Friday Gems

Friday has come once again. Thank the heavens. It has been an eventful seven days, full of both highs and lows. Here's what got me buzzin this week:

1. There is nothing that makes our apartment feel more like a home than filling all 500 square feet with the aroma of a perfect candle. I have been searching for quite some time for that most perfect fall scent, one that is slightly warm and musky, but that won't run me $60 (cough *Diptyque* cough) and I think I found it in a local company! Locale 58 was launched in May of this year, and has a distinctly California flair. Lexie  and Brian design their candles to represent the various parts of California that they love (Locale 58 refers to California's 58 counties), and graciously gifted me one to test out. Each scent is created based on their own experiences traveling up and down coastal California, and I am completely head over heels for their San Francisco line. It's the perfect blend of cedar and amber, and just masculine enough to make it absolutely dreamy. If you've a taste for lighter scents, definitely give Los Angeles and Newport Beach a try. Plus the packaging and labels are to die for - Lexie is kind of a genius in that regard. It's without a doubt the most Instagramable candle in my house, so odds are you're going to be seeing a lot more of it. 

And now the good news! For a limited time, readers can get 10% off their purchase of any Locale 58 products (!!!)  by using the code harbenporter at checkout. That's right! Another discount code with my name in it! I'm doing a little happy dance over here. And I'm also going to go ahead and use my own damn discount code to get myself another candle. Seriously you guys, they're that good. 

2. Bullet Journaling - have you guys jumped on this bandwagon yet? I bought myself a dotted moleskin and am considering taking the leap. It seems like the perfect solution to my current 3-notebook situation (work, blog, personal/exercise), and I'm also a huge sucker for pretty pens and paper. Apparently the bullet journal lets you track your daily to-dos, plus map out long-term and short-term goals, and do it in a way that is beautiful and brilliantly organized. I'm intrigued, and I'm looking forward to setting mine up over the weekend. (Above image from tinyrayofsunshine.com- a go to source for all things bullet journal).

3. And lastly, this Black Lives Matter syllabus. Unarmed black men and women continue to be murdered by police. Please, I implore you, review and dive into this syllabus. Audit the class. Educate yourself. Spread the word and don't back down or walk away from the hard conversations, especially with family and friends.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. 

Xo,

Harben

thredUP Collab!

Hi Everyone!

For the third part of my shopping secondhand series, I am excited to share a fun collaboration I did with thredUP earlier this summer. Have you heard of thredUP? They are an online secondhand resale shop, and have a pretty incredible collection of secondhand (and also new!) pieces. The lovely thredUP ladies reached out several months ago to see if I was interested in helping to spread the word about capsule wardrobes. Obviously my answer was a resounding yes, and a few short weeks later, I found myself traipsing through the Mission District, model style. 

The world of online secondhand shopping is nothing new (you all are familiar with a little site called eBay, right?) but thredUP does it differently. For starters, they are exceptionally helpful if you're considering a closet clean out. You just fill up a bag with clothes you're ready to part with and mail it to thredUP, they go through it, and then you get dolla dolla bills. It's pretty dang easy. Plus, you get to feel good about doing your part to decrease fashion waste and increase the lifespan of your garments. Honestly, it's an ethical fashion/capsule wardrobe enthusiast's dream—pare down your wardrobe, grab a few secondhand items, and bypass the mess that is fast fashion. Boom. 

For this partnership, thredUP asked me to style nine pieces into nine different outfits. It was a fun challenge, and considering that I have shifted my own wardrobe away from the capsule model and more toward a consciously curated, all-seasonal closet, it was exciting to dust off the old capsule hat for a minute. 

Feast your eyes on a sampling of the outfits I wore below, and be sure to check out thredUP if you haven't already. To make things even more amazing, anyone who reads this here blog can take 40% their first purchase (discount up to $50) by using the code HARB40 at checkout between now and Dec. 1st. You guys! I feel pretty badass having my name used in a discount code (!), so get on it! (Full disclosure: I am not paid for any purchases made on thredUP, but I was compensated for the photoshoot. Transparency is the best policy, amirite?) 

And now, the 'fits: 

Things I am not: 

1) A model

2) A sample size

3) A person who doesn't giggle whenever anyone asks a question while a camera is pointed in their general direction

But guess what - thredUP don't mind! I got to play around with a transitional white dress, the perfect fall sweater, my favorite denim and leather jackets, and of course, some flats and booties. The 'fits felt perfect for fall - all layers and coziness, but still light enough to handle the rogue 75 degree day. Everything you see above can be found (if not an exact match, something very similar) on the thredUP site for seriously a fraction of what they would cost new. Although, that dress and those booties might be gone since I distinctly remember a few of the producers and stylists eyeing them for themselves. 

Honestly, this was one of the most unexpected, uniquely-SF, and all around awesome things I have done since moving to this city. I loved working with the thredUP team (a collection of warm, kind, and supremely talented humans) and just generally had a blast. I hope you enjoy the thredUP post and the content, and keep your eyes out, because there's more goodness to come! 

Lastly, let me know if you score anything amazing from thredUP! I recently snatched up a pair of vintage 501s and couldn't be happier. Feel free to share your treasures below! 

Xo,

Harben

Everlane Round-Up

Hiya Ladies and Gents,

Oh Everlane. You guys, my fav brand is doing some pretty pretty pretty good stuff right now. For those of you unaware (welcome strangers!) I am an Everlane Ambassador, meaning I participate in events, support their retail lab, and of course, receive some pretty great swag. I've been particularly pleased with several of the items I have received recently, so I thought I'd do a little review of sorts. Here are my truest thoughts about some of my latest Everlane purchases and gifts. By the way, even though I am an Everlane Ambassador, there are no affiliate links on this page. Simply click the images to be taken directly to the product pages, or click the linked heading to support me via a referral link. 

Silk Cami

I eyed this cami up and down for MONTHS before pulling the trigger a few weeks back. It’s slightly impractical seeing as I live in a city that barely cracks 68 degrees, but I love it nonetheless. I dare say that this is my most favorite shade of blue, and I am a complete and total sucker for silk. The fit on this one is pretty typical for Everlane, meaning it’s a little oversized, but I happen to love the roomy drape that the relaxed fit provides. Also the straps are adjustable, and the inside is partially lined, so that's helpful. My only gripe with the fit is that for some reason I have a little extra room around the bust, which is surprising given my body type. The extra fabric makes the shirt billow ever-so-slightly around my armpits, but I have the feeling that it's one of those things that is noticable to me and no one else. Aside from that, it's a pretty perfect silk tank.  9/10 Would Recommend

Navy Luxe Wool Square Turtleneck 

This sweater was given to all the ambassadors who supported the Where I Travel community building event and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I think the length and cut of the neck is flattering, I love the boxy shape, and I actually enjoy the band that weighs down the bottom hem – it’s a damn near perfect sweater. I got my typical size medium and I love how it hangs, but if you want a more fitted look, size down. The only thing I don’t love is the way the Wool seems to attract any and every cat hair, but honestly, that is not enough of a reason to not wear it. I just keep a lint roller in my glove box and carry on.  8/10 Would Recommend

Blue Slim Trousers

I wrote about these trousers here, and I have to say, they are still doing me right. These pants are exceptionally comfortable – so comfortable, in fact, that I have worn them on red-eye flights across the county. I love how they aren’t skin tight, and even though they are named "slim,' I think they hang perfectly and feature the perfect rise. I haven’t been wearing these as frequently recently due to my love for my other Everlane blue pants – the navy culottes, but something tells me that they’ll be making regular appearances in my fall rotation.  A word to the wise, Everlane’s trousers run very large, so plan to size down one or even two sizes. Also you can currently "choose what you pay" for these guys, so if you've been debating giving them a try, this might be the right time to go for it!  10/10 Would Recommend

Modern Oxfords

I got these puppies the day I worked the modern oxford event, and I am incredibly happy to report that my feet didn’t die after wearing them all day long without first breaking them in! These are the first Everlane shoes I have purchased that are really and truly true to size. It should be said that I have normal to narrow feet, so I have never had a problem with any of Everlane’s shoes. Some people have found the toes of these oxfords to be too pointy, but they don't cause me any discomfort and I happen to love the shape of the toe box. The only thing I’m not super stoked about is the color – I thought they would be a truer oxblood, and instead I think they read slightly plum. Still, the comfort is great, the style is impeccable, and I would love to get them in the blush color.  7/10 Would Recommend.

White Shirt

I already did this to myself once. Why do I keep trying to make Everlane’s white tees work for me, when I know that they are not going to work? This tee has a great shape and drape, and I love the length of the sleeves, but it is too transparent for my liking. Despite trying to give it a shot, it's getting returned. 5/10 would only recommend to those who want to show off a bra or feel comfortable wearing a cami under a light-weight tee

I have about a million more Everlane products that I would love to review - so please let me know if you're interested! I can also try to take some pictures of me wearing some of these pieces for context, or just include shots from the Everlane site. What do you want to see?

Xo,

Harben