first of all, HOW is it may? and the END of may at that?! the twins turned three this month and in a few weeks both S and i will celebrate our (much older) birthdays, too. coupled with mother’s and father’s day, it’s a busy time of year in the rivera household. as you may have noticed over the last year, i’ve really tried to curtailed the frequency of my spending. over the past six months especially, i’ve swapped quantity for quality, trading frequent h&m or zara hauls for bigger ticket purchases from more sustainable brands. i realize this adjustment may make these monthly recaps a bit less thrilling but hopefully they still provide helpful information for your own shopping ventures. while there was only one homerun this month, i am very excited and optimistic for the items that have yet to arrive. happy reading!
the homeruns
sezane adina blouse (2)* || you’re probably tired of me saying this, but there nothing sezane does better than a feminine white blouse. the adina blouse is the newest addition to me ever-growing collection and she’s a good one! with a ruffled mock neck and lace detailing at the chest and cuffs, it’s the perfect feminine top to pair with your favorite pair of denim. it’s made from a recycled polyester fabric so it’s a substantial weight that washes and dries super well. i ordered my usual size (2/34 euro) and it fits perfectly. wear it with distressed jeans to balance out it’s girly-style or pair it with faux-leather pants for a date-night appropriate ensemble. it also comes in black.
the misses
doen henri top in salt eyelet (xs) || i have had this eyelet top in my online cart for over a month and after a really difficult week of parenting, i decided to finally treat myself. of course as the universe would have it, it went on super sale the very next day. but it was final sale. two words that can be terrifying if you aren’t 1000% sure said item will be a winner for your closet. thankfully the same universe that put the top on sale was also the one that made sure i purchased it at full price because when it arrived and i had the opportunity to try it on, it definitely fell short of original expectations. i sized down to an extra small because of its flowy nature and while that was probably the best idea, i ended up sacrificing a little length in the process. it was awkwardly short in the front and longer in the back and at over $200, i knew the fit had to be impeccable for me to keep it. since it was not (and again, thankfully not final sale), i packaged it up immediately for return. i love doen pieces but i will say that many of them are more appealing online than they are in person, so always make sure you can return it if needed.
loeffler randall chiara natural mary jane (9.5) || as you know, i have three pairs of loeffler randall ballet flats that i rotate constantly (they have more than paid for themselves by this point). when i saw this woven version for summer, i immediately envisioned them as a perfect alternative to my favorite sandals. i loved the raffia-style material and believed the open weave design would keep my feet cool despite the rising temperatures of summer. i was a bit nervous that the style would be a little too delicate for my lifestyle, and when they arrived, my suspicions were unfortunately confirmed. the raffia is just too precious for life with toddlers. additionally, the position of the holes in the woven fabric made it so my big toe nail would get caught and pull as i took a step. overall it was just a big miss.
7 for all mankind puff sleeve denim top in star patchwork (xs) || i saw this top in a style reel served up to me via instagram’s algorithm. well played, IG. i was pleasantly surprised that the piece in question was still available so i used a discount code and snapped it up immediately. puff sleeves + denim? i mean, it had my name written all over it! unfortunately it was another one of those “looks better online (or on a different person?) than in real life/on me. if you can believe it the sleeves weren’t puffy ENOUGH and it was far too cropped for my liking -even when paired with my high-waisted jeans. as with the doen top i described above, when a garment is a splurge, it has to be PERFECT for me to keep it. otherwise it’s truly just a waste of (a lot) money! so in that vain, i returned the denim top, sadly. in terms of sizing, i’d say it fits slightly oversized so i sized down to an extra small, however, if you want a little extra length, i would stick with your normal size.
sezane alma dress (2)* || i’m actually really bummed this dress didn’t work out. i had mentally bookmarked it when it first launched as a part of sezane’s editions collection, but couldn’t justify purchasing it at the time. before i knew it, my credit notes had accumulated and i had enough to finally make it mine. when it arrived, i was incredibly impressed by its quality and the weight of its fabric -before even trying it on, i knew it would be one of those pieces i could have in my closet forever. i loved the fact that it zipped up the back (i personally don’t love a pull-over-your-head kind of frock) and the puff sleeves were just the right amount of volume. however, despite it fitting like a glove, the slight a-line silhouette and excess fabric was just a little too much for my frame. i also didn’t love the tie in the front. it seemed silly simply tied in a knot yet the fabric wasn’t quite long enough to make a proper bow. for the latter reasons, i decided to return it in hopes of finding another sezane piece better suited for my body (and ultimately my closet).
and what has yet to arrive
christy dawn gianni blouse in celeste (small) || this will be my first christy dawn purchase but i’m really excited about this blouse. christy dawn is similar to doen in their ethereal vibes and while their pieces are more of an investment, they are sustainably made and meant to find a long-lasting place in your closet. i was obviously drawn to the ruffle-detail on the sleeve and the fresh chambray tone that will pair well with both dark and white denim.
the great reversible quilted bomber jacket (0) || i’m trying so hard to become an outerwear person because may grey is in full effect and i know that right behind it comes june gloom so i figured maybe i should get a jacket or twelve to combat this dreary weather. i spotted this reversible floral bomber on the net-a-porter sale for 40% off its original price. it’s definitely still a splurge, but the fact that it’s reversible makes me feel like i’m getting more bang for my buck.
and finally, on the heels of returning this dress, i used sezane credit to order this jacket, this blouse, and a top from their most recent collaboration with farm rio (sadly no longer available).
*gifted
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