Review of Sterling skirt in double-serge wool

Sterling skirt in double-serge wool

With the last STYLE25 promo, I decided to try on the Sterling skirt. I know many have lamented the change of the design from last years version, but for me it was a good change. I did order the skirt last year in two sizes and it was a disaster,  the hem was flaring too much and the skirt was huge in the hips while the waist was just right. I can totally understand the frustration when something that fitted you perfectly is suddenly changed, I would be so unhappy if J.Crew changed the cut of their pencil skirts to acommodate slender waists and fuller hips. I almost felt bad ordering the skirt.

Size 4

After chatting with CS to get the measurements I decided to order my regular pencil size. It was a right call and the skirt fits me very well in this size. I would say the waist is a little bit more defined than in double serge wool pencils. I am 5'6 and I am fine with the length. I think a flared skirt is tricky when it is any longer.

The fabric is very similar to the No2 pencil skirt but it feels more substantial that the Heather Acorn pencil skirt(which I did not like, see review here)  more like other colors I tried (see here). It flares just a little bit but enough to not need a slit in the back. I felt very lady-like in it and less trendy, in a good way. It is super comfortable for walking and the pockets add some interest.

I was curious if you could wear it with the top untucked but I think you can, if your top has a defined waist or it is cropped. Of course if you loose the pocket detail, the skirt becomes rather blah, but sometimes that's OK..

 

Overall, I really like the skirt. I wanted a neutral but I think it would be stunning in crimson maple as well.I am keeping it!

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That's all folks!

Do you own Sterling skirt from either last year?

Have you tried this year's version or are you planning to?

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

Transitioning in Blue

Here in New Jersey the summer is definitely over, but it is still not quite the fall weather, at least not the kind  where you wear cashmere sweaters or wool pencil skirts with tights and scarves. We have been mostly in seventies last couple of weeks and I have to say, I love it! It is the perfect weather and if we had it year round, I would not mind.

However, sometimes dressing for this weather can be tricky, because my mind is already on all the warm cosy items, but it is still too warm to wear it. On the other hand, any summer clothes definitely feel out of place now. So I just stick with lightweight items but in more fall-is colors and adding blazers and merino sweaters. I always complain that we don;t have a long 'blazer wearing' season, so I am trying to keep in mind that 'now is the time!'.

Here is what I have been wearing in the last two weeks or so:

Silk indigo skirt (also worn here, here and here) is a perfect transitional skirt, lightweight but definitely in fall hues. It is a very striking print (one of my all time favorites), so when I wear it, I usually keep everything else super neutral.

I am wearing J.Crew short sleeved boy shirt from last year, black Valentinas and black messenger bag from Banana Republic. My necklace is also from J.Crew, you cannot see it in the pictures but it has black stones mixed with crystals and it ties in the back, I love to wear it with white button downs.

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Here is the outfit very similar to the one you have seen before (see here) but I switched my anchor belt for the brown leather one, as I felt it was more appropriate for the fall. Then I threw on a blazer and voila, I have transitioned.

Wearing Madewell Charade blazer (reviewed here) and Madewell silk dot skirt (reviewed here) with J.Crew perfect t-shirt, belt and Bandolino navy pumps. My purse is from Kate Spade.

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One of my recent J.Crew purchases was Liberty print shirt in D'Anjo print. I have wanted this shirt from the moment I tried it in (review here). I just love the print and the cut is great. I just could not stomach the full price but I finally relented with 25% off plus 8% ShooatHome rebate and my 5% reward program bringing it below $100 which, to me, is still pricey, but reasonable for a Liberty print I love. I decided that even if it goes on sale eventually, I will not feel too bad about what I paid, since I expect to wear it a lot.

Throwing on a blazer again. This is Madewell Academy wool blazer (reviewed here). I love this blazer and the shrunken schoolboy fit of it is much better on me than the J.Crew Schoolboy that I don;t care for. What I also love about this blazer is that it is soft and thinner wool, more like the suiting jackets than the outerwear kind of blazer. I also does not have a bulk in the shoulders and I can actually wear it under a coat, while wearing most of J.Crew blazers under coats feels externally uncomfortable.

Also wearing Pilcro Stet jeans from Anthro (reviewed here), J.Crew Valentinas in pink and BR necklace.

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If you read my other peplum post, you have already seen a picture of this top. It is Ann Taylor's Ponte Peplum top. I like it a lot and I got it with the 30% off they were running for some time. The ponte fabric is thinner that some of the other ponte I tried, but it is a plus in my book, since I think it drapes better. It runs big so go with your smaller size.  I love the color.

I also managed to wear my J.Crew No2 pencil skirt in wool herringbone (review here) , not exactly transitional piece, but I think it works here because of the color. I am wearing J.Crew belt and necklace and Joan & David very old pumps.

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Foulard capris (review here) are another perfect transitional item. I am also wearing Tippi cardigan in navy (review here) and perfect shirt in white. My shoes look like Valentinas but they are from Bandolino. They are more comfortable because they are padded and they were under $30. This outfit is rather predictable and a bit 'patriotic' but I felt good in it and totally work appropriate. 

I think the classic colors offset the crazy pants factor. They actually don't feel like crazy pants to me, but I have to remember I live in the Crewland where bedazzling is the new black. Most of my coworkers would never venture there.

I wasn't planning to wear blue in all my outfits, but blue IS my favorite color, so it just happened naturally. But it did prompted me to try a different color story for the next week, a color I usually don;t wear too much...

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That's all folks!

Which outfit is your favorite, do tell!

Can you guess which color I picked for the next week?

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

Anthropologie for the J.Crew shopper

Skirted Striped Tee

This top prompted my visit to Anthropologie. After I saw it on Lisa from Respect the Shoes, I had to try it on. I actually saw it in the store previously and never gave it a second thought. But seeing how Lisa looked so cute and fresh, that I decided to do a double take.

Size Small

This top runs big. I tried on smaller of my sizes and it was still too big. It looks OK in the pictures but it was boxy and swingy irl.

It is a very pretty top, but I  had doubts that it is too sweet on me and I don't think I can pull it off.  It looks great on Lisa but she is cute and young and tiny. I thought it looked forced on me. 

I may reconsider it if it goes on sale.

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Dotty Knit Blazer

I decided to try on this blazer only for the blog. I think it is fun and pretty, but although I have no problem with wearing polka dotted blouses or skirts, polka dotted blazer or coat are another story.

Size Medium

Of course when you try something for the blog, you may easily end up liking the item and wanting to buy it anyway, but I was in no danger with this jacket becasue the fit was totally off on me.

It was almost too tight in the waist  (in bigger of my sizes) but too wide in the shoulders. It may be a great fit for someone with slender waist and broader shoulders.

The knit was soft and  comfortable and the pattern is fun. I like the idea of a unstuctured knit blazer, it seems so much easier to wear than wool blazers.  I like it even more in the camel colorway, but my store did not carry it.

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Duo Colorblocked Top

I was also looking for a longer, long sleeved comfortable top to wear with jeans or leggings. 

 Size Small

As for sizing, it depends on how you like it to fit and how swingy you want it to be. I could take a small or Medium but I decided Medium was draping better, giving it more of an effect I was looking for. This tee is
incredibly soft and feels good against the skin. 

Size Medium

I think this actually looks better IRL than online, I liked it a lot. It was exactly something I was looking for. The colorblock effect is quite pronounced and I know many of you are tired of colorblocking but I don't mind, especially with the leggings that are similar color as the bottom of the shirt.

I had a $20 leftover gift card and I decided to apply it to this top.

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Intarsia Dotted Sweater Dress

This dress looked interesting on the hanger and I decided to take it to the fitting room as well. For some reason Anthro dresses are always off on me, but you never know until you try it on, right?

Size Small

This dress fitted me quite well in size Small. It is not high waisted, too short, too full or too low cut.  In fact is is just right. The mix of different knit patterns may be too much for some of you, but I actually liked it a lot. I think it works because the colors are subdued and the patterns are subtle. The concept reminds me of J.Crew Inside-out Fair Isle sweater.

Waist in the correct place

Not too short

The problem I had with this dress was practicality. This dress is quite warm as you would expect from a sweater dress. But with the very short sleeves I am pretty sure my arms will be freezing while the rest of my body will be cooking. Wearing a cardigan with a sweater dress seems like, well, too many sweaters. I guess you could wear a blazer but I am afraid the dress will not look as cute covered up. I think the dress would be much better with long or 3/4 length sleeves.

seen

Mix of viscose, nylon, cotton, lambswool, angora and cashmere

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Corduroy Godet Skirt

Size 4

I loved the color of this cord skirt. It fits TTS (and coparable to J.Crew sizing). It is not lined which may be a benefit to those who don't like the inevitable polyester lining especially in the warmer weather. The corduroy is very fine and soft and the flare at the hem is flirty and fun. Because of the weight of the fabric and lack of lining it is more of a warm weather skirt but I am not usually inclined to wear a corduroy in the summer. I would personally prefer that it was lined. I know you can wear a slip but lining is easier and it makes the skirt hang better imo.

Overall, I think it is great transitional skirt.

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That's all folks!

What do you think of the items I reviewed?

Do you own any of the pieces or are tempted by any?

Would  you wear short sleeved sweater dress ?

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

J.Crew Stadium-Cloth Cocoon Coat Review

Stadium-cloth cocoon jacket

Stadium-cloth cocoon jacket in Dublin Green is a stunning looking coat. Dublin Green is a beautiful green with blue undertone.  Stadium cloth is very soft and substantial. I have 3 J.crew stadium-cloth coats and they are the warmest of J.Crew wool coats. This years fabrication seem even more plush. 

Two-way zipper closure

The coat closes with two-way, heavy duty zipper. Personally I don't like coats closing with a zipper. For me, they are harder to close quickly and I prefer buttons.  My favorites are double breasted trench coats that tie with a belt, like the Boulevard Trench that I bough in 2010. Most of the time, if I am not walking far, I only use the belt and throw on a scarf, it is quickest way to bundle up.

My Elements coat has a two-way zipper and additional buttons and I find myself using only the buttons. I find zippers very fussy and frankly, I never use the two-way function. I guess it is meant to get to the inside pockets without undoing the top (and the scarf), but I don;t remember a single instance of actually taking advantage of it.

Size 6

The coat looks great when it is closed but it looses its cocoon shape.

Can't put your hands in the pockets

I did not like the pockets. It is almost impossible to put your hands in the pockets and there is no side pockets, even the narrow ones they sometimes put on the side of patch pockets. Too bad, because I think accessible pockets are a must in a warm winter coat.

79% Wool, 21% Nylon, Lining 100% Polyester

The fabric and the inside details are very nice, I love the contrast piping!

Inside pocket and piping detail

I don't need a new coat, but if I did, the zipper and the pockets would be dealbreakers for me, but they may not be a problem for others. I liked the fabric and the cut. The Dublin Green color is beautiful. I also saw the smoky coral and it is also a pretty shade.

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That's all folks!

What do you think of the Cocoon Coat?

Would the zipper closure or the pockets placement bother you?

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

Black Watch, Aegean Plaid and Saturday Sweats

Perfect shirt in Black Watch

Do you like Black Watch plaid?

Source

Well, it seems like J.Crew's is a loose interpretation of the Campbell tartan. I think the slim trench coat is more like it.  Or maybe there are different variations? 

Size 6

In general, I am not a big fan of dark colored plaid but it sure is pretty, Black Watch or not.

Pattern is matched

It fits TTS to small, depending on your chest size. It fitted me well in my regular size 6 but it gaped in chest. I am 34D;  if you are C cup or smaller, it should be a good fit. I often have the gaping issue, especially that I also have narrow shoulders, so I cannot size up too much. But J.Crew still fits me better than most other brands.

It does gap

Size 8 fixed the gaping issue, but it did not fit as nicely everywhere else and it was just blah.

Size 8

Overall, I really liked the shirt and I thought it would be a nice, casual look. I don't have anything similar, but I also don't remember thinking "Gee, I really wish I had a plaid shirt to wear today."  

It is 99% cotton, 1% spandex.

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Perfect shirt in Aegean plaid

Size 6

This shirt fitted me in my regular size, no gaping here. The 6 fitted about the same like 8 in Black Watch shirt.

Pattern Matched!

I like it but I don;t need another button down (even if I wear them all the time, I already have a closet full of them).  I would consider it on deep sale, the fabric was very nice (99% cotton, 1% spandex), it is soft and comfortable and the blues are very pretty.

No gaping

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I also spotted the sweatshirt. It was briefly featured on J.Crew website under weekend section.

Size Medium

I tried a bigger of my two sizes because I like my sweatshirts loose and slouchy. It is slouchy enough but the fit is boxy. To me, this sweatshirt is couple inches too short and too wide in the sleeves. It looks OK when you roll up the sleeves but I want to be able to unroll the sleeves if I want.

I wish it was longer

It feels nice and soft and I liked the stripes (I know, again). But $72.50 is about twice what I would be willing to pay for it, even if it was longer.

$72.50?? 100% Cotton

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Saturday pant

Pants size Small

Saturday pant is not new but I never tried it before.

I have to say I really liked them. They are very comfortable and they fit me well in size small. They feel like sweats but fit more like leggings. They are great for lounging and under longer tops or tunics. The are long enough on me. I am 5'6 and have 33" inseam. If you are taller, they will probably be too short, at least in Small.

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What do you think?

Do you wear plaid button downs?  Do you like the ones I reviewed?

Do you own Saturday pants? How do you like the sweatshirt?

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