Greetings, friends! I’ve got a new try-on haul for you today. It isn’t as long as some, but I didn’t want to hold these till next week since warm weather season is short for many of us, and we all want to get as much wear out of our summer wardrobe pieces as possible.
As usual, I will provide measurements and fabric content on each item when I can find it, and I’ll share whether I plan to keep it or not. Just remember, even when I decide not to keep something, it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth checking out. I just may not need it, or it may not work for my body type or lifestyle.
Summer Styles from Nordstrom & Evereve
SIZING NOTES: I’m 5’5″ and I usually wear a small in tops and dresses, a 29 in jeans, and a size 8 shoe. Gifted items are indicated by c/o; everything else I purchased myself.
Loveappella Off the Shoulder Eyelet Top
at Nordstrom (S) // PAIGE Claudine at Nordstrom or Evereve (29) // Sam Edelman Waylon in Black (8) // LAGOS earrings
DETAILS:
- Off-the-shoulder neck
- Elbow-length sleeves
- 97% polyester, 3% spandex
- Machine wash, dry flat
Eyelet is a summer fabric that is trending this season, and I ordered this off-the-shoulder top to try. It’s cute in theory; I like the elbow-length sleeves, but it’s longer than I prefer, and it’s quite voluminous.
Also, please pardon my wrinkly jeans. I didn’t take time to press them, and I wish I had!
Anyway! I also tried the top on the shoulders, since a lot of off-the-shoulder styles can be worn both ways, and this works okay, I guess. I still don’t care for how long and full it is. I could probably size down to the XS, but I don’t love it enough to order another one.
VERDICT: This one is going back.
Wit & Wisdom Embroidered Eyelet Button-Up Shirt
at Nordstrom (S) // PAIGE Claudine at Nordstrom or Evereve (29) // Sam Edelman Waylon in Black (8)
DETAILS:
- 24 1/2″ length
- 55% cotton, 45% rayon
Now, this one is a lot better! Again, I like those elbow-length sleeves; that seems to be a trending style. I also like the button-up styling with the split neck and stand collar.
The curved hemline is done in such a way that you can leave it untucked, and I feel like it’s flattering. I like how it creates some curves through the hip area, where my body tends to be quite boxy.
Overall, I’m a fan of this one. It also comes in white and beige, for those who don’t like to wear black in the summertime.
I actually like the black because I feel like the eyelet fabric is a little “sweet” for my personal style, and the black gives it a little more of an edgy/urban vibe. I styled this top with white jeans and bookended the look with black raffia slide sandals.
VERDICT: Keeping! I will just need to make sure to wear a black bra with it.
Nordstrom Textured Button-Up Vest
at Nordstrom (M) // PAIGE Claudine at Nordstrom or Evereve (29) // Sam Edelman Waylon in Black (8)
DETAILS:
- Front button closure
- V-neck
- Front welt pockets
- 37% viscose, 30% recycled polyester, 28% polyester, 5% elastane
- Dry clean
I haven’t given up on the vest trend yet, and I ordered a few more to try since the white Evereve one didn’t work out. This one seems to run small —even the medium is too snug. It’s also quite low-cut in the front, although it is designed to be worn on its own.
VERDICT: This one went back too!
& Other Stories Linen Vest
at Nordstrom (size 10) // PAIGE Claudine at Nordstrom or Evereve (29) // Sam Edelman Waylon (8)
DETAILS:
- V-neck
- Front welt pockets
- 100% linen
- Dry clean or machine wash, line dry
This one is from the brand, & Other Stories, which I discovered through a British influencer I enjoy following. I was excited to see it carried at Nordstrom, and I ordered this linen vest to try.
I like the longer length, and the color and linen fabric is really nice; but I wish the v-neck was a little lower, and the way it’s cut around the arms shows my favorite everyday bra. I should probably try it with this one; I don’t like it as much as the Wacoal, but it’s cut a little lower in the front and around the sides, so I keep it on hand for times like this. Plus, it has a J-hook that converts the straps for racerback tops.
ANYWHO! Back to the vest… I think the size 8 would fit better. I believe it was sold out at the time, so I went with the 10. All that to say, this one isn’t quite hitting the mark, so it’s going back.
VERDICT: I’ll probably return this. I just don’t love it. If they had the size 8, I might try that, but they don’t, so! It wasn’t meant to be.
Faherty Monterey Linen Vest
at Evereve (M) // PAIGE Anessa (29) // Sam Edelman Deacon (8)
DETAILS:
- Length from Shoulder to Hem: 22″
- Material: 100% Linen Weave
- Care: Machine Wash Cold, Delicate Cycle, Dry Flat
This vest is the Faherty brand from Evereve. I tried the small a while back, and I couldn’t even button it, so I reordered the medium. I like this shade of blue and the linen fabric, but it’s suuuuper lowcut, and I don’t feel like the silhouette is especially flattering either. I do like the length, though. It’s the perfect length of the three I tried here.
VERDICT: I sent this back, as well. Maybe the vest trend just isn’t for me.
Evereve Joelle Wide Leg Pant
at Evereve (29) // Splendid Faye (M) // Sam Edelman Deacon (8)
DETAILS:
- Measurements: 11 1/2″ Rise; 26″ Length; 26″ Leg Opening
- 53% Linen, 44% Lyocell, 3% Spandex Weave
Okay, moving on to some pants… These wide leg pants are from Evereve’s in-house brand, and they’re a nice lightweight linen blend fabric. I really like that “barely beige” color with the exposed button fly with the contrasting buttons, and the utility-inspired front and rear patch pockets and wide trouser-style hem are nice details.
I also tried them with that Mcclane Muscle Top I picked up at Evereve a few weeks ago. I haven’t worn it yet because I can’t seem to find pants I like with it. I think these work!
While I’m sharing this outfit, there was a discussion recently about the front tuck starting to look dated. My response was, it depends on who you are looking to, to determine what looks dated.
For my daughter’s generation, yes, the front tuck is passé. But they are typically wearing short, tight tops that sit right at the top of the waistband of their pants, and they are shopping at stores like American Eagle. Even when they wear baggy tops, they generally let them hang. You can see this when you search tops on AE.com.
But when I search tops on the Evereve website, which is the retailer that I feel best represents my personal style, as well as the age group of women who read this blog, there’s still a lot of front tucking going on. There’s a mix, for sure, but the front tuck is still relevant, depending on the top/bottom combo in question.
This Mcclane Muscle Top is a great example. It looks sloppy left untucked… at least with these wide leg pants.
If the pants were straighter, and I were taller, it might work, but if I’m going to wear this top, it needs either a front tuck or a full tuck. A full tuck may look more current, but it doesn’t work well for my body type, so a front tuck it is.
VERDICT: Keeping these pants!
Evereve Remi Rib Tank
at Evereve (M) // MOTHER Weekender (29) // Birkenstock Madrid in Metallic Black (39)
DETAILS:
- Length from Shoulder to Hem: 22 1/2″
- Material: Self: 95% Rayon, 5% Spandex Contrast: 95% Rayon, 5% Spandex
- Care: Machine Wash, Wash Cold, Tumble Dry Low
I was immediately drawn to this ribbed crew neck tank in the edgy washed black, and I was thrilled when it came in to find that it’s a super soft and thick ribbed knit fabric.
I also love the way it’s shaped around the arms. It has a slight cutaway style to it, which is flattering to those of us with boxy shoulders, but it’s also cut nice and high under the arms so it doesn’t show off those “chicken cutlets” right by the armpit area. You all know what I mean…
These are such subtle details, but I compare a lot of tank tops, and they are often cut too low under the arms or too far out on the shoulders. It’s a special unicorn that strikes the perfect balance, and this tank does exactly that.
And back to the front tuck discussion… This is an example of a top that can be untucked and perhaps look more modern than it does when it’s front tucked. That’s partly due to the body-con styling, and also the 22 1/2″ length works on me. If it were longer, it would cut me in half, but this length, especially with the full length jeans, follows the rule of thirds.
I still rather like the front tuck look, shown here, because it creates a curved line across the midsection, rather than a straight horizontal line that can be widening, but I would probably add a belt if I do this. Otherwise, I will probably leave it out for a simpler, more classic look.
VERDICT: Keeping! This tank is so totally my style. Love it.
Evereve Tate Sweater Top
at Evereve (S) // FRAME Le Easy Flare Jeans (29) // KUT from the Kloth Jane (8) (also at Nordstrom) // Birkenstock Madrid Buckle in Sandcastle (39)
DETAILS:
- Length from Shoulder to Hem: 21″
- Material: 100% Cotton Knit
- Care: Hand Wash, Wash Cold, Dry Flat
I’m always a sucker for a summer sweater, and this one is pretty much perfection. I love the short-sleeve silhouette, a boat neckline, and rib-knit detailing along the neck and sleeves. Plus, it’s such a great shade of taupe, and it has such a nice texture to it.
Here it is with a front tuck. I feel like it can go either way.
I do wonder if it should fit a little more slouchy, as shown on the model, but I have a feeling it will stretch out some with wear, so I’m going to stick with the size small.
I also styled it with white shorts. I think the taupe and white is a really pleasing color combo. It would also look great with a white denim skirt. In fact, I just ordered this one to try.
VERDICT: Keeping, I already ripped the tags off!
Michael Stars Sunkissed Tee
at Evereve (S) // MOTHER Weekender (29) // Birkenstock Madrid in Metallic Black (39) // PAIGE Anessa (29) // Birkenstock Madrid Buckle in Sandcastle (39)
DETAILS:
- Length from Shoulder to Hem: 23 1/4″
- Material: 100% Cotton Jersey Knit
- Care: Machine Wash, Wash Cold, Tumble Dry Low
I’m also a sucker for a graphic tee, and I was immediately drawn to the colors of this one, as well as the graphic itself. When I first tried it on, I thought it was too small, but it fits just right in the shoulders, and I think it’s supposed to be more of a traditional fit. It isn’t as soft as my Sundry graphic tees, but it’s a nice fabric. Michael Stars rarely disappoints when it comes to quality.
I feel like this tee looks great with the blue jeans for a super casual look, but I also tried it with these ecru wide leg jeans for some subtle juxtaposition. It’s okay, but i’m not crazy about the stark contrast between the ecru pants and dark grey shirt.
I also tried it with the KUT from the Kloth Topaz Linen Pants in black, for more of a monochromatic look, but I don’t love the two shades of black together. It’s like it’s too close, but too far, if you know what I mean.
I’ll probably end up wearing it with blue jeans and jean shorts mostly, but it’s nice to know there are some other options. It also looks great with the COH shorts in that Topaz color, as shown on the model.
Incidentally, that Topaz color is starting to show up everywhere, and I expect we will see it carrying over into fall. One of my friends picked up these Pistola kick crop jeans when we were shopping together at Evereve, and they look amazing on her. I don’t want to duplicate her, but I’m definitely keeping an eye out for something in a similar color.
VERDICT: Keeping this t-shirt! I already wore it once.
Michael Stars Tati Ultra Rib Top
at Evereve (S) // KUT from the Kloth Topaz Linen Pants in Black (6) // Birkenstock Madrid in Metallic Black (39)
DETAILS:
- Length from Shoulder to Hem: 24 1/4″
- Material: 48% Cotton, 48% Modal, 4% Spandex Rib Knit
- Care: Machine Wash, Wash Cold, Tumble Dry Low
- Made in United States
This is another Michael Stars top, and it is sooooo soft. I really like this fabric, but I think I need to size up. I much prefer how it fits the model.
I don’t know when I’ll learn that if the model is wearing a size small, I will probably want to try a medium. I just get tired of ordering two sizes of everything. In my line of work, especially, it stinks to be in between sizes! But anyway.
The strong shoulder design is a big trend at the moment, but I have to be careful with it because I already have “strong shoulders” — visually, at least.
I like to look at the back view when I’m trying on tops with wider shoulders, and here again, I think you can see that I probably want to size up. I don’t think it’s supposed to be this fitted. In fact, the website describes it as having “a semi-relaxed fit.”
I played around with a front tuck, and I took side-by-side pix to compare. I don’t care for how the untucked version creates a horizontal line across my midsection. I much prefer the front tuck, in this instance, but I still feel like it’s too small, so it’s going back.
Oh, by the way, this top also comes in black and a really pretty shade of pink. I think I might order the pink in a medium to try.
Okay, that’s all I have for today! I’m winding down on finalizing my summer wardrobe. I don’t feel like I have many “holes” left, and I’m excited to start wearing what I have and trying new combinations.
I’m working on some posts with outfit formulas and color pairings, so if you have any requests, feel free to let me know!
