Outfit Post: Neutral on Neutral

Coat: Polo Ralph Lauren Wool and Cashmere-Blend Coat, camel

Sweater: Vince Boiled Cashmere Funnel-Neck Pullover, beige

Jeans: Gap Mid-Rise True Skinny Jeans, dark indigo 

Boots: Sam Edelman Petty Booties, black (old, similar by Nisolo)

Winter weather has truly set in here in NYC! There actually haven't been too many days recently where I've worn wool-blend coats, because the weather jumped very quickly from trench coat temperatures to down coat temperatures.  

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This wool-and-cashmere blend coat by Polo Ralph Lauren is a generous birthday gift from my mom, circa two years ago. (We got it on sale.) I was surprised to find that the outer fabric is pure wool and cashmere - without any nylon, polyester, etc., as is commonly found in wool-blend coats at this general price point. When I first received it, I really loved how soft the fabric was - significantly softer than that of any other wool-blend coats I'd ever tried on - and I was probably a bit unduly impressed by that fabric composition because it was so unusual to me. At the same time, even if the fabric felt soft and lovely, I did notice it was thinner than that of most wool-blend coats. So I was initially a bit worried about this coat's eventual longevity and durability. (I don't think it's solely the fabric composition - rather, the lack of nylon or polyester - that accounts for the softness. I tried on this Fleurette single-button coat last year, which was pure wool for the outer layer, and it had more of that stiffness and structure one expects from a wool coat.)

So even though this Polo Ralph Lauren coat looks like it'd be a structured coat, it flows more gently over the curves of the body rather than holding its own shape as much, if that makes sense. It makes for a slightly different look than one might expect from what it looks like on the hanger. Because I'm on the bustier side of average, the coat does sort of flow down from the widest point of my chest, so the lines of it don't really nip in at my waist.  

As it turns out, although I've worn this coat somewhat frequently in the past two years, there haven't been any noticeable durability issues to date. Although the fabric feels less stiff and hardy than that of most other wool-blend coats I've tried on, I haven't seen any signs of wear and tear at all. Though I'm admittedly a little more careful with this than I would be with a coat of a darker color. 

I'm also really enjoying this beige Vince boiled cashmere funnel-neck sweater (gray version available at Shopbop). It's extremely plush and soft, and maybe even a little too warm for some of the temperatures we've had so far, when it's layered under some of my warmer coats. I've only worn this sweater a handful of times, but there's been no noticeable pilling as of yet. (Though I do expect some pilling eventually, as it's definitely in the nature of cashmere as a material, which I know from ample experience with other sweaters at a bunch of different price points.) The sweater is a bit intentionally over-sized through the body, so it does have a slightly boxy-looking fit all over. 

I thought this neutral on neutral combination of the coat and sweater - no desperate need for a scarf with that high funnel-neck - looked nice. Normally, I have a hard time finding camel, beige, or tan shades that look good on my skin-tone, but I think both of these colors work well on me, and they seem to work well together too. 

Outfit Post: A Slightly Unusual Look

Necklace: Alighieri "La Fortuna" necklace

Necklace: Alighieri "Initial Spark" necklace

Jacket: J.Crew "Juliette" Sweater Blazer, size XS

Dress: Elizabeth Suzann "Ella" slip dress, size M (discontinued)

Shoes: Marc Fisher "Chang" loafers

Now here's an outfit I'm not sure I'll repeat: I originally wore it out of the house with a pair of black tights on, and it felt like a strange, extremely conservative-looking outfit from the waist down, since all the more modern, slightly edgier-looking details were only visible from the waist up. (I also wore my Alighieri "Surreal" earrings, which are the biggest pair of earrings I own, though they're not actually that big.) I still enjoyed wearing this outfit, it's very comfortable and relaxed, but it does feel like an unusual look for autumn weather. Silk slip dresses are just too associated with summer in my mind, and the dress does look a little odd with tights on underneath.

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This post also serves as a spoiler for this month's shopping reflections post, as this Elizabeth Suzann ("ES") "Ella" silk slip dress - recently discontinued - is new to my wardrobe. The company has now replaced the Ella series with two sets of designs, the round-neck "Polly" and the v-neck "Petra" families. I've had an Ella silk slip dress pinned on my main shopping list Pinterest board for most of this year, but I don't think I would have been ready to order one anytime soon. At the moment, I have plenty of other summer dresses in my closet that are all in fairly good shape, including ES's linen Georgia dress from June. It was only when I saw the brand's announcement on Instagram that they were discontinuing the Ella items that I decided to move forward, as it was "now or never." I received this dress just after I got back from my recent vacation. 

Adding to the relative conservativeness of this look, I had my hair up in a loose bun held in place by one of those Ficcare hairclips that I've been using all summer, since I bought them in June. I always feel very buttoned up when I wear my hair that way. (It's a very easy way to style my hair for work.) 

So yes, I'm not sure I'll be wearing this outfit again during the cooler seasons. I really wanted to try wearing my new ES Ella dress out, and this was the only way I could think to do it now that it's starting to cool down here in NYC. We're currently having a few weeks of trench coat weather here. 

Outfit Post: First Signs of Summer (and the Madewell Medium Transport Tote)

Necklace: Alighieri "Jaja" Necklace

Top: LinenFox Kimono Top, milky white, size S/M

Dress: Grana Silk V-Neck Slip Dress, size M (old version, current)

Shoes: FitFlop "The Skinny", light brown, size 7 (old, limited sizes)

Bag: Madewell Medium Transport Tote, english saddle

Bracelet: Coach hinged bangle (old, similar or similar from Kate Spade)

And just like that, it's starting to feel a bit like summer here in NYC! I'm actually a bit surprised we had such a relatively long burst of more spring-like weather this year, I've been wearing my old Everlane Classic Trench (discontinued, current version with some design changes) for most of the last month and a half, which is a bit more use than I normally get out of it each spring. We might have only another week or two, however, before the really miserable hot, humid, and muggy weather starts setting in. 

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My LinenFox Mona Top order finally arrived in the mail late last week! Their basic shipping option doesn't come with tracking information, so it was a mystery to me when it would arrive, until it was actually here. After it was made to order and shipped, which took around four weeks from when I bought it in early April, it ended up taking around two-and-a-half weeks to get from Lithuania to my apartment. I had done a lot of online browsing between all the popular linen shops on Etsy before deciding on this top. I liked the look and shape of it a bit better than that of the similar NotPerfectLinen "square" top. (I do slightly wish that LinenFox had a wider range of colors though, the way NotPerfectLinen seems to.)

I'm quite pleased with my new top! The linen feels nice, I haven't found it scratchy. As with many other white tops these days, particularly with a fabric that's light enough to be comfortable in our hot and humid NYC summers, this top is a little, but not overly, sheer. As you can see above, a faint hint of the black dress I'm wearing underneath is visible in the sunlight if you really squint to look for it, but the black fabric isn't showing through too badly, in my opinion.

The size S/M of this top is, in keeping with the design, a bit boxy on me, as it's meant to be, and I think it's the right size. On me, it's a bit more cropped and boxy than it looks on Elaine, because I'm likely quite a bit wider around the bust (which can pull up the front hems of some tops and dresses a bit), and maybe have a slightly longer torso. For reference, I'm 5'3'' with legs slightly too short for some non-cropped petite sizing pants and a mostly "regular" sizing torso for tops and dresses, and I measure around 37''-27''-37.5''. If I were to buy another one of these tops, I think I might consider asking them to customize it by adding just a bit of extra length to the body. As it is, this top might be just a little too short on me to easily tuck into skirt or pant waistbands that hit at my natural waist (I could do it, but the top might be somewhat prone to slipping out, or might look a little odd to me). I do think it looks good when untucked though, like in this outfit.

And I know, I know, I totally said I once ordered the Madewell Medium Transport Tote and sent it back because I just didn't need another leather tote, so one might be surprised to see it here now. But after K got it for me for Christmas, and after trying it on in person again, I've changed my mind and found that I actually really love it, and that it fills a different enough niche from my other tote bags.

I've been carrying the Medium Transport Tote as my work handbag almost every day for the past month and a half, and I've found it very functional. (But do keep in mind that I don't have a work laptop anymore and rarely need to bring papers home, so I generally don't carry much.) This bag is very light, so my shoulder doesn't get antsy the way it sometimes does with my other favorite work bag, the noticeably heavier Coach Rogue in dark denim (old, current colors). It's really a perfect size for me in that, unlike the Rogue, it's just big enough to comfortably accommodate a medium-sized stack of letter-sized papers and a letter-sized notepad, though it probably won't fit a large binder. I particularly like the look of this bag when I carry it by the adjustable long shoulder strap like in the photos above, it's comfortable to do so throughout my entire walking commute (please note that the strap is not quite long enough, even when adjusted to the maximum length, for me to comfortably carry this bag cross-body, that could be a downside for some).

My only small quibble is that the top-handle straps feel just a touch too short for me to comfortably carry it tucked under my shoulder sometimes. It's alright and comfortable-ish to do so, though still a little short for my preferences, when I'm wearing lighter clothing in spring or summer, including my trench coat, but might feel like a bit of a squeeze if I had a thicker wool-blend or down coat on. One other potential quibble for some, though it's actually a plus for me, as I like the look of patina-ed and aged brown leather, is that when seeing it on other people (whether out and about or on social media), I've seen that this "english saddle" shade may change color and take on some noticeable wear and tear over time. I'm actually eager to see that happen with mine! The only other potential complaint I can think of is that the leather on the entire Madewell Transport line of bags can feel a bit dry or stiff in comparison to the softer pebbled leathers I usually prefer for handbags (like that of the super-squishy "classic" Cuyana totes, which are in the same general price range). 

Outfit Post: Autumn/Winter

Coat: Ellen Tracy Wool Blend Stadium Coat, 6P (similar from J.Crew)

Sweater: unbranded, from Taobao (no longer available)

Jeans: Gap Mid-Rise True Skinny Jeans in 360 Stretch

Shoes: Sam Edelman Petty booties (most similar current design)

I'm always taken aback by how quickly the seasons change here. Every year, it feels like I go through the process of relearning what clothing works best for each range of temperatures all over again. One day last week, I put together a desk-to-dinner outfit with my new J.Crew collarless sweater blazer (photographed here), one of my many work dresses, a light and floaty Nordstrom cashmere and silk-blend scarf (which still manages to be warm enough for me, even once winter really sets in), and some 50 denier tights (the Falke Matte 50 to be precise), only to be surprised to find that I was freezing in that outfit the entire evening. The wind cuts right through that collarless sweater blazer, even though I thought it was the right thickness for temperatures in the low 50s Fahrenheit. I still like my new sweater blazer, it clearly just isn't meant to be worn as a coat this time of year!

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Now that it's cooled down even more, it's definitely time for outfits that are capable of standing up to near-winter temperatures. I've had this Ellen Tracy Stadium coat for nearly three years now, after buying the 2015 version during the post-holiday sales in January 2016, and I still love it. In the years since I graduated law school, I tend to get a new wool coat about once a year. (Some of my far more frugal peers also do the same, and they comment that it's partially because it's the only particularly noticeable way to add interest to their outfits for most of the period from October through as late as April, as it's the only part of one's outfit that really gets seen while one is outdoors.) A few times, I've thought about getting the similar J.Crew Cocoon Coat in another bright color, and when I do, I usually take another look at that year's selection of Ellen Tracy Stadium coats too. I'm not sure if Nordstrom will stock it again, but they did in 2016 and 2017.

My "cashmere" turtleneck sweater is from a now-defunct Taobao listing. That's not an avenue I'd recommend anyone else ever look to for any kind of shopping, by the way. One just never knows what one will get, it's the wild wild West, and there are, er, also many listings for counterfeit products on there. Any listing or seller can say absolutely anything (not that I can understand most of it, with my extremely weak Chinese reading skills, ha!), and there's no way to verify any of it without having the item in hand. Plus, most US-based customers, myself included, shop through an agent like Superbuy, which adds additional fees. And international shipping is always a significant expense, of course. This particular unbranded sweater came from an listing that had a lot of positive reviews, as well as customer photographs of the real item, which can be helpful, but well, the idea of caveat emptor, or buyer beware, definitely still applies.

Sam Edelman may have officially discontinued my beloved "Petty" booties in leather (size 6M only still available at Zappos), though they still offer it in suede. The closest new style they make now is a slightly edgier pointy-toe design called the "Walden", which I don't think would work for the office as well as the round-toe design on the Petty, at least as far as my fussy tastes and preferences for office wear are concerned! I'm totally sad about this change in their product line because I love my old booties. I actually manage to have two pairs of the "Petty", my old, worn-in ones from around December 2014 and a newer pair, made in a stiffer leather, from around December 2016. I think it's well-established that it's generally a mistake to buy backups, even of the most well-loved items, at least until the old one is well and truly worn out and unusable. It wasn't until last year that I started wearing the newer pair, I held onto them in their box for an entire year without touching them. As of now, though, both pairs are getting tons of use. I wear my newer pair to court, meetings, and other more formal occasions in fall/winter and my older, well broken-in pair the rest of the time.

Have you ever bought an identical backup of a well-loved item, only to realize that it wasn't the right choice to do so? Did the backup item get any use in the end? 

Casual Outfits with J.Crew Sweater Blazers

Sweater (Left): J.Crew Sophie Open-Front Sweater Blazer, heather khaki, size XS
Sweater (Right): J.Crew Juliette Collarless Sweater Blazer, heather gray, size XS

Shirt: Old Navy Relaxed Lightweight Cap-Sleeve Shirt, blue/white stripe, size M

Jeans: Uniqlo High-Rise Cigarette Jeans, size 27

Shoes: M.Gemi Felize, gold shimmer (sold out, similar in non-shimmer suede)

Note: I am currently on vacation, but wrote and scheduled this post before I flew out. I'll be back by early October! This is just a super-quick outfit post of something I can't generally wear outdoors in NYC for some time yet. Back when I was thinking about whether to keep the J.Crew collarless sweater blazer, I also wanted to try it on with pants, and ended up throwing together this look really quickly to accomplish that. Then I also thought it'd be fun to show the other sweater blazer in a casual outfit.

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Because my interest in the collarless sweater blazer was based so much on the look I thought it might have with workwear dresses and skirts, I don't think I like it quite as much with pants, or with casual outfits. It just isn't the look I had in mind.

I really like the collared sweater blazer with casual outfits and pants though! I think the collar and lapels may give it a slightly more interesting look with many casual outfits than the collarless version. I've often worn the J.Crew Factory version of the collared open sweater blazer (which has a fairly different look and sizing than the J.Crew version, as seen in my photos here) in casual outfits with jeans, so I'm sure I'll wear the J.Crew one out that way too, once the weather cools down a bit more. 

Outfit Post: Very Casual Friday

Necklace: J.Crew Tassel Chain Necklace

Sweater: Madewell Striped Cotton Sweater (old, similar, similar,  similar)

Dress: Grana V-neck Silk Slip Dress, size M (old, current)

Shoes: Soludos Llama Slip-on Sneakers, size 7 (runs big, size down a half size!)

I've gotten totally swamped at work for the next two or three weeks, so I'll be slow on posting new entries and commenting and replying! I am, however, glad to see that I've already posted more this year than I did in either 2017 or 2016, and it's only July, which makes me feel quite accomplished. I guess I've finally sort of figured out a balance between working adulthood and blogging!

Strictly speaking, this outfit may lean a little too casual for many attorney workplaces that have a dress code. In actual practice, my current office's dress code is a bit all over the place, with the fairly recently-imposed no-jeans restriction for casual Friday and a written policy that suggests a mostly business-formal rule is in place for the rest of the week. Despite that, we're actually mostly business casual outside of client meeting and court days, with a casual-ish Friday, so long as there are no jeans.

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The Madewell sweater is very old, and it's a very light pointelle-knit cotton (this H&M cotton sweater is the most similar thing I could find that's currently available, though with dropped shoulders and without the pointelle details). It's quite boxy-looking, especially from the side, and kind of has that effect of hanging straight down from my chest that's not always great on me, but I like it anyway. On the day I wore this outfit, it was in the mid 60s and low 70s Fahrenheit, otherwise I'd have avoided long sleeves! 

The Grana v-neck silk slip dress would definitely not be work-appropriate without being completely covered up by a top like in this outfit. The neckline of the dress is definitely too low for work if it isn't fully covered up like this. I've been really loving this dress, and would totally wear it all the time this summer if I could, though it's not the easiest look for a very busty person to pull off, and the straps and side of my bra usually peek out a little when I wear the dress by itself (which is totally fine in NYC in the summer). 

I really love the Soludos slip-on sneakers with the llama detail. They're just so fun! The pale pink is probably going to be hard to keep clean though, but I liked this color better than the navy velvet version. I've found mine to be very comfortable. They run big, so definitely size down a half size from your usual if you're interested. 

Review: Grana, New Silk and Old Silk

Necklace: (none) // Porcelain and Stone Buoy Necklace

Tops: Grana (c/o) Classic Shirt, S, Rio Red (other colors)// Grana (c/o) Cap-Sleeve Top, M, Black

Pants: rag & bone/Jean "The Skinny" jeans (similar) in 27 (both outfits)

Shoes: Sam Edelman Petty, 7.5, Black// Cole Haan Tali Luxe Wedge (similar with bow, also similar), 7.5, Tortoise

Today's post is my second partnered post with Grana (referral link, new customers receive 10% off their first order, and I receive $20 referral credit if a new customer signs up and make a purchase, thank you for your support!) featuring the other two items that they were kind enough to send me for my review (first post here). They let me pick out the items, and, as I've long been a fan of their silk tops, I chose the Classic Shirt in the now sold-out Rio Red and the Cap-Sleeve Top which, spoiler alert, I've since purchased in two other colors (partially with referral credit).

Note: This post contains affiliate links that could result in a few cents commission for me if you click. Thank you for your support!

Picking these items allowed me to do a quick comparison between their "old" silk, the Crepe de Chine, and the "new" silk, the Georgette Satin. The Cap-Sleeve Top is one of the "new" Georgette Satin silk designs, while the Classic Shirt is made with the "old" Crepe de Chine. I like both equally and consider them similar, though I know this stance isn't universal. Elaine from Temporary Housewifey had more in-depth thoughts about this comparison here and preferred the Georgette Satin. She also did a more in-depth explanation of how to assess silk here, as well as a Grana Crepe de Chine versus Everlane silk comparison here. I've often mentioned that I'm not that discerning when it comes to fabrics: I can feel the differences between the two Grana silks, and that the Georgette Satin has a slightly more "plush" texture that suggests it may be a touch thicker. I can't really see visible differences in the two materials, however, and I like wearing both equally. Look in the item description on Grana's website to see which type of silk each design is made with.

Necklace: Porcelain and Stone Buoy Necklace

Top: Grana (c/o) Cap-Sleeve Top, M, black

Shirt: Ann Taylor Eyelet Skirt (old)

Shoes: Cole Haan Tali Luxe Wedge (similar with bow, also similar), 7.5, Tortoise

I can already tell I'll really like having the Cap-Sleeve Top in my work wardrobe. It's more suited for that purpose than the Grana Silk Raglan Tees that I purchased several months ago (discontinued, reviewed here), before the Cap-Sleeve Top was released. The Cap-Sleeve Top is more fitted, with less voluminous sleeves, and that makes it better for tucking in to skirts or pants and wearing under cardigans. The armholes are a little large, though, and a very full coverage bra may peek out at the armhole. For fit reference, I'm roughly 36''-26''-37'' with a "regular" sizing shoulders and torso and more "petite"-length legs.

As always, I found Grana's detailed product measurements to be accurate and helpful, with the caveat that, because silk has no stretch, the measurements for non-button-up tops (and certain dresses) need to be interpreted a little differently, at least if you have a larger chest measurement like I do. With silk tank tops especially, a chest measurement of around 38'' for the piece may still end up too tight on me depending on how it is designed to sit on the shoulders and chest (this happened when I ordered an Everlane Silk Tank Top that was supposed to fit based off the product measurements). With that experience in mind, I sized up to the M here, which was the right move, as the S in this top would potentially be uncomfortable at the chest on me.

Review: Grana Cashmere Boyfriend V-Neck

Sweater: Grana (c/o) Cashmere Boyfriend V-Neck in S

Jeans: rag & bone/Jean "The Skinny" Jeans (similar) in 27

Shoes: Sam Edelman "Petty" Booties in 7.5

Today's post is my first ever partnered post! I've previously received a tiny handful of other partnership opportunity offers (free product in exchange for a post), but this is the first one that I've accepted. I haven't had the need to develop a formal policy regarding potential partnerships or sponsorships, but I do have a few ground rules for myself.

• First and foremost, I will not accept opportunities from brands and retailers I would not personally purchase from on my own. 
• Second, any post that arises from a partnership or sponsorship will be clearly disclosed as such in the body of the post.
• Third, if I received a product in relation to working with a company, I will disclose that again in every subsequent post in which the product is mentioned. 
• Fourth, I would need to be in control of the written content associated with any such post, such that I could express my honest opinion about the product or brand at issue. 

A quick note on terminology: "partnered posts" in my case means that I received the product for free (or, potentially, at a discount), with the request that I post about the item on my blog.  I've adopted "c/o" as an abbreviation for "care of," which means that I received an item for free. "Sponsored posts," if it ever comes up (and I don't think it will, given my teeny-tiny Internet footprint), refers to a situation where monetary compensation was involved.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that could result in a few cents commission for me if you click. Thank you for your support!

Now on to the product review: Grana (referral link, new customers receive 10% off their first order and I receive $20 store credit) reached out to me recently because of my previous posts about their items, offering me the opportunity to receive a few products for review consideration. As they're a brand I already enjoy shopping from on my own, I was happy to accept. At least one more post highlighting some of their more recently released silk tops is forthcoming soon. 

I chose the Cashmere Boyfriend V-Neck sweater because I'm fond of slouchy sweaters with an intentionally slightly oversized fit. In my photos you can see it both pulled down, where the hem rests a little past my hips, and hitched up a bit, like on the model. The design is on the roomy side for a slouchy sweater. I would still say that it fits true to most mall-store sizing when one aims for the intended slightly oversized look, and my usual size S was correct. For fit reference, I'm roughly 36''-26''-37'' and 5'3'' with a more "regular" sizing torso and shoulder width and shorter "petite" pant-length legs.

In general, I've found Grana's product measurements, which are offered for every item and size, to be accurate and helpful. Grana's silk products run a touch smaller than, say, Loft or Madewell sizing. I still take my usual size S for the most part, but get a less drapey look. This sweater seems to run true to size, in that light. The one unexpected fit-related quibble I notice is that the cuffs are knit a tiny bit thicker and more snug than I'd expect, so its a little more difficult and less comfortable to push the sleeves up to my elbows than I'm used to with various other sweaters. They may stretch with time as I keep pushing the sleeves up. Otherwise though, I'm very happy with this design, it's exactly what I had in mind for a slouchy v-neck sweater, one that I'd be happy to wear to work with slim-fitting dress pants as part of a more "casual business-casual" look.

Cashmere quality-wise, I'm also very satisfied. The cashmere feels noticeably thicker and a cut above that of comparable sweaters I bought last year at Uniqlo and H&M Premium Quality (the Uniqlo held up fine in the last year and the H&M proved rather prone to pilling).  It's more difficult to compare it to my deeply discounted, originally pricey White & Warren sweaters, as both were intentionally designed to be fine, thin knits, with little pointelle or lacy details. Texture-wise, I honestly find all the cashmere I own, including this Grana sweater, to be in a similar range of softness, with the caveat that darker colors feel a little less soft. The only difference I notice with the Grana compared to any of the others is that this sweater feels and looks a bit fuzzier (hard to explain, it's minor, but noticeable when putting them side by side for the first time), and I'm not sure if it's because the sweater is a little thicker than the others I have.

If you need more information regarding Grana's cashmere: Elaine at Temporary Housewifey has done a few Grana cashmere reviews, and she is able to compare them (as equally favorable) to their direct competitor, Everlane. She's generally done more research on how to assess cashmere quality, and rates both Grana and Everlane as superior to J.Crew. 

Shopping at J.Crew Factory

Today's post is a quick review for two items that I recently tried on from J.Crew Factory. I ordered these for about $26 each during a recent additional percent off sale. This is my third time shopping at J.Crew Factory, with their graduate student and entry-level professional-friendly price point, and while their wool sheath dress didn't fit me well (my review here), I quite like their breton striped shirt (my review here) and now this striped midi skirt. For fit reference, I'm 5'3'' and roughly 36''-26''-37''. 

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may result in a few cents commission for me if you click. Thank you for your support!

To the left, I'm wearing the Factory Striped Knit Dress, size S, in black stripe. The 97% cotton and 3% elastane material is about as thick as that of the 100% cotton breton striped shirt, but a bit softer and stretchier. It runs big: I would likely need a XS here, as the S has noticeable extra fabric at my hips and is roomy everywhere else. I'm typically a S in all the J.Crew Factory tops I've tried and was in the M size range for their fitted wool dress. I returned this because, while its comfortable and the material and quality seem good for the price, it doesn't have a place in my wardrobe. The material's too thick for my preference in humid and sticky NYC summer weather, even if its mostly cotton, and I don't see myself wearing it with the black tights I generally wear throughout fall and spring. 

To the right, I'm wearing the Factory Striped Flounce Skirt, size 6. To get the intended slightly above the waist fit, I probably should have bought size 4, but I sized up for comfort and because I don't like when my skirts sit that high. The waistband of the 6 generally rests right at my waist or a little lower. The only colorway for this skirt is labeled "black white stripe," which, as the reviews point out, is inaccurate. Worn with my black Everlane Ryan Tank above, its clearly navy and white. The skirt and lining are both 100% cotton and feel light and summer-friendly. When zipping it, I often think that it feels flimsy, but I might just be unaccustomed to zipping up a skirt that's a light summer piece. (All my other skirts with zippers have synthetic outer fabric or lining except for one J.Crew cotton skirt somewhat similar to this, but heavier because of having even more pleating that's sewn in.) This skirt is also machine washable, which is great. 

This totally isn't the more formal solid-colored midi skirt I dreamed of, likely this one from White House Black Market, with my goal of finding something similar to the one worn so fabulously by Adina. This skirt was a nice low-cost way to experiment with the silhouette. While I enjoy wearing this, I'm not sure the experiment is a success. I generally find this and other full a-line skirts unflattering, though there's a chance I'm just being nitpicky and critical because I'm unaccustomed to the shape. I generally feel like full a-line skirts are just less flattering on my waist than pencil skirts and the side view of this one is a bit awkward. 

Although my intention with this year's shopping budget was to upgrade my work wardrobe by relying more heavily on secondhand shopping through Ebay or TheRealReal, I've had a hard time making the leap. With secondhand shopping, my general goal is finding higher-quality items which, even after the discounts from being bought secondhand, are generally pricier than items I typically buy. There's also the added risk of buying items at that higher price point from Ebay (no returns!) or even TheRealReal (decide within 14 days, ship within 21, you pay return shipping by whichever method you choose, not to mention the $11.99 shipping fee for each order). and I find TheRealReal's product measurements generally strange and likely inaccurate. This is despite previously having a good shopping experience, when I bought an Equipment blouse (similar) and a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress (similar) last February after verifying size information on blogs and other retailers' sites. That difficulty is compounded by my impending clerkship pay-cut: While my $170/month budget allows for judicious designer purchases on TheRealReal, I'm not actually sure its wise to spend all of said budget while clerking. 

Has anyone else had trouble with following through on a  plan to spend more on fewer items as a way of upgrading one's wardrobe? 

Review: Everlane Short Sleeve Silk Dress

Dress: Everlane Short Sleeve Silk Dress, black, size small

Shoes: Sam Edelman Sara, leopard, size 7.5

Buying the Everlane Short Sleeve Silk Dress ended up being more complicated than expected. I'm currently waiting for a replacement for the one I'm wearing above. Problems arose the first time I wore it: The fabric near the hem began pulling away from the seam that runs down the center of the dress in the front. I wasn't doing anything unusual, either. I wore it to dinner, and the damage occurred sometime between sitting down to eat and getting up after. You can see that the dress fits loose around the hips and thighs, so the fabric doesn't generally get strained in that area. I took an ultra close-up photo of the damage here. Everlane is generally known for good customer service regarding defective products, and my case proves no exception. They sent my replacement out before I even put the defective one in the mail, all free of charge. So all's well that ends well, though I confess to being a little nervous of whether the replacement will have similar quality issues.

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I'm also feeling some concern about how other silk products in my wardrobe might hold up over time. I've started seeing signs of wear and tear in some of my other silk items for the first time, now that I'm wearing them to work somewhat frequently. A gray Madewell silk tunic bought sometime in 2014 now has a few spots where the fabric is starting to wear thin, possibly because of the weight from the straps of my handbag (I carry either a Longchamp or the Everlane Petra Market, usually with a laptop inside). Both that tunic and the black Madewell dress from last June have some extremely faint but kind of large discolored spots that I assume came from being washed, the former by hand with some Laundress Stain Solution pre-soaking before using Laundress Delicates Wash, and the latter in the machine with my usual detergent. I've heard of people machine-washing silk with no issues, but with all this, I'll probably be sticking to hand-washing (without Stain Solution).

Now on to my actual thoughts about the Everlane dress! I like the casual design, and the unlined silk was enjoyable to wear in the hot and humid summertime climates I encountered while traveling. Being rather busty for my clothing size (I'm 36''-26''-37'' and 5'3''), anything this unstructured can make my chest (and the rest of me along with it) look larger than I like, but the flowy design and the way silk drapes means that this dress doesn't emphasize the chest too much or cause the rest of me to look bulkier. I would say that the fabric is nice and weighty enough (better than Madewell, equal to my recent Grana order) to make the design attractive, but it's not very thick. I still wouldn't have thought anything negative about the fabric quality were it not for the defects.

Although the unstructured and roomy tee dress shape is maybe a little too casual, in theory, for a white-collar NYC workplace, I could probably wear it there nonetheless, though only on days without formal meetings. My willingness to try it at work might or might not confirm that I'm indulging a growing preference for "dowdy" but comfortable clothing at work. The high-low hem is one possible sticking point for this dress's potential utility as office-wear. The highest part of the hem hits only a bit above the knee on me, but the high-low detailing emphasizes the "high" part, if you will, and makes it seem shorter than it is. The hem doesn't ride up in a problematic way when moving around, though, so it won't actually cause any risk of wardrobe malfunctions.

I really do like this dress. I intend to keep the replacement, assuming no repeat issues. Still, I can see the $98 price point being a little high for something that's mostly casual-wear, even if I can see myself wearing it to the office. I wouldn't have bought it so readily if I hadn't been under-budget for most of 2016 so far at the time of my initial order. Cuyana does a very similar design in what I assume is a much nicer silk (and made in the US), given the significantly higher price point.

Any suggestions or anecdotes you might have regarding how to launder silk without resorting to a dry cleaner would be greatly appreciated!

A Bright Orange Coat

Coat: Ellen Tracy Wool Blend Stadium Coat, Pumpkin, 6P

Scarf: unbranded, gift (similar via Chinese wholesaler) 

T-shirt: Forever 21, old (similar from Madewell)

Jeans: Rag & Bone/JEAN, The Skinny Mid-Rise Jeans, Coventry Wash, 27

Shoes: Sam Edelman Sara Flats, Leopard Print, 7.5

While browsing the post-Christmas sales, I was seized with another one of my sudden impulsive wardrobe desires: I desperately wanted a brightly colored cocoon coat, most likely in orange-red. I might or might not have been strongly influenced by seeing a friend who looked fabulous in a orange-red  J. Crew stadium cloth Chateau Parkas. At this point in the season, though, J. Crew was sold out of of pretty much every relevant design and color combination in my size. Furthermore, even with their semi-frequent discounts, their price point was a little high for something that was going to be a major style experiment for me.

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Both the shape and color are dramatic changes from what I typically look for. I've previously tried on an Aritzia cocoon coat (sold out, pictured) that was a distressingly unflattering look, though a big factor there was that it was meant for someone taller. Orange is also a color I have very little experience with wearing: I did know that coral clothes and lipsticks are not great on me, which potentially made orange-red not too promising, even if the colors are different. 

Does anyone else sometimes end up buying something because of direct inspiration from seeing a friend wear an extremely similar item, by the way? I've done so a few times and it makes me worry just a little that it'd be construed as slightly creepy. It only means that I think the person in question has excellent taste and looks fabulous in the item in question, but I suppose I'm a born worrier.

My shopping process came down to two choices: the Ellen Tracy coat I got and a Kenneth Cole design with a bigger discount but slightly busier design that didn't fit with the image of a simpler cocoon coat that I had in mind. The Ellen Tracy coat is probably not perfect: the quality is maybe not the best as the wool blend feels a little bit scratchy, though that doesn't affect the wearer because of the lining. Still, the price and the design are right, and as with the rest of my purchases, I plan to take good care of it. It should last me at least a good two to three years, and probably longer, with occasional wear from fall to spring, barring any dramatic changes in my size.

Size and fit-wise, this coat runs large, particularly around the chest and stomach, and maybe a little long, and not all of that is accounted for by how cocoon coats typically run a bit oversized. Most of my other coats are regular sizing, which is typically fine despite my 5'3'' height and short legs, and I'd typically expect the size 6P I'm wearing above to be a bit small in the chest. Here, the 6P is a bit roomy, though I like my coats to have room for thick sweaters and giant scarves and I do think the cocoon coat look requires the coat to be a touch oversized.