Everything I Added to My Wardrobe in November

I don’t usually do “closet update” type posts, but I’ve added several things to my wardrobe since my last post and I thought it would be fun to share some mini reviews. I’ve been pretty absent from the blog lately, so I apologize for that, but I am active on Instagram again. Feel free to follow me there for daily(ish) outfits and updates. Truthfully, as my life continues to get busier and more complex, it’s just a lot easier to keep up with IG than a full fledged blog.

Anyway – closet update time!

Brass Clothing  – The Model Sheath (thrifted)

This is my first piece from Boston-based ethical clothing company Brass. Brass has been on my radar for a while now. It’s a staple of the ethical fashion world on IG, and many of my blogger friends are Brass affiliates. You’d think that I would have jumped on the Brass wagon a long time ago given that the company makes women’s workwear, but I’ve been hesitant because in my opinion, the price point of most of their clothing doesn’t reflect the fabric content. Brass uses mainly synthetic fibers. I was really disappointed to see that their beautiful new Cocoon Coat, for example, is made of 65% acrylic, 28% nylon, 2% spandex, and only 4% actual wool. It costs $188. To me, that doesn’t add up. I mean, what do I know? Maybe it’s nicer than I think it is, but if I had that much money to spend on a “wool” coat, I wouldn’t spend it on something that’s 96% synthetic.

All that said, I’ve never actually seen a bad Brass review, and the dress I bought is very nice. I found it second hand on Poshmark and bought it after having stalked it for several months. According to the seller, this is the original Model Sheath (since updated to the Model Sheath 2.0) but I think it might actually be an even older, now-retired style called the Pencil Dress. Honestly, I may never know, but I do know that it feels very well constructed, it fits me like a glove, and it survived a tumultuous ride in my washing machine.

If you follow me on IG you know that I bought this instead of the dress I really wanted, the Chelsey Dress from Maven Women, which is a Washington DC-based company that I really adore. I saw the founder speak at an ethical fashion conference put on by the DC Sustainable Fashion Collective last fall and she was really inspirational. But alas, the Chelsey is not in my budget as the holidays approach, my dog has a UTI, and I am generally trying to save up to move out of my in-laws house and go to graduate school. Maybe some day.

Everlane – Cashmere Crew (thrifted)

This winter, one of my wardrobe goals was to collect as many warm sweaters as possible. I especially like the Everlane $100 Cashmere Crew sweaters because they’re light enough for every day wear, easy to layer, and come in about a billion colors. I’ve had good luck with thrifted Everlane cashmere in the past, so I kept an eye out for good deals on Poshmark. Of all the things I’ve bought this year, this sweater has already had the best return on investment. It is so simple and comfortable, I wear it constantly. I hardly ever wash my sweaters, but I’ve already washed this one twice because of how often I’ve worn it and also because of one unfortunate incident while peeling an especially juicy orange. I never dry clean my cashmere – I just toss it in the washing machine in a mesh bag on the delicate cycle with some wool shampoo. To dry it, I lay it out flat on a towel. I find cashmere gets fluffier and comfier the more it’s been washed.

Everlane – The Cashmere Raglan Mockneck (gifted)

Continuing with the theme of comfy sweaters, Everlane asked me if I wanted to try anything from the November releases and I really, really wanted this sweater. They’ve been releasing more and more items in this gorgeous chocolate hue lately (like my favorite work shoes, the Editor Heel) and I can’t get enough of it. I tend to gravitate toward all-back outfits in this winter, so I’ve been making a conscious effort to add warmer hues this year.

I knew I’d like this sweater when I saw it on the website, but I didn’t know how much until I actually had it in my possession. First of all, the color is stunning. I mentioned that already, but it’s worth mentioning again. It just feels rich, as in delicious, but also as in expensive. Second, the cut is a sort of sweatshirt hybrid situation that is really flattering on my petite frame. I like how the bottom hem is tight and allows the body of the sweater to drape down around it, and the stitching from the shoulders to the neck is just a really pretty detail. I reach for this constantly because it just makes me feel like a fancy lady.

Everlane – The Put-Together Pleat Pant (gifted)

These beauties were another generous November gift from Everlane. I saw them on the Coming Soon page (which I stalk religiously) and was really hoping that Everlane would let me try a pair when they were eventually released (thank you, Carly!). The biggest reason I wanted these is because my Vetta Peg Pants are dying a slow death from such constant wear over the last year, and I wanted something with a similar silhouette but a little more drape to serve as my default work pants. These are it, baby.

I know this is supposed to be a mini review, but I have a lot to say about these pants. First, the fabric. I have been confused about this fabric of these pants since I first saw them on the line sheet. The original name pre-release called them Cupro, which is a rayon fabric that uses copper as part of its chemical treatment process. When I got the pants, the label on the inside called them Lyocell, another rayon fabric that is basically Tencel, but without the brand-name, meaning it isn’t necessarily held to the same standards for environmental responsibility. But, if you look at the website now, the pants are labeled as 100% Tencel. I hope it’s true that they are, in fact, Tencel, and that it wasn’t just a booboo on the part of some content editor. They certainly feel like Tencel – in fact, I’d say the feel and drape of them are nearly identical to my Eileen Fisher Tencel pants.

Regarding the fit, I would advise you to size down. I got these in a 2, my normal Everlane size, and they are very roomy, especially in the waist. For now, I’ve been belting them and that’s been working out fine. My body has been in a sort of flux lately, so I’m hesitant to return these for a smaller size, just in case. I may alter them eventually to nip in the waist and bring the hem up just a little. That’s just kind of the reality of being a curvy petite.

Overall, I really like these pants. I got them a couple of weeks prior to their official release and have had several opportunities to wear them to the office. I like how the boxy-but-drapey silhouette gives them serious 90’s vibes. I can tuck a big sweater into these, which is very fun, or I can wear them with a tee or a bodysuit or an equally drapey silk blouse. I will probably wear them on Thanksgiving, since they look fancy but have a deceptively generous waist.

Padded Headband

This accessory was purchased for the sheer, unadulterated whimsy of it. I think a big padded headband is FUN. I’ve been seeing this trend all over Pinterest, on members of the royal family, and on blogs and Instagram accounts. I just love it. I am not the kind of person who can do a lot of things with my hair (I literally just learned to curl it and even that is touch and go), so a simple accessory with a big mood is exactly the kind of thing I need. I will say, this was not an “ethical” purchase. It was an impulse buy from Amazon. It cost $6 and I’m sure its leeching toxic chemicals into my brain or whatever, but I still love it.

Pact – Cotton Leggins

I basically live in black cotton leggings when I’m at home. I have several pairs, mostly from H&M or the drug store, and I put them on as soon as I get home from work most days. A couple of weeks ago, I sat down cross-legged on my couch and felt a big tear right down the inside of my thigh. It was a little devastating, but also a good opportunity to try out a brand I’ve been curious about for a while. Pact makes organic cotton basics, and all their cotton is GOTS certified. You can buy socks, undies, tank tops, and leggings from Pact at Wholefoods, but they have a much bigger selection available on their website.

I went with the clearance leggings instead of the fancier “Go-To Legging” because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, but now I’m sort of kicking myself for that choice because I would have liked to have the higher waist, and wouldn’t you know, Pact just kicked off a killer Black Friday sale and discounted the nicer leggings pretty significantly. Thanks to the aforementioned fluctuating body size, I really need some new workout clothes, so I might take advantage of the sale and stock up on some leggings, bras, and tanks tops while they’re still discounted.

My biggest complaint about Pact has nothing to do with the quality of the clothes and everything to do with the OUTRAGEOUS NUMBER OF EMAILS THEY SEND. Seriously, Pact, if you’re reading this, nobody needs 20 emails a day about cotton leggings. Please cool it. You do need to sign up for the emails to get early access to the black Friday sale, which honestly could be worth it, but I am on the verge of unsubscribing once that’s over. You can also use my referral link for 20% off your first Pact purchase (I think you can probably double up on the black Friday discount, too). Just FYI, I’ll get $20 in credit if you purchase something with my referral link.

Aaaand that’s everything! I hope you enjoyed these little reviews! I hope to be back to blogging more regularly in December, but it’s going to be a busy month, so no promises.

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