Honest reviews: Leopard jacket | Paige Sweater | Paige coated jeans | SW boots | Amazon clutch

My Honest Reviews: The Pieces I Recommend the Most

Nothing brings me more joy than helping you discover new things – and it’s even better when you message me to share how happy you are with your purchases! Because of that trust, I take my recommendations seriously. Every item I share is something I own (or would love to own), I have tried myself, or comes highly recommended from my most trusted stylist friends. My philosophy is simple: If I wouldn’t buy it myself, I won’t share it here. 🤍

I get asked many good questions every day — and I try my very best to respond to everyone! Recently, I’ve been asked about the Loeffler Randall sandals vs. the Dolce Vita ones, and which ones are better. I’ve also been asked which coat to purchase, one from Aritzia or J.Crew. Many of you also want to know which black jean is the best … and the list goes on!

So, here they are! My reviews of the best-selling items for winter, and which came out on top. These are the items I get asked about most often, and I thought you might like me to compare them and give you my thoughts. Purchasing online is tricky, and relying on reviews can be hit or miss. Hopefully this post will give you ideas that will help guide you to make the best purchasing decisions. Cheers! ⭐️

 

Wool Coats: Aritzia vs J.Crew

Left: Em’s Aritzia coat, similar | Em’s loafers | Susie’s Aritzia coat | Susie’s loafers, similar | Right: J.Crew coat | Sweater | Pants | Slingbacks

A great coat is the best investment piece you can make for your wardrobe — hands down!

Aritzia: I love Aritzia coats and think the quality is really good. The styles are all current and cool. Some styles, like this and this, are available in shorter lengths, which is great for those of us who are petite. I’ve been wearing this coat on repeat, and it’s warm and stylish and easy to layer things under it. The coat Emily is wearing is from last season, and they slightly updated it here. It’s a good one! Pro tip: don’t forget to cut the X stitch in the back and remove the sleeve label!

J.Crew: Can’t say enough good things about this J.Crew coat. I’ve worn it all season, and the double-face wool detail makes it look expensive. This cream color goes with everything, and you can dress it up with heels. And, it looks just as good layered with a hoodie and jeans! It does run big, so I sized down two sizes. If you prefer a darker color, the black is a great option (I have in my cart!).

 

Sandals: Loeffler Randall vs Dolce Vita

Left: Loeffler Randall, $350 | Right: Dolce Vita, $140

Both of these sandals get my highest recommendations! Not only do they go with everything, but the heel height is perfect, and the pretty little bauble almost looks like jewelry. I own both of these sandals, and they are very similar. If they were priced the same, I’d go for the Loeffler Randall ones because I prefer the very slight heel difference and the toe box (slightly more rounded). However, since they’re so similar, you can’t go wrong with the more affordable Dolce Vita ones. They both some in several colors giving you many good options.

 

Black Denim: Frame vs Paige vs Mother

Left: Rails jacket | Frame Icon jeans | Middle: Rag & Bone jacket | Paige Anessa | Right: VB jacket | Mother Hustler Roller, petites here

The jeans I reach for the most: The Mother Hustler Roller! I love the grayish/blackish wash, though they’re a little bit darker in real life than this photo. They go with everything, are super comfortable and flattering, and are the perfect longer length. The Paige Anessa is a favorite fit that I’ve shared over and over and over again, and the coated denim is a nice way to feel dressed up but still have the look of jeans. I’ve also worn these very often in recent months. And finally, if you want a dark, rich black, these Frame Icon jeans are very flattering. You’ll look like you have legs for days — and these too go with everything you could imagine!

Mother Hustler Roller: 32″ inseam; 24 1/2″ leg opening; 11″ front rise

Paige Anessa: 31″ inseam; 22″ leg opening; 11 1/2″ front rise

Frame Icon: 34″ inseam, 22″ leg opening, 10″ front rise

 

Favorite Jewelry: Gold Cuff & Everyday Pieces

Left: Diamond quad necklace | Middle: Lili Claspe gold cuff | Right: Ring Concierge tennis bracelet

Zoe Chicco -This last summer, my husband and I attended a business meeting, which I wasn’t overly looking forward to, but I used the excuse to dress up and have a night out. While getting a cocktail, a husband introduced himself as the one who reached out on Instagram for advice on a Christmas present for his wife. Such a small world! So, the evening immediately perked up, and on a bathroom visit, my friend (his wife) and I were both wearing the ZC diamond layer! She layered hers with a Foundrae pendant, and I was wearing mine with the quad necklace above. Lately, I’ve been getting many compliments on this combo, so I thought it was worth sharing with all of you. And even better is this SUSIEW15 discount code for 15% off!

Lili Claspe – It was my daughter who introduced me to this brand, and when I spotted this cool cuff inspired by the Tiffany Bone cuff, it was love at first sight. It makes a statement, and it’s a piece you’ll have for years to come. It often sells out, so don’t wait on this one!

Ring Concierge – Talk about a beautiful collection of tennis necklaces and bracelets! This is one of my favorite brands, and just last week I popped into their store while strolling around the Century City mall in LA. I own and love this bracelet above, and they’ve given me a very special discount code SUSIE25 for 25% off.

 

Scarf Jackets: Zara vs Quince

Left: Quince scarf jacket | Right: Em’s Zara scarf sweater

Last month, I had a Girl’s Night with my girlfriends, and I rolled in with my Quince scarf coat over my J.Crew pajamas (see the super stylish look here 😂). And of course, we started chatting about clothes! Since I’m a little bossy, I said to my friend “you need to buy this scarf jacket.” She proceeded to tell me “no” because she already has the Zara one, and was thinking they’re too similar. I explained they’re two entirely different pieces! To clarify:

The Quince one is like a coat. It’s warm and slightly oversized and you’ll layer a thin or thick sweater under. It gives you designer vibes at a fraction of the price – thank you Toteme for the inspo!

The Zara is more like a sweater and the cool scarf detail gives you the look … but in a sweater not a coat. Emily and I both own this one, and I’ll go as far to say it’s one of my highest recommendations!

 

Bags: Bottega vs Amazon

Left: Bottega Mini bag | Bottega Andiamo clutch | Right: Amazon shoulder bag | Amazon clutch

I own both the Bottega Small Andiamo and the Amazon Bottega-inspired clutch. Of course, the real Bottega bag is beautiful, and it’s currently my everyday bag. That said, I’ve long admired the clutch but not the price tag! I decided to order the Amazon one in two colors, and it’s perfect for going out. No, it’s not leather, but honestly I don’t mind and I’m quite pleased with the quality. Emily has the Amazon dupe of my small Andiamo bag, and she’s worn it non-stop … and it did finally show some wear. But it’s still worth every penny since the Amazon one is under $60!

Straight Leg Jeans: Frame Le Sleek vs Mother Kick-it

Left: Frame Le Sleek | Frame sweater | Right: Mother Kick it

The viral Mother “Kick-it” jean is so good, and lately I’ve received so many questions about which jean is better to purchase: The Frame Le Sleek or the Mother Kick-It. So here’s the deal – they’re two different jeans! If you’re looking for an ankle length jean – then the Frame Le Sleek is so good and you can wear every style of shoe from sandals to boots to sneakers. The Mother Kick-It, is a long length straight leg jean. It is a slightly higher rise and the leg opening is wider. It’s super flattering, leg lengthening and you can wear with any style of shoe, but I prefer a heel.

 

Travel Pants: Which Ones Are The Best

Left: Frank & Eileen jacket | Rag & Bone Sophie | Scarf | Travel wallet | Loafers | Right: Rag & Bone sweatpant jeans

These viral sweatpants that look like jeans, and disguised as loungewear, they’re the best travel pants around!! They’re actually a printed terrycloth fabric, and you’ll find them to be extremely comfortable. The wide-leg Sophie style is the best-selling one to consider, however, I find them a little too wide for me. Check out this slimmer fit above, this new wide-leg style that’s not too wide, and this new boot cut style that’s also a knit fabric, just not the terrycloth!

*Use my code SOSUSIE20 to get 20% off your order*

 

Dickey Blazers: Veronica Beard vs Evereve

Left: Veronica Beard Miller dickey | Matching pant | Slingbacks, similar | Right: Evereve blazer | Mother Hustler Roller | VB boots | VB bag

For years, I’ve been asked to share a more affordable option to the famous Veronica Beard Dickey Jacket — and now I found one! The Evereve Dawson blazers are amazing, and a quarter of the price. You can find several versions here, here and here.

 

Cashmere Sweaters: J.Crew vs Nordstrom vs Quince

J.Crew cashmere sweater | Nordstrom cashmere sweater | Quince $50 cashmere sweater

J.Crew – Every year, I stock up on a new J.Crew sweater or two. They have a great selection of colors, and the quality is really nice. The quality is actually comparable to the Nordstrom cashmere sweaters, so grab one now!

Nordstrom – Right now, the cashmere shop at Nordstrom looks really good. You can find everything from a classic crew style to this year’s newest brushed cashmere that’s extra fluffy. My favorite cashmere hoodie that I’ve gone on and one about for years is 40% OFF at the moment. So don’t wait, it’s bound to sell out soon!

The $50 Quince sweater – I keep talking about this sweater I know, but hear me out. At first, I was skeptical of a $50 cashmere sweater. I thought to myself … there’s no way it could be that good! Then I tried it, and wow have I been impressed. On a recent LA trip, we had cooler weather and I wore it 6 days in a row, I’m not kidding. To my surprise, it held up beautifully! For $50, you can’t beat it.

 

Thank you for reading xx

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