Was it worth it?
20: A really good blue tee, (non-basic) white summer tanks, linen pants 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?
Iris tank
I’ve shared this Cou Cou Intimates tank in the last few newsletters, so you’re probably sick of hearing about it by now. I bought it at the same time as the Raglan tee (read about it here), but haven’t had the chance to wear it until the weather finally warmed up. Lately, it’s been one of my most worn tops. The cotton voile is so light and airy, and I love the bias-cut silhouette—makes me want more tanks like this that don’t cling to me.
I got my regular size (XS) and found it pretty loose in the chest area/armholes, but I decided to keep it because it has waist ties at the back that help tighten the fit. I actually don’t mind it at all now and think the looser fit adds to the tank’s vintage feel. I couldn’t be happier with the top—it’s simple enough for every day while the fabric + silhouette + pretty details (like the French lace trim) make it more special than your average summer tank. It also goes with everything: jeans, trousers, linen pants, skirts, etc.
White smocked top
Continuing on the topic of not-so-basic tanks, I also got this Sunday Best top from Aritzia. I was drawn to the smocked detail, which reminded me of an old Doen top that I wanted but was out of my budget. For the price, this one was definitely worth it—easy to wear, low-maintenance (I wash it on delicate), and it’s different than anything else I own. Sometimes, smocked tops can look cheap to me, but I find this one doesn’t. I like how the texture adds enough interest, so I’m not having to overthink styling it. I usually pair it with minimal accessories, or none at all.
The top is surprisingly soft and stretchy, but it does fit small (I regret not sizing up). I find myself pulling it down sometimes because it rides up slightly—the only downside. Since it’s a more fitted silhouette, I prefer wearing it with looser denim or linen pants to keep it feeling relaxed.
Tie-on leather belt
My husband likes to tease me and call this my electrical cord belt, lol. I got this tie-on leather belt way back (February!) but am only including it now because I wanted to make sure I got enough wears out of it before sharing my thoughts. The truth is I don’t reach for belts that often, which is why I don’t splurge on them. I usually shop at Aritzia for belts, and I couldn’t stop thinking of this one when I first saw it online.
I loved how the website styled the gold version over a long button-up, but it didn’t work out for me when I tried recreating something similar—it felt bulky and looked too forced. I much prefer keeping it unfussy and wearing the belt with jeans, or trousers, or even a skirt. I admit, it’s less functional and more of an accessory, but the quality is great, and it adds a bit of personality to my outfits.
Oversized polo sweatshirt
This reference is old, which shows how long I’ve been looking for a good oversized white polo sweatshirt. I had the Ralph Lauren white fleece polo at the top of my list, but I could never find it in stock or secondhand. When I came across this one from Gap, it looked promising, and I was tempted by the sale price. I ordered a size up because I wanted it to fit more oversized than how it was styled on the website.
While I was underwhelmed by the material at first (it was thinner than I expected, more like a polo shirt than a sweatshirt), I ended up keeping it because I liked how it fit—turns out going up a size was the right move. It’s lightweight enough that I can wear it now, as an extra layer on cooler days or when the AC is blasting indoors. Overall, it works for what I was looking for, but I’m still on the fence about the quality. To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s going to hold up well. If you wanted to splurge, this H-O-R-S-E one, which was brought to my attention by elyse, looks like much better quality (looks similar to The Row Corzas Polo).
Quinn dress
A few weeks after I tried on the Doen Quinn dress in black (FYI if you’re in Canada, Holt Renfrew carries select pieces), I found the white one, which was actually my first choice, for 35% off during Holt’s online summer sale. It felt like fate, and I quickly hit checkout.
The dress was beautiful, but sizing was off—the sleeves looked comically poufy on my shoulders, and the chest area was so big that you could see my bra because of all the space between. These were things I didn’t really notice when I quickly tried on the black but definitely stood out when I had more time to be in the white dress. It was such a good deal that I started thinking of ways to make it work (“maybe if I just used tape to stick the top down?”) and then I stopped myself. I knew, deep down, that a piece that didn’t fit properly was going to be a big mistake—if I had to fuss over it, I wasn’t going to wear it. I returned the dress and took a mental note to size down in Doen for next time.
Blue crewneck tee
I mostly live in neutrals, but every so often, I become obsessed with a certain colour. Last summer, it was butter yellow—this time a cool, muted shade of blue. It all started with this Matteau baby tee (one left on sale here). I never wanted a t-shirt more but couldn’t stomach paying that much for it, so I started looking for alternatives. I found one that caught my eye at Aritzia and tried it on in a size up and was sold.
The blue isn’t a perfect match to the Matteau one and has a bit of a washed-out, vintage effect, but I love it. For $30, the tee was more than worth it. It’s so comfortable and soft and the perfect length. This specific shade seems to be sold out online now (more colours here), but maybe their stores still have some in stock, or there’s also this from Éterne on sale that I really like.
Linen pants
I’ve been trying to find a pair of linen pants to replace a pair of Oak + Fort ones I’ve had for 4+ years that were starting to feel too tight. These ones were a more recent purchase on sale. Unlike other linen pants that felt thicker and stiff, I liked how these were lightweight and had a nice flow to them. The material feels substantial but also airy, not heavy.
I’m currently in between sizes at Aritzia, and find I’m always happier when I go a size up, which is what I did with these pants. They have a relaxed fit and wider leg, which helps add to their ease. The only inconvenience is that I had to get them hemmed 2-3 inches because they were too long. Still, I’m glad I bought them. These linen pants are a staple for me in the summer—they’re slightly polished yet casual enough to dress down or wear to the beach.
MERIT day glow dewy highlighting balm in Cava
This was a repurchase after running out of my MERIT highlighter, which I use almost every day. My normal shade is Citrine, and I didn’t realize I ordered Cava this time. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it as much, but I have to say, I think it’s better. Citrine has a warmer tone, whereas Cava is a bit cooler and looks more natural. Like all Merit products, it melts into my skin and is easily buildable—I find two to three swipes are often enough.
You can view all the products featured in this post here.
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*I occasionally accept gifting or paid opportunities from brands if they work with my life and style, and those are marked with an asterisk.
The blue tee is everything 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
so so in love with the belt and YOU!