Was it worth it?
11: A white tee that isn’t the Margo, Heaven Mayhem’s Julia Necklace, my new favourite bag, and more.
When I spend money—whether it’s on clothes, food, experiences, or something else—I like to feel good about it.
As much as possible, I try to be mindful of what I buy. I love finding a good deal, but I also don’t mind spending a little extra from time to time if it means better quality. I read a lot of reviews, pay attention to recommendations and try to base my purchases on their perceived value. I’m always asking myself, was it worth it?
Here are some thoughts on what I bought recently. What was money well spent, and what gave me buyer’s remorse?
Finally getting around to recapping what I bought on Black Friday. Here’s a roundup of what I bought on sale: what I loved, what I didn’t (but kept), and what I ended up returning.
Tna Soft Feels All-Time T-shirt
The last white T-shirt I bought was a long, thin, cotton tee from Zara two years ago that cost me $14. Surprisingly, it’s held up well, though it’s now starting to look a little tattered. I never really saw the value in investing in basics, especially white T-shirts since it seemed like something that would easily show its wear and you’d have to repurchase within a year anyway. That was until I purchased this Flore Flore tank last year and fell in love with the quality.
I knew it was time to upgrade my white T-shirt, but I wasn’t prepared yet to shell out for Leset’s ubiquitous Margo tee (maybe one day!) I had heard good things about the Babaton Function and Wirth T-Shirts from Aritzia, which I tried on in person and didn’t love. I ended up getting lucky ordering this Tna Soft Feels T-Shirt online, which was exactly what I was looking for: something that was sturdy but soft, and that had a great shape without having to be tucked in. The tee is 100% cotton and has held up well after a few washes (on delicate cold cycle, hang to dry).
I can only imagine what the Margo feels like, but I’d say for this price (under $40), this Tna tee is totally worth it and has been a much-needed staple for me to wear under sweaters right now.
Clio Turtleneck
Something else I consider a staple, besides a white tee, is a black turtleneck, especially in the winter. I wanted something thin—but not see-through—so I could layer it (like a T-shirt) and also wear it on its own. I found this Babaton Clio Turtleneck in black to be the best of both worlds. It’s more of a thin shirt than a knit, and even though the description says “sheer”, I don’t find it too bad. Sometimes I fold over the turtleneck, sometimes I leave it up (either way looks fine), and it has thumbholes, which I don’t often use.
It’s both classic and chill with a clean, sleek fit—overall, a really good turtleneck I’ve been wearing a lot this season. Unfortunately, it’s sold out now, but I found this Everlane option and this merino wool one from COS, which seem similar in fit and style.
Perennial Solid Brass Leather Belt
I had high hopes for this belt and had already built outfits around it in my head before I bought it on Black Friday. When I finally got it, I liked the look of it but wasn’t super impressed with the quality. Compared to other belts I’ve bought from Aritzia, this one felt a lot more stiff and almost plastic-like, even though it’s 100% leather. The sizing is off, too (it’s quite long on me), and I have to agree with one of the reviews I read about the buckle being too heavy for the rest of the belt.
Nonetheless, I ended up keeping it because I really liked the oval shape of the buckle and thought it could add some character to my otherwise simple outfits. After wearing it for a few months, there are some imperfections, like minor scuffing on the buckle and creasing on the leather—things that I notice but aren’t as obvious when I’m wearing the belt. Kind of wish I had known about this Madewell option before because I might’ve chosen differently.
Heaven Mayhem Julia Silver/Black Necklace
This purchase was most likely influenced by all the statement necklaces (the Elsa Peretti Bean and Juju Vera Petra Shell Pendants) everywhere right now. I admit, I don’t have the sharpest eye for jewellery and am still figuring out what kind of pieces resonate with my style. I was surprised by how much I liked the look of statement necklaces, as they’re not something I would normally choose, and I wanted to figure out how I could make the style work for me.
I was drawn to this Julia Necklace and liked that it was accessible enough for me to dip my toe into wearing statement pieces. I love it so much and find it surprisingly easy to incorporate into my day-to-day outfits, giving them a little something extra. Would 100% recommend.
Baby Knot Silver Earrings
Keeping in line with silver accessories, I also bought these Baby Knot earrings during HM’s Black Friday pre-sale. I was debating between this size and the Mini (which are bigger than the Baby, FYI). I read some reviews that the Mini Knot earrings felt heavy, but when I asked
about them, she mentioned they weren’t an issue for her.I ended up going with the Baby Knot because I felt like I’d get more use out of them. Although I haven’t worn them as much as the Julia Necklace, I’m really happy I got them because they’ve worked so well with many of my dressier outfits. They’re a little more subtle than these gold earrings I usually wear going out, and incredibly light, too (they don’t irritate my ears.)
This was my first time buying from Heaven Mayhem, and I really loved what I bought, considering the price and with the expectation that these aren’t necessarily meant to be forever pieces. I’d put them in the same kind of jewellery category as Mejuri.
Freja Mini Chrystie Bag
I had the Mini Chrystie Bag in Espresso on my wish list for a while and was happy to finally cross it off when Freja was having their Friends and Family sale. I find the elongated silhouette and minimal design so chic, and it’s easily become my new favourite bag, day or night when I don’t need to carry a lot with me. I’ve got enough black bags, so I’m glad I went with the espresso, which is a rich, dark brown shade that goes with almost anything.
Even though the vegan leather is incredibly soft, it feels durable, and I kinda love how low-maintenance it is (the post below shows how easy it is to clean.) I’m already eyeing their newer Mercer Bag in Oat, which is another sleek style that reminds me of Alaïa’s Le Teckel bag.
Sidenote, I recently discovered Freja’s female founder,
, has a newsletter, Jenny’s Substack, where she shares her thoughts and experiences on building the brand. I find her practical, non-BS perspective refreshing and inspiring at the same time, and highly recommend reading this post:
SKIMS Strapless Bra and T-Shirt
Whenever there’s a SKIMS sale, I try to think ahead of what essentials I need, so I can get them while there’s a discount. I’ve gotten lucky with their stuff in the past: love their Fits Everybody Triangle Bralette (comfortable enough to sleep in), Wireless Form T-Shirt Demi Bra (can wear all day), and their Fits Everybody Push-up Bra (gives a nice shape under shirts/sweaters).
I bought their Strapless Push-up Bra in Onyx since I was due for a new one, especially with summer coming up and all the black strappy tanks/tube tops I wear frequently. Like the other styles I bought previously, this strapless bra is comfortable and soft, while giving a nice shape (and subtle lift). It also stays on pretty well for a strapless bra without me having to adjust. I’ve only worn it a handful of times, so I can’t say for sure how it will hold up, but so far, so good.
To qualify for free shipping, I also bought The Relaxed T-Shirt in light heather grey. I was hoping to fill a need for the summer and I’ve been looking for a casual, grey tee with a lived-in feel (like this). Although I’ve heard good things about SKIMS’ T-shirts, this one didn’t live up to what I imagined in my head. It was baggy, shapeless and too thin, so I returned. A good reminder for me that it’s always worth it to wait for the right piece rather than settling for a substitute.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small percentage from anything you purchase through a link, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links help support the work that goes into these newsletters, and I carefully select recommendations based on what I love and would wear, regardless of a commission.
The black turtleneck + corduroys is SO CBK! So classic, I love it. Thanks for sharing all this feedback!!
Love the necklace!