Honest reviews: Rails Ellis top | Michael Stars tank | Mother denim | Slingbacks | YSL tote | Holiday House, Palm Springs

Here they are! My honest reviews of your favorite products 🙌🏼

Writing this fun little blog is truly a career highlight …  and honestly, a bit of a surprise! It started as a place to share style inspo with my friends and clients, and it has quickly grown into something much bigger. I’m working now more than I ever have before, and loving every single minute of it! It’s a good thing my kids are older, because if I would have done this when they were younger, I might have ignored them 😉 Well, not really, but you know what I mean — timing is everything. 🥂

As you might imagine, I get asked many good questions every day — which I love — and I try my very best to respond to everyone. For example, lately I’ve been getting questions about the Gucci bucket bag vs. the Tory Burch bucket bag, and which one is better. I’ve also been asked which blazer to purchase, the Veronica Beard or the Cinq à Sept. Many of you want to know which jeans are the best, and the list goes on and on.

So, here they are! My ultimate reviews of your favorite products. These are the items I get asked about most often, and I thought you might like me to compare them and give you my thoughts. Purchasing online is tricky, and relying on reviews we read can also be challenging. So, hopefully this post will give you ideas that will help guide you to make the best decisions when you’re deciding which items to buy. Let me know if you like it, and I’ll write more posts like this one. Cheers! 🌟

Click here to see last month’s honest reviews!

 

L’Agence denim jacket vs. Levi’s Ex-Boyfriend Trucker jacket

Left: L’Agence denim jacket | Right: Levi’s denim jacket

L’Agence denim jacket: I purchased the L’Agence denim jacket last year, and mostly wore it over dresses. It runs a little small, and I sized up to a small. It’s a slim denim jacket that’s super soft and not bulky. I’ve recommended this one many times, and everyone helped absolutely loves it. I even have one friend who has it in several colors!

Levi’s denim jacket: I love denim jackets, and spotted this one recently that’s almost sold out at Revolve. Good news though, I found it fully in stock at Levi’s, and it’s on sale for $69! It’s slightly oversized — I’d say more than the L’Agence one, but less so than the AGOLDE or Frame denim jackets. I bet you’ll wear it all summer long!

 

Cinq à Sept blazer vs. Veronica Beard jacket

Left: Cinq À Sept blazer | Right: Veronica Beard jacket

Veronica Beard Miller Dickey jacket: I’ve had my jacket for two years, and it’s an all time fave (it’s called a jacket but it’s actually a blazer.) The fabric is a little stretchy, which makes it super comfortable. The hidden zipper is a cool detail, and you can switch up the look by adding various dickeys. It runs a little big (I wear a size 2), and if you need the sleeves shortened, the only way to do it is from the shoulders because of the button detail. (Any skilled tailor should have no problem making this alteration — I had mine done at Nordstrom.) Since this jacket is shaped, it looks nice over dresses. However, it’s a little dressier, so if you want something a little more relaxed, I’d suggest the Cinq à Sept one below.

Cinq à Sept Khloe blazer: This blazer is a nice crepe fabric, and it’s more relaxed than the VB one, which makes it a little more casual. It’s also a year ’round fabrication. I love it with denim or maybe dressier shorts, and depending on your height and proportion, maybe a dress. I have the size 2 (I’m typically a 4), but if you have broad shoulders, I’d stick with your usual size.

 

Gucci bucket bag vs. Tory Burch bucket bag

Left: Gucci bucket bag | Right: Tory Burch bucket bag

Gucci bucket bag: I splurged on this bag several years ago, and when I got it home, I couldn’t get it to cinch. So … I returned it. (Just being honest here.) Then, months later, I spotted my very stylish Nordstrom friend wearing it, and she proceeded to tell me how much she loved the bag and that she had just purchased her second color! I asked about the cinching, and she said it didn’t bother her at all. So I promptly went back, purchased the bag, and have worn it non-stop ever since 😂 I love this bag so much, it holds everything you need, the gold chain detail is classy, and it’s pretty much the perfect crossbody bag.

Tory Burch bucket bag: I haven’t purchased a Tory Burch bag in years, so when I saw this one recently in our local Tory Burch boutique, I knew right away it was a good one. The caramel handle and strap sold me — I love a good bag/shoe combo, and the YSL Tribute sandal matches perfectly. The bag isn’t as easy to get in and out of, but I still like it, and will wear it all summer long!

 

J.Crew Juliette cardigan vs. J.Crew Ella cardigan

Left: J.Crew Juliette cardigan | Right: J.Crew Ella cardigan

Juliette cardigan: The Juliette cardigan is hands down one of the most worn items in my closet. I now have it in three colors, which is a little ridiculous, but I wear them all, all the time! This sweater is roomy — I sized down to an XXS, and it’s still a little roomy. It’s also lightweight, and can be worn most seasons, except not in 90 degree weather of course. I highly recommend this cardigan to everyone.

Ella cardigan: The Ella cardigan is more like a coatigan. Although it’s made of a similar knit fabric to the Juliette, it’s quite a bit thicker. This also runs huge, so I sized down to an XXS and had the sides taken in. It’s still a little long for me, and I can only wear it with some kind of heel. It’s more of an early spring sweater, depending on your weather, and then you can pack it away until the fall. Sadly, this color is sold out, but the ivory color is really pretty, and it goes with everything!

 

Robin Piccone vs. J.Crew swim

Left: Robin Piccone swim | Middle: J.Crew swim | Right: J.Crew swim

Robin Piccone swim: This swimsuit is a top seller, and the color options are really good. To be honest, I’m a little booby (!!) and feel a bit self conscious in this swimsuit, since I don’t usually show a lot of cleavage. If you don’t mind that part, then go for it. Or, if you’re on the smaller side, it’s perfect!

J.Crew swim: I can’t say enough good things about J.Crew swimwear. I could go on and on!! The styles are flattering, and most have molded cups which I find a little more supportive. The solid colors are pretty, and they’re always introducing new prints. I have the one-shoulder bow style from a couple of years ago, and I feel a little “extra” in it 😉 The new pink one is super cute, and I picked it up in black for my upcoming Palm Springs vacation. You just can’t go wrong with anything from J.Crew swim … even the coverups are amazing!

 

Veronica Beard striped dress vs. Steve Madden striped dress

Left: Steve Madden dress | Right: Veronica Beard dress

Steve Madden dress: I saw this online recently, and knew I had to have it!! For $78, it’s a total deal. I sized up to a small, and it fits perfectly.

Veronica Beard dress: I love VB dresses, and this style has been a regular silhouette on their line for several years. It runs a little small around the bottom area, and I might recommend sizing up. If you prefer a solid cotton shirting dress, be sure and look at this one. The fit is always good.

 

YSL Tribute sandal vs. Sam Edelman Bay sandal

Left: Sam Edelman Bay sandal | Right: YSL Tribute sandal

Sam Edelman Bay sandal: I’ve had this sandal for a handful of years, and it was my shoe of choice while vacationing in Italy a few summers ago. It’s so comfortable and well-priced, I kind of think it’s the perfect vacation sandal. I really only like this color above and the patent black and tan colors — they look more expensive than they are!

YSL Tribute sandal: Last year, I decided to splurge on this one, based on how much I wore the Sam Edelman ones. The color is the perfect shade of caramel, and they (both) go with everything. I love adding a straw bag, or one similar to the Tory Burch one above, because having bag/shoe combos helps pull your outfits together easily. This one runs a little slim, but I took my regular size in this style. My honest opinion: it’s a good splurge piece!

 

Paige Claudine vs. Frame Mini Boot vs. Mother Insider

Left: Rails top | Paige Claudine | L’Agence sandals | Middle: Frame Mini-Boot | Right: Kayla shirt | Mother Insider | L’Agence sandals

Paige Claudine: These are a recent purchase, and I love everything about them! They’re slimming, a little higher rise than the other two, and I’ll be wearing them all spring and summer. This one has a 11 5/8″ rise, 28″ inseam, and a 17 1/4″ leg opening.

Frame Mini Boot: The Frame Mini Boot is another best-seller from the brand, and everyone loves them. There are many finishes to choose from, including this new one that caught my eye. This one has a 10 1/4″ rise, 26″ inseam, and a 17″ leg opening.

Mother Insider: On the Mother denim website, it says this is their “iconic bootcut jean” that typically has a fray step hem. Ohi, the Mother rep, said it has a shorter inseam, making it perfect for someone who isn’t too tall. I still have mine hemmed — sometimes I even out the hem, and other times I keep the step fray. This one has a 10″ rise, 26″ inseam, and a 15″ leg opening.

 

Frame Trouser vs. Spanx Slim Pant

Left: Frame trouser | Right: Spanx Slim Pant

Frame trousers: This cropped flare pant continues to sell out at Nordstrom. It has slant pockets, and the fabric is a stretchy cotton. They’re slim fitting and really flattering. This mid-rise trouser is a favorite, and a different style than the Spanx above since it’s slightly cropped.

Spanx pants: Everyone always asks about black pants, and I have at least ten that are sitting in my closet — but only a few of them do I wear over and over again! The first is the Spanx “Perfect Pant” collection. I love both the Hi-Rise Flare and Slim Straight styles (see them in this video). Their fit is SO GOOD, and they’re comfortable and flattering. Just this week, Spanx sent me their new split hem pants, and I love them too (you can see them in this video). I have the petite size small in all of them.

 

Veja sneakers vs. Alexander McQueen sneakers

Veja sneakers | Alexander McQueen sneakers

Veja sneakers: I took these French Girl cool sneakers to England and wore them the entire time. At first, the tongue is a little stiff, and when if you scoot it off to the side a little, it makes them a bit more comfortable. I’ve worn mine for several years and still love them!

Alexander McQueen sneakers: Talk about the ultimate cool girl sneakers ⭐️ These platform sneakers are kind of the “it” sneaker to wear rn. They’re definitely more fashion forward than most of the sneakers I own, and the little platform gives some height. They aren’t comfortable enough to take on vacation to walk everywhere, but they’re perfect for running errands around town. I love them 🙂

 

Thank you for reading xx