J.Crew Stretch Suiting Tank and Helmut Lang Slouchy Blazer

Stretch Suiting Tank

I have mentioned in the end of my last post that did purchase something from J.Crew and it was the Stretch Suiting Tank.  I have been curious about it before and I decided to order it when they had the 40% off promotion going on.  It is a basic tank but the reason I was interested in it was that it seemed like it would not be sheer in white and that it would cover the regular bra straps.

Well, I am pleased to report that it is as expected. Not a see through and it can be worn with a regular bra. It is double layered and not tight in the mid section which helps cover the lumps and bumps. It is not too low cut and actually have a very nice neckline imo. I wish they would do it with different sleeve lengths as well, I would be first in line to order.

Nice length too, And it looks fine from the back. I have ordered it in Small and Medium but I did not even take the Medium out of the package because the Small was perfect.

It is not exactly cheap but it is so hard to find a white tank that it is not see-through so I am keeping it. I do think it should not be that hard, lol.

 

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I wanted to review the tank for you, but the purchase I am really excited about is not the tank but my new blazer. I have been looking for a black boyfriend blazer for some time. I tried the one from Theory some time ago but I eventually returned it since it was too much of a suiting blazer. What I was looking for was a blazer I could wear outside of work, over the jeans, tank top and a pair of heels.

Well, after my recent disappointing visits to J.Crew, I decided to stop at Bloomingdales to look at the latest offerings from Vince.  I am a big fan of Vince and the 'minimalistic cool' but it tends to be very expensive and out of my budget. Nevertheless, I tried on few t-shirts and blouses. I really liked this one, which actually looks more like something from Tory Burch except for the colors.

Vince Blouse - Wide Placket Silk

Vince's blouses are very slouchy and oversized and although I liked the idea of them, they were not that flattering on my figure.  The t-shirts were nice but not enticing enough to pull the trigger.  There was a lot of offerings mixing leather with other fabrics which made me glad I bought the Regan tee from Club Monaco some time time ago.

I was browsing trough the Rag and Bone collection (which btw has a lot of cool stuff that I would gladly wear, if I had the budget for it), when I spotted this blazer in Helmut Lang section:

 

HELMUT Helmut Lang Blazer - Slouchy Suiting

I was just going to try it on, it is not going to hurt, right?  Well, it turned out not so easy, because it was exactly what I was looking for...   

A blazer that feels like cardigan but with the structure and chic factor I love. It is slouchy and cool, lightweight and effortless. 

Looks good open and closed and has just the right length. 

 

I love the scrunched up sleeves. They are sewn like that, so you dont have to worry about them coming undone, but I suppose you could remove the stitching, if you'd like to control it yourself. For me they are perfect.

I also love the super narrow faux lapels and the single button and perfect pocket placement.

 

The fabric is lightweight 77% wool blend, which feels great in warmer weather and drapes well.  I took my regular size 6 and it fits me with a just right amount of slouchiness.
 

I love the blazer but it wasn't exactly in my budger so to fund my purchase I decided to return everything that was still returnable and get the extra money from my ebay sales. I was still off but it was now under $100, which I was OK with.  This was something on my list for a long time and I know that I never regret buying things that I really love and I would probably regret more if I did not get it.

I think I am going to wear the blazer tonight, for a night out in the city, including some live music.  It is supposed to be around 75 degrees, so it should be perfect.  

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What do you think?

Do you like the suiting tank?

Was I right to splurge on the blazer?

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

Coral Red Obsession: Boden Macrame Top

There are some colors that we simply cannot resist. For me, it is coral red.  Now, blue is my favorite color, I love certain shades of (blue based) green and I own plenty of neutrals.  But coral red is the color that can make me forgive other imperfections or justify a splurge, especially when it comes to a top or a dress.  How about you, do you have a weakness for certain shades?

I ordered this Macrame linen top from Boden quite a while ago.  However, my initial order never arrived, so I have to call customer service to get a replacement. I finally received my order and I love this top.

 

I don't buy much from Boden these days but what originally attracted me to them was exactly this style items, fun, easy to wear, casual and feminine without being too sweet.  When I saw this top I immediately wanted to wear it with denim,  I thought it would make a perfect outfit when you want to look casual but still pretty. 

Sorry about the hair, I was on my way to the hair salon, lol

The color did not disappoint me, the print is lovely and the neckline flattering.  It is linen, so it is quite breezy, despite longer sleeve length and it feels very comfortable.

It is just long enough to fall to the hip on me.  I love this length, enough to give me some coverage but short enough not too look like a tunic.

Overall, I think it is a great top.  I would recommend it if you like this style and it is now now sale and still available in many sizes.

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Do you have a color that would make you buy something for the sake of it?

Have you bought anything from Boden's sale?

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

Mai Tai

Sorry for not posting or commenting too often on other blogs but I have been very busy my focus has not been on fashion.  I have been attending all the school year end activities and looking for a new job.  I have tried to follow up on what everybody has been up to but there is only a limited number of hours in the day...  

I was again underwhelmed with J.Crew newest offerings, most of the newest rollout is something I already have.  I think I am really off the crewlade because I ceased to see the difference between them and the other retailers.  It used to be that I would complain but for a long time I was convinced that their offerings are unique and somehow better.  Well, not any more.  Part of the reason for it is being away from the shopping frenzy,  part is the disappointment in quality but I think big part is also their recent styling, that somehow manages to be predictable and random at the some time.

Mai Tai coctail (source)

 
Mai Tai print did not get a lot of love or attention in the blogosphere but I was curious about it.  I often tend to fall for floral prints if they have a lot of blue in it. I decided to order a silk tee and a pencil skirt. There is also a dress but it reads juvenile to me with the pleats, high neckline and high waist.  My 10yo judged the shape as too young (for her!) and the print as too old (but I could wear it since I am old).  I also knew the capris would be too much for me. But I thought both the tee and the skirt could be doable, although I wished the skirt would be a-line knee length.  Don't know why because a-line almost never works for me but somehow I think it would be better.

 

Collection Mai Tai floral skirt

The skirt is currently showing as sold out but I would think it will pop back soon. 

I ordered size 4 which is my regular pencil skirt size.  The skirt fits me well but I have lost some weight recently so I would think that it runs slightly smaller in the waist and slightly bigger in the hips.  When I measured it comparing to my other size 4 pencils it seems to be about inch difference in both measurements.  The skirt is 67% silk and 33% cotton (with poly lining) so there is no give. It will also tend to wrinkle a little bit but it is not noticable because of the print.  The fabric feels a little stiff, i think it is the silk content.  
 

I like the piping on the sides, it adds some interest. the back is very slightly longer than the front and instead of the back vent this skirt has small slits on the sides.  The lining ends at the beginning of the slit.

The print is pretty but not as bright and saturated as I hoped.  it somehow looks 'older' irl than in the pictures.

I don't think I love the skirt enough to keep it. What do you think?

Silk Tee in Mai Tai floral

When I placed my order I actually had more hopes for the t-shirt. It is cheaper and I thought it will be easier to wear. I thought it is one of the items that you can easily dress up and down and will provide nice splash of color when worn with solids. 

This tee is cut like other 'silk pocket tees' J.Crew released in the last two years. It is boxy and short with a high neckline.  I know many of you don't like the shape, I personally don't mind it, although it is not the most flattering one. I guess the idea is that it is dressy fabric combined with casual shape.  I still think it would be better if it was slightly longer, slightly nipped in the waist and have a slightly lower neckline. Well, of course that would be probably more expensive to produce.  But here is an idea.  How about losing the pocket to save some pennies? I totally don't see the point of the pocket, it is not functional (what would you put there?) and it is hardly visible.   

 

I ordered the tee in my regular size 6 and I think it fits TTS, a bit loose and short, as intended.  If you are small chested I think you can size down. 

Again, I like it but I am not sure if I want to keep it. I think I may just wait for the price drop on this one.  

 

Since I ordered both pieces, I wanted to try the 'hook-up' look. The colors are the same so the pieces match but it is definitely a bold statement. At the same time it needs some toughening up to avoid and 'old lady' vibe. I tried it with black accessories and I think it looks ok, but I am not sure if I would venture out like this (and where??). 

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That's all folks!

What do you think of Mai Tai pieces?

Should I keep any of them?

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

Blue and Green

I am definitely on the monochromatic kick in the last couple of weeks. I have always liked the ease and simplicity of it. Single color just pulls everything together while tonal variations and bits of pattern or texture keep it from being boring. In the beginning of the the last week I wore the peach/orange outfit and the black with cobblestone outfit which were both tonal. I plan on wearing the blush outfit no5 from my Valentine's Day post and I have few other monochromatic combinations in mind for the next week.

Brora sweater, bag Banana Republic, glasses Ray Ban, rest J.Crew



I always say that I am more of a blue than a green person but there are certain shades of green that I really like. I think it has to be a blue toned green, yellow toned greens make me look sick and suck all the light out of my complexion.

The skirt has some silver threads in the tweed and I liked how the necklace picked it up but I could not capture it well in the pictures because of the blazing sunshine. The skirt is J.Crew from couple of season's ago and the turtleneck is from Brora.

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jeans by Anthro, Coach purse, L&T cashmere vest, rest J.Crew

Again, this was a very sunny day and everything was coming out very washed out, he colors are much more vibrant irl.

I don't think I have worn a sweater vest over a button front shirt since my twenties but for some reason it felt right this time. I think it is because of the tonal aspect. The shell elongates the line of trousers and creates a leaner look, while the pattern of the shirts breaks up the monotony of blue.

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That's all folks!

Blue or green for you?

Are you drawn to monochromatic outfits like me?

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

Memories of Blue (Perfect shirt in Aegean plaid)

Have you ever been to Aegean coast?  Recently, Greece has been associated mostly with 'austerity measures', but this is not the first thing that comes to my mind. When I was a child, it was my parents favorite vacation destination. We did not have much money, but vacations and travel were considered basic needs in my family. We drove (from Poland) and it took us several days with many stops on the way (yes, those were month long European vacations). We had a camper and we brought a lot of our own food to save money.

source

My parents did not speak any languages but never considered it any obstacle. At the campground, they always made friends with locals and I remember many evenings, sitting with strangers and having animated discussions, usually revolving around food, soccer and politics, using about 20 words and very creative 'sign language'. Limited vocabulary was never an issue for me either.  When playing with other kids, and I would quickly pick up some essentials like 'I don;t understand', 'no', 'yes','thank you', 'swim', 'ball', 'let's go' and 'eat'. Add some basic curse words and you were all set.  

I wish I have my own pictures to share, but unfortunately, my parents were not into preserving memories of beautiful sights and panoramic vistas. The scarce photographs that I have from those vacations always show us half naked on some ubiquitous, unidentified beach; my father in the one shady spot he could find, reading a book in a lawn chair, my mother sunbathing with a giant hat and a leaf attached to her sunglasses to protect her nose and me with droopy hair-bows almost falling off my wet, curly pigtails. My brother was never in the pictures because he always disappeared for hours with some newly met friends. I wished I could tag along, but was never welcomed or allowed (he is 9 year older than me).

     

Perfect shirt in Aegean Plaid

Roll forward to 2012. When I first tried the perfect shirt in Aegean plaid I liked it a lot. The blues are vibrant and beautiful and made me think of all the happy memories from my childhood vacations. But at that time I decided I did not need another button down, however pretty it is, and especially not at full price. I forgot about the shirt until the recent 30% off, when I snatched it for about $18. I could not resist it at this price.

The shirt is currently sold out (as of the time of writing) but you can probably still get it in store or catch it on a popback.

Shirt size 6. See review here

Of course it would look beautiful with jeans but since there is some purple in the print, I thought this could be more fun with my Pilcro Stet Anthro cord and J.Crew pink Valentinas.

Sorry that the shirt looks a little messy. It wasn't intentional, like bedhair always sported by some catalog models. It is just that we usually take pictures on our walk to school and have about 2 minutes for it. Let's say this is a more realistic look...

I am a big fun of Ray-Ban sunglasses.  I have been wearing another pair recently but I suddenly wanted a pair of traditional aviators. I have borrowed these from my husband (shhh), so they are a little too big, but I do want a pair of my own. I instantly felt a little bit cooler in them.

I am glad I ordered the shirt, I really like it.

source

One of these days I will go back to the Aegean coast. I think my parents had their priorities right...

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That's all folks!

Have you been to Greece or want to go? What was your favorite childhood vacation spot?

Do you own the perfect shirt in Aegean Blue? How do you wear it?

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

Jean Shop and my quest for the perfect pair of jeans

"Handmade one at a time in the heart of NYC and crafted from exclusive Japanese selvedge that's woven on old-school narrow looms..."

Do you ever fall for those stories? I am a total sucker for them... This is how I ordered my The Jean Shop® women's skinny jean in dark wash. 

At least, since the jeans were part of the dreaded final sale, I had some sense to chat with Customer Service and ask them to make a note on my account, allowing me to return in case they don't fit.

Well, few days later, the jeans arrived and I was very excited to try them on. This was going to be the real deal and I was not your average mall shopper. No, I was a member of a secret society, possessing the rare knowledge about the whereabouts of  most authentic denim in the world. What better place to hide than the J.Crew final sale section?

Size 28

OK, the denim is very nice. It feels stiffer and more substantial and hard core and the seams are finished with the orange selvage strip that looks very nice when cuffed. I loved the wash and the orange stitching and the birthday date (of my jeans, no less) handwritten in black marker on the inside of the pocket. Gave me that 'cooler than thou' feeling ;)

But the fit was just OK There was some bunching going on and some not so flattering creasing in the hip and crotch area and overall, I think they are cut for someone a little more curvy than I am.

I wear size 27 in J.Crew matchsticks but I heard those jeans run small, so I ordered a 28 (27 was not available anyway). They had too much room in the hip but I am afraid the 27 would have been too tight everywhere else. 

From the back, they have an old school boyish fit, charming if you are cute twenty something hipster but certainly not a pair of jeans that will stop my husband in his tracks when he sees me going up the stairs.

Well, the fit is king and I decided these were NOT my 'Sisterhood of Travelling Pants' jeans.

These were OK jeans but I thought that even my old BR skinnies looked better on me:

Size 6

Still, I was afraid to return them. What if I am so pedestrian I just don't have any idea how the real deal, secret society jeans should fit?

So just in case I took them with me to the mall while I tried on endless other pairs. I went to Nordstrom and to Neiman Marcus then to a Seven's store and then to Anthropologie. I tried on about 30 pairs of Joes, JBrand, Citizens, Sevens, Paige, AG, Rag & Bone and Pilcros. They all look better than the Jean Shop.

I liked the fit of JBrand and  Sevens the best. Still reluctant to shell out $$$ for non-secret-society denim, I even stopped at the Gap, just to check if by any chance their under $50 (with coupon) pair of jeans is just as good as $200 designer duds. They weren't. They felt like the-under-50-jeans. OK, I got it.

I decided to stop at Anthro and try on the Pilcros Stet, I liked last time I tried them, but this time in the slim bootcut.   

Pilcro Stet Slim Bootcut

Yes, please!

Rear view

Husband approved

slim flair

I decided this is as close to Sisterhood jeans as I will ever get. But better yet, they were on sale.

$79.99!!!

This is where I got sucked in to add a tee and a skirt, but you already know that story...

And now I really want a pair of cords in the same cut (they have them!) but I am waiting a for a similar sale/promo.

Pilcro Stet Bootcut Cords

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That's all folks!

Have you tried Jean Shop or Pilcro Stet?

Do you think the cords will go on sale? Please say yes! When??

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