Only Child Mara Japanese Rayon Tunic (for review) | made from locally sourced surplus fabric
Splendid ribbed maxi dress (several years old) | Navy Version
Beek Finch sandals
Kara midi tie-tote
Kristen Elspeth silver bar necklace
Happy Monday!! I hope you had as wonderful a weekend as I did. My mother came to town on Saturday and we were incredibly busy all weekend. We did one of favorite thing ever Sunday morning, went birding at the Trinity River Audubon Center south of Dallas, and stayed busy repotting some of my houseplants and running random errands the rest of the day. My kind of weekend…
And now, for the review/giveaway! Last week, Haley from Only Child, sent me her Mara tunic made out of surplus Japanese rayon to review for you. It’s one size, and a little bigger on me than I like generally, but it’s a great length/fit for wearing with leggings, or as I like to do with tops like this with wide necklines, over a long fitted tank dress. It’s sheer enough to show some shape underneath, and also not be too warm when we get into the depths of summer. You could wear this as a coverup also, with denim shorts, or over a slip dress, with jeans, or dressed up with slim black pants – the possibilities are endless, only limited by your sartorial imagination.
Only Child’s other designs are similarly flowy and easy, at a great price point. And I love (love love love) that Haley decided to work with deadstock (surplus) fabrics instead of new with her designs. Honestly, it’s my favorite way to shop secondhand; I don’t have great luck thrifting, and have never really liked it that much, but buying clothing made from surplus fabric saves fabric from the landfill just as shopping at Goodwill does.
I could go on, but Andrea from Seasons & Salt published a great interview with Haley from Only Child recently which is a wonderful look into Haley’s background and inspiration for the collection. Also, check out Andrea’s outfits in the same post with Only Child’s Elle Kimono – cute, cute 🙂
Now, for the giveaway. Scroll down…
We are giving away this exact tunic to one reader based on the following requirements: Sign up for Only Child’s newsletter (scroll down past the contact form) to be entered to win this tunic (you’ll also receive a coupon code for 10% off your first order), then come back here and leave a comment that you did and/or tell us what your favorite piece is. YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT here to be entered to win, it’s not enough to simply sign up for the newsletter. We’d love it if you comment was substantive, with some idea of what your favorite Only Child piece is, how you would wear the Mara tunic, feedback on designs, etc.
Please check out and follow Only Child on Instagram, and if you like what you see, share it with your friends; let’s give the smaller, independent designers as much support and attention we can !!
The giveaway is open to readers in the US only and will run for a few days.
Just signed up! I hadn’t heard of Only Child but I’m so glad I clicked through – I love the roomy designs and focus on natural and surplus fabrics. I love the Mara, the Dora dress, and the Rhea linen boxy top. These are exactly the kinds of clothes that get me through the summer at work. New York City is garbage hot in the summer and working in fine arts means I’m able to wear more interesting silhouettes than I could otherwise. The Dora dress is the kind of item I’d probably end up wearing once a week – love a dress up/dress down option.
Looking forward to supporting a woman-owned small business! Beautiful clothes, Haley.
Great giveaway! I love Oakland and this brand and have been thinking about getting a piece from Only Child soon (the Sara Box Top or Dora dress). The Mara tunic is also beautiful. I’d love an airy piece like this for summer and I’d style it with a black silk scarf around my neck or wrist and some black slides and call it an easy-breezy day!
Thanks for bringing Only Child to our attention! I love the Mara tunic and the Jess kimono—not only the easy silhouettes but also the easy care directions! I especially appreciate that they’re simple yet special enough to be versatile. For work, I’d wear the tunic with a midi-length tube skirt and a long necklace. For the weekend, I’d wear it over a tank minidress. The Jess kimono could do an evening out with a simple tank and skinny jeans, or a wedding over a longer tank dress, long earrings, a stack of bracelets, and a blinged-out clutch.
I’ve signed up for the newsletter and will definitely be keeping an eye on this label.
What a great giveaway! I love the Willa Denim Tunic Dress. I like how it looks on its own, and over a pair of jeans, like in the product photo. It would also be such a nice change from all the black dresses I currently keep in my work dress rotation – I am a creature of habit, so it would probably do me some good to branch out a bit! Love your blog – thanks for all the useful content and honest reviews.
I love the Sara Box Top. Because it’s flow-y, I would wear this piece 2 ways:
1. With straight legged denim, and my all black Birks;
2. Under a navy cardigan at work, because I love navy and black together. And of course, all silver jewelry – always all silver!
I love the fact that surplus fabric is being used as well and as for that Gemma Hi-Low tank, it’s beautiful!
I signed up! I love the tunic and the Gemma tank!
What perfect timing! I was just looking at Only Child last week and loving the Mara Tunic & Olivia dress. Love designers who utilize deadstock/surplus fabrics, and love the designs of Only Child. The only thing that kept me from purchasing when I first came across the brand was the one size fits all sizing – I’m generally too petite for OSFA/M, especially with things with wider necklines (which I love, but have narrower shoulders). I’d wear the Mara tunic over a flowing tank dress or fitted sheath for work, or with leggings and a tank for casual days (if the length was good) – paired with black.
I absolutely LOVE Only Child. I own the Willa Denim Tunic Dress and I receive multiple compliments every time I wear it. It is extremely well made and I also love that it came with a personalized note. I am so glad I added this piece to my closet as I see it being a staple for years to come. I also love that the oversized fit will allow me to wear it through pregnancy.
I have been eying the Mara silk blend tunic for some time. I love the unexpected length. It would be an elegant, year-round staple that I could wear in many contexts.
I signed up for the newsletter and look forward to new additions to Only Child’s collection. Thank you for celebrating and supporting U.S. makers!
I really love the Lena pant with the Sara box top. I would do the top in white to offset my tan skin. I am really enjoying the wide leg cropped pant, but have yet to try the silhouette. As a South Floridian, I prefer dresses in summer but I think the crops would be a nice breezy alternative.
I signed up for the newsletter and am looking forward to seeing more from Only Child.
Love the fact that the clothing is made from surplus fabric. I dislike waste, so seeing the excess cloth made into beautiful clothes just makes me smile.
I would love the Mara tunic to wear with leggings and Birks. Simple chic.
Thanks for introducing me to Only Child – I LOVE stuff made with dead stock fabric as well! I signed up for the newsletter. I think I’d wear the Mara tunic as a swim cover-up – I’m petite and love oversized pieces to wear as cover-ups. I’m also loving the Thea tunic – I’d pair it with leggings and maybe a pretty bralette. But my FAVE is the Gemma hi-low tank. I could see myself wearing that all the time – to my casual workplace, to flea market on weekends, on a date with my husband, I could go on and so – super versatile.
I’ve had some items sitting in my cart at only child for a couple of months now, just waiting to pull the trigger! I love the mara tunic as a great basic, the Madelyn wool coat, the gemma hi-lo tank (tucked into a skirt), and the willa denim tunic dress with white or black skinny jeans. I give full credit to andrea from seasons and salt for this styling tip-if you have boxier pieces like the tops from Jamie + the jones (which I do), then it’s not always the easiest to throw a coat on over it, because the sleeves bunch up. the kimonos from only child are perfect for this solution!
Just signed up! The Willa denim tunic would be an absolute go-to for me. I love roomy, boxy shapes and have been looking for the perfect, modern denim dress. I’ve looked at many, but haven’t found one that looks this easy and chic at this price point! And the Mara tunic is a stunner, I adore the graph-paper print. Would just love to win this.
I just signed up! I absolutely love this tunic. I’ve been looking for something longer to wear with my David Lerner coated leggings and I love that this can be dressed up for evenings. I also love the look of the Olivia Dress. I am all about light and easy pieces that go from day to night with minimal effort.
As everyone else mentioned, thanks for introducing a great independent designer! I love the idea of using deadstock, but hadn’t seen a company with pieces that fit my aesthetic (Sorry, Reformation!). I am in love with the Jess Kimono. The color is absolutely stunning!
Love all of her pieces! Signed up for the newsletter. Great usage of surplus fabric!
I just LOVE Haley’s designs, and I love seeing them on you Grechen! That tunic is gorgeous! It’s one of my favorites from her spring line. I love how you styled it. I bet it would look really cute front-tucked with shorts or skirt as well. 🙂
Thanks for the shout out!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful designer with us. I love her item, especially the Mara Tunic and the Elle Kimono Jacket. I signed up for her newsletter and might be ordering something soon!
I recently discovered Only Child and was so excited to find a sustainable designer who’s also local to the Bay Area! I have the Willa Denim Tunic Dress on my wishlist for this summer. On the rare days it’s warm enough for bare legs around here I always wish I had just a couple more dress options, but it’s hard to justify when I’m more likely to be reaching for a sweater. I love that this tunic can be styled with skinny jeans and booties for year-round wearability, I think I’d pretty much live in it.
I love the pattern on the tunic–just enough to give it some interest. It would look great with skinny jeans.
Surprisingly, I really like the Jess kimono–it would be a great lightweight topper for the summer for all my navy and black clothes. 😉
I signed up! I too really like the clothes and designs of Only Child, the Willa Denim Tunic Dress is one I have been eyeing. You look great in this, I would love to win it if I could be so lucky! ? I have been a “tree hugger” forever and try my best to buy reflecting that. I still have my vintage Deja Vu recycled grey shoes I bought in the 80’s at Used Rubber in San Francisco and still get compliments! Even the box used soy based printing inks back then.?
Not only am I crazy about the tunic…it would look great over my white skinny jeans at one of the Chamber of Commerce mixers…but I found the simple chic black dress I’ve been searching for: The Dora dress!
(http://www.onlychildclothing.com/store/p6/Dora_Silk_Blend_Dress.html) I can think of a million and one ways to dress this up or down. Thanks for the intro!
I took a look and i was immediately drawn to the Olivia dress. To me it’s a perfect summer dress in that it is black and has a kimono sleeve. I have large upper arms so I love it. As a well endowed girl I love the v neck as well.
This tunic is just the thing I like to live in. The silhouette is streamline not overpowering even though it is flow. I could see wearing this for running errands. I’d wear it over pedal pushers.
Thanks so much for turning us on to Only Child. I signed up for their newsletter and can’t wait to get my first piece.
I signed up and I love the Thea Tunic. I like that you can pair it with leggings or wear as a dress.
I love the Mara silk blend tunic, thanks for the giveaway! I signed up for the newsletter
A fellow Oaklandite! With all of the design start-ups in SF, it’s so cool to see designers in Oakland (which is equally awesome and stylish)! I love the Sara top on her website; I can see myself wearing that all summer. Both the Sara top and the tunic featured here reminds me of the Cuyana silk tees, which are perfectly draped and are great for work and play. I would definitely wear these with skinny jeans or tailored work pants or over a pair of leggings. Thanks for bringing this cool designer to our browsers!
I subscribed to the newsletter!
My favorite piece is the Elle kimono jacket. I love the color and cut. I’ve been looking for jackets like this recently that will look great for work during the summer (I’m in north Texas, so it gets icky), but are simple and beautiful and can be worn year round over my staple assortment of tanks. I like cardigans, but I don’t always want to wear sweater material, and I like some variety! This jacket looks light and interesting and flowy. I would mostly wear it with skinny pants, but I think it would work with my dressy jogger pants and some wedges as well.
I just signed up! I love the simple lines, use of surplus fabric, & the fact that she’s a local (to me) designer. My favorite pieces are the Mara tunics and the Gemma hi-low tank.
Thank you for the great contest! I signed up and would order (will?) the Sara tunic as perfect for casual summer over a pair of knee length shorts or skinny jeans or ankle-length pants or……
Really love the independent designers you introduce us to.
I love Only Child’s modern look. I’m beginning my transition towards sustainable and ethical clothing and I’m really excited about it! I just came across your blog while looking into Everlane reviews.
My fave item from Only Child is actually this tunic! I love that it uses surplus fabric. The Elle Kimono Jacket is also beautiful. My only feedback would be to maybe offer two sizes. I like the idea of one size fits all, but it’s not always realistic. Two sizes keeps the idea, while offering some choice. Also, I would label the sizes something body positive, rather than small vs large.
Signed up! The tunic is my favorite piece on the site, so I hope I win!
In Seattle I usually wear loose tunics with long-sleeve t’s underneath, slim pant and boots (either knee or ankle). Super-easy dressing for the office. 🙂
Yay, I signed up! As an Oakland resident, I love discovering new Bay Area designers & I love this tunic. Whether I win or not, Only Child definitely has a new customer.
Thanks for introducing me to a new brand – signed up for the newsletter! I I LOVE that the Mara tunic features a grid pattern. It gives a sense of structure to such a flowing piece. I would wear it with simple black jeans and Everlane’s new street sandals, plus a low pony tail. Would love to have this piece in my closet!
I am also really drawn to the Olivia dress. I like that it could be styled many different ways and take on a different feel each time. I would love to see it styled with a shibori print top.
Thanks for introducing me to Only Child, it is great to find another brand that makes, simple designs, beautifully that can be worn from year to year. So I am all signed up and look forward to discovering more of their designs.
I liked the Willa Denim Tunic dress, I love its versatility, over jeans when it’s cooler and perfect without when it heats up. And the fact it has pockets makes it perfect. The loose fit gives it a lovely relaxed look, making it so look so easy to wear.
What’s the status of this giveaway? Did I miss the results on this? Thanks!