Cheap & Cheerful - Everlane

There have been a couple of articles over the past few weeks about how Angelina Jolie has been shopping this online store, Everlane.  Vogue.com even had an article about it.  She, and other actors, created a stampede for their Petra tote bag and therefore, a wait-list for it last year.  See it pictured below:

Image from dailymail.co.uk.

So what the heck is Everlane?

Image from everlane.com.

It is simple, quality clothing at a good price.  Their tag-line is this: "Radical Transparency:  Know your factories.  Know your costs.  Always ask why."  According to their website, "We spend months finding the best factories around the world - the very same ones that produce your favorite designer labels. We visit them often...this hands-on approach is the most effective way to ensure a factory's integrity.  We believe customers have the right to know what their products cost to make...we reveal our true costs, and then we show you our markup....Being online only, we eliminate brick-and-mortar expenses and pass these savings onto you."

Ok, I'm curious.  A little late-night shopping reveals that they sell solid basics: t-shirts, cashmere sweaters, gorgeous leather bags.  For a lot less than a lot of stores. (Except maybe the leather bags, but they are lovely.  The large Petra tote is $365, but stated to retail at $1,300.)  They have free shipping for purchases of 2 items or more.  Strictly for blogging research (wink, wink), I quickly click 2 items into my cart, a navy v-neck t-shirt and a grey, short-sleeved sweatshirt.

Images from everlane.com.

The t-shirt is $15 and the sweatshirt is $30.  Crazy, right?!  

They arrived quickly and I'm keeping both.  The $15 t-shirt is great; it's no 'tissue' tee, but it's not heavy either.  The perfect weight.  (I wonder if they have the perfect white t-shirt?!  Might have to "research" that!) The short sleeve sweatshirt is boxy but cute. Just as advertised.  Great material.  

If you are looking for good basics, it's worth a look.  Beware to check the sizing - things seem to run small and I definitely would have ordered a different size had I not looked at the sizing charts!  Enjoy, and report back with your finds! ~ JH

...you are tired of plain old t-shirts.

Image from madewell.com.

They beckon to you from colorful tables.  Stacks of multi-hued, solid color t-shirts.  And you are drawn in to purchase a couple. They aren't expensive and they are fresh and fun!  Right?!

Image from scottsdalefashionista.com.

I always get sucked in at J. Crew or Madewell or the Gap, only to find I have the same 'tissue', 'v-neck', 'perfect fit', 'boat neck' t-shirt right at home already.  Yes, the lighter colored ones need to be replaced annually (especially the white ones), but really, do I need anymore plain t-shirts?!

On Tuesday, I started my annual hunt-for-the-non-t-shirt-t-shirt.  It's a sport that starts in May each year, as I comb my favorite retailers for something different, fresh, easy, a little more stylish, something that I can wear JUST LIKE A T-SHIRT over shorts and cropped denim, but THAT IS NOT A PLAIN T-SHIRT.  And it might be a t-shirt, with a twist in the cut of it, the fabric, the print.  Just something that's a little unique.  (I've been hot on tunics in the recent past as my go-to, so I'm trying to circumvent that habit too.)

It's tough out there.  I went back-to-basics at Nordstrom with Amy Swartz, our fabulous personal shopper.  Here were a couple of my finds.

I started with a top that a friend had purchased and I coveted.  (I'll apply the rules of what to do when your friend has the same piece of clothing.)  This Majestic t-shirt is simply fabulous, the croc print completely fresh and I had to have it.  You can dress this up and down.  Very versatile.

Image from nordstrom.com.

Next up, a knit tank (under which I'll be wearing a white tank - the double layer looks great!) from Joie, in a fabulous color-block.  Looks great with white shorts.

Image from nordstrom.com.

This Splendid 'sweatshirt' sure feels like a sweatshirt, and will look great over orange, white, or navy shorts, with a bunch of bracelets on one arm OR a pendant necklace.  I won't be wearing this 'out', but I'll certainly be wearing it to run errands.

Image from nordstrom.com.

I had seen this 10 Crosby Derek Lam sweater online, and Amy informed me it was on sale, so I'll be expecting it soon.  Thought it would be great with a pair of black espadrilles I just picked up.  Oh, and it has 'fringe' and I'm a sucker for texture.

Image from nordstrom.com.

And finally, this Soft Joie ikat t-shirt.  Apologies to my friend (same one with the croc t-shirt) who purchased this a month ago, but it was on sale.  And I love it.  And it goes really well with these linen, skinny cargo Theory pants I picked up on Tuesday too.  I know, excuses, excuses.

Image from nordstrom.com.

That's it for round 1, and I think I did pretty well.  I'll probably hit Calypso this weekend to see what they have, and then onto the Green Tangerine in Kennebunk, Maine, as the summer kicks off in June.  Stay tuned... ~ JH