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Moving from conspicuous to conscious consumption and doing reviews along the way.  Find plenty of unsponsored reviews of Quince, Everlane, Grana, and Cuyana on the site!  I'm working towards a minimal waste lifestyle, and oh yea I love bags >.<

Everlane Review: The Easy Chino Shorts and Giveaway {Closed}

Everlane Review The Easy Chino Shorts

Everlane’s Easy Chinos (reviewed here) was one my most worn Everlane items last year and one of my most worn items overall (#13 in fact). Couple that with the fact that I no longer fit into any of my shorts from pre-pregnancy (all of which were jean shorts), and I was suuuuuuper excited when Everlane revealed their Easy Chino Shorts. I was so excited that I bought two right off the bat because I had very high hopes that they would be exactly what I needed. So what did I think? Did they live up to my hopes and dreams (lol, ok I know that’s overkill when we’re talking about shorts, but really good and affordable shorts are hard to find when you’re pear shaped).

The verdict: They’re uhhhmmaaaazing. Haha, okay well maybe that’s an overstatement, but I really am very excited about these shorts and how they fit. First a note on sizing: I ordered them in a 6 because of my post-pregnancy pooch and overall weight gain. If you’ve been a long time reader and we have similar sizing, then I think a 4 would work for you (that’s the size I wear in the regular Easy Chino pants). I probably could have fit into a 4 since I still fit into the size 4 Easy Chino pants I have now, but I wanted to have that extra bit of space around the hips and rise for these shorts. Also with long term wear and multiple washings the elastic does loosen up a bit and the material in general gets softer and relaxed (that’s why I still fit into my old size 4 pants).

Everlane Review Easy Chino Shorts
 

{Wearing: Only Child Alta Top (reviewed here), Everlane Easy Chino Shorts, Arizona Birkenstocks, Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here)}

I love these shorts since they’re basically the short version of the long pants I already know and love. Thus I already have a bunch of outfit combos that I know would work with these shorts. The fabric is soft and pretty wrinkle resistant. I usually just wash the pants in the machine but make sure to take them out and shake out/smooth the wrinkles before putting it in the dryer. And I love that these are more age appropriate shorts for mid-thirties-me than my short ripped jean shorts. They kind of remind me of the Elizabeth Suzann Florence shorts but a tad wider in the leg, lower in rise, made of cotton, with pockets, and with a much lower price point.

The only drawback to these shorts is that the black ones pick up and show dog hair and lint like a mofo. Oh and the inseam of these pants don’t change between sizes. It’s a constant 3.5” across all sizes so I’m not sure how well the fit will be in the larger sizes (you would think the inseam would vary with size).

Anyway if you've been looking for a good pair of elastic waist shorts I highly recommend giving these a try. In fact, I like these so much I want one of my readers to be able to try them out as well so I’m doing a $50 Everlane gift card giveaway. Just fill out the form below (email will just be used to contact the lucky winner, no spam I promise). One entry per person please. Giveaway ends next Monday midnight and I’ll announce the lucky winner next Tuesday! {Closed}

A little Everlane and Mansur Gavriel update and more reviews coming soon!

Hi guys, I just wanted to 1) share these images from Everlane that I saw in my email.  I just really loved the styling in these photos and it's making me consider trying out one of their trenches.  Have any of you purchased one of their trenches?  What do you think?  I would love to know!  Also 2) just a quick update on some reviews that I'm working on!  I'm currently trying to finish up a review on Everlane's modern ankle boot and the street ankle boot (spoiler: they're both pretty awesome) and I just ordered the square silk shirt in white/grey so we'll see how that goes.  And for those still interested in Mansur Gavriel bags, I ordered the mini lady bag so that should be coming soon (yay an early birthday present for myself!).

All images via Everlane

Everlane Boxy Striped Tee Review

Just a super quick review today for those interested in Everlane's boxy striped tee. I purchased the white/black version quite awhile back and I really liked it.  I ended up purchasing an XS in this because it looked so big, and it fit perfectly.  I'm usually a small in everything else Everlane, and about a size 4 in J.Crew/Gap.

Pros:

-The length is perfect.  The front is a little shorter than the back so it looks cropped but you have some coverage in the back

-The heavy weight cotton is perfect for layering under a jacket during the winter months.

-The 3/4 sleeves are the perfect length for the look.

Con:

- The tee is quite boxy so it's going to be an oversized look.

Above images from Kate and Grechen.  Check out Grechen's review of the striped tee and another review here.

In the end though I returned it because I already have too many striped shirts.  See exhibit A below: {true, you can argue that you can't have too many striped shirts but you can have too many clothes for an airstream}

  

But I would say if you don't have too many striped shirts yet, this one is a great option.  As usual, this review was done on items I've purchased myself and is not sponsored (though yesterday I got $30 from Everlane for giving them some feedback over email, but I haven't spent that yet.  Yay for my first credits from Everlane!).

What should I review next from Everlane? Taking votes now!

The little poll at the end of the Everlane Chunky Wool Knit cardigan review was a great way to get some feedback from you guys so I thought why not make a poll so that you guys get to decide what I should review next from Everlane.  

P.S. the current poll results for whether or not I should keep the chunky wool knit cardigan is 90% "Send it back" and 10% "Keep it".

P.P.S. Rhonda, I heard ya and I ordered the Chelsea boot so a review of that is coming soon {update: here's the Everlane Chelsea boot review)

{Update 12.29.15: Thanks to the people who have voted!  I already did one review of the Everlane donegal sweater and marled wool crew neck sweater.  And now I've ordered the lux double knit mockneck and dress since I got so many votes for those two items.  Personally they seem a little potato-sack-like to me, but you guys voted and I'm listening!  I will try not to let my preconceived notions bias the review.  And if you don't know yet, Everlane is having a sale!}

Everlane Chunky Wool Knit Sweater Review

I didn't immediately order the chunky wool knit because I'm just not a fan of chunky knits.  I tend to the think they add extra "chunk" to any preexisting chunkiness.  So I usually stay away from those big knits.  However recently I read some "controversy" (or as controversial as wool knit sweaters can be) about the chunky knit on Grechen's Closet (especially in the comments section) and decided I wanted to get in on the action.  The comments go from "it's the coziest sweater ever" (ooh sounds awesome) to "it pills terribly" (damn that's too bad) to "Everlane customer service is  inconsistent" (which I've heard numerous times, but I think Everlane is just trying to empower their customer service peeps to make their own calls.) 

So I got the Chunky Wool Knit cardigan...

What do you think?  I personally think it's quite a bit unflattering on me.  But the sweater is really cozy and comfy (and quite heavy).  I ordered a size small here and the sleeves fit perfectly.  I know this is meant to be an oversized sweater but I'm not sure I'm feeling it.  

If you're not aware, the "controversy" is the fact that last year's chunky knit (which Everlane boasted sold out in 72 hours) unfortunately had a crazy pilling problem.  Though Everlane has said that this year due to the many complaints they used a tighter knit and longer fibers to try to prevent the pilling problem.  Take this how you will, but as I was trying on the sweater I already noticed a pill and I'm not sure if that was from trying it on or just a remanent during the production process.  Anyway, pilling issues aside, I'm leaning towards a "no" on this one just because I don't really like how it looks on me.

Here are some other opinions on the chunky wool knit: here,  here, and here.  The last link is for Grechen's blog (which if you haven't already noticed, I'm a huge fan of and am constantly linking to her review posts) and she was gifted an Everlane chunky knit this year so maybe she can do an update on the future on whether or not this year's version has the same problems as last year's.  Unless y'all think I should keep the cardigan?

As always, reviews are done on items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Check out my other Everlane reviews here and or Everlane's items (referral link).  Thanks for reading!

Did I tell you about the time I applied for a job at Everlane...three times

As you can see, I post a lot of Everlane reviews.  In fact, my consistent posting of almost everything Everlane has landed me a top spot in google search for their products.  And it's great because I really like most of their stuff and truly love their message of radical transparency.  But about 6 months ago (before I started seriously blogging) I applied for a job there...on three separate occasions.  The first time was for a position as a social media manager.  And to be honest I was way out of my depth there.  Knew nothing about it except my own social media tendencies.  So of course I didn't get it, though I'm glad I got to experience their application process (write up something interesting and then do a vlog-post-type interview that you send in).  Plus, that job listing led me to my path of digital marketing and blogging (but that's a whole 'nother story).  Then I applied to be their office manager, which I could do in my sleep.  But that's exactly why they said no, because I probably would have fallen asleep.  So I get it, no for that too.  And the last one was as a brand ambassador, which was paid in Everlane gear but no actual wage.  Just got no response on that one.  Which is kind of too bad.  But that's okay because now I've inadvertently made myself a type of brand ambassador, one that reviews many of their products (and people like my reviews like the Fall 2015 sweater review!).  I mean it would be cool to get free stuff but in the meantime I'm keeping myself busy with new business ventures (major changes up ahead!).

Comparison Post: J.Crew Cashmere vs. Everlane Cashmere {Updated January 2022}

Everlane sweater on the left, J.Crew on the right. &nbsp;A little promotional cashmere test tube from Everlane in the middle.

Everlane sweater on the left, J.Crew on the right.  A little promotional cashmere test tube from Everlane in the middle.

I'm a cashmere newbie.  Yes, I've had cashmere sweaters before but I never really took a hard look at my cashmere.  At least until this fall, when I coincidentally purchased 2 cashmere sweaters at the same time: one from J.Crew and one from Everlane.  These 2 black sweaters could not be more different, and yet both are made from 100% cashmere and both are made in China (and both were at a great price point, though the J.Crew one was on sale).

First, how these 2 sweater cousins differ:  The J.Crew Sweater is made of very thin cashmere.  It feels delicate and soft, but not very warm.  But the Everlane sweater is much thicker and bulkier.  I feel very warm, bordering on hot, when I wear it.  And the Everlane sweater feels ever so slightly scratchier than the J. Crew one (just a tiny bit).  Both are brand new so I don't know how much pilling would occur (I'll try to post an update later).

So after some research, I've learned:

-All cashmere is technically hair from the underbelly of a goat (usually Mongolian).

-Cashmere starts to differ in terms of quality of fibers: the cashmere fibers range from 0.8 - 2.5 inches long and have to be less than 19 microns in diameter (finer cashmere are 14 microns or smaller).  The best fibers are long and thin.  Thicker fibers are used as part of cashmere blends and shorter fibers causes pilling when they break.

-Fibers are graded as A (14-15.5 microns & 1.3-1.4 inches long), B (bigger than 19 microns in diameter), or C (30 microns in diameter). The thinner the fiber, the better the quality and the more expensive the product.

-Cashmere garments can come as 1-ply, 2-ply, or 3-ply.  1-ply is the thinnest and wears out the fastest but the 3-ply can sometimes be too warm, especially for indoor wear.

-Lighter cashmere sweaters tend to be softer because dying fibers a dark color tends to make the fibers stiffer.

So to apply this to my 2 different sweaters: I don't know what the fiber is like on the J.Crew sweater, but I'm pretty sure it's 1-ply.  That's why it's so thin.  If I were to wear this sweater often, I'm sure I would start to see pilling sooner rather than later (plus take a look at the picture, the J.Crew sweater on the right is a gray color though it's supposed to be black) .  But I do like the fact that I can easily layer it to wear indoors.  On the other hand, the Everlane sweater is definitely a 2 or 3-ply material.  And because it's Everlane, we know some of the details about its production.  They say they use Grade A fibers that are 15 microns and 30mm long (that's about 1.12 inches).  Yes, that fits the Grade A criteria for diameter though about 3mm less in length.  So that explains why it's priced so reasonably.  It's not a big difference, but for luxury items an extra mm or 2 (or more) puts it in a hugely different price point. {January 2022 edit: This is a loooong overdue edit but I have to say that Everlane cashmere cannot be more than 1 ply either. Since this is not a luxury cashmere product and it feels like a standard conventional fashion cashmere sweater, I’m guessing that it’s a 1 ply sweater that uses decent cashmere fibers. I now have a cashmere sweater from The Row, which feels thicker and more luxe (and I’m guessing this is what a thicker ply feels like). If you’re looking for a classic cashmere sweater that’s a tad more luxe-feeling than the Everlane sweater I highly recommend looking at Quince’s baby cashmere sweaters.}

So my final verdict: I'm fairly certain that my Everlane cashmere sweater is well worth it for $115-$125 but I'm not sure how often I would wear it since it's almost too warm to wear indoors.  

If you want more information, these are the sites I used to learn my cashmere facts: a newspaper article, a how-to site, and cashmere.com.

Also if you guys are looking for an actual review of the sweater (and not just the material) along with sizing info check out my new Everlane Fall 2015 Sweater and Silk Review and for 2016 I have all my Everlane reviews here including most of all the new sweaters Everlane has debuted.

Like all my other reviews, this review is done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Thanks for reading!

{Edit: After some thought I've decided to sell the JCrew sweater and instead buy an Everlane cashmere sweater in gray--I'm hoping my research is right and the softest sweater will be the light grey one!} {update: yes I bought and yes I love my gray cashmere sweater.  It's marginally softer than the black one, or it could just be in my head}.

{Also Grana's cashmere is equivalent to Everlane's and better than J.Crew's}

Everlane Street Shoe Review {updated}

everlane_street_shoe.jpg

I purchased the Everlane street shoes in chalk a couple weeks ago and I've been wearing them around the house ever since to see how I like them.  

Here's a quick review of these shoes:

-First of all, these run super narrow.  I'm a 7.5 in TOMS but I needed to get an 8.5 in these (I also have Everlane's loafers, which I got in an 8, so these are even narrower than the loafers).

-These shoes are nubuck leather, which means they look great, but the get dirty really easily, especially the chalk color.  But the material is so gorgeous, like velvet.  But I also found that this shoe doesn't stretch out much so if they feel narrow, they'll stay narrow.

-The style: sometimes I look at these and think of Keds, but really they are more stylish than that, especially with the slightly pointed toe.

For my other Everlane reviews (on sweaters, shirts, and their Petra tote) the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored, but if you'd like to help me purchase more items to review, please use my referral link here Thanks!).

{update: I ended up returning them after a spell because for the life of me they weren't comfortable.  The front was way too narrow and stayed narrow.  And because I had to get the larger size to fit my feet, they were a bit too long.  And I apologize to all those who might have tried them out due to my original glowing review of this.  Sometimes I fall in love with style of the shoe but then realize it doesn't fit my real life and I definitely wrote this when I was still in the honeymoon phase with these shoes.}

Everlane Sweater and Silk Shirt Review {updated March 2017}

{update 3.2.17: As some of my friends (ok just one friend, hi Tiff! lol) call me Ms. Everlane Guru, I have amassed 50 (maybe 60?) reviews of Everlane items that can be found here sorted by clothing type, or here sorted by my favorites->least favorite}

So this is part 2 of my Everlane clothing review.  Part 1 was the Everlane tee shirt review and before that, I reviewed the Everlane Petra Magazine Tote.  I also have the Everlane Modern Loafer and I the Everlane Street Shoe on the way so I'll be doing reviews about their shoes next.  What can I say, I'm semi-obsessed with their stuff.  But I promise that's it...until I buy anything else from them (though looking at what's coming, I'm a bit iffy about Everlane's next releases).  Hopefully this review will help you figure out your Everlane sizing.

Like the tee shirt review, I'll be listing what I have, a quick note about quality, and what size I wear (I'm usually a size 4 or small on top, size 2 at places like GAP or sometimes Jcrew){note: I like my sweaters on the looser side, so if you are fit and like them fitted I say size down}:

- My first sweater and all-time favorite item from Everlane, is their seed-stitch sweater.  Unfortunately it's no longer being sold, but I would say the closest cousin is the Cotton Crew Neck Sweater.  But the weaves are different and it looks like the Cotton Crew might stretch out a bit {but I don't really know since I've never tried it}.  My black seed-stitch sweater is pictured below.  It's the perfect weight for a layered look during the summer in San Francisco (which as I type this post is a very cool 58 degrees).  I got it in a small, and it's still over-sized, but it's perfect for wearing over a collared shirt for a preppy look.  I've washed this numerous times and it stayed perfectly in shape.  I really hope Everlane brings back this sweater!

- My next purchase was the Everlane Short-Sleeved Sweatshirt (pictured in navy on the model in the top picture).  I purchased it in black and in a small.  The fit, again, is oversized but I think it works well with the look (as long as you're wearing skinny jeans).  The quality is again excellent, with a heavy cotton weight.  I don't wear it as often as I'd like because it's hard to find the right temperature for a sweatshirt but also short sleeves, but I still love the look.

- I also have the Everlane Crew Sweatshirt in Grey Marled (pictured on the model on the right).  I got this in an XS, but wish I had gotten it in the S.  It comes up a bit short around the waist on the XS size, but the fit is boxy.  I think if it's going to be an oversized fit, then it would look better longer than too short.  Quality is also great and I would say the price is reasonable for $40.

-The last sweater I bought was the Everlane French Terry sweater in both cool grey and heather brick.  I bought the heather brick in XS, but it was too snug and I didn't like the color.  So I tried again with the French Terry in grey size small.  But unfortunately I don't really like that one either though the fit was a little better.  The material is wonderfully soft so I could still wear it as loungewear during the winter, however the way the sweater falls on the body is not flattering unless you're literally a model {specifically, if you have any hint of a muffin top, the bottom hem of the sweater kind of clings to it--ick not flattering at all}.  Also the maintenance of washing by hand is just not for me (it's made of polyester, rayon and spandex). 

For other peoples' take on Everlane's sweaters: Review of their cashmere sweater, and another one about cashmere, and a review of their crew sweatshirt

I also have Everlane's silk sleeveless blouse in black (on the model on the the left in the picture above).  It's the only silk thing I own from Everlane.  I think the quality of the silk is great; it's feels pretty thick and durable.  It's not cheap for $60 but worth it.  {When writing this post I just took a look at the item on their website, and who knew it only costs $27 to actually produce this item (and $33 for long sleeves).  Just think about the mark-up at places like Equipment, which sells silk shirts for at least $200.}  I bought a size small and it fits perfectly.  I'm eyeing the modern point silk shirt and might do another separate review of their silks if I get that one as well.     

For my other Everlane reviews (on shoes, shirts, and their Petra tote) the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored, but if you'd like to help me purchase more items to review, my referral link is here, Thanks!).

 

Everlane V-neck, U-neck, Box Cut, and Drop Shoulder T-Shirt Reviews {updated May 2018}

Pictures from Everlane, compiled by me

Pictures from Everlane, compiled by me

Since people seemed to like my Everlane Petra Tote Review post, I thought I would review some of their clothes (especially to get an understanding on Everlane sizing).  I own a lot of clothes from Everlane.  I discovered Everlane about a year and a half ago and have been continually checking their site for new stuff ever since.  And that's because I think the quality of their clothes is pretty good for the price, but it depends on what you purchase.  Since their items are made at different factories, I think it's just natural that quality will vary a little, but they really do try their best to make it the best.  So below I've listed what I have, a quick note about quality, and what size I wear (I'm usually a size 4 or small on top, size 2 at places like GAP or sometimes Jcrew){note: I like my shirts on the looser side, so if you are fit and like them fitted I say go for an XXS when I say I got an XS}:

-I started my collection with the U-neck shirt (I was looking to find a cheaper alternative to the soft shirts from James Perse, Rag & Bone, splendid, etc.).  I usually buy it in an XS and even then it's a very loose fit (so I would say it runs a bit big), except in white where I bought a small since I like my white shirt to be loose since it's on the sheer side.  As for quality: as you can see in the top photo (the U neck is bottom right stack), the neck line does get stretched out a bit, but for $15 I don't mind too much.

-The V-neck shirts hold up quite a bit better, and are my favorite shirts from Everlane.  The V cut isn't too deep but just enough to be flattering.  Again I get XS, unless it's white which I get in S.  They are not as loose as the U-neck shirts.  I have a ton of these shirts, also priced at $15 (they used to have a lot of different colors, but right now they only have a muted black, white, and heather grey).  They're super soft and comfy.  Thought it's a bit hard to see, I'm wearing the heather grey one (the only one priced at $18) in the photo below with the Mansur Gavriel bag.

-The Box Cut Tee is my next favorite shirt.  Since I have a fairly long torso but short legs, I look better with tops that aren't too long.  And the box cut tee is the perfect length for the times I wear higher waisted jeans.  I wear XS for all the box cut tees.  Also these are the only shirts that I have with a higher neckline for those times when I want to be a bit more conservative (like when I'm in Japan).  The box cut tee holds it's structure the most since I think it's made with a  slightly thicker cotton than the other 2 styles.

-I only have one of the Cotton Drop Shoulder Tee, in muted black, which I haven't really worn that often.  But I do like the style of the longer sleeves, for those days when my triceps feel extra flabby.  Again the fit is on the loose side.

{I don't own any of the cotton slub or Ryan shirts because even though I like looser fits, I think those are just too loose and too big for my 5'4" frame.  It's just not the right proportions for me.  So I can't attest to their quality though I've read somewhere the Ryan tee, made of rayon, doesn't hold up so well in the wash (the rayon shrinks). Here are some reviews from other blogs/sites about the ryan tee, the ryan tank, the ryan tank dress (which IMHO is one of the least flattering dresses I've ever seen), and the cotton slub shirts.}

All of these cotton shirts are made in a factory in LA, and so the quality is consistently pretty good (except maybe for the U-neck).  And for $15 each (except for the heather grey color or the cotton drop shoulder tee), I love wearing these as my daily basic shirt.  Though Everlane values these shirts at a "Traditional Retail Price" of $45 (a common gripe I've seen on Reddit is that Everlane overvalues the traditional retail, which I tend to agree with), it's still a good value at $15.

When I wear these shirts I don't have to worry about spilling on myself, which I do fairly often (what can I say... I'm a messy eater).  But be aware, these are not James Perse or Rag & Bone quality tees (different weaves/textures and different cuts).  Yet these aren't your regular 'ole Hanes T shirts either.  They fit a space in between, and for me that space is the perfect daily tee.  

{If you enjoyed this post and feel like helping me out, this link to Everlane, is a referral and if you purchase anything will give me a $25 credit towards my next Everlane purchase/product to review.  Thank you so much!}

{Also here is a 2016 review of Everlane's new shirts: the Slim Crew shirt, the Muscle Tank, and the micro stripe shirts.}

{6.6.16 edit: It's almost been a year since I've purchased these tees and I've been wearing an Everlane tee almost daily.  I should note that the heather gray shirts are made from a different material than the other colors and so they will stretch out the most.  Also if you're looking for a tee that is a bit more polished, I would suggest not getting Everlane tees since the collars on these tees will wrinkle and twist so it doesn't lie flat.  Also the muted black shirt will fade a lot but the true black will hold it's color better.  I'm still a fan of these tees since I use them mostly as work shirts for the garage and so they'll get grease stains or other grime on it.  Plus these tees are really soft and comfy.}

{2.28.17 edit: So thought I would update this post by saying I hardly ever wear Everlane tees anymore.  I've found that their quality just isn't that great after multiple washes and wear.  The gray tees are all super stretched out (which now at least make great PJ tops), the box cut tees shrank a bit and they're too short now, and I got a bunch of holes in my white shirts that got big fast.  Also a lot of the shirts started to lose their softness.  Right now I'm basically wearing Grana tees daily and find that their pima tees are thicker and hold up much better with repeated wear and washes.  Just wanted to give my honest opinion since it's really changed in the last 6 months!}

{May 2018 Update: So I'm back to wearing Everlane tees, especially their cotton crew.  Some of their tees have definitely been redesigned since this review 3 years ago.  I'll be doing an update review soon, but just wanted to let y'all know that my current favorite is their cotton crew tee.  Also I would advise getting any color in Everlane's tees except for their black.  I think something in their dye makes the tee less soft with repeated washings, and they start picking up dog hair like crazy.  At first I thought it might be because dog hair it more noticable on black but I found the same doesn't happen to my Everlane crew tee in olive (and that's a pretty dark color).}

{Also I just wrote this update about all my ethical black tees if you’re interested in how they’ve all held up!}

Everlane Petra Magazine Tote Review

When I was looking to buy this tote from Everlane, I searched the internet for product reviews but wasn't able to find many.  At least not for the Magazine tote in Gesso.  Everlane has three sizes for the Petra tote, and the Magazine size is the smallest.  But that doesn't mean it's small.  This tote fits a ton of things including my laptop, books, and all other things I need to carry, and I never once wished I had purchased the bigger size.  Gesso means "chalk" in Italian (the bag is made in Italy), and though it's more of a gray than a chalky color, I would say that's a good thing.  Here are all the other reasons why I LOVE this bag:

-Really thick and durable leather.  NO COLOR TRANSFER from jeans.  (This is a miracle for any lightly coloured bag.)

-The perfect size to fit a laptop and a textbook, along with your wallet, phone, keys and other necessities.  The bottom is reinforced with stitching inside and little legs on the outside so this bag can definitely handle heavy loads.

-Two very deep pockets with a snap closure on the inside so nothing falls out of these pocket.  I put my keys wallets, mints and all other small things in here and they don't fall out.

-Stain and smell resistant interior.  I'm taking a UC Berkley extension class (yay for continuing education) and on the second day I put a kombucha drink in the bag.  By the time I got to class I saw that the pink raspberry kombucha had leaked all over the inside of the bag.  If you have ever had kombucha, you know that it stinks!  (It's basically fermented tea).  So I was worried my tote would smell like kombucha forever, but I just wiped it up and the smell and stains were gone!  And it never stained to the outside of the bag.  

This bag isn't cheap but for the quality, good durable leather, I would say this bag is well worth the price and Everlane delivers on their promise of high-quality goods at decent prices.  This is probably the best light colored bag I've ever had and it's the perfect cool-toned neutral bag for the summer!

You can find the bag here and it comes in bright navy and black.  [This is not a sponsored post, though I wish it was.  I just wrote this because I really do love this bag!].

{edit: I just found out the straps are adjustable.  Just another reason to love this bag!}

How to adjust the straps

How to adjust the straps

Also here's a look at the inside pockets.  The front and back sides are covered by another leather layer that the pockets are stitched onto, but the sides are suede (and did you see?  No kombucha stains, even on the suede.  I think it's because it's not a soft absorbent suede, it's a thicker semi-water repellant suede type material).

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Everlane Open Studio

On Thursday night I decided to check out Everlane's Open Studio (basically like an open house) where they were featuring their Street Shoe, which is going to be released in early May.  I really just wanted to check out their work space since it looks so cool in pictures (basically one large open space with lots of natural light, located in the heart of the Mission District).  When I got there it was packed!  They had a ton of their clothes on display, and you could try on some of the clothes and shoes as well.  Best of all they had free food and booze (their beer selection was on fleek)!

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Everlane Street Shoe (runs a half size small fyi).

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The spread was provided by Good Eggs (a gourmet grocery delivery service).  If you're interested they have a special discount until 5/1 where you can get a free $10 item with your first delivery (just use promo code Everlane10).

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The booze

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Computers so you could order anything that catches your eye.

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Tried on the nubuck street shoe.  Super comfy.

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I left the Open Studio wanting to buy a bunch of their clothes, shoes, and bags.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for my wallet), a lot of the items are sold out.  I guess I just need to watch their website more closely for future restocks.  And can't wait to go to their next Open Studio!

5.5 Things Friday

1.  Just some pictures from the week:

How many cranes are in this picture?

How many cranes are in this picture?

That's the view from one of my favorite libraries in the city, Potrero Hill.  

This is also Potrero Hill but the view of the other side.

2.  Ran around Lake Merced for the first time this year.  The last time I ran it was early December, so I was pretty proud of the fact that I could complete it without walking.  In fact my time was pretty decent so that was a nice surprise.  Must be the minimal athletic maintenance I do (on a treadmill once a week).  

3.  Calling all doggie movie casting directors: here's my friends' super talented Tri-pug (the best part is at the 0:25 mark)!

4. In other doggie news, I gave Ellie a haircut this week after a good dosing of anti-allergy meds (for me, not her, in case there was any confusion).

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Before

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After

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The difference.  I guess you can't really tell from the pictures but I cut off quite a bit of fur.  Since she's so low to the ground and has long hair she is a doggie mop.  The tri-monthly haircuts decreases the amount of leaves and other detritus she brings back into the house.

5. Brian finished the giant Jenga!

Hachi interference!

5.5 And I went to Everlane's Open Studio event where they showcased their new shoe, the Street Shoe.  Their studio was amazing and the people were super nice.  I'm planning on doing another blog post about the whole shebang.

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