Product Review: Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck Top and Gaiter from Oiselle

For Christmas, I received two new pieces of clothing/gear that very quickly became the winter workhorses of my closet. Both are from the Wazzie Wool product line from Oiselle-- the Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck and the Wazzie Wool Gaiter. I'm going to review both of these pieces today in the blog. Spoiler Alert: I'm in love with both of them!! Read on to find out why!

Wearing my Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle on a recent outdoor run!

First off, a little background on what exactly Wazzie Wool is. It's similar to Icebreaker or SmartWool products in that it is a wool blend fabric using responsibly sourced high quality Merino wool. Wazzie Wool is Oiselle's proprietary wool blend fabric that is similar to those other brands. In this blog post from Oiselle, you can read even more background on the how and they why Wazzie Wool came to enter the collection back in 2014: Bird in Sheep's Clothing: Introducing Wazzie Wool.

I've always been a huge fan of wool clothing in all forms. It feels authentic somehow and truly the performance characteristics of wool are outstanding--something I learned about in depth in some of my textile science courses in college. Wool is a great fiber for sports and performance activities because it insulates very well, but best of all, it is inherently "dry" as a fiber. Wool has a somewhat magical property in that when it gets wet it doesn't feel wet, so if you get snowy or sweaty, you don't get chilled. If you get a fine gauge wool fiber such as Merino and blend it with something stretchy and soft like polyester or spandex, you also take away the itch-factor that some people notice with wool and add even more performance characteristics. Boom! Now you have Wazzie Wool! A fabric that performs well, feels warm and soft, and looks great, too.

This season, Oiselle expanded their Wazzie Wool selection a bit to include three tops, bra and underwear set, leggings, and a neck gaiter. I own one of the tops-- the Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck.

Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle Front

Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle Back

Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle Detail of sleeve and back seams.

Besides that this top is made of amazing Wazzie Wool, I love the fit and style of it, too. The style lines and seams are simple but stylish. The fit (I have a size 6, for reference) is good--not too loose, not too tight. I love the long sleeves with thumb hole. The overall length of the top is good at mid-hip. I also really like the color-- Bolt Lightning. It makes me think of fast, powerful running, and, well, also of Harry Potter, which I also love. I like the funnel-neck top because it gives a little more coverage and warmth for my neck and everyone knows that keeping your neck warm goes a long way towards feeling like your whole self is warm.

I have used this top for casual wear, and even have worn it to school, but it truly is made for cold weather outdoor pursuits. I've worn my funnel neck for Nordic ski one day and out for a run the next. I'm pretty sure I even left it in a wad on my bedroom floor rather than hanging it up in between. Even after the run the next day, no stink, no wet, no mustiness to be seen, smelt, or felt from this top.

But it's wool!? Don't I have to dry-clean wool? you may be asking... Nope! Not Wazzie Wool! That's the other thing that the blend of synthetic fibers lends to this material-- supreme washability. I've worn and washed this thing loads of times (har har! loads...of laundry...get it?!) and it always comes out great. Doesn't shrink or change shape and dries super fast.

Even Harvey loves Wazzie Wool...

Harvey the Vizsla loves Wazzie Wool from Oiselle, too! 

The other piece of Wazzie Wool that I own and love is the Gaiter. It's just basically a double-layer tube of Wazzie Wool fabric that you can wear around your neck. I've also seen some people wear it on their head like a really large headband. People who have this item really, really love it, as you can read here in the Ode to the Gaiter written by Oiselle professional runner Kate Grace.

The gaiter is reversible. One side is Bolt Charcola pattern and the other is solid black.

Pretty much if I'm doing anything active outside, I have this gaiter on. It has all the same performance characteristics I've already written about, plus it's double-layered because it's reversible. This means it's even warmer! See if you can spot my Gaiter peeking out in this collage below...

Winter running and skiing made better with a Wazzie Wool Gaiter from Oiselle!

If you really wanted to pamper your pooch, the Wazzie Wool Gaiter does fit nicely on a dog's neck, too, as Harvey models below:

So, what are the negatives of Wazzie Wool? Honestly, not much. For me, the biggest trouble is that I don't have enough of it to wear every day because I seriously think I would wear it all the time if I had more pieces. I get sad when I have to finally succumb and wash my funnel neck because then I can't wear it. But, really, the biggest negative for me is just that it's kind of pricey to buy. The cheapest top, the Wazzie Wool Base Layer, retails on the Oiselle website for $96.00. The Funnel Neck is I wouldn't even say that it's a bad value because I think for the quality of item that you get, the price is reasonable. It's just that I don't have an extra $100 laying around to buy another top. Maaaaaaybe it'll go on sale eventually?!! If I had an unlimited budget, I'd own one of everything of this stuff. Maybe even two or three of everything. It's that great! 

All in all, if you're looking for a fun, warm, comfortable, performance ready piece to add to your running collection, or for casual wear, or to dress up, or... anything, consider Wazzie Wool! It's amazing! It's Katie Bangs and Harvey the Vizsla approved!

Oiselle Flight Friday ~ Set A Goal

Oiselle Flight Fridays!



First, the basics:

Who is Oiselle?
From their website:
Oiselle is a Seattle-based women's athletic apparel company that believes in the transformative power of sport and its ability to inspire strength, courage, and sisterhood. We live and breathe the sport of running, and we live and breathe the art of apparel design. In both, we seek quality and innovation. And to know that everything we do supports women who want to move, run, and fly.

I'm a recent joinee to the flock, running for the Oiselle Volee Team. This is a team made up of runners from all over the country, from your Average Jill like me all the way up to Olympians like Kara Goucher. Oiselle (pronounced Wa-Zell) is an athletic apparel company specializing in women's running gear that is designed by and for women. This stuff is the real deal and the company is not only committed to providing the best gear on the market: they are all about growing a culture of strong women. My kind of company! In my new series Oiselle Flight Fridays, I'll be bringing you one of the seven Principles of Flight from the Oiselle Volee Flight Manual each Friday. I'll also be reviewing a piece of Oiselle gear with each of the seven principles.

Oiselle Flight Manual. 

Last week was all about the first principle: Build The Sisterhood. You can read my overview of that one by CLICKING HERE, but I also wanted to share this little image that my Mother-In-Law had on Facebook this past week. I think it really fits with the message of building the sisterhood!


This week, I'm going over the 2nd Principle of Flight from the Flight Manual: Set A Goal, and also telling you all about my Embossed Roga Shorts!

So, without further ado, here's what the Flight Manual states:

2. Set A Goal
Athletic, personal, realistic, or wild and dreamy. We seek big accomplishments on significant stages and we define what those are for ourselves. No matter the speed or goal, the effort is marked by a willingness to see what's possible--to go fast, take chances. 

Photo taken of the Set A Goal page from the Oiselle Flight Manual.

I'll be honest and say that goal-setting is not the easiest thing for me. I have a history of not giving myself enough credit or not believing in myself enough to set very challenging goals. My goals tend to be centered on small measures of progress and are often only very loosely defined, maybe not even measurable. Typically, I have goals like: "I will be better in this race than my last race." Better how? Faster? Feel better? Have more fun? Wha...? 

Or, I'll make a quantifiable goal that's probably too easy for me to fail at. Like-- I will build up to being able to hold a plank for one minute. Ok. Nailed it. On like, day two of the thirty-day challenge. Did that really feel like something worth celebrating?

Last winter before the running and racing season really got going for me, my husband asked me what my goals were for my running and fitness for the summer. I think I said something vague like, "I don't know... I just want to do a lot of races." He said, "I think you should do a triathlon," which is something I've always had in the back of my mind to do, but instead of agreeing with him, I found reasons why I couldn't train for a tri. "We don't live near a pool..." and "I don't have a road bike..." Again, I let self-doubt get in the way of setting goals for myself. Others believe in me, but why do I struggle sometimes to believe in myself?

That is why it is so huge for me that I set a goal in the middle of February to hold 5K On the Farm. I made it official at our annual Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference by telling a room full of women that I would do it. Even as the words came out of my mouth, I wasn't sure if I believed myself. But, I kept it in my mind, and talked it over with Jeff several times. Then, in June we decided on a date and made it really, REALLY official.

We are now less than two weeks away from Race Day. We have 40 registrations for the race, as of this morning. You can sign up by clicking here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Inverness/5KOnTheFarm
My goal is to have at least 50 people and I think we'll hit that. I waffle back and forth between-- "Wow! I'm DOING this and it's REALLY HAPPENING!" and thoughts of... "Holy shit! What if something goes horribly wrong? Can I really do this?" Yes, there are A LOT of last-minute details to work out, and not everything has gone as planned already, but I already feel like we've accomplished a lot. I made a big goal of planning and holding this race with the secondary goal of a minimum of 50 sign-ups, and I know we're going to achieve it.

The thing is, I feel like goal-setting is one area where success breeds success. Once you set a good goal and achieve it, it gives you the confidence to set more goals and achieve them. One of my new goals is to set better goals that give myself the credit I deserve! Goals that are measurable, challenging, yet achievable with hard work. It does no good to say, "I will do better in my next 5K," when what I really want is to be under 25 minutes in a 5K. What I should say is, "My goal is to run under 25:00 in a 5K. I would like to do that within the year of 2015, and these are the steps I'm going to take to reach that goal." And: "In 2016 I am going to register for and complete a sprint-distance triathlon. The challenges I need to overcome to do this are ____" and go from there.

When I saw this post on the Oiselle Facebook page about not giving yourself a Plan B, I thought it tied in really well with goal-setting. Read it here: Run Like There's No Plan B . Yeah, it's about allowing yourself to run professionally if that's what you want, but I think the underlying theme is good for EVERYONE. Don't give yourself a Plan B or an easy out when it comes to reaching your goals or striving for your dreams. Do what you love and let that be your only plan. Live like there is no Plan B.

Now, this is where a crafty writing segue would be nice as I'm going to change subjects to review some of my favorite running shorts: Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts! 

The Embossed Roga Shorts are the first and only thing I have paid full price for that I bought from Oiselle. This is not because I'm receiving anything from them, but because I'm a cheapskate and while I love running clothes, I do not have an unlimited budget. I almost always wait until things go on sale. But not for these! I wanted a pair of comfortable, neutral colored shorts I could wear with my Team Beef Jersey for racing. I surfed the Oiselle website for a while and weighed my different options. Ultimately, it was Jessie at The Right Fits and her constant praises of her Rogas that swayed me toward these. I went with the Embossed version because they're just a little jazzier than the plain ones.

Here they are on the Oiselle website: Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts

They are $50 and they come in three colors: Deep Rose, Money, and Charcola. When I got mine, only Charcola and Money were available. I may have been very tempted to get the Deep Rose! Alas, I got the gray because I thought it would go with the most other items I already had.

Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts in Charcola.

I wear these shorts A TON and they are in heavy rotation with my other running bottoms. I like the length- they have a 4" inseam. It's short enough that they still feel like running shorts, but long enough to have a little modesty. They don't have any extra poof in the crotch area like other brands do, which I also really love. Best of all, the inseam doesn't ride up and get stuck when I run, which is something else that happens to me a lot with other brands, and obviously leads to uncomfortable chafing. The leg openings stay where they are supposed to be, and ensure mile after mile is as comfortable as the first. 

Harvey and I are showing off the embossed fabric of these shorts.

These shorts also have a super comfy yoga-style waistband, which means no muffin top. Ever. And, they have an internal drawstring to ensure a perfect fit. This is great for girls like me who rock an athletic bubble butt. I can cinch up the drawstring to make sure the top of the waistband doesn't gape. 

The dogs were clearly very excited to help me model my shorts!

One thing that's important to note is that general consensus is that the Oiselle Distance Shorts run about a size smaller than the Rogas. For example, I buy a 6 in Distance but an 8 in Roga. The reason is that the leg opening of the Roga is a little more trim than in the Distance. For me, I size up to make sure I have enough material to comfortably cover my strong thighs. In the past, I made the mistake of ordering a 6 in the Rogas and they were just a little too tight through the leg to comfortably wear for me, even though the waistband was fine. Here's a photo collage of those too-small Rogas:

Oiselle Roga Shorts, which I sold on eBay for good money!

Because the original Roga short was so popular, Oiselle now offers many styles in the Roga spirit, using all types of fabrics embossed or regular, including the following:

• Mac Roga - Shorter inseam
• Long Roga- Longer inseam
• Toolbelt Roga - pockets galore!
• Roga Pant - it's a pant. Hence the name. ;)

There is definitely a Roga for every runner! 

Oiselle Roga Pants, image from www.Oiselle.com.

I think the Roga Pants might be a good item for me for Track Practice next season. They *may* be on my wishlist! Perhaps I should Set A Goal to own these pants? ;)

That's it for this week's installment of Oiselle Flight Fridays, this time brought to you on a Sunday! Ha! Maybe this next one will actually be posted on Friday??? Stay tuned for next week's post, when I'll be writing about the 3rd Principle of Flight: Own The Journey. 

In the meantime, please consider signing up for 5K On The Farm! We have a Virtual Run option, too! :)

Oiselle Flight Friday~ Build The Sisterhood

Oiselle Flight Fridays!
**Ok, so it's actually Saturday... but you'll forgive me, right? I started this yesterday but just didn't have time to finish it!**



First, the basics:

Who is Oiselle?
From their website:
Oiselle is a Seattle-based women's athletic apparel company that believes in the transformative power of sport and its ability to inspire strength, courage, and sisterhood. We live and breathe the sport of running, and we live and breathe the art of apparel design. In both, we seek quality and innovation. And to know that everything we do supports women who want to move, run, and fly.

I'm a recent joinee to the flock, running for the Oiselle Volee Team. This is a team made up of runners from all over the country, from your Average Jill like me all the way up to Olympians like Kara Goucher. Oiselle (pronounced Wa-Zell) is an athletic apparel company specializing in women's running gear that is designed by and for women. This stuff is the real deal and the company is not only committed to providing the best gear on the market: they are all about growing a culture of strong women. My kind of company! In my new series Oiselle Flight Fridays, I'll be bringing you one of the seven Principles of Flight from the Oiselle Volee Flight Manual each Friday. I'll also be reviewing a piece of Oiselle gear with each of the seven principles.

Oiselle Flight Manual. 

This week, I bring you the First Principle of Flight: Build the Sisterhood. And, I'm reviewing the Cable Knit Arm Warmers.

Cable Knit Arm Warmers from Oiselle.

First, here's the excerpt straight from the Flight Manual:

Build the Sisterhood
We are only as strong as the bonds we build. We work hard to raise the bar in terms of how women support other women, fostering strength and leadership--not just through healthy competition, but in daily actions big and small.

So what does that mean to me? What I think of first is simply having a positive attitude about running with everyone you meet. When you have enthusiasm for something, it catches. I talk about running all the time to just about everyone, mostly about how much I love it. When people see how excited you are about running, or anything, they want to be part of it, too.

Growing the sisterhood is also about encouraging others. Highlight others' accomplishments before you talk about your own. Get together for runs, even if others aren't the same pace as you, and have a good time. I've been on both ends of the stick as a running budy- I've been the pace-setter, and I've definitely been the "dead weight." But being "dead weight" was only in my own mind! Never, ever has anyone ever said, "Man, Katie, I wish you would have stayed home!" And that's because I try to keep a positive attitude, and DON'T APOLOGIZE for being the pace that I'm at!!! I am what I am. In the end, people remember the good times you have and the great conversation that happens before, during, and after the run more than the pace that you ran.

Here's some easy ways, in a nutshell, that I believe will help encourage anyone in their running:

• Ask about the races they are training for and be genuine when you wish them good luck!
• Tell anyone and everyone that if they need a running buddy, you're game! 
• Highlight others' successes. HUGE!
• Invite others to come along with you on runs or to races, or to cheer for other runners.

Even if you're not a runner, I think you could apply any of those to just about anything you are enthusiastic about!

This Principle of Flight is one of the things that I really love about Oiselle. Yeah, they have a good number of elite sponsored runners in their flock, but they also open it up to regular people. And what I've found from following this company for several years now is that even the elite runners are very normal and down to earth, and sometimes the "regular people" are the one who inspire us the most! I just love that they are all about supporting EVERYONE! That's what Growing the Sisterhood is really all about! 

Me with three other awesome lady runners after this morning's Maroon and Gold Fun Run events!
Now here's a group of strong sisters who run! (And one dude photobombing in the background.)
Photo by Melissa K (in pink)-- Thanks Melissa!

Speaking of enthusiasm, I am very enthusiastic about these Cable Knit Arm Warmers from Oiselle! But first, a secret confession: this product is no longer available! It was a past-season style I bought earlier this summer on clearance. Keep reading, though, and I'll tell you what they ARE offering for arm warmers/running sleeves right now!

Cable Knit Running Sleeves from Oiselle.

Have you ever tried arm warmers or running sleeves? When I first saw people wearing them, I was like, "Why wouldn't you just wear a long sleeve shirt?" I didn't see the point. Alas, my friends, my eyes have been opened! 

I bought these arm warmers at the Expo before Governor's Cup back in June. I wanted to wear my Team Beef jersey but found out that it would be in the low 50's at the start of the race. For me, that's too cold to be sleeveless. But, I didn't want to have to hassle with pulling off a longsleeve shirt during the race! Solution: Arm Warmers! 

Cable Knit Running Sleeves from Oiselle.

These things are great! They were perfect for the chilly morning warm-up and I did wear them all through the race, even as it got warmer and I began to sweat profusely. And you know what? The sweat-wicking properties are beyond legit! Even as the temperature rose, I stayed comfortable. And they dry super fast, too, so that sticky sweat doesn't stay in the fabric and make you feel cold and wet. These babies are toasty when you want it and dry when you need it!

Cable Knit Running Sleeves from Oiselle.

I also love that they have thumb holes. Something about the thumb hole makes them extra comfy! My only complaint about these is that because they have the thumb hole, I can't see my watch. Maybe they need a little slit so one could access their watch or GPS easier? 

I've used them several more times on chilly morning runs and I know I'll use them a lot in the fall. Now, as I said, the Cable Knit arm warmers are no longer available, but you CAN snag a pair of the Herringbone Arm Warmers by clicking HERE. I love the orange color! BONUS: They're on sale!! Currently selling at $28 on the Oiselle website. Can't beat that. 

Herringbone Running Sleeves from Oiselle.
Photo credit: www.oiselle.com

That's a wrap for the first week of Oiselle Flight Fridays! I hope you enjoyed learning about Growing the Sisterhood and Cable Knit Running Sleeves! Next Friday I'll be back with the next Principle of Flight and another product review! I'll try to get it done and posted on Friday next time, too! Until then, happy running!

Here's a few questions to hopefully inspire some comments...

What does Grow the Sisterhood mean to you? How do you do it?

Have you ever tried running sleeves? What is your opinion of them?

Disclaimer: While I do run for the Oiselle Volee running team, I am not compensated in any way. Nor am I required or even asked to post about their company or their product. I just do it because I love them--what they do and what they have to offer. All opinions are my own. 

Stitchfix Review July 2015

It's time for another Stitch Fix review on my blog!



I actually received this fix several weeks ago when I was on vacation visiting family in Iowa. Life has just been extremely busy since then so I haven't gotten around to working on this post. So, this is technically my June fix, posting in July. I'm skipping the month of July to receive a fix and will pick up again in August for back to school. I don't need a ton of new clothes over the summer, so it's a good time to ease off the fixes and the budget.

I probably would have skipped the June fix, too, but I thought it would be fun for my Mom and I to have ours delivered at the same time so we could open ours together while I was home in Iowa. I got my Mom started with Stitch Fix last Christmas with a gift card. She has a full time job which she commutes to and has not a lot of free time to shop, so I thought it would be fun. I think (I hope!) she's still enjoying the service! Today's post will feature in-depth photos and descriptions of my items and some info and fewer photos of some of Mom's.

Without further ado, here's the list of what I got!
Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short
Papermoon Salen Knit Top
Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings
Eight Sixty Kip Dress
Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress



So, I'm one of those people who "peeks" when I get my shipping notification for my fix. I like to know ahead of time what I'm getting. I do google search and Pinterest search to see what's coming in. I'm not good with surprises and I've found that when I'm surprised, I do more impulse buying, which really translates to wasting money. I'm not saying that I'm not open to trying something different when it comes in my fix, but just that I find I do better if I can see what's coming and remain open minded.

The item I was probably most excited about were these shorts...
Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short, which I'm wearing with Papermoon Salen Knit Top.

Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short and Papermoon Salen Knit Top from Stitch Fix.

Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short

I have to say, I was not expecting white shorts, so when I opened my box, that was definitely a surprise. I shouldn't have been surprised, though, because I have been requesting white jeans since forever. My stylist went with white shorts instead. I wasn't sure I'd like them, but when I tried them on they fit absolutely perfect and they're very comfortable. As I've said before, if I can find something I like that actually fits around my behind, it's probably a keeper. So I kept these. I've actually worn them several times since receiving them and they've quickly become some of my favorite shorts for summer! Status: Kept!

Papermoon Salen Knit Top

This was something else that, after peeking on my fix, I thought I'd really like. Barring any poor fit or quality issues, I knew right away I'd be likely to keep it. Happily, it fit great! This top is a little loose and a little sheer, but it's perfect layered over a cami for summer. I wore it for my Grandma's 90th Birthday Party and received compliments. It's cool and comfortable. I'll definitely be able to wear it to school this fall, too. Status: Kept!

Here's another image of the Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short, paired with another top I own. I seriously love these shorts! Cool, cute, and comfy for summer! 

Just Black Tatyana Distressed Shorts from Stitch Fix.

Next, a quick look at the earrings I got this time:

Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings

Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings from Stitch Fix, shown with Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short.

Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings
Again, I thought there'd be little chance I'd return any earrings once I peeked on my fix. I couldn't find any images of these, but I had a good feeling about them anyway. My stylist definitely delivered on these! I love, love, love turquoise jewelry and these really hit the mark. I've worn them a few times and they're not too heavy, which I also like. They're the longest dangly earrings I now own, but that doesn't bother me as much as I thought it might. I know I'll wear these a ton for years to come! Now I just need Stitch Fix to send me a necklace to match these... Status: Kept!

Moving on to the dresses I received this fix. I'd been asking for dresses to wear for summer weddings and my stylist sent me two more to try this time.

First, Eight Sixty Kip Dress

Eight Sixty Kip Dress from Stitch Fix.

Eight Sixty Kip Dress
This dress... Oh this dress. This was one that really had me scratching my head about my stylist. I did eventually find another dress I had pinned that was similar to this style, but way better, and it made a bit more sense. But... yeah. This did nothing for me. It kind of looked and felt like a bag. The balance was off on it, too-- you can see how it hangs shorter in the front than in the back? And there were quality issues. Lots of strings hanging loose all over the place. I couldn't think of any scenario in which I would keep this dress, sadly. Status: Returned!

Can you see the loose threads? Sad face.

Lastly from my fix, Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress

Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress from Stitch Fix.

Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress

I didn't care for the print on this dress right when I pulled it out of the box, but I have a rule that whatever I receive, I try on anyway, just to be sure. Sometimes you're surprised by how much you like something once you get it on. Unfortunately, not the case here. I still didn't like it. The dress fit well and the length was good, but I just didn't like the pattern. Also, there was elastic in the waist to cinch it in and it's exposed on the inside of the dress, so it was really scratchy. I tried this one on for Jeff and he said he liked it, but I just didn't like it myself enough to keep. 

So, just to recap, I kept 3/5 items from this fix: Just Black Tatyana Distressed Shorts, Papermoon Salen Knit Top, and Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings. I love all three of those pieces and I'm super happy I kept them! I spent just under $100 total for keeping those three items. Gotta love summer for less expensive pieces! I returned both dresses. 

Now, here's the photos of the items my Mom received. I just took photos of her things lying flat on the countertop, and I don't remember what the item names are for some of them, so bare with me!

First, this necklace:

Gorjana necklace from Stitch Fix.

 I really liked this necklace and if for some reason she wouldn't have wanted to keep it, I would have bought it from her! Very pretty.

Donna Morgan Dress

 There are a lot of cute, very flattering Donna Morgan dress styles. Just type it into your Pinterest search and you'll see what I mean. This style would have been really great on my mom but it was way too big, especially through the bust. She returned it.

Renee C Skirt

Mom's style card called this a maxi skirt but in actuality, it hit her sort of mid-calf, and she's not tall. Again, there are a lot of cute Renee C skirts to be found from Stitch Fix, but this one wasn't the one. Besides the odd length, it was really see through and too tight. I thought it might have been cute as a swimsuit cover on the beach, but that's not really Mom's thing. Or mine either. This one got returned.

Something I'm calling the Weird Crochet Top...

I don't know. Mom didn't really say much about this one. I wasn't seeing it either. It definitely could not have been worn on its own, although it was actually the only piece Mom got that actually fit her. I thought it could have been cute layered over a gray tank top, but in the end, neither of us were feeling it. This one was sent back, too.

Blue Sleeveless Top--

 This one was a really lovely color, which, again, would have looked stunning on my Mom but... it was waaaaay too big! Honestly, I think she needs to adjust the sizing in her style profile and maybe even mark for petite sizes. I thought about trying this top on for myself, but didn't because I had received a cobalt blue top that was similar in a previous fix that I really liked (more on this later!) and didn't think I needed this, too. Plus, it looked like it might have been too big for me, too.

So, out of Mom's five items, she kept just the necklace. She was able to use a gift card for that, so it was basically free for her!

 
I know this post got really long, but hang in here with me for one more thing. I just want to take a minute to share about Stitch Fix's awesome Customer Service. So, you know how I just mentioned I had a similar cobalt blue top to the one my Mom just got? Here it is, from my April fix:

I had worn this top several times and then finally went to wash it and it shrank. A lot. I had followed the care instructions to the T and washed it delicate/hand wash, then hung it to dry. When I went to put it on recently, I could barely fit it over my head, it had shrunk so much. (Guess I should have given Mom's top a try after all!)

The next day, I emailed Stitch Fix Customer Service just to see what they could do, not really expecting much. The Customer Service Rep, Rachael, who handled my issue responded very quickly to my email and said they didn't have another top in my size they could send, but that they could refund me for this top. She even attached a pre-paid shipping label so all I had to do was print the label and package up the shirt to send it back. Wow!

Even when a fix item goes bad, Stitch Fix Customer Service saves the day! Things like this make me want to keep shopping with these guys and keep referring them to my friends and family. I've been so happy with Stitch Fix and the Customer Service is just the icing on the cake!

Hope you enjoyed this Stitch Fix review! If you think you'd like to sign up to give Stitch Fix a try yourself, please use my referral code to do so! Click here: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4005981

Thanks for reading! Have a great day, everyone!

Running Gear Review: Brooks Utopia Tights and Hot Chillys Top

If I had an endless budget for buying clothes (I don't) my closet would be filled with a lot more running and workout clothing. So comfortable, but beyond that, on a deeper level, I am my most confident when I have running shoes on and the clothes that go along with them. In today's post, I am reviewing two new pieces of running clothing that I have acquired recently: Brooks Utopia Thermal Tight II and Hot Chillys Micro Elite Chamois Sublimated Print Crewneck.  I purchased both of these items on my own accord, I am not being reimbursed at all, all opinions are my own, all the normal stuff you read in a product review blog post disclaimer, yadda yadda, etc.

Brooks Women's Utopia Thermal Tight II
I bought these tights on the clearance rack at a local sporting goods store. I had never tried Brooks bottoms before, so I took Medium and Large to try on. The mediums were just really too tight on my rear and thighs, so I opted for the large. The large isn't perfect on me because, while they fit much better through the seat and thighs, they are pretty big through the waist, which is a common issue for me. Gotta love my curves! Thankfully, they have an inner drawstring in the waist, so when I cinch that up really tight, everything works pretty well.

Back and front views of Utopia Thermal Tights.

I have used these tights several times now in varying levels of cold and wind. According to the website, they are designed for temperatures under 40 degrees. That is no exaggeration! The warmest weather I have worn these in was temperatures right around freezing with wind at about 10-15mph and I felt right on the edge of being too warm. The coldest I have worn these was when I ran with Christy at Chico.  (BTW, that post is quickly climbing the charts to being one of the most popular posts I've ever written. Check it out!) When we left on our run it was 2 degrees outside, no wind. I stayed warm enough in these tights, even without another base layer underneath. I think if it had been much colder or windy, I would have wanted one more thin layer underneath or at the very least some tall socks to wear. Even though it was super cold that morning, I still sweated a lot and the tights felt wet when i took them off, but I never felt wet while I was wearing them, so this tells me that they wick like a motha-you-know-what! Technical fabric that keeps you warm and dry is hard to come by, folks. Lots of products say they will do it, but under perform in reality. Not the Utopias. Bottom line, though, these tights are made for cold weather!

These tights are definitely created with outdoor distance runners in mind. They have mucho pockets for anything you could want-- two large side pockets and three inner key pockets. They zip up from the ankle so you could pull them on and off easily. One of the best features is the strategically placed reflective tape. Not only are you seen easier by oncoming traffic, but the placement of the tape elongates and slims the look of your legs. Always a bonus when you have big, powerful, runner/skier-girl legs like me!

Seriously. Lots of pockets, folks. And oh yeah, drawstring!

I love the color and soft, technical fabric of these pants, I love the fit of these pants, and I love the performance of these pants. It's just too bad I can't wear them to track practice because they go against school dress code, but that's another topic for another day. I will wear the heck out of these pants for years to come when I'm running on my own time. I'll definitely keep Brooks in mind next time I'm looking for performance running tights and clothing, too!  I have a few other items from Brooks including a Run Happy tshirt and some running shorts, and I love both of those pieces, too. These people know what's up.

Run Happy! 

Hot Chillys Micro Elite Chamois Sublimated Print Crewneck
I found this top on my recent ski trip to Red Lodge in their on-mountain t-shirt and gear shop. The print on the front of the shirt was immediately eye-catching-- I knew I had to have this shirt! I justified the purchase by selling myself on its versatility. I told myself that I could dress the shirt up and wear it to school or other social functions, I could wear it skiing (duh!) and could probably wear it running. Endless possibilities! Hot Chillys is a company that specializes in cold-weather baselayers, specifically for skiing. They have a wide variety of weights and textures, and also offer socks. Ironically, the only use I haven't worn it for yet is skiing...

Pants and top in action, with dogs. :)

This shirt is designed to be a lightweight, soft, next-to-skin layer for active outdoor pursuits in cold weather. I have worn it next-to-skin on that same cold weather run I mentioned earlier with Christy. The top did what it was supposed to-- wicked my sweat away while keeping me warm and dry. I have also worn this shirt a few times for non-workout purposes and received bunches of compliments both times. The side panel seams are very slimming and flattering and the southwest-inspired design on the front panel is eye catching and super on-trend right now. I love the bright colors! So many running and skiing layering pieces are just the same old boring palette of blacks, grays, and whites. Great to have a pop of bold design!

I bought a medium in this shirt and it fits me perfect through the body. The only complaint I have about the fit is that the sleeves and body length are just a little too short. Not a huge problem because I like to wear a tank top under most of my shirts anyway, and I almost always roll my sleeves up. Anyone taller than me (I'm 5'5") might be bothered by the short torso length though.

All in all, this is a great, versatile top and I'm thinking pretty hard about purchasing the matching leggings to wear with it! I found them on Zappos... and they might have to become mine soon! Or, hey, if anyone's feeling generous and like they want to give me a gift... ;)

Me and Iggy!

So there you have it! Two new pieces of running and fitness clothing added to my fit-fashion stash! Both are from smaller specialty companies, which I am all about supporting, especially after reading this eye opening post on Lauren Fleshman's blog: http://asklaurenfleshman.com/2015/02/usatf-yourwelcome-commercial-the-problem/. Lauren's post talks about how Nike athletes are represented by USATF at a much higher rate and higher quality than non-Nike athletes. I agree with her that it's not fair and it's not right. There are many other specialty running and athletic companies that sponsor athletes besides Nike and it's time to give them a shot, too. That's why supporting companies like Brooks, or Saucony, Asics, or my favorite, Oiselle, and others, is important. So, for that reason, too, I'm going to be trying to stay away from Nike for a while.

For any of my other fitness enthusiasts out there reading this, do you have any favorite brands or favorite pieces?

Me and Harvey, and a smiley barn!