First order arrived….reviews

My first order arrived yesterday…..very quick!

Here is a quick rundown of my initial impressions:

1. Green pan nonstick skillet…..Ordered to replace scratched non-stick pans. I ordered both the stainless steel and anodized aluminum version to see which we liked best. The stainless steel wins by far because it has a smooth bottom. The anodized aluminum pans have a rough surface on the bottom that looks like it will scratch my magnetic induction cooktop.

2. Aerospin towels (6 piece set) - Soft, fluffy and lighter in weight than the hydro cotton. Perfect for our use in the new full bathroom in our basement.

3. Tumi voyager Ruma Crossbody bag - definitely keeping. The bag meets my functional need to carry two cell phones, reading and sunglasses, keys, key cards, lip balm and pens while I am at work…. This bag has an outside slip pocket on the back which fits a large cell phone. The interior zip compartment has a clip for keys. It also has 4 slip pockets for credit cards/drivers license, etc. There is not a separate interior zip pocket. The interior is large enough to hold two pair of glasses in their cases, two cell phones if needed, my two key cards/name tag lanyards and keys. There is a small exterior zip pocket which has a smaller slip pocket division. It can hold pens, lip balm, and my migraine rescue meds. It’s too tight, when everything is packed in, but it works…plus it’s light weight and cross body. I will keep my sunnies clipped to the outside in a separate case….allowing quicker ability to change them as I move between spaces and easing interior space making access of items easier. On non work days, I can remove one cell phone, my reading glasses, the key card lanyards and the bag will be roomy, and perfect for weekend outings and travel.

4. ATM cardigan - Another keeper! This sleek long line ribbed cardigan (mix of cotton and cashmere) is exactly what I expected. It will work for transitional weather, feels soft to the touch, and coordinates well with my current wardrobe, It may run large. I ordered a small, and the sleeves are very long. This material skims the body nicely….on me it’s not too tight and very forgiving of extra COVID pounds!

3. Bernardo Quilted neoprene jacket with removable bib….Poseidon. I seem to be between sizes. The small fits but will become too snug if I want to wear layers…like sweaters underneath. The medium is very roomy…but is probably the one I will keep. It’s lightweight, and even though it’s quilted, it’s fitted shape is in keeping with my “sleek” (but not body con) style. The color is lovely….maybe a bit darker than I had hoped for but it still works. I am waiting on the other Bernardo jackets so I cannot make a final decision yet.

4. Rails plaid shirt…..this one fit me well, but the colors were too dark, The greys were very dark…maybe off black more than grey. The red in the plaid was a dark, dusky, purple red, and I had hoped it would be a bit lighter and brighter…Returning.

5. Rag and Bone Chelsea boot….(I caved and ordered them)….these have a sculptural block heel, and pointy toe. I really love them….but they are a bit hard to put on and take off so I need to look around and see if I can find something similar with a zipper. On the fence…..

6. Vince boots….Cabria lug sole water resistant….Oops! Somehow the box was packed with the wrong boot! The picture on the box was correct, lug soled, etc. but the boots in the box were cream colored with a smooth leather sole…..not at all practical for my use. Nordies had one more pair and is sending them….hope they are the right boots!

7. Timberlands - (ordered after Nordies thought they did not have any more of the Vince above)….I odered the waterproof kind, These did not work for my high arched feet. Not sure if that’s true of all Tim’s or just this style. Loosening the laces did not help. The length and width were perfect….

8. Nordstrom cashmere crew neck sweaters….. I’m on the fence….it is a good length for higher waist trousers and jeans, but maybe not sleek enough……

9. NYDJ Marilyn jeans…..fit nicely but I wish they were more evenly dyed. I do not love the fading pattern. On the fence….

10. NYDJ plaid ponte trousers……Also a bit on the fence because the rise is not as high as I hoped, but they fit well anyway. The plaid is very nice…..It reads as grey and has a small pencil thin stripes of blue. It coordinates well with almost everything I own, so I’m likely to keep them.

11. Halogen burgundy long sleeve cut out shirt……I really like this one but need to see how it coordinates with the rest of my wardrobe. It has an elegant look that is perfect for date night or slightly dressy occasions. The small fits me well, but is almost body con, I like the loosely skimming fit of the medium better. Sleeve length in both is good for my long arms.

12. Halogen cut out dress…..I want to love this…but I don’t, The cutout placement seems different than on the shirt. The grey color is perfect for me. The armholes are too deep/large for me and look sloppy. It also did not skim my body well….it puffed out in back at my waist…

I will try to post some pictures later,

3 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Staysfit - you did so well, lots of winners here! A shame about the Rails shirt, I thought that one may be too dark. Of course, Rails do lots of shirts, so a lighter plaid in your colours is likely to be available.

I would return the NYDJ jeans, I only wear my favourite jeans and the 'also rans' languish in my closet. The plaid pants sound like they have more potential. I could see you wearing the Boss pants from Angie's suit, so that may be a possible option to consider.

I was hoping the Bernado mixed media quilted coat was a winner, but it sounds as though that is yet to arrive.

Staysfit

Bijou, I saw Angies post with the Boss pants. I agree they could work well with my top. Also, your point about the NYDJ jeans is helpful, I would definitely favor the other jeans in my closet over the NYDJ, so they should be returned.

Suz

(website)

I appreciate these detailed reviews. You're clearly thinking through each purchase carefully and have a plan! It makes sense that you're undecided about some.

notsaf

What Bijou says about "also ran" jeans is so true! Same for me with shoes. I think in both categories, comfort and style are key, so there's less tolerance for the no-quite-perfect and there are *lots* of good options out there if you're patient. Just a thought that may help with your Rag and Bone boots too!

Vildy

If you love those boots and can't easily turn up a zipped clone,
have a shoe repair put in a zipper.

kellygirl

Great reviews, thanks! The crossbody is on my list and sounds like it has great potential for me too. My only hesitation is that it looks more "gear" than what I wanted although functionality is really king. Excited to see the try on photos!

Kathie

Thanks so much for the reviews! I’ll be taking a look at the Aerospin towels, since I could use some replacements for a few that are starting to fray.

Inge

Moderator

Thanks so much for the thorough review, Staysfit, it’s so helpful!

I have a Tumi crossbody bag, and use it all the time. Love it, and it’s great quality, holds up very well. Sounds like yours will become a workhorse too. (Love that shade of blue too!).

Fab that the cardigan is a winner too

I so love the colour of the Bernardo quilted jacket for you as well. Good idea to go with the medium if you want to layer under it. Keep us posted on your final decision.

Rag and Bone boots, ah yes, it can get very annoying after a while if a boot is hard to take on and off.

Holding thumbs that the right Vince boots are on their way to you now

Sorry the Timberlands didn’t work. I have a high instep and have had a similar experience with several of their styles.

The NYDJ ponte trousers have such a fun plaid pattern, and I can see them work very well with the rest of your wardrobe.

Sorry the fit of the Halogen dress was off for you, it looked very promising in the photos.

All in all a good haul already!-)

Thanks Inge!

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