Happy Saturday, friends! This is my first Try-On Haul with my new blog design, and you don’t know how eagerly I was anticipating this day.

I LOVE how I can put two images side-by-side with my new design, simply by inserting a simple code. No more taking them into Canva and making a new image. That should help these posts not be QUITE so long.

FYI, if you’re reading on mobile, you will still see them top and bottom. I’m not sure about iPads.

Also, two little housekeeping things: For now, desktop is the best way to view my new site design, for a couple of reasons.

#1. The subscribe pop-up is beyond annoying, and I will get it taken down as soon as I can. It may be hard to X out of on iPad… ugh! For now, use a computer or mobile phone if you can.

#2. The comment box is reeeeeally hard to find on my new design. You have to click “Leave A Comment” at the end of the post, to reveal the comment form. I’m going to have that fixed to show the comment form without clicking, but meanwhile, it is right above the Explore More section on desktop computer.

I’m not sure how it appears on iPad, but on mobile phones, it is really out of whack. It is appearing under the Stay Updated box, so you have to scroll through a bunch of sidebar stuff to get to it. Major glitch, and I will get that fixed ASAP (which probably means Monday, at the earliest… ugh!)

Okay, so back to this week’s Try-On Haul!

Early Spring Try-On Haul: More Denim, Spring Sweaters & More!

SIZING NOTES: I’m 5’5″ and 135 pounds, with an hourglass shape. Unless I say otherwise, I’m wearing a 6/28 in pants/jeans, a small in tops, a 6 in dresses/jumpsuits, and size 8 shoe.

Wit & Wisdom Ab-Solution High Waist Ankle Straight Leg Jeans

hoodie // jeans // sneakers

These jeans came in right after I posted all of the denim reviews last weekend. For more spring denim, be sure to check out Winter 2021 Try-On Haul, Part I: Denim, Denim & More Denim.

Maybe at some point, I will round up ALL of the denim I’ve reviewed this winter/spring and put them into one post, for easy reference. Meanwhile I tagged the posts with the most denim try-ons and called it 2021 Denim Reviews.

Anyway! I know a lot of you like Wit & Wisdom for denim at a more accessible price point, and these are cut very similar to the Madewell Stovepipe jeans that I like so much. They’re also very soft and stretchy, like the Stovepipes, but they have a slightly lower rise and more distressing in the wash.

They have a 26 1/2″ inseam with a 14″ leg opening and a 10″ front rise; and the material is 63% cotton, 23% polyester, 11% viscose, 3% Lycra® spandex. That explains why they’re so soft and stretchy.

They have that ab-solution panel that W&W jeans are known for, so they do help hold in some of the tummy fluff we ladies of a certain age tend to have.

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Overall, I think the cut is pretty flattering for this style of jean. Here’s a picture with the hoodie untucked. I think you can see that my proportions definitely look best with a front-tuck.

These are nice for those of you who don’t like the raw hem or any rips and tears, but they do have some distressing on the back pocket, plus the whiskering and fading keeps them casual.

Treasure & Bond Utility Shirt Jacket

shirt // tee // jeans // sneakers

For those who weren’t such a fan of the plaid shacket I styled last weekend, this is another option that is a bit more elevated.

It needs a good steam, but otherwise, it’s very soft and comfortable. It’s not quite as voluminous as the BP. version either.

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Pardon the blurry picture, not sure what happened there. It runs true to size, I’m in my usual small.

Nordstrom Signature Cashmere Hoodie

hoodie (55% off) // jeans // sneakers (sold out)

I came across this perusing the Nordstrom website for sweater hoodies, and I ordered it on impulse. I really wanted the ivory color because I thought it would look more like spring, but they were out of my size, so I ordered the olive heather.

When it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by how thick and plush and soft it is. I’m already a big fan of Nordstrom Signature cashmere, but this one is softer and thicker than the others I’ve tried. I would have thought it was Naadam, if I didn’t know better. It is sublime!!!

Granted, it looks (and feels) a little more like winter than spring, but we do have really cold springs here in Philly. I think I’ll be able to get quite a bit of wear out of it before putting it away for next fall, when it will definitely be on repeat.

So yeah, I did keep this one, and I wore it all day yesterday. The only annoying thing is the drawstrings are suuuper long. Like, I’m afraid they will get in the way when I’m cooking and things, but otherwise, this cashmere hoodie gets an A+.

Oh, and it’s 55% off, in case you missed that. I don’t expect it to last.

AGOLDE Toni Fray Hem Straight Leg Jeans

at Evereve (20% off) // at Nordstrom // at Saks // at Shopbop

Okay, guys. These jeans. *swoon*

Do you hear the angels singing? I DO!!!! I’m calling it now, these will be the spring version of my Good American Good Legs in the off-black wash. I’ve already worn them twice since they came earlier in the week.

First of all, the wash is distressed black denim perfection, and the fabric is suuuuper soft.

But I also really like the cut. You may recall that I have the AGOLDE Toni in a medium blue wash, which I purchased late last winter/early spring.

I wore them some, but I still struggled a bit with the straighter cropped style. I found myself reaching for my rag & bone Cates more, but I held on to the Tonis, and I find myself wearing them more this spring.

These jeans are what I would call a slim straight. They’re the perfect hybrid of the skinny ankle and crop straight, perfect for those of us struggling with this new silhouette.

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They have a 26 1/2″ inseam with a 13″ leg opening and a 10″ front rise. I actually wish the rise was a bit higher, but it’s not a deal breaker because I love the fit everywhere else.

The fabric is 66% lyocell, 32% organic cotton, 2% recycled elastane, and they feel like a pair of jeans you’ve had for years.

If you like the look but want a pair that isn’t quite as rugged, the Montage wash — available at Revolve and Shopbop — has the same fabric content and looks to be the same color, but with a finished hem and not as much distressing.

AGOLDE Riley High Waist Crop Straight Leg Jeans

at Nordstrom // at Verishop //

I ordered this pair along with the Toni, hoping I would like one or the other. These have a very different fit and feel, although the measurements aren’t that different.

They have a 25 1/2″ inseam with a 15″ leg opening and a 11″ front rise. So they are about an inch shorter in length and an inch higher in the rise and 2 inches wider in the leg opening.

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Also worth nothing, the fabric on the Riley is much stiffer and thicker than the Toni or the Mother Insider. They are 98% cotton, 2% elastane, so the fit and feel more like traditional denim; and I found them to be quite snug in the waist.

The Nordstrom website says to size down, but I would not recommend that. I’m in the 28, and they’re snug to the point of being uncomfortable.

All that to say, I decided to keep the Toni and send these back.

While they call them a crop straight, I would call them a crop flare. In fact, they reminded me so much of my Mother Insiders that I had to pull those out and try them on to compare.

Mother The Insider Crop Jeans

jeans // sweater // mules

When I put on my Mother Insiders, I was reminded how much more comfortable they are!

According to the  Shopbop website, these have a 9.5″ rise with a 25 1/4″ inseam and a 14 1/4″ leg opening. I need to lay them out and compare to the AGOLDE Riley because I’m not sure that’s right.

As you can see, they look very similar to the Riley, but with a darker wash that reads a little more dressy. I like the wash on the Rileys a lot, but not so much the fit.

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I’m hoping to wear these Mother Insiders more this spring and summer. I like them best with sandals, as shown in this post, but they work okay with the loafer mules. I think it’s more a matter of figuring out the top.

Speaking of tops… Let’s talk about this sweater real quick!!!

FYI, I wouldn’t front-tuck it. I did that only to show the rise of the jeans.

Everlane The CottonMerino Turtleneck Tee

sweater // jeans // mules

I’ll cut to the chase. I LIKE IT!!! But I shared these pix in my JLS Insiders Facebook Group, and very few people were on board with the short-sleeve turtleneck.

I think there’s something rather elegant about the short-sleeve turtleneck sweater, and this one is a really nice fine-gauge knit.

I also love the color and the fit. It’s not skin-tight, but still figure-flattering and kind of skims the body. Maybe it appears a tad boxy in these pictures, but I felt like it looked good in person.

Even though we like to say “selfies don’t lie”, it really doesn’t capture how a garment lays when you move around. I dunno… I think I’m keeping it. I look better in turtlenecks when my hair is down, so I’ll try it again and see what I think.

AGOLDE Riley High Waist Crop Straight Leg Jeans (Frequency)

at Nordstrom // at Verishop // at Shopbop // at Saks

Okay, so this is the same AGOLDE Riley that I was wearing above in the washed black, but these are clearly more of a stone wash.

Nordstrom is saying these measure 26″ inseam with a 14″ leg opening and a 11 1/2″ front rise, which is slightly different than the black Rileys, but I don’t know how accurate those half inches are. That said, they do look very different on.

I clearly look and feel ridiculous. It may look like I could size down, but I could not. They just fit in the waist.

In fact, maybe these are the ones I found so uncomfortable? I can’t recall now. It was one of the Rileys.

They don’t look as dreadful from behind as I’d feared, but still…

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They actually look better from the back than they do from the front. I’m not sure what is up with that, ahem, inseam area, but that is just very unfortunate.

I like them a little better with sneakers, but not by much.

Oh, and they are 100% cotton, so very much that old-school denim that is coming back into vogue.

Does anyone else see the irony here? We come so far with comfortable stretch denim, and now they want us to go back to the old rigid stuff? No thank you! Gen Z can have them… and their middle parts, too.

Madewell Broadway Cardigan Sweater

sweater // jeans // sneakers

Well, ya know. You win some, you lose some! This sweater, gahhh… why so short, Madewell? And why so WIDE?

And this whole outfit just cracks me up….

More on those jeans and sneakers in a minute, but first, this sweater unbuttoned over a tee with my new favorite AGOLDE Tonis and my old favorite P448s.

I feel like this has potential… I mean, it’s such a pretty color. But yeah, it’s about an inch too short and half a foot too wide.

But oh, how I love these jeans!

As for the blue jeans I was wearing above, those are from Madewell.

Madewell The Perfect Vintage Jean in Maplewood Wash

sweater // jeans // sneakers

These jeans are actually quite comfortable, but I’m not feeling the style. They have an 11″ rise, a 12 3/4″ tapered leg opening, and a 28″ inseam. They describe them as fitted through the hip and thigh, which I guess they kind of are. The fabric is 96% cotton/3% poly/1% elastane.

The funny thing is, I don’t find these jeans terribly UN-flattering. I just really hate the silhouette, and the wash doesn’t help matters. It’s just too, I dunno, plain? Old-fashioned? Fill in the blank!

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Maybe I should try them with a different shoe before making a decision. The shoes are fun for a retro look, but I feel they need a shorter jean, or they just go too far over the top into frumpy mom category.

I get it, that’s sort of the idea, and it might work for the younger generation; but at my age, it ceases to be ironic and just looks like I never updated my wardrobe.

Kickoff Trainer Sneakers in Neutral Colorblock Leather

sweater // jeans // sneakers

And again, these are fun and retro and all, but I just can’t get on board with this look. I much prefer the skate sneaker or the court sneaker vibe.

Rag & Bone Maya High-Rise Ankle Slim-Fit Jeans

at Nordstrom (40% off) // at Saks (30% off) //sweater // sneakers

Okay, so this is rag & bone’s answer to the AGOLDE Riley, I guess. Although these are much softer and more comfortable.

I love the wash, and they have just the right amount of distressing for that off-duty, weekend look.

There’s also something about the shape through the leg I kind of like — the way they fit kind of fit loose but not baggy, I can’t put my finger on it.

They’re still a little too sloppy for my personal taste, but I can see how I might warm up to this look… maybe over the summer or even next year, if this continues to be a thing.

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Oh, here, look. I guess I tried them on a few days earlier and forgot I had these pictures. I’m getting overwhelmed with so many jeans!

This is the rag & bone Maya and the Mother Insiders with the chew step hem that I featured a few weeks ago. (I still have them, tags are still on… won’t know for sure if I’m keeping or not till I start dressing for spring.)

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I don’t love the Maya, but I can sort of appreciate them, lol! I think if I had thicker legs, or less disparity between my hips and legs, I would like them better. I just prefer a jean that hugs the thigh a bit more, like the Insider and even the Toni.

By the way, this sweater is from Everlane. It’s a bit small for me, but I like it. Full review coming next week!

AGOLDE Sophie Mid Rise Crop Skinny Jeans

at Nordstrom // at Shopbop // at Evereve (on sale!!!) //sweater // sneakers

Okay, last pair of jeans! I’m not really looking to add any new skinnies to my closet this spring because I have so many already, but…

These have a slightly wider leg opening, so I was thinking maybe they would read as a slim straight rather than a skinny. Plus, I was drawn to the wash.

While I absolutely love these jeans… love the fit, love the wash, love how they feel on, they do read as a skinny jean, no doubt about it.

They have a 26″ inseam with a 12″ leg opening and a 9 1/2″ front rise… so yeah, that 12″ leg opening is what got me. Most skinnies have 10″ and the AGOLDE Toni has 12″ so I think I expected a slightly straighter fit through the leg.

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By way of comparison, here’s the Toni. They’re an inch longer, and even though the leg opening is the same, they are cut a bit wider from hip to hem — not by much, but it does make a difference.

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So yeah! As much as a I like the Sophie, I’m not sure I can justify keeping them right now. The only thing giving me pause is that I like the wash so much, and they are an inch shorter than my other skinnies, which I like as well.

I originally found these at Evereve, and they’re on sale, but sizes are dwindling. That sent me looking elsewhere, and Nordstrom carries them, so I went ahead and ordered at full price because I wanted to try them. They are now selling out at Nordstrom, but Shopbop has them fully stocked.

Shopbop is a retailer to watch because they usually run a big Buy More, Save More sale in the springtime. I went digging in my archives, and it used to be in April, but the last two years, they ran it at the very end of February/beginning of March.

All that to say, I expect it to drop very soon, and I usually pick up a lot of great spring pieces during that sale. In addition to all the major premium denim brands, Shopbop carries a lot of the popular shoe and handbag brands — Sam Edelman, Vince, Stuart Weitzman, Tory Burch, R Minkoff, and more.

Last year I actually did a post with The Best Jeans in the Shopbop Sale and I will probably do that again this year. I will definitely be covering the sale, so keep an eye out for that!

Okay, that’s all I’ve got for today. I actually have some other items to share, but they will have to wait till next week.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!