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Review: JCOS Messenger Bag With Lock

October 1, 2015 by jessica 14 Comments

JCOS-bag-2

I recently purchased this JCOS crossbody bag, a knockoff of the ubiquitous Chloe “Drew” bag. Now that I’ve been using it for a month (outfit photos coming soon), I wanted to share my thoughts on the piece for anyone interested in snagging this trendy style for a fraction of the price. (Though, I’m jealous of those who have $1,850 laying around for the original!)

  • Shipping took a ridiculously long time. I placed my order on July 29. It shipped on Aug. 21 and arrived on Aug. 24.
  • The quality is fantastic. The leather is thick, the hardware is sturdy, and the stitching is uniform. The metal clasp is attached with screws and, as you’ll see in a photo below, there’s a leather strip under the flap that reinforces the handles.
  • The clasp didn’t get as scratched as I thought it would over the course of the month.
  • On the original bag, there’s a turnlock that secures the bag before you slide in the metal bar. That’s not the case here. Sometimes the bar slides out and the bag hangs open. It’s not often enough to be a nuisance and nothing has fallen out when it happens. I’ve found that putting more items in the bag makes it less likely to occur.
  • The knotted chain at the handles can sometimes undo itself if the bag is tossed around too much. It’s easy to retie.
  • Of course, there’s the concern about “being inspired by” (::cough::knocking off::cough::) an iconic design. I struggled with this a bit, but decided that it didn’t bother me too much because it doesn’t pretend to be an original and, as I said, I’m in no position to spend almost two grand on the original. You can judge my questionable ethics, though.

Bottom Line: If you’re crazy about the design, but can’t fork out $1,850, go for it. It’s a fun ’70s-inspired saddle bag for fall.

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Filed Under: Review, Style Tagged With: chloe drew bag, chloe drew bag dupe, jcos review, jcos studios bag, jcos studios messenger bag with lock, review

August Highlights

September 2, 2015 by jessica 7 Comments

Highlights-August-2015

In Monday’s post, I mentioned that we didn’t have any plans for Labor Day weekend … well, now that’s changed. We’re heading to Washington, D.C.! A few months ago, we had actually talked about visiting the nation’s capital over the holiday weekend, but plans fell by the wayside when we decided to simply enjoy our Louisville jaunt instead of putting another trip on the calendar so soon. We’re also looking into a two- or three-week trip to Denmark next year, so extra money isn’t exactly in abundance around these parts! But who can pass up a cheap vacation package, especially when the flight is direct from Madison?! (It’s such a rare treat. We have so few direct flights here and usually drive to Milwaukee or Chicago to fly.) If we’ve been blog or Instagram buddies for awhile, you’ll know this is our fourth trip to D.C. We just love the city so much! I’m looking forward to dining at our favorite pizzeria, trying new beer bars, visiting museums and monuments, shopping at Eastern Market, and taking plenty of photos of the quaint neighborhoods. (I’ll be turning to Rosa’s blog for ideas!) Before I fully turn my attention to what’s to come, here are a few favorite moments and snapshots from August:

  • Took my most cliche blog photo yet. I love all of your suggestions on what I should have added to the pic! I knew I should have picked up some macarons and scattered open tubes of lipstick on the table. (Yes, the bag is a total Chloe knockoff. Read my thoughts on it here.)
  • Snapped photos of flowers at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
  • Enjoyed drinks with Fran! I was so excited to finally meet Fran in person when she was in Madison last month. I can’t believe how quickly the time passed when we were catching up over drinks at Madison’s darling new cocktail bar, Gib’s.
  • Began our five-hour drive to my parents’ house with a sugary breakfast.
  • Visited Michigan’s Lake Superior shoreline.
  • Found the prettiest turquoise wall for an outfit photo.
  • Saw acres of sunflowers at Pope Farm Conservancy.
  • Ditched sneakers in favor of pretty summer sandals — finally!
  • Tried a new pair of sunglasses, thanks to DITTO’s Endless Eyewear program. Endless Eyewear is a monthly subscription service that allows you to try out designer sunglasses for $19 per month. You can swap out your shades as often as you’d like, making it a great way to try out sunglasses before committing or to simply keep your look fresh. You can get your first month for free with code BEDKNOBS. (What better way to play dress up with Karen Walker’s signature shades?) Sign up here.

Let’s be friends on Instagram! Find me @bedknobsandbaubles.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: chloe drew bag dupe, ditto endless eyewear, gib's bar madison, jcos studios bag, wisconsin state capitol flowers

August Wardrobe Update

August 26, 2015 by jessica 23 Comments

Budget-August2015

OBSERVATIONS
For me, summer is all about loose, gauzy dresses. They’re pieces you can skimp on because the fit is so forgiving, but that usually leads to sartorial gluttony. I mean, when you can stay on budget and have a closet full of new dresses, why not?! Now that I’m starting to transition to fall purchases, I noticed a significant shift in the way I select items. I’m paying closer attention to construction, fabric, and fit. That comes with a higher price tag, leading to fewer new items. On one hand, I thought I’d be bummed about this. Having fresh pieces to wear is a lot of fun! But, truth be told, that much accumulation is overwhelming. I’m eager to make more mindful purchases this season of quality basics and worthwhile statement pieces. I’m also turning to my closet to create a list of “missing links” I’d like to find. Normally, I get distracted by a retailer’s new arrivals and start adding items to my wish list without much thought. Doing so leads me to neglect the items I need to make the rest of my wardrobe functional. Next month, I’d like to find a wool (or heavy crepe) black a-line shift that falls a couple of inches above my knees. I’d like it to be sleeveless with a crew neck so I can layer shirts underneath. I want it to look great with flats or ankle boots and be a canvas for a large pendant necklace. That can’t be too hard to find, right? I also had “statement outerwear” on my fall wish list this year. I ordered the J.Crew wool cape earlier this week. Fingers crossed that it fulfills that wardrobe hole. I already have a bright coat in emerald green and a black peacoat, so I should be set for outwear this year if this indulgent piece works out.

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PURCHASED

  • JCOS Studios messenger bag with lock in mud ($165): Be prepared for a long wait for the arrival of this bag. I ordered it on July 29, it shipped on Aug. 21, and arrived on Aug. 25. I was afraid I’d fall out of love with it by the time it came, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the bag. The stitching is even and the hardware feels sturdy. I’m planning to write a full review  after I’ve had a chance to use it for a few weeks. Just let me know if you have any questions in the meantime, though.
  • J.Crew merino wool pullover sweater in heather graphite ($64): You already know how much I love this. I went with my regular J.Crew sweater size. The sleeves in an XS fit best, but I preferred the drape of the size small.

Wardrobe-Update-Aug2015-Gifted

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration. I’m selective about the pieces I accept and will only work with companies I feel good about recommending.

  • BB Dakota “Bronwen” dress c/o Shopbop: I’m crazy about this dress and I’m antsy for the weather to improve so I can actually wear it! I originally ordered it in a medium and large. The large was huge, which I kind of expected. The medium fit well on top, but had a stain on the front. It was worth the wait for an unscathed version to arrive a few days later! It’s fully lined, looks great against sun-kissed skin, and will only run you $50.
  • Julie  Nolan astrological cuff c/o UncommonGoods: I like the idea of astrological jewelry, but it can get tacky awfully fast. Julie Nolan’s bracelet has subtle cutouts of your sign’s constellation for an understated piece of personalized jewelry. You can see it on me here.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Of course, with every successful shopping month, there are some misses:

  • Parker “Juliet” fit and flare dress (also available at Amazon, Shopbop, and Neiman Marcus): This is darling and the fabric is thick. It just runs awfully small.
  • Topshop embroidered off the shoulder dress: Ignore the guideline to order the size in parentheses for best fit and go down even furter. This thing is huge. I hated that it wasn’t lined and was partially sheer in the sunlight. It also made me look like a rectangle.
  • LOFT mini dot shirred dress: I ordered this in my regular size 8 and a 10. Confusingly, the waist fit the same in both sizes and the bodice was too loose in each as well. The zipper extends down past the waist and flips out a bit, so it looked like I had a duck tail hiding under the skirt. All in all, I loved the idea of this, just not the execution — and I’m not paying money to alter polyester. Back it went.
  • Lou & Grey skinny leather belt: Terrible quality. The one I received had kinks all over it and looked like it had been worn by someone else for months.

See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

 

***
linking with Fran

Filed Under: Budget Tagged With: budgeting bloggers, chloe drew bag dupe, jcos studios bag, wardrobe update

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Jessica Hamm
Hello there! I'm a first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house in Madison, Wisconsin. I have a penchant for travel and a love of costume jewelry.

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I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog of travel photos before we book our next trip. First up, photos of the gothic York Minster. I’m not religious in the slightest but I can’t resist stunning architecture and the opportunity to climb hundreds of cathedral stairs for a city view. This one only had a single rest stop about halfway up the flight of 275 steps for a closeup view of the flying buttresses — and a waiver you had to sign before your ascent to promise you’re healthy enough to make it.
Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone nook to good use.
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Thanksgiving Bake: Flourless Chocolate Wave Cake f Thanksgiving Bake: Flourless Chocolate Wave Cake from Dessert Person by @csaffitz

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Visiting York earlier this month put us in the Hal Visiting York earlier this month put us in the Halloween spirit. While it claims to be the most haunted place in Europe and is dubbed the city of a thousand ghosts, we only encountered the wire-mesh sculptures of Ghosts in the Gardens (@the_york_bid) and the family of souvenir ghosts I brought home from @yorkghostmerchants. 

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