If the leaf pattern round tray had been in stock, I would have left with one of those too. I already have trays, so I don’t really need a tray, so just as well. (Though, for the record, let me say I don’t own any round trays so if I saw it in stock…)

A model wears the quince cashmere fisherman sweater with a french tuck into white pants.

Quince Try-On: Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater

Published by welcomeobjects

I’ve been curious about Quince’s sweater offerings. So far, I’ve been pleased with some of their other items, such as their washable silk, cashmere beanie, and their Turkish spa towels. (Which I see they’ve finally made in more colors — my review here). After stalking the site a bit (as things sell out and I had to wait for a restock), I ordered the Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater.

** 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. **

Cashmere Fisherman Sweaters: Jenni Kayne vs. Quince

I’m not the first to notice that the Quince sweater resembles Jenni Kayne’s Cashmere Fisherman Sweater. Both are Mongolian cashmere with a similar classic Fisherman knit.

Two images of two different white lady models wearing two navy sweaters that look almost identical.

Cashmere Fisherman Sweaters: Jenni Kayne vs Quince

Differences: Jenni Kayne makes their sweaters in a larger range of sizes, from XS to 3X, as well as more colors (at present count: 10). The Quince sweater comes in XS to XL and in a seven neutral color options. And then there’s the notable price difference: $90 for Quince versus $395 for Jenni Kayne. (There’s also cotton versions of both sweaters that are also strikingly similar: Quince, Jenni Kayne.)

Inquiring minds want to know: Is the Jenni Kayne sweater four times as good as the Quince sweater? Alas, I am not the blogger who can tell you that as I haven’t tried the Jenni Kayne sweater. I suspect there’s some some very real differences in quality, though the Quince version remains a convincing-looking dupe.

OK, on to the try-on.

Fit & Fabric

Here’s a 5′ 7″ model wearing size S in the brown:

And here’s 5′ 4″ me (Or at least I think I’m 5’4″. But someone just told me at a doctor’s office that I’m 5’2″ and I was: noooo, that can’t be right.) Also wearing the brown in S:

Fit: True to size with a boxy fit. The S measures 20″ across, a comfortable, roomy (but not too roomy) fit. I wish that Quince included garment measurements for each size on their site. As it were, most of their garments just have a generic size chart. The description for this sweater does mention that the length in size small is 22.25″. But by my tape measure it’s 23″ long.

This sweater has a good slouch factor. It does fall longer on me in the body than on the model, but then again I’m petite, and in the model photo, it looks like the sweater is tucked under.

Fabric: The knit is lovely. Not super tight. (Like if you hold up the sleeve to the light, you can see light come through.) Quince says it’s 7-gauge. It’s a medium weight, though not bulky. It manages to feel light and almost a bit airy.

Itchiness Factor: I have sensitive-ish skin and some cashmere itches me, but not this. I found it soft and comfortable. And it’s quite warm, toastier than other cashmere sweaters I own.

Quince cashmere fisherman sweater in brown.

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater in brown. It comes in six other colors.

A hand holding up the edge of a cashmere sweater to show thickness

A closer look at the thickness of the sweater.

The Deliberation

Did I keep it?  As someone petite, I found the length a bit long. I mean, it’s not bad, but it’s not ideal. I wish there were a cropped version of this sweater that was 2″ shorter in the body. And of course the sleeves fell way long on me.

Tucking it in created better proportions for me. (See how cute it is below?) But since the knit is medium weight, there’s a decent amount of fabric to tuck. All tucked into my high-waisted jeans, it felt uncomfortably tight. But what about doing a half tuck? Yes, I tried that too. But again, it felt awkward due to the fabric thickness.

Those who are long-torsoed though, will probably find this sweater too short in the body. I can understand why Quince made this sweater in this length, as it’s probably a good middle ground.

I went back and forth on whether to keep this. At one point, I also considered the XS and wrote to Quince to ask about the measurements. (Body length: 21 5/8″, Pit to pit: 18.5″). Though I like the feel and color, I sent it back. I don’t want to risk it becoming one of those items I don’t wear because a detail just wasn’t right.

You probably want to know how it wears and how much it pills. I want to know that too! If you own this sweater, do comment on how it’s worn. Sorry that I don’t have that info. But I hope the fit info was helpful.

UPDATE 10/10/23 – Elaine from Fairly Curated reports that her sweater pilled a lot.

If you’re interested in trying Quince, here’s my referral code, which will take $20 off your first order. It will also generate a credit for me, so thank you!

A flatlay of three items: a black cropped cardigan, a beige beanie, and a sweatshirt with a repeating zebra design.

January & February 2023 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

After taking a look at my clothing shopping stats for last year, I made one goal for this year: to make half of my acquisitions secondhand. Usually, I try to limit the number of items I’m buying. But I feel that I’ve gotten decently good at that. (Even if last year was an aberration in that I bought more than usual). Instead, I decided my main goal should be to buy more secondhand when I do shop.

But, another goal has emerged in these first winter months of the year: to add more fun to my wardrobe. These last couple of years I’ve concentrated on building up my personal wardrobe staples. These are the items that make the foundation of many of my outfits: high-rise jeans, tapered straight-leg jeans, boxy cashmere sweaters, tank tops and shorts. Now I’m craving prints and color. Some of my recent purchases reflect that.

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Wardrobe Buys

Everlane Cashmere Cardigan – I’ve mentioned more than once on here how I’ve been on the hunt for a cropped black cardigan. After trying this cardigan on in store, I looked for it secondhand. One popped up on Poshmark. (New with tags too!) BTW, I sized down to XXS, since the cut is pretty wide. (Usually I wear an XS in Everlane.)

Prabral Gurung for Target First Date T-shirt Dress – Throwback to this Target collab from 2013! This is a buy-something-I-already-own-in-the-next-size-up situation. Also found it on Poshmark, though you can pretty much find it on any resale site. There’s no shortage of them. I plan to get it hemmed into a T-shirt, which is what I did with the size I already had. This is when I wish I had decent sewing skills so I could DIY instead of paying someone to do it.

J. Crew Factory Zebra Sweatshirt – Feeling animal-printy lately. Saw my friend wearing this, and I copied her. (We are totally fine twinning.) 100% cotton. Another Poshmark find.

Amour Vert Mariah Skirt in Lily, plus a matching top – OK, I admit browsing the Amour Vert sale section in a moment of retail therapy. While I was there, I fell for this floral print. I bought the skirt and a top to make a matching set. (This print comes in a dress too, but I wasn’t feeling the sweetheart neckline for myself.) I like the versatility of wearing the pieces separately or as a faux dress. Excited to wear these out when the weather warms.

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Ribbed Beanie – I wanted a hat in another color now that I spend more time in winter. Got the oatmeal, a neutral that works well with my wardrobe. If you buy three, you get $30 back in store credit, which is very tempting. (Kind of like getting one for free since they’re $29.90 each.) Maybe I should have done that in the first place to get a beanie for the Mister too, though I wanted to see how it fit first. (But then we’d have an extra that we don’t really need.)

Wardrobe Subtractions

Deleted two large shoulder bags that I never carry. The details of them were not quite right and I gravitate towards other bags. Also, a pair of sneakers after realizing that a similar pair with more cushioning are comfier. And I said goodbye to a shirt because I own it in two similar colors and prefer the other color.

Welcome Objects 2023 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 5  (Not counting the hat as I usually don’t tally accessories.)
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 3
Subtractions: 4

Me, a person with dark hair, wearing a zebra and cheetah print sweatshirt, black skirt, leopard print booties, plus a coat thrown over my shoulders.

Sweatshirt // Skirt // Boots (on sale through 3/14) [review] // Bag* (on sale through 3/19) [review] (PR product gifted to me) // Coat

What I Read in Shopping & Sustainability

The age of free online returns is ending. “Returns are wasteful from both financial and environmental perspectives, and worsen the inventory glut that has been plaguing retailers for months.” I love free shipping and returns as much as the next person, but I get why this is happening and I am OK with it. Retailers mask the cost of shipping. Maybe consumers will think harder about what they’re buying if they know they’re responsible for return shipping.

Then again, sometimes it’s just hard to know what something is like until you have it in your hands. I recently bought and returned some T-shirts and earrings from Target. The T-shirts were just OK on me. If I had paid more attention in the first place, I might have clued in on some details that indicated they wouldn’t work for me. (Neck line a little higher than I like, body too long for a petite.) I loved the design of the earrings, but when they arrived, I realized they jangled like mini wind chimes — a dealbreaker. I would have noticed this in person, but didn’t even think of that potential problem while adding them to my virtual cart.

Ralph Lauren is underwriting a new recycling program for cashmere as it ramps up its sustainability efforts. Will consumers use it? “Consumers in the United States, Britain, and the European Union can request a printable, paid postage label from the Ralph Lauren website to send unwanted, 100 percent cashmere items from any brand to be recycled. Those clothes will go to Re-Verso in Tuscany, Italy, a facility that produces regenerated yarns and fabrics used by fashion companies, including Stella McCartney, Eileen Fisher, and Patagonia.”

The reporter notes that while some fast fashion brands offer textile recycling (H&M comes to mind) questions persist over where, exactly, these clothes are going. And few luxury fashion companies have embraced recycling efforts. Claire Bergkamp, chief executive of Textile Exchange, an industry group, comments that the focus on a single material and a known recycler makes this initiative more legit: “This means that there is a much higher likelihood that the cashmere here will actually be recycled into something of a high quality and value and given a new life.”

A reporter tries to live for a day without plastic. Well, you can guess how this goes. Of course it’s impossible. And we do need plastic. (Um, I would not be able to type this without my glasses.) The reporter, A.J. Jacobs, felt defeated after one day of trying to live plastic-free and asks, “What plastic-free items really made a difference, and what is mere green-washing?” Gabby Salazar, a social scientist, gives this advice, “Remember, it’s not about plastic being the enemy. It’s about single-use as the enemy. It’s the culture of using something once and throwing it away.”

I have to say this has been hard with food delivery and takeout, more so in NYC than in San Francisco. Staff will put my to-go meal in a plastic box and then wrap the box in plastic cling wrap! And then that goes into a paper bag, which gets stapled, which goes into a plastic bag. Most of the time when I request no utensils, I still get them.

San Francisco has more rules about what kind of packaging food restaurants can use (though not all businesses follow the rules) and there’s commercial composting. People are likely more aware because of that. I wish that the default with all delivery and takeout was no utensils. I, a person actively trying to avoid single-use utensils, have gathered two gallon-sized zipper bags of them after a little over a year of living in NYC.

An ex-employee of ThredUp spills the dirt on Reddit. I know ThredUp isn’t a B-corp or anything, but this was still disappointing to read. Pushing dirty clothes (even with bodily fluids on them!) through the system, losing garments, a company culture that doesn’t actually care about the environment. (The Redditor says supervisors would tell them to just toss clothes into the dumpster. “Nothing was ever recycled. Nor was our food composted.”)

Early in ThredUp’s days I sent some bags of clothing in to sell and had a decent experience. But I recently sent a box in December and now I’m wondering how long it will take to get processed. I’ve only ever bought one thing from them (last year) and it had a hole in it, so it went back. I think I’ll stick with Poshmark.

Flatlay featuring a black crossbody bag, the Nouvelle, with items that fit in it, including wallet, sunglasses, reusable bag, and more.

Lo & Sons Nouvelle Crossbody Bag Review

Published by welcomeobjects

I’m a fan of bags by Lo & Sons, a family-run, woman-founded, Asian American-owned brand based in NYC. I wear my Waverley belt bag (reviewed here) often and when I travel, I bring a Lo & Sons backpack, (reviewed here). So, I was delighted when the company sent me one of their new bags, the Nouvelle, to try.

The Nouvelle is a crossbody bag with a cute dome shape that echos that of Lo & Son’s laptop bag, the O.G. 2.

This bag was gifted to me by Lo & Sons 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. Thanks for the support.

Size: I consider this bag a small size. At 7″x 9″ with a 3″ depth, it’s compact. I already own a couple crossbody bags similar in size, so I wasn’t sure that the Nouvelle was going to offer anything new. But after trying the bag out for a few months, I love it. The organization, which I’ll get into below, is great.

Weight: At 11.5 oz it’s lightweight. Heavy bags are a dealbreaker for me, so I appreciate how Lo & Sons lists the weight of their bags as well as the dimensions in the description. This is an important piece of information that’s often missing from other retailers.

A hand holding open the Nouvelle bag so that its interior, with many pockets and a purple living, is viewable.

Nouvelle Crossbody Bag – $131 on sale ($175 originally). Organizational pockets galore, including card slots, a mesh slot for phone, and a zippered interior pocket.

The Nouvelle is a well-designed bag with the kind of thoughtful organization that I’ve come to expect from Lo & Sons.

Organization: The Nouvelle is a well-designed bag with the kind of thoughtful organization that I’ve come to expect from Lo & Sons. There’s an array of pockets including an outside zippered pocket, two interior mesh pockets (one that is portrait-orientation for a phone), one interior zippered pocket, plus three card slots. Oh, and a key leash. Gotta love that key leash. The zipper on the main compartment is a double zipper, so you can conveniently zip it closed in either direction.

View of the Nouvelle bag on its side. It has gold tone hardware and a padded strap.

Though the Nouvelle bag is nylon, it feels luxe.

Materials: Lo & Sons cares about sustainability and it shows in the materials they use. In this case: recycled, water-resistant nylon. The removable, adjustable strap is cushioned, not at all flimsy, with Nopal cactus “leather” trim. I also appreciate that the lining, with its hummingbird print, is a different — and lighter — color than the exterior. It makes it easy to find things.

For being made out of nylon, the Nouvelle can strike an elegant look. The shape is minimalist. The finish has the slightest of sheens while gold hardware elevates its look. This makes the bag versatile. It works as an everyday bag for casual outfits, but you can also deploy it for dressier occasions. The versatility makes this bag a good choice for travel since it can be dressed up or down.

I find that the Nouvelle is great for all my essentials, and then some. I can fit my wallet, keys, phone, reusable bag, big sunglasses case, lip balm, a small notebook and pen, and even a petite bottle of water.

Hands holding the dome-shaped Nouvelle bag. Hands holding open the nouvelle dome-shaped bag, to reveal its contents, including a keyleash.

The bag comes in black and navy. While the retail price of $175 is not cheap, it’s for a product that’s ethically and sustainably made, and of excellent quality. My other Lo & Sons bags have worn well over the years, and I’d expect no different from this one.

Lo & Sons also holds sales many times a year, including right now. Through March 19, everything is 25% off with the code WHM25 for Women’s History Month. Five percent of proceeds will go to 500 Women Scientists. That brings the price of the Nouvelle down to $131.

Overall, this bag impressed me with its construction and just how darn handy it is. It’s a smart choice for a bag of this size.

UPDATE 8/25/25 – Checking in two years later to say I’m still carrying this bag and it has held up well. While I use my Waverley convertible belt bag more often (review here), I do use the Nouvelle occasionally. And it looks nearly new. Also, it comes in more colors now, including ivory, dark green, a deep red (cabernet), and dark tan.

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

Three plants in pots on a shelf

My Favorite Affordable Plant Store: Ikea

Published by welcomeobjects

Home doesn’t feel quite like home to me without some plants. When I moved across the country, I gave my plants away to friends. I even gave away my beloved three-tiered plant stand. (As it turns out, it wouldn’t have fit in this new apartment anyway.)

After landing on the east coast, I went to my favorite affordable plant store to replenish. It’s called Ikea. 🙂

Indoor Plants at Ikea Prices

The plant area at ikea, featuring potted plants on metal shelves.

The plant section at Ikea in Brooklyn.

Like most things Ikea, the price is right. A 4″ himayalamix? $5! A sizeable 9.25″ Bird of Paradise (aka strelitzia)? $35. Tall, large 12″ tropical plants go for $50 a piece. One of the best deals is a 8″ snake plant, currently priced at $20. (When I snagged mine in the fall of 2021, it was even less at $15.) Sometimes Ikea also runs promotions with their Ikea Family card.

Among the plants I’ve adopted from Ikea: a ZZ plant ($13), flamingo plant ($15), peace lily ($13), an aloe ($5), a little dragon tree (aka dracaena marginata, $3),  a trio of cacti in pots ($13), and a bromeliad ($13).

The quality seems good too. Most of my plants are doing alright, though I’ve had to experiment with moving them around to different rooms. Except for the bromeliad. It lost all its red almost right away and looks scraggly now, though it’s still alive. I don’t think it likes it here in NYC.

Oh, and there was a succulent ($4) who is no longer with us. I don’t know why succulents have a reputation for being easy to take care of. Mine never do well. I officially give up on them. The cacti are happy, though.

Minimalist Planters from Ikea

Ikea planters are hit or miss for me, as they come in different aesthetics. But I can usually find something with a clean, minimalist look. While Ikea no longer makes the white planters I favored, there’s a style called Muskot that is reminiscent of it.

When I first wrote about Ikea planters, I stuck to all white pots. But I’ve expanded to other colors, mostly because there’s an Ikea pot, Gradvis, that I love the design of. Designed by Inma Bermúdez, the series — which includes vases and a mister too — features vertical lines, which I find quite handsome. The pots comes in neutral colors like light gray and black, but not white or off white. (Why not?!)

Shelves of planters at Ikea in pink, gray, and black.

Gradvis planters – $4.99 – $12.99

And Ikea still makes Bittergurka, the metal planter that I wrote about before. The price has gone up from $12 to $16, but hey, prices have gone up on everything.

The biggest jump in price I saw was the beloved bamboo-and-metal three-tiered plant stand I mentioned above, Satsumas, which was out of stock for the longest time during the pandemic. It’s back, but at twice the price. When I bought it in 2017, it was $30. It’s now $60. Ikea does makes a similar plant stand in all metal, the Olivblad, for less ($27).

Other planters with a minimalist look that caught my eye: Nypon, which looks like concrete but is made of thick plastic (it comes in various sizes), and Drakfrukt, which is off-white with some light speckles.

Don’t miss the other plant accessories. This metal plant stand, Svartpeppar, is a good price at just $8, and it can be flipped on either end. I picked up this elegant ivory and gold watering can with a skinny spout ($15).

Two plants in black pots and an ivory watering can from Ikea.

Vattenkrasse watering can – $14.99. And some of my happier plants: Flamingo plant (aka anthurium – the red parts just came off recently) and ZZ plant.

Lastly, here’s a new item I just noticed: This cactus-shaped watering can/vase. ($15). How cute is that? I want it, even though I don’t need it. I’m going to tell myself that the handle is probably hard to use so I don’t buy it.

A suitcase open to show its contents, which is packing cubes

Carry-On Only: What I Packed For 3 Weeks in Japan

Published by welcomeobjects

In November, I took a three-week vacation to Japan and Taiwan. It was my first time visiting Japan and I spent most of the trip there. From the food to historic temples and shrines, abundant and on-time trains, and the remarkably clean streets and public restrooms, there was so much to love. It felt great to travel after staying put for the last couple pandemic years.

Both countries were actually Covid hot spots during the time we were there, showing up purple on the NY Times Coronavirus World Map. (The darker the color, the more of a hotspot. Japan is currently orange and Taiwan remains purple.) So, we took precautions, trying to eat outside where we could and avoiding restaurants at peak hours when we did dine inside. Thankfully, the 7-11s in Japan are a life-saver. They’re everywhere and stocked with delicious and affordable take-away meals. I really did not mind eating a few 7-11 meals in our hotel room.

I always pack light for trips. (See my packing list for one week in Mexico City or this 6-week capsule wardrobe.) But I knew that I wanted to pack especially light for Japan because the likelihood of me returning with more stuff was high. As a small, petite person, I was excited to shop in a country where things would fit me better. (Why yes, I did have to buy a duffel bag to cart home some of my new belongings.)

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What I Packed For 3 Weeks

First, temperature check. We were looking at highs of about 60°F/15.5°C but also some chillier days of about 45°F/7.2°C as the weeks went on. We visited Tokyo, Hakone, Nara, and Kyoto in late November and early December. In addition, we stopped in Taipei for a few days, which is considerably warmer with temperatures in the low 70s.

Here’s the minimal wardrobe I packed:

A flat lay of about 16 clothing items folded into squares, neatly arranged on a white surface

Everything I packed for 3 weeks for Japan and Taiwan. Not shown: pajamas, underthings, swimsuit.

Tops & Sweaters

Bottoms

Outerwear

Shoes

Accessories & Layering Items

I also packed pajamas, socks, underwear, and a swimsuit. Everything above, plus toiletries, fit in my carry-on suitcase or I wore on the plane. My personal item for the seat was my trusty Lo & Sons backpack (reviewed here), which carried my laptop, journal, a book, noise-canceling headphones, water bottle, and snacks.

Now, I admit to cheating a bit with the outerwear. I didn’t pack a coat suitable for 40-degree weather. (It would have been tight, but one would have fit.) I told myself I would suck it up with HeatTech and my down vest and jacket. I figured if I needed outerwear, Japan was the perfect place for me to buy a new coat. (Ended up buying two!)

What Worked Well In My Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Three images of me, a person with black hair, wearing variations of the same outfit (t-shirt with midi skirt) taking selfies in a hotel mirror

Taiwan outfits: variations on a theme. This Quince skirt traveled well. [review]

Layers! If living in Northern California for decades has taught me anything, it’s how to layer. On warmer days, I wore a T-shirt with a cardigan. And on colder days I combined the HeatTech tank with the button down shirt and a cashmere sweater.

The silk midi skirt was a recent-ish purchase and I was pleased with how well it traveled. It took up very little space and I could dress it up or down. T-shirt or blouse plus skirt was the way to go for me in the warmer environment of Taipei. Adding a sweater to the outfit worked for the cooler weather in Japan.

Of course having all the items in the same color palette — blacks and blues, staple colors of my wardrobe — made it super easy to get dressed and out the door. I also felt that my minimalist style fit in with what locals where wearing. (Of course, people dress in different styles. But no matter the style, in general, people dressed nicely.)

The Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag was a last-minute buy for this trip. I knew that I wanted to bring a lightweight crossbody bag for the ease of hands-free travel. But the ones I owned were too too small for all-day adventures. I’m so happy with this purchase. With two zip pockets inside, it kept me organized. And it easily carried everything I needed, including a water bottle and small guidebooks. (Update 2/28/24: I review it in depth here. )

It rained some days, and we didn’t pack any rain gear, but this was not a problem. Big, clear umbrellas are popular in Japan and cheap at any convenience store or Daiso, the Japanese dollar store. I also picked up some rain ponchos at Daiso to wear over my backpack on days we were in transit.

A person with dark hair wearing a mostly black outfit consisting of a T-shirt, a cardigan, and a skirt with sneakers. They are mid-stride.

What I wore while visiting the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in November. I added a wool cardigan to my wardrobe (among other things) while I was in Tokyo. Shirt // Skirt [review] // Bag [review] // Platform Sneakers [similar]

Me, a person with black hair, posing in a brown A-line coat with a black crossbody bag in front of a wooden areas

A typical Japan outfit, after I bought a coat. True, this coat was from Uniqlo and I could have bought it in the States, but I swear some things fit differently at Uniqlo Japan. Plus, the exchange rate worked in my favor.

What Could Have Stayed Home

I ended up not wearing the long-sleeve HeatTech shirt. But if I hadn’t bought a coat (well, two) in time, I would have needed it.

The cotton tank top got the least wear out of my tops. I brought it in case it was going to be grossly hot in Taipei (but that was not the case). I thought that I might also want it for layering. But I almost always reached for the T-shirts or blouse instead.

I also didn’t use the gloves, but I don’t regret packing those because when you need gloves, you really need gloves and don’t want to be running around trying to find some.

We did laundry once halfway through the trip. Looking over what I packed, I wore nearly everything. And some things, I wore nearly every day, like the jeans and of course, the sneakers.

I really went minimalist with the one pair of shoes. I usually pack another pair for variety or different occasions. But I knew we weren’t doing anything where I’d need a “nicer” shoe. And I have to say, if you’re going to go with one pair, these platform 574s (with the insoles swapped for these) were comfy. I walked 20,000 steps many days in them.

BTW, I must mention that Japan has this awesome luggage forwarding service. If you’re traveling from city to city, you can forward your bag ahead to your next hotel. (Just pack your essentials with you since you’ll be without your suitcase for a day or two.) Even though I was already traveling light with one carry-on and a backpack, I loved using this service and traveling unencumbered.