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

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.  

***

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.

***

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!!!

Bored And Desperate - Should I Go Shopping???

I have a reluctant confession to make. I am tired of my Project 333 clothes.

You know how people are saying that narrowing your wardrobe to minimum let them discover what they truly love and liberated them from the tyranny of overflowing closets? I so wanted to be one of those people. I wanted to feel free from my shopping obsessions and satisfied with a few perfectly fitting, carefully selected garments. 

Well, I am bored!!!

Yes, I know I can create more cute outfits from what I currently have in my Project 333 closet. Yes, everything fits me, everything is my style and I love every individuaal piece. But still, I am sick of wearing the same things over and over (OK, so it was maybe 3-5 times each, but it feels like more).

On the top of that, we have an unusually warm weather here in New Jersey and I didn't take that into account. I cannot wear my wool pants, skirts and cashmere sweaters. As a result, I am stuck with about 15 weather appropriate garments in total. I don't feel liberated. I feel silly wearing the same boring outfits, when so many more appropriate choices hung abandoned in my other closets. Thank God I did not commit myself to 3 pairs of shoes or I would go nuts after 2 weeks (I have been doing it since January 1st).

I know nobody is forcing me to continue, but I am stubborn and I just cannot give up without feeling defeated. So I will stick with it until March 31st, boredom be damned. (I know, that's even more silly).
 

***

So here we go, this is what I've been wearing recently:


Brora skirt, J.Crew perfect fit tee, Bandolino shoes

You have seen this Brora skirt with petrol blue lace trim thermal HERE, and this is very similar but a bit more appropriate for the warmer weather that we are enjoying.

Btw, it is not in our imagination. Did you know that the February 2012 was the warmest February on record in NJ (that is in last 118 years!)?  I don't mind it at all :)

Love those elbow snap perfect fit tees!

Cheap substitute for navy Valentinas

J.Crew capris, lace panel tee and black blazer, Repetto flats and Banana Republic bag

You have seen the pants HERE and Lace tee HERE, Repettos HERE.

Pop of Red never fails for me

It got too hot for the blazer

J.Crew  skirt , Banana Republic tee, J.Crew belt, Coach handbag and Chie Mihara shoes.

You have previously seen the skirt HERE and HERE and shoes HERE.

I noticed this awfully visible t-shirt hemline, so I have tucked it into the pantyhose. Yes I do wear pantyhose. It is useful for hiding hemlines and general smoothing out. No, it does not bother me at all.

no hemline!

I usually get untucked by the afternoon

Talbots shoes, necklace Banana Republic, everything else J.Crew

You have seen the skirt HERE and I have previously styled the blouse with trousers HERE, this is how it looks tucked into a pencil skirt.

Is this too much yellow?

J.Crew shirt, belt and bracelet. Peoples Liberation jeans and Bandolino shoes

You have seen the shirt HERE and HERE  and jeans HERE.

Love this Liberty shirt!

New bracelet, I don't see it online

That's all folks!

***

Which one was your favorite?
Do you own any of the items? How do you wear them?
How quickly do you get tired of your outfits?
Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!