Well, this month was A Great Big Fail. Trying so hard to Get the Things, and…the universe is just against me at every step.

But I did remember to photograph everything before sending it back so…whatever.

First of all can I just say WHY DO YOU HATE ME, CLOTHING GODS?!? How long have I been searching for The Raincoat of My Dreams?? And the concept really gelled in my mind of exactly what I wanted last fall when I started watching, yes, kdramas, because THEY ALL HAVE THIS FREAKING COAT!

So, it’s readily available in Japan and Korea…at places that do not ship to the US (WHERE IS THE JUSTICE?!?) and in a very few instances in the US, in straight sizes only.

“It EXISTS, just YOU can’t have it,” the ongoing taunt of the CGs.


From left to right: Ichi Online Store; Everlane, Herschel, Gap, La Redoute The Everlane one? IMPECCABLE. It’s so pristinely simple. I might actually try the XXL size. Madewell HAD one but it’s already out of stock and gone from the website so I can’t even Shoptagr it.

Okay, onto what I actually bought.

Oh, let me get this out of the way first. A shirt I THOUGHT I bought and was excited for and waited and waited and waited for and didn’t receive…and when I finally remembered to check, it turns out I somehow never bought it at all – it was still in my cart and was now out of stock. I was SURE I’d clicked “purchase.” It’s possible it went out of stock like the SECOND I purchased…oh who knows whatever.

Loft Striped Buttondown

LOFT Plus Striped Ruffle Trim Shirt

It had a nice mix of man-tailored and feminine with the very small ruffles at the collar and cuffs. Imagine just those little ruffles peeking out under a crewneck sweater. Love.

WHAT I KEPT

You’ll see the things I kept in upcoming posts so I’m not sharing pictures of their fit here like I’ll do with the things I’m not keeping.

IZAAC MIZRAHI LILAC CASHMERE V-NECK SWEATER FROM EBAY

Pros:

  • This lilac color has been on my mind and my wishlist for winter into spring items
  • I got it secondhand from ebay, in new condition with tags still on at a fraction of the cost of new

Cons:

  • Mm…the knit is a little thicker than I like
  • The length is a little longer than I’m looking for now. It’s like a tunic length and I’m trying to phase those out a bit

J CREW NAVY CASHMERE BOYFRIEND V-NECK SWEATER

Pros:

  • I LOVE THIS SWEATER. I’ve been watching it for over a year. I’ve had it in Shoptagr and have patiently waited for it to go on sale. But all the other colors were selling out in my size and I didn’t want to lose it like I did the fuchsia one (still. kicking. self.) so I bit the bullet.
  • I love the color – super dark navy, I can’t wait to wear it over black jeans. And white jeans. And grey slacks if that’s ever a thing in my life
  • I love the boxy fit. J Crew tends to run a little slim, even in their plus sizes, but this “boyfriend” fit is chef’s kiss
  • I love the classic style. I think I will have this forever and ever and ever and then some
  • The sleeves are perfection. Past the wrist and slim on the arm with no excess fabric
  • Have I mentioned I love this sweater?

Cons:

  • It was expensive. Which is why I waited so long to pull the trigger. But…Afterpay saved the day.

WHAT I RETURNED

MADEWELL V-NECK SWEATER

Somehow I managed to video this but not photograph it, so..I think I’d just done the TikTok ootd video so I was still in that mindset. AND now the video won’t upload so. Okay.

Pros:

  • It has that “boy sweater” vibe that I’m liking
  • I like the style with the color banding at the v-neck
  • I like all the colors – the soft teal and aqua and pink against the oatmealy body
  • I like the boxy fit and length of the body

Cons:

  • the “yarn” or knit or whatever is thick and heavy and not pliable. I’ve learned that “chunky” is really not my thing unless the knit is really soft (in a pliable way, not necessarily a soft soft kitten way)
  • The sleeves. There’s too much bulky fabric. They’re too loose and bordering on “blouson.” I do not need to add bulk or fullness. I’ve got that covered all on my own
  • The shoulder is too undefined for me especially in this thick a fabric

So, while there were more pros than cons, unpleasant feel and silhouette beat out color and body fit. I was close to keeping it cuz of the pros but…I felt I would stop myself from reaching for it because of the cons.

SURPRISE TWIST!  I can’t return it cuz it was on final sale.

NORDSTROM RACK TAUPE TURTLENECK SWEATER

Pros:

  • Love the color
  • The knit was nice
  • The fit was loose like I like
  • The turtleneck was good
  • It just looks like me to me

Cons:

  • IT HAD A GIANT HOLE IN THE KNIT UP ON THE CHEST/SHOULDER AREA and by the time I got it it was already out of stock in my size

J CREW FUCHSIA COTTON CREW-NECK

I thought this was gonna be a workaround for the fuchsia cashmere but.

Pros:

  • The color – just right. Not too purple like so many others I’ve seen
  • The style/cut – just right. Just a simple, classic crew-neck.
  • Cotton would have been wearable through spring and early summer til it got really hot
  • The price – half the cost of the cashmere one

Cons:

  • It’s not the cashmere one. Ha. I’m a spoiled baby.
  • But seriously, the thin cotton knit is not as forgiving as cashmere would be. Cashmere has a “sponginess” to it – it’s not thick exactly, not in a stiff way, anyway, but it sort of sits away from the body more…like a woven cotton vs a cotton jersey. That looser, “away from the body-ness” is good with a bumpy bulgy tummy body. Clingy, thin cotton knit, not so good (refer to photo above). I HATE the feel of clothing clinging to or pressing on my body
  • To be particularly particular, the neckline was just a little large for my taste. This would not have been a deal-breaker if the fit and fabric had been more to my liking (oh my god I’m such a snob)

LANDS END WHITE TEE SHIRT

The search continues for the Perfect White Tee

Pros:

  • Price. Although if I can FIND the PWT I will gladly pay more for it as I know it will get a LOT of use.
  • It was CLOSE.
  • It was a good white.

Cons:

  • The sleeve length. A little..mannish…and not in a good way
  • The collar/neckline a little large
  • Shoulders shapeless
  • The length. It was a little too short for wearing under things
  • The fit of the body. A little too snug for wearing on its own

LANDS END WHITE POLO SHIRT

I thought a polo would be nice to go under the hoodie I don’t yet own. Cart, horse, whatever.

Pros:

  • The fit was alright
  • I was living my best gym teacher life in this shirt. Oh wait, that’s a con.

Cons:

  • The collar was a little too large to flip up and stay up
  • Was not doing me any favors, especially

Phew. Shopping is HARD.

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