Friday, July 13, 2012

J.Crew reviews and Banana Republic sale purchases

Today I have reviews of couple of J.Crew items: stripe silk cami and not-yet-online white polka button front shirt.

Stripe silk cami
Stripe silk cami
Striped silk cami is currently on sale online. It still has a full price at the stores but I have asked for price adjustment and they also applied the 30% off they are running.  It is a cute top. I remember I was excited about the striped silk bow cami that I tried HERE but I don;t like to wear strapless bras, so I passed.

with scout chinos and Sperry Topsiders
Well, this one can easily be worn with a racer-back bra (this is what I am wearing) but you may even be able to wear a regular bra, since it has bra strap snaps. It has a swingy, loose fit shape but the armholes are not gaping at all. I first tried on a 6 and it was more fitted but it was lifting up in the chest area in an unflattering way and it wasn't that swingy at the bottom. I much liked the fit of an 8, which is the size I am wearing in the pictures.  It is 100% silk and lined in poly but being sleeveless and swingy it does not bother me too much.  I love the easy fit and I think it looks best with capris of trousers. 


I am wearing Sperry topsiders in size 8 (half size down from most J.Crew shoes). I am not crazy about the look of them but they are probably most comfortable non-sneaker shoes I own.

Necklace from BR, Ray Ban sunglasses

Polka dot shirt

This shirt in in stores only for now, but maybe it will show up online on Thursday. It has a boy fit which is less fitted and straighter than J.Crew perfect shirts. Comparing o chambray polka dots shirt, this one is thicker fabric and more boxy. It definitely benefits from tucking in and rolling up the sleeves. I like the thickness of the fabric and I think it will be very nice for every season but summer, when I think it is a little too thick. It is not see through on me at all, I was surprised to see that it looked like it is on Appgal, see her review HERE.

J.Crew necklace (old) and belt

Shoes by Chie Mihara

I do like the small polka dots, I think they are very flattering, especially if you look good in white. I sized up to an 8, which I often do in thicker shirts because they don;t drape so well and this way I have more styling options. The shoulders are a little wide in 8 but a 6 would have pulled across the chest.  


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And here is my outfit from my recent trip to Banana Republic. You may remember that I was trying on this Trina Turk skirt (see my review HERE) and I liked it a lot but did not want to pay full price. I was looking for a summer skirt in this color. Last year I bought a J.Crew Dori skirt but in the end I decided I did not like the button front style and it was too short on me. Plus, Banana skirt is machine washable, even if it is fully lined, great plus for me!

Pia top and Trina Turk skirt, both size 8
How do you like American Girl doll 'hanging out' with us. She was bored and hot and wanted to go inside.

With J.Crew Valentina shoes and Kate Spade bag (old)
This skirt is also on a shorter side but I don;t mind this length in a summer skirt and it looks better because it is not full. It is called a pencil skirt but it is definitely more a-line and I prefer it this way. It was marked down to $49.99 with an additional 25% off plus extra in store 25% off stacked on top of it. I had a $10 rewards card so the skirt came down to about $18. Yay!


 Then I spotted a Pia ponte top that I liked when it first came out but it was $49.99 which I did not want to pay. It was marked at $13.99 and with additional percentages off t came down to about $7. I like this top. It is nicely fitted and works well untucked. I took size 8 in it, which is larger of my two sizes in BR numerically sized tops. 


I was a happy camper in my $25 new outfit.

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That's all folks!

All pictures courtesy of amc 
(aka my 9-year-old daughter).

Do you like the striped cami or the new polka dot shirt?
Did you buy anything from Banana on recent sales?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!


33 comments:

  1. Love the polka dot shirt! I have one that's very similar from Land's End Canvas that I wear all of the time.

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    1. I like it too, I think it will be very easy to wear in the early fall since the fabric is more substantial.

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  2. I had my eye eye on the striped cami too. I may have to go see it in person. The orange(melon? modern red) skirt is great- very slimming. I like the way you styled it. Your nine year old takes great pictures. My son always shoots, angling the camera from the ground up so I look enormous!
    Pat

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    1. Thank you Pat! I had to train my daughter, but she is a big supporter of this blog and she is into fashion, so it helps.

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  3. The doll waving from the door is hilarious!
    I really like that skirt, it is a perfect shape for summer. And perfect color!
    Email me if you are coming to Canada! I am in NY state right now but we return home on Monday night!

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    1. Thanks Dani, I miss your blog entries....
      I sent you an email on Friday.

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  4. I love all of these outfits on you, ajc! That striped cami is adorable, and I also really like the Trina Turk skirt. I think it looks fantastic on you, and the color is beautiful. :)

    Btw, your daughter takes great photos! How nice to have your own personal photographer! I need to see if my oldest son can be mine.

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    1. Thank you FFM, you should definitely try your son, I love when I can use her or you'll all think I live in a public bathroom, lol.

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  5. The BR outfit looks fantastic on you!! And I can't believe the amazing deals you scored! It kills me to see the price difference between Canada and the U.S.

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    1. Tank you Louise!
      I was amazed myself at those prices myself, at first I thought they rang me up wrong. And sorry, I did not want to rub it in, I know it hurts.

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  6. Hiya,

    Thank you for your reply in your previous blog entry! =)

    I think you look great in the BR skirt. In fact, I think you should ask your daughter to take photos of your OOTD every day. =)

    I think it's killing me to see BR soooo overpriced here in Singapore. =( It's great to know you bought your stuff at such great bargains!

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  7. Cute outfits! I love the Pia top; I got it in navy for a steal (though not quite as good a price as you got ;)), and love it with the JC garden floral skirt.

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    1. Thanks Wendy, I think Pia is a very flattering fit, especially if you have some curves up top, it must look fantastic with that skirt. I think I may get the black one, too.

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  8. It's so great to share time w/your daughter in this way. She is helping & taking pics (creative). She also gets to see you care for your appearance and I think that's a really good thing. She'll know to do the same for herself.

    The last look is classic AJC, imo. ;)

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    1. Thanks Gigi, and here I thought I am just using her ;) But you are right and she is proud that I am using her pictures, it is like displaying artwork on the refrigerator.

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  9. loving the white on white look - that dot shirt is just simply too cute!! xox P

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  10. you are gorgeous. so enjoy seeing these pics. you look wonderful in everthing!

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  11. I really love the skirt and the all-white outfit is so chic!!!

    It is hot as Hades again here today. WIll do some errands and then come home by pool and maybe do some inside work!!!

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    1. It is so nice to have a pool at this weather, enjoy! Your outside pictures are beautiful!

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  12. I love the striped silk cami on you, it looks bettef than on the model. And in the pics with the BR skirt your legs look sooo long, impressive! Pia looks great too!

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    1. Thanks Ema, I credit the shape of Valentinas, somehow they do work even better than most shoes to elongate the legs and make them look skinnier too.

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  13. The doll is too funny! Your daughter takes such good photos (helps to be photogenic...you look like a camera natural). The only thing better than looking great is knowing how little you spent to look that way IMO. :)

    Holly

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    1. Thank you Holly and you are right! Nothing beats scoring a great deal on something you were willing to pay much more for.

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  14. Hi! :) Love the looks! Just found today your blog and i´m a new follower! Hope you can follow my baby blog back too! Kisses

    http://thefrench-fries.blogspot.pt

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you stay!

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  15. Quite the photographer there ! Thanks to your daughter as we get to see you. The blue and white top looks so fresh and I like the Trina skirt . You've got great legs so show them off.

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    1. Thanks Marsha! Nice break from the bathroom shots, right?

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  16. I *love* your BR outfit! And I love your Chies. Those are one of the nicest I have seen.

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    1. I like those Chies although I don't wear them that often because they are very high, about 4.75" (with the .75 plaform). They are very comfortable for the height but I feel like I am wearing stilts.

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    2. Oh Wow! Those are tall!! You look fabulous in them though!!

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