Thursday, May 17, 2012

J.Crew New Arrivals - May 2012





What do you think of J.Crew newest online arrivals? Have anything caught your attention?

Here are some items I have already reviewed on my blog with links to reviews:

Dree dress in deck stripe

Review Here

Featherweight cashmere stripe cardigan

Review Here
No. 2 pencil skirt in porcelain paisley


Review Here
T-shirt dress
Review Here

Scatter-dot dress
Review Here
Sailor boatneck tee
Review Here
Stripe popover

Review Here

Review Here
9" short in antique paisley
Review Here
Lace placket tee
Review Here
Drapey elbow-sleeve tee in stripe
Review Here
Linen cable-knit cardigan
Review Here
Tiered dot tank
Review Here
Luxe utility 
pant
Luxe utility pant
review here

Vintage cotton
 cap-sleeve tee in stripe
Vintage cotton cap-sleeve tee in stripe


Do you plan on ordering anything?

I have a review of the skirt below coming soon:

No. 2 pencil skirt in deck stripe


This skirt  appeared in my May preview post. Looks interesting but the price... Ouch!

Neon-stripe skirt

Update: I just read a copy and realized that the Neon-stripe skirt is poly. $425 for polyester skirt? I don't think so.


Nothing else catches my eye at this moment , but I yesterday I checked the newest summer collection and I will have reviews of some exciting not-yet-online pieces coming soon, so please stop by to check them out.

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That's all folks!

What are your favorites?
Are you excited, disappointed or indifferent about the new items?

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


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Catching up with my life (and my OOTDs)

I think I need to slow down. I have been trying to keep up with posting almost every day, but between working full time, children, household and social life I have very very little time left and I often find myself going to bed around 1AM, totally exhausted. I also don't respond to all the comments the way I would like to or comment on other blogs I keep up with, even if I do read and enjoy all your comments and posts.

I love having this outlet to share with the world, but I think I need to reduce the number of posts. Hopefully that will also mean better content, so please be patient with me.


In the meantime, here is what I've been wearing in the last couple of weeks:

Madewell Academy blazer and tee
Cavalry skirt

WHBM Blouse
H&M top with striped J.Crew pocket tee

BR Trousers and JC shirt
Porcelain Paisley skirt
Back to Madewell

I noticed that I have been wearing more pants and jeans. I think I have been going through pencil skirt fatigue. I do love the Porcelain Paisley though. I found that my cobalt blue snap perfect fit t-shirt  is a great match for the blue in the skirt.

I hope to stop by J.Crew store this evening if time permits. My PS emailed me about the last summer collection they received and put on the floor yesterday. I'd love to try on a few things on and report back to you, probably on Friday.

I will try to go back and respond to your comments, at least the ones with questions, I apologize for the delay.

***
That's all folks!

Are you excited about the new arrivals at J.Crew that we should see tomorrow?
Do you like any of my OOTDs? Which one is your favorite?

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

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Living In The Bubbles

Do you plan your outfits in advance? When you get up in the morning, do you stare into the abyss of your closet wondering what to wear or do you have your clothes already laid out, perfectly coordinated and ready to wear?



I have to admit that I am more of a planner than a spontaneous dresser. I usually know exactly what I am going to wear. I check the weather for about a week in advance and I get my inspirations form store display, magazine/Internet pictures and fashion bloggers. I sometimes spend couple of hours on weekends just to try things on and check if they work together. I have a pretty good idea what looks good on me but sometimes a mental picture in my mind does not quite translate to a great look irl. I know there are definitely more interesting and worthwhile ways to spend my time ,but I could do worse, I am sure.


Because of all this outfit planning, I don't spend too much time in the morning deciding what to wear. But I do spend some time choosing the right accessories. I have quite an extensive collection of costume jewelry (and some fine jewelry) and it is not unusual for me to try on 5-6 different necklaces until I settle on the right one to wear. 
This is my jewelry storage


these J.Crew boxes are great for stacking
 There was a time when I was only wearing fine jewelry, then I went through a lot of choker necklaces, and for some time I was briefly fascinated with statement necklaces, but these days I am very much into longer, simpler pendant necklaces.

Here are a few ways I wear my necklaces.

As a pop of color

I think this necklace makes the outfit

To tie the outfit together
To keep with the style
 I like to match necklaces with my shoes:


Making it more playful

  
Softening the black

Dressing up casual outfit

Or use them as something a little unexpected


Or to counteract the effect of a high neck or turtleneck


Necklaces can really transform a plain top:

Boring

Cool and laid back
But sometimes subtle is better:

Round necklace with polka dots

 
Picking up a hint of color

And, of course, there is nothing like pearls to bring some light to your face:

Against all the black

That's all folks!

So now you know why I am always running to the train station...

***
What takes you the most time deciding what to wear?
How do you pick your accessories?
Do you wear costume jewelry?

What is your favorite way of wearing your necklaces?

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

Monday, May 14, 2012

J.Crew Java Tunic Dress (and more reviews)


Remember this dress from my May Preview Post?

Java tunic dress

My PS has emailed me on Friday that the dress already arrived in store, so of course I had to go to check it out. 

Size 8
The dress is very pretty Mod shift. It is similar in cut the  Big apple tunic dress, but the print is more grown up and the color is very flattering, imo.  If you look closely, you can see that the sample dress on mannequin is a little longer, there is 5 diamond repeats, while the retail version is about 4.5 repeats.  I wish the dress was as long as the sample dress, but since I would not plan to wear it to work, and with the Mod shape, I think it is acceptable. I still don't like how they will probably use the sample length on the models, once we see the catalog/online pictures.  There is about an 1.5 inch in the hem that can be let out, which would create a pink band of fabric at the hem, also OK because  there is similar banding at the neckline.    

Size 6

I like the print placement on this dress, with vertical strip of print not running full width of the dress, which creates a  slimming effect.  The dress fits TTS to slightly bigger. I tried size 8 first, which has been my size in most dresses this year, but it was a little shapeless and the size 6 was a better fit for me. The neckline opening is not revealing, at least not on me. Sleeves are past the elbows, unfortunately I don't have a picture with sleeves unrolled, but they widen a little at the cuff.

100% linen, lining 100% cotton
It is 100% linen with 100% cotton lining, finally a dress without the polyester.


Overall, I like the dress a lot and I brought it home. I don't have anything similar and I think it would be nice for vacations, weekend wear and going out. If I decide to keep it, I may bring it to the store to have the hem let out. I was told it will ship in the mid Jun on pre-orders.

***

Another dress I noticed on the hanger, was this little striped number. I know we are all striped out at this point, but this one at least is in different colors.

Size Small
They did not have a Medium, so I tried a Small, which was a little clingy and showing every lump and bump.

cute colors but thin and flimsy

The dress is rather flimsy, thin and rather shapeless, it looks more like a nightgown to me, but the colors are cute and flattering. The length is good for this type of dress.

for half the price, I will consider it as a nightgown

If you don't have any bulges to hide, it may be a cute easy weekend dress, although overpriced for the quality it represents, I would not expect it to last through too many washes before it develops holes.

$68, 100% cotton
***

I also tried Soludos espadrilles and I wanted to warn you about them. 
Soludos® classic espadrilles
Soludos® classic espadrilles
They are very cute, TTS and comfortable.  But the fabric is thin and flimsy and when I tried them on the it ripped all the way to the sole. I seriously did not force it, just tried to get my foot inside.  I showed it to an SA and she said it happened to another customer, so definitely beware!

Too bad, because I was actually considering them.


On another note, you might have noticed that I have cut my hair and changed the color.  I am very happy with change, I think I prefer my hair shorter and darker, it seems to feel more 'me'.


***

That's all folks !!!

Do you any of the dresses?
If I keep the Java dress, should I let the hem out or is it OK as it is?
Should I keep it at all?
Would you consider purchasing any of the dresses?

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