HelloxJackii

Cloak Spy Hoodie Review

DISCLOSURE

This is not a sponsored post. I bought the items with my own money. Although I am a fan of Markiplier, I do not believe it will sway my general review or opinion. I'm not a "big fan" but more or less a casual viewer. I want to do a thorough review with as little bias as possible. All dramas aside, I just want to talk about the clothes.

ABOUT CLOAK

Cloak is a clothing brand started by Youtubers Markiplier and JackSepticEye. The tag line, according to their branding card, states "This is Cloak. This is our clothing brand, but more importantly, this is your clothing brand". The clothes on the website appear minimalistic with the outfits more on the casual style.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I originally wanted to buy their clothes at launch, but all of the clothes sold out within a couple hours of announcement. I then went back in November and bought the Spy Hoodie off of their website.

The box itself speaks for the brand. I believe in one of his videos Markiplier mentioned that the brand doesn't want to put their logo on absolutely everything. The goal was not to be "overtly branded" and just from the box you can see their mission. The outside of the box is plain with the logo in the center.

Once you open the box you will receive a couple of stickers and the brand's card with their tag line.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The hoodie feels super soft on the skin. The fabric isn't itchy and doesn't cling to your body. The hoodie had a bit of a smell to it. It wasn't a bad smell. I'm not sure if it came from the delivery truck or the manufacturer itself.

SIZE AND MATERIALS

For general size information, I am 5 feet 2 inches and I am wearing an XXL hoodie. I typically wear an XL in terms of hoodies, jackets, and shirts. The reason why I decided to size up was because I wanted to go for a more "baggy" style. I don't like it when my clothes cling too tightly. Would I recommend everyone to size up? No, only size up if you are trying to go for a more baggy style. Overall, the sweater fits true to size.

The hoodie has interesting hoodie string tips. I don't know what material it is, but it feels rubbery, kind of like vinyl. It's the same material used in the logo and the words "Cloak". I believe this extra rubber part was added so to prevent the hoodie strings from dislodging in the hood when you put it in the wash.

MATERIALS & MISCONCEPTIONS

According to the Cloak website, the Spy Hoodie is made out of 70% Cotton, 24% Polyester, and 6% Spandex. The hoodie I received also has the same information on the tag. For some reason online, some people have been posting comments that the hoodie is made completely out of Polyester or it's 100% Rayon. This is NOT true. There is Polyester in the hoodie, but it is not completely made out of it.

TRACKING AND SHIPPING

I purchased the hoodie on November 16 and I received it on November 27. After purchasing the hoodie, I was given a receipt along with a tracking number. I found the tracking number to be pretty accurate. When you click on the link for tracking, it tells you where your shipment was last. The estimated date of arrival was November 27 and I actually received it on that date.

Overall, I did not have a bad shipping experience. I do live within the US and I am assuming that the brand is US based. I don't know how shipping will be internationally.

OVERALL COST & GENERAL OUTRAGE

I anticipated that a lot of people will be upset about the price. I don't want to talk about how much I paid for this hoodie because the shipping will change how much each person will ultimately pay for their items. If I say that I paid X (AMOUNT) for the hoodie, it might not be the same for someone else. For more accurate information on pricing, you should check their website. However, in general I paid less than $100.

I can see why some people might be upset over the price.

1.) Fans may not be able to afford the product, but it was marketed as being "for them". Some people might feel like they've been deceived.

2.) Some people don't like the design and believe they can get something similar for cheaper

3.) Some people might think this is "merch" clothing instead of its own business entity. Therefore, most people will believe all the money will go directly to the face of the brand, the two Youtubers.

4.) Differences in the meaning of "ethically sourced"

REASONS FOR THE COST
I can only really think of a few reasons why the brand decided to price their items at this price range. Just remember that these are my assumptions. I don't work with the brand nor do I know their manufacturing practices.

1. HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS AND OVERALL PRODUCTION
Some people believe the designs are "plain" and that you can get this type of sweater at Walmart, Target, or Forever 21 for a lower price.

In terms of design, maybe you can purchase something of a similar design at a lower price. In terms of quality, this kind of quality you can not buy at Walmart, Target, or Forever 21 etc. You can tell just by the way the clothes look and the way they feel on the body. There's not a single seam or stitch out of place. Typically, when you buy clothes from H&M or Forever 21 there are a couple of fly away seams and loose threads. I would know because I often shop at those places. You wash their clothes one time and the clothes will inevitably shrink down one size. After a couple of washes and wears, the material thins out and you will have to go out and buy another one.

I'm not hating on those brands. I shop there often. That's just the kind of quality you expect when you shop there. You know what their quality is and you accept it for what it is. Manufactures can buy a large quantity of cheap materials, mass produce it, and sell it to the audience because they already know what to expect. That is why big brand clothes like H&M and F21 are so accessible and priced affordably.

In general, I would assume that Cloak is not that sort of brand. I can only really speak for the hoodie that I received, but it is not of a cheap quality. If you expect a high quality product, you need to pay high quality prices. Yes, you could be altruistic and sell high quality at low prices. However, that wouldn't be a very smart business plan. Once again, this is a brand and a business. This isn't "merch" clothing or screen printed t-shirts. The money generated doesn't just go directly to the Youtubers. This is a brand of clothing and a company. It is intended to be sold to a certain audience. The money generated from the sales most likely will go to the employees of the brand, graphic designers, a cut to their manufacturers, and lastly the face of the brand, the two Youtubers themselves.

2. THE MATERIALS ARE ETHICALLY SOURCED
Like I mentioned above, the materials are of a high quality. The seams are all in the proper place and I had no loose threads. Someone had to make this hoodie. According to the tag, the hoodie was made in China. I can see why so many people might hear "Made in China" and freak out. Often times, we associated "Made in China" with sweatshop workers or child laborers.

While it is true that there are sweatshops and places with relaxed child labor laws. Not all factories in China are sweatshops. There are many factories in China. They have their own grading systems for working conditions. Factory working is a way of life out there. Western factory workers have different protocols and standards which may differ from the Chinese standard of factory working. Is one better than the other? That is debatable. Do I support child labor? No, I do not. Would viewers and buyers be more comfortable with a "Made in USA" tag on their shirts? Perhaps they would. However, you can guarantee the price will be twice as expensive which will lead to more outrage.

Can I 100% say that the person who made my Cloak hoodie doesn't work under sweatshop conditions? No, I can not. Although on their website, Cloak mentions that their clothes are "ethically sourced". What that means to each individual may mean many different things. However, if you're going to get into the argument of ethically source, take note of all the clothes you bought from Walmart, H&M, Forever 21, Target, and anything else with the tag "Made in China". Chances are there are a lot of items that fit this description. You can not guarantee that everything you own was made ethically. Does that make it right or okay? That is up to you to decide.

YOU CAN NOT PLEASE EVERYONE
Honestly, it is really difficult to please absolutely everyone. I just wanted to post a general review of a hoodie that I bought and enjoyed. However, I ended up writing this long explanation full of analysis and different view points. Inevitably, someone is going to get their feelings hurt.

Just know that I intended to write my review from a neutral stand point. I'm not a super fan. I don't feel too strongly or negatively about the brand's creators. I just saw a cool hoodie and wanted to get it. Fortunately, I was in a place where I could afford to buy it. I do acknowledge that the clothing is not cheap and not everyone will be able to afford it. Do I feel bad? No, not really. I still think this hoodie is pretty great. Would I buy again from this brand in the future? Yes, their materials and quality is great!

WHO ARE YOU?
Remember how I said that certain Youtubers clothes are marketed towards a certain audience? I'm typically that audience. I'm a curious person and sometimes I write review on things from Youtubers that I like. I'm curious to know what their clothes are like, the materials, and if the costs match up.

In the past, I have bought clothes from Youtubers such as Jenn Im from clothesencounters. I wrote a blogpost about it, although it's not really a review. I've also bought clothes from Go For Broke, a company that was originally started by Youtubers David So, Bart Kwan, and Joe Jitsukawa. (I do not believe this company exists anymore because they sold it.)

Anyways, thanks for taking the time to read this review. I might do more reviews in the future. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

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, by HelloxJackii

Youtube

3 Tips for Breaking in Dr. Martens

Chances are, if you have stumbled across this blog post, you bought a pair of Dr Martens and are wondering why it hurts so much to wear them. You might even be considering returning them or wondering if you’ve made a big mistake. Fear not, you did not make a mistake. You just need to break them in!

I have the 1460 Smooth Dr Martens. They were very tight and unpleasant when I first got them. I wasn’t aware that Dr. Martens need to be “broken in” before wearing.

People across the internet have done some crazy things to break in their docs. They’ve used hammers to beat the leather, fully submerged their shoes into hot or cold water, and ran their shoes over with their car. (I highly suggest that you don’t follow those suggestions!)

Please put away your hammers, here are some tips that helped me to break in my docs.

1. LACE THEM UP ALL THE WAY

The “slouchy combat boot” style is really popular. Currently, combat boots look kind of cool when they aren’t laced up all the way. People usually lace them up all the way to the top when they wear their boots more for its utility. In terms of style, the more “relaxed” look is how people wear their boots.

However, when you first get your docs, you should lace them up all the way. This is because you have to break them in before wearing them. If you don’t lace your boots up all the way when you first get your shoes, they’re going to break in at a way that might not fully mold to the shape of your feet. This is why some people might say that their boots “cut” into the back part of their heel.

When you lace up the shoe, some people say that you should lace them up tight. This is what I did. Of course, don’t lace them up so tight that you can’t feel the circulation through your legs. Just lace them up tight enough that the boot isn’t shifting around when you walk in them. By lacing them up “tight”, it prevents the shoe from rubbing against the back of your heel.

2. WEAR TWO PAIRS OF SOCKS

When you first get your docs, the front part of the shoe might feel very tight (specially where the “bridge” of the shoes meet). You can stretch this part of the shoe out by wearing two pairs of socks. I would suggest wearing one thick pair of socks and one thin pair. First, place the thin sock on and then the thick one.

Yes, it might seem impossible at first, but eventually you can stretch out the front part of your shoes. This is where I had the most trouble. The top part of the shoe dug into my foot and it left marks on my feet. I didn’t actually think that I would ever stretch them out there, but it fits well now. After you have stretched them out, you can just wear one pair of socks with your shoes.

3. WEAR THEM AROUND THE HOUSE / OUT IN INTERVALS

Don’t wear your docs for a prolonged period of time when you first get them. Chances are, if you haven’t broken them in yet, you’re going to hurt your feet. If for some reason, you get your shoes and they fit perfectly the first time without it being too tight, then go ahead and wear them for as long as you want. For those of you who haven’t broken your shoes in, wear them in intervals when you first get them.

When I first got mine, I stretched them out by walking around the house with them on straight out of the box. I haven’t worn them out yet so they weren’t dirty or anything. At first, I could only really wear them for a few hours. (It kinda sucks at first, not gonna lie.) Eventually I could feel them stretching out. So I tried wearing them out on short trips. The key is to wear them out if you know that you’re just making a short trip. If they’re hurting your feet, take a break. Don’t wear them for a few days, then try wearing them again.

Lastly, this isn’t really a tip, but something you can buy to help “soften” the leather of your shoes. Of course, this is optional and you can still break your shoes in without this.

Dr Martens Wonder Balsam Shoe Polish

There's a special shoe polish known as Dr Martens Wonder Balsam that you can get for your docs that might help soften the leather of your shoes. From everywhere I searched on the internet, it is pronounced “ball-some”. (If I am wrong, someone correct me.)

I bought the Balsam because I wanted something that could waterproof my shoes and maintain the leather. Some people say that this helped them to soften the leather around the shoe. I don’t know if it really softens leather. However, if you plan on maintaining your shoes, you might want to consider getting something similar to this product.

It comes in a tin with a sponge applicator. Before you apply the polish, make sure your shoes are clean. You take off the laces of your shoes, and then you apply a generous amount of the polish on to the shoe. Wait for it to dry out before you wear shoes out again. This will make your shoes shiny and will possibly soften the leather.

WHY DR MARTENS?

At this point, you might be thinking “This is so much work for a pair of shoes. Why not just buy something else?”

Of course, you can just buy any type of combat styled boots. There are many different kinds of boots at different price points. I’ve had a couple of them.

What separates Dr Martens boots from the others is the style and quality. Dr Martens have original “yellow seams” around the sole of the shoe. Some of their shoes also have a unique loop at the back of the shoe to help you put them on. Lots of different boot companies try to replicate this look. However, Docs are the original of this style.

The shoes I’ve bought in the past don’t have the same look and typically broke down after several wears. Usually, it would break down in the back part of the heel. Dr Martens are supposed to last for quite a long time. They have one particular shoe that they boast are “for life”, meaning that they will replace the shoe if it breaks down.

With a unique style and quality of the shoe, I am very happy with my docs. There’s a sense of accomplishment and membership when you wear a pair of Dr Martens. Since it can be a somewhat “painful” experience breaking in the shoes, you just feel very accomplished once you’ve broken them in. Also when you see someone on the street with their docs on, you’ll know that they had to go through a similar experience of breaking them in.

On a personal note, what got me inspired to buy these shoes was from someone I admired in the past. I guess you can say that I had a bit of “style crush” on one of my former co-workers. She had this very cool attitude. She wore a lot of black, liked to watch documentaries on Netflix, and listened to cool indie bands that I’ve never heard of. Although we had work uniforms, she would wear Dr Martens to work. From that point, I was inspired. I knew that I wanted to eventually get a pair for myself in the future when I could afford it.

(End Notes: Not all of Dr Martens shoes require the process of “breaking in”. Research the type of shoe you’re going to buy before purchasing. This is not a sponsored post.)

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, by HelloxJackii

DIY

Weird Aluminum Foil Hack (Try It!)

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, by HelloxJackii

Daily Life

Fall Out Boy Concert

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, by HelloxJackii

DIY

DIY Unicorn Piñata

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, by HelloxJackii

Announcements

A Step Away

For the past few months you might have noticed that I have taken a step back from posting on this website. I haven't forgotten about this blog. It's just that I was going through some things in my life (outside of the internet) and I thought it would be wise to stop posting for a while.

Ever feel like everyone is looking up everything you are doing irl and online? Well that literally happened to me. I don't want to talk about it online or ever really address what is going on. I'm fine! Nothing bad is happening to me. I've just been given a really good opportunity to do something great. So, I've just been clearing up my social media. I want to make sure the things I post online reflect who I am as a person.

I've come to face a situation where sometimes the things you post online has a way to come back to you in real life. Most of the time you think that the things you post online will only stay in your confined bubble of space on the internet. When reality, it can spill over into your offline life and have consequences. For this reason, I've become a lot more careful about the things I post online.

Too many times I've come into: "Hey, I read that one post on your blog and..." or "You wear too much makeup in your photos" and "You shouldn't post this kind of picture on your Instagram" from someone who I wasn't even aware checks up on my social media accounts. Let me tell you, it feels really weird when you are confronted offline. I became super critical about the things I wanted to post. From the confrontation and my lack of self confidence, I often want to just completely cut myself out of all social media.

But I decided not to do that because I feel like writing and posting is my way of expressing myself.

I've been contemplating how I should even write this post for a while now. I don't want to suddenly announce my return to this blog and promise that I will continue to update it. I feel like I've done that in the past, but then I stop posting and have to re-announce my return again.

THE MAIN STRUGGLE

I think I struggle with being hyper critical with myself. It's hard for me to post things online because I'm afraid of what others are going to think about it in the future.

A prime example: I've removed all my posts starting from 2010-2014. They aren't permanently deleted. I've just taken them down for now. Maybe if I feel more comfortable in the future, I'll put them back up again. I know that removing posts from the blog creates some trouble. A lot of the links that you might click on the blog might be "broken" or lead to blank pages. For that, I apologize. I never really know which post I'm going to remove.

If a post doesn't meet my "standard", I feel obliged to delete it and erase any trace of the post. Sometimes I look back on my old posts and realize that I wrote something that doesn't really reflect who I am as a person currently. So I promptly delete the post or just hide it from view.

I want to become more confident with the content that I post on this blog. I think it's about time that I find that creative spark that has led me to love blogging. If I had to name a main goal for myself:

I WANT TO BECOME A MORE CONFIDENT BLOGGER.

Here's to deleting less posts and taking pride in the things that I write!

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, by HelloxJackii

Bullet Journal

March 2018 Bullet Journal (Minimalist Style)

(*This post is not sponsored)

I started bullet journaling around 2016. You can read my post about bullet journaling [here]! However, it wasn't until about July of last year that I decided to take it more seriously and take the time to update it every single day. I am currently using the Leuchtturm 1917 dotted journal.

It’s black because my favorite color is ... black? LOL

I would like to describe my bullet journal design as “minimalistic”. I don’t draw a whole lot in my bullet journal mainly because I find that I felt pressured to always have a perfect spread with perfect drawings. It made me not want to start / continue with my bullet journal because I would get so caught up with trying to have the perfect drawings and themes. So for my 2018 bullet journal, I decided to cut back on the drawings and strictly go for a more “functional” approach. I pick one color from my Tombow dual brush pen set and just continue using just one color through out the entire month.

I guess you can say my bullet journal setup is for people who maybe want to start bullet journaling, but are intimidated by being unable to draw. This may be an approach that you might want to try out!

SUPPLIES THAT I USE

(Amazon Links. Not Affiliated.)

Tombow Dual Brush Pens (Pastel Palette)

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens

Sakura Pigma Micron 03
Uni-Ball UM 153 Signo Broad Point Gel Pen
Washi Tape Dispenser

March Title Page

I originally started drawing the clovers on the cover page, but I realized that they kind of look like broccoli! I didn't feel like changing out the cover page, so I just stuck around with it.

Mood & Habit Tracker Page + Gratitude Page

So this is how I track my habits and moods. Basically, I fill in a square each day that I completed the habit and I place an X on the days where I did not complete the habit. For the mood tracker, I just place a dot on the line that corresponds to how I was feeling for the day. Then I draw a line from dot of the previous day. In the end the mood and habit trackers look a bit like the photo below.

How the Habit Tracker is used

This page always looks the best when it is completely filled out. If you are wondering, I took this example photo from my January spread of my bullet journal!

March Overview & Calendar page

Like I said in the video, it might seem a bit redundant to have an overview page and the calendar view. However, I kind of like being able to go back and plan out my month using this style!

My weekly spread

I keep my weekly spreads pretty spaced out. I write journal entries in each day so that is why I need the extra space. For my to do lists, I write them out in the corresponding spots.

Reflections Page

At the end of each month, I do an entire reflection. I just write down all of the interesting things that happened within the month. Sometimes, I'll tape in interesting things such as movie ticket stubs, receipts, or drawings into these pages. Also, if I learn something new in the month, I'll write it down in the reflections page!